Around Saint Ignatius, crew kids are known by many titles and names, both good and bad. When Nick Showman ‘18 was asked about how he thinks other students perceive the crew team he said, “I think that a lot of kids know that crew is a difficult sport, but it’s seen as the joke of St. Ignatius sports.” Bruce Bingham ‘17 after being asked the same question responded, “I think we’re seen as a sport that unathletic kids or kids who got cut from other sports go to.” However, despite these preconceptions that many students hold about the crew, being on the crew team entails serious commitment and rigorous work ethic.
The crew team competes in their main competitions during the spring, however it is essentially a year round sport with year round practice. Griffin Fox ‘18, commenting on the year round commitment and practice, said, “I would say the most difficult part of crew is the double practice days. Lifting in the morning and then practices after school which usually include a long run. It’s pretty much year round too, when the river is frozen we’re in the gyms on ergs. The biggest struggle is that it’s hard to schedule your personal life around it because of how when you miss practice you will be setting back the other eight guys in your boat.”
Another summary of a daily practice for crew is summarized by multiple members of the crew team: Practices for rowing have different challenges than any other sports because of some unique problems. Before practices start they have to move the boats and oars outside to make sure they are ready for practice. Next, on the water, they usually go about eight kilometers out on the lake or south to the steel mills and turn to row the same distance back. The boats also have a unique set of challenges. Far too often there will be almost 1,000ft freighters that will crawl their way down the river to the steel mills and will force the boats to stop practice and move to a “safety zone,” so the barges can pass.
To get a view from the other side, student athletes from other sports were asked of their opinions of the crew team and their members. Matt Hunt ‘18, a member of the baseball team says, “I like some people of the crew kids, but some can be overly passionate and annoying when talking about the team,” showing how crew kids are given titles that are complimenting but also offending. A member of the basketball team, Ryan McLain ‘18, was asked about how much effort is put into the team. He responded, “They put in as much work as any other sport. You can see your classmates in bunches working on rowing machines all the time. The team is very much committed to excellence as much as the football, soccer, basketball teams, etc. are.”
Team co-captain, Mitch Patterson ‘16 explained his reasons on why people do not understand more about the sport of rowing. Patterson explained that rowing is a sport you take up in high school and there is no prior exposure to the sport. Also, events range from Columbus to Pittsburgh, so attendance is usually low. Without this exposure to the sport, incoming classes are left to believe what others say about crew.
Many stereotypes are perceived when crew is brought to mind. People seem to be uneducated about the team which leads them to jump to conclusions about what actually happens on the team. Rowing boats according to Brad Anderson ‘18 is, “a sport in which most can play however at times it’s more a mental sport than anything.” Like all sports, crew requires time, hard-work, and dedication.
On Friday November 13, the majority of the senior class gathered in the Breen Center to listen to successful alumni Jeff Dejelo ‘95, Vice President of Sales at Twitter.
Mr. Marc Milkie, the Advancement Department’s Major Gifts Officer, coordinated the talk with Jeff and was the main reason that the seniors had such a great opportunity. When asked why he chose Jeff to present to the class, Mr. Milkie said, “When I met Jeff, I was with Father Murphy. Jeff had an interesting way of looking at things and an interesting ending. I thought this would be valuable for the senior class with college decisions just around the corner.”
Jeff, the valedictorian of his class, spoke with the seniors mainly about the importance of a Jesuit education. Jeff had received admission into many prestigious universities like Yale, Stanford, and Notre Dame, but Jeff wanted to bring the tradition of a Jesuit education that he got from Saint Ignatius into his college choice. This lead him to choose to attend Fordham University.
Jeff often used the phrase ‘community’ when describing Fordham. He ultimately chose Fordham over some top-tier schools because he loved the sense of community there. Jeff said that he got a sense of community from Saint Ignatius, which was the main thing that he looked for in colleges. He also looks for community and passion in his team at Twitter. Jeff believes that this communal feeling is crucial to the success of his team members.
Mr. Milkie said that Jeff’s talk conveyed two major ideas: “Don’t expect life to go as planned, and don’t fret.” Jeff’s life went down a completely different path than he had imagined. Although he is the Vice President for Sales, he actually majored in Philosophy and Theology at Fordham. The path that he expected his majors would lead him down completely shifted after beginning his career on Wall Street in the early 2000s. He later moved on to working with finances at Yahoo, Google, and now Twitter. It’s quite obvious that life didn’t go as expected for Jeff.
This senior talk was very beneficial for the class of 2016, as students were engaged with questions and learning about what to look for in colleges. “It was nice of him to come and talk with us and I feel that I learned a lot about how to make my college decisions,” said Mitch Brezina ‘16. Although only three seniors signed up a week before the talk, roughly 90% of the senior class ended up attending the presentation. Mr. Milkie was very pleased with the outcome: “I thought the questions from the seniors and their attentiveness was great.”
As ISIS continues their campaign of terror throughout the world; the question of whether or not the United States should let in Syrian refugees is becoming more and more prominent. This question brings along with it a long string of possible results and consequences that could be detrimental to our country. When asked this question, a natural response would be based off of pure emotion instead of logic. While it seems like the nice and moral thing to do, bringing in 45,000 refugees from a war torn country is not the best plan of action right now.
Our national interest and the security of our citizens should be the basis for our policy. There are so many other things we can do to help the Syrians instead of bringing them to America. For example, the U.S. and its allies could establish safe zones in Syria which would provide protection to the people affected by this violence. Also, we could promote re-settlement of the refugees in a number of other neighboring countries. An analysis from the Center of Immigration Studies found that it would cost over $64,000 for a five year period to settle one refugee in the U.S. where as any neighboring Middle
Eastern country would cost twelve times less. However, a report by Amnesty International shows that six of the wealthiest Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates all refuse Syrian refugees due to security risks. Obviously, if those countries have concerns about their security, we should too. On top of all that, a poll from the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies showed that 13% of the refugees have a positive view of ISIS. It would be wrong for our government to endanger its citizens by allowing these refugees to settle here.
Author Leo Hohmann states in an article that ISIS has even publicly declared that they will use our refugee system as a means of placing soldiers on U.S. soil. In fact, one of the terrorists from the recent attacks in Paris on November 13th posed as an immigrant who sought refuge in France. That brings up another point which proves it is impossible to know who we are really letting into our country. The Director of the FBI, James Comey, even admitted during a House Committee on Homeland Security that the U.S. Government has no real way to conduct background checks on the Syrian refugees.
For every 5,000 innocent people we let into America, we could also be letting in one ISIS terrorist. Like I said earlier, we should not leave these people defenseless and helpless. We could easily aid them by offering them protection within their own country.
According to www.endhomelessness.org, as of 2014-2015 veteran homelessness in the U.S. is around 48,000 men and women. The $64,000 we would be spending on each Syrian refugee could easily be spent on each homeless veteran in America. The people who have ser ved this great countr y in order to protect our freedom deserve a chance to rebuild their lives before the people of Syria. The interest of America and her people comes before the interest of anyone else. The objective of our government is not to provide money and shelter to war refugees but rather provide protection to its own citizens. What ISIS is doing to the people of Syria and all of the world is atrocious and needs to be stopped. However, at the same time, the decision of how to solve this problem should be based on the interest of our nation, the safety of U.S. citizens, and what’s truly best for the Syrian refugees.
As the holiday season grows ever closer, it isn’t uncommon for us to forget the kinds of unrest being experienced all over the world. But, at a time when a range of international conflicts seem so remote, we should appreciate the freedoms and comforts at our every disposal– not everyone can.
The crisis in Syria is becoming a situation that involves more than just its own people. Close to 12 million Syrians (including nine million women/children) are fleeing their homes to find sanctuary in neighboring countries to avoid the atrocities of the Syrian Civil War. In light of the tremendous exposure to violence, hunger, and disease by the refugees, it seems only reasonable to ask, “Why aren’t we doing everything possible to help?” The explanation, quite predictably, is one that reflects our natural tendency towards self-preservation, but one that diverges completely from our Ignatian values.
The growing opposition to take in refugees is based on what is ostensibly a “national security risk.” Many have been led to believe that large numbers of refugees are associated with terrorist organizations. If this were true, it would give reasonable cause to protest the flow of Syrians; yet, this has no backing. In fact, the Migration Policy Institute indicates that of the 784,000 refugees brought into the US since 9/11, only three were arrested for activities involving terrorism (two were planning attacks not on the US; the third’s intentions weren’t even plausible).
Further, those opposed to such immigration argue that the cost of bringing in refugees would prove hurtful to our economy. Even from a purely economic standpoint, the cost (estimated to be around $65,000 over five years per refugee) is minor, especially when compared to the projections of economic growth seen in countries hosting the largest amount of refugees.
If these major concerns are based on such unsubstantiated claims, why does our country remain so averse to providing shelter to Syrians? Despite having moved past some of the greatest social injustices of history, we continue to alienate races that we see as unfamiliar. Sadly, this intolerance creates feelings of antipathy for those of a different background. Many Americans proclaim our country to be one of tolerance, freedom, and opportunity– if only we practiced what we preach. Even the Statue of Liberty, perhaps the greatest symbol of America, has an inscription that promotes inclusion:
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”
We simply can not continue to go on believing that these refugees will find a home purely by chance. Saint Ignatius High School’s mission does not advocate that we merely stand by, but to take action. Pope Francis even recently called for worldwide Catholic participation in the effort to provide assistance: “The Gospel calls,” he said, “asking of us to be close to the smallest and forsaken. To give them a concrete hope, and not just to tell them: ‘Have courage, be patient!’”
As the Christmas season approaches, I urge you to consider a story that should be quite familiar. Upon Mary and Joseph’s entrance into Jerusalem, they were repeatedly denied shelter by innkeepers whose indifference left the couple destitute. But, in the end, one hospitable neighbor gave what little shelter he could. And thus, from these humble beginnings, the Son of God was born.
In matters such as these, let us all follow the example of this courteous neighbor, working towards one mission: to give and not to count the cost.
Armed with Twitter skills, lady tactics, profanity-laden smack talk, and velvet-smooth shooting forms, the student-athletes comprising The Diocese of Cleveland’s Catholic Youth Organization are out for blood this holiday season. With players drawing looks from D1 organizations, ire from disgruntled parents, and technical fouls from straight-faced refs, there’s no doubt that the 2015-16 CYO season will be one to remember. Big men such as Mike “the Punisher” Bodnar and Nik “Big Daddy” Lancaster will look to push their weight around the paint, dishing it out to three-ballers in traffic like Tommy Lauer, Max “Drain-O” Danch, and Dan “White Mamba” Sullivan. Ryan “OSU” Karle is always a force to be reckoned with, and his scare tactics have knocked many a grin off the face of an unaccustomed opponent. Karle is competing for wild man on the floor with such monsters as Alex Ray and Ben Delhees, who bring such an energy to the floor that even Delly himself had to come to a 216ers practice to take some notes. Lone Ignatius man on the Thunderbolts from St. Mary of the Falls, Jared Yant, at a self-reported 6’9” – 245, will look to scrap in the paint and drop some rainbow 3’s from half-court. In fact, there are several moonballers in the league this year, not the least of which include Andrew Zawie and Jake “Canadian Bacon” Gawlik, the latter of which won’t hesitate to draw a charge or two and won’t shy away from a hard foul that needs to be committed. This season’s got it all, folks. Here’s how we’re stacking it up:
#1 GESU Bulldogs
The top spot in the Eye’s 2015-2016 CYO Power Ranking deservedly goes to the Gesu Bulldogs. This is basically the same squad that won the eighth grade city championship, and rival programs looking to unseat the ‘Dogs will have their work cut out for them. Led by Coaches Lauer and Lauer, the goal for the Gesu team is simply “to win states.” Here’s the lineup that’s looking to go all the way:
Front row: Tommy Lauer, Danny Volpe, Seamus Hawkins, Mark McHugh
When he’s not sliding into the other team’s girls’ DM’s, Joe Evans ’16 is channeling his inner Jimmer Fredette and knocking down shots from all around the court. He’s also known around the league for the 4-point play he converted while lending his skills to the JV Wildcats sophomore year.
Mike Vallee ’16 is your trademark all-around athlete, and a legitimate contender for MVP of the whole league. His silky smooth golf swing translates into master ball-handling on the basketball court, where he’s sending home opponents in ankle braces on the daily.
Danny Volpe ’16 leads the team in hustle, and he’s known for bodying just about anybody up on the glass, grabbing key boards, and occasionally knocking down the critical 3-bomb. He trades offensive duties with Tommy Lauer ’16, who is liable to catch fire from beyond the arc at any given moment.
The key players for the ‘Dogs, though, are Mark “Ewwie” McHugh ’16 and Seamus Hawkins ’16, both known for their skills at finishing and refusal to give in when the going gets tough. Hawkins has a nice jumper and is always a threat to steal, and McHugh, like teammate Volpe, can be counted on to crash the glass and deny opponents the rebounds on both ends of the court.
Team X-factor is Cal “Grab Cheeks” Grbac ’16, who can basically fit into any position you give him at any point in time and make it work. He specializes in the quick shot and is known for his Magic Johnson-like pass game.
#2 St. Gregory the Great
The Saint Greg’s team will certainly be a force to be reckoned with. With several varsity football players trying to make the transition from gridiron to hardwood, this team is looking to impress.
A defensive back on the football field, small forward Quinn “Flawless” Lawless will be the do-it-all forward Saint Greg’s is looking for. Point guard Max “I drain threes” Danch will be feeding Danny “Big Body” Yanosko, who made cameo appearances as tight end this year and is liable to toss his 6’5” frame around the paint when the going turns scrappy. #MackPack member Nick Berlin will come off the bench to support the squad. Colin “Crouton” Kruchan and Austin “The Houdini” Dipaolo will certainly be making contributions as well.
#3 The 216ers
The squadron of class-leading juniors representing the 216ers this season. Photo Credit: Adam Shibley ‘17
Leading the juniors are a coalition of some of the Class of 2017’s best athletes. Standout linebacker James “Fish Lips” Leyden will add a powerful presence in the paint as he will look to dominate his opponents with physical play. He played on the JV basketball team last year, but he gave it up to become a meathead like John Spellacy.
Leyden will be joined by Adam Shibley, a fellow linebacker, who was able to put this squad together. “I’ve been as good of a recruiter as Urban Meyer. I’ve waited my entire life for this season.”
The center for the sixers is Michael “Big Bird” Czaja who stands in at 6’4″ 215 lbs. He is similar to the seven foot Lithuanian who makes an occasional appearance in Sullivan Gym.
The guards consist of varsity rejects Tommy Aris and Brendan Hudec. Some conspiracies say Hudec’s talent comes from private lessons with his neighbor, Kyrie Irving.
Others on this stacked team are Ben “Panda” Delhees, Tommy “Two-Time-State-Champ” Patacca, Michael “SweaterSZN” Lehto, and Sean “The Silent Assassin” Coyne.
#4 St. Albert the Great Mustangs
Ignatius students, from left: Liam Jenkins, Andrew Zawie, Matt Szubski, Will Cotton, and Alex Ray. Photo Credit: Andrew Zawie ‘16
The Mustangs from St. Albert the Great are looking to take on Gesu and beat out the rest of the league in the process in the upcoming CYO season. Headed by master strategist Coach Jordan Smigel and sporting two offensive linemen from the Padua football team (not pictured), these players are planning on crashing the boards, tossing bodies, and posting up on the defensive end as often as physically possible.
Liam “Man Bun” Jenkins ’16 is the only obvious weakness on an otherwise beast-like squad, and while Matt Szubski ’16 has been deemed “the slowest kid to play CYO ever” and “better suited to a 60+ league” by his own teammate Andrew Zawie, Alex Ray ’16 more than makes up for the apparent loss in speed, setting up needlessly-complex plays as the 2-guard and running around the court like Wild Mike out of his crate.
Will Cotton ’16 has stated his intent to take a gap year upcoming to play ball overseas, his athletic ability apparent simply by his ability to “touch rim” and his status as a “full-time eater.” The team is rounded out by 5-star small forward NCAA recruit Andrew Zawie ’16, who’s every bit as likely to dish it behind-the-back a la Steve Nash as he is to drain an 80-footer off an inbound pass from the defensive zone.
Self-styled prediction: St. Al’s 54 – Gesu 18 in the city championship.
#5 Sts. Joseph and John Vikings
A team can be summarized by its strengths. The Viking’s greatest strength? Their good looks. When you have guys like David Pavlik, Jake “Canadian Bacon” Gawlik, and Nick Freund, you know that this team will be intimidating by their objective beauty.
Their ability is certainly there. Pavlik is like Shaq in the paint and the combo of Gawlik and Freund simply doesn’t miss from behind the arc. Also on the team is Robert Lisi, who according to Pavlik, is really really good at warming the bench.
#6 St. Mark Lions
Coming from wonderful West Park, the Saint Mark’s Lions will look to compete at a high level this season.
The Lions picked up a few players that did not play last year who are from St. Mark such as: Owen North, Andrew “Balldaddy” Baldado and Anthony Corte (The Big Three).
Also representing the pride of West Park, is Billy “shot blockin’” Buczek, Ben Tennant (who is described as “VERY old school”), George “the nose” Martin, Brendan “Cougar” Boland, and Omar “I don’t know how to pass” Bahur.
#7 GESU Jazz
With an all around physical and grinder-based team with finesse outside the arch, The Gesu Jazz look poised to take bodies this year.
There’s no stopping the lake-effect storm coming from downtown with all-star shooters like GP DiGiannantonio and Danny Murphy. And good luck trying to get dirty in the paint with these guys. Players like JP Purcell and Jack Straniero are not afraid to toss hands.
The Gesu Jazz expect nothing but W’s this season. Also be sure to pay attention to Robby “Robizness” Soeder, Trey “Truffle” Burke, and Nick “Papi” Neroni to name a few.
#8 St. Bernadette
The Bulldogs are a bit underrated, and will look to make some noise on the west side of Cleveland. The big man in the middle is Mike “The Punisher” Bodnar, who stands at an imposing 6’3”, 245 pounds. Bodnar is almost unstoppable in the post even for his shy demeanor.
If you’ve ever seen the movie Elf, I want you to think of Miles Finch, the “angry elf.” That character pretty much sums up SG Kyle “hard foul” McCafferty.
Canisius lacrosse commit Alex “Hype Man” Hornung is a rebounding machine, but he can’t shoot to save his life. What Hornung lacks in shooting, Danny “White Mamba” Sullivan makes up for it.
Rounding out the starting five is Anthony “BB” Bshara. Bshara thinks he plays for Real Madrid, and will often be found sporting soccer jerseys in pregame.
#9 Holy Family
Holy Family is a little-known parish, but they are trying to put themselves on the map with a big year.
Gary “Crazy Horse” Montgomery is an AAU All-star. It isn’t certain whether Saunders plays Point Guard or Power Forward, but he’ll make moves so smooth that you’ll know that for sure that he’s a baller.
Will Csiszar turned into a man at the age of 12, and it’s only been uphill from there. Chris “Golfer” Deucher is the most gentleman-like player on the court and the moms in the stands constantly check him out.
Allen “Curry” Varghese is known as such not because his performance imitates that of Stephen Curry, but because he enjoys a nice plate of chicken curry. He’s a big-time baller that shouldn’t be overlooked.
You can’t forget about Brian “Cheeks” Harrigal, who was last seen in “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and has extended his talent from the theater to the court. BH gains his power through the inflation of his cheeks.
Ryan “OSU” Karle has never seen a shot he doesn’t like and his tongue has never seen the inside of his mouth. “You know what, dude? You’re garbage.” is his favorite quote when sinking in a 3 in the face of an adversary.
Kaveer “Tupac” Shekar, the Major League Gamer, is extending his talents from his computer to the court. “Big Daddy” Lancaster joined in the last minute as an attempt to revitalize his career. From football to Basketball, his use of hands it tremendous.
Finally, Austin “Green Monster” Gilner is a Varsity B Rugby Superstar. He is known for having the best kicks on the team and believes that better shoes make a better player.
#10 OLA Cougars
The OLA Cougars are ready to take CYO by storm. Photo Credit: Caleb Geiger ‘17
No CYO Power Rankings could be complete without at least two teams of West Park boys. It is also no surprise that these guys had so many wins last year, they couldn’t even count them.
Johnny “Deuce” Lenehan’s great jumper and ungodly ball handling skills along with Caleb Geiger’s good mid-range game makes the Cougars a team a tough team to beat.
Jimmy Andrews will bring in his football prowess and jump shot, only bolstering this teams roster. With the addition of some St. Ed’s “athletes,” you can expect some questionable and risky gameplans. The Cougars apparently “have no weaknesses” according to “Cal” Geiger.
#11 Saint Joseph Vikings
With all players returning from last season, the Saint Joseph Vikings already know each other’s’ playing styles. The Vikings have decided not to reveal last year record, but went on to note that they “will probably lose every game” this season.
Chris “Yaco” Yacobucci is the planned team MVP by the end of the year at 4’11, 240 pounds.
Adam Kaye, Sebby Deban, David Scheatzle, and Eddie Thompson make this team possess the talent of ‘96 Bulls, but with a planned record of the 2015 76ers.
The wild factor, Ryan Schumacher, has so little known about him that he may be turn out like Chef Curry or just be a bust.
#12 St. Paschal Baylon Knights
The Saint Paschal Baylon Knights may be the only team that actually practices at practice, but this tournament win speaks for itself. Photo Credit: Nick Ferritto ‘17
Coming off a 22-0 season, the St. Paschal Baylon Knights plan to take it all again this year. This team of juniors aims “to be in the top three in [their] division” and head down to Cincinnati for states.
The Getty boys, Tom, Mike, and Sean, seem to have an uncanny connection, almost as if they were all related, allowing them to pass down the court like no other.
Add in guys like Mike Hyland, Nick Ferritto, and Michael Abate and you have a monster of a team.
The Knights see their biggest strength as their middle, which is great at rebounding and scoring inside the paint, mainly from the effort of forward Michael Abate.
A state victory may be possible if the Knights can break the tension between all the Gettys claiming to be the best and improve Justin Cooney to the point to which he is no longer described as a weakness.
This past weekend history was made as the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, was released. Directed by J. J. Abrams and filled with young talent the movie was a new hope for all Star Wars fans, young and old. Theaters were sold out two months in advance when preordering for tickets went up, and ticket sales sites went down due to the massive number of fans attempting to guarantee their seats. As the date drew closer rumors and fan theories filled the minds of all who were even remotely interested in Star Wars. On the release date itself lines began over an hour before the showing at every single IMAX screen in the United States.
When fans were finally allowed within the theaters seats were rapidly taken until there was not a single left. Anxious conversation persisted as nervous fans awaited the continuation of their precious childhood. When the Lucasfilm logo hit the screen fans erupted into cheers, only to do so again when in blue lettering read “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away,” and yet again when the opening crawl began. A hushed silence filled the room as the film began.
With every character introduction applause and cheers erupted from the crowds, whether it was for a new villain or an old hero. The dialogue only encourage this even more with many subtle references to the original trilogy and hilarious jokes interspersed throughout the film. Fans very quickly had new favorite characters and new lines to quote as the wonder and awe filled them for the second time in their lives. Many saw parallels from The Force Awakens to the previous movies and the now banished expanded universe whether it be in characters or in events.
From the opening crawl till when the end credits rolled, J.J. Abrams and John Williams had us on the edge of our seats with gripping music and gorgeous visuals. Some complain that the soundtrack was not up to par with the previous movies but upon a rewatch of the movie or listening to the soundtrack alone an intrepid Star Wars fan would find themselves filled with hope and whimsical dreams when they hear “Rey’s Theme” or dream when they are overcome with “Snoke.” More powerful than the music alone though was the times when there was no accompaniment at all, fans would subconsciously pick up on this and realize that something important was about to happen. John Williams really outdid himself with the scoring of this movie, he decided to make sure that this trilogy would have its own sound and he truly succeeded.
Some fans may remember the cringe-worthy prequel trilogy, others have completely blocked it from memory, when they dare to think of what fears they had for the new movie. They should not have had any fears at all. None of the horrendous dialogue or spoonfed descriptions from the prequels are to be found in the masterpiece. Lines that taken on their own could have invoked a feeling of disgust where masterfully delivered in a way that they seemed natural and profound. After the movie is over all of the viewers were left with a sense of wonder, wondering what would happen next and what happened to cause the events in the movie. It was deliberately crafted and designed in a way to leave questions that would be later filled with the next movie, novel, or comic book.
Modern day moviegoers may know the current trend to fill movies with CGI, they need not fear the use of it in The Force Awakens. The use of real props and backdrops is almost completely unnoticeable from those that were digitally inserted. One of the most iconic characters from this movie, the hilarious and soul filled droid BB-8, had three different models built to be used in the movie alongside the occasional CGI version of him. Filming techniques that were first created by George Lucas continued to be used in this film, including stop motion for some nostalgic effects. Overall the filming was absolutely stunning and left you feeling as if you were actually within the movie, from beginning to end.
The actors picked to play parts were chosen excellently. Each one fully fleshed out his or her role, whether it be angsty teenager or starstruck hopeful. They embodied the characters that they played, allowing you to truly see how they were supposed to be portrayed. Some very notable performances were made by Harrison Ford playing Han Solo, Daisy Ridley playing Rey, and Kylo Ren played by Adam Driver. Each of these actors or actresses became their character and made you believe that they were actually real. Even minor or supporting characters were masterfully chosen to have the best actor or actress to play them, whether it is just a stormtrooper or a rebel pilot each character was portrayed perfectly.
As blasphemous as this may sound I rate The Force Awakens as one of, if not the best, Star Wars films of all time. Fans were begging for a continuation of the saga and J.J. Abrams gave them one that was so good that it left them begging for more, so much more that it has made $247 million just on the opening weekend alone, half of what The Phantom Menace made in its entire thirty seven week run. This film is one that I would recommend fans to watch over and over again so that they could pick up on every little intricacy inside and truly appreciate it. Viewers will be just as awestruck as they were when they watched Star Wars for the first time. This movie will definitely break many more records and go down in the history books as the perfect continuation of an amazing saga. May the Force be with you!
While many students have not ventured up to the sixth floor of the main building, those who do may be pleasantly surprised. Upon entering the sixth floor computer lab, one will find a heavily decorated room with colorful murals of people like Kurt Cobain and Bob Marley. What’s most impressive about this room, however, is not the art on the walls, but rather the videos being filmed, edited, and produced by Saint Ignatius students.
These videos are projects created by students taking Father Ross’ Digital Film Production class. The students who make these videos encapsulate a wide range of filming experience. Some students begin the class with previous knowledge of filming techniques and video-editing software, while others may have only ever used their cell phones to take a quick video. No student, however , is ever at a disadvantage due to the nature of the course. The course begins with an introductory project that allows students to become familiar with the Hollywood-grade editing software known as “Final Cut”. This introductory project sets every student on the path to impressive film production and helps make every student in the course feel more at ease with its intricacies.
The projects in this class are very open-ended and allow each student to create a personalized video that is unique to them. For example, one of the earliest prompts for a video was to film one person doing one action. This may seem like a basic and limited situation, but when elements like dubstep music, slow motion, and color filters are skillfully added in, mundane actions like chopping wood and starting a car turn into minute-long thrill rides.
While natural skill or talent is not necessary to thrive in this class, it is most definitely recognized. After every major project, students vote on which video they think is best. Ben Brown ‘16 is one student who has won the praise of both his classmates and Father Ross time and time again. What sets Ben’s work apart is his mastery of the fundamentals of filming and editing taught by Father Ross. These skills include smooth transitions, interesting camera angles, music synchronization, and the “rule of thirds”. But as proficient as Ben and many others may be at these methods, it still takes them hours of hard work filming multiple angles and editing footage to create a video which may be only a few minutes long.
As a whole, Digital Film Production is an engaging class that rewards hard work and creativity. This class not only leaves every student who takes it with professional-level knowledge of filming, editing, and producing video, but it also gives students a chance to express themselves by creating something amazing that others can enjoy. You can find the films on the FilmSIHS YouTube channel.
In every school, there is an unspoken, inevitable understanding that freshmen will undoubtedly cause more pain for everyone else due to first-year confusion and what-not. However, this year the class of 2019 has two students that could bring more than emotional pain to the table.
Graeme Agronin won third place at the World Karate and Kickboxing Championships in Orlando, Florida just this year, which is quite the accomplishment for a freshman of only three months. I was fortunate enough to sit down with Graeme (without fear for my health), and this is what he had to say:
“I started karate for fun at the rec center and stuff like that when I was two, but I eventually moved away from it to play other sports.” Despite his short recess from the ancient art, Graeme said he eventually came back to it after his older sister started dating a student at Ignatius who also did karate, “I thought that [was] really cool so I started going again and really started seriously at the age of four.” Not only has he been practicing since he was four, but Graeme also says that intense and methodical preparation is key. “Usually, if I’m training for something big, like this tournament, I’m up at the karate school four or so days a week and at home I have to train at least once or twice a day.” Graeme isn’t all about the international fame though, he says that he likes karate and kickboxing because it teaches discipline and self defense.
However, Graeme isn’t the only freak of freshman nature. Zach Morgan placed first at the 2015 National Powerlifting Tournament, held in Scranton, Pennsylvania in September, and took home the hardware by lifting 116 pounds.
“I started competing in sixth grade,” Morgan says. His experience stacks up quite well, but his time commitment isn’t quite as brutal as lifting those 116 pounds were: “I usually lift twice a week and I stay in shape and work out with wrestling and track.” The national champ doesn’t find the sport lonely either. Zach says that he does it with a few friends and his dad is a trainer, so he thinks “it’s pretty enjoyable.”
So this year’s freshman class might already have made some very substantial impacts on the world, the country, and the Saint Ignatius community here at home. The class of 2019 already has some world-renowned talents but only falls in line with the Ignatian status quo. Whether you’re kickboxing or weightlifting; whether you have ten years of experience or four, there’s work being done, so “God bless the work.”
The letterman jacket is a staple of what it means to be a varsity athlete and is the core image of school pride. Lately, however, The Eye has made a shocking discovery: No one seems to wear letterman jackets anymore. Many students do not even buy them. What has caused the rapid decline of this once popular badge of athletic achievement?
Luke Wagner ‘16 explains that trends of style come and go, especially in private schools: “Back in the day they used to be very popular, but it seems like they lost their way with private school kids. I never really see Ed’s kids wearing them either.” Luke suggests that the decline of the letterman jacket at Saint Ignatius is a matter of fashion trends among high schoolers.
Varsity basketball player Devon Stover ‘16 owns a letterman jacket, but he does not wear it to school. “I think people wear them to show that they are happy where they go to school and to show what they’ve accomplished,” says Stover. Devon brings up a reason why students wear jackets, but why are the students who wear them such a small minority of the student body?
Cartoon by Nick Talion
Jack Cook ‘16 says that the alternatives to letterman jackets contribute to their unpopularity. Although Jack is not a fashion expert, he asserts that the team gear that is issued to all athletes matches better with the types of clothes worn by high school students: “I believe that it (style/fashion) has changed and students have gravitated toward the team-issued jackets and gear. They seem to look good with a uniform or casual clothes.” Additionally, Jack goes on to mention that he does not even own a jacket because “the sports teams have good jackets, pullovers, and quarter zips.” Coach Rowell ‘11 of the soccer cats affirms Jack’s testament: “I would argue that letterman jackets are pretty cool, but style has caused their decline. Style is not what it used to be. What it is now is the Nike quarter zips. You don’t want that bulky jacket.”
Although students don’t wear their letterman jackets at the moment, they have a positive view on their meaning. Michael Fazioli ‘17 pledges to buy and wear his letterman jacket: “In a school that doesn’t necessarily promote individuality, for example, facial hair, long hair, dress code, the letterman jacket shows what you have done and accomplished. It can offer a sense of uniqueness in a homogeneous student body.” Trends come and go in the realm of Catholic high schools. Although the letterman jacket is currently obsolete because of changing fashion trends, students speculate that they will make a comeback eventually. Is this distinguished symbol of athletic achievement dead, or taking a hiatus from the always evolving trends of the hallways of Saint Ignatius High School? Only time will tell.
Pope Francis declared 2016 to be a Jubilee Year of Mercy and invites Catholics to follow the ideals of mercy and compassion. The Jubilee year will begin on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th, 2015, and will run until the solemnity of Christ the King on November 20, 2016.
The idea to incorporate the Year of Mercy as a main theme of the school year was raised by Principal Bradesca. Following the Vatican’s lead, he requested that a banner be made to be used during all of the school masses throughout the year. Along with this banner, the ongoing theme “Merciful like the Father” will be integrated into the student body. Principal Bradesca is calling upon the students and faculty to organize activities that exemplify the theme, “Merciful like the Father.”
Many service organizations affiliated with Christian Action Team and Arrupe will be applying the theme into service initiatives throughout the St. Ignatius community. According to the director of the Arrupe Neighborhood Partnership program, Mr. John Gill ‘97, “The Year of Mercy is another attempt to remain with the Catholic reflection and apply it to service in a way Ignatius men have not experienced.” He mentions that after the completion of the Arrupe service programs, students will reflect upon how they showed and received mercy through their actions. Christian Action Team and Arrupe plan to implement prayer and reflection during after school programs as well as CAT meetings.
Coordinator of Volunteers and Programs at the Arrupe House, Mr. Patrick Valletta ‘05, calls upon the students to ask questions and to think about how the ideals of the Year of Mercy can be applied to their different service programs. The Year of Mercy is truly an opportunity for the St. Ignatius community to focus on being agents of mercy by concentrating on how we interact with one another as well as the greater community.
