Issue Two

GENEVA QUARTERLY vol. 6 iss. 2

identity and individualism

Winter 2018 | Geneva School of Boerne

BEHINd the cover Identity. This is the concept pictured in the cover for Issue Two. Senior Grant Williams strategically poses in the freezer section of HEB, while Jacqueline Knox captured the image. The front portrays someone getting lost in the commotion of everything going on around them, while struggling to find their own identity. For the back, Williams dashes past the milk section on a cart to capture the worldly movement in which we are constantly wrapped up. Together, the front and back combine to represent someone embracing their identity.

Design Anna Riedlinger Photo Jacqueline Knox

identity and individualism mission statement Geneva Quarterly, a student-led publication of Rhetoric School, serves to provide Geneva and the surrounding community with relevant and accurate news, opinions and entertainment centered around our student culture. Our staff strives to instill boldness, creativity, and exellence through our published work. We aim to discover truth laced into our community with integrity and to write all pieces from a Biblical worldview to the glory of Jesus Christ.

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This is a publication for: Geneva School of Boerne 113 Cascade Caverns Road Boerne, TX 78015

school info The Geneva School of Boerne exists to provide a classical education from a Biblical worldview, to equip students for a lifetime of learning, service and leadership to the glory of Jesus Christ.

RHETORIC SCHOOL POPULATION: 227 RHETORIC FACULTY: 31

colophon All verbal and visual content is solicited and selected by the quarterly staff.

Approval is garnered from our adviser, Becky Ryden, and from our Headmaster, Rob Shelton. All bylined writers are held accountable for their work.

Contact To purchase a subscription or advertise, contact: danielgrover@gsbtx.com To complain or for any other inquires, contact: rryden@genevaschooltx.org

affiliations We are proud to announce our five year membership with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, where we have won the Crown Award the last three years and received a Gold Medalist rating. We are also members of the Texas Interscholastic Press Association, where we have been awarded the highest rating of distinguished merit for the last five years. In addition, we have been members of the National Scholastic Press Association the past two years and were named a Pacemaker Award finalist.

magazine specs Created in InDesign and printed by SchoolPrinting.com. Font families: Bebas Neue, Emmeline and Helvetica Neue.

FOR OUR READERS dear reader Many of us are in the awkward phase where we aren’t children anymore but at the same time (as our parents love to remind us) we aren’t quite adults. We have our feet in both worlds, which gives us the ability to get away with acting like children yet still handle some adult responsibilities. This phase is a beautiful one, but it also brings struggles, especially struggles revolving around our identity. We begin to question the choices we have made, reflecting on our past to change ourselves in the future.

But identity is not a struggle we need to have. As long as we have placed our identity in Christ, His everlasting joy will shine through us. For Issue Two, the talented staff of the Geneva Quarterly focused on the overall theme of identity, with an emphasis on individualism. From Trump’s presidency and its effect on national identity to students struggling with fitting in at Geneva, our theme shines through in every article. So, as you enjoy Issue Two, I encourage you to ponder your own identity in whatever phase of life you find yourself. Ask yourself what defines your character and if you have rooted your identity in the correct thing. If what you find isn’t what you like, you and you alone have the power to make that change.

from our hands to yours Jacqueline Knox, with Nathan Young, Aisling Ayers, and Anna Riedlinger LETTER 3

70 82 32 22

what’s inside culture

competition

018

061

THE TRUMP EFFECT A review of Trump’s impact on modern America.

COLLEGIATE CRIMES Colleges continue to get their hand slapped for breaking the rules.

campus

coNSECUTIVES

038

082

FINDING YOUR OWN IDENTITY Not everyone feels they fit into the Geneva mold.

HAVE A CHAT WITH SUES, HOWIE AND CAT Don’t miss the untold secret conversations of Geneva’s renowned math teachers.

CONTENTS 4

38 15 98 010 INSTA-GATING CONTROVERSY

058 MAN UP

012 #METOO MANIA

064 MYRICK VS. LOPEZ

015 HANGIN’ IN THE AISLES

066 MUST MATHLETES BE ATHLETES?

022 DREAM ON

074 PERFECTING THE PANCAKES

024 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS

076 WHAT TYPE OF PENGUIN ARE YOU?

030 GEORGELOS THE GREAT

078 TERRIFIC TALL TALES

032 FROM BOYS TO MEN

080 GENEVA JAMS

036 BOARDWALK TALK

086 EDITOR’S CHOICE

042 TEACHERTUBE

088 STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

044 SPEAKING OVER ANXIETY

089 THE TALON

046 SELF-LOVE IN A SECULAR WORLD

091 UNDER THE BOARDWALK

054 SWIMMING TO NEW DEPTHS

CREATIVITY

055 PASSING THE TORCH

094 CRAFT IT UP

056 FANCY FOOTWORK

095 A BIT WORDY

057 DO YOU KNOW YOUR DISTRICT?

100 RODEO ART

CONTENTS 5

01 culture

EXPLORING EVERYTHING FROM THE SMALL TOWN OF BOERNE TO THE WORLD AT LARGE

SECTION

HIGHLIGHTS

015 HANGIN’ IN THE AISLES

018 THE TRUMP EFFECT

022 DREAM ON

news

Words Gabi Griffey

SOUP KITCHEN MAKES A CONTRIBUTION If you turn right about two feet down Adler Road, you will come across the new and charming restaurant called the Boerne Soup Kitchen. The location itself is an old house renovated with simplistic and sleek furnishings that give off the “cozy coffeehouse” vibe. Their menu has just the right amount of options, not too few but not too much. All their soups and entrees are gluten free. They also offer vegan and vegetarian options.

Their menu changes daily to keep their options fresh. The restaurant works with many of the community service organizations around Boerne to provide meals to impoverished or homeless people. When you dine here, you can donate money so that someone who would otherwise not be able to afford a meal, can receive a free one. So, next time you see someone in need, be sure to let them know to head on down to Boerne Soup Kitchen to get lunch or dinner on the house!

MACHU PICCHU FOR ADDISON CATE “I have been in Aguas Calientes, Peru / Machu Picchu: Aguas Calientes is the nearest town to Machu Picchu, so we stayed there a couple of days. It’s built into the side of the mountain, and has a rushing river with waterfalls running through it! The mountains there are so different than the other cities too—they are literally vertical up and down and covered in jungle/rainforest. (This part of Peru is closer to Brazil and is more tropical).Going to actual Machu Picchu was incredible! The first four hours were spent in the freezing pouring rain and we were all completely soaked, but once we started hiking up Waynapicchu, it cleared up and got warmer. The view from the top was amazing, because we could see Machu Picchu from above and we were above the clouds.”

-Addison Cate (‘17) is a sophomore at Abilene Christian University.

Photos Taylor Tippit and Provided

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FEELING FRENCH WITH DELANEY YOUNG

“I’m studying with the Institute of American Universities in Aix en Provence; I wake up most days and wonder how I am even allowed to do this. Living abroad feels so indulgent, and you feel this pressure to not treat the everyday like it’s the everyday because you’re in France, spending your days eating crepes and studying art in the Musee D’Orsay. I have tried my best to let myself belong and adjust without losing

the gratitude and total wonder I came here with. To be honest, though, I’m often either feeling unworthy of living in France or complaining about it. Working out that balance in a country as romanticized as France has been one of the hardest parts about studying abroad, but it’s been a good reminder that home is people, not places.”

-Delaney Young (‘16) is a junior at Wheaton College

MIRANDA WARD IN MAGICAL ITALY “While Studying abroad in Tuscany, I have seen so much of Italy and been blown away over and over. The serenity of the Amalfi Coast, the bustle of Florence and the magic of Venice have captured me. Spending a whole semester in Italy has allowed me time to visit other countries as well. Seeing everything from the Greek Islands to the Swiss Alps, I have traipsed all over— trying to soak it all in.

Budapest welcomed me into their Hungarian culture with Castles and Baths and Christmas Markets, while Paris immersed me in the loveliness of France even in just a short weekend. My travels have been a breath of fresh air—a new season of excitement—accompanied by the familiar sight of

art and architecture I have studied for years. I found myself so in awe so often, and this wonder has had a lasting impact on my life. I could not recommend living abroad more—the most unforgettable adventure.”

-Miranda Ward (‘16) is a junior at Texas A&M University

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insta-Gating Controversy

OPINION

SCROLL ON AS SOCIAL MEDIA’S COMEDY DEVOLVES Words Gabi Griffey

These posts aren’t produced to create laughter, they are just there to generate reactions whether they be good or bad.

As you scroll through the explore page on Instagram, there is really no way of avoiding some of the insane things that tend to pop up.

The app provides organization by categorizing all the content that is posted into separate sections titled: “For You, Humor, Style, Sports, TV & Movies,” and many more. Even though these categories are supposed to remain separate, Instagram’s comedy content seems to bleed into every section. Many of the videos that are posted and put into what Instagram deems as comedy are created by public figures that call themselves comedians.

However, good comedy is planned and thought-out with the intent of reaching a certain audience. “Instagram Comedians” have none of these qualities. Their content consists of humor that is often tasteless and offensive. Nine times out of ten, the punch-line of the video is completely repulsive.

To start, many of the jokes made are objectifying towards women. One video I stumbled across while scrolling through my explore page depicted a guy sitting down to play video games while his girlfriend walks in the room and tries to talk to him. He acts as if she isn’t there, so she proceeds to remove her clothing (because that’s what every normal person would do). Finally, as she’s almost completely naked, he asks her to repeat whatever she was saying, because now she has his attention. Funny right? Isn’t it just hilarious when a guy only cares about what a woman is saying if she is completely nude? This is only one of the milder examples of this disgusting content. This shouldn’t be categorized as humor; what about it is funny? What happened to the clever and witty jokes that don’t make you so uncomfortable you can’t enjoy them with your friends?

Design Taylor Tippit Graphic Ainsley Plesko

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#Metoo

mania

TWO OPPOSING VIEWS ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT

Beginning as an aid in the healing process of victims of sexual violence, the “#metoo movement” has morphed into a worldwide campaign. Due to its sudden growth in recent months, the goal of the movement has broadened because of the wide spectrum of survivors who have taken part. While there has been some backlash on social media, the movement still strives to shed light on the topic in order to “disrupt the systems that allow for the global proliferation of sexual violence,” as stated on the #metoo website. While the goal is to change the culture where women or even men can be objectified, there are opinons circulating as to how to go about this change.

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pro

Words Lydia duPerier

In the culture we live in today, society often objectifies women. Movies, song lyrics and even social media glorify the way women look. Unfortunately, these are constantly right in front of our faces and are practically impossible to avoid. Because of this, society views women as physical objects rather than human beings. This is the root cause of sexual harassment. Men begin to view women as nothing more than a body. When this happens, men will take advantage and use women for their own benefit.

Sexual harassment does not have to be something physical either. Verbal or Cyber harassment can be just as traumatic.

Up to 81% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime. And that number is just the people who have stood up and confessed. With the pressures that come with being a woman, it is hard to admit to such personal experiences.

Last October, reports from the New York Times and the New Yorker broke the story that longtime movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein, had been habitually harassing women sexually. In reaction to this, actress

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Alyssa Milano decided to tweet, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted, write ‘#metoo’ as a reply to this tweet.” Almost immediately, women around the world posted their experiences followed by a “me too” hashtag. This was the start of the “#metoo movement.”

The movement gives women the courage to speak up and fight for justice in situations where there has been little justice—not because the law doesn’t support them, but because they have been suppressed by their own shame in proclaiming abuse. It gives sexually harassed women a feeling of peace in knowing that they are not alone.

Ultimately, the #metoo movement serves as a platform for women to take a stand and act to stop sexual harassment and help those who have survived it. Any movement can agitate a reaction in the opposite extreme. No one can argue that wives, sisters, mothers and friends should be subjected to any suppression in a sexual nature by anyone, no matter how influential he may be.

con

Words Charlotte Walker

With the uprising of feminism and “girl power” in our culture today, the “#metoo” movement has struck a chord with many women worldwide, and as a result of social media, has sparked a renewal of force and aggression behind the movement. While the movement started out with the good intentions of raising awareness of sexual assault and helping survivors find a community of healing, its popularity and politics seem to have grown tremendously in the past several months. It seems as though in an attempt to push back on men and sexual abusers, women are beginning to push the envelope a bit too far.

As the media has projected in the past several months, women are taking advantage of this movement to the point of accusing men in line for the Supreme Court with assault, such as Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation of Judge Kavanaugh. Although Ford’s claims came up empty with no proof or evidence, Kavanaugh was subjected to interview after interview, interrogations

and hearings, as well as over 1,000 written questions.

Women’s words are being transformed into ammunition against men’s careers and livelihoods. This crusade is altering the way in which men interact with women, for fear of a misunderstood comment placing their job in jeopardy. While banners abounded in the marches stated, “Women take back the workplace,” many are realizing that their newfound power and voice is actually inhibiting them from excelling or receiving promotions in the work place.

What began as a positive shedding of light on sexual assault and an opportunity for women to confidently and vulnerably share their experiences is morphing into a platform which people are abusing for their own political agendas. Women’s voices are no longer restrained, but rather unleashed in a new, more powerful and perhaps destructive manner.

Design Gillian Loflin Photos Braden Hall Graphic Ainsley Plesko

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Seniors Scott Standerfer, Nathan Young and Mason Janse (l-r) posing in the tree section of Walmart while on their day-long expedition.

hangin’ in the aisles THREE SENIORS ADVENTURE BY SPENDING 8 ½ HOURS IN THE AISLES OF WALMART Words Nathan Young

On Saturday, November 17 at 12:31 p.m., seniors Mason Janse, Scott Standerfer and I walked into the most mysterious establishment in Boerne: Walmart. Our mission was one that would test the human spirit and push us to our extremes. We wanted to see how long we could last. Admittedly, our expectations were high. We were hoping to stay until late in the night, but we had no idea what the store had in store. After eight-and-a-half brutal hours of wandering around the wasteland of retail, we had to call it quits. Driven out by the questioning looks from employees, the mental stress of failing the “Stacker” game and the “Tinker Bell” theme song playing on repeat at the in-store McDonald’s, we had to return to the real world. While we were inside though, I managed to keep note of most everything that we noticed. These were our observations:

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12:53 p.m.—Walked by a girl playing the arcade games who pumped her fist in the air and shouted, “Yesss!” after an apparent victory.

12:56—Overheard a mom yelling at her kids that they were “#@!* embarrassing.”

1:01

1:01—Tested out the couches in the furniture section.

The bean bags were very comfortable and surprisingly affordable.

1:11—Took some toy bikes for a test drive. We received lots of disapproving stares.

1:30—Played some arcade games. We were terrible at “Street Fighter”, but “Rampage” was more our speed.

1:45—Scouted out some hot deals in the clothing section.

We decided that Walmart clothing is severely underrated.

1:53—Almost got run over by a motorized wheelchair.

1:58—Made friends with the assistant manager, Abel. We thought the connection might come in handy later on.

1:11

1:59—We saw our first familiar face: chemistry teacher Dr. Rodney Lloyd himself.

2:02—This is when the maddening boredom really started to set in. We headed out to the parking lot and drifted around in a shopping cart to clear our heads.

2:05—Investigated a trail of milk-like substance in the parking lot. We never found the source…just one of the many mysteries of the store I guess.

1:59

2:10—Standerfer and Janse, both of whom are HEB employees, recognized their HEB manager, Nelly, shopping at Walmart. We discussed conspiracy theories for a bit: Double agent? Talent scout? Inter—franchise deal? Triple agent?

2:25—Saw senior Reagan Mowery and freshman Grant Mowery in the check-out line. The brotherly love was evident.

2:38—Standerfer gets a water perm at the in-store SmartStyle hair salon. We started talking to the stylist doing Scott’s hair: Meme. She said that the craziest thing she had ever seen in Walmart was someone claiming that a chicken on a leash was their service animal.

3:02—Our photographer, sophomore Ashton Landis, left the store after having been a faithful companion up to that point.

2:02

The timeline starting at 1:01 includes relaxing on furniture, riding bikes, hanging with chemistry teacher Dr. Rodney Lloyd and an escapade in the parking lot with the shopping carts.

3:14—Janse and I went to eat at the in-store McDonald’s while Standerfer’s hair was drying. “Tinker Bell” was on the TV in the back of the restaurant, but it was stuck on the title screen, so the 15-second theme song just kept playing on repeat. This was a definitely a low point in our journey.

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4:12—An hour later, Standerfer’s perm was complete and the “Tinker Bell” movie finally started.

4:20—A man walks into the store with a fishing rod and a radio. We speculated on why this might be, but came up empty.

4:32—Tried to wrangle a cat by the benches outside.

Even though he had a limp leg, we were unsuccessful.

4:44—Listened to a sad Spotify playlist and looked at memes in the parking lot.

5:27—Took a walk around the perimeter of the building to check for suspicious activity. Halfway through, we realized that we were the only suspicious-looking people there.

1:45

5:50—Geneva alumnus Josh Russell and senior Ethan Houser brought us 12 chicken tenders. This visit truly revived our spirits, and the two accompanied us back inside.

6:09—Dug to the bottom of the bin full of movies.

6:20—Senior Callen Vaught joined the fellowship— another boost to moral.

6:27—Looked through the search history on the demonstration phones and accidently found some pretty raunchy stuff.

1:30

6:41—Debated whether “Happy Feet” or “Surfs Up” is a better movie.

6:44—Found some greasy hair gel in the movie bin.

7:10—The adventure was losing its momentum, so we relaxed on the bean bags in the furniture section.

7:18—Junior Travis Ratteree shows up out of nowhere.

Our company grew to seven people.

12:56 3:02

7:54—I take a quick nap while Josh tries to win a prize in the arcade. When I woke up, he had won a foam apple.

8:05—We started a livestream on the Geneva Quarterly’s Instagram account. Mrs. Ryden checked in to make sure we didn’t do anything illegal.

8:34—Josh and I bought some watermelon juice and sweet tea.

8:49—Senior Aidan Hamilton made a last-minute appearance—the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day.

9:04—The group left Walmart, defeated by its eerie, fluorescent ambience.

3:02

The adventurous seniors test out all the products while hanging out, including: clothes, video games, massage chairs, sunglasses and some things that will not be disclosed.

Design Jayne Goodman Photos Ashton Landis

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THE TRUMP EFFECT A REVIEW OF TRUMP’S IMPACT ON MODERN AMERICA Words Matthew Schroder

Where were you when the world stopped turning that November day?

It’s hard to imagine that Donald J. Trump, real-estate magnate and reality-star-turned politician, was elected only a few short years ago, but here we are whether you like it or not. That is an important note to make: “whether you like it or not,” because it seems that people either loved that he was elected or hated it.

It’s usually hard to get the entire United States interested in and opinionated about anything, let alone politics, but the world we live in is no longer usual. Since Trump’s election, it seems that there is no longer any middle ground—a place where the supposed mythical unbiased live. A place where people don’t just follow whatever famous person who happens to belong to their political affiliation says and decides what they believe in for themselves.

What’s more, people don’t just have an opinion on the man, they have judgments. On election night, half of the country cried on live television in their protests, and the other half toasted to their good fortune on talk radio shows and in their living rooms. The point I am trying to make is that America has become more polarized in the recent years than it ever has before. The question now has become: is this polarization Trump’s fault or is Trump simply a byproduct of the polarization? Further, how does Trump affect us here in Boerne? The point of this article is not to say whether Trump is right or not. Instead, this is meant to hopefully look past all of the confusing political jargon and conflicting views to see if and how this stuff really matters.

Polarization: a sharp division into opposing factions; the divergence of political attitudes to ideological extremes.

Polarization, in its definition, goes out of its way not to mention whether certain ideological points of view are correct or not, nor CULTURE 19

should it. It is simply the shift away from common ground between two opposing viewpoints. Many people in the world consider polarization to be inherently a bad thing, but of course, this is not always the case.

Take for instance a world in which one political party is inherently good and the other is inherently bad. Rather than meeting in the middle for a more convenient solution, it would be the morally correct thing to do to move as far away as possible from the bad and into a more extreme good.

Nevertheless, our society is not this black and white. Things are much more nuanced with varied responses. What I mean to say is that the middle ground that people are always reaching for may not even exist. What if the separations between political parties are necessary? There are issues for those on the “Left” or the “Right” which are not reconcilable. Polarization in politics may just be a necessary evil.

To relate this back to the topic at hand (Donald Trump), the president is often criticized for his polarizing speech and actions. People from both sides of the aisle criticize Trump for heating up the rhetoric and causing a divide in the culture worse than ever before.

Is it possible that there are other factors at play that cause this rise in polarization? Trump and most other Republicans seem to think that the media is the largest cause of this. After all, media coverage for Trump has been 92% negative over the last four months according to Fox News Insider. Based on this, it makes sense that those who rely entirely on the media outlets that put out this negative coverage would tend to have a more negative view of him. Because most mainstream media sources are left-leaning

(save for Fox News) and most tend to paint a bad picture of the president, it makes sense that the majority of viewers (also left-leaning) strongly disapprove. When nearly all of one party completely dislikes a president and nearly all of the other completely likes him, there is bound to be polarization.

SOCIETY IS NOT THIS BLACK AND WHITE. When talking about Trump as a polarizing president, I would be remiss to not also discuss his rhetoric. Many people on both sides of the aisle, regardless of political beliefs, criticize the president on both his speaking style and the content. Trump has a distinct way of speaking that many don’t like, but even more are drawn to it without explanation. Sentences like the following one are a big reason why Trump has been able to resonate with middle-America.

“The people, my people, are so smart, and you know what they say about my people? The polls.

They say I have the most loyal people — did you ever see that? Where I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters. It’s like incredible. No, they say, ‘Trump we love you too.’”

As may be evident, Trump speaks in very awkward short thoughts with punchy, yet simple word choices. Whether this is natural or forced, it does not discount how effective his way of speaking actually is. The news media website Quartz notes that rhetoric scholars believe that his particular style of speech is effective because it is reminiscent of “regular folks” and “it forces us to listen more closely.” One reason so many people despise politicians is because they are such sweet talkers who seem to say only what people want them to. Trump is the exact opposite of this. He says what he wants, when he wants. He speaks in grammatically incorrect sentences that make his followers more likely to listen to him.

How does Trump affect the country?

One large reason that no one expected Donald Trump to win the presidency is because nearly every single poll showed Hillary Clinton winning by a landslide, even upwards of a 90% chance of winning. Trump dubbed his supporters who were passed up in these polls “the silent majority.”

This is because while many democratic, large cities and states carried a large amount of democratic votes, many people overlooked the fly-over states. This is where the divide in opinion takes root. Many Trump supporters were simply tired of being called bigots. They were tired of being told it was their fault that so many bad things were happening in their country. They were tired of sweet-talking politicians who didn’t keep

their promises and instead wanted a strong leader who, although is crass at times, stands up for what he believes in and does what he says he will.

But what does Trump actually mean for the country? Are his policies and actions so bad for liberals that the world is the closest it’s ever been to falling apart? No. Are they so good for conservatives that this is the second Reagan era and this time it will last forever? No. When all is said and done and Trump is either reelected or finishes out this term, nothing will have changed too dramatically. Especially in the smallest of communities, like Geneva or Boerne, people have less to fret about because most everything the Federal Government does focuses on the big picture—with legislation focusing to help (or hinder) large swaths of people.

Of course this is not always the case, but if we continue to build up our local government we will be better protected against dangerous beauracracy. In this way, the best route to combat or support your most important issues is not through one man.

The best way to make a difference in the political world is to get involved. Research the issues and come up with your own conclusions. Vote on the things that matter to you instead of staying at home, hoping it all works out. What makes America great is its citizens, and if they are not involved, the system crumbles. So instead of complaining—stand up for yourself, unite with likeminded people and don’t rely on others to fix things; if you act like a victim, you will certainly become one.

Design Gillian Loflin Graphic Ainsley Plesko and Anson Eggerss

Paula and Andre Rahal’s wedding picture in Medellin, Columbia before their immigration to America.

Dream on A PERSONAL TESTIMONY FROM IMMIGRANTS WHOSE DREAMS BECAME A REALITY Words Jayne Goodman The tightness someone feels around their heart when they long for something is powerful. They hope for the day they can attain it. They continue to dream for something better. This grand dream links people around the world together under one common desire. Some wish to squelch the longing by pursuing wisdom, power or money.

Others wish for the promising life found in the Land of Dreams itself.

Famous for freedom and opportunities, America can be an attractive place to live in the eyes of many outsiders. It’s no wonder that we have so many people applying for green cards, visas and citizenship. However, immigration isn’t easy. It takes determination and patience to get through the lengthy process; but those who truly long and dream for it and put in the time and work, reap the rewards.

Norma Loflin, Geneva mom of Gillian Loflin (11th) and Garrett Loflin (8th), immigrated from the little town of Meoqui, Mexico when she was almost seven. “[My parents] felt that we would be able to receive a better education and eventually have a brighter and safer future if we were in the United States,” Loflin said.

And they weren’t wrong. However, the process was long and hard to keep the dream alive at certain points. “The immigration process was probably not the easiest and best for our family as we were going through it,” Loflin said. “My father received his visa about one year before the rest of our family. He immigrated to Amarillo, Texas, while my mom, my three siblings and I stayed in Mexico waiting for our visas.”

The strain of parenting four children alone is not

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easy to say the least. As the stress built up, the dream seemed less attainable and more impractical. “When my dad first moved, my little sister had just been born. My dad would go back to Mexico to visit us about every three to four months. It was hard and sad being away from my dad,” Loflin recounted.

In the end, the dream was worth the wait for the Loflin family. America provided a variety of opportunities for Loflin that eventually led to her graduating law school in 1998. And although it is not always possible for everyone in an immediate family to receive their visas at the same time, Loflin thinks it is something she would like to change. She also has come to realize that those who want it will truly wait out the lengthy process because “it is important to have a thorough and extensive citizenship process to ensure protection of American citizens. Those who want to obtain citizenship will wait out the process to be able to reap the rewards.”

Loflin at age two with brother Jaime, aged three, strolling with her mother at her childhood home in Meoqui.

Paula Rahal, Geneva mom of Pauline Rahal (10th) and Luciano Rahal (7th), also agrees with this. As an immigrant coming from the violent atmosphere of Medellin, Columbia, she too believes in the importance of keeping America safe. Her experience wasn’t always so positive either. She and her husband migrated when they were adults.

“If I could change anything, I would change the way they treated us,” Rahal said, “It didn’t matter that [my husband and I] were two educated people sharing our knowledge with a stable job.

As soon as the officials sensed the accent, they became rude and treated us poorly.”

Education was a priority for the Loflin family.

Here is Norma (bottom far right) with her first grade class in Chiahuanua, Mexico.

Part of that is because immigrants have been portrayed in an unfair light. The media’s focus has shifted to all the negatives caused by immigration. But it really should just come down to the simple rule of treating others the way you want to be treated.

“I think it’s about respect. I’m for the questions and research behind every immigrant, but as I said before, there are different ways to do it than treating us like criminals,” Rahal explained, “I don’t like the methods Trump is using. Immigrants are humans too, and it’s not fair to be so rude to people who have gone through so much. America should be safe, but it should be kind too.”

Design Jayne Goodman Photos Norma Loflin and Paula Rahal Graphics Anson Eggerss

Loflin with her brothers Jaime and Hector and her mother gathering around her newborn sister Ana.

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I WANT TO KNOW WHAT

love IS

THE DISTORTION OF “I LOVE YOU” IN SOCIETY Words Braden Hall

“I love you” is a common phrase found in every language, and in many it is a beautiful expression of affection for the people you care about. In America, it is funny how we have taken such a beautiful word, “love,” and changed it into something simple and not quite as meaningful. We say, “I love pizza,” the same way we tell a friend, “I love you.” In other languages, love for an object is given a completely different word than the word ‘love’ for a person. In Mandarin Chinese, the phrase “I love you,” 我爱你 (Wo ai ni) is so meaningful that parents and their children rarely say it to each other because it is meant to be something reserved for someone of deep emotional connection. It is not a word that is deemed appropriate for everyday conversation.

There are different types of love in the world. To include Mr. Shelton’s favorite author, C.S.Lewis discusses the four Greek types of love: Eros, Philia, Agape, and Storge. Eros, an erotic love is within the body and is the drive to fulfill your desire. Philia is connected to your soul. It is the brotherly love you feel for parents and your friends—wanting what is best for that person. Agape love is a sacrificial type of love. This is the love God has for us—the reason Jesus died for us.

Storge can be a dangerous type of love. It is the love for community and family that sometimes puts its object ahead of God. Today’s culture has added a different type of love to the list. We type love as “ILY” (I love you) or “ILYSM” (I love you so much). We have taken a meaningful

word and turned it into a shorthand way of explaining our affection instead of taking the three extra seconds to type out the full phrase. Our English way of communicating love fails to express the full depth of feelings that it does in other languages.

Love is meant to convey affection for someone in a deep, caring way. Because of our culture, and specifically our music, we have the idea that we “Fall in Love a Little Bit Everyday with Someone New” (Hozier), or that “Love is a Battlefield” (Pat Benatar), or that “All You Need is Love” (The Beatles). We know we want to experience this, but we have watered down what it really is.

Experiencing this watered-down, cultural love is not anywhere near the kind of love God wants us to experience.

Love is a strong word in the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 13, we are shown exactly what love is: “Love is patient and kind; does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude,” and the list goes on.

People who believe there is no God still know what love is—still feel love and understand it is something worth having. Love is why God sent his one and only son to die for our sins.

Love is awe-inspiring. Love is willing to die for not only your children or your spouse, but for your friend. Love ought to express a lot of emotion. It is meant to be impactful, not a watereddown, everyday phrase.

Design Braden Hall Graphics Anna Riedlinger

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OPINION

02 campus

UNCOVERING THE PLACE WE CALL HOME 34 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR

SECTION

HIGHLIGHTS

032 FROM BOYS TO MEN

038 FINDING YOUR OWN IDENTITY

046 SELF-LOVE IN A SECULAR WORLD

news Words Lydia duPerier

GENEVA GOING GREEN Have you noticed the cute little garden on campus yet? What about the recycling bins on every corner?

Seniors Eleanor Galbreath and Anna Riedlinger started the Environmental Club this year. Their goal is to bring awareness to the community that the way we treat the Earth matters.

Riedlinger said, “Geneva has never done anything like this before, so we decided to start the club in the hope of leaving a legacy so the classes under us can continue it.”

So, the next time you walk up the stairs by Milton III, take the time to appreciate the growing garden. And when you throw away your empty bottle of water, throw it into the bin labeled “recycle” and help support our environment.

GROVER MOVES IN Geneva graduate, teacher, roomless… well not anymore: James Grover finally has a classroom!

Grover relates the feeling to “Odysseus finally arriving home after a long journey.”

Grover has been around Geneva for almost his whole life. He says his first memory of Geneva was getting the new portables that everyone thought were so cool.

The thought of one day becoming a teacher here never crossed his mind, but now he works alongside the same people who taught him and he has his very own classroom!

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RIGHTEOUS RAPS What time is it? It’s “Heaven O’Clock.” Or wait… maybe that’s just the name of the hit single by Righteous Raps. Anson Eggerss, Will and Luke Bower, and Jack O’Quinn (11th) are all members of this new Christian Hip-Hop/Rap band. The group said, “Our inspiration is God… we are just here to spread the good news of Jesus.”

The band produces songs with Hip-Hop beats and catchy lyrics that glorify God. They have signed a record deal and are now on all music platforms! So, the next time you want to hear a good beat and worship the Lord at the same time, give Righteous Raps a listen and support these rising artists.

LEARNING KEYS FROM ABROAD Meredith Vis, wife of Geneva Choir director Ben Vis, has been giving piano lessons to Patrick, a boy from Malawi Africa via Facebook Messenger. The lessons started in September of 2018 and are still continuing today. They take place every Tuesday at 1:30 pm, which is 8:30 pm in Malawi. Vis says that the first time she called him it was dark outside and Patrick was standing in the middle of a street, smiling. She says that since he did not have a piano yet they just talked about where the keys were and what they would sound like. As the lessons continued, Patrick was loaned a keyboard from the church. He practiced in the hospital because that was the only place to get connection to communicate with Vis. They started out learning the musical alphabet and basic techniques. Vis said, “He has a very good ear and can listen to the notes very well.” Vis has helped Patrick improve his skills through an experience that each will remember forever.

Photos Nicolas Siller and Charlotte Walker

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georgelos

THE

Georgelos learned her Spanish on the mission field in Mexico where her parents worked for Wycliffe.

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great

THE LIFE OF A DEFENSE ATTORNEY, SPANISH TEACHER AND MOTHER Words Ainsley Plesko A cell door slams. A young woman steps inside the otherwise filthy cell, but she’s no prisoner.

She is here to interview her client: a prisoner riddled with accusations and felonies. The young, bright woman talks with this man while he is at his very worst—filled with regret for past actions.

This is now a distant memory from the early years of our very own Spanish teacher, Mrs. Debra Georgelos.

It all began in southern Mexico as a young child dashed through the streets of the local market.

She chased after her neighbors in between their daily chores of cooking and cleaning. Her parents were off at work, translating the Bible for the Wycliffe organization. The young Georgelos’ bliss at this moment was only temporary as upcoming news would shatter the world she knew.

The Wycliffe missionaries could no longer call Mexico their home because their visas were denied.“I begged my parents to leave me at the neighbor’s house,” Georgelos remembers about the time when she found out she’d have to abandon her hometown. Plans were made to move to the United States: “It was a huge adjustment. It’s a completely different lifestyle.

The schools are huge. People were mean. It was just very different.”

Thousands of miles north, Georgelos began her new life in a foreign country, separated from all she knew. “I don’t think I spoke a word to anybody the first day,” Georgelos said.

Whether it was not being able to stomach the processed, packaged meats of the US or dressing differently than everyone else, acclimating to the US was a challenge. “I think there are still times where I still don’t feel acclimated. To be honest, it’s like you’re stuck between two cultures and you’re not really sure where you belong. But the first three years were for sure the hardest,” she said.

Despite overcoming a sense of not belonging, Georgelos went on to own her college years, studying at Baylor and the University of Arizona.

Georgelos said, “I applied to the University of Arizona Law School and got in. And so I went to study International Law but ended up not doing that at all. I did that for a while and didn’t like it. I never thought I’d be a defense attorney.”

Working in a small town at a firm shared with only seven other members, Georgelos got her start as a defense attorney. Dealing with cases ranging from careless, harmless criminals to heartbreaking cases of drug addicts barely surviving each day, she saw the ups and downs of people’s lives unfold. She witnessed the small decisions that can lead down a path of greater destruction.

“It puts an image of ‘if you continue down this path, each step will lead you farther in,’” Georgelos said. “None of them started as meth addicts, it all started with something smaller.”

She has seen the worst of humanity, yet somehow remains optimistic, greeting you with a smile as you enter her classroom.

You may know her as the excellent teacher who taught you to learn to love Spanish, but Georgelos has thrived in every environment throughout her vibrant past: the joyful child deep in the heart of Mexico, the optimistic defense attorney and now supportive mother. Georgelos’ children are Geneva graduate Carissa (’18) who is attending the University of Texas in Austin and three others at Geneva: Alexa, (10th), Charlie (7th) and Nikolas (5th).

Twists and turns of unexpected careers and experiences molded her into the woman she is today.

Design Charlotte Walker Photos Braden Hall

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DEFEATING THE STEREOTYPES AND FINDING IDENTITY IN BOY SCOUTS Words Nicolas Siller

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While this is true to some extent, being a Boy Scout entails a lot more than just looking dorky and offering to help the elderly cross the street (or finding a Snipe).

the Boy Scouts

teach young men good leadership skills and bring good public service opportunities in addition to selfreliance.

Everyone has seen the movie “UP” (if you haven’t, stop reading this article right now and watch it before I spoil it for you). It is a classic movie in which an old man floats his house to South America with helium balloons in fulfillment of a promise he made to his deceased wife (pure genius). One of the iconic figures in this movie is a kid named Russell who happens to be a Boy Scout. When most people think of Boy Scouts, all they can think about is a small kid with a huge hiking backpack, a tacky uniform and a bunch of badges.

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Being a Boy Scout myself, I can admit that when I joined, I did not think that I could get much out of the experience. Fast forward a few months and I was utterly drenched in gallons upon gallons of rain as I huddled in my tent awaiting a tropical storm that was bearing down on my Boy Scout troop as we camped on the coast. After this experience, I quickly learned the importance of being self-sufficient and that camping wasn’t always going to be easy. It wasn’t always going to be in a sunny forest glade tying knots beside camp as we rock some green, knee-high socks. Through these kinds of experiences, I realized that if you look past the tacky uniforms, the Boy Scouts teach young men good leadership skills and bring good public service opportunities in addition to self-reliance.

In the process of becoming an Eagle Scout, a Scout is required to earn merit badges (yes, the circular patches that seem super cheesy and dumb). Despite the negative stereotypes, merit badges are earned through hard work and study in a specific field (Hiking, Weather, Shotgun Shooting, etc.).

So, with a combination of all the service hours, merit badges and regular outings, you can probably see that earning the rank of Eagle Scout may not be as easy as you might think.

At Geneva, we have some Eagle Scouts of our own including the man, the myth, the legend: Mr. Shawn Harrild, freshman humanities instructor. He became

an Eagle Scout in the San Francisco Bay Area Council and enjoyed experiences such as a 50-mile canoe and backpacking trip at Yosemite National Park.

Harrild said, “Being a Boy Scout allowed me and my friends to “man up” and tackle our fears by becoming more self-reliant.”

Chemistry instructor Dr. Rodney Lloyd was also a Boy Scout in a town just outside of Abilene, Texas called Winters. During his time as a Scout, he learned useful First Aid skills, found great adult role models and he even made an Indian headdress out of turkey feathers.

In addition to the teachers, junior Kade Nichols happens to be in my troop in Boerne. Like most other scouts, he enjoys the self-sufficiency. Being able to set up your own shelter and cook your own meals for a weekend is a cool experience that is one of the unique assets of Boy Scouts.

We are not as popular with modern culture though, as studies show that Boy Scout memberships are continuing to drop (3.4 million in 2000 to 2.4 million in 2014) thus prompting the modern girl-inclusive Scout program. A lot of people might take one look at our uniforms and dub the Boy Scouts uncool and old fashioned, but I have to say that after actually being a Boy Scout, their ideals of leadership, public service and self-reliance are just as helpful in today’s world as they were decades ago.

Despite how great I think that the Boy Scout organization is for me and all communities around the world, this day and age has created new problems for the Boy Scouts. Many organizations today are faced with other issues such as inclusiveness of open homosexual leadership. The decision to allow openly gay Scout Leaders to facilitate troops has created a lot of controversy and pushback. Boy Scout troops have lost charters from many churches because of this policy. Personally, I would venture to say that this action would possibly endanger many early middle school to high school age kids.

This decision was made partially because of the Boy Scout’s decrease in numbers.

Also, in a professional setting today, many would regard an Eagle Scout badge higher than boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

Girl Scouts felt this unfair and thought that they could achieve more recognition by earning an Eagle Scout badge than sticking to their own organization. Not to degrade the Girl Scouts, but I think that this decision is harmful to boy and girl troops alike.

Today, the numbers have dropped dramatically for the Boy Scout organization and in general, young teens today aren’t as psyched to spend their weekend on a camping trip where they can’t have service on their phones. Yet there are still a few, including myself who still would stick with Boy Scouts despite how uncool it is.

This past decade has brought many new issues in our society as we push beyond the limits of our original identity. Not only in the Boy Scout organization but in many others, homosexuality, technology and blurred gender lines create problems that organizations like the scouts are still trying to solve. So despite all of the issues that Boy Scouts has had to deal with, being able to be out in nature, camping and learning nifty survival skills is as useful today as it ever was.

Design Anna Riedlinger Photos Nicolas Siller and BSA Graphics Anna Riedlinger

Furthermore, the decision to allow girls into Boy Scout troops has changed much of the organization’s original intentions.

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GENEVA BOY SCOUTS AND THEIR PROJECTS James Wilks ‘11 Benches on Rhetoric campus John Luke Tippetts ‘12 Prayer Garden Davis Metzger ‘14 Shelter roof at the Boerne Pool Ethan Ryden ‘14 Outdoor classroom in Logic Luke Ramsey ‘14 Shot Put Practice Ring Ian MacDonald ‘17 Picnic Tables Jacob Schroder ‘17 Benches Connor Tyra ‘18 Gaga Ball Pits Nick Patti ‘18 Operation Christmas Child for his church Matthew Schroder ‘19 Sand Volleyball Pit

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Boardwalk talk GENEVA STUDENT’S ANSWERS TO UNEXPECTED POLITICAL QUESTIONS Words Anson Eggerss

Today’s youth are constantly bombarded with the latest in politics on all forms of media, and it seems to be becoming more and more important to them. So we must ask the question: “Are the Rhetoric School

students aware of the happenings in the political world?” I did some short interviews around the boardwalk to find out. I asked the same three questions to each student, and recorded their responses.

1. What is the most important political issue today?

2. What do Republicans stand for?

3. What do Democrats stand for?

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AUBREY WEBB, Freshman: 1. “Immigration.” 2. “Being Conservative.” 3. “Being Liberal.”

ZACHARY BRUNSVOLD, Freshman: 1. “Gender.” 2. “Against Homosexuality.” 3. “For homosexuality.”

JOHN HENRY FRIESENHAHN, Sophomore: 1. “I don’t know. I don’t care about politics.” 2. “I don’t care.” 3. “I don’t care.”

EASTON MYRICK, Junior: 1. “Schools.” 2. “Elephants.” 3. “Donkeys.”

RICHARD HICKS, Junior: 1. “Trump.” 2. “Conservatism.” 3. “Socialism.”

ANDREW DE LUNA, Senior: 1. “The presidency.” 2. “Being Conservative.”

3. “Being Liberal.”

CLEO BRETZ, Senior: 1. “Gun control.” 2. “Conservative stuff like guns.”

3. “They stand for the people’s power.”

Design Alexa Georgelos Graphic Anson Eggerss

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Finding your own identity NOT EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY FIT INTO THE GENEVA MOLD Words Gillian Loflin

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All it would take for one student not to feel alone would be for someone to sacrifice their pride.

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Class is over. The clatter of chairs being pushed in and students rushing out fills the room. Everyone hurries to grab their lunches and sit with their friends. A light conversation begins; laughter and friendship create a bubble around the different groups that have accumulated on the boardwalk. The last student trudges heavily out of the room and grabs a paper bag lunch from a locker.

She walks around, sees the bubbles that have formed and wonders if she can join in on the joyous discussions. The student walks up to the first group whose conversation involves too much sport talk for her taste. The next bubble, too much gossip.

Feeling overwhelmed, the student walks up to another group. A pair of eyes glances up with a look that says, “You’re not welcome here.”

“Message received,” she thinks, and makes a beeline toward the restroom. The student hits the bathroom wall and slides down, to eat yet another lunch alone. Girls walk in, talking and looking in the mirror, sneaking quick glances at the person eating on the floor. Though the friends don’t address her, the student knows what they are thinking: “Oh, how pathetic.” The friends leave and the student is left on the cold bathroom floor, eating lunch, feeling the type of loneliness that makes your heart hurt. The roaring laughter coming from outside is a constant reminder that even though she doesn’t stand out, she can’t fit in either.

At Geneva, though the student body is smaller than most schools, there are still those who feel like they don’t fit in. Whether it is due to academics, creative programs, extracurricular activities or just the type of people that make up the Geneva Rhetoric School, there are students who feel alone amidst the spirited energy of a typical day. Knowing this, I wanted to understand what makes students feel left out and figure out firsthand how to encourage and include everyone.

After interviewing several students, one thing was clear: the path that Geneva has for students is not for everyone. The academics are difficult, and understandably so. To uphold Geneva’s reputation of excellence, the classes must challenge students and make them work hard for what they want to achieve. However, the curriculum made up of all Honors Classes may not be for everyone.

One student said, “Geneva is a one-track kind of school…I don’t feel like there are a lot of options for those who fall behind.” Those who have trouble with the high-speed learning often feel alone when some of their peers get high grades without even trying. Another student said, “It’s hard being compared to those who get good grades easily. I feel the grades I get don’t reflect the effort I put in.”

The constant pressure to succeed distances some students from the rest of the class. One teacher believes that when students compare themselves to one another, it really takes a toll on their attitude: “The best thing would be to make a huge attitude adjustment and find where your strengths lie because everyone fits in somewhere, it just may not be at school.”

There have always been those who seem to be the odd ones out, but why? One student said, “I don’t fit into the specific type of person that people hang around. I’m creative, but not the type of creative personality Geneva students favor. I try not to stick to the status quo, but if you speak out differently, people don’t really listen. It’s like your opinion is wrong.”

They mentioned the social cliques that form within the grades, and how they aren’t a bad thing necessarily: “I don’t think that there shouldn’t be groups of friends, but it gets dangerous when the thinking is that you can only hang out with your clique. Of course, people will spend time with people that they like and they share a common interest with, but thinking that

you can only hang out with those friends is when the exclusiveness begins.”

Some people just tend to fit in better than others and are more admired and the way to fix it, the teacher suggested, is to “sacrifice your reputation and self-perception and go talk to others, reach out.”

Another problem for some students is that they have no other place to go. “My parents don’t give me a choice in where I go to school. I’m stuck here, but I just deal with it,” said one student. It’s hard to enjoy something you are forced to do, especially when it comes to school.

Another student added, “The reason I came here was for my parents. I stay here because I want to keep my parents happy.” The problem that arises is that those who are forced to be here don’t give themselves the vulnerability to branch out and make friends. It becomes a barrier between belonging and being an outcast.

It’s very surprising how some of the people you would think feel the most included are the ones who feel really alone at school. The advice I gathered from the students around campus was all the same: talk to everyone, reach out even if there is a possibility of being shut down and try to convey God’s love through your attitude.

Don’t wait for someone to come up and talk to you; make everyone feel included and important.

We need to recognize those who walk with their heads down or eat lunch by themselves and do something about it. Help people the way you would want to be helped if in that situation.

The teacher I interviewed concluded with this, “Jesus sacrificed Himself to save humanity, and all it would take for one student not to feel alone would be for someone to sacrifice their pride.”

Design Alexa Goergelos Photo Luke Bower Graphics Nathan Zuniga

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TeacherTube WHAT GENEVA TEACHER YOUTUBE CHANNELS COULD BE

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ASMR ~ 500+ TRIGGERS FOR SLEEP!!!!! (7 hours) Howard’s Tranquil ASMR • 3.9M views • 4 weeks ago

Enjoy a super long ASMR session as I show off over 500+ triggers / sounds to help you sleep and relax. With over 7 hours of tingly …

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TheRealShawnHarrild • 16 views • 3 months ago Zoe and Ella’s first day at school! Aren’t they the cutest?? Let me know in the comments below!!

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This was requested A LOT so here you go! - XOXO Leave a comment if you want to know the secrets of college admissions.

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In this episode, I will give you a (virtual) tour of my newest, coolest map and incorporate my newest mod features. NEW MERCH IN BIO.

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Traumatic experience! Will NEVER PRANK AGAIN! So sorry Rob! Card is on its way :) Comment for next prank …

Design Ashton Landis Photos Ashton Landis Graphics Ashton Landis

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SPEAKING OVER ANXIETY HOW A GENEVA STUDENT DEALS WITH THE INEVITABLE TASK OF PUBLIC SPEAKING Words Sydney Dennis

What is your worst fear? Heights? Clowns?

Spiders? Imagine your worst fear confronting you frequently. Every day, you have to deal with spiders crawling on you. You can’t breathe. You gasp for air as you try and escape this nightmare.

This example may seem silly, but many people experience this reaction, though maybe not with spiders. According to majority opinion, there is something even more horrifying than spiders, heights, and even the dentist…Public Speaking.

Geneva sets us up this way. Little bites here and there, then bigger bites later on, all leading up to the main dish: Senior Thesis. Geneva will prepare you for the real world, and you will graduate with a conquered fear.

Public speaking is ranked as the number one fear in America. To some, that may come as a surprise. 74%of Americans deal with some sort of public speaking or speech anxiety, which means three out of every four people suffer from it.

Public speaking plays a huge role for students at Geneva. Grammar students recite scripture weekly, Logic School builds up to the eighth grade oratory presentation and in Rhetoric School we have the Senior Thesis. Even though we take baby steps to get to our senior year, this does not always come easily for those who suffer from anxiety of public speaking.

Students, you know the Senior Thesis and other presentations are coming, so how do you survive? Well, starting off, you must practice… over and over. I promise you, the more you do it, the easier it will become.

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That’s all fine and dandy, but how is it possible to remain calm when it’s your turn to give a presentation? Try to do this breathing exercise: 1) Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound 2) Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four 3) Hold your breath for a count of seven 4) Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight 5) Repeat several times. Focused, deep breathing helps to decrease your heart rate and brings more oxygen to the brain, allowing you to relax.

and Lauren Jarvis (’18) shared that Geneva offers different experiences that helped them with speaking. Choir helped Giddens with her fear of performing in front of others. Jarvis said that her speaking at Geneva has allowed her to be more confident when presenting in college. For those of you struggling right now, take heart. You are not alone. You will get through this…without the spiders.

Design Alexa Georgelos Photo Braden Hall Graphic Nathan Zuniga

This brings me to the next point…relax! Focus on the things that are going well rather than thinking of the things that could go wrong. No one has died delivering a speech at Geneva, at least not yet. Keep practicing positive thoughts, and soon it will become a habit. Eye contact is important in public speaking. If you have a hard time making eye contact while speaking, choose an object at the back of the room to look at. Or better yet, choose a friend to make eye contact with. Lastly, know what you are talking about. Understand the material you are presenting. If you are confident in what you are talking about, no one will know if you mess up.

To some, this topic is no obstacle, but for others it is an extremely arduous task. Alumni Abbey Giddens (’18)

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self-love IN A SECULAR WORLD

NANCY PEARCEY DISCUSES HER BOOKS AND INSPIRATIONS Interview Gracyn Frieling

Nancy Pearcey is an author on and apologist for the Christian worldview. She is a professor at Houston Baptist University and has published several books. She is set to speak at Geneva’s annual Mars Hill lecture in the evening, on Thursday, January 17 in the Lyceum. This summer the Geneva faculty read her book “Saving Leonardo” and the administrative team just read “Love Thy Body.” “Love Thy Body” is about how we need to love the body that God gave us and accept it for what it is despite all of the media and cultural influence today that persuade people that adopting whatever identity you want is okay. In the book she addresses topics such as transgenderism, homosexuality, abortion and the hookup culture. We sent her some questions about “Love Thy Body” and her experiences as an author and apologist.

What was the specific impetus for writing “Love Thy Body”? In “Love Thy Body,” I take on the cutting-edge moral issues of our day— abortion, assisted suicide, homosexuality, transgenderism and so on.

Typically we deal with these issues one by one. But we will be much more effective if we dig down to the core principles or worldview that drives them all.

In “Love Thy Body” I cut through the politically-correct slogans and give an

exposé of the secular liberalism that is being aggressively promoted in schools, Hollywood, politics and the media. I show that it is a deeply dehumanizing ethos that undermines human dignity and destroys human rights.

In the process, I give Christians the tools to debunk the negative stereotypes that are so common—you’re hateful, you’re bigoted— and reach out with a positive message that is more appealing, more compelling and more life-affirming than the secular ethic.

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Abortion continues to be a hot topic politically. How should Christians speak out about this? What is the best way to minister to women who have had abortions? How can we show love to them? Most professional bioethicists today agree that human life begins at conception. The evidence from science— genetics and DNA—is too strong to deny it. But their stance is summed up in a recent article that was titled “So What If Abortion Ends Life?”

What these bioethicists are saying is that being human is not enough to qualify for legal protection. The fetus has to earn the right to life by becoming a person, defined in terms of mental abilities—a certain level of self awareness, cognitive functioning, and so on.

But notice the implication—as long as the fetus is merely biologically human, it is seen as a disposable piece of matter: It can be killed for any reason or no reason, used for research and experiments, tinkered with genetically, picked through for sellable body parts (as Planned Parenthood does), then tossed out with the other medical waste.

In other words, being human is no longer enough for human rights.

This is called personhood theory. And it is very dangerous, because if rights do not depend simply and solely on being human, then you and I and all the rest of us are at risk.

How is homosexuality denigrating to the human body? “Love Thy Body” makes the surprising claim that a common thread links abortion and euthanasia to all the other moral issues, including homosexuality. All of these watershed moral issues rest on a secular liberal ethic that devalues the body.

Think of it this way: No one really denies that on the level of biology, physiology, anatomy and chromosomes, males and females are counterparts to one another. That’s how the

human sexual and reproductive system is designed.

To embrace a same-sex identity, then, is implicitly to contradict that design -- to say: Why should my body inform my identity? Why should my biological sex as male or female have any say in my moral choices?

We have to help people see that this is a profoundly disrespectful view of the body. But why accept such a demeaning view of the body? In “Love Thy Body” I argue for a Christian ethic that is wholistic—our mind and emotions are meant to be in tune with our body.

I tell the story of a woman named Jean who lived as a lesbian for several years, but is now married with two children. Jean said: I finally came to trust that God “made me female for a reason,” and I wanted to “honor my body by living in accord with the Creator’s design.”

How should Christians who struggle with same-sex attraction deal with these feelings? In “Love Thy Body,” I tell lots of personal stories. One of my favorites is about a young man named Sean. Growing up, Sean was exclusively attracted to other men. But today he is married to a woman and has three children.

What changed?

Sean says, I stopped defining my identity by my sexual feelings “and started regarding my physical body as who I was.” His goal was not to try to change his feelings, which rarely works.

“Rather, he says, it was to acknowledge what I already had (a male body) as a good gift from God.” And eventually “my feelings started to follow suit.”

That’s really the question at the core of this debate: Do we live in a cosmos operating by blind, material causes? Or a cosmos created by a loving Creator, which is therefore intrinsically good?

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What about transgenderism? How can Christians speak to that issue? The dehumanizing view of the body is even easier to see in the transgender movement—because activists argue explicitly that gender has nothing to do with biological sex. A BBC documentary says at the heart of the debate is the idea that your mind can be “at war with your body.”

And in that war, it’s the mind that wins. Kids down to kindergarten today are being told their body tells them nothing about who they are—it is not part of their authentic self.

But why accept such an extreme devaluation of the body? I recently read an interview with a 14-year-old girl who had lived as a trans boy for three years—from age 11—then reclaimed her identity as a girl. She said the turning point came when I realized “it’s not conversion therapy to learn to love your body.”

The interview came out after my book had gone to print, but it would have been a great quote for a book titled “Love Thy Body.”

Why do you think Christians have such a tough time with the culture today of transgenderism, homosexuality, abortion, hookup culture, etc? Many Christians do not recognize the low view of the body in secular liberalism, because they hold a similar view themselves! As one of my students said, growing up in the church, I was always taught “spirit=good, body=bad.”

The reason is that many Christians have lost touch with their own heritage. The early

Christian church was born into an ancient Greek and Roman culture that devalued the material world—just like modern secularism does—though for different reasons. The early church faced philosophies like Platonism and Gnosticism that treated this world as the realm of evil and corruption.

Gnosticism even taught that it was a low-level deity—an evil god—who created this world. After all, no self-respecting god would demean himself mucking about with matter.

In this historical context, Christianity was nothing short of revolutionary: It taught that the material world was created by the Supreme deity, a good God—and therefore it is intrinsically good.

At the time, however, Christianity’s greatest scandal was its claim that the Supreme Deity had entered into the realm of matter and taken on a body. The incarnation is the ultimate affirmation of the dignity of the human body.

And at the end of time, God is not going to scrap the material world as though he made a mistake the first time. He is going to renew and restore, creating a new heaven and a new earth. The Apostle’s Creed affirms “the resurrection of the body.”

Christians need to realize that this is an astonishingly high view of the physical world.

There is nothing like it in any other religion or philosophy.

Design Aisling Ayers Photo Ashton Landis and Nancy Pearcey Graphics Corban Fikes and Anson Eggerss

CAMPUS 49

03 competition

HIGHLIGHTING THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF ATHLETICS, ACADEMICS, AND ARTS

SECTION

HIGHLIGHTS

058 MAN UP

061 COLLEGIATE CRIMES

066 MUST MATHLETES BE ATHLETES

news Words Jackson Young

A MAN OF MANY WORDS “Tell a story, change a life.” These words are what drives sophomore Alex Iyer to spend his weekends waking up early, getting dressed up and traveling long distances for speech competitions.

Iyer is the captain of the Geneva speech team, and he has managed to qualify for the state level tournament, the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions and the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions. But Iyer is not just focused on his accomplishments, he truly enjoys the opportunity to speak his mind to other people. He said, “You are focused on sharing what you believe in, rather than what you think others want to hear from you.” Iyer greatly enjoys being on the speech team and is looking to lead them on to future success.

JUST KEEP SWIMMING It’s 5:00 a.m. and nobody is awake… except the swimmers. While you’re still in bed, trying to catch up on sleep, they’re already in the pool, practicing.

One of these determined athletes is sophomore Gabe Ross. Ross has been swimming competitively for several years and got to show off his talents last year as a freshmen at the state meet where he brought home 2nd in the 100 Free Stroke and 100 Back Stroke and 1st place in the Open Relay. But just swimming is not enough for Ross. He plays water polo on top of this. Ross was the Junior Olympics team captain of 2018 for the state of Texas and this team won 1st place at the 2018 Fall Championship.

Not only that, but Ross’ club team won state this year. Ross balances school, water polo and swimming and continues to excel in all three.

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IT TAKES TALENT TO TIPTOE Sophomore Cody Lane George has been doing ballet for thirteen years.

George first started taking lessons when she was two.

She fell in love with ballet and has stayed deeply immersed in it ever since.

“It gives me a good work ethic which helps for school because you have to work for things, they don’t just come to you,” George said.

George is currently a part of The Ballet Conservatory of South Texas and has played parts in several different ballets. Her most recent one, “Coppelia,” was performed at the Lila Cockrell Theater in San Antonio and drew a huge crowd. George has loved ballet her whole life and plans on continuing to perfect her craft.

VIOLIN VIRTUOSO Freshman Nicolas Siller recently tried out and was accepted into the Region 29 High School Concert Orchestra. This is a huge deal for Siller who has been taking violin lessons for eight years and is looking to take his playing skills to the next level. Being a part of this “all-star team” means going to clinics along with other students from countless high schools in the area and performing a huge concert at the end of December. “I love the violin because music is awesome!” Siller said. Siller obviously loves music and will continue practicing and improving his skills.

Photos Luke Bower and Provided

COMPETITION 53

SWIMMING TO NEW DEPTHS GENEVA SWIM SPLASHES INTO SUCCESS WITH THEIR NEW COACH AND LARGER TEAM Words Alexa Georgelos

It’s a chance to encourage growth, build relationships and ignite a love for the sport I love.

Maddie Inglish was the number one swimmer on the Geneva swim team in 2011. In fact, she was the only swimmer on the swim team and her dad, Coach Inglish, was her coach.

The next year, the swim team doubled when Tate Williams joined. Since then, the Geneva swim team has continued to grow. This year, the team is the biggest it has ever been with 15 total swimmers. Though Coach Inglish has left, Geneva now has a new coach.

Joye McInturff was born in Devine, Texas and started swimming at age three. Her dad was a high school and college Athletic Director and Football coach which meant that she was always around sports. McInturff was a successful competitive swimmer and swam in summer swim leagues and on high school teams.

McInturff has loved swimming since she was young and for many reasons. She said, “At first, it was all about the fun of it. Then it became a hobby as I started to be a part of teams. Now, it’s a lifetime skill where I can escape into the quiet. When you swim, you are using every part of your body to exercise, but it clears your mind in the peaceful and quiet water. It’s a place I can think and pray; COMPETITION 54

and as an introvert, this is a necessary time for me. It keeps me physically and mentally fit.”

McInturff has over twenty-five years of swim experience. She started her career as head swim coach and lifeguard instructor at the Greentree Country Club in Midland, the Amarillo Country Club and the YMCA team in Amarillo.

McInturff continued to excel in her career and became an Aquatic Director for retreat centers in Texas, Mississippi, Arizona and California. She is now the new coach for the high school team for Geneva.

To McInturff, coaching is a blessing. “It is a time to pour into others all my experience in swimming and in life.

It’s a chance to encourage growth, build relationships and ignite a love for the sport I love,” McInturff said. Because the team has grown so much, Coach McInturff is encouraged and excited about this new season.

McInturff has been married to her husband Jason for twenty-five years. They have three children named Hogan (20), Gracen (18) and Justice (8).

Design Jacqueline Knox Graphic Anna Riedlinger

PASSING THE TORCH THE GIRLS BASKETBALL PROGRAM MIXES EXPERIENCE WITH YOUTHFULNESS Words Aisling Ayers

For the first three years of my high school basketball career, “strength in numbers” wasn’t exactly a recurring theme; “tiny is mighty” may have been a more appropriate slogan. We never had to worry about not having enough jerseys or seats for everyone to travel in the small bus. And yet, our team continued to be successful as we played off of each other’s unique strengths and skills.

catch myself wondering where all of these players came from.

In the 11 years of a varsity basketball program in Geneva history, there is finally a JV Girls Basketball team. The opportunity for the four seniors—Taylor Tippit, Kensi Parker, Gabi Griffey and myself—to watch a JV game before we play ours is something we feel blessed to witness. The freshman players themselves are able to focus on improving their own game, without the responsibility of carrying the team.

The depth of the girls basketball program didn’t happen overnight, however.

It’s difficult to picture the four current senior players nervously stepping onto the court for the first time as freshmen. For us, however, it feels like just yesterday.

With only three upperclassmen on the team, we were immediately plunged into the intimidating varsity level as freshmen.

Although the stakes were high, the maturity and respect gained from the challenge was invaluable both on and off the court. Senior Kensi Parker remembers the pressure of her freshman year on the team.

“With the program as small as it was at the time, it wasn’t an easy transition into high school basketball. We all had to work harder than we ever had before. Before we knew it, the six freshmen were an essential key to the team’s skill and identity,” Parker said.

My senior season, however, is a different story altogether. As I jog off the basketball court towards the bench, I am greeted by what feels like an endless sea of high-fives and smiling faces. After being so familiar with a relatively small team, I sometimes still

Senior player Gabi Griffey attested to the unique energy that the eight new freshmen players bring to the team: “Their energy that they bring to the court is like a firecracker.

You never know which one of them is going to go off. It’s super fun and unexpected.”

THEIR ENERGY THAT THEY BRING TO THE COURT IS LIKE A FIRECRACKER. Coach Boerboom, the high school girls basketball coach, attests to the importance of beginning to develop community from the beginning.

“Things like the Buddy System between Logic and Rhetoric players and the annual Geneva Youth Sports League night go a long way towards developing excitement for our younger girls to someday see themselves as high school basketball players,” Boerboom said.

Design Jacqueline Knox Graphic Anna Riedlinger

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fancy footwork COACH REXROAT BRINGS INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO BOYS SOCCER Words Pauline Rahal Having grown up playing soccer in Bolivia, the new soccer coach brings excellence to his street soccer style.

The varsity boy’s soccer team’s new coach, John Rexroat, was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It was there that he started getting into soccer: playing in the streets with his friends, classmates and in youth leagues. In South America, soccer is a very influential sport that’s been absorbed into the people’s culture.

“Soccer was the main thing out there,” Rexroat said. “Kids everywhere played soccer.” It was through spending time with his friends and frequently playing that really got Rexroat hooked on soccer.

impact, being able to teach someone a sport and develop them on and off the field is a significant role. Rexroat said, “If you’ve impacted a kid a tenth of their life and they utilize what you taught them, you’ve done your job.”

Rexroat moved to San Antonio from California.

His family includes his wife Maggie, his son Jonathan who also played professionally in Mexico and is now the varsity boys assistant soccer coach, and his daughter Tatiana who goes to Johnson High School.

And people noticed. Rexroat used his talents to play professionally with Cruz Azul (2nd division) in California for seven years. During that time, they won five championships and Rexroat once had a period of eight consecutive shutout games where no one scored on him. To this day, his record is still untouched.

Of all things, Rexroat learned about Geneva through an ad for a middle school soccer coach.

He then inquired for the position and visited the campus. Rexroat recounts liking the school from the very beginning, “I just stepped on the campus that day and thought I would love to coach here.” Just recently, Rexroat learned Geneva was in need of a high school boy’s soccer coach out of the blue. “It’s a calling!” said Rexroat. “It’s happening!” He described Geneva as having a very amicable atmosphere, “The coaches have all wished me a good season. They said welcome aboard, welcome to Geneva’s family.”

After an ACL injury in a playoff game, Rexroat decided to start coaching instead of playing. As soon as his son was old enough to play, Rexroat began coaching a recreational team to spend more time with him. From there, Rexroat moved on to coaching at schools and clubs—even putting together his own youth academy, Valley Boys Soccer Club, where he was the director of coaching for 10 years.

Coach Rexroat plans on developing the Geneva soccer team by teaching them more about soccer while simultaneously improving and having fun. He said, “My main thing is to teach them to work together. It’s important to have that camaraderie, work together as a team and compete. With adversity comes character, and I want to teach them all the functions they’ll use in the future.”

About a year after picking up the game, Rexroat began playing goalkeeper in Bolivia—a position he would play for the rest of his life. He said, “I just loved it. I was diving on the concrete, diving on cement, diving on grass.”

“Knowing that I can impact someone’s life is the most rewarding thing about being a coach,” he said. Regardless of whether it’s a big or small

Design Sydney Griffey Photo Pam Akin

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DO YOU KNOW YOUR DISTRICT? ASSESSING GENEVA’S DISTRICT COMPETITION Words Jacqueline Knox

Everyone knows about our rival JPII, but who are the other teams in our district? While the sports alignments are constantly changing and Geneva has been climbing our way through the A’s, we have finally nestled into a nice little district in 4A. District five is currently our placement for most sports, although soccer and football venture outside the bubble slightly. But who else calls district five home? Never fear, the GQ has it all mapped out for you.

DISTRICT 5 in 4a is the general alignment Boerne Geneva School San Antonio Lutheran High San Marcos Academy Schertz John Paul II

basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, golf, tennis and cross country

DISTRICTis4forinsoccer division iii

DISTRICTis 3forinfootball division iii Boerne Geneva School Texas School for the Deaf Waco Reicher Catholic San Marcos Academy Schertz John Paul II

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Boerne Geneva School Kerrville Our Lady of the Hills New Braunfels Christian Pharr Oratory Athenaeum San Antonio Christian at Castle Hills San Antonio St. Gerard San Marcos Academy Schertz John Paul II Victoria Faith Academy

Design Jacqueline Knox Graphics Jacqueline Knox

58

Man Up

OPINION

EXAMINING THE MEANING AND PRESSURES OF MANHOOD Words Nathan Zuniga I was sick to my stomach. There I was, in the bathroom of the boy’s locker room, frantically changing into my football pads, pants and jersey just moments before another practice. I was too insecure to change out in the open, so I would run into a stall and change as fast as I could so none of the guys would notice that I was too embarrassed to even take off my shirt in front of them. I would sit on the ground up against my duffle bag, fully padded with my helmet right beside me and my anxiety even closer.

I was surrounded by all of these guys who I didn’t have a single thing in common with, and to be honest, I was terrified by all of them. They listened to different music than I did, said words that I couldn’t imagine saying myself, and acted in a way that intimidated me more than anything.

And they all had the same thing in common: they all actually wanted to play football.

For me though, I relished any moment I had where I wasn’t on that football field because every moment I was seemed like hell to me. I just wanted one day where I would go out there and my lungs didn’t feel like they were being tied in a knot from an asthma attack. Maybe I could have one day where I didn’t throw up on the sideline and make a fool out of myself.

Maybe I could stop feeling like a failure today and realize that being on the football team isn’t as important as I think. Maybe I could just quit the team. But I kept asking myself this question: “What would the guys think?” For virtually my whole middle school career, I lived by this toxic question.

After my first season of football, I remember telling myself, “At least I have a year until I have to do it all over again.” Still, I played football for another year and a half and hated every single moment of it. Why did I stay for as long as I did?

I thought I had to. To this day, I think the only reason why I cared so much about being on the football team had absolutely nothing to do with

me and what I really wanted; it had everything to do with my need to fit in.

it had everything to do with my need to fit in.

It was during my first year of middle school when my parents signed me up for the YMCA football team. I didn’t want to play football, and I really never understood why my parents signed me up in the first place. I remember shaking in the car on the way to the first practice. And when we got there, I sat in the car frozen—paralyzed with the fear of stepping out of the car and onto the field. I remember everything about that day, not because it was the worst day of my life, but because I remember the feeling of being forced to do something but having no explanation for why I was doing it. At some point, I made up an assumption in my head that every boy was supposed to play football, and this was just something I had to do in order to be “one of the guys.” I certainly can’t blame myself for having that assumption, but I look back on it, and I’m disappointed that I used to think that way and that others might think that way right now.

During the time I played football, I tried my best to fit the stereotype of the average teenage boy.

In order to fit this masculinity stereotype, you had to be interested in sports, only have friends who are other guys and, most of all, never cry.

You just didn’t. And it wasn’t just limited to crying, it was any emotion that makes you come

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off as weak or girly. I never understood these stereotypes, but since I was a shy kid who let everyone walk all over me, I did anything and everything to fit in. I only hung out with the guys, never cried in front of anyone and put myself through nearly two years of what seemed to be never-ending football practices.

Why did I want to fit in so

badly?

Why did I want to fit in so badly? Honestly, I was and still am very insecure. The only difference now is that I don’t let my insecurities control my life. But back then, I didn’t care about what I really wanted for myself, I cared about what I thought I was supposed to want. All I wanted was for everyone to believe I was someone I wasn’t. I needed everyone to believe that I fit perfectly into this tiny masculinity box because I thought that’s what it took to be liked.

if bullying is more masculine than having the guts to do something so foreign to these middle school guys.

Why does playing sports and not being able to cry or show any emotions that might make you come off as ‘weak’ make you manly? Why have we confined masculinity to this tiny box with no room to express anything? I’ll tell you this, the box is cramped and uncomfortable. Our identity and example is Christ—a man of intense emotion who sought to bring us all freedom from the world’s standards.

The lesson I learned from all of this was that I am not and will never be what everyone considers a masculine guy to be, and that’s ok. I never want to be considered that if we can’t expand that box. If being masculine means I have to bottle up my emotions and be some synthetic version of myself, then I don’t want any part of it. I value the strength to be vulnerable, and I value having the grit to put your true feelings out there. In my eyes, that’s the most masculine thing you can do.

And now that I know that, I guess the only word that can describe how I feel is “free.” It’s freeing to know that my full potential isn’t found in a tiny box molded from the hands of binding stereotypes.

Design Jayne Goodman Graphics Nathan Zuniga

I knew myself, and I knew my personality. On the inside, I loved myself. I just didn’t think anyone else would. In return though, I was forcing myself to be a person who couldn’t show anyone what he was really feeling on the inside. But now I know that bottling up your emotions is the best way to never find happiness.

It’s really hard to be yourself sometimes, but now, looking back on it all, it was even harder to be someone I wasn’t. There were times that I would be so lost in the idea of fitting in that my need for validation became more important than my need for friendship.

In middle school, I would sit with the guys instead of my best friend who would always sit with the girls. In my head though, I knew that he and the girls were my true friends. I knew that turning them down was wrong. He wasn’t afraid to be himself, but I was. But it didn’t matter.

He still got bullied for sitting with the girls, as COMPETITION 60

collegiate crimes COLLEGES CONTINUE TO GET THEIR HAND SLAPPED FOR BREAKING THE RULES Words Jacqueline Knox

COMPETITION 61

College ball, whether it is football, basketball or frankly any type of sport that involves a ball, is a breeding ground for insanity. This level of sports has encouraged an almost cultish type of attitude towards the games themselves.

That boat race was also the first reported college athletic scandal. In order to be more competitive, Harvard had put an ineligible athlete on their team. Since then, the scandals have only gotten worse.

For as long as sports have existed, so has cheating. Sadly, scandals are just another part of the game and throughout the years they have become the norm. It is sickening to think that this behavior has become normalized and almost expected.

Players can get away with unspeakable actions as long as they are playing well come game time. Coaches are even committing crimes in order to get certain athletes on their team. Some recent scandals have even stretched beyond coaches and athletes to the universities. Schools have been caught committing academic fraud in order to keep athletes eligible.

For as long as sports have existed, so has cheating.

College sports is a multi-million-dollar organization, with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reporting that the revenue for the 2016-2017 season was more than $1 billion. This means that the stakes are high and teams often look to use whatever means necessary to get ahead.

The NCAA was formed in 1906, but college athletics began long before. The first reported college athletic event was a boat race between Harvard and Yale in 1852.

One of the more notorious academic scandals was the fraud that occurred at the University of North Carolina. This scandal dealt with the academic fraud of thousands of student athletes over a course of about 18 years. Allegedly, the UNC administration encouraged their student athletes to take “sham” classes in the African and AfroAmerican Studies department in order to maintain their eligibility. Once caught, however, UNC was able to avoid major NCAA penalties because the “sham” classes had been offered to the entire student body.

Another notable scandal was the University of Louisville’s basketball sex scandal.

In 2015, Katina Powell, a self-described “former madam,” came forward with allegations directed at the director of basketball operations. She confessed that she had been paid several thousands of

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dollars over four years to provide women to participate in strip shows and sex parties with current Louisville players and recruits.

After Powell had shed light on the unethical behavior, the NCAA stripped Louisville of their 2013 national championship and placed the director of operations on a tenyear show-cause penalty.

Currently, there is an ongoing FBI investigation dealing with the corruption in NCAA Division One men’s basketball. This is the most elaborate recruiting scandal to date as it currently involves players from more than 20 of the nation’s high-ranking basketball programs. It is believed that these players have broken NCAA rules by receiving impermissible benefits. The schools implicated in the initial reports include Arizona, Auburn, Louisville, Alabama, Miami, OK State, South Carolina and USC. A new report has been issued that adds 14 more schools to this already extensive list.

Although there are multiple layers to this scandal, a big section of it actually involves the popular sports brand Adidas.

Money was being funneled from some of the Universities to Adidas. Adidas would in turn use the money as a bribe to get certain athletes to play for the university that originally paid them. As mentioned earlier, this scandal involves a lot of different players and programs. Adidas only played a small role in it.

Not only have schools been known to use dishonorable recruiting tactics, they

have also covered up and ignored crimes committed by athletes. One big example of this is the sexual assault scandal that occurred at Baylor University. It is now publicly known that multiple university officials knew about—but did not take any action regarding—several rape and sexual assault allegations that dealt with their football players. During the trials, it came out that an alleged 31 football players committed at least 52 rapes between 2011 and 2014. The scandal cost the head football coach his job and forced the Baylor University President at the time to resign.

The list of scandals goes on beyond those mentioned here, and it is not a short list.

Because of how competitive college sports have gotten, there is definitely cheating still occurring now. The problem is, coaches and athletes have just gotten smart about their cheating. By successfully covering up crimes or sneaking money through strings of people, coaches and athletes are able to get away with these actions.

This has changed the way everyone views college athletics, making the current mindset that the only way to get ahead and be the best is if you are cheating your way to the top. I am not quite sure what this says about our country and our “educational” institutions. Regardless, it’s time that we add integrity back into our athletic departments and stop expecting deception.

Design Jayne Goodman Graphics Anson Eggerss

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MYRICK VS. LOPEZ JUNIOR WORDSMITHS GO HEAD IN HEAD IN A WAR OF WORDS Words Easton Myrick and Josh Lopez

Yeah, I been ballin’ since day one And you know that I will never ever be done I’ve got things to do and see I’m surprised you haven’t heard about me Got two-zero on my jersey that’s the game I don’t need to know your name ‘cause I’m ‘finna break the chain, yeah We’ve got a purpose that is for the Lord You know that the Bible is my sword Say your prayers when you see me line up snaggin’ balls Moss your boy with my vertical jump They’re gonna’ call me Cole Beasley Because I catch that football easily We all know Herbort wishes he could still ball Across the field I can’t see the play call Neon hat with the man underneath I wish my gloves would stay as white as his teeth

After freestyle rapping in the locker room constantly, juniors Easton Myrick and Josh Lopez do an official face-off rap battle.

64

Don’t call me Josh, don’t call me bro I’m just a new kid that goes by J-Lo I live in the weight room, I’m always putting in work Don’t mean to come off rude don’t mean to be a jerk But if you mess with my team, I’m ‘finna get mean Them bruises on your face, are gonna’ be green When it comes to my fam you know I don’t play I got their back each and every day Got two-five on my back my team is real stacked Who ever steps on the field is finna’ get smacked Hit them so hard their face in the ground They scream real loud but we don’t hear a sound We are just a bunch of dawgs fresh out the pound Got the Lord in our soul you know we are whole This isn’t a vote I’m not taking a poll We are all brothers can’t be divided State is something we have already decided Going 100 we are never reminded Never taking a loss never seeing defeat We are the eagles but you can call us the heat QB’s 5’9” but with size never mind And we fight to the end never leave a man behind

Design Jayne Goodman Photo Ashton Landis

65

MUST

mathletes

be athletes?

SHOULD GENEVA REQUIRE SPORTS CREDITS? Words Daniel Grover

Last night, I arrived at Geneva at 1:45 a.m. My leg felt like it had been hit with a bowling ball and my throat felt like I had been smoking for 30 years. And it might surprise you to know that I loved every second of it.

When we returned home from our trip to Waco, the football team was battered and bruised, but our spirits could not have been higher. We had just won our last division game and were officially dubbed district champions. Yes, it’s hard to play sports and it takes a lot of sacrifice, but those who enjoy being on the football team would say it’s worth it. But should playing a sport at Geneva be required?

There is no doubt that in today’s world, sports play a massive role in shaping our society. Our favorite sports players are seen as celebrities and role models. Our city’s identity is rolled up in large part with our professional sports teams. And most people (at least here in Texas) spend a good part of the weekend watching their favorite team. What is harder to figure out is the role sports should play in a Classical Christian school.

Many at Geneva often wonder whether the role of sports has expanded further than it was originally intended. Granted, Geneva’s growth has naturally caused the expansion, but our athletics program has had even more success than what is typical.

And there is good reason for this: athletics play a valuable role in teaching students things that cannot be learned in a classroom. You get instant feedback on your actions and you are able to see your hard work pay off in a very concrete way.

Most importantly, you learn how to work with others for a common goal.

Almost no one debates whether sports should be offered at Geneva or the benefits sports provide. What is controversial is making them a mandatory credit to graduate.

It’s true that not every student is disposed toward playing a sport. Neither is every student disposed toward taking AP Calculus. However, forcing a student into something seems like the wrong environment to create. The reason sports are required is much broader than just wanting to keep students in shape. As humans, we are much more than just mobile thoughts. God gave us a body, and part of being a good steward of that body is using it to His glory. We take the talents and gifts He has given us, and we are able to bring Him glory by working hard and using them.

Some might argue that playing a sport distracts students from their studies, and as a result grades might suffer due to the extra time required. But in fact, this is one of the reasons to play sports. By forcing students to spend time on things outside of academics, we create well-rounded graduates who are able to better manage their time and set clear priorities. One student on the football team said, “Often times, when I want to skip class, I think about what that would do for my eligibility. I keep my grades up so that I am able to play on Friday night.”

Lots of colleges in America also require some kind of athletic credit. At M.I.T., a school known for having a bunch of nerds—I mean smart people—swimming is a required credit to graduate. The theory behind this is pretty straightforward. By doing this, a sense of

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OPINION community is built and students learn to exercise more than just their brains.

There is one more major complaint concerning sports. As I mentioned earlier, sports play a huge role in our society and that extends into our high school system. Sports are often seen as the priority at a school where students often miss class to go compete. Even further than that, the social environment created by sports is often a pyramid with the “jocks” at the top and the “nerds” at the bottom. It’s the classic 90’s movie where all the jocks are at the party, and the nerds are at home studying. But this is an unfair representation.

this is an unfair representation.

“Philosophy of Athletics” talks about the benefits sports play in life and says that we should use the interest students show in athletics for the greater good. Students grow up looking forward to representing their school in their favorite sport. We need to use this enthusiasm and apply it toward academics—recognize the passion and direct it toward a greater goal.

Some might argue that the social role of sports can be extremely toxic in a school environment.

The sense of community and fellowship one gains while working with others toward a combined goal cannot be manufactured or replicated outside of athletics. What is seen as social hierarchy or cliques is really just the comaraderie felt while a part of a team. This sense of belonging also gives a place to some of those outsiders and builds confidence on and off the field of play.

So, while I might be a biased source on this subject, the benefits of athletics are undeniable, and the opportunity we have at Geneva is one we should not take for granted.

First, when a student misses class, it gives the appearance of prioritizing competition over academics. This is not the case. Geneva’s

Design Jayne Goodman Photo Pam Akin Graphics Anson Eggerss

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04 consecutives

YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEM

SECTION

HIGHLIGHTS

074 PERFECTING THE PANCAKES

078 TERRIFIC TALL TALES

082 HAVE A CHAT WITH SUES, HOWIE AND CAT

Words Taylor Tippit

nathan YOUNG’S WORD OF THE ISSUE BROUHAHA:

A state of commotion or excitement.

bubbling up with LA CROIX controversy LaCroix is being sued for the contents of their drink. They claim that their product is “all natural,” but some have accused the product of using cockroach insecticide as an ingredient. Will anyone continue drinking this beloved beverage?

Hannah Rose Tong

josh lopez

“I don’t really think about it or care enough about the lawsuit for it to have an effect on whether or not I will consume it. I love LaCroix.

And you know what LaCroix sounds like?

Lecrae, and Lecrae loves Jesus; therefore, I love Jesus and LaCroix.”

“LaCroix is like someone took soda and took out all of the flavor and left the carbonation.

It doesn’t quench your thirst because it’s carbonated. It has all the defects of soda without the great taste. They should be sued because of fake advertising and probably some health violations. If I see someone drinking it, I will save their life and take it from them.”

CONSECUTIVES 70

x-Box Game Handles Words Nathan Young

From freshmen to seniors, the Geneva boys love playing online video games together on the Xbox. Each player has their own unique username.

Here are their “Xbox Gamertags.”

MRPLUMPYMAN —Devon Ahrens (12th)

JOHNWILKSTABLE —Brock Ambelang (10th)

KANGAROOBABE25 —Joel Calderon (11th)

WHITE BABY FINN —Scott Standerfer (12th)

KETCHUP HUNTER —Noah Tennison (12th)

FONLOM —Mason Janse (12th)

RANDOMGAMER1289 —Tyler McBroom (12th)

NAT0P0TAT013 —Nathan Young (12th)

THEEGGMAN42JR —Anson Eggerss (11th)

SLICKMR DONUT —Trevor Scott (10th)

TOTALBOSS01 — William Cone (12th)

SALTYSAUSAGE009 —Christian Compton (9th)

BOUNCINPOTATO27 —Cade Barone (10th)

NIKE BALLER155 —Josh Nate (11th)

Prom in the Gym? 100 juniors and seniors gave their opinion on whether prom should be held in the gym this year.

Nathan Zuniga’s Buttermilk Pie Recipe INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups sugar 1 cup buttermilk ½ cup biscuit mix (recommended: Bisquick) 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 3 eggs DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grease a 9-inch pie pan.

2. Put all ingredients in a bowl and blend for 1 minute with a hand-held electric mixer.

Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool for 5 minutes.

yes 44%

no 56%

Design Lydia duPerier Photos Taylor Tippit Graphics Anson Eggerss

33 San Antonio locations including: Schertz, New Braunfels, Pleasanton and Seguin

Skip the wait. Order @wingstop.com

A SALON EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

22211 W I-10 Suite #1201 San Antonio, TX 78257 210-698-7758 73

PERFECTING THE

PANCAKES

A REVIEW OF THE COUNTLESS PANCAKE PLACES Words Sydney Griffey

Design Gracyn Freiling Photo Braden Hall Graphic Sydney Dennis

CONSECUTIVES 74

Little Gretel

Flagstop Café

Two Large Buttermilk Pancakes: $6.29

Two Texas-Sized Pancakes: $6.29

Take a quick waddle down Cibolo Creek Trail, and you will end up at Little Gretel: a quaint little German restaurant overlooking Cibolo Creek. It has a wonderful smell as you walk in that will be sure to lift your spirits. Little Gretel is known for its delicious kolaches and schnitzels, but also for wonderful buttermilk pancakes. These pancakes are fluffy but still a bit denser than usual. They are about a quarter-of-an-inch thick and have a good outer crisp with a soft egg-like middle. Little Gretel’s buttermilk pancakes are buttery, flavorful and sure to warm your stomach.

Attached to the Leon Springs Exxon gas station you will find Flagstop Café. From fried chicken to breakfast tacos, they have a range of delicious food to choose from. As unsettling as it may seem for a restaurant to be next to a rather dirty gas station, it is definitely worth it for their Texas-sized pancakes. These pancakes smell like a warm hug and are very buttery, milky and crisp. The inside melts in your mouth while the crisp outside makes sure it isn’t too sweet. The thickest part of the pancake is about half-an-inch, and the pancakes are pretty big. They are the perfect thing to treat yourself to when there’s a long day ahead.

HOURS: MONDAY-TUESDAY 7:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY 7:30 A.M.-9 P.M. SUNDAY 9 A.M.-3 P.M. BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY

HOURS: MON-SAT 6 A.M.-9 P.M. SUNDAY 7 A.M.-2 P.M. BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY

The Dienger

Conroy’s Irish Pub

Double Stack of Buttermilk Pancakes: $7.95

Luck of the Irish Triple Stack of Pancakes: $8.00

The Dienger Trading Co. is located inside of a beautiful building on the corner of Main Street. The Dienger has wonderful coffee, pies, pastries and pancakes. These pancakes taste like heaven. They have a wonderful vanilla flavor that complements the buttermilk nicely. They are thinner than your typical pancake but still very fluffy and light. They have a nice crisp on the outer edge that adds extra texture. Before you know it, your plate will be wiped clean! They are very delicious, but the high price might cause some hesitation. Most of the items on the menu are pricier than your average café, but the food is always fresh and enjoyable.

From what I’ve experienced, the price is worth it for a treat every once in a while.

HOURS: MON-SAT 7 A.M.-5:30 P.M. SUNDAY 8:30 A.M.-2 P.M. BREAKFAST 7 A.M.-10:30 A.M.

Conroy’s is a family friendly Irish Pub next to the CVS in Fair Oaks. They have very nice servers who always bring a good atmosphere. These “Luck of the Irish” pancakes are delicious. The dish comes with three thin pancakes. They are on the crispier side, but the middle is cooked to perfection.

They are served with a side of cool whip which is always a delicious addition. These pancakes are perfect to grab before school for a quick breakfast. Their service is very quick, and the mornings there are rather peaceful because of the darker lighting and the quiet atmosphere. Conroy’s is also on the way to school for most people coming from Fair Oaks or San Antonio, which makes them easy to pick up for breakfast before school.

HOURS: 7 A.M.-2 P.M. BREAKFAST 7 A.M.-10:30 A.M.

CONSECUTIVES 75

WHAT TYPE OF PENGUIN ARE YOU? THIS TEST MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST YOU WILL EVER TAKE Words Anna Riedlinger

Design Anna Riedlinger Graphic Sydney Dennis

76

CONSECUTIVES 77

78

terrific tall tales THE “KING OF ROCK AND ROLL” MIGHT NOT BE AS DEAD AS EVERYONE THINKS HE IS Words Corban Fikes

On August 16, 1977, the “King of Rock and Roll” was found dead in the bathroom of his home in Memphis, Tennessee. The reported cause of death was heart failure. There is much controversy surrounding the death of Elvis Presley. Although unconfirmed, some suspect he died because of an overdose of prescription medication, while others go so far as claiming he didn’t die at all. There have been enough theories and reported sightings to make even the most reasonable among us consider the possibility that we have been lied to.

Elvis faked his death because he was going to be killed and there was no doubt about it.

One of the more credited theories holds that Elvis faked his death to escape the mafia. Gail Brewer-Giorgio, the author of the 1988 bestselling book, “Is Elvis Alive?,” revealed in Time Magazine how she came to the conclusion that Elvis went into witness protection. She explained that after poring over many FBI documents, it became apparent that the FBI had used Elvis to infiltrate a criminal organization called “The Fraternity.” But, after being discovered as a mole, Presley’s life was in danger. “Elvis faked his death because he

was going to be killed, and there was no doubt about it,” Giorgio said.

The second anomaly that conspiracy theorists point to is the supposed misspelling of Elvis’ name on his gravestone—specifically his middle name. On the gravestone where Elvis Presley is allegedly buried, his middle name is spelled Aaron instead of Aron. Elvis went by Aron for most of his life, and some theorists believe the misspelling is proof of a cover-up.

Believe it or not, there have been several reported sightings of Elvis Presley (some more credible than others) in the years after his death. In 1988, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a woman spotted a man in a white jumpsuit at the local supermarket. Later, someone observed him eating at Burger King. What makes this sighting eerily credible is the fact that Elvis performed in the town four months before his death. Also, Burger King was reportedly his favorite fast food chain.

“What can a celebrity do after they have faked their own death?” you might ask. As it turns out, they could become an actor. In “Home Alone,” when Kevin’s mother Kate is trying to buy tickets at the airport, a very familiar bearded man can be clearly seen in line behind her. Some people are convinced it is the King himself making a cameo appearance after he faked his death.

Conspiracy theories are commonly ignored or ridiculed, and this perspective can be detrimental to our acceptance of unpopular ideas or opinions. Hopefully, this article has changed your perspective on not only the alleged death of Elvis Presley but conspiracy theories in general.

Design Gracyn Freiling Graphic Nathan Zuniga

CONSECUTIVES 79

geneva

JAMS

CONSECUTIVES 80

Retro Rock and Roll THE ‘80S WERE FULL OF BIG HAIR AND EVEN GREATER MUSIC Words Anson Eggerss

Wearing your Sony Walkman, you drive down to the local arcade with your friends where you work on your Rubik’s cube and they try to beat the high score on Pac Man. Before heading home, you stop at the nearest video store and pick up a VHS copy of “Back to the Future”—on the back is the sticker: “Be kind and rewind.”

You finally make it home in your Pontiac Firebird, stepping over the 12-foot phone cord as you enter the house. These were some of the memorable elements of the 80s: a decade full of color, big hair and fire mixtapes. This playlist highlights some of the best songs from an extraordinary period of music.

“Livin’ on a Prayer” Bon Jovi

“Jump” Van Halen

“You Make My Dreams” Hall and Oates

“Time After Time” Cyndi Lauper

“You Shook Me All Night Long” AC/DC

“Burning Down the House” Talking Heads

“Billie Jean” Michael Jackson

“Every Breath You Take” The Police

“Smooth Criminal” Michael Jackson

“Careless Whisper” George Michael

“Uptown Girl” Billy Joel

“More Than a Feeling” Boston

“Tainted Love” Soft Cell

“Under Pressure” Queen and David Bowie

“White Wedding” Billy Idol

“I Want To Know What Love Is” Foreigner

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” Whitney Houston

“Whip It” Devo

Design Gabi Griffey Graphic Sydney Dennis

CONSECUTIVES 81

HAVE A CHAT with

Sues, howie and cat THE UNTOLD SECRET CONVERSATIONS OF GENEVA’S RENOWNED MATH TEACHERS Interview Pauline Rahal

Making mathematical sense of the numbers is what makes Susan Greenlees, Catherine Davis and Howard Short come alive as our resident math teachers. Greenlees has been teaching at Geneva for many years, having done everything from Algebra to Calculus. Now, she teaches Pre-Calculus and two sections of Algebra 2. Known for her fun and optimistic attitude, Davis teaches Geometry and the other section of Algebra 2. Short teaches Calculus, Philosophy and Historical Theology.

He’s especially notable for his use of big words and big ideas. The math teachers are notorious for teaching some of the most difficult subjects, but here is a sample of what they really discuss when they get together.

CONSECUTIVES 82

Short Couldn’t she have just signed in a classroom or by a fax machine? {Awkward silence. Davis takes a bite out of her cupcake. I ask her what she’s doing for Thanksgiving.} Davis My mom and the boys and I, it’s almost become a kind of tradition the first few days of Thanksgiving break to go on a little trip. So, we’re going on a swamp tour, and a kayak tour. {Greenlees walks in.} {They continue talking about kayaking in swamps and how Davis doesn’t really love it.} Davis I mean, it’s in swamp land, so my concern is alligators.

Short Well, that’s what I mean! It tips over, and you become the marshmallow! {They both laugh} Greenlees {finally speaks} What is this?

Thanksgiving?

Davis What about you? {turns to Short.} Short We’re going to Abilene to see my wife’s family. We’re not taking the dog, so I’m excited about that. {Davis and Greenlees laugh.} It’s my wife’s Maltipoo, it’s the worst.

Davis Where’s the dog going to stay?

Short Oh I’ll just let her roam free in the streets, and once we come home, we’ll see her again I’m sure… If not, easy come easy go.

Isn’t everything math? Mrs. Catherine Davis, Dr. Howard Short and Mrs. Susan Greenlees unpack the life of numbers.

{Shrugs. Davis laughs harder.} Greenlees You can't leave those dogs outside because the birds will come down and pluck them out of the yard.

{Short and Davis are sitting, waiting for Greenlees to arrive. Davis is eating a cupcake.}

Short That would be awful. Yeah? Yeah.

Short Where is that cupcake from?

{Greenlees tells a story of not getting small dogs for this exact reason.}

Davis Oh this is from Katelyn Davis’ signing to Louisiana Tech for soccer.

Short Ohhhh, that’s why she was wearing those clothes. I thought it was just some Texas baseball stuff. I was like, “Why are people commenting on her outfit so much?” She’s really good at soccer, I’ve seen her play. {He mutters to himself.} Davis Yeah, I don’t think we’ve had a D1 in soccer. I didn’t know she was signing, except she told me.

Davis A little chicken hawk?

Short It would take quite the hawk to haul off Maybell. I mean, she’s gotten pretty chubby. {Continue to talk about how Short is “married to the TV” over Thanksgiving while watching the football games.} Greenlees That’s why Hillary and Jonah will be off doing... {Short’s wife is senior thesis teacher, Hillary and Jonah is five.} Short Well Jonah often goes to my parents’ place with me to watch games.

CONSECUTIVES 83

Davis Does Jonah really watch them?

Short Well, he doesn’t really watch the games with me, no, but my mom will take care of him.

Greenlees {Mocking Short} “Mom can you watch Jonah? I’m watching football.” {She and Davis laugh}.

Short I mean, I’ll check on him once an hour or so.

Davis {Laughs harder.} “Or so!” Here’s a math thing for you: “Plus or minus every two hours I’ll go check on him.” {Short counters by explaining there are a lot of things Jonah can do, like look for bugs.} Greenlees You don’t look for bugs?

Short I don’t look for bugs, no… I enjoy the outside from the inside. A good window and a good view, that’s how I enjoy the outdoors.

Known for her infectious laugh and competitive spirit Mrs. Catherine Davis teaches Geormetry and Algebra 2.

{They have a long talk about how neither of them will push their kids into doing football because it is a dangerous sport. Greenlees explains how her kids played basketball.} Greenlees Yeah, I was kind of a jock in high school.

I played volleyball, basketball, softball and golf all four years.

Davis What did you play in softball?

Greenlees I was the shortstop. My maiden name was Door, so I was otherwise known as the doorstopper. {Davis and Greenlees get into a long conversation over softball. Short then starts talking about how he played football and ran track.} Short I threw discus in track. But, if I threw discus poorly, my coach would make me do the 400-meter hurdle.

Having a dry wit and a Superman demeanor, Dr. Howard Short frequently can be seen with a book (or a phone) in his hands.

Greenlees You’re tall, I would have thought you played basketball.

Short No. See, I was really good at fouling. Not so much getting the ball through the hoop. I did basketball in middle school and they would call me “Howard the Hammer” because I would always foul out pretty quickly.

Greenlees The Hammer… That goes along with your teaching style. Just… {Slams her hand on the table.} Greenlees {To Short} Are you a good chess player?

Short No, I’m okay. I used to play online some. But I would use an Xbox…

Greenlees You have an Xbox? You’re a gamer?

Short Well, this was back when I was in college…I

Mrs. Susan Greenlees is known for her story time reading “Chicken Soup for the Soul” to keep math light-hearted.

CONSECUTIVES 84

would take the move the person online made and transfer it to my Xbox where I was playing against the games master or computer. I would then make the same move the gamemaster did in return to the person online. So, the person online thought they were playing me, but they were playing the Xbox.

Davis So you were cheating…Honesty! Ethics!

Where is this coming from?

Short But not all deception is immoral. It was just fun! I found it humorous! {They begin to argue light-heartedly.} {Short continues to talk about how he plays the classic games now—like Mario and Legend of Zelda—and how he likes to play on his Nintendo Switch.} Greenlees Have the seniors used any of my quirky little teaching tricks?

Short Someone did a “swimmer?” I think for the x-cubed?

Greenlees No, the x-cubed is a “disco.” The “swimmer” is a cubed root. {Short gives her a weird look.}

{She makes a motion of her hands going towards her chest than out again. Davis joins in on the banter and both she and Greenlees repeat the motion several times.} Short It’s just natural, I guess. {Rubs his knee nervously.}

The thing I like about math is the logic.

The thing I like about math is the logic, I don’t really like the applications. I can’t stand word problems. {Greenlees and Davis gawk at him.} Davis You should really be teaching Geometry.

Don’t you want the freshmen next year?

Because it is! If you really think about what a cubed root looks like, it looks like a swimmer!

Short You see, if the seniors took Geometry, I’d be happy to take over that class but yeah, um… {fades off nervously}

{She spreads her arms like a swimmer and demonstrated the cubed root.}

I just try to get them to see the logic of it. Where would I go to look these sayings up?

Short Well, you could also just memorize it…

Davis You just gotta’ think of them! It’s natural!

The Lord just puts them in your brain! And you think, oh yeah, that seems pretty stupid, but people will remember it!

Davis No, you gotta’ have fun with it!

No, the x-cubed is a “disco.” The “swimmer” is a cubed root.

Short I guess I’ll try to transfer some of that creativity to math, but there’s quite a chasm there.

Davis You can do it. Let us know how that goes.

Pray about that! {They both laugh. Greenlees begins talking about when she taught Calculus when Short interrupts her.} Short Did you see that! {He points to Greenlees and refers to her using hand gestures to explain something.}

{They talk about ovals, congruent triangles, the buddy system, the horse and the cowboy, and other mathematical quirky sayings.}

It’s not something just unique to me!

Davis It’s a two-handed toss!

Short Indeed, special…Special is the word…

{She starts mocking Short, repeating the “twohanded toss” again and again. Short tries to defend his honor.}

Greenlees This is my favorite, this is my favorite Howard hand gesture.

Photos Braden Hall Design Gracyn Freiling

Davis See, only special people can teach this.

CONSECUTIVES 85

EDITOR’S CHOICE a book

THE QUARTERLY EDITORS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE THINGS

“cold tangerines” by shauna niequist

Words Jacqueline Knox

With lots of little stories all tied together and bound into one book, Shauna Niequist’s “Cold Tangerines” is brilliant. Using things from her own life, she captures the day to day extraordinary value in the small things occurring around her. She puts it best in her introduction: “This book is a shameless appeal for celebration.” In a similar fashion to the very popular “Love Does,” by Bob Goff, “Cold Tangerines” is full of stories that excite you about the world around you while making you laugh and occasionally cry.

Niequist is an authentic storyteller, and her real experiences are sure to inspire. You can read one chapter a day or, heck, do it all in one sitting. Either way, once you get to the end of the book, you’re going to want to flip all the way back to page one and start it all over again.

a show

“psych,” Steve franks

Words Nathan Young After lying his way out of a tight spot by explaining his hyper-observance as a psychic ability in the first episode, this show follows “psychic detective” Shawn Spencer (James Roday) alongside his childhood friend Burton “Gus” Guster (Dulé Hill) as they solve Santa Barbra crime in the goofiest way possible. The interaction between the two is what makes this show truly hilarious. As the duo comically maneuvers its way through complex cases, they mix in plenty of 80’s references, ridiculous pseudonyms and witty banter. While the plot does sometimes get serious, the majority of episodes involve Shawn and Gus unconventionally jumping from clue to clue and eventually arriving at a grand, Scooby-Doo-esque reveal. Cleverly written and hilariously acted, “Psych” is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys captivating crime comedies, psychic supersleuths and/or dynamic detective duos.

CONSECUTIVES 86

an album

“The black saint,” charles mingus

Words Anna Riedlinger It saddens me that when most people think of jazz they either think of restaurant background music or the “La La Land” soundtrack, neither of which put jazz in the light that it deserves. “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady” was composed by American jazz musician Charles Mingus. What Mingus produces is about as far from background music as it gets. At a young age, Mingus clung to the cello and began to compose, later growing up to be a famous bass prodigy. He is now considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and composers of all time. This album makes you veer in and out of a range of emotions. It is nearly impossible to passively listen, pulling at you from a hundred different ways. If I am honest, sometimes it’s a little too much; a panic overtakes me, and my heartrate quickens.

But when the last lingering saxophone note of the piece fades, you feel like your whole life has been thrown out of existence.

a film

“joy,” david o. russell

Words Aisling Ayers I clearly remember “Joy” being one of the most cinematically beautiful movies I have ever seen.

The colors, soundtrack and shots create a dreamlike wonder that awed and inspired me.

I’m not sure that anyone else pays attention to things like that when they watch a movie, but I certainly do. This stylized film captures the raw beauty of real life, instead of the airbrushed, tidied version that we often see in motion pictures. The film follows a bright single mother and determined inventor named Joy who struggles to avoid her seemingly inevitable destiny of failure and squandered potential.

Normally a skeptic of big name actors, I was pleasantly surprised at Jennifer Lawrence’s obvious command of the screen. Playing on her audience’s sense of empathy, Lawrence makes you feel the desperation and dysfunction of her character’s situation. More than anything else, the emotion and dramatically beautiful showcase of Joy’s struggle to find success and self-worth will captivate you.

CONSECUTIVES 87

Statistically Speaking: flashback FIND OUT WHAT TEACHERS DID BACK THEN THAT’S TRENDING NOW Words Alexa Georgelos Have you ever noticed that things from the past are becoming more popular today? Today’s youth is becoming more and more enchanted with the retro trend. Things like record players, alternative music and funky, colorful clothing are all coming back in style once again. If you don’t want to get caught up in the bland, black-and-white modern world, look for these nostalgic objects that take you back to the past.

For these statistics, I asked 22 of our teachers to take a quick trip down memory lane. Now we can see exactly how many of them were interested in what is making a comeback today.

Design Pauline Rahal Graphic Sydney Dennis

10

Teachers

Teachers

18

owned an

owned a

Record Player

Atari

Teachers

9

were in a

owned a

Station Wagon

7

Teach ers

Teachers

12

Band

wore

CONSECUTIVES 88

Bell-bottom jeans

SINCE 2007

The

talon

DRESS CODE EXCEPTIONS

SATIRE

BY MR. ROBERT SHELTON

DESIGN ISSUES

Knowing that doing the minimum is a taxing requirement, you no longer need to wear you house tie or scarf on Mondays if:

Propaganda for World War II Italian fascist dictator Mussolini

a. Your head has been cut off, in which case a tie or scarf would just look silly. b. Alternately, if you grow another head in addition to the head you have now. We don’t want you crushed by the extra expense. [Just to make it clear: should you grow any number of heads in addition to your original head, you need not wear a tie or scarf…except around the neck of your original head.] c. You are on fire (smoke stains are difficult to remove). d. Mr. Shelton’s hair grows out and he asks for it to wear as a head band to keep the hair and sweat out of his eyes as he rocks on stage with his new band The Noah Nilsson Project.

Sweatshirt design for Geneva GQ Magazine Queen Becky

e. Aliens land and demand your tie or scarf in order to take it back to the home world as a museum artifact.

LIAMIZE YOUR NAME You may not know that freshman Liam Bell’s name is actually just the back end of his legal first name William. How cool is that?

We at “The Talon” took it upon ourselves to Liamize some names on our own: Phillip Ackermann will now be known as simply the Lip…Don’t give me no Lip!

DESIGN COINCIDENCE? WE THINK NOT. DR. ROSHEGER’S OBSCURE LATIN PHRASE OF THE QUARTER

Xanthis Barthel is simply This. “And Now This…”

Maddie Chaldler would be Die…okay, never mind on that one.

Wyatt Erfurt can now be called Yat. “Where Yat?” Nicolas Siller is Colas…a walking ad for soft drinks.

Charlotte Walker is now just a misspelled coffee drink: Lotté.

Alexis Davis goes from illiterate to literate…Lexis is Greek for ‘literate;’ A is the negative.

Hannah Pratt now has a whole song telling her goodbye: “Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah; Hey, Hey, Hey; Goodbye.”

“Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam” “I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.”

CONSECUTIVES 89

CONSECUTIVES 90

under the Words Aisling Ayers

boardwalk

This issue, we revealed the suprising secrets you never saw coming. If you’re tired of the typical fleeting gossip, check back every issue for quality content that, obviously, is 100% accurate. Because even if it’s not talked about around campus, it’s definitely talked about Under the Boardwalk.

brave new galbreath After realizing that no sibling could ever compare to their perfect first born, Coggin, Mr. and Mrs. Galbreath came to a simple solution: create Coggin’s younger sister, Eleanor, in a Petri dish.

As far-fetched as it may sound, the proof is in the pudding, or shall I say the Petri. Classmate Amber Borman recalls a strange incident when she first began to suspect that something was amiss with Eleanor Galbreath. “It was junior year and we were reading “Brave New World” in Worldview. As we reached the part about everyone being decanted, I glanced across the table and saw Eleanor looking flushed and anxious. I’ve never seen her nervous before, so it certainly caught my attention.” Galbreath’s mother is an accomplished doctor, so no one can question how the Galbreath parents accomplished this genetic feat. The result of the Petri dish birth speaks for herself. Thank you and well done, Mr. and Mrs. Galbreath, for ruining everyone’s chances to ever succeed in the world.

incognito Cupit Jack Cupit, sometimes known as “Mr. Geneva,” is often praised for his incredible school spirit, especially considering that he only came to Geneva his sophomore year. Sorry to steal your thunder Cupit, but the gig is up. Recent evidence has surfaced that proves Cupit’s Geneva attendance goes all the way back to kindergarten. This would explain Mr. Geneva’s “easy transition” and suspicious school spirit.

No new student is that well-rounded, genuinely kind and studious. It’s absolutely impossible.

Jack O’Quinn recalled catching a glimpse of

SATIRE

Cupit for the first time his kindergarten year: “I saw his eyes looking up from the cracks of the boardwalk.” Our witness reports occasionally even hearing the echo of the Fight Song from below the boardwalk as well, which obviously proves that Cupit has been here since the beginning. Nice try Cupit, you weren’t getting away that easily.

Swiper no swiping Emily Swipes, the newest addition to the Freshman class has some questions unanswered about her last name. It seems that Swipes is not her actual last name but according to the uncovered secret documents, her name was changed. No one is quite sure why. Is she a part of a witness protection program? Is she overly fond of “Dora, the Explorer?” One thing we know for certain is that she has “Swiped” sophomore Jack Swanson right off his feet.

jeffcoat fake and bake The entire Geneva community has been in a flurry of excitement over Mrs. Jeffcoat’s supposed “newborn baby.” My sources tell me that not everything is as perfect as it may seem. No one can be that sweet, not even Mrs. Jeffcoat. “I’ve heard her refer to the baby by at least three different names. She seemed surprised when I asked about the last one,” Mr. Shelton said. If Rob Shelton is suspicious, we know there’s a real incident on our hands.

So, what are you hiding Jeffcoat? The “pretend to be pregnant and have a baby” stunt is up. A confused freshman reported seeing a deflated basketball behind Mrs. Jeffcoat’s desk.

Coincidence? We think not. Unless Jeffcoat lives the secret life of a baller, this deflated basketball certainly was used to imitate the pregnancy. We will be contacting the Intelligence Agencies (Mrs. Jacobson) to get to the bottom of it.

Design Gillian Loflin

05 creativity

FULL OF GOODIES TO CHARM YOUR EYES AND CAPTIVATE YOUR MIND

SECTION

HIGHLIGHTS

094 CRAFT IT UP

095 A BIT WORDY

100 RODEO ART

CRAFT IT UP

directions

Words Alexa Georgelos Have you ever been so bored in a class that you don’t know what to do with yourself, or you just can’t seem to pay attention? Maybe you just need some caffeine or maybe you need something to keep your mind occupied. Thus, I present to you: doodling.

You might say, “I can’t even draw a stick figure!”, but that is no excuse. I can’t teach you to paint like Michelangelo, but I can show you how to up your doodling game and become an expert in overcoming long, boring classes.

The trick is to keep things simple and make it your own.

Therefore, I have come up with three easy doodles, each broken down into three easy steps.

Mountains

1. Draw a semisquiggly line indicating peaks and valleys.

2. Draw semisquiggly diagonals lines from the peaks down.

3. Shade the left side of the diagonal lines using small strokes.

2. Starting at the top, draw many horizontal lines increasing in length.

3. Go back and add more lines to make the tree darker and add color (optional).

2. Draw five lines going out from the center to create rays.

3. Go back with different colors, and add more rays and semi-circles in different sizes.

trees

1. Draw a straight vertical line.

SUN

1. Using a yellow marker, draw three semi-circles to create the center of the sun.

Keep creating, fellow doodlers.

CREATIVITY 94

A BIT WORDY journals

lydia duperier “I have journaled for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I had a diary where I would write down my thoughts, as well as songs and poems.

Now, I write the same type of things but just more in depth. I use journaling as an outlet to relieve my stress and anxiety.

When I write in my journal, I know that no one will be grading it or judging me for what I put, so I can really just be me. I get to use my mind to transform my thoughts and feelings into words that I can have forever. That to me is why journaling is so beautiful. When you write everything down, you can go back and re-read what you wrote years ago and see how far you’ve come.”

CREATIVITY 95

jayne goodman “When I went to Israel last year, I wanted to journal everything because I didn’t want to forget a single thing. The opportunity to go was such a blessing, and I learned so much. The Bible comes to life now when I read it. Our tour guide, Ulga, had the most biblical knowledge of anyone I’ve ever met and everything she said blew my mind. She connected so many dots for me, and I tried to write down as much of them as I could.

I decorated the journal pages with drawings of the things that resonated with me the most. I also wrote down some of my favorite memories from the trip.”

CREATIVITY 96

mr. steven tye “I began keeping a journal during the Advent Season of 2016. My pastor said that since Christmas is a celebration of the Lord’s incarnation—a celebration of the materiality of Christ—it is fitting for us to celebrate the material. As I listened, I came up with the idea of gifting my wife five gifts that each appealed to one of the five senses to celebrate our own material existence. I wrote this down. Since then, I’ve written a lot of thoughts in the pages of my Moleskin. Some of them are even worth remembering…I’ve also used it to remember significant events, taping in mementos such as drawings made by my daughters, a piece of black ribbon from a concert and scraps of paper with song suggestions from students.

What began as a place to pen a reflection on the material, became a material reflection of memorable moments and thoughts. I carry it wherever I go.”

CREATIVITY 97

photography

“vibrant venice” CHARLOTTE WALKER “exit glacier” AISLING AYERS

“summer day one” LUKE BOWER

“houston heights” GRACYN FREILING CREATIVITY 99

rodeo art

nathan zuniga

“fragments of the farm”

“This year’s rodeo art experience was a rollercoaster of emotions. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone by creating a piece of art with paper, but it proved to be extremly difficult. I’m just so grateful my hard work paid off.”

“I really like the art that I’m doing and this picture is super bright which I really like. I would say I’m most proud of how vibrant the colors turned out.”

aubrey matson

“It ain’t his first rodeo” CREATIVITY 100

jayne goodman

“let’s face it”

“Not going to lie, this year was rough. But all those nights staying up really late ended up in a piece I’m pretty happy with. All in all, I’m glad I gave it 100%.”

“Doing rodeo art was definitely a learning experience.

Having to stick with something through thick and thin isn’t always easy.”

anna riedlinger

“figure number four” CREATIVITY 101

quarterly comic STRUGGLING WITH IDENTITY IN A UNIFORM WORLD Graphic Nathan Zuniga

COMIC 102

quarterlY STAFF Executives Editor-in-Chief: Jacqueline Knox Chief Editor of Design: Aisling Ayers Chief Editor of Content: Nathan Young Chief Managing Editor: Anna Riedlinger

Photography Braden Hall, Editor Luke Bower Taylor Tippit Ashton Landis Nicolas Siller

EDITORIAL Matthew Schroder, Editor Gabi Griffey Lydia duPerier Pauline Rahal Jackson Young

InDesign Jayne Goodman, Editor Gillian Lofflin Sydney Griffey Alexa Georgelos Gracyn Freiling

photoshop Nathan Zuniga, Editor Anson Eggerss Ainsley Plesko Sydney Dennis Corban Fikes

marketing Daniel Grover, Director Charlotte Walker

adviser Becky Ryden

Photo Maddie Chandler

STAFF 103

GENEVA QUARTERLY A HIGH SCHOOL PUBLICATION www.genevaquarterly.com