Staff
PAGE 14
Sept. 2 2016
Editors’ Viewpoint
Meet the Editors Our names are Catherine Jasper and Jenna Williams, and we are the new co-editors in chief of the Megaphone. We wanted to formally introduce ourselves and preview our goals for the year. We spent a week at IU for the High School Journalism Institute participating in a leadership workshop that taught us how to effectively lead our staff and produce the best student publication we can. Our main goal for this year is to increase readership by involving more student work, coverage and content. We hope to do this by increasing our social media presence, reporting on topics that matter to the readers and connecting issues to how they affect the student population. We want to produce a paper by students, about students, for students. With this in mind, if you have any story ideas, photos or comments you would like to submit, feel free to share them with us at @IrishMegaphone on Twitter or email us at cgcasper18@gocathedral.com and jnwilliams18@gocathedral.com.
CATHERINE JASPER
JENNA WILLIAMS
Where did you attend grade school? I went to Holy Name in Beech Grove. Why were you interested in newspaper? I was interested in newspaper because I love to read and write and I wanted to gain better experience with talking to people. I also wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than myself. What are you most excited for about this year? I am most excited about learning how to lead people and producing the first issue of the Megaphone as a co-editor in chief. What are you involved in? I’m involved in newspaper and Student Life Council. What is your favorite food? I love Macaroni and cheese.
Where did you attend grade school? I went to St. Malachy School in Brownsburg. Why were you interested in newspaper? I’ve always liked to write. I started working on my first youth newspaper when I was in the sixth grade, a student publication called Y-Press that was run in the Indy Star. I’ve also always been really interested in telling people’s stories and finding out what is unique about them. Everybody has a story. What are you most excited for about this year? I’m really excited to be able to work with and get to know new people. What are you involved in? I run cross-country and play tennis. I am also a co-president of Positivity Club and co-editor of the newspaper.
What a start to the new year: Rooted in tradition, uprooted One week ago, each and every student at Cathedral felt the same thing. Huddled in a dark basement, uncertain, annoyed and maybe even scared. The storm that disturbed our peace upon the Hill was more destructive than any of us could have imagined. It led to an unprecedented event in the school’s history, releasing students early due to a massive power outage. However, when each student, faculty and staff member emerged from the underground darkness, there was loss and celebration. We had lost a symbol of our campus, lovingly nicknamed “The Gum Tree.” It’s prestige went all the way to the 71st Cathedran, acting as a model for the front cover. Despite this loss, we celebrated. We celebrated the success our plan offered us. Not one student was hurt. Not one student was injured in a storm strong enough to blow down trees and reduce our beloved “Gum Tree” to splinters. A truly amazing feat, until you learn how it was accomplished. There was a plan, faculty and staff knew just what to do and the administration made the decision to send students home after seeing the destruction on campus, deciding
it was better for students to be safe than to err on the side of uncertainty. Although some might consider this (former) tree an eyesore or a symbol of laziness, it has been providing shade and protection for years. It looked over Cathedral as we celebrated, reflected and mourned. As you walk along the path between Loretto and Kelly Hall, remember the gum tree. Don’t remember it because it is a tree, remember it because the day it disappeared, we each shared an experience. While one memory is taken from us, another fills its place. After the storm, there is peace. The sun is shining, it is still hot and humid (unfortunately) and classes have begun again. There is life flowing through these halls. One setback does not ruin the successes and joys we have known during our time on the Hill, however short or long it may be. Life is really about moves and counter moves. If you fail a test, study harder for the next one. If you’re completely stressed out, take some time to relax. And if a storm takes away one symbol of the school, be patient because a new one is coming in October.