The Aquilian
February 2022 Volume 83 Number 4
Gonzaga College High School Men For Others Since 1821
19 Eye St, NW Washington, DC 20001
Photo Courtesty: Madame Alexia Gino-Saliba
Rep. James Clyburn Comes to Eye Street The story of the lightbulb is one that’s often told. We’re taught that Thomas Edison, one of our country’s most ingenious and most hard-working innovators, engineered the product after hundreds of failed attempts. But did you know about Lewis Latimer, the creator of the filament - one of the most vital elements of the device? Neither did I nor most of the student body until Representative James Clyburn illuminated the story during his speech at
the Black History Month assembly on February 1st. The event was orchestrated by Gonzaga’s Onyx Club, who led Rep. Clyburn’s introduction and also put forth some of their own poets and singers to speak. From Kadari Machen ‘22, we heard about the more overlooked events in the struggle for African Americans civil rights, encompassed in his poem, “Dig Deeper”. Later, works from EJ Anders ‘22, JoJo Hammond ‘22, and a joint piece put together by Jon Rogers ‘22 and Gavin Bryson ‘22 all focused on the
different facets of the movement for equality that Black Americans have advanced for centuries. Representative James Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in the House, was born in South Carolina in the midst of the Jim Crow period. From a young age, Rep. Clyburn had a passion for the civil rights movement, evidenced by him holding the presidency of his local NAACP chapter at age 12. Rep. Clyburn remained in South Carolina through college, as he attended South Carolina State University.
Before earning his spot in the House of Representatives in the early 90’s, Clyburn grew a reputation in the region as someone committed to racial justice through his work on other political campaigns/ movements. In his last three decades in the House, Rep. Clyburn has spearheaded the passage of legislaton that has advanced healthcare access, education quality, and workers’ rights. The pinnacle of the assembly came as Rep. Clyburn delivered a packed speech on the prolonged endeavor we all are committed
2021 Year in Review, 2
Ukraine/Russia Situation, 3
The Dingell Corner, 5
Gonzaga Patch: 200.2.1, 8
By: John Ferrara ‘22 Editor-in-Chief
to as Men for Others to create a more unified society - one where we identify based on our similarities and not on our differences, one where we highlight the discoveries and advancements made by all people of all races. Representative Clyburn’s address served as an optimistic encouragement of how far we’ve come, but his echoing reminder of how much more needs to be done gives us an objective to strive for as budding Gonzaga graduates.
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A Glance at 2022 By: Abe Cutler ‘23 Contributor As 2022 finally arrives, we may find ourselves wondering what in the world to do. Some people may think that there’s simply too much to consider. Others may feel in the dark as to what this year holds. Fret not! This year is a year to be cherished, so look towards the future and make the best of everything that is going down in 2022!
person bobsledding. The FIFA World Cup will also be hosted in Qatar, as well as the PGA US Open in NY. The Indianapolis 500, Ice Hockey World Championship, and Super Bowl LVI will also be happening over the course of the year. As sporting events hopefully open back up, 2022 is a great year to explore new sports and potentially find a new passion. There was literally a darts world championship already. There’s something for everyone.
in this field. A total lunar eclipse, where the earth’s shadow covers the moon and causes it to appear a rustic red, will be visible to North America this May. The Perseid Meteor shower will also boast a large amount of meteors in early August. Launched in late 2021, the James Webb telescope is a revolutionary telescope with immense power behind it. Finally, with NASA beginning operations to have man walk the lunar surface again, this year could boast some awesome news for science lovers.
Sports: The 2022 Winter Olympics (Feb 4-20) in Beijing Astronomical Events: There are definitely features new events, including extreme skiing and one- things to stay tuned in for The 2022 Midterms:
Gabriel’s Hall By: EJ Anders ‘22 Poet
stepping through stone corridors of eggshells on turtle island. spine splitting, palms itching, forging a new color of eye. molded in god’s image. divine grace. we sing: “god is purple” “america is free” but god, like america, has graceful and free shackles. “bleed violet” “praise the one who saves us”. but who is really saved? “Gonzaga is a brotherhood.” say that to Gabe’s shackled sable skin, i dare you.
With help from the Gonzaga Poets & Writers, The Aquilian plans to feature a work of poetry written by a Gonzaga Student in each issue.
Spider-Man, Across the Spider-Verse (Part One): One of the most anticipated films of the year is coming out October 7, 2022. Spider-Man, Into the Spider Verse is one of Sony’s most acclaimed and beloved films, and the film was a borderline cultural phenomenon. The sequel is sure to rattle theaters this fall, and the first look trailer for the upcoming movie shows a promising prelude to a masterful collage of animation styles and a great personal story for
Hopefully an End to Covid: Yeah, I really hope this happens. After nearly 3 years of a pandemic, here's to hoping that the warm temperature of spring and summer will finally curb all the restrictions once and for all. We’ve endured it for ages at this point, and what really makes 2022 is how this global state will fare as we throw ourselves into the new year!
Update on the SGA By: Daniel Colucci ‘23 Contributor Let it be known that our SGA representatives serve as our collective voice with the faculty and the administration. The SGA has a single, but critical goal: to improve our Gonzaga experience. However, it can only do so if it hears directly from the people it represents. In a sit down with Junior SGA representative Tad Clifton, he stressed the importance of students reaching out to their class reps to voice their concerns and opinions. He was adamant that this is the only way it can represent the wishes and will of their classmates. The best way to communicate with the SGA is via GroupMe. Simply contact one of your class’ SGA reps and request to be added to the GroupMe group chat. From there, your imagination is the only limit of what could come next at Gonzaga. One may wonder what types of things the SGA has been working on, as much of its work is behind the scenes. Well, Tad shared some exciting details. G-Days are a defining characteristic of Gonzaga,
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
It’s on the list. If you Miles. It's sure to be a maswant to look forward to it, terpiece, so definitely mark your calendars for this one! feel free.
Editor-in-Chief John Ferrara ‘22
and while the G-Days this year have undoubtedly provided memorable experiences deeply rooted in education, reform, and justice, Tad is hopeful that the SGA will also be able to add in more activity-oriented, community building G-Days. He added that there was a push from the SGA to create a rule that would prevent teachers from assigning homework on G-Days; however, that was turned down by school officials. Tad did break some news that came with very little detail due to the idea still being in its early stages: The SGA is exploring the possibility of a school talent show. The students of Gonzaga would rejoice at the sight of their fellow classmates displaying their talents (and limitations) on stage. This is a must-do for a school such as ours that breeds such a wide variety of
characters. Tad also mentioned another item that students may have forgotten about - Food Truck Friday. Tad was happy to share that Food Truck Friday is in the works, and potential dates are in discussion. It would truly be something special to witness us line up by the hundreds and empty our pockets into the local small businesses of our community. Again, I must stress the benefit of getting in touch with your class representatives. Without direct communication, it makes it difficult for the SGA to know exactly what the students want. For such a small group of students, they undeniably play a very influential and outsize role in the decision making that forms our experience at Gonzaga. Make your voice heard.
Editors Chris Bunn ‘22 Jack McGuinness ‘22 Peter Mildrew ‘22 Noah Potholm ‘22 Jackson Baldrate ‘23 Luke Gormsen ‘24 Moderator: Dr. Harry Rissetto
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Looking Back on 2021: A Year Like No Other By: Will Prisco ‘25 Contributor
rapidly spread to the rest of with each of their spouses. the world within weeks, just The American people now 2021 brought on many unan- in time for the holidays. looked to President Biden to ticipated challenges as the heal the divided country. pandemic dragged on and January 6 Insurrection people tried to adjust to the On December 31, 2020, Withdrawal of US Troops new normal of living with the the world was more than from Afghanistan pandemic. There were, how- ready to move into 2021 In April, President Biden ever, moments of remarkable with high hopes for new be- declared that his administraresilience and dedication that ginnings and the promise of tion would withdraw all of brought light to those who recovery. Only six days af- the US military from Afghandesperately needed it. ter people rang in the new istan after twenty years of year; however, a crowd of occupation. This action had COVID-19’s Continued Trump supporters breached grave consequences in the Toll and the Distribution of the United States Capitol in coming weeks when a group Vaccines response to the election re- of radical Muslims called the Pfizer and Moderna set sults that declared Joe Biden Taliban exploited the newly the record for the fastest vac- as the newly appointed presi- crippled Afghanistan governcine development in history, dent. The invasion caused the ment and immediately seized authorized in December 2020 death of five people and the large portions of the country. and readily available to a ma- evacuation of many mem- Many US personnel includjority of the US population bers of Congress, including ing ambassadors and soldiers within the first few months former Vice President Mike suddenly became stranded in of 2021. As the allocation Pence. The investigations the dangerous environment of vaccines to every corner that later followed the inci- of Afghanistan. of America continued, state dent led to the conclusion and local governments be- that Donald Trump prompted Juneteenth Becomes a Nagan alleviating restrictions this riot, causing his second tional Holiday for mask-wearing and social impeachment. In June, President Biden distance precautions. As a officially recognized Juneresult, a new variant of the New President and Vice teenth as a national holiday, COVID-19 virus emerged, President Inaugurated a major victory toward the nicknamed the Delta variJoseph R. Biden was in- Black community amidst the ant. Later in the year, the augurated as the 46th Presi- ongoing fight for racial jusFDA approved the vaccine dent of the United States on tice. Juneteenth marks the for children ages twelve to January 20th. On the same end of slavery in the United eighteen, hinting at a pos- day, Kamala Harris made his- States because of the actions sible end to the pandemic and tory when she was appointed of Union General Gordon a return to a normal lifestyle. as the first woman, Black, and Granger, who declared the This much-needed vision; South Asian vice president. end of slavery in Galveston, however, became shattered Several prior presidents at- Texas on June 19, 1865. when another variant of CO- tended the inauguration such VID-19, the Omicron variant, as Barack Obama, George W. Tokyo 2020 Olympics emerged in South Africa and Bush, and Bill Clinton, along The summer Tokyo
Olympics were originally scheduled in 2020; however, Conviction of Derek the ongoing pandemic made Chauvin it impossible to host athletes Former Minneapolis pofrom over two hundred indi- lice officer Derek Chauvin
vidual countries. As a result, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), decided to postpone the games to the summer of 2021. The US performed remarkably well, winning 113 medals by the ending ceremony. In the swimming pool, Floridanative Caleb Dressel earned five gold medals and set two new world records in the 50 m freestyle and the 100m butterfly. The talented gymnast Simone Biles sparked a much-needed conversation about athletes’ mental health when she withdrew from several of her registered Olympic events due to a lack of function between her mind and body. Later in the games, she returned to compete in the balance beam event, managing to achieve a bronze medal.
was found guilty of the intentional murder of George Floyd, an action that sparked protests against systemic racism and police violence in more than 2,000 U.S. cities and 60 countries around the globe during 2020. The movement for racial equality continues to escalate as activists urge for an end to racism and call for the respect of all races and cultures. Super Bowl LV In Super Bowl LV hosted at Tampa Bay on February 7, the Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9—the first time a team has won the game in its home stadium. Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady earned his fifth Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award and seventh Super Bowl ring, breaking two records.
Real Bullets and Wooden Rifles By: JP Felmlee ‘22 Foreign Affairs Contributor Over the past several weeks, Russia has increased its military presence on their border with Ukraine to 100,000 troops, dozens of artillery and tank divisions, and multiple Iskander medium-range ballistic missile units. This is the most intense military build-up Russia has ever launched since their annexation of Crimea in 2014 following the Russo-Ukrainian War, but many experts conclude that the war eight years ago and today’s heightened tensions are all a part of President Vladamir Putin’s efforts to expand and solidify his “sphere of influence.” In other words, Russia’s pressure on Ukraine is a more complex effort to assert dominance over Eastern Europe and NATO-allied states than
what many may think. Whereas the US sees its actions as methods to contain Russian authoritarianism and its unjust expansion, Putin views the political and economic sanctions as a hindrance to Russian social and technological development. He claims the “United States was trying to pull Russia into an armed conflict over Ukraine that Russia did not want,” according to The New York Times. In reality, this is Putin’s best chance at expanding Russian territorial holdings and solidifying his occupation over parts of Ukraine and all of Crimea. Putin sees Ukraine as a threat to the legitimacy of his power and the sovereignty of Russia’s authoritarian regime because of Ukrainian President Zelinsky’s calls for Western support and hopeful joining
of NATO. President Biden has officially pledged US support to Ukraine with several shipments of weapons and ammunition. According to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby, Biden has also ordered the deployment of 2,000 soldiers to Poland and Germany while moving 1,000 troops already stationed in the region to Romania. On top of political and economic sanctions, the US views Russia’s actions as a near violation of the Budapest Memorandum Security Assurances for Ukraine, which was a 1994 agreement made between the US, Britain, and Russia that defended Ukraine’s sovereignty. The US, along with its NATO allies, concluded that Russia broke this pact in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea; with Russia’s con-
tinued military build-up, the US is considering every diplomatic and military route possible if any heavy response is deemed necessary. Turning the spotlight back to the border, Ukraine is continuing their small military build-up when compared to Russia’s mobilization efforts. However, President Zelinsky is not the effective leader many of his people desire at the moment; thus, ordinary civilians, particularly Western Ukrainians, have taken up arms and begun basic weapons training in preparation for the worst. The majority of these civilian volunteers are highly educated and include doctors, lawyers, engineers, and teachers. Though their training has begun in guerilla warfare tactics, their weapons arsenal strangely includes wooden
AK-47 assault rifles as photographed and reported by VICE and The Times. It raises questions as to the size of the US weapons shipments and how they are being utilized by Ukraine’s military. At any moment Putin could launch a massive invasion to install a puppet government and absorb Ukraine into his “sphere of influence,” yet it must be recognized that this planning has been in progress since early 2014. Since the annexation of Crimea, Russia has slowly, physically, and politically pressed into Ukraine while increasing its military presence along the border and in Crimea. It seems only a matter of time before Putin decides whether or not to commit to a full occupation of Ukraine.
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Super Bowl Preview
By: Andrew Lavella ‘24 Contributor Keys to Victory: Bengals: Everything revolves around Joe Burrow. He is setting the NFL on fire and showing why he was taken 1st overall last year. The reason they are here is Burrow and the reason they will win, if they do, is also him. He has come just like advertised and much more. He has been as close to perfect as it gets and his playmaking will decide the game; however, he can’t do that if his O-line doesn’t show up. Against the Titans he was sacked 9 times but against the Chiefs, only once. They have been hot and cold but their play will decide how much they can dial up the deep shots and be dynamic and a handful to deal with. Another way they could win is leaning on Ja’marr Chase. As a rookie he has found his way right into the top 10 receivers and you could make a case he is top 5. If he goes off he could be just too much for the Rams defense to handle.
Rams: From a Rams point of view they need to keep doing what they are doing on offense but clean up the stupid mistakes. If not for a few drops they would have cruised to victory. Keeping focus and staying ahead of the sticks will help them tremendously. Matt Stafford has been exactly what they traded for him to be. If he can keep his game flying high it will be a real tough ask for the Bengals to pull this game out. On the defensive side of the ball the name of the game is QB pressure. However much they can put Joe Burrow under pressure and make him feel uncomfortable will decide if they fold or if they play good hard defense. Burrow is fantastic if you give him a clean pocket. So it is imperative that they put him under pressure if they are to win this game. Final Score Prediction: This game in the end is a toss up. Two hot teams coming off huge wins to get to this stage. The game will come down to the final ticks on the clock
and maybe a last second field goal. Evan McPherson has been perfect in the playoffs so far and don’t be surprised if this game comes down to his kick. I do think that this will be the outcome, though. One way or another it will be down to the rookie to hold his own and win the biggest game of his life for his team. I have a final score of 27-24 with McPherson drilling it through the uprights as time expires to give the Bengals their first win in franchise history.
WFT Season Review By: Ryan O’Keefe ‘22 Contributor After ending last season on a high note and finally generating some hope for a successful season, the Washington Football Team fell short of the playoffs this year, with more questions now being asked than were answered. After having a top defense in 2020, many expected them to come back even stronger with new additions such as Free Safety Bobby McCain and Cornerback William Jackson III. However, the “team with no name” came out of the gate slow with their highly touted defensive line, headlined by Chase Young and Montez Sweat, severely underperforming. The defense made enough plays to hang around in many games throughout the season, but rarely were they able to shut down opposing offenses in the way they were expected to in order to win games, as they only did so against Tampa Bay and Seattle. As for the offense, young stars like Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin continue to impress the league, but injuries and COVID issues doomed the team from week 1. After
Ryan Fitzpatrick was injured in the 2nd Quarter of the first game of the year, it seemed as if the offense could not catch a break; Logan Thomas, Brandon Scherff, JD McKissic, Antonio Gibson, and Curtis Samuel especially, all missed a great deal of important snaps in a year that was supposed to be a coming -out year for the team. I’m not as concerned about the defense’s struggles and the offense’s lack of production as I am about the question that has been plaguing this franchise for the last decade or so: what are they going to do at the Quarterback position? You will not find a bigger Taylor Heinicke fan than me, but it is hard to justify making him “the guy.” He played well down the stretch, particularly on the WFT’s late 4 game win streak, but he simply does not have the same game-winning ability as some of the NFL’s best do: if you look at the this season’s playoff bracket, each team has a stud franchise quarterback who can take over a game. For a team that has so long been devoid of a winning culture, not seen since the shortlived Alex Smith 6-3
era, clearly the answer is to bring in someone who offers the same ability to lead a team in the way the Mahomes and Allens of the football world do; unfortunately, there are very few options in the way of all-pro QBs going into this offseason in terms of free agency, so it appears that the WFT will be limited to trades or the 11th pick they possess in the draft to try and find the next quarterback. The coaching staff have made it clear that Heinicke will likely be replaced or have some competition. There is a lot to be excited about, as they nearly lead the league in available cap space and still have a lot of young developing superstar players, but I cannot see the team taking a real step forward until they can finally find their franchise quarterback.
Tiger’s Back
By: Ryan O’Keefe ‘22 Contributor
After Tiger Woods’ major car accident in February of 2021, many golf fans around the world have been awaiting his return, even though at times it was in jeopardy. When his car swerved off the road in Los Angeles, he suffered multiple leg injuries, including many severe fractures. In all likelihood, it seemed that Tiger’s illustrious and accomplished career had come to an end. But if there is one thing that we’ve all learned about Tiger Woods over the years, it is to never count him out. After his 2008 U.S Open win on a broken leg and seemingly impossible comeback at the 2019 Masters after numerous back surgeries, it would have seemed foolish to have bet against him to return now. But after months of silence, many in the golf world had the question: what would be next for Tiger? Then, on November 21st, out of nowhere and only about eight months after the crash, he posted a
short video of himself finally on the practice range again. It was enough to have golf fans everywhere blow up with excitement. On December 16th, he teed off for the first time in a tournament setting at the PNC Championship. Tiger, alongside his son Charlie, posted an impressive 25 under par over the 36 hole family tournament. It was mustsee T.V. for many reasons. Finally, after a long stretch of uncertainty, we were able to see Tiger Woods back in action. And, we watched as Charlie made a name for himself (and upset nearly every golfer in the world that a 12-year-old could be so much better than them). Although Tiger has downplayed the possibility that he will ever return to where he once was in his golf career, it is difficult to not be excited about seeing him back in the “Sunday Red” competing again. Currently he is a long-shot to win The Masters in April (+4200), but I would hardly be surprised if he ends up near the top of the leaderboard come the final round.
Commanders
By: Jackson Baldrate ‘23 Editor
After more than a year without a permanent title, D.C.’s football team has decided to change their name to the Washington Commanders. This change comes after two seasons of being known simply as the Washington Football Team. The team announced the new name, along with a new logo, seal, and uniforms, on 2/2/22. The logo is a more detailed version of the “W” that was used as the Washington Football Team’s logo. The seal, which is more similar to those of European football clubs, features the team logo, the year the team was founded, three stars to represent the D.C. flag, and the five times that the team won a Super Bowl or national championship. The Commanders opted for more modern uniforms to accompany their change, featuring matte helmets and a new black alternate jersey. Although the team name may sound bland or generic at the moment, it’s important to remember that new names often sound unnatural at first. There was a comparable reaction when Tennessee re-
vealed that their team was going to be called the Titans, a similarly generic name. However, like the Titans’ name, Commanders will get more normal with time, and soon fans will barely even notice it. In any event, there are more important things upcoming for the Washington Commanders. They seem poised to make a push for a veteran quarterback, and they have been mentioned as a possible destination for Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson. Additionally, their lease at FedEx Field expires in 2027, meaning that the team is on the search for a new home. Virginia and Maryland have both submitted bids for the stadium, but the most exciting development is D.C.’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, suggesting that the team should build the new stadium on the old site of RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Although football seasons in D.C. have not recently been something to look forward to, there are a lot of promising developments on the horizon for the Washington Commanders.
Dingell Corner
By: Bobby Dingell ‘22 Contributor DISCLAIMER: *I wrote three weeks ago, so teams may have pulled off playoff upsets before the time you are reading this. Don’t shame the article for what it is not. Cherish its greatness for what it is. This is my honest take on who’s better, not who will win the Super Bowl.
Brady played arguably one of his best seasons in years and put Max Kellerman in his place by proving he can still do it at 44 years old. What a year it was for the Bucs. The Skkolars Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers is too much of a Me>We kind of guy. That works alright in State Farm ads and on Jeopardy, but when the going gets tough, Rodgers most likely won’t pull through and doesn’t know how to play from behind. Good team, but not much hope coming from the corner. Los Angeles Rams This front office has invested all its resources on picking up veteran players who are only worried about the Now. If this team doesn’t win the Super Bowl, this year will be considered a bust and a bevy of their stars will walk into the oasis of free agency. Because of this possibility, Sean McVay and his Rams are under alot of pressure. You know what they say though… Pressure makes diamonds… Dallas Cowboys This team was bipolar. New England Patriots What a turn around this year was for the Pats. They built up their capital this offseason with pickups in the Tight End’s column and in the D-Line. These assets on both sides of the ball were crucial in creating a welcoming environment for Mac Jones as he was excellent in his first year.
Dear Gonzaga, This article has given more to me than I could ever give back to y’all. Writing this piece has been a great creative outlet for me and serves its purpose in honoring our beloved NFL. To all the loyal readers, friends, and amazing English teachers who have gotten me to this point, I want to say- Thank You. Now, one last time, without further ado… The Grimm Reapers Buffalo Bills They had the best offense in the league and the best defense in the league. Not much more you can say about this group of studs. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers just find a way. Jimmy G doesn’t have the XFactor to carry an offense, but he does have the ensemble around him to keep a drive going. Deebo and Aiyuk are a great one-two punch, and we haven’t even seen Kittle at full strength. Their defense has played phenomenal as of late and can keep Jimmy G in a low-scoring fight with anyone. Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have brought their LSU Griddy days back to life and I’m all aboard. This team gives off a “team of destiny”’ kind of vibe, but their secondary worries me. Once the ball gets past the D-line, it’s a coin flip. Kansas City Chiefs These Chiefs are a meanlean scoring machine. They hit you in the face with a deep ball and then trick you to virtually score almost every time in the red zone. Seriously, Andy Reid and Eric Bienemy have too much fun drawing up some of these conversion plays. Their defense has also stepped up and Arizona Cardinals has made them a truly balThey will be better next anced squad. year. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans No matter who the runThis team is up there with ning back was, no matter the Ravens for most injured what the defense did, no mat- players, but they, however, ter what AB was doing, Tom
have surprisingly defied all the odds to have a great year. Ryan Tannehill is still an average QB, but hey, Cheers to the Titans! Great Seasons Las Vegas Raiders Now this is a team that embodies the description of defying all the odds. They were supposed to fold halfway through the season after losing their head coach and a few players, but Coach Bisaccia rallied the troops like no other could and got this team into a playoff position. They still should’ve kept Will Compton though. Los Angeles Chargers This was my favorite offense in the league to watch. Herbert is going to be a legendary QB and the front office has built a stable core around him. If they can revamp their defense, I could see this team as a front runner in next-year’s season. Indianapolis Colts It’s a shame their season ended as poorly as it did because the Colts were the team no one expected to be good. Carson Wentz had lost the media’s faith and was in desperation to prove them wrong. With the help of Jonathan Taylor carrying that offense for most of the drives, Wentz was able to bring his confidence back up and succeed. Good, But Not Good Philadelphia Eagles For better or for worse, this was about the most mediocre football team out there. There is not much to get excited about if you’re an Eagles fan. Miami Dolphins This team earns my approval of being comeback team of the year. After a slow start to say the least, Brian Flores got his defense back in rhythm and went on a late season run. Although their wins came to some lousy teams, we got to see Xavien Howard back to normal and a scrappy late win over New England. As for Tua, I don’t see much of a future in him. Maybe it’s because of the whole lefty thing, but we’ll see. Baltimore Ravens This team takes the cake for most injuries in the league. This year for Ravens fans was really a blur as they set a franchise record for dressing a total of 75 players. Pittsburgh Steelers Rest in peace Big Ben.
Great send off with the big win over the Ravens in Week 18. Cleveland Browns The Browns should have rested Baker after the shoulder injury because he got progressively worse while trying to play through the injury and prove his grit. He dragged the offense down this season and was a shadow of himself. Baker is the guy, but next year is crucial in proving that these still aren’t the old Browns. Minnesota Vikings Coach Zimmer looked like he was trying to get fired near the end of the season. The front office is going to need to rebuild next year around Justin Jefferson and that may mean Captain Kirk will be out of there.
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This team has legitimate upside for next season which is something uncommon for me to say about a team that is down this far on the list. They proved themselves in big games by showing quick bursts of potential against the Bucs and Bengals. If the receivers can step it up and catch the balls that hit them in the hands, Zach Wilson’s stats look alot better and would be someone we’re seriously talking about. Denver Broncos Their defense kept them close in games, but the lack of explosiveness in the offense was the Achilles Heel for this team. New Orleans Saints This team won a lot more games then they should’ve. Their defense (especially the linebackers) made a statement here and there, but the inconsistency of the offense made this team hard to get behind. Atlanta Falcons The Falcons were close to falling off the edge of mediocrity this season, but at least they got rid of the choking problem. Detroit Lions Dan Cambell had a wild run as a head coach this year. Their first twelve games they had no wins, but it seemed like they were competitive and one-score away in most. They found their rhythm late and won a few, but couldn’t secure enough to be considered mediocre, and couldn’t lose enough to secure the first pick. This truly is a tough spot to be in as an organization. R.I.P Carolina Panthers I don’t like watching this team play. Please relegate them and the two teams below to the XFL. Jacksonville Jaguars (N/A) New York Giants The game is won and lost in the trenches and this team was horrendous on both sides of the ball. I feel they should unanimously be awarded the #1 pick by the players association for health and safety reasons. Whatever new GM comes into New York has their work cut out for them.
Seattle Seahawks Rashad Penny broke out as a newcomming superstar in the last few weeks, but it seemed to be much too late. The trio of DK, Penny, and Wilson will be an exciting group to look out for next year. Sean Wickham Chicago Bears Another rough year for Da Bears. Quarterback issues are lingering and things don’t look good in the Windy City. Houston Texans Davis Mills was surprisingly a solid QB and the Texans rallied around him. They succeeded expectations, but are still in a bad place as a team. Washington Football Team What do yall think the name is going to be? My call “Don’t cry because it’s over. is they are going to do Red Smile because it happened.” something. Preferably I’d - Joey Diganci rather it be the Red Hogs, but that’s just me. New York Jets
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Youngkin Takes Executive Actions in VA
By: Teddy Friesz ‘24 Contributor Glenn Youngkin was recently inaugurated as Virginia’s 74th governor, being the first Republican governor of Virginia since 2014. During his first few days in office, Youngkin signed a number of executive orders, including eleven on his first day. Youngkin has received both considerable support and backlash from Virginians for two executive actions in particular. The first of these executive actions is a ban on the teaching of “inherently divisive concepts” in Virginia schools, including Critical Race Theory. Critical Race Theory is the idea that the American legal system perpetuates systemic racism and that American liberalism and racial color blindness are insufficient to address racial disparities. Critics of this executive action argue that Critical Race Theory is not taught in Virginia public schools and that Youngkin’s policy applies an overly broad definition of Critical Race Theory. In other words,
they argue that Youngkin’s policy effectively bans the teaching of diversity, equity, and inclusion altogether. In addition, critics argue that Youngkin’s executive action will whitewash the American history curriculum and ignore the experiences of African-Americans. However, many conservatives and others on the Right have defended the executive action. They believe that the teaching of Critical Race Theory essentially amounts to the political indoctrination of students on the part of educators and school officials. Youngkin’s second executive action rescinded the state’s mask mandate in public schools and made it illegal for individual school districts to mandate the use of masks by students and faculty. Thus, the issue of whether or not a student wears a mask to school is, in theory, a personal choice by the student and their parents. However, several school districts have issued statements saying that they will not abide by the rules set forth by the governor’s executive order.
These include some large school districts, such as Arlington Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools. Thus, Youngkin’s executive order is not currently being enforced statewide, and the question of whether or not a school district chooses to implement a mask mandate still remains in the hands of local school officials. On top of this, two lawsuits have been filed against the executive action. One lawsuit was filed by a group of Virginia parents, and the other was filed by a group of seven Virginia school boards. Both lawsuits dispute the legality of the executive action. The lawsuits argue that the order is in violation of an existing state law requiring that Virginia public schools comply with CDC guidelines “to the maximum extent practicable.” During an interview with WTOP, Youngkin made an appeal
to the rights of parents and expressed disappointment with what he believed to be disregard for the wishes of individual families. Youngkin also stated that he would “use every resource within the governor’s authority to explore what we can do and what we will do in order to make sure that parents’ rights are protected.” The second executive action in particular generated considerable controversy, with public opinion split between supporters and critics of the order. Critics argue that this executive action dismisses the concerns of teachers and school ad-
ministrators who wish to protect themselves and their students from the coronavirus pandemic. Supporters of the order argue that Youngkin is protecting the rights of parents to make personal choices about how to raise their children and that children should not be subject to any law that goes against the will of their parents. Supporters also argue that masks have limited effectiveness against the coronavirus pandemic and that the tendency for children to remove their masks renders their use as protection against the pandemic ineffective.
Fantasy Football Recap By: Andrew Lavella ‘24 Contributor The League-Winners Cooper Kupp - This one speaks for itself. He had a crazy year while leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. With an average draft position (ADP) in the late-8th round, Kupp could’ve been called a sleeper. He easily makes it here. Jonathan Taylor - Another slasher picked up late in drafts was Jonathan Taylor. His ADP was also in the 8th-round and finished as an RB1. If you saw this coming you probably won a lot. He led RBs in everything. The complete total package. He
had only three games with under 15 points while having seven games of over 25. He killed the NFL and likely your own team if you weren’t his owner. Austin Ekeler - This is one I proudly saw coming. With all the receiving upside in the world and a great QB in Justin Herbert to boot he had no reason to not perform and he did just that. He had a fantastic week in-and-out. Finishing the season as RB2 and going in the middle-tolate second round the value of Ekeler has been fantastic this season. The Big Sleepers Deebo Samuel - After an injury riddled career, nobody expected this type of year out
of Deebo. He was simply a beast despite starting the year ranked as WR35. If you took a chance on his health or saw his potential, well done. He wrecked the league with over 2000 total scrimmage yards. Ja’Marr Chase - After skipping a year of football and being horrible in preseason competition, who would've thought he’d of been this good? It's almost like he was messing with the media because as soon as the regular season started, the Burrow-to-Chase connection that was lacking in the preseason became automatic. The Letdowns Christian McCaffrey What a disappointing season for CMC. Going as the first
pick in almost every draft, there is no way you could’ve predicted his disappointing year. Another season riddled with injuries shut him down, but when he was on the field, he was awesome. Brandon Aiyuk - Aiyuk was being drafted as the WR20 in the fall and many thought he would be the 49ers #1 WR. He never really got going until the last four games of the season, and by that point, many had given up on him. He just wasn’t what everyone thought he would be. When you consider he was drafted ahead of his teammate, Deebo Samuel, then there is no way you can call him anything but a bust. The Playoff MVPs
Amon-Ra St. Brown Where is a better place to start then my Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown? He was solid all year, but in the playoffs he was on a different level. From Week 13 and beyond, he dropped 15+ points and only had fewer than 23 in one week. Needless to say, if you found this sleeper before the playoffs, things went well for you in your league. Rashaad Penny - Penny was the definition of a great waiver wire add. He was average at best through most of the season, but in the last five weeks, he was brilliant. Dropping two 40-bombs, he balled out in the playoffs and either was you hero or your worst enemy.
Eternals Movie Review By: John Renehan ‘25 Contributor Go see Eternals. The movie grips your attention throughout and leaves the viewer wondering about the back story. Angelina Jolie leaves the viewer in awe
with her incredible beauty and capabilities as an actress. Her lips delivering each line with her entire heart and soul leaves the audience thirsty for more. Kit Harington, the main antagonist of the film, plays a blood curdling ego-
tistical d***** that viewers cannot help but dislike. Without spoiling too much of the movie, his character does receive a satisfying beat-down. The viewer does not need to see any Marvel movie beforehand to understand the
plot of the movie, it offers a refreshing and independent story for Marvel fans. The mentioning of celestials is particularly interesting, because it had been only mentioned in passing by previous films of the franchise.
The celestials are born through the destruction of planets, but they create many civilizations using their power. Is it wrong to destroy one civilization if it meant that more civilizations would be created after its demise?
By: Peter Mildrew‘22 Editor Battle of the Dawns: Dawn FM v. Dawn The dawn of pop ecosystems is upon us, and it’s enthralling to hear it unfold. In this edition of Mildrew’s Melodies, I will juxtapose two albums that, upon first glance, may only seem to share a common word in their album titles. This is quite untrue; both progress to tell stories, evoke emotions that most other albums fall flat trying to pursue, and create an ecosystem of sonic bliss. Much like the evolving cryptocurrency cosmos, these music ecosystems aim to do what stereotypical copout pop albums wish they could do: formulate, execute, and host an experience that allows only those willing to invest an hour or so of their lives to reap the benefits of their auditory adventure. The Weeknd: Dawn FM Review The Weeknd has aged like a fine gruyère. Since the dawn of The Weeknd, the Toronto R&B rapper-singer
Mildrew's Melodies Vol. 4 extraordinaire has followed a pop-socialization arc akin to that of Tyler, the Creator; both tended to start their careers off a little more fringe and experimental, relied on their close friends for reassurance in the industry (see Odd Future and XO, respectively), and didn’t give a *dawn* about what others thought of their music. Slowly as they rose to fame through their nonchalant rhymes and notorious presences, their music followed the moolah, and vice versa. What separates these two from this archetypal path, however, is the quality of their music. In Abel Tesfaye’s case (The Weeknd’s real name), finding his sound in nostalgia has been his key to mainstream success. His most recent LP, Dawn FM, sends its listener back to the future, resonating with older generations while hooking young fans on a new type of melodious experience. Dawn FM is The Weeknd at his best; not only is his singing spot-on, but the production is gloriously syncopated to keep fanatics coming back
No Way Home
By: Connor Clark ‘23 Contributor
SPOILER WARNING! Spider-Man: No Way Home, has received a 98% average audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason. This Spider-Man movie is arguably one of the best Marvel movies ever made. The movie begins with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker and his friends nervously awaiting college application decisions. In the midst of this, they balance their new problem of Peter’s identity being revealed by Mysterio. This is something our seniors are definitely relating to - the college part obviously, hopefully not their vigilante identity being revealed. Peter, MJ, and Ned are denied from all the schools they applied to, so Peter seeks the help from Dr. Strange to make a spell to make everyone forget he is Spider-Man. The spell goes haywire, and the multiverse is separated. Villains from other Spider-Man movies are put into Peter’s world, including Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin, Al-
fred Molina’s Doc Ock, and others. Tom Holland’s Peter teams up with Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker to defeat these villains and bring the multiverse back to normal. The nostalgia is incredibly intense and uplifting, as well as the suspense from the twists and sorrowful moments, which sadly includes Aunt May’s death. The movie ends with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker going back to Dr. Strange, and using a spell to make everyone, including Peter’s girlfriend MJ, Dr. Strange, and all the Avengers forget that he is Spider-Man. The heroics and coming-ofage maturity Tom Holland puts on, the humor from the middle aged man issues of Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s duo as they see their youth in Tom, and the super hero teamwork from all three Spider-men made this film an amazing watch. Renowned movie critic Timothy Lyss (Gonzaga ‘23), said, “It’s the best Marvel Movie ever made.” SpiderMan: No Way Home is certainly worth the watch.
for more. I’ll have to be honest: I didn’t get the hype until I listened to this album for the third time. What changed for me, and what strikes me the most about this album, is not the lyrics, nor the songwriting, nor the actual music, for that matter. To truly digest this album in its intended format, one needs a mindset that commits to Dawn FM’s purpose: to send you away to a purgatory-realm where the radio plays the soundtrack to your seeming eternity. I haven’t stopped listening to this album since its debut, as if I’m stuck with Abel in a beautiful limbo. It’s creepy, it’s catchy, it’s bold, and it’s experimental… but it’s the future. Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia would be a fitting title for this project, but Dawn FM opens the door to so many artists to create upon this world-building and continuity-keeping concept.
Sometimes, a hidden gem will just grow a mouth and scream at you. With the delicateness of an angel and the prowess of a maestro, West Memphis, AR singer-songwriter Yebba did exactly that as she belted her heart out on my Spotify shuffle feature a couple of weeks ago. I had briefly encountered Yebba through her feature on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, “Yebba’s Heartbreak,” but really didn’t pursue her any further. She interested me, but to be honest, the Drizzy project left a bad taste in my mouth of pretty much anyone who worked with the ghostwriter-hiring aficionado. I wish I never held that preconceived notion, because I would’ve found my favorite album of all time much sooner. Yebba’s Dawn creates an ecosystem of harmony, utilizing rarer modes of major scales, flexing insanely difficult Best Track: “Out of Time” riffs, featuring captivatingly Worst Track: “Don’t Break bizarre melodies and percusMy Heart” sion cuts, and sending the listener into a state of catatonic awe. I get chills listening to Yebba: Dawn Review parts of this album, even af-
The Aquilian 7
ter listening to it more than 40 times since the dawn of January 2022. This is pop for the tired Swiftie. This is instrumentalism for the bored music theorist. This is music at its peak. Yebba’s voice is imperfect, but creates perfect noise for the yearning lover and the homesick loner. When listening at times, you may feel like you’re a main character in a 2000s Clueless-style musical, and at others, a patient observer watching a clash between money launderers, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce on fallen cash. Features from A$AP Rocky and Smino give personality and variance to songs with unbelievably hard bars (just ask Henry Dempsey), and lend this universe of resonance a sense of modernity that somehow bornes us back ceaselessly into the past. I simply don’t know if it’s humanly possible for Yebba to improve from here. Best Song: “All I Ever Wanted” Worst Song: None
Winter Olympics Preview
By: Luke Gormsen ‘24 Editor
the U.S. team is looking to secure more medals in BeiThe 2022 Winter Olym- jing. One athlete to watch is pics kick off Friday, Febru- John Shuster, the American ary 4th, and I’m here to give who led his team to an unyou the low down about the likely gold medal in the Pycompetitors and how Team eongchang games. USA will do in the most popFigure Skating: Figure ular Winter Olympic events. skating will be a harder sport Alpine Skiing: On the for Team USA to earn a gold women's side, the competi- medal in, as it is dominated tor to watch from Team USA by Russia on the women's is Mikaela Shiffrin. She has side and Japan on the men's won two gold medals and side. However, Team USA one silver in two Olympic has plenty of talented athGames, and she is likely to letes that could earn medals. get another in Beijing in the A men’s competitor to watch Slalom event. An Ameri- is Nathan Chen. After a discan man to watch is Bryce appointing 2018 Olympics, Bennett, who is competing Nathan Chen went on a ramin his second Olympics. Al- page for three years, winning though he finished 16th in every competition, including Pyeongchang, he won the three world championships World Cup last December in a row. A woman to watch and could be a real com- in the individual competipetitor. It will be interesting tions is Alysa Liu. While she to see how the usage of ar- is just 16 years old, she has tificial snow affects condi- won two national titles and tions on the slopes. Beijing will be a strong competitor has gotten no natural snow in Beijing. and is relying on the use of Ice Hockey: Team 58 million gallons of water USA’s men's hockey team pumped out of fans to pro- will be competing this year duce snow. without NHL players. The Curling: After a men’s team features 15 players gold medal last Olympics, who are in college and only
one player who competed in the 2018 Olympics, goalie Brian O’Neill. Team USA is up against tough competition this year, and it is going to be an uphill battle to be able to medal, especially with the lack of experience on their team. Snowboarding: Team USA Snowboarding has a great mix of experienced and young competitors who will have a great chance at garnering medals. Snowboarding legend Shaun White is back yet again in what he said will likely be his last Olympics. Although White is one of the greatest snowboarders of all time, he faces a group of young, talented athletes who will stand in his way of medalling. Although Shaun White’s return is exciting, the real spotlight will be on Chloe Kim, the 21-year-old snowboarder for team USA who became the youngest woman to win an Olympic gold medal when she was 17 in Pyeongchang.
GONZAGA PATCH NOTES 200.2.1 By: Guy Shoji ‘22 Contributor [Editor’s Note: These notes previously mentioned changes to the Auxiliary Gym—but will instead ship with Patch 201.1.1] Alongside new Agent Metcalf, a fresh Lunch Pass and Sage buffs, Patch 200.2.1 brings a few maps from out of the shadows, tones down some others, and improves the gameplay. CAFETERIA, and especially UPPER COMMONS, are reshaped
in areas that should adjust the MAP UPDATES player dynamic. Cafeteria: • Sage buffed to serve new AGENT UPDATES lunch foods with purOryshkevych will be vaulted chase of the Lunch Pass in the next patch: as well as DLC breakfast • Players in the AP EUfoods ROPEAN HISTORY • Tables nerfed to implegamemode were getting ment 6-to-a-table for limtoo riled up over Ukraine ited time Return of Metcalf: • Expect tables to return to • Filling the open agent 8 v 8 format early Februspot in the HISTORY ary DEPARTMENT Upper Commons: • See her abilities on our • Food allowed in Upper Agents page Commons following table nerf
•
This should allow for more eating areas to balance limited player seating Lower Commons: • Identical table balance changes as CAFETERIA Weightroom: • Stay tuned for new map WEIGHTROOM to be released with changes to AUXILIARY GYM Gym: • As the February patch rolls around, players will be able to spectate approved indoor competi-
tive games. BUGS Lunch Pass: • Still no way to detect whether or not a player has purchased the Lunch Pass, resulting in longer queue times for LUNCH game mode Masks: • Some MASK items on players miss covering the the Nose and Mouth hitboxes
Win Your Bracket this pick completely wrong, losing me precious points. To make a long story short, IT’S ALMOST THAT upsets can be valuable, but TIME! picking too many can lead to a failed bracket. 68 teams will be heading all over the country to com- Tip 2: Don’t pick four #1 pete in the most anticipated seeds to make the final four. college sporting event of the This might seem simple, year. While it is not likely but the most common misthat you will get a perfect take I see beginners make bracket, I’m about to tell you besides picking too many upthe tips to blow your friends sets, is picking only favorites and family out of the water. to win and all four 1 seeds to make the final four. All four Tip 1: Pick the right amount 1 seeds have made the final of upsets. four together only once, and I When filling out your would be very surprised if it March Madness bracket, it ever happened again. Statismay be tempting to try to tically, you most likely want predict each year's Cinder- to have 1-2 1 seeds and then ella team, but I urge you not fill the rest of the spots with to do so. For anyone taking 2’s and 3’s. Last year, I went a bracket seriously, it is most with 2 1 seeds and 2 2 seeds, likely obvious not to pick a and this ended up working 16 seed over a 1 seed, but I out for me. I suggest a simialso usually don’t go any- lar strategy for beginners, where near a 15-2 or 14-3, as but for experienced players, these games usually are pret- I suggest maybe being a bit ty scary for me. If you were more risky and even going to consistently pick these up- up to a 4 seed, but anything sets, you may get lucky once 5 and above should never be or twice, but most of the picked. time you will be throwing easy points out the window. Tip 3: Pick consistent teams For example, say you end So now you know what up picking a 14 seed to beat seeds to pick, but what types a 3 seed, but the 3 seed you of teams should I pick to go picked to lose ends up going far? There are a couple key on a little bit of a run and los- statistics when picking this, ing in the elite 8. In this case, and the most important of you would lose a minimum these are record while not of 70 points, and this really at home and record against disrupts this portion of the above .500 teams. These stabracket. I personally have tistics are important because a formula to predict upsets, March Madness games are at and this is to pick anywhere most a neutral site, and you from 1-2 11 over 6 upsets, will be playing a lot of win1-2 12 over 5 upsets, and 1 ning teams. A team that rep13-4. I will usually have one resents how these stats matter Cinderella team reaching and that a lot of people might the sweet sixteen, but I have pick to win the championship only ever had one Cinderella this year is Duke. I will liketeam reach the elite eight, ly have Duke losing in the and to prove my point, I got sweet sixteen, maybe even By: Jackson Brewer ‘24 Contributor
in the round of 32, but I definitely won’t have them going far, and this is for a couple reasons. Duke might have an impressive 17-3 record overall, but in non conference play, they are a decent 4-2. They are even worse on the road, where they are 2-2. This makes sense as Duke has one of the best home court advantages in the country, but because of their inability away from Cameron Indoor and By: Jack McGuinness ‘22 Editor their inexperience as a squad, I don't think we’ll be seeing With more teenagers inthem past the first weekend volved in the stock market of the tournament. than ever, you’ve probably considered opening your Tip 4: Big 12=Big Risk The Big 12 is a confer- own account (if you haven’t ence that I am personally already). Apps like Robinavoiding, because of their hood and Fidelity have made poor showing against SEC it easy for younger investors teams in the Big 12 SEC chal- to become involved and trade lenge. In my eyes, although freely. After two years of these are different scenarios, making my own market misI see a game like Baylor vs. takes, here are the DOs and Alabama as a Round of 32 DON’Ts that I wish I knew matchup, and Kansas vs. when entering the world of Kentucky as a Sweet Sixteen stocks.
How to Trade
or Elite Eight matchup, and neither of these matchups swung correctly for the Big 12 conference. The one team I am a fan of in this conference is TCU, because of their impressive away and nonconference records, but that is basically it. While I am a bit nervous about certain teams in this conference, I doubt I will have any Big 12 teams close to the final four. So those are the tips you need to dominate your March Madness group. While these tips can certainly help, there is a certain amount of luck involved, so have fun, be bold, and go win your bracket!
DO: Open a Custodial Roth IRA - This is the best option available. Purchases, sales, and gains are all tax-free. You can add up to $6,000 dollars per year, and withdraw all of your gains once you turn 59 ½. Sure it seems like an eternity away, but your future self will be thanking you as you relax on your Florida beachfront property. DON’T: Lose track of your portfolio - I invested in very safe options at the beginning of my trading career, which continues to bring me consistent returns. The lack of losses gave me confidence, and I made more risky moves in stocks that were being hyped up. For example,
BLINK and LUCID are two stocks I thought would jump within the day based on new legislation funding the electric vehicle industry. That first day, I made 25% of my investment. I took a celebratory leave of absence from my portfolio, and upon return found that I not only lost my gains but also nearly $200 from my principal investment. DO: Watch the moves of Congressmen and Senators - Like I said, always do your own research before purchasing or selling any stock, but politicians have great track records in navigating the market (I consider it insider trading, but who is going to stop the people who pass the laws?) and all their moves are made public. In 2021, Nancy Pelosi and her husband traded over $50 million in assets, with annualized returns at 69 percent as of October, earning the title as the Wall Street Trader of the Year. It is important to realize that trading in the stock market is essentially gambling. You are betting on whether a company will perform well or not. That means that it can have the same side effects as gambling, including developing into an addiction.