Writer Spotlight | 6
Death with Dignity Saint Reporter Natalie Przybyla explores the idea of Death with Dignity as a hot topic in society.
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Wednesday, November 5, 2014 Volume 34, Issue 4
>>NEWS Changes at The Vatican | 2
Saint Reporter, Natalie Przybyla tells us about big social decisions being made from the Vatican
I AM AQ | 3
Learn about the I Am AQ initiative to recognize student leaders, reported by Staff Writer Tom Doetsch
>>CULTURE TSwift’s Takeover | 5
Staff reporter Haley Brink lets you into why you need to check out Taylor Swift’s newly released album
Carmen | 6
Culture Editor Abbi Racine reviews the highly praised opera
>>SPORTS Women’s Soccer | 7 Saint Reporter Sam Delamarter reports on the AQ Women’s Soccer team as they prepare for the WHAC Championship World Series Wrap Up | 8
Staff Writer Zoe Harmon wraps up the World Series as Giants take all
We’re shaking it off, Taylor.
Rocking out for awareness Code Blue for Autism wraps up week with Autism Awareness benefit By Mayra Monroy Editor-in-Chief During the week of October 27, Aquinas’ campus was filled with the color blue. The week, dedicated to Autism Awareness, was filled with an events put on by the student organization, Special Saints. With activities varying from tree planting to tie dying, spectators and the AQ community joined together in a discussion of the reality of autism. Code Blue started as a small program in the mind of junior Alan Lally during his high school years. In honor of his autistic younger brother, Lally formed Code Blue to raise awareness for those with disabilities and those that supported them. “My brother Brendan was put on the autism spectrum... I had no idea what autism [was],” said Lally. “I realized that there were a lot of people who still might not know or understand autism, and I realized that needed to change.” Lally cites his brother’s struggle as the catalyst behind his movement. “Code Blue for Autism has become something so much bigger than I ever imagined and I’m so glad Aquinas makes it easy for us to stand up for what we believe in,” said Lally. Special Saints is an organization of students in the movement workings towards stamping out the stigma of disabilities in the community. “We are excited that our first ever Special Saints Awareness Week went so well. We are excited to see the club grow,” said sophomore Alex Karatkiewicz, President of Special Saints. “I am thankful for everyone who helped make it happen.” The week included activities like a tree planting by the library pond, tie dying for a cause and a discussion in the Cook Carriage House with Assistant Professor of Education, Dr. Gina Garner.
World News Update Iran, South Africa and Ukraine experience changes
By Anna Musiyenko Staff Writer Iran Reyhaneh Jabbari, a twenty-six year old woman, was executed by hanging from the government of Iran in Tehran prison on October 25, reports BBC. Jabbari was arrested in 2007 for the murder of Morteza Abdolali Sarbandi, a secret ministry spy, who made an attempt to sexually abuse her. Jabbari made a confession under the threat that she stabbed Abdolali Sarbandi with a knife in the back, however, there was one other person in the house who actually killed the ministry agent. Human rights and the difficult situation around this case attracted the attention of both the US State Department and British Foreign Office, who were trying to make Iran abolish the use of the death penalty. “This is another bloody stain on Iran’s human rights record,” Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa Programme said. According to the Sharia law, the official moral code and religious law of some Muslim countries, the woman would be not only punished for trying to prevent the sexual assault by using force but also for not stopping a rapist from having the sexual relationship and provoking him by inappropriate dress. “Tragically, this case is far from uncommon. Once again Iran has insisted on applying the death penalty despite serious concerns over the fairness of the trial,” Sahraoui said. South Africa Senzo Meyiwa, the national soccer team’s captain of South Africa, was shot and killed in a robbery attempt at the township next to Johannesburg on October 27, reports The New York
Grand Rapids Griffins | 7
Times. M e y i wa wa s s t a y i n g i n h i s girlfriend’s house when two gunmen entered the place and a third person was waiting outside. The attackers asked for money, cellphones, and other valuable goods. Trying to protect his girlfriend from a firearm, Meyiwa was shot through the chest by a single round. The police declared his death by the time his body reached the hospital. Since 2013, South Africa has had one of the world’s highest murder rates. From April 2013 to March 2014 the number of people killed in the state rose to more than 17,000. The South African’s government are currently in search of Meyiwa’s killers and have offered an award of $23,000 for any information about the attackers. Ukraine The preterm parliamentary election in Ukraine on October 26th 2014 became one of the most significant days in the history of the country, reports CNN. Going through the strict monitoring by official international observers, Ukrainians proved their support for the ideas of the February pro-European revolt in the capital and rejected far-right neo-nationalist parties. “I asked you to vote for a democratic, reformist, pro-Ukrainian and pro-European majority. Thank you for having heard and supported this appeal,” President of Ukraine, Petro O. Poroshenko, said. In order to prevent proRussian separatist movements and pressure of Kremlin, Ukrainians did not allow a single Communist Party candidate to be elected in Parliament. It would be the first time in 96 years that Communists would not be represented in the Ukrainian legislature.
COURTESY PAULINA PEI
#CodeBlueforAutism: Nelson enjoys the musical entertainment at the Code Blue for Autism benefit Saturday. There was also a Blue Out on campus with students wearing all blue to support autism awareness. Saturday was the cherry on top of a perfect week. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Wege Ballroom, the community convened to raise funds and fun for the Code Blue for Autism Week. Through the work of Special Saints, and the volunteers from AQ clubs like Programming Board, the AQ Acts of Random Kindness, Art Club and the Education Club, the hard work paid off. With performances ranging from dancing to the headlining band, the event proved to be pure success. “Originally we were hoping that at least 150 people would attend, and we met our goal easily,” said sophomore Kelsey Cotton. “We had an amazing group of performers and volunteers who helped
make the night truly a joy to be a part of.” The cost of admission was a $2 donation or unused school supplies. The money was donated to the Autism Alliance of Michigan and the supplies to Congress Elementary School in Grand Rapids. A donation bought spectators a seat to a benefit that would ultimately raise $400 for the Autism Alliance. With a variety of musical performances from AQ students, there was also a performance from Arts in Motion, an art studio located in Eastown that provides people living with disabilities a chance to participate in art, music and theatre activities. “It was honestly so rewarding to be a part of the Code Blue for Autism benefit concert,” said sophomore singer Maggie Wissman. “It’s so important that people take the time to understand Autism and
make a better life for people with those needs. This was an amazing step towards that acceptance.” In the future, expect to see more collaborative programs from Special Saints by monitoring their Twitter and Facebook accounts. All in all, the one ultimate goal was accomplished: awareness. “I think we gained a lot of awareness this week,” said sophomore Special Saints Vice President Genni Terrana. “We had a lot of students attend as well as friends and family who have a connection with autism.” “It was great to see the response of all the club members, volunteers, and guests throughout the week and their willingness to be part of something dear to my heart and the hearts of many others,” said Lally.
Making it up as they go ICE Improv debuts for the first time this year and share their changes everyone laughing. The first was a game of interruption, where a man tried to propose to his girlfriend in They’re bigger. They’re better. a public restroom but kept getting They’re louder. They’re funnier. i n t e r r u p t e d b y e ve r y t h i n g f r o m women’s rights advocates to a man They’re back. They are the Aquinas College in a wheelchair who fell off his improvisation troupe known as In seat in a stall. Eventually, the man Case of Emergency (ICE) Improv was finally able to propose in this and on Wednesday, October 29, they unlikely setting, which led into the returned to the Moose Cafe for a second game, Superheroes. This new season and new cast in front of game followed Insomnia Man and his friends; a Malfunctioning Robot with a packed house. Wednesday night, ICE delivered an Attitude, Snot Girl, and Motor Oil seven fun-filled games that had Man as they tackled their greatest foe yet, a world full of germs. Other games included “I Can Do Better”, a game where players get replaced in a scene by another p l a ye r w h o t h i n k s they can repeat the action of the other and improve on it; “Interrogation”, a guessing game reminiscent of Clue™; “Switch”’ a game where four scenes would rotate o n e a f t e r a n o t h e r, “Inanimate Object”, a game where an inanimate object talks to a human (who is the only person who can hear the object); and “Chariots of Fire”, a slow-motion game that is the troupe’s signature way of ending each show. MARY WEBSTER//THE SAINT Aquinas senior Back and Better Than Ever: Junior co-captain Paul Katie Glossop, ICE’s DeAngelis and the troupe kick of the year with a co-captain, is looking performance in The Moose cafe. forward to working By Carlos Hernandez The Saint Reporter
with the new recruits to the troupe. “The beginning is always fun because you’re beginning to know everyone’s senses of humor. Everyone has a different sense of humor, so it’s always cool to know what makes someone laugh and what they think is actually funny,” said Glossop. Since auditions, the Improv players have been hard at work, sharpening their skills twice a week to understand each other better. This year, only seven performers make up the roster: Captains Katie Glossop, junior Paul DeAngelis, returning members sophomores Regan Rohrs and Ian Scheidel; and new members freshmenNoah Kellogg, Jack Farrell, and junior B r i d g e t t e D e g e n h a r d t . D o n ’t b e fooled, however, this does not mean the troupe is any weaker than in years past. In fact, Glossop sees advantages in having a smaller group, saying that “It’s a little more intimate. We definitely have to depend on each other a lot more for those interchanging roles within games, so everyone has to be willing and versatile to play a lot of different roles with a smaller troupe.” It is safe to say that ICE is off to a strong start. With a popular turnout, a debut night of many laughs, and a dedicated crew who l o ve s i m p r o v i s a t i o n . T h e y m a y make it up as they go, but their spirits match that of people who have practiced for a life time. Come by a show in the future and see for yourself!