The Aquilian
February 2021 Volume 83 Number 4
Gonzaga College High School Men For Others Since 1821
19 Eye St, NW Washington, DC 20001
Trash Talking at Gonzaga By: Charlie Neill ‘21 Editor & Reid Norton ‘21 Features Editor As a Jesuit school, caring for the environment is one of the core ideals of the Gonzaga community. Our planet is facing a myriad of threats - from global warming and rising sea levels to toxic landfills and polluted oceans. In response to these issues, Gonzaga has taken on a greater part in the effort to become more environmentally conscious. The solar panels on the roof of the Carmody Center provide energy for the school, and the school is currently exploring ways to reduce energy consumption
from lighting and other systems. The most recent (and most exciting) addition to Gonzaga’s role in caring for our common home is set to start in the next couple weeks -- a composting initiative. Composting is often associated with nasty, smelly backyard composters, but composting is actually a very effective way to reduce Gonzaga’s carbon footprint. Gonzaga currently produces around 65 tons of waste per year. If even half of that is compostable (which is a reasonable estimate), this initiative will both reduce waste and produce natural compost for local farms. The school is hiring Veteran Compost, a local small composting business that, as
the name implies, is veteran owned and employs mostly veterans. They operate three composting sites in the DMV area and are the only local composting company to offer tours of their facility, which is an exciting opportunity for the AP Environmental Science class, Environmental Club, and anyone else who is interested. Composting will start behind the counter in the Sage kitchen and McKenna Center. This first step will be mostly invisible to those of us dutifully coming to school on our cohort days (as everyone who’s able should already be doing), as Sage employees and the folks at McKenna Center will be throwing compost into bins in the kitchen
before taking them out to the loading dock. Once on the loading dock, the bins will be picked up by Veteran Compost’s employees. Once this is running smoothly, the next step will be expanding the composting bins into the cafeteria, where lunch leftovers, compostable silverware, paper plates, and more can all be added to the composting bins. So look out for updates about composting in the cafeteria, but until then, you can sleep a little better at night knowing your school is making a difference and setting an example in making the world a better place to live in. To learn more about composting at Gonzaga or Veteran Compost contact Reid
A New President, 2
Spring Sports, 4
NFL & Caps, 7
Who’s the Best?, 8
Photos By: Charlie Neill ‘21
Norton (nortonr@gonzaga. org), Charlie Neill (neillc@ gonzaga.org), or Mr. Ausema (jausema@gonzaga.org) of the Environmental Club. The Aquilian wastes nothing! So enjoy an early draft of this article’s first few lines... “The world as we know it is falling apart. Global warming is threatening our ecosystems, rising sea levels will leave half the world underwater by 2050, the covid-19 virus is ravaging our communities, and Mr. Pugliese still thinks ToastMasters is the best club at Gonzaga. But in the midst of all this disaster, there is hope. The sun is finally rising on this darkest of nights...”
The Aquilian 2
A New President on Eye St By: Mike Husk ‘22 Contributor Starting this summer, Fr. Joseph Lingan, SJ, will become the 37th president of Gonzaga College High School. In his earlier years, Fr. Lingan spent his childhood in Alexandria, VA and grew up going to Gonzaga as a proud member of the Class of 1975. At Gonzaga, Fr. Lingan was part of a variety of notable clubs: The Aetonian, The Aquilian, and the French, Math, and Science clubs. He additionally took part in the band and the softball team. Fr. Lingan also has had the honor of receiving a Barnes Award and the Archbishop’s Citizenship Award. After his time at Gonzaga, Fr. Lingan went on to get his bachelor’s degree in Public Administration at Virginia Tech. In 1979, Fr. Lingan officially entered the Society of Jesus. He went on to pursue further degrees in the 1980’s at Creighton, Saint Louis, and the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Fr. Lingan’s first assignment was in 1984 at Scranton Prep.
Seven years later, Fr. Lingan made his first return to Gonzaga as a faculty member and the chaplain, and eventually a minister until 1995. During the time period 2003 to 2010, Fr. Lingan served as the Master of Novices for the Maryland, New England, and New
York Provinces. This position is considered the most important position in the Society. In 2010, Fr. Lingan returned to Gonzaga to serve as the interim and first alumnus president after the unexpected death of Fr. Novotny. After the 2010-2011 school year, Fr. Lingan became the Rector of the Georgetown Jesuit Community and a member of the Advisory Board at Holy Trinity School. In 2019, Fr. Lingan moved to Georgia
We Do. By: Trey Jamison ‘21 Poets & Writers Do you see how life has turned out?
Independence has turned to normalcy
Help has become a necessity, not always asked for But
I do not complain I persevere
So one day I can tell my kids We do not fear We do
With help from the Gonzaga Poets & Writers, The Aquilian plans to feature a work of poetry written by a Gonzaga Student in each issue.
The Aquilian Founded In 1940 Gonzaga College High School 19 Eye Street NW Washington, DC 20001 Men For Others in the Jesuit Tradition Since 1821
where he serves as the Associate Director of the Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center in Atlanta. Fr. Lingan has received many awards from Gonzaga for his great service in the Jesuit community. He was awarded the Alumni Man of the Year Award in 2011, the St. Aloysius Medal in 2018, and the Pedro Arrupe Service Award in 2019. Fr. Lingan is a man of many interests. Some of his interests include American and international politics, American history, theology, and political philosophy. More importantly, Fr. Lingan likes the St. Louis Cardinals. For the book lovers out there, Fr. Lingan’s favorite books are The Gospel According to John, by St. John the Evangelist, The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck, and The Need and Blessing of Prayer, by Karl Rahner. His favorite quote comes from Alfred Delp, SJ, who said, “When through one man a little more love and goodness, a little light and truth comes into the world, then that man’s life has had meaning.”
Kairos on Campus By: Charlie Neill ‘21 Editor & Patrick Fogarty ‘21 Editor Last year, Kairos was one of the events uprooted by the pandemic. April Kairos was cancelled after the Covid pandemic reached the DMV. Seniors lost their chance to lead a retreat, but Campus Ministry and retreatants held on to the hope that the retreats would be rescheduled for the 2020-2021 school year. By early September, Campus Ministry decided to hold the retreat on Gonzaga’s campus. Senior Jack Doolin noted this past fall that he especially hoped [redacted content] and [don’t even think about it Jack] would remain just as impactful during the new on campus format. Kairos CLVIII made history as the first on campus Kairos and recently CLIX continues that success. Mr. Szolosi noted that both retreats “followed standard school protocols” including masks, hand washing, and health screening before entering campus. “It may be a challenge to really step
back because the demands of school are right there,” claimed Mr. Szolosi. In addition, it could be a “challenge if retreatants are still plugged into their phones,” computers, and other technology. Despite these challenges, he still pointed out the important timing of this retreat. The chance to “come together and spend whole days together is a gift,” he added. To those making the retreat in the coming months, look at the on campus format as an opportunity to find new meaning in unique spots around campus, not a setback. It’s true that this on campus Kairos may be full of challenges and Covid limitations, but these successful retreats are just what Gonzaga needs during a time when we can’t all be together on Eye Street. The community and friendship building that happens on Kairos will continue and so will the continuation of the Gonzaga spirit that the retreat is for those who’ve already attended. And most importantly about Kairos, [censored - removed - not sure what happened here - can’t print this]!
Wizards Midseason Report By: Connor Clark ‘23 Contributor The Washington Wizards’ season this year has been full of its ups and downs. Before the playing started there were some roster changes: the draft brought Washington a promising forward, Deni Avidja, and a possible good backup, Cassius Winston. Other changes included Russell Westbrook as the point guard instead of John Wall this year. The fans’ hopes were all over the place, some were high, some were low, and many didn’t know what to expect. Despite the rough beginning going 0-5, Editor-in-Chief Gabe Brady ‘21 Features Editor Reid Norton ‘21
Westbrook did accomplish some big things, becoming the second ever NBA player to achieve a triple-double in each of the first three games of the season. Bradley Beal, a sturdy player since joining the franchise, also did some good things. Beal racked up roughly 50% of points the Wizards had against the Philadelphia 76ers, 60 individual points. This season, Brad and Russ were voted by fans to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA All Star game. As for the team’s record, Washington is currently sitting at 7-17, with some room for improvement. Many close loss-
es slipped away, like the second game against the Bulls, barely losing by three points and the Miami heat beating by merely four. However, the team did have some strong victories, beating Minnesota, Miami, Phoenix and others. Westbrook and Beal even had back to back buzzer beater three’s to win against Durant, Kyrie, and the Nets. Even though the record is a little on the underside, playing has been good overall. Hopefully the 2021 NBA Playoffs may still be in the Wizards’ grasp with a little more hard work and some better clicking team chemistry.
Editors Will Buffaloe ‘21 Jesse Dolojan ‘21 Luke Elliott ‘21 Patrick Fogarty‘21 Charlie Neill ‘21 John Ferrara ‘22 Andrew Schaefer ‘22 Moderator: Dr. Harry Rissetto
The Aquilian 3
GonzagaFest 2021 - Interview with Ms. Farley By: Ryan O’Keefe ‘22 Contributor All of us at The Aquilian are looking forward to GonzagaFest. Yeah, we know, weather. But look on the bright side. Great things are happening this Spring like THREE rounds of GonzagaFest: March 17 - Ignatius Cohort, April 23 - Xavier Cohort, April 28 - Aloysius Cohort. We went to the source, Ms. Caitlin Farley, to find out more... Q: What are some of the events in store for Gonzagafest? A: “There are a bunch of activities all over campus, tons in Cantwell Ruesch like Trivia, Mini Golf with Mr. Sampugnaro, air hockey, and pool. Outside, there is going
to be human bowling, cornhole, karaoke, spikeball and volleyball tournaments, and all kinds of stuff. You will get a choice for different activities all day. Q: What do you think is important about having Gonzagafest during such an unusual school year? A: “Right now, thinking about the freshman class, those of us who were at Gonzaga last year know that Gonzaga is more than your classes and your learning. It is about competition, relationships, and spirit. So much about the Gonzaga experience is outside of the classroom. Q: What was your favorite part of Gonzagafest last year, and what are you looking forward to the most this year?
A: “I think my favorite part was the opening ceremonies, because that’s when I realized it was actually going well and was really going to happen. That feeling was amazing. One moment that embodies the enthusiasm of Gonzaga was the Jenga tournament. I have never seen kids get so pumped for Jenga. It was all kids from all four classes who didn’t know each other, and Mr. Sullivan, and the intensity over the Jenga game is something I had never seen before. My nephew, Jack McGee ‘20, also hit a homerun in the wiffleball tournament, so that was pretty cool. I think I am most looking forward to feeling that sense of community again. I think seeing teachers and kids in a room again doing something excit-
ing, something we might not be seeing in classrooms right now, is what I’m looking forward to. It’s been too long since our community came together over something to be excited about. Q: Any message to anyone who is undecided about coming to Gonzagafest, or to the freshman class who might not know much about Gonzagafest?
A: “Come. Just come and be there. This is your opportunity to experience the spirit of Gonzaga this year, and I wish that wasn’t the case, but it is. Just come in, don’t be silly. The other important thing is that there is a group of 30 students who have been working on this day for months. These are your friends, brothers, people you look up to, and they have been working so hard.”
College Board and Standardized Tests By: John Ferrara ‘22 Editor To test or not to test? In an era where most universities have given applicants the chance to not attach their standardized test scores along with the rest of their college application, students have struggled to read into this cryptic, seemingly kind offer. Does not submitting my SAT or ACT score hurt my chances of getting into my dream school? Will admission officers look down on me for not having taken an abundance of SAT Subject Tests? On January 19th, the College Board, the controversial non-profit that administers all of these tests, made some of those difficult decisions easier for students to make. The Subject Test and the op-
tional essay that traditionally accompanied the SAT will no longer be available for students to take. The Subject Test virtually disappeared overnight, as the College Board’s shocking announcement affirmed that there wouldn’t be another Subject Test administered ever again. As for the dreaded SAT Essay, testers will have through June to “experience” the test section before the College Board takes that part of the exam out of circulation. For most, these changes induce welcome sighs of relief. Subject Tests, which were one-hour exams that covered a variety of topics covered in various AP classes, notoriously inhaled students’ coveted free time
during the summer months. Studying for hours on end in cramped, hot, humid bedrooms was necessary for testtakers to achieve a respectable score on the tests. In reality, Subject Tests were already on their way out, as more and more colleges have stopped requiring applicants to submit them in recent years. However, like we’ve seen with movie theaters and shopping malls, Covid-19 expedited the test’s demise. As an SAT Essay veteran, I can tell you that the elimination of the section is welcomed with open arms. If you haven’t yet taken the SAT, imagine this...It’s well past 11 a.m., and you’ve been sitting in a dimly lit classroom since 7:45 a.m., drudg-
ing your way through the never-ending sections of the SAT. Finally, after over three hours of treacherous testtaking, you think you can grab your pencil and calculator and stroll home, right? Wrong. Instead, you submit to your proctor the SAT question booklet in exchange for a glossy, two-paged card -- one that asks you to analyze the persuasive techniques of an author who once published an article in some scientific journal or newspaper. You have fifty minutes to read, plan, and write roughly twoand-a-half pages worth of content on an article that, half the time, you aren’t even sure what it’s about due to mental fatigue caused by the painstaking reading, writing, and math sections of the SAT.
Young Investors Society By: Andrew Schaefer ‘22 Editor The Young Investors Society, a fresh and competitive club centered around the education and practice of basic investing, has grown in what the average pattern trader would call a “remarkable uptrend.” Just days after Gonzaga first began virtual school, due to the novel COVID-19, five like-minded individuals, Moe Karmani, G.L. Sacco, Simon Pels, Andrew Schaefer, and
Tommy Siracuse kicked off their club in uncertain times. Despite the challenges surrounding the startup, the Young Investor’s Society has now amassed well over a hundred active participants ranging from all grade levels. On January 27, the now thriving club hosted Mr. Thomas Farley ‘93, Gonzaga alumni, former President of the New York Stock Exchange (the second youngest person to serve in that role), and brother to our very own
Ms. Farley (Science Department). Mr. Farley not only gave the club members a rundown of his time at Gonzaga and how it shaped his success in the fields of finance and entrepreneurship, but entertained now-redacted comments pertaining to the recent clash between the “WallstreetBets’’ new-money traders vs old-money hedge fund geezers. As the news unfolded later that week, Tom’s demands for media events reached
“somewhat unprecedented levels.” Jumping in on this hot club could make you just a little bit richer, whether that be in knowledge or money… the Young Investors Society takes everything to the ‘moon.’
Hopefully, you’re getting my point. The abolition of the SAT Essay is long overdue and is an exciting change in the world of traditional standardized testing. On February 17th, Bloomberg News reported that just 44% of college applicants included their SAT or ACT score on the Common App this year. An even smaller pool of applicants added any Subject Tests they had taken to their resumes. In all, as we approach being able to leave behind certain dreadful aspects of outdated standardized tests, there should be one or two less stressors for high school seniors to be concerned about including on their college applications.
The Aquilian 4
Another Strong Year of Gonzaga Applicants
By: Noah Potholm ‘22 Contributor “Interest in Gonzaga continues to thrive!” Despite all the challenges that private schools have faced during the pandemic, Gonzaga received an above average number of applications for the class of 2025. Recently, I sat down with Mr. Battaile and Mr. Hanagan to learn more about the Gonzaga admissions process and how it has been affected by COVID-19. Each year, an experienced admissions committee, which includes Mr. Battaile and Mr. Hanagan, volunteer many hours of their own time to re-
view applicant files and make recommendations on admission decisions. According to Mr. Battaile, there continues to be strong interest in Gonzaga because “prospective students and their parents see our students’ success; they see compassionate, intelligent, faithful, and talented young men thriving. Parents want their own sons to experience that.” This speaks to the prestige and credibility Gonzaga has gained over the years establishing itself not only as a strong academic institution, but also one with competitive sports teams, entertaining musical
performances, and unparalleled service opportunities. For the incoming class, the hard-working committee continued to take its holistic approach looking at prospective students’ grades, teacher recommendations, HSPT scores, extracurricular activities, and personal essays. While the core of Gonzaga’s application process remained the same in 2021, there were certainly aspects that differed as a result of coronavirus restrictions. Students in the class of 2025 were unable to take part in the Eagle for a Day program, nor were they able to attend Gonzaga sport-
ing events, both of which have typically been great experiences for interested students. Prospective students also did not have the opportunity to attend Gonzaga’s open house in person, denying them the opportunity to meet Mr. Kilroy, Mr. Leary, Mr. Cerra, and others who work on Eye-Street. Despite these challenges, both Mr. Battaile and Mr. Hanagan expect an extremely talented and well-rounded group of students in the 2025 class. Unfortunately, there are successful students who will not gain entry as Gonzaga continues to receive far more ap-
plications than there are spots available. “It’s a wonderful problem to have” noted Mr. Battaile, who wants each and every Gonzaga Eagle to appreciate that they are here because the admissions committee thought they worked hard to earn the mantle of being a Gonzaga man. It is clear that interest in Gonzaga is flourishing, and it will continue to prosper through each of us who share with others how we have benefited from our incredible Gonzaga education. One final note from Mr. Battaile, “Continue to work hard, and treasure every day on Eye Street!”
The Washington Football Team Season Review
By: Ryan O’Keefe ‘22 Contributor
Washington football fans have had their fair share of disappointments in recent history; Over the past 20 or so years, they have been the gold standard of mediocrity. But now, with the arrival of a new team name, brand new head coach, and an impressive draft class, the Washington Football Team has hope. The draft class, highlighted by the 2nd overall pick and defensive rookie of the year, Chase Young, brought energy to a team that could not have needed it more. Antonio
Gibson, a wide-receiver turned runningback, put a spark into what was otherwise an underwhelming offense. In what has looked like the steal of the draft, Kam Curl took over for an injured Landon Collins and proved that he is a playmaking stud on an already talented defense. The team ended the season at 7-9, which by some miracle won the NFC East. Yes, it was a losing season, but the team is full of winners. Alex Smith’s story is an inspiration to all; He suffered a horrendous leg injury in 2018, and 17 surgeries and a nearly ampu-
tated leg later, he made his return against the Rams in week 5. He could not have been any more deserving of the comeback player of the year award. Thanksgiving Day against the Cowboys in week 12 was easily the most enjoyable game I had watched all year; They beat the brakes off of their bitter divisional rival 4116, led by an outstanding performance by both Antonio Gibson (115 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Montez Sweat, who returned an interception for a touchdown to seal the game. It was here where the team made their unlikely playoff push;
An upset against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers in week 13 shocked the world and, for the first time since 2015, they appeared to be a threat. After a division sealing victory against Philadelphia in week 17, the Washington Football Team was headed to the playoffs to face a tough challenge, against Tom Brady’s Buccaneers, the eventual super bowl champion; Perhaps one of the gutsiest performances that weekend would not come from Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay superteam, but from Taylor Heinicke. With Alex Smith sidelined
with an injury, the team would be forced to turn to Heinicke, a man who was studying for his final exams at Old Dominion less than two weeks earlier. Even though they lost, Heinicke turned what was one of the lowest scoring offenses in the league into an actually productive offense. There certainly is a lot of room for improvement, but the foundation has been set. With the 19th pick in the draft and a decent amount of cap room to sign bigname free agents, the future is bright for the Washington Football Team.
Gonzaga Spring Sports Preview By: Luke Gormsen ‘24 Contributor Punxsutawney Phil may have condemned us to six more weeks of winter, but Spring sports are right around the corner. I emailed coaches of Spring sports to get the inside scoop about what is happening with your sport this Spring. RUGBY - Coach Baggetta told me that, just like other Spring sports, Rugby hopes to have a season. If they can start, tryouts will begin the week of April 12, right after Spring Break. The season will be heavily determined by what is happening with the pandemic at the time and DC and Gonzaga’s policies. Games may have to be modified to fit the policies. One example Mr. Baggeta
gave was that contact between players would have to be less than 15 seconds, a huge difference from normal play. Another example would be no scrums, when play resumes after a stoppage and the team packs closely together with their arms around each other. Different plans are being put together for the Gonzaga Rugby season, but one already determined big difference for the season is that there will be no Spring Break tour for the team. CREW - Coach Bacas informed me that, unlike most other Spring sports, Crew will be starting earlier, with tryouts happening on March 1. This date will also be when Crew teams will start to get back on the water every day for practice. This crew sea-
son will be different than a normal one in the sense that more games will be local than years prior. The Crew team will take fewer long distance trips and row in more races close to home. BASEBALL - Tryouts will be the week of April 12, right after Spring break, according to Coach Carroll. This coming spring season will be shortened from a regular season, with less games. The WCAC has also announced that there will not be any playoffs this year, so a WCAC baseball tournament champion will not be crowned this season. Another change this season will be that Gonzaga Baseball will only field two teams this year, a JV and a Varsity team, while in prior years there were three teams. No
need to fret though, because the number of family memteam roster spots will be ex- bers attending games. panded so that there will be roughly the same number of Coach Reyda, Director of total players than years past. Athletics, said the spring season will run from April 26 LACROSSE - Similarly to June 19, and teams will play many other Spring Sports, a maximum of 2 games per Lacrosse will have tryouts week. Some sports will have beginning on April 12. Coach JV teams, but none will have O’Neill informed me that 3 levels of teams. Teams will they are hopeful to have a not be able to practice or play smooth, safe and successful games on back to back days, tryout. Coach said that every- so there can be a maximum one is working hard to insure of two games and one practhat protocols are followed, tice per week, and there will and that there will be a lot be no league championship of hurdles. If we stay patient games. and do our parts individuThe coaches are very opally, Coach feels great about timistic about this coming a season. Some differences Spring season, and students from a normal season would are too. Seasons may be cut be the number of players on short, but any opportunity to the field at once, mask wear- compete in a sport this Spring ing being enforced, number is a win in itself. of games, and restrictions on
President Biden - One Month In By: Teddy Friesz ‘24 Contributor It seems like just yesterday that former Vice President Joseph R. Biden was sworn in as America’s 46th president. But in reality, it’s actually been over a month. So I thought I would take a look back at some of the president’s early actions and consider their impact on the United States. It has been a tradition in recent years for the new president to spend his first few days in office reversing the actions of the previous president, and Biden is no exception. One major action taken on this front is the rescinding a previous memorandum that made it illegal for the federal government to give funding to international businesses and nonprofits that performed abortions or provided abortion-realted services, such as
counseling to women who recently had abortions. Some other actions taken by President Biden include revoking the permit for the construction of the Keystone Pipeline, readmitting the United States into the Paris Climate Accords, allowing “sanctuary cities” to receive federal funding, revoking President Trump’s travel ban on a number of Middle Eastern countries, halting the construction and funding of the Trump border wall, and allowing the participation of transgender individuals in military service. Biden has also signed a number of executive orders aimed at addressing the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, including requiring the use of masks and social distancing on federal property, establishing a position of COVID-19
coordinator within the executive branch, and revoking the country’s previously-expressed intention to exit the World Health Organization. These executive orders could potentially help reduce the spread of the coronavirus by a slight amount. However, their main impact is largely symbolic, displaying the administration’s intent to do
Biden & Harris Sworn In By: Jackson Baldrate ‘23 Contributor “And together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness.” These powerful words were how President Biden finished his inaugural address at one of the most memorable inaugurations in the history of the United States.
Just as this year’s unforeseen challenges brought new ways of going about daily life, President Biden’s inauguration was no different. Due to the pandemic, the inauguration did not feature a crowd or a parade, as is typical for most inaugurations. Additionally, because of the riot at the Capitol just two weeks earlier, there was heightened security all throughout D.C. Although Biden’s inaugura-
tion did not feel like a typical inauguration, it was still an extremely important moment for the United States. Although there was no crowd, there was still a small group of politicians and celebrities that attended the inauguration. Former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, joined the Biden and Harris families on stage. They also recorded a message together stressing the importance of a peaceful transfer of power. Notably absent was former President Trump, who instead opted for a private sendoff from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, making him the first president not to attend his successor’s inauguration in over 150 years. Biden’s inauguration featured a star-studded cast of artists. Lady Gaga performed the national anthem, Jennifer Lopez sang America the Beautiful, and Garth Brooks sang Amazing Grace. Additionally, Biden’s inauguration featured the youngest inaugural poet, Amanda Gorman, who is only 22 years old.
While the inaugural poem is not usually a highlight, Gorman’s energetic poem about justice and equality was a powerful moment for people watching all across the country. Her final line, “For there is light if only we’re brave enough to see it; if only we’re brave enough to be it,” earned a shout-out from former President Obama and an opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl. However, the most historically significant moment of the inauguration was when Kamala Harris was sworn in as America’s first female vice president. Additionally, she is the first black and South Asian vice president. Although the role of the VP is usually limited, Vice President Harris has a particularly important position this term because she is the deciding vote in a Senate that is split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. It’s no secret that 2020 was a challenging year. Between the pandemic, riots, and a bitterly contested election, there has been a lot of cause for fear, division, and darkness. However, in the new year and after the inauguration of President Biden, people long for a new era of hope, unity, and light and wish that America, slowly but surely, will reunite and build back better than ever.
whatever it takes to protect the American people from the pandemic. Another major concern of the new administration has been economic relief, the issue of ensuring that those left unemployed by the pandemic and resulting lockdown have the money necessary to support themselves. Among other actions, Biden has issued a directive to halt federal student loan payments and the accrual of interest on these loans and has signed an executive order that takes steps to require federal contractors to pay their workers at least $15 per hour. Interestingly, Biden
The Aquilian 5
has also signed an executive order that seems to build on one of President Trump’s ideas: protecting American business from foreign competition. This executive order requires the federal government to direct more funds towards American businesses and vaguely asks the government to facilitate an increase in the output of domestic businesses. President Biden has had a very significant impact on the country during his first month in office, even when compared with President Trump. He has signed a number of executive orders and issued a number of directives. Just as many people saw the Trump presidency as a revival of conservatism, I think that the Biden presidency will usher in a new wave of liberalism that will have major effects on our nation.
Vaccine Update By: Liam Thomson ‘23 Contributor Following months of research and clinical trials, two Covid-19 vaccines are finally here. After being approved for emergency use by the FDA, as of December 11th and 18th, the vaccines, by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, became available to the public and were distributed among each state based on it’s needs. This officially began the vaccination process beginning with the “phase 1” group, which includes mostly frontline workers, elderly, and people with underlying health issues. With both vaccines having high efficacy rates, our nation’s top health officials are extremely optimistic that these vaccines can greatly reduce the severity of Covid-19. For the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, both require two spaced out doses of their vaccine; the Moderna vaccine has two doses four weeks apart while the Pfizer-BioNTech requires two doses three weeks apart. On top of that, these vaccines must be stored in extremely cold temperatures, -94 ℉ for the Pfizer-BioNTech and -4 ℉ for the Moderna. As a result, the vaccine distribution process has slowed in some areas that have needed to purchase special freezers to keep the vaccines from
thawing. In addition, vaccine registration portals have been difficult to navigate and the limited available times have filled up quickly. Despite these setbacks, many mass vaccination sites have opened up throughout the U.S. and are working to
vaccinate as many people as possible. At press time, roughly 11.5 percent of our population has received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine moving our population closer to having herd immunity. On January 25th, President Biden announced a goal to vaccinate 150 million people in 100 days, a push to continue vaccinating at a faster pace. Excitingly, another vaccine, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, has entered into the third phase of their clinical trials and is expected to be approved sometime in the near future; interestingly, this vaccine only uses one dose. Finally, after almost a year into this pandemic, the vaccination process is ramping up and bringing us closer to normalcy.
The Aquilian 6
The Dingell Corner: NFL 2020 Final Power Rankings By: Bobby Dingell ‘22 Contributor
This is my final article of the 2020 Season so I just wanted to give a special thank you to everyone who took the time to read my opinions about the NFL this year no matter how misconstrued they may have been. I specifically made this list with the intention of ranking every team based on how good they were and not just by their record so please read this article with that intention. And without further ado… Let’s get into it. 1. Tampa Bay Bucs They were lethal on defense and forced a lot of turnovers to take control of games throughout the playoff stretch which led (with the help of the Goat) to their Super Bowl win. 2. Kansas City Chiefs They were pound for pound the best team in the league but key injuries plagued them near the end of the season. They will be truly unstoppable next year if they can keep their core from leaving in free agency. 3. Green Bay Packers Their defense sold on them near the end of the season, but Rodgers and Davante put the team on their back and were great this season. 4. Buffalo Bills Josh Allen still needs to mature more in the pocket, but this team easily was playing at a Super Bowl level all year. I think they may have
peaked a little too early after their week 14 win against the steelers. 5. Baltimore Ravens I’m not sold on Lamar being the franchise QB for years to come, but their defense kept them alive and helped win a lot of big games this season. 6. Cleveland Browns They were so fun to watch, but went out in the worst way possible to a diving Chad Henne. 7. Pittsburgh Steelers I feel like they got a lot of hate for finishing so poorly when most people forgot that they had 4 LBs gone for half the season and still competed in games. That to me was very impressive, so shout out to Mike Tomlin. 8. Indianapolis Colts If the Colts can find another QB to replace Phil Rivers, they should be happy because they have probably the best young core in the league and a bright future ahead. 9. Tennessee Titans Derrick Henry had another crazy season, but this offense, while great at times, was never really a large contender in a strong AFC this year. 10. Seattle Seahawks They had a very good start, but Pete Carroll pulled the reins a little too hard on their passing game which limited their offense. 11. New Orleans Saints It was really a sad sight to see an all-time great like Drew Brees go out, but it will be an even worse sight to see next year when the front office in
New Orleans tries to assemble a full team with little to no cap space left. 12. Los Angeles Rams They struggled on offense and I don’t see it getting better with Stafford because he’s always injured. However they have a high calibered defense that is very fun to watch. 13. Arizona Cardinals They should’ve made the playoffs because they were better than the Bears. 14. Miami Dolphins They were a turnover machine on defense and led the league for a reason. 15. Los Angeles Chargers Justin Herbert had a monster season, but lost a lot of games. The sky’s the limit for him, but Anthony Lynn needed to go. 16. Washington FT They are definitely on the rise as an organization under Coach Rivera, but may need years before we can talk about real contention. 17. Las Vegas Raiders They played a very physical style of football, but had trouble tying together wins. 18. San Francisco 49ers They were struck with the injury bug this year which led to new roles having to be filled. I’ll give it to Mike Shanahan though in the way that he kept them a relatively competitive squad. 19. Minnesota Vikings Their young star, Justin Jefferson, was lighting up the competition. The Vikings weren’t.
Super Bowl Recap By: Drew Norton ‘23 Contributor For just the second time in NFL history, the Buccaneers are Super Bowl champions. Only three times in Super Bowl history has a team played in the NFL’s most coveted event in their own city, however for the first time, the game will be played in their own stadium. Tampa Bay had a tremendous home-field advantage, except for the fact that only 25,000 spectators would be allowed in to watch the game. The story of the game was the Bucs defense holding the Chiefs to just 9 points. This allowed Tom Brady and Gronk to work their magic once again. Just the two of them outscored the entire Chiefs’ offense, as they were
responsible for 14 of the Bucs points, to just 9 for the entire Chiefs team. The Chiefs offensive line was unable to do anything against the Bucs defensive pressure causing Patrick Mahomes to run for his life the entire night. As Tom Brady picks up his 7th ring, he has now won more Super Bowls than any other NFL franchise’s entire history. He is the only other QB besides Peyton Manning to win a Super Bowl with multiple teams. Now, more importantly, what everyone I am sure is waiting for: I will give my picks for the top 5 Super Bowl commercials this year. Coming in at number 5 is the Doritos commercial about 3D Doritos and “Flat Matthew”. McConaughey never fails to disappoint, even the 2D version of him-
self. Taking number 4 is the M&M’s commercial about apologizing with M&M’s. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can catch it on Youtube. Next up, taking 3rd place is the “Drake from State Farm” commercial. State Farms commercials are usually pretty good and this was one of their better ones in my opinion. Drake always seems to make winners. Coming up just short of 1st place is the Rocket Mortgage “Certainty is Better” commercial. This was a pretty funny commercial but just didn’t have the strength to beat Will Ferrell. The General Motors commercial starring Will Ferrell takes the cake in my rankings this year. I think it is undisputable now, after this Super Bowl, that Tom Brady is officially the goat.
20. Chicago Bears Any quarterback in the league wouldn’t do well in this Bears offense, so you can’t blame Mitch for the team’s problems. And at least he got the NVP which he rightfully deserved. 21. New York Giants They had a rough start after losing Saquon, but ended up finishing strong after solid performances by their secondary. 22. Carolina Panthers Curtis Samuel was a stand out player for me this year who I think is an emerging star behind Christian McCafferey. 23. New England Patriots They had ups and downs, but were very boring to watch with their run-heavy offense. 24. Atlanta Falcons Calvin Ridley played his tail off, but this team could never be counted on under Dan Quinn when it comes to holding a 4th quarter lead. 25. Dallas Cowboys Losing Dak early on really sunk them. 26. Detroit Lions They just completed that big trade for Jared Goff and other 1st round picks which legitimized that they are truly go-
ing into rebuild mode. Maybe under a new staff, Goff can rehabilitate himself into a top QB in the league. 27. Houston Texans Within the span of the season this team started as a super bowl contender and finished near rock bottom where they will probably end up losing their top 2 stars in the offseason. 28. Philadelphia Eagles I have nothing nice to say, so I wont say it. 29. Denver Broncos They got nothing going and found themselves getting blown out quite a bit. 30. Cincinnati Bengals Tee Higgins was a sneaky good rookie this year and Bengals fans definitely felt good after taking down the Steelers in week 15 on MNF. 31. New York Jets They had a terrible season, but found a way to lock up two quick wins at the end of the year. The future is bright with new HC Robert Saleh who gives off the energy to his players wherever he goes. 32. Jacksonville Jaguars After losing 15 games in a row to end the season, they showed why they deserved the 1st pick.
Lost Seasons? By: Connor Clark ‘23 Contributor Covid-19 has interrupted this year’s high school 2020-2021’s sports seasons, but Gonzaga’s programs are doing their best to stay as teams, keep active, and social distance. Football has had many virtual workouts and Zoom meetings as a team, and plan to have a season when their opening comes this spring. Coach Trivers says, “Our main objective is to develop and sustain our sense of togetherness.” Gonzaga Basketball has been “trying to maximize our opportunities,” said Coach Turner. This year to increase opportunities there are two varsity teams that practice and play at the St. James. Gonzaga’s Rugby program this year has had no season, but Coach Bagetta did have weekly workouts in the fall. Currently Rugby is having weekly zoom meetings to discuss plays and the sport of rugby and how it will progress with covid-19 affected rules.
Gonzaga Swimming was fortunate enough to have a small season this year, also at the St. James. Coach Wagman organized two swim meets this year which happened in early February. On the individual scale, student athletes are coping with their lost season through home workouts. With gyms at less than half capacity, it is difficult, but students are doing what they can at home with any equipment they have. “Getting those gains,” as many have said, is the main goal of the student athletes on their off seasons. Coach Turner says it best, “We haven’t had the same season opportunities,” but “We’re giving the most that we can.” Next year all of our programs hope for a normal season. Overall, Gonzaga’s teams are doing the best that they can, and the students will continue to do all they can do on their own, and our seniors will try their best for scholarships. Next year all of Gonzaga’s sports hope for a full regular season.
By: Luke Wood ‘22 Contributor With the NFL season coming to an end, the 20202021 NFL Awards were given out. These players proved their value to their team despite having one of the craziest seasons in sports history. The most important and sought-after award, the Regular Season MVP, was awarded to The Green Bay Packer’s quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers led the league in passing touchdowns, touchdown percentage, and had the highest passer rating. Rodgers also helped lead the Packers to a top seed in the NFC. The 37-year old’s third MVP season was nothing short of spectacular, proving he still had plenty left in the tank. The OPOY award was given
NFL Award Reactions to Tennesse Titan’s running back, Derrick Henry. Henry had an outstanding season as he led the league in rushing touchdowns and ran for a whopping 2027 yards this season. Henry earned himself a spot in the 2000 yard club, one of only 8 players in the history of the NFL to do so. He also achieved this without a single Pro Bowler on his offensive line. The DPOY award was given to the Los Angeles Ram’s defensive tackle, Aaron Donald. Donald helped lead the Ram’s top-ranked defense in the league as they allowed an average of only 281.9 yards per game. This is also Donald’s third DPOY award. He was second in the league in sacks with 13.5, trailing only Steeler’s edge rusher,
T.J. Watt. The OROY award was given to Los Angeles Charger’s quarterback, Justin Herbert. Herbert had the most passing touchdowns in any rookie season in NFL history, as well as the most completions by any rookie in NFL history. He did this all in only 15 games as he was named the team’s stater after Tyrod Taylor was sidelined due to a punctured lung in week 2. The DROY award was given to your’s truly, Chase Young. Chase Young was arguably the best rookie this season as he led Washington’s feared defensive line as a team captain. He also helped solidify Washington’s place as the best team in the NFC East. Young’s play was so phenomenal that he was elected to his first Pro Bowl, one of only
two rookies to be elected this season. The CPOTY award was given to another member of the Washington Football Team, quarterback Alex Smith. Smith was coming of a devastating right leg injury which put his life in jeopardy. At first, doctors were unsure if Smith would be able to ever walk again, completely throwing football out of the picture. Nonetheless, Alex Smith was determined to get back on the field, and so he did. He was named team captain of the Washington Football Team and played in 9 games, 8 of which he started. Smith’s journey was incredible and will surely be the plot of 30 for 30 in the future. Last but not least, the COTY award. This award was given to the head coach of the
The NFL Playoffs By: Billy Cannon ‘24 Contributor It was a crazy way to get there, but in the end, the Super Bowl featured two familiar faces. Tom Brady, the most accomplished quarterback of all time, taking on the defending champs. Those champs, the Chiefs, were led by Patrick Mahomes, someone who might challenge Brady’s title in the years to come. But the path to Super Bowl LV was filled with some unexpected results. The NFC Wild Card round hosted a rematch, a 7-9 division champion, and slime cannons. Things started off with a bang in a matchup between two division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks and LA Rams. The Seahawks had finished off the regular season with five straight wins to steal the NFC West crown from the Rams, but they met again in the first round of the playoffs. Rams quarterback Jared Goff was unable to start because of a thumb injury, but when replacement John Wolford was forced out after a hit by safety Jamal Adams, Goff led the Rams to a 30-20 victory. The Rams got revenge and moved on to the next round. The hometown Washington Football Team was granted its first playoff berth in five years thanks to a weak division and the leadership of eventual Comeback Player of the Year Alex Smith. But Smith was unable to play in the Football Team’s playoff matchup against the Buc-
caneers, led by Tom Brady, who’s pretty good at football. Smith was replaced by rookie Taylor Heinicke, who was playing in just his secondever NFL game. Heinicke fought valiantly, with a spectacular diving touchdown rush, but the Football Team came up just short. However, the future looks bright in Washington. In a game televised on Nickelodeon, the New Orleans Saints took down the Chicago Bears behind 2 passing touchdowns from Drew Brees. Whenever a touchdown was scored, animated slime cannons exploded in the end zone on the Nickelodeon broadcast. The game wasn’t as close as the score made it seem, with the Bears scoring six of their nine points on the last play of the game. Shockingly, Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky was named the “NVP,” which stands for Nickelodeon Valuable Player, leading people to wonder whether the Bears really should have taken Trubisky over the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. The AFC Wild Card round wasn’t as unique, but it still featured some great games. The matchup between the Bills and the Colts ended up being one of the best games of the postseason. The Bills were able to hold off the underdog Colts, 27-24. Former Maryland Terrapin Stefon Diggs shined as he did most of the regular season, with 6 receptions, 128 yards, and a receiving touchdown. The Bills picked up their first
postseason win in 25 years, giving long-awaited joy to their loyal fanbase. Two things that don’t happen often occurred in the Ravens-Titans matchup: Lamar Jackson won in the postseason and Derrick Henry got shut down. Jackson, while he has achieved some great things in the regular season, is notorious for not performing in the postseason. In the Ravens’ 20-13 win over the Titans, however, Jackson shined. He made up for a subpar passing performance with a truly stellar running game, rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown. The same couldn’t be said for Derrick Henry, who became the eighth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season in 2020. He rushed for only 40 yards, which was a big reason the Ravens were able to keep the Titans’ offense in check. The final Wild Card matchup got off to a hot start, with the underdog Browns jumping out to a 28-0 early lead over their division rival Steelers. The Browns looked to be cruising, but Ben Roethlisberger attempted to lead a furious comeback. It didn’t work out, though, with his 4 touchdown passes accompanied by 4 interceptions. The Browns went on to win by a 48-37 margin. In the Divisional round, we got our first glimpse of the #1 seeds, the Packers and Chiefs. Both teams were victorious, with the Packers cruising by the Rams 32-18 and the Chiefs escaping the
The Aquilian 7
Cleveland Browns, Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski’s first year in Cleveland was nothing short of a success. He led the Browns to an 11-5 record and helped them earn their first playoff birth since 2002. He also helped the Browns to win their first playoff game since 1994. The future looks bright for Cleveland with Stefanski as head coach. Overall, every NFL player deserves an award for just surviving this season. With all of the delays, protocols, and all the other obstacles, players did a great job this season and provided NFL fans with plenty of entertainment. But these award-winning players’ performances helped earn them these prestigious and sought-after awards.
Caps! Browns with a 22-17 final score. The Packers’ bangedup offensive line was able to hold off superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and the Chiefs had to overcome the loss of Patrick Mahomes to hold off the persistent Browns. In the other games, we saw some unexpected results. The Buccaneers took down the Saints, 30-20, behind a monster performance from linebacker Devin White. A surprising defensive stalemate was the result of the Bills’ 17-3 win over the Ravens, in which only one offensive touchdown was scored. Bills cornerback Taron Johnson had a 101yard pick six to seal the deal for the Bills. After all the chaos, only four teams remained standing. In the NFC, it was the Packers facing the Buccaneers. In the AFC, the Chiefs faced the Bills. The Buccaneers jumped out to an early lead and tried their hardest to throw the game away, but Aaron Rodgers and the Packers couldn’t capitalize on Tom Brady’s mistakes. The defending Super Bowl champs proved to be too much for the Bills, who played a great game. However, they were going up against Patrick Mahomes. This set the stage for the Buccaneers to go up against the Chiefs. Tom Brady against Patrick Mahomes: old against new.
By: Brian Henneberry ‘23 Contributor The Washington Capitals are off to a rough start. Currently they are 6-7 with 3 of their losses coming in OT. Goal scoring has not been a problem in their first 12 games. The Caps are averaging three goals per game with Nick Bastrom leading the charge with 7 goals. The Great 8 is back and off to a hot start. Alex Ovechkin has scored five goals and had eight assists. While Ovechkin missed 4 games due to Covid- 19, he has managed to come back strong. His biggest play this year was his overtime goal to beat the Boston Bruins. With that he scored his 709th career goal. The Caps are currently on a 4 game losing streak. The biggest problem for them has been defense. In the last four they have given up 22 goals. Many people thought with the veteran Zdeno Chara coming to Washington their defense would be one of the best in the league. Although the defense hasn’t shown their potential, Chara will be able to mentor younger players. Goaltending has also been an issue. While Vitek Vanecek is a rookie, he has given up quite a few goals. He has big shoes to fill since he is replacing Braden Holtby. If the Capitals want to make it to another Stanley Cup run they are going to need to help out the young Vitek Vanecek. It is still very early, so I am optimistic that head coach Peter Laviolette will get this very talented team on track.
Door Dash v. Postmates v. UberEats By: JP Howard ‘24 Contributor It’s no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic has taken several aspects of “normal life” away from us. As we approach the one-year mark of being stuck in quarantine and living under Covid restrictions, it has almost become difficult to remember what exactly our lives were like before the entire world shut down. One pre-Covid activity that I’m sure we have all been missing lately is going out to eat. It’s been a long time since we all have felt the joy of spending a night out at a restaurant, enjoying ourselves and being thrilled that we won’t have to cook or clean up any dishes. Obviously we are living in a very different world right now in which the opportunity to eat out is not provided as frequently as it had been in the past. Thankfully, there is an easy work-around for this in the vast selection of food delivery services available on the App Store. These food delivery services are not, by any means, a new discovery. In fact, GrubHub, one of the first services of this kind, has been in existence since 2004. It seems to me, however, that this form of mobile food delivery began to become more popular throughout the latter half of the 2010’s. The general public seems to be in love with the convenience of opening up an app, finding your favorite restaurant, and placing an order for your favorite meal within the span of only a few minutes. This is evidently the case, as brands like Postmates, UberEats, and DoorDash now rake in billions of dollars annually. In 2020 alone, around 2.5 billion dollars were spent collectively by DoorDash us-
ers, beating out its number of 2.1 billion in 2019. Looking at these numbers, it is clear that quarantine has generated a greater interest in the food delivery business. This begs the question: if I’m stuck at home, and there are all these food delivery services to choose from, which one is actually the best? I decided to put this question to the test and answer it. I examined three of the top delivery services (DoorDash, Postmates, and UberEats) to determine which of the services was actually the best of the best. To come up with a definitive answer of which service was the top dog, I started by examining two key factors: the layout and accessibility of the app. The app’s layout is perhaps the most important factor in determining which service is of the highest quality. Having an app with a layout that is easy to understand makes it more accessible and easy to use, which will lead customers to come back to a specific app rather than their harderto-use competitors. Postmates is easily the weakest in this department. Upon opening the app, I found myself bombarded with suggestions to rate the app on the App Store, and the banner at the top of the app’s homepage consists mostly of advertisements for brand tie-ins with other companies, such as HBO Max. Compare this to the crisp and simple banner on the homepage of DoorDash, which boasts the several options for types of cuisine the app offers in the form of several cartoon icons. Upon clicking one of these icons, the menu will be directly narrowed to consist solely of restaurants that serve the style of food you are looking for. The banner is a nice touch
and makes the selection process much easier. UberEats boasts a similar banner and uses a similar style to DoorDash, as both utilize the banner at the top and then list the available restaurants directly underneath it. While the apps are similar, UberEats’s superiority becomes apparent in the check-out process. UberEats allows for timed delivery, meaning you can schedule when exactly your food will arrive. It seems DoorDash also has this feature, but I couldn’t figure out how to change it for some reason. The option is also not advertised to you in the way it is on UberEats. On DoorDash, the delivery time defaults to standard, meaning it will just get there whenever it gets there, whereas UberEats lets you decide up-front when you want your food to arrive. With this nice added touch, UberEats takes the win in this category! Next, I compared the actual time it took for my food to arrive. When you place an order on any of these apps, it will give you an estimate of how long it will take for your driver to bring your food to you. DoorDash really fell flat in this area, as it took my driver nearly 50 minutes to drop off my food, going over its estimated time of 20-30 minutes. Perhaps there were outside factors that contributed to my food arriving late, but I was still left annoyed and very hungry waiting for my driver to pull up. My food from UberEats arrived within its expected time, taking 50 minutes with an expected arrival time of 40-50 minutes. Postmates was the biggest surprise in this category. The delivery had an estimated time of up to an hour, but only took about 25 minutes! I was pleasantly surprised by
how efficiently my food was delivered, so Postmates takes the win in this category! Now, we move on to the quality of the food. Did the food arrive cold? Would this taste any better if I had ordered it at the actual restaurant? These were the questions I raised to determine the winner in this category. From DoorDash, I ordered a chicken sandwich meal from Popeyes. The chicken sandwich was a good temperature, not piping hot but not necessarily lukewarm either. I would have much preferred a hotter sandwich directly from the Popeyes drive-through, but the sandwich got the job done. The fries that came with the sandwich were very cold, so I had to microwave them for a little bit. The fries were perfectly fine after being microwaved, but were soggy and not as light and crisp as they would have been had I ordered them at the restaurant. Overall, my meal was not bad but could have been better. From Postmates, I ordered a Belgian waffle from Silver Diner and it was delicious! It was light and fluffy, and still very warm. You really can’t go wrong with a waffle, and Postmates delivered it to a waffle of great quality in a timely manner. I would have been just as pleased had I ordered it while eating inside the Silver Diner. It was rainy and gloomy on the day I ordered UberEats, so I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of tomato soup. The soup was comforting on the cold day, and was delivered at a great, hot temperature. The cheese on the sandwich had hardened which was disappointing, as I usually like it to be warm and melty. The sandwich wasn’t bad when dipped in the hot soup, but was just generally
GoogleMeet v. Zoom By: Walker Cave ‘24 Contributor Through the pandemic, schools have transitioned to students learning through video conferencing. Zoom and Google Meet have been extremely popular with online learning, but how are they different? Is one better than the other? Both are very similar but there are a few differences between the two online platforms. The free versions of
each have a 60 minute limit for Google Meet and a 40 minute limit for Zoom. Both Google Meet and Zoom let you have up to 100 members for every virtual meeting with the free plans. With Google Meet, you must have a Google account and with Zoom, you can just download the app. Both come with a gallery view, to see multiple participants at the same time, and both have screen sharing capabilities. Additionally, both have the ability
to record meetings and both include a chat feature. In terms of cost, besides the free plan, Zoom costs $14.99-$19.99 for a host, and Google Meet starts at $6 per user. One of the key differences between Zoom and Google Meet is that Zoom has the waiting room feature, versus when you join a Google Meet, you‘re automatically in the meeting. If you are not sure which one to use, consider what you are looking for. For example,
if you are looking for a platform to host an hour long meeting for free, then Google Meet is the one for you. However, if you are looking for one without an account, such as Google, then Zoom is the one for you. All in all, both platforms are pretty similar and both work well for online meetings. Personally, I prefer Zoom, because I find it easier to use, and at Gonzaga, it is the main platform.
disappointing. I would’ve been very unsatisfied if I had ordered it while eating inside the restaurant. In this category, Postmates reigns supreme with their delivery of an excellent waffle! For the last category, I examined the selection of restaurants that each app had to offer. Honestly, I don’t think there is a clear winner in the category. In fact, I’d say each app is equal. All three apps feature national chains like McDonald’s, Chipotle, Taco Bell, etc., as well as a few local restaurants in my area. Also, I was surprised to find out that 7-Eleven is available on both DoorDash and Postmates. I had no idea there was such a high demand for convenience store goods during this time! If the inclusion of 7-Eleven is somehow a major deal to you, then DoorDash and Postmates are obviously better. In my eyes, however, I don’t really think any of the three apps is superior in this category. With these factors considered, which food delivery service tops them all? Well, after much deliberation, I decided on this ranking (from best to worst): 1. Postmates 2. UberEats 3. DoorDash Do with this information what you will, or test my judgement by trying out these services for yourself. No matter which service you order from, I just hope you’re able to enjoy the small luxury of eating food from a restaurant without being at a restaurant. It may very well be a while until the world reverts back to its old self, so I can assure that I will be ordering from these services, including the definitive best service Postmates, while corona sticks around!