The Aquilian - December 2022 - Vol. 84 No.3

The Aquilian

College High School

Uncovering Gonzaga’s Past; Inspiring Gonzaga’s Future

By: Jackson Baldrate ‘23 Editor-in-Chief

In 2016, Mr. Donnellan was riding the train to Gonzaga when he read a New York Times article about 272 enslaved people that were sold by the Jesuits in 1838. Because he worked at a Jesuit institution, he was intrigued and invited Dr. Adam Rothman, a Georgetown professor that was interviewed in the article, to talk to his students. During the question-and-answer session of the talk, one student asked whether Dr. Rothman knew of any connections between Gonzaga and slavery. He said that he was not sure, but he invited the Gonzaga students to explore the Georgetown University Archives and learn more.

Over the next three summers, five Gonzaga students, with the guidance of Mr. Donnellan, pored over documents

from the archives in an attempt to learn about any potential link between Gonzaga and slavery. After countless hours of work, they made some staggering discoveries. They found records of five enslaved people that worked at Washington Seminary. The students were even able to piece together a large portion of the life of Gabriel, an enslaved person that was 14-years-old when he worked at the school.

Recently, Mr. Donnellan was given an opportunity to share his experience at a conference at Yale University.

David Blight, director of the “Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition,” invited Mr. Donnellan to speak at an upcoming seminar: “Teaching Race and Slavery in the American Classroom.” Mr. Donnellan was one of many scholars and teachers invited

to talk about the challenges that teachers face when discussing slavery openly and honestly. At the conference, he spoke about the project that he conducted with his students. He said, “I felt like it was an example of how a school can address the issue of slavery in a meaningful way.”

Mr. Donnellan also discussed why looking into the history of Gonzaga is so important. Though some people argue that we should move on from the past, he explained that Gonzaga needed to face the truth about its history. It had been unexplored for nearly 200 years, and he felt that it was time to have the courage to uncover it. “If we’re ever going to reconcile with the past, we first have to face it,” said Mr. Donnellan.

At the end of his talk, Mr. Donnellan closed with the words, “Trust the teach-

ers. Trust the students.” He explained that the current climate sometimes gives the impression that we should avoid talking about the difficult times in our country’s history. However, he believes that these uncomfortable conversations are critically important for a fulfilling learning experience. He says, “All students can confront this history, all students must confront this history, and doing so brings out the best in all of us.” To reinforce this idea, he pointed to some of the work done by students in light of their research. He referenced Gonzaga students that visited the families of these enslaved people and others that wrote moving poems in response to these discoveries. He said, “Uncovering this history gives deeper meaning to the world we’re living in today.”

Mr. Donnellan and his stu-

dents continue to do incredible work to bring this discovery about Gonzaga’s history to light. After setting up an exhibit last year that explored the connection between Gonzaga and slavery, Gonzaga took a remarkable step in confronting its history this school year. Going forward, all junior history classes will devote two full days of class to learning about Gonzaga’s unique history with slavery. As Mr. Donnellan said, in order to reconcile our history, we have to confront it. We must always be committed to searching for the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. It’s essential that future generations of Gonzaga students always aspire to know the truth and take action to discover it.

A Word on Gonzaga’s Phone Searching Policy

By: Daniel Colucci ‘23 Editor

“Men for others.” These are the words our school has instilled in us since the day we first stepped foot on Eye Street. We are men who form a brotherhood and persevere together through the challenges life throws at us. We are men who will one day graduate from Gonzaga and carry with us our Jesuit education throughout the entirety of our lives.

We are also men who deal with a constantly looming threat over our heads that at any moment our privacy may be stripped from us and our secrets revealed. These are the conditions I believe Gonzaga’s phone searching policy has created on Eye Street.

Throughout one’s four years here on Eye Street, there’s a chance one will have to face the process of turning in one’s phone to Student Services, writing the password down on a sticky note, and panicking over what may be looked at on the phone. Many students are completely innocent of the incident Student Services is investigating. However, this does not keep the student from having any conversation, private note, and all one’s sensitive information being exposed. Can phone confiscation and search emerge from the slightest suspicion of one’s involvement in an incident?

In pursuit of a statement from Student Services, Assis-

tant Dean of Students Mr. A.J. Cerra offered an assertive explanation for the policy: “accountability.” In my opinion, this means that the purpose of checking students’ phones with only suspicion of guilt sustains accountability. In this case, I think this policy could leave innocent students being held accountable for actions they did not commit. In any just institution, accountability for one’s actions follows evidence of guilt, not suspicion. I have three main arguments against this phone searching policy that explain why the policy is both unjust and illogical.

Gonzaga’s current phone searching policy compromises student privacy, and this is at the forefront of the problematic nature of the policy. Every text, picture, and personal note on one’s phone is susceptible to being seen by Student Services. In today’s age of technology, a phone is a haven for one’s private information. It represents practically all that there is to know about a person. This haven, however, is destroyed when someone invades it. We all have our odd ways of communicating with our loved ones and friends. We all have cringe worthy text messages with crushes or partners. We all have embarrassing photos on our phones taken of ourselves or others. We have bursts of creativity that we write down in a hurry on our notes app. Perhaps some of us even use our phones as diaries to write out thoughts,

prayers, and hardships that are only meant for one set of eyes. All of these precious aspects of our phone run the risk of being exposed. These are the circumstances we face as Gonzaga students. Vulnerability and fear brews among the student body due to this unjust policy.

Another matter that must be considered is the occurrence of students getting in trouble for something on their phones completely unrelated to what their phones were originally being searched for. Stories of this nature have been passed around Gonzaga countless times. Is this ethical? Students should not be getting in trouble for something unharmful on their phone that has no impact here at life on Eye Street, especially when there is no suspicion of it in the first place. Students will continue to do what they do outside of school, and as long as they aren’t harming oneself or anyone else, the school should stay out of it.

Finally, it’s important to note that this policy is not a universal occurrence at other schools. In my contact with students from other public schools, this policy is unheard of due to the complications with the Fourth Amendment that checking a student’s phone creates. While this policy in private schools isn’t exactly unheard of, does Gonzaga take this policy beyond what is normal in other private schools? In my discussion with an anonymous

faculty director of a nearby Catholic high school, he was shocked to learn the details of Gonzaga’s phone searching policy. He then described his own school’s policy, detailing how they would never demand to check a student’s phone unless it’s a case either involving suspected child pornography or an immediate danger being posed to a student. This gives an idea of how extreme Gonzaga’s phone policy is. Perhaps because Gonzaga students are so used to this policy, they just assume it is normal practice at other schools, but it’s not. We are practically alone in dealing with this injustice. However, this loneliness doesn’t leave us helpless.

Do I believe there are certain situations where it is necessary to confiscate a student’s phone and search through it? Yes, absolutely. I’m not arguing to completely disband this policy. In a case of a student being in danger where there’s legitimate evidence to suspect a certain student is responsible for it, I believe the phone searching policy should be utilized.

I have three compromises that we students must band together and support.

One: A phone search can only be conducted in cases posing an immediate danger to a student. This danger does not have to be life threatening. An immediate danger includes anything that could seriously damage a student’s public image or physical and mental well being.

How to Sleep Away Your Break

By: Abe Cutler ‘23 Editor

My friend, we are almost at Christmas break. One final push to finish this semester is all that is standing between us and glorious, palpable freedom. Forget, for a moment, the agonizing grind of preparing for exams and picture yourself in the center of break. Maybe you make the mistake we all have at one point—being too excited. You stay up

too late, only to feel groggy in the morning. You exert yourself constantly, not knowing that your body desires rest. I assure you: You need sleep. Follow these tips, brother, and you will be able to sleep like a baby.

Get comfortable. While slumping on the floor or a desk at Gonzaga may be the perfect power nap, if you want to truly hibernate, you need to get cozy. For your outfit, I would recommend changing

The Aquilian

into some onesie pajamas or sweats. Get into that vibe.

Make it dark. Close your shades, shut off the lights, and close your eyes. The day’s doing you a favor by getting dark earlier, so use that to your advantage to get some shut eye. You should be dimming the lights and shutting off your phone 30-60 minutes before bed to make yourself sleepy.

Don’t set an alarm. Put on some old-fashioned ear muffs should things get too loud. Let

all your worries and anxieties plague you later. You should not care when you wake up, as long as it is not too soon.

Take naps. Sleep multiple times a day. Send a massive rest for the night, and take one or two power naps throughout the day, like after lunch. Being able to get this extra rest will allow you to truly dominate the sleeping scene.

Eat. Consume. Fuel your body with large Christmas dishes that radiate food coma

Two: In order to search a student’s phone, there must be legitimate evidence of that student being guilty. If Student Services is going to investigate an incident, searching phones shouldn’t be the first step. Some form of an investigation beyond the involvement of phones must first take place in order to gather evidence.

Third: Students shouldn’t get in trouble for content found on their phones unrelated to the original incident being investigated. However, an exception can be made for this if the content found poses a threat. The implementation of these rules could prevent hundreds of students in the future from wrongly having their privacy compromised and secrets revealed.

I leave my fellow students with this: We don’t have to just sit back and deal with this policy. When it comes down to it, the student body holds more power than we realize. The progress that can be made with this policy change could greatly strengthen the level of trust we currently maintain with Student Services. Broadly, it would dissolve the sentiment of uneasiness and fear felt among students on Eye Street as of today created by this policy. To achieve this, I believe the students of Gonzaga should ban together to ensure Student Services firmly respects the privacy of students and limits the scope of their investigations. As a member of Student Services once told me, it all comes down to accountability.

energy. Finish yourself off with warm milk and cookies to get into that mindset. Obviously you should be brushing your teeth as well. Try not to let cavities ruin your break.

Sleep is important. Forget the idea that sleep is wasteful and simply enjoy it. Study hard, wear out those last few batteries of yours, and remember that there is a cushion to catch you after the grind eventually stops. Sweet dreams, Gonzaga!

Founded In 1940 Gonzaga College High School

Eye Street NW

DC 20001 Men For Others in the Jesuit Tradition Since 1821

Editor-in-Chief Jackson Baldrate ‘23

Managing Editor Luke Gormsen ‘24

Editors Tim Barloon ‘23 Jackson Brewer ‘24

Moderator: Dr. Harry Rissetto

Billy Cannon ‘24

Daniel Colucci ‘23

Abram Cutler ‘23

Max Diaz ‘24

Teddy Friesz ‘24

Sam Galupo ‘23

Andrew Lavella ‘24 Will Prisco ‘25

By: Luke Essig ‘24 Contributor

Thanksgiving is one of the most beloved holidays throughout America, celebrating when the pilgrims came to the United States from England in 1620. Since then, the rivalry between the two countries has only intensified. From the Revolutionary War to the World Cup, England and the USA have been fighting for centuries.

Historically, the United States has played England in the World Cup twice, with the USA prevailing in 1950 and the two sides drawing in 2010. Drawn into the same group this year, they were scheduled to play on November 25, the day after Thanks-

World Cup: USA vs. England

giving. Coming off of a frustrating 1-1 draw in their first group stage game against Wales, the United States was fired up and ready to win. England, on the other hand, had just beaten Iran 6-2 in their first game, giving them a large advantage over the rest of the group to advance. With both of these results in the book, the two countries faced each other next.

United States captain Tyler Adams, just 23 years old, started in the midfield alongside Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie and Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah. Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Walker Zimmerman, and Sergiño Dest started on defense, with Matt

Turner in goal. Rounding out the offense was star Christian Pulisic on the left wing, surprising starter Haji Wright up front, and Tim Weah, who scored in the Wales game, on the right wing. United States fans were surprised after coach Gregg Berhalter left stars Gio Reyna and Brenden Aaronson on the bench.

Harry Kane captained England, starting at striker. On the wings, Raheem Sterling was on the left and Bukayo Saka played on the right. In the midfield, Mason Mount started in an attacking position, with Declan Rice and wonder kid Jude Bellingham to hold the midfield. In defense were Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, John

The World Cup

By: John Mahler ‘24 Contributor

What’s the best sporting event? March Madness? The Super Bowl? Many people –especially around the world – would say the World Cup, now taking place in Qatar. A total of 32 teams compete in the World Cup, but in reality, only a few have a realistic chance of winning. Predicting a winner this year is difficult because it is a very even field, but I’ll cover the top teams and give my prediction

with an impressive scoreless draw against a powerhouse England squad and a clutch must-win victory over Iran to advance out of Group B.

Our hearts will be with Team USA, but here are the squads most likely to bring home the trophy:

Argentina: Argentina is a tricky team to evaluate as going into the World Cup they were considered one of the top two favorites, before their surprising loss to Saudi Arabia. Argentina then beat Mexico with a second-half Lionel Messi goal and secured a knockout stage spot by defeating Poland. With two convincing wins over solid opponents, La Albiceleste is still considered among the top contenders.

able blow when Neymar suffered an ankle injury in their game with Switzerland, but he is expected to return and it should not be a problem as Brazil have depth at every position. With a very good squad and an easy cruise through group play, Brazil looks very dangerous, and no one wants to face them right now. With that being said, any team can be beaten on an off day.

France: France looked to be a favorite leading up to the tournament, and solidified their status with wins against Denmark and Australia. They lost their third game to Tunisia but didn’t play most of their top players. The only thing that might stop Les Bleus is a plethora of injuries to key players like Benzema, Kante, Pogba, and Nkuku.

Stones, and Kieren Trippier, with Jordan Pickford in goal. Fans were left outraged after head coach Gareth Southgate placed Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench.

England dominated the game early on, holding much of the possession over the first twenty minutes of the game. Victory was looking to be in doubt for the United States, and it was beginning to worry fans. After a strong shot from Christian Pulisic hit the crossbar, the first half ended with a score of 0-0. While England looked like the better team in the first half, the United States held them scoreless and were looking more and more threatening

in the second half. With pressure mounting, and the score still tied, four minutes of added time were added on. After more and more shots were taken, neither team found the back of the net, and the game ended in a 0-0 draw. Christian Pulisic was awarded Man of the Match and received a 7.4 rating. England held 56% of the possession, while the United States took two more shots. England had 0.77 expected goals versus the United States, who had 0.63. Even with ten total corner kicks taken, neither team could score, leaving fans slightly disappointed with the result.

Champions League

By: Theo Schindler ‘24 Contributor

difficult to say who will have the upper hand going into the match at San Siro.

for who will win it all.

In the early group stages of the tournament, there have been quite a few upsets and surprises. Traditional powers Belgium and Germany didn’t even make it out of their groups. Although the USA doesn’t make the list of favorites, they have put on an impressive performance in Qatar, overcoming a disappointing draw against Wales

In his last World Cup, Messi seems to carry this team on his shoulders, but they will have to be more productive offensively when they face another high-caliber team.

Brazil: Brazil has one of the best rosters at the World Cup, and their players have met expectations with wins over two strong sides in Serbia and Switzerland. With the likes of superstars like Allison, Thiago Silva, Vinicius Jr., and of course Neymar Jr., Brazil is an imposing team. The Seleção took a consider-

Now for predictions: I think that Argentina, Brazil, and France are all high-quality teams, but I like Brazil’s chances to win the World Cup because of their squad depth. With so many games in a short period, depth is essential – Argentina lacks it, and France has already been forced to maximize theirs with numerous injuries. Brazil also has a better goalkeeper in Alisson than Argentina or France, and goalkeepers can be a deciding factor in a tournament where games are often decided by penalty kicks. I think the Brazilians will samba home with the trophy in 2022.

Taking a winter break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Champions League recently concluded its group stage and finalized its last sixteen competitors. Coming out of Group A are Napoli and Liverpool(both with 15 points), out of Group B Porto(12pts) and Club Brugge(11pts), out of Group C Bayern(18pts) and Inter(10pts), out of Group D Tottenham(11pts) and Frankfurt(10pts), out of Group E Chelsea(13pts) and Milan(10), out of Group F Real Madrid(13pts) and Leipzig(12pts), out of Group G Man City(14pts) and Dortmund(9pts) and in Group H, Benfica, and Paris SG(both with 14 points). As the anticipation builds for the tournament’s continuation on Valentine’s Day in 2023, let us take a look at some of the exciting, upcoming matches.

In the first match, Paris SG faces FC Bayern. The two teams just faced off in the Champions League final two years ago, with Bayern taking a narrow 1:0 victory, so now “Les Parisiens” are determined to ensure that history does not repeat itself again.

On the same day, Milan takes on Tottenham. Both teams have been active in the transfer market during this offseason, so their battle is sure not to disappoint. With expensive players coming and going on both sides, it is

Coincidentally, Liverpool will play Real Madrid in another knockout match of finalists. In case you missed it, last year’s Champions League final match pitted these two teams against each other, in which Real took their fourteenth(!) trophy. In late November, Real’s number 9, Karim Benzema, suffered a muscle tear, which sidelined him from the World Cup. Fortunately, though, he will be fit again to play this match in the new year.

Another great match to watch out for is Frankfurt versus Napoli. The team from Naples currently leads Serie A and is on track to secure first place; still, Frankfurt have shown great potential in the last few years and are not going to be beaten easily!

For those that enjoy a good upset, Man City against RB Leipzig might just be the game to watch. The “Cityzens” are undisputedly one of the best teams in world soccer at the moment, but Leipzig have proven that they are not strange to defeating giants. In fact, they just beat Real Madrid in the second round of the group stage.

The soccer gods have blessed fans around the world with an amazing lineup for the Champions League Round of 16. With the World Cup also in full swing, the next few months are sure to keep any fan entertained!

The 10 Defining Moments of 2022

By: Brendan Rohde ‘24 Contributor

Since it is the December Issue of The Aquilian, I would like to reflect and look back on 2022, so here are my ten events that defined this year. Note: these events are arranged in no specific order.

Queen Elizabeth II Dies:

After a historic tenure as one of the most well-respected public figures and heads of state in the world, Queen Elizabeth II died just 7 months after her platinum jubilee, celebrating 70 years on the throne. It was immediately followed by a seven-day period of mourning, which brought the U.K. to a halt. Her son Charles succeeded her, becoming the third Eng-

that have affected all parts of the Russian economy and way of life. The war has also led to a global polarization between Russian-allied nations and Western-allied nations.

Shinzo Abe Assassinated: Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving leader in modern Japan, was fatally shot from close range during a campaign rally on July 8, two days before a parliamentary election. The multiple-term prime minister of Japan was one of its most well-recognized and respected leaders on the world stage. This was also a shocking story due to the nature of the incredibly stringent gun control measure that Japan has.

Drastic Reduction in Covid Pandemic

Worldwide:

World Cup in Qatar:

lish king named Charles.

British PM and Financial Crises:

The complete saga included the collapse of Boris Johnson’s role as PM, the short-lived fiasco that was Liz Truss’s tenure as the conservative party leader that sent already bad financial situations plunging even further towards rock bottom, and the election of the runner-up in the initial race to replace Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak.

Russian War in Ukraine:

Following an intense and protracted buildup, Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24 to swiftly march through the country and take its capital, Kyiv. The war has gone disastrously wrong for the Russians as the war progressed, with their initial gains having been all but lost due to persistent and successful Ukrainian counterattacks. As a response to the war, Nato, the EU, and the United States have leveled unprecedented numbers of sanctions

After two long years filled with mandates, masks, and much confusion, the broadest effects of the pandemic seem to be coming to an end. Whether it be virtual work or learning, disagreements over science and effectiveness of vaccines, or the intense polarization and politicization of this health crisis, the situation seems to be waning. Covid-19 is still very much alive and well; however, thanks to vaccines and less deadly variants the world has turned the corner and most countries have left the pandemic restrictions largely behind. I am happy, though still cautious, that we have finally (hopefully) reached the end.

Roe vs. Wade Overturned:

Following the leak of Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion in March of the year, the Court voted 6-3 in favor of Dobbs, in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. This decision overruled the precedents set in Roe vs. Wade and Casey vs. Planned Parenthood. This decision removes all federal protections for abortion and leaves the right to an abortion up to the states. Since this decision, many states have either passed laws to protect or criminalize abortion.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is significant for several reasons: 1. It is the first world cup to be played both in the Middle East and in the winter. 2. Questions about the legitimacy of the vote that awarded Qatar the cup in 2010 abound after numerous high-ranking FIFA officials were arrested on corruption and bribery charges since the vote. 3. Seven new stadiums and numerous new cities were created explicitly for the hosting of this event using migrant labor under the Kalafa system–a system that has killed approximately six and a half thousand workers and that has been heavily denounced.

Inflation Rising to 40-year Highs in U.S. and Higher Abroad:

As a result of many factors, such as the war in Ukraine, supply chain shortages and economic slowdowns to the Covid-19 pandemic, and harsh and stringent “zero-Covid” policies in China, prices soared this year across the world. In the United States, average prices rose around 9% from the previous year in June 2022: the largest U.S. yearon-year change since 1980. However, compared to the rest of the world, it might seem paltry, Turkey’s inflation rate hit 85% in October, and Argentina’s inflation rate hit 88% in October. While these two are outliers by an astronomical amount, it still makes the point that the issue is disastrous abroad. People around the world struggled this year not only from Covid-19, but also from an economic virus: inflation.

pean Elections: While the supposed “Red Wave” never hit the shore in the U.S. midterm elections, parties on the right side of the political spectrum made gains in unexpected places. In Sweden, a nation known for its more socialistic policies and governance, a rightaligned coalition took power in a stunning upset. In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni became the first woman PM ever and the most right-leaning leader in the government since Benito Mussolini. She has formed a coalition government that is made up of her Brothers of Italy Party, Matteo Salvini’s League, and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party. The three parties combined for 60% of the vote. In Hungary, Viktor Orbán was re-elected for his fourth consecutive term as his Fidesz party continued its hold on the government. In France, in a rematch of the 2017 French election, Marine Le Pen received around 8% more votes than in the last election with Emmanuel Macron. All of these results point to a possi-

sist a hostile takeover. “Poison pill” is “a colloquial term for a defense strategy used by the directors of a public company to prevent activist investors, competitors, or other would-be acquirers from taking control of the company by buying up large amounts of its stock,” according to Investopedia. But Twitter unanimously accepted Musk’s buyout offer of $44 billion on April 25th. However, the deal seemed to fall through when Elon, on May 13th, said the deal was on hold. On July 12th, Twitter sued Elon in an attempt to force him to complete the deal. On October 28th the deal was finally completed and Elon Musk bought the company for roughly $44 billion dollars. Massive layoffs soon followed on November 4th which caused a stir amongst both Twitter users and employees. Finally, the most recent news on this situation would be the introduction of the Twitter Blue system, which offers the same verification privileges as before but at the cost of $8.

Honorable mention: Oil Crises Around the World:

ble swing in Europe towards the right and conservatism. Benjamin Netanyahu also returned to power for the third time in Israel following the 2022 Israeli election, leading a right-wing coalition.

Elon Musk Twitter Saga: And now, this fiasco. On April 14th, Elon made an unsolicited offer to purchase the company. Twitter’s board initially responded with a “poison pill” strategy to re-

As a result of the war in Ukraine the flow of Russian oil and LNG(liquid natural gas) to the west stopped. A decrease in oil production due to the extreme lack of demand during the Covid-19 pandemic, gas prices around the world shot up and stayed at high levels. Governments have tried various strategies, such as putting price caps on the price for consumers (U.K.), drawing from strategic reserves (U.S.), or buying Russian oil that was laundered through China and/or Russia in response.

And so, with this being my last article this year for The Aquilian I just hope no big news breaks until the new year from December 2nd. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

UK Recession

By: Joey Bunag ‘25 Contributor

Two months ago, the United Kingdom was thrust into political and economic turmoil with the abdication of Liz Truss, the nation’s former prime minister; however, despite removing Truss and being under new leadership, the effects of Truss’s shortlived term continue to be at play in the enormous recession that is consuming the British economy.

What is a recession? A recession is formally defined as a period of time where the overall GDP, or economic health, of a country falls for two consecutive quarters of the fiscal year. As of today, the UK’s GDP has fallen for

five consecutive quarters, marking the UK’s biggest recession since the 2008 financial crisis. The recession was brought on most notably by Liz Truss’s destructive economic policy. Truss was a huge advocate for “trickledown economics”, which is a branch of economic thought that supports tax cuts for upper earners in order to motivate them to participate more in the economy, and their increased participation allows their money to “trickle down” to the rest of the economy. Truss tried to do the same thing, instituting tax cuts for the wealthy and increasing public spending cuts; however, the effects were disastrous. Truss’s infamous tax

cuts caused inflation to rise sharply, causing foreign investors to withdraw their money from the economy and ultimately leading to extremely high borrowing costs. Even worse, Truss’s economic package contributed to a gap of about $64 billion in the government’s finances, or what many economists call a “black hole”. This, combined with rising energy prices, the war in Ukraine, and supply shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic all worked together to create one of the worst recessions the UK has experienced.

The effects of the recession are dismal. The UK economy is now 0.4% smaller than it was at the end of

2019. The UK is experiencing its worst fall in living standards ever, with household incomes rapidly falling and unemployment steadily rising. In fact, nearly 1.23 million people are currently unemployed, the worst unemployment has been since late 2021. To make matters worse, inflation is expected to soar during the recession, reaching a rate of 8.5%.

Overall, the recession is expected to last until the middle of 2024. However, the future continues to look grim for the UK since these disastrous effects are expected to linger. Over the next two years, household incomes are expected to drop by 7%, a drop so massive that it will

restore the British economy to its status from 2013. By 2024, the economy will shrink by 2%, and 505,000 people will become unemployed. House prices are expected to fall by 9%, and the average interest rate for mortgages will rise to about 5%. Moreover, taxes are expected to rise sharply by 2028, composing 37.1% of the nation’s overall GDP. If these predictions are true, then this recession will shatter the British economy, and it will take several years for it to recover. Until then, we will have to see how Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will handle this economic crisis, and whether or not his leadership during these trying times will help or hurt the UK economy.

Cross Country Midterm Elections

By: Tyler Harry ‘25 Contributor

The Gonzaga Cross Country team had a season that was nothing short of spectacular. One of the Varsity squad’s highlights included the Spiked Shoe Invitational, in which top runners Lucas Rohde, Matt Podratsky, Liam Thomson, and Anthony Sarro finished 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th, respectively. The WCAC Championship Race saw 4 of the top 10 runners hail from Gonzaga,

including William Buckley’s spectacular finish. Varsity finished the season strong, taking 3 of the top 10 spots in the DC State Championship.

The Junior Varsity team saw its fair share of achievements - their large win at the Jesuit Championship cannot be overstated, as they took 1st place with 6 of the top 10 finishers in the race. The team was very grateful for the coaching staff that contributed greatly to the progress made. Coach Ausema and Coach Scott’s contributions to the team impacted each runner’s times greatly and added to the morale of the Gonzaga XC team dramatically.

Coach Kelly added a lot of experience and advice, and the team meetings would not have been possible without the gracious assistance of Coach Laguilles.

Gonzaga’s Cross Country program is proud of its accomplishments this season, and it looks forward to the 2023 season with eagerness and excitement.

By: Will Prisco ‘25 Editor

Although the results of many races were still unknown on Election night, one thing was for certain: the expected “red tsunami” or “red wave” did not happen. Instead, all Republicans ended up with was a “red ripple”, at best.

Ever since President Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, 2021, election experts predicted that the 2022 midterm elections would be a major blow to Democrats. This analysis was not shocking, as the midterm elections often favor the party not in control of the White House, historically speaking. In addition, high inflation, the crisis at the southern border, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, coupled with the President’s low approval ratings, signaled that the Democrats were in for a rude awakening.

However, the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that established a constitutional right to an abortion might have just saved Democrats from absolute doom. The moment the Supreme Court issued their decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, Democrats, who generally support abortion rights, went on the offensive, attacking Republicans for their anti-abortion policies. A few weeks later, voters took their anger to the polls in a series of special elections in which Democrats flipped two seats

in the House of Representatives.

While reproductive rights certainly drove voters to the polls this November there are other factors that played a role in preventing this election from being a “red tsunami.” Across the country, former President Donald Trump personally handpicked candidates to challenge Democratic incumbents. This strategy had mixed results. Although Trump-endorsed candidates won the Ohio and North Carolina Senate races, others, such as Kari Lake, GOP nominee for Arizona governor as well as Mehmet Oz, GOP nominee for Pennsylvania Senate, all lost their races. In addition, many Trump-endorsed candidates for secretary of state, responsible for overseeing elections, were defeated. A key takeaway here is that voters largely rejected Donald Trump, his allies, and his policies, thus giving Democrats key victories in many swing states.

On election night, Democrats defied history and were able to hold on to their razor-thin Senate majority. In addition, although Democrats lost the House of Representatives, they only did so by about 9 seats, a stark contrast to what many prominent Republicans were predicting just a few weeks before. However, challenges are ahead for President Biden and his administration, as the Republican-controlled House plans to block virtually all of

the Democrats’ agenda. Not only that, but House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who is predicted to become Speaker of the House in January, has vowed to conduct investigations into the Biden Administration, which would complicate the President’s remaining two years in office even further.

Only one election remains to be called: the Georgia Senate race. Georgia law states that if neither candidate receives 50% of the vote, then the results will instead be determined by a runoff, where Georgians vote again. Since neither Raphael Warnock, the incumbent Democratic senator, nor his Republican challenger Herschel Walker received 50% of the vote, a runoff is scheduled for December 6th. Although the results won’t determine which party has control of the Senate, since Democrats are guaranteed control with the Vice President’s tie-breaking vote, the race is nonetheless viewed as important, since it could provide Democrats with some breathing room as they face a very tough Senate map in 2024, with nearly all of their vulnerable incumbents up for reelection.

By: Alex Guarini '26 Contributor

Cryptocurrency has rapidly developed into a prominent aspect of economics over the last several years. And even if you were not fortunate enough to have invested in crypto a decade ago, its success is still widely seen; several celebrities have endorsed exchanges in television commercials, and an increasing amount of companies now accept cryptocurrencies as a payment method. However, it has not been smooth sailing for crypto over the past couple of months; most notably, crypto exchange FTX filed for bankruptcy on November 11, 2022, and a ripple effect has led crypto into turmoil.

Crypto, which was cre-

Crypto Collapse

ated to act as a decentralized alternative to governmentmonitored currencies, noticeably entered the picture in 2008, but up until recent years, trading for crypto was not worth the hassle for most people. This changed in 2019 when Sam Bankman-Fried founded FTX, a digital currency exchange where people could easily buy and sell cryptocurrencies. The company saw rapid success as casual investors who wanted in on crypto used the exchange.

Crypto as a whole peaked in November 2021, but with economic uncertainty in 2022, crypto declined sharply. Fortunately for FTX, the company seemed to be unaffected by the decline of crypto. However, in early November, digital media gi-

ant CoinDesk revealed that Alameda Research, a separate investing firm owned by Bankman-Fried, was financially dependent on FTX, owning a large sum of the digital token created by FTX, FTT. This negative uncertainty regarding Alameda, which had known close ties to FTX, led to a digital bank run; fearing FTX’s collapse, investors rushed to cash out on their crypto stored in the platform. Quickly, FTX shut this down by halting withdrawals, but the damage was done. Owing billions of dollars, FTX and Alameda Research both declared bankruptcy on November 11. Bankman-Fried stepped down as CEO of FTX on the same day.

It appeared as if things could not get worse for FTX,

NFL Playoff Predictions

By: Tobin Choquette ‘25 Contributor

Locked In:

Some teams are essentially already in the playoffs for different reasons. To start, the Chiefs are a strong squad with an easy schedule, and with a few more wins can secure that top seed in the AFC. Similarly, the Eagles, who have been looking dominant all season averaging 27.5 points per game, have proved they can win big games. With a few more this season, the Eagles will be in the same position as the Chiefs in the NFC. The Bills and the Dolphins are in the same boat in that they have good records, and if these teams continue what they have been doing all season, they will earn a trip to this year’s playoffs. The Vikings and the Titans, while not similar in record, both have no competition in their respective divisions. No team in either the AFC South or the NFC North besides these two has a winning record.

Contenders:

Some teams are not completely secured, but are leaning towards that way as the final weeks of the season approach. In the AFC, the Ravens are still holding on to their division title as their ticket to the playoffs as they continue to blow big leads, although still a definite contender due to the caliber of their squad and easy remaining schedule. The Bengals

are close to snatching the division from the Ravens with a big win last weekend against the Titans, which shows they are moving in the right direction and progressing positively from their slow start. The Bengals are to face the toughest schedule down the stretch, but with no losses in November without Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals should not be ruled out. The 49ers, the Commanders and Cowboys look especially strong considering each is on a winning streak and seems to have something going for them. The Commanders keep finding a way to win with Taylor Heinicke leading the team to a huge win against the Eagles, and since then the Commanders have not lost.

Have a Chance: Some teams are on the cusp of the playoffs, either just outside or barely holding on. The Giants and the Jets, while both having similar

records to contenders, just don’t have the same flow the contenders have. The Giants have lost two straight and have to play some of the top teams in the league over the next few weeks. The Jets look young, strong, and hope to break their twelve year streak of missing the playoffs, but they too have a tough schedule ahead. The Buccaneers and Falcons are fighting for the NFC South division title as their path to the playoffs, though it is really fair game for anyone in the division. Teams just outside include the Chargers, the Patriots, and the Seahawks. All three teams have difficult schedules as the season drags on, but are still in the mix.

The Lions are a long shot, but they have a relatively easy schedule remaining and are only two games back of the wild card.

but they did. Multiple sources alleged that FTX was using billions of dollars of customer money to fund its sister company, Alameda. This became the basis of a lawsuit filed by some American customers over fraud and embezzlement. Further mismanagement was made evident when FTX’s new CEO, John Ray, revealed that employees had been approving expenses through chat messages with personalized emojis and that the company failed to keep communication records. Ray stated that he had never seen “such a complete failure of corporate controls and such a complete absence of trustworthy financial information.” FTX is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and

the Commodities Futures Trading Commission and is also under criminal investigation in the Bahamas, where the company is based.

Immediately following FTX’s implosion, investors rushed to withdraw their money from other crypto exchanges, threatening insolvency for many companies; meanwhile, most cryptocurrencies plummeted. Going forward, experts say that the collapse of FTX will continue to have an extensive effect on the crypto industry, perhaps resulting in less investor trust in crypto corporations. Experts reassure that crypto will survive these difficult times, but they acknowledge that there is a long and costly recovery on the horizon.

NBA Update

By: Michael Licamele ‘24 Contributor

In this article, we will look into some teams that are performing above and below expectations.

Teams Underperforming Chicago Bulls

After putting together decent seasons in the past few years, this year has been a disappointment for Bulls’ fans. Hopefully they can turn it around once Lonzo Ball, their injured point guard, gets back onto the court. Until then, Ayo Dosunmu will have to continue to play well if this squad hopes to get back on track.

Minnesota Timberwolves

With a star studded roster of KAT, Anthony Edwards, and D’Angelo Russell, along with their new defensiveoriented center Rudy Gobert, who they traded for, it would be expected for this team to at least be a top six seed. However, it seems that the two big lineup of KAT and Gobert is not working as expected for Minnesota, and their record is reflective of that.

Golden State Warriors

After winning a championship, the Warriors were expected to pick up right where they left off, but they are currently the eighth seed in the West. Steph Curry is certainly not the problem, for he is having another stellar season. If the Warriors want to be competitive come playoff time, their younger players will have to pick up the slack.

Los Angeles Lakers

This organization has

been given the benefit of the doubt the last couple years purely due to some big names. The team is centered around an amazing player in LeBron James, but he is a player that needs teams to be built around his playstyle. A team with a declining slashing point guard, an injury prone star big, and a handful of average shooters does not exactly help the aging LeBron use his talents to their full potential.

Teams Overperforming Phoenix Suns

After their ridiculous regular season record last year, many people expected this team to take a step back, especially due to the age of Chris Paul, who is now 37. So far, the Suns have managed to prove everyone wrong as they hold the number one spot in the West. It will be interesting to see if they can actually turn their regular season success into post season success this time around.

Sacramento Kings

When the Kings traded away Tyrese Haliburton, one of the best young talents in the NBA, fans wondered what the organization was thinking. While many people still think this was a major mistake in the long term, the Kings are set to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006. De’Aaron Fox is looking like an All-Star early in the season and the additions of Domantas Sabonis, Kevin Huerter, and Malik Monk in the off season only bolstered the talent of this roster.

Integrity on Eye Street - Metro Fare Evasion

By: Thomas Martino ‘24 Contributor

Throughout history, eagles have been revered and honored by many cultures. They symbolize freedom, strength, and courage. We call ourselves Eagles because we hold ourselves to the highest standards in athletics, academics, and character. At the core of our Jesuit education, we have learned that our mission is to be men for others and to do good works. We are also tasked with becoming selfaware and spiritually awake.

None of this is possible without a complete commitment to personal integrity. If we are going to talk the talk, we need to walk the walk. We must all ask ourselves….Am I living what it means to be a Gonzaga man?

Recently, our school has received numerous complaints of Gonzaga students and kids wearing purple hopping the gates at the Metro to avoid paying the fare. Fare evasion not only reflects poorly upon the individual but also damages the reputation of the institution we are

Daylight Savings

By: Enzo Bunag ‘25 Contributor

Earlier this year in March, the United States’ Senate unanimously agreed to preserve Daylight Savings Time (losing an hour) in the calendar.

Now that we are in the winter months of the year, all of us exited Daylight Savings Time, turned back our clocks an hour in early November, and gained an hour of sleep in standard time. Besides the simple benefit of getting to sleep an extra hour, switching to standard time also provides different health benefits.

Daylight Savings Time began in the early 1900s during World War I in the United States as a measure to save more daylight in the afternoon so that energy costs could be cut by reducing the

amount of necessary electric lighting within buildings. Unfortunately, Daylight Savings Time has been proven to be ineffective towards its initial goal due to a sharper increase in other energy using machines such as heaters and air conditioners.

Now, there has been an ongoing debate to abolish Daylight Savings Time altogether due to the scientifi-

cally proven health risks it produces. Biologically, humans have evolved to grow used to schedules and routines, including the transitions between day and night. The times of day and night determine what time we normally wake up, when certain hormones in our bodies are released, and other different biological functions. When changing our clocks an hour ahead, we disrupt our biological routine and confuse our own bodies. Unfortunately, this leads to various health risks; in fact, scientists have been able to find correlations between sleep loss, heart attacks, and a greater chance of death after a stroke to Daylight Savings Time. It also has been linked to depression, slower metabolism, unhealthy weight gain, and various headaches. Furthermore, an experiment on high schoolers concluded that staying in standard time allowed high schoolers to sleep more and be more energized and productive during the day. These effects are because standard time is the closest time to the position of the sun, as the sun is very close to straight above us at noon, while Daylight Savings Time is an hour ahead of the natural position of the sun, causing detrimental effects.

Overall, it seems like standard time is healthier for everyone, and that the Senate may have to reconsider their verdict upholding Daylight Savings Time.

privileged to attend. It diminishes all of us. Do any of us want Gonzaga to be seen in this light? Are we willing to let a few disrespect the principles honored by 200 years of Gonzaga Eagles?

When we wear the G it means we are accountable to live by the ideals of Gonzaga. In fact, we are called to live up to these standards for the rest of our lives, as we will always be Gonzaga men. It is unfortunate and unacceptable that this article has to be written. For those among us who do not want to live up to

the ideals of a Gonzaga man, don’t wear the G. The rest of us earn our right to wear it every day. We push, strive, and struggle to succeed in the classroom, on the sports field, and in our personal lives. We hold ourselves to these high standards because they are hard. We are proud to do so. To us, the G is at the beginning of Grit and the center of inteGrity.

What can you do? Simply put, do the right thing…every day. If you find yourself tempted, remember who you are and who you represent.

Remember when you said you would strive to live by the values of being a “Man for Others” or the “Grad at Grad” statement. If you can’t do the right thing for yourself, do it for your brothers. Preserve the prestige and well-found name our legacy has created and pay it forward. Keep these traditions alive that we believe are so sacred. Hold your buddies accountable. Keep them in check, and never be afraid to be your group's positive role model and leader. Fly High Eagles!

Drake's New Album

By: George Koutrouvelis ‘25 Contributor

A collaboration with rapper 21 Savage, Drake's new album Her Loss was released earlier this month, grossing an estimated 500 million ondemand streams. The album debuted eight new songs on the Billboard Top 100 list, but not one held the number-one spot. Having some previous success with their hit song “Knife Talk,” the album was eagerly awaited with high expectations. A demonstration of the two artists' chemistry, the album starts out well with the song “Rich Flex.” The various beat switches and onand-off style give the song a smooth feel, making it a great

listen. The lyrics, however, are where the album falters. The lyrics seem shallow and, at points, dull. The album stirred up a lot of controversy and media attention for its unnecessary callouts to various other singers and public figures. The toxic callouts drag down the lyrical quality of the album, with songs such as “Privileged Rappers” and “Hours in Silence” suffering from that fate. Regardless of its commercial success, the album doesn't stand out to me as being exemplary, compared to artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Future, who also released albums this year. However, given some of Drake's other

outputs in recent years, like Honestly, Nevermind and Certified Lover Boy, the album feels more put together and coherent. Where Certified Lover Boy suffered from Drake's bleak tone, Her Loss seems to have fixed most of those problems thanks partly to the addition of 21 Savage. Like most Drake albums, the album's engineering is excellent, and when done well, the combination of 21 Savage and Drake make for a wonderful listening experience. Overall I would rate this album a 6/10. While the album is a sure step up from Drake’s recent work, I still feel Drake's lyrical quality is lacking.

An Aquilian Christmas CP#1

Chaos in College Basketball

By: Peter Francese ‘26 Contributor

The men’s college basketball season is not yet even a month old, and there have already been dramatic changes in the rankings. In the last five college basketball seasons, the top 5 teams in the preseason AP poll have, collectively, lost fewer than 4 games through the first three weeks of the season. Of those preseason top-five teams, more than 3 per season have remained in the top 5 in the fourth poll. This year is markedly different: through three weeks, the preseason top five have already lost 8 games, and only Houston remains in the top 5. There are many possible reasons behind this year’s craziness.

First, many teams were highly ranked because of high-profile returning starters, but often overlooked was the hole left by players that were leaving. For example, Drew Timme’s return to Gonzaga and Armando Bacot’s return to North Carolina brought high expectations for both teams; however, those lofty

rankings may have underestimated the significance of the departures of Gonzaga point guard Andrew Nembhard and UNC power forward Brady Manek, who were integral parts of their team’s success last year. On the other hand, Purdue and Virginia have vaulted up the rankings due to the emergence of returning players Zach Edey and Reece Beekman. Edey’s 22 points and 11 rebounds per game have led Purdue from being unranked in the preseason to being fifth in the week 4 poll, while Beekman’s 6 assists and 57% three-point shooting have led UVA from #18 to #3.

Second, injuries have played a big part in teams crashing down the rankings. For example, Duke (Derek Lively II and Dariq Whitehead) and Kentucky (Oscar Tshiebwe and Sahvir Wheeler) have both seen multiple starters miss significant practice time and games due to injuries. Upon return, these players have been rusty and have not yet fully integrated into their teams, resulting in 3 total losses even with all starters healthy.

Finally, the rule change allowing players to play immediately after transferring resulted in a record 1,500 players switching schools this season. Some schools have had trouble integrating their new players, while others have had no problems whatsoever. Tyrese Hunter has stepped right into his new starting role for Texas, averaging 16 points and leading the Longhorns to the #2 spot in the rankings. UConn has also risen far in the rankings, from unranked to the #8 team in the country, partly due to a great start to the season for Tristen Newton. Newton has averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists as a starting guard for the Huskies.

Time will tell if the unexpected rising teams can sustain their success, or if the preseason darlings will find their footing and finish the season strong. The chaos this season has made for many fun games and will hopefully continue through the regular season and the upcoming March Madness.

Top Law Schools Pull Out of US News Rankings

By: Michael Bicksel ‘25 Contributor

In the last couple months, a number of high-end law schools have dropped out of the well-known US News rankings. The schools include, in the order they pulled out (as of the time of writing): Yale (1), Harvard (4), the University of California, Berkeley (9), Georgetown (14), Columbia (4), Stanford (2), the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (10), Northwestern Pritzker (13), Duke (11), the University of California, Los Angeles (15), and the University of California, Irvine (37). All of this hoopla comes after a handful of conservativeleaning judges have boycotted hiring Yale law clerks, which would certainly hurt its ranking.

It’s hard to blame either judge or school here. It is obviously the prerogative of individual judges to decide whether or not to hire Yale law students. Similarly, it is the prerogative of Yale law to do everything in its power to get its students on the government payroll. If Yale wants

to throw its hands up and cry foul, it may do so. If conservative judges want to point the finger and spit on potential clerks, they may do so.

So the question is not whether such judges can boycott certain schools, but whether they should. And so they should. No one seriously doubts the predicate of the judges’ arguments, that Yale is an overwhelmingly liberal school. Instead, the administration at Yale and the alphabet soup of other highand low-end law schools that have dropped out of the US News rankings argue that it is antithetical to values of free speech to write off students (conservative or liberal) simply because of the school that they chose to attend. It is. But so is every selection, from hiring a janitor to appointing a justice. It makes a brilliant talking point to say that someone should not be turned away for their past decisions, but the consequences of doing that, especially for a school with a 9.7% acceptance rate, are far more fatal than meets the eye.

As if that were not enough, quasi-political decisions in hiring practices for judges are not only mainstream, but crucial to maintaining a healthy stream of bright young clerks, many of whom go on to hold elite private and public sector positions. In the same sense that it is beneficial to accept clerks from underrepresented law schools for their different perspectives, it is beneficial to accept clerks from any law school for their different intellectual leanings. Though its consequences may be, at times, quite unsightly, its logical foundation is no doubt firm.

Frustrating, foul, and downright ugly, yes. That the one apolitical branch is infested with politics, taken at surface level, should send red flags flying in the minds of every informed citizen. But the alternative, in which a handful of legal institutions rule ironfisted and one-minded with a monopoly over our judicial branch, is far more concerning. So Yale, Harvard, and all the rest, your move.

Top Five Sports Movies of All-Time

By: Peyton Battaglini ‘24 Contributor

With the holiday season approaching, it is a better time than ever to kick back on the couch and turn on a couple of movies (after midterms, of course). The top five sports movies are a tough list; mine determines ranking through three categories: humor, plot, and memorability.

5. The Mighty Ducks

The Mighty Ducks is a classic. It perfectly combines a funny story with a passionate coach who does everything he can,creating a heartwarming movie. We witness the coach, Gordon Bombay, transform a young team into one who makes an unprecedented run to win the championship against Gordon Bombay’s former team. This movie shows the progression of lacking kid athletes with motivated spirits, a former hockey dropout as a coach, and their improvement to become a championship team. Gordon Bombay pours his heart and soul into his kids, while also being determined to take down his former coach It ultimately portrays a very heartwarming movie based on a true story.

4. Moneyball

Moneyball is the perfect display of how sometimes unconventional methods of winning are extremely effective. Billy Beane, a former highly ranked prospect and current GM of the struggling Oakland A’s, realizes that he is managing his team all wrong. He hires a statistician to analyze all the aspects of each player's game and assign them a rating. This system is so advanced and technical that they are able to pinpoint below-average players who will fit into a team system very well. This system carries his historically low-ranked team into a division playoff series that they end up losing, but he is offered a lavish job with the Boston Red Sox for his discoveries.

3. Miracle

This is the best hockey movie ever. It shows the awesome story of the United States’ improbable win over the Soviet Union in the Olympics - The Miracle on Ice. As Coach Brooks brings a new and rigorous coach-

ing style to the US National Team, the players are able to bond over a common rival, the Soviets. In the goldmedal game of 1980, the USA is able to convert on a powerplay, draining an early third-period goal that eventually brings them to victory. This movie is often seen as a symbol of the United States' efforts in the Cold War and displays an amazing showing of resilience and hope even when the odds are against you.

2. The Bad News Bears

The most infamously terrible team steps foot onto the field of one of the best sports movies ever. Coach Buttermaker takes control of a local little league team by order of his boss, whose son is a member of the team. After just a few fungoes, Coach Buttermaker and the audience witness a load of sports gaffs in this outrageous comedy movie. A combination of non-baseball players and kids whose parents forced them to play, come together to make the most hopeless baseball team to ever exist. However, this movie is another great example of hard work and beating the odds, as through weeks of dedication they win their league's championship. This laugh-packed film that shows the most appallingly bad players to ever step on a field is bound to leave you fulfilled and instill the team's perseverance in your mind.

1. Rocky

Rocky tells the story of Rocky Balboa, a workingclass man who takes on the challenge of the Heavyweight Boxing Champion. He is elected to fight by Apollo Creed and is instantly convinced when he hears the winner receives $150,000. Rocky goes through weeks of unorthodox training and constantly battles self-doubt and anxiety toward the outcome of the fight. After an exhausting and rigorous fight, Rocky and Creed take each other to the 15th round in one of the greatest exhibition matches to ever take place in the ring. Overall this movie is a very compelling fight story while also being a joyous love story. The best part about this movie is the reality of a working man being given the opportunity of a lifetime.