Home Blog Page 79

Not-so-random numbers are legacy of brilliant math mind

by Kevin Malloy ‘15

Mr. Vince Benander was no ordinary math teacher. During his forty year tenure at Saint Ignatius High School from 1968-2008, he came up with several clever ways to get his students excited about going to math class. In the 1987-1988 school year, Mr. Benander had the idea to map out his entire classroom, room 212, on a three-dimensional coordinate plane.

The project began by students plotting points within room 212, using yards as the unit of measure. As time went on, some students began carefully measuring and plotting points in other areas of the math wing. When other teachers found out about the project, they started requesting to have points made in their rooms. Years later, these coordinate points could be found scattered around not only the main building, but the entire campus. “There is even used to be a point on the roof of the power building,” added Mr. Johnson, one of the few people remaining at Ignatius who know the full story.

While it is unclear exactly how many points still exist around school grounds, each one contains a unique story. Mr. Hennessey, for example, specifically requested to have a point made in his office when he was the Dean of Students. Mr. Ward’s physics room had its point made by Mr. Ward’s son when he was a senior in 2005.

Mr. Benander’s math room acquired the nickname of “The Math Factory” because of projects like his three dimensional coordinate plane. “He was also known for having hundreds of digits of pi stretching across the walls of his room. In addition, he created, along with his brother, the board game Zenn,” commented Mr. Johnson. The Zenn board, still sold nationally today, allows for 101 different strategy games. Mr. Benander, sticking to his math roots, named the game after the German number for ten, “zehn.”

Mr. Benander may no longer be at Saint Ignatius, but his legacy remains. From a Zenn board on Class Competition Day to a series of three numbers hanging from a wall, Mr. Benander has had a permanent impact on St. Ignatius.

Model UN Team achieves national ranking

by Brendan O’Donnell ‘16

The St. Ignatius Model United Nations team has been honored with a ranking from bestdelegate.com, the world’s most important MUN-related website. This is the first time that the team has made the list. Their new ranking came after winning outstanding delegation at Michigan State University MUN and best delegation at Lake Erie International MUN last year.

The rankings presented on bestdelegate. com are currently grouped in 6 regional categories. St. Ignatius is ranked in the Midwest category, along with schools from Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and other Midwestern states. There are three other ranked schools from Ohio: Shaker Heights High School, St. Francis DeSales High School, and Upper Arlington high school. The schools are not ranked numerically but rather alphabetically within their given regions.

The MUN team is very proud of their accomplishment and grateful for the recognition. According to Kellen Dugan ‘15, the student leader of JCWA last year, their high ranking means a lot to the team. “It’s definitely an honor, especially since we put in a lot of hours to improve the program,” he said. Dugan also mentioned how the ranking will positively affect the club’s image.

The rankings were achieved as a result of significant changes that were implemented last year. “We emphasized practicing public speaking, and becoming comfortable speaking on topics that we may not be familiar with,” Dugan said. “We shifted to this style, and away from the normal focus of position papers and on procedure.”

The team expects to be ranked again this year. “We have to win, what Mr. Arko calls, ‘paper awards’ which make us win conferences,” says one of the leaders of this year’s team, Charley Heintel ‘16. “I’m confident because of our great leadership, lots of new freshmen, and strong returning veterans. We’re strong all around.” The team starts their first conference this year at the University of Virginia from November 6th through the 9th.

Drug-testing not such a hair-raising experience

by Kevin Deegan ‘16

“Random drug testing.”

These three words have been hanging over all Saint Ignatius students’ heads since Principal Bradesca announced last year that the school would be instating a new Wellness Program centered around drug tests. And that time is finally here.

As most students probably know, the process of picking students to be tested is random, and one cannot volunteer. The scissors come out twice per month in search of 100 to 120 strands of hair, an amount unnoticeable at a passing glance. Often, it is taken from the scalp, but if the hair on the head is not long enough, one tester is prepared to take hair from either the leg or the armpit. According to a representative from Psychemedics, the test detects any use of cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), amphetamines, or marijuana during the ninety days prior to the test.

Upon arriving at your appointment in Carroll Gym, a counselor will hand you an identification sheet with a unique number. After waiting your turn with the few other students, you go behind a large black curtain and take a seat. The test begins, and the tester takes your hair and places it in a bag with a number corresponding to the one on the identification sheet.

Although the process is usually quick, that’s not always the case. “I was scheduled to have my test from 2:28 until 2:38. I waited until 2:50 for a seat to open and finally left at 2:57,” said Jack Seeley ‘16. “I missed the rest of my class.” With over 1400 students to test and only two people taking hair samples twice a month, it seems that most of the student body will have to wait a while to be tested.

Goodbye government, hello Chipotle bar

by Chris Rini ‘15

Once again, the Wildcat Cafe is on the cutting edge of school lunches with the introduction brand-new options catering to students’ tastes and nutritional needs, all of which have been made available by this year’s decision to forgo involvement in the National School Lunch Program.

In a typical school cafeteria, the norm is to meet all governmental requirements and restrictions while still providing some decent food. However, Campus Dining, led by Mr. Pietravoia, has decided to go above and beyond that standard. In fact, this year, for the first time, Saint Ignatius has gone off of the federally funded National School Lunch Program, which means that campus dining is able to serve what they wish in our cafeteria without having to purchase frozen and processed products. In other words, campus dining is spending more time and money to give students better-tasting, higher quality, and healthier eats.

While serving the student body, campus dining is also doing a benefit to the Cleveland community and the Ohio community. Every time you get a Riche burger, you’re biting into an antibiotic- and hormone-free hamburger produced in Lorain. When you risk the taunts of your friends by going through the salad line, you’re filling your box with pesticide-free produce from Ohio farms. Furthermore, just about every container is recyclable or compostable.

Believing that our student body’s should take responsibility for their diet, Mr. Pietravoia proclaims, “I believe the customer has a right to make a choice.” With their choices of meals and snacks, the cafeteria’s staff has to strike a balance between food that’s healthy and nutritious and that actually sells. Case in point: the burrito bar (which also serves subs every Wednesday). So if you’re that kid that goes to Chipotle at Crocker Park every day of the week and parks your obnoxious, desert camo, black-rimmed Jeep a foot away from the curb and then devours a burrito, you can now replicate that experience in the senior lounge, with a healthy burrito made with all natural and local ingredients. Students can now wash their wraps down with a caffeine-free, vitamin-enriched, calorie-free Monster.

Along with healthy additions like these, dropping out of the National School Lunch Program campus dining has also allowed some favorites to stay the way they are, such as keeping pizza the same size, and on traditional white crust. Mr. Pietravoia asserts that, “We’re keeping our standards very high for local sustainability; pesticide-, hormone-, antibiotic-free products, healthy choices, and good food.” So no matter what food it is you choose to indulge in from the cafeteria, it is ensured that time, care, and thought have gone into it.

Labre: Living the corporal works of mercy

by Gabe Mielke ‘16

Imagine, you’re walking down a thin dirt path weaving in and out of a sparse cover of bushes and trees. On your right an ancient sewer access tunnel, above you, a brooding concrete highway bridge. The path sits at the top of a gently sloping ridge that ends in a long overgrown and blocked off access road. You carry four freshly cooked hot dogs in your hands. Then, you finally see it through the brush – your goal. The jury rigged yet elaborate, half bed sheet, half waterproof tarp structure that marks the dwelling place of two infinitely kindhearted yet very much in need souls.

This is Labre.

The Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Ministry to the Homeless meets every Sunday, rain or shine, sleet or snow, to share not only food, physical nourishment, but companionship, spiritual nourishment just as well. Labre was founded in 2002 by Mr. Jim Skerl ‘74 and Mr. Edward Nolan, and they have since spent hundreds of Sundays in fellowship with the homeless of Cleveland. Over the years, thousands of students have served in this capacity and now Labre serves about 90 people every week.

The very first Labre Ministry was started here at Saint Ignatius, and the ministry has expanded to a number of other high schools and even universities such as Loyola University Chicago, John Carroll University, and Case Western Reserve University.

The average weekly Labre process starts with the Thursday Christian Action Team meeting at 3:05 p.m. This is where students sign up for not just Labre but all the CAT and Arrupe Service Initiatives. The next step happens on Sunday night around 6:00 p.m. when the students and adults going out for Labre make and bag meals in the Joseph Family Kitchen inside of Gibbons Hall to be given out to those who need them later that night. Following a quick prayer service in St. Mary’s Chapel, the participants load into the vans and begin going about the established routes through the city of Cleveland. Just because the routes are established most definitely does not mean that any two trips on Labre are the same. There are always new people to meet and develop relationships with, even in some of the least expected places such as a parking lot.

Yes, the homeless are very grateful for the food, blankets, clothes, and other supplies that the Labre Ministry brings them. They are even more grateful for something else: the companionship that our students, faculty, and families give to them week after week, which is far more important.

The core of the Labre Ministry is the building of relationships between the homeless and us. Even after some of the friends of Labre move off of the streets, we still visit them to see what’s going on in their lives and share experiences. Food is only a part of it, the relationships built and maintained are the true heart and soul of the Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Ministry to the Homeless.

As Jim Skerl ‘74 puts it, “After you touch the wounds of those in the city tonight, there’s no looking back. Cleveland will never look the same again.”

The new Casino Club’s mission is simple: “just chill and play cards.”

by Ben Delhees ‘17

Saint Ignatius High School boasts over 100 different clubs that are open to any and all students who wish to join. Students at Ignatius are allowed to develop their own clubs based on personal or community interests. As a result, there has been a rising number of new clubs due to the innovative ideas of many students.

The Casino Club, created by junior Mitchell Ewashinka, is one of the many clubs that intend to attract great numbers of students within its first year of existence. The standout aspect of the club is its ability to cater to students’ interests. A student may come to the club and ask to play any type card game that he wishes and, as long as others that want participate, he can play it. The Casino Club is one of a kind because it can adapt to its members’ desires.

Mitchell said he created this club because he noticed that this school lacked a card game club that was fun and flexible. The club’s icon is a group of guys meeting up “to just chill and play cards”. While games may get competitive, the focus of the club is to get guys together who enjoy playing cards and relax doing a hobby that they enjoy. This club has yet to have their first actual meeting where they play cards, but they have had an informational meeting. They plan on having two meetings every month.

Mitchel Ewashinka is just one example of the creativity and innovative spirit that St. Ignatius embodies. He was able to turn his love of card games into a club for all to enjoy. Club creation also shows the freedom given to students to pursue their interests outside of the classroom.

Based on the number of new clubs at St. Ignatius High School, students are fully taking advantage of the ability to create their own clubs. Allowing students to create their own clubs and pursue their ambitions benefits both the school and its students alike.

Homecoming 2014 Receives Mixed to “Glowing” Response from Students

by Gabe Mielke ‘16

Two gyms. One night. Countless hours of preparation. 789 couples. 104 pieces of neon paint splattered black paper. Over $1,000.00 made by Mitchell’s Ice Cream. More than twenty assorted neon and black lights. A single, massive, neon American Flag.

This accurately describes the atmosphere and overall experience of Saint Ignatius High School’s 2014 homecoming dance. This year’s dance sported a seductive combination of America and neon as its theme, appropriately titled: “America A Glowbal Power.”

The student response to this year’s theme was great, with 789 bids having been sold by the Student Senate.

“The music definitely could have been better, I would’ve like to hear more hip-hop and recently released music,” Dre’Mont Jones ‘15 said of the dance.

Jones wasn’t alone in his negative review of the music choices. Nate Keirn ‘16 strongly agreed stating, “The music was subpar at best, I requested the song “Blue Monday” seven times and it was never played!”

Conversely, Brock Yoho ‘16 argued, “The music was much better than last year’s, I was shaking it all over the dance floor.”

Despite the mixed reviews on the music, this year’s vibrant decorations and addition of Mitchell’s Ice Cream were greatly appreciated. “The decorations this year were pretty solid, the music was decent, and Mitchell’s Ice Cream was spot on,” said Joe Mertens ‘15.

The most talked about occurrence of the night, however, was arguably the fire alarm that went off in Sullivan Gymnasium, and the subsequent evacuation onto Lorain Avenue within the first hour of the dance. Theories have been circulating about what caused the alarm ranging from the fog machine in Sullivan Gym to an unwitting student accidentally opening a designated emergency exit. “The dance was a lot of fun, but the fire alarm going off was the best part,” said Michael Hyland ‘18.

Student Senate moderator, Mr. Bill Kelly ‘62, thought this year’s dance was very well executed and applauded the Student Senate Slate members, especially President Pat Mulach ‘15, on their hard work in preparation for the event. On his opinion of the execution of the event, Secretary Connor Schumacher ‘15 said, “There was a lot more enthusiasm surrounding the dance than there usually is, I don’t know if it was because of the theme or the fact that Mitchell’s Ice Cream was there this year. It definitely turned out the way we wanted it to.”

Ultimately, Ryan Mullin ‘17 described Homecoming 2014 best by saying it was “no doubt, most definitely, undeniably, a downright banger.”

Fr. Murphy Moving On; Saint Ignatius to Begin Search for New President

For the second time in a decade, Saint Ignatius High School will be looking for a new leader.

In a letter to members of the Ignatius community, Fr. William Murphy, SJ announced Thursday that he will be leaving his position as President at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

“I’m a little bit surprised to be honest. Fr. Murphy was an excellent president,” said Matt Coric ’15. “Everything he did was behind the scenes, so it was hard for us students to recognize just how much he has done for this school- a very humble man.”

In his letter to the student body, Fr. Murphy explains that the provincial Jesuit of the Chicago-Detroit area, Rev. Brian Paulson S.J., is directed him to prepare for a new ministry and for tertianship. “Tertianship refers to the period of preparation for final vows in the Society of Jesus,” informs Fr. Murphy.

During tertianship, the Jesuit studies the most important documents of the Society of Jesus and spends 30 days in silence during a retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises, the retreat St. Ignatius himself created.

A Presidential Search Committee will be formed in coming weeks and will include members of the Board of Regents, as well as representatives of the faculty and staff, alumni and other members of the Ignatius community. It is not known exactly when a new president will be announced, but Fr. Murphy anticipates a new president will be in place before the start of the school in August 2015.

“I’ve only experienced one year with him, but I am surprised to see him leave,” affirmed Zach Small ’17.”Walking around the halls, he was always smiling and would always make sure to say hi.”

Coric and Small both agreed that the next president needs to have strong leadership, and they would like to see a president who is interactive with the students.

In the meantime, Fr. Murphy intends to keep his focus on Ignatius’ future–the school is in the middle of developing a new strategic plan–and engaging directly with students in his history class and school masses.

Fr. Murphy continues to inspire the students and emphasize that our desires and God’s desire are one, and challenges us as Fr. Welsh does to answer the question “What does God want from me?”

“When people ask me the best thing about my job, I tell them that I get to be with the best people all the time,” said Fr. Murphy. “I doubt that I’ll ever be a part of anything like it ever again.”

The Eye will sit down for an interview with Fr. Murphy soon to discuss his transition and relfect upon his years at Saint Ignatius.

Senior Nathan Griffin Commits To Notre Dame

Griffin after being named the 2014 Tennis State Champion

By Sam Royer ’15

While most seniors are still dealing with the stress of figuring out which schools they want to apply to, 2014 tennis state champion Nathan Griffin ’15 has completed his search after committing to the University of Notre Dame earlier this week.

“So proud to say that I have officially committed to the University of Notre Dame to play tennis and continue my studies. I could not be more excited for what’s to come,” Griffin announced via Instagram on Monday night.

Griffin began talking to coaches last year, meeting with Notre Dame, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, University of Chicago, and Lake Forest to name some.

“Things started speeding up in the summer because we started having big tournaments and the coach would come in town and watch me practice. Towards the end of the summer he told me that I’d have a spot on the team and I could commit whenever I was ready,” Griffin said.

Griffin admitted he’s most excited for the shift from high school to college tennis. “In college, everybody wants everybody on the team to get better and it’s not as much of a competition – it’s more of a team.”

Griffin had always known he wanted to play tennis in college, but what really drew him to Notre Dame was its balance. “I wanted to be at a school where the academics are very important but at the same time I wanted to be somewhere I really enjoyed and liked being there. And that’s what happened with Notre Dame. Everything fell into place.”

Wildcats dominant in pro sports

by Bill Huesken ’14

Every Ignatius student has heard Brian Hoyer’s name, a name fervently repeated by Browns fans hoping for relief from season after season of drudgery. The 2004 graduate is, despite the Manziel media circus, on track to be the Browns starting quarterback this fall.

But names like Derek Dietrich, Justin Morrow, and Tim Mack are far less frequently repeated on campus. The school’s numerous successful athletic programs have sent many talented athletes on to the next level. But these three, in baseball, soccer, and pole vault, respectively, have reached the top levels in their sports. Their time at Ignatius was, for each, instrumental to their later success.

Derek Dietrich, ’07, was taken in the third round of the 2007 MLB draft by the Astros but opted to play collegiately with Georgia Tech. He signed with the Rays after being chosen in the second round of the 2010 draft. After the 2012 season, Dietrich was traded to the Miami Marlins, with whom he made his Major League debut in 2013. He made the 2014 Opening Day roster and has seen regular playing time holding down second base while veteran Rafael Furcal rehabs from an injury.

Dietrich currently sports a .241 batting average with three home runs and 11 RBI in 28 games. He figures into the Marlins’ long-term plans. A star for the Ignatius team, Coach Brad Ganor spoke of him as a player with the “drive and the passion to succeed.”

“He was great student, but his main focus was to be an MLB player, and he never let anything get between him and his dream,” Ganor said.

Justin Morrow ’06 was an All-American at Ignatius, helping lead the Soccer Cats to two state championships in 2004 and 2005, and and a national championship in ’05. He served as a captain his senior year, went on to play for Notre Dame, and earned Big East Academic All Star awards his sophomore and junior years while being named the team captain his senior year of college. An MLS All-Star in 2012 with the San Jose Earthquakes, he was traded before the 2014 season to Toronto FC, where the hope is that his play at left back can help to change the team’s fortunes.

Like Dietrich, Morrow stood out not just because of talent.

“Talent gets you so far,” said Coach Mike McLaughlin. “But ultimately, what separates a guy is his will and desire to compete. Justin was always talented, and as he went through high school and college, he really discovered the importance of working hard to be his best every day. “

Tim Mack, ’90, is a different story. At the high school level he was a talented but not exceptional pole vaulter. His high school record was 13 feet, 6 inches. He never made the state meet and signed to compete collegiately at Malone University near Canton.

He would, however, become more and more talented as he aged. He transferred to the University of Tennessee, where he won the 1995 NCAA Indoor Pole Vault title.

After failing to make the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, Mack earned a spot on the 2004 team for the Athens games. Once in Greece, not only did he win the gold medal, Mack set what was, at the time, the Olympic record at 19 feet, 6¼ inches.

After competing professionally for several more years, Mack now resides in Tennessee, coaching talented pole vaulters from around the country.

The vast majority of high school stars go on to lead lives influenced b y sports, but not dominated by them. But a school the size of Ignatius has produced several athletes who have not just great talent, but also great work ethics. The combination of those two traits has allowed them to succeed as they have, earning professional contracts, acclaim, and even gold medals.

1...787980...145Page 79 of 145

Instagram

About The Eye

The Eye is the student-led publication of Saint Ignatius High School.

Editors-in-Chief: Kelly Coleman '23, Young Kim '23 & Aidan Oliss '23