The Aquilian - March 2023 - Vol. 84 No.5

Service Trips Bring Gonzaga to Others

By: Thomas Martino ‘24 Contributor Oak Flat Run,

In the spring and summer, Gonzaga students travel to different locations in the country or abroad and stay with communities in need that they serve. They work alongside their Gonzaga brothers and locals in a variety of different activities like building homes, working on farms, assisting with social services, home improvement, addressing poverty and hunger, helping the formerly incarcerated, serving migrants, and other various tasks depending on the location. Underclassmen have the opportunity to take part in immersion trips like

the home improvement and community outreach Emmitsburg, Maryland and the McKenna Center Immersion experience here on Gonzaga’s campus at 19 Eye Street, NW. Currently, juniors have the opportunity of traveling to the US/Mexico border, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Apopka Florida, Camden New Jersey, Salem West Virginia, or abroad to Quito, Ecuador, or Belize.

So why go on an immersion trip? Immersion trips are special because they offer a great opportunity for students to grow and better themselves while they help improve the lives of others. As Gonzaga men, we challenge ourselves to love, be

men of faith, commit to act in service to the greater good of society, and be open to growth. The immersion trip can help us embody these traits which we aspire to live by and help us fulfill the duty that we proclaim to pursue. We are proud of our mission to be men for others. We can live up to this through our actions, and immersion trips allow us to serve as St. Ignatius instructed; “Love ought to show itself in deeds more than words.” In doing these acts of service, we gain appreciation. Immersion trips often mean sacrificing the luxuries of home. This allows us to put ourselves in others’ shoes with awareness and personal experience. Living

simply, working hard, learning, and doing good work with your brothers allows you to deepen the brotherhood and practice teamwork as you make the world a better place. The communities in which you will serve may be very different from home with a standard of living that you are likely not accustomed to. This allows you to get out of the bubble, meet new people, and gain perspective. Finally, you can personally contribute to the mission of Gonzaga, as your efforts put Gonzaga at the forefront of these service initiatives nationally and worldwide.

Where am I going, and what do I hope to gain from my experience? I am going

to Belize which is on the east coast of Central America. I can not wait to experience the local culture as well as personally interact with the local students, families, and classmates as we work. I am excited to get to know some of the guys in my group whom I do not know well. Most, I am excited to experience personally how it is to live as the less fortunate do to gain exposure outside my comfort zone. My hope is that maybe I can appreciate some of the things we take for granted. Contact Campus Ministry with any questions regarding service or immersion trips.

By: Brendan Rohde ‘24 Contributor

What is Sportswashing?

Sportswashing is a term used to describe the practice of individuals, groups, corporations, or governments using sports to improve reputations tarnished by wrongdoing. Examples of it can vary through forms of propaganda; sportswashing can be accomplished through hosting sporting events, purchasing or sponsoring sporting teams, or participating in a sport. It is a phenomenon that has made its way into the spotlight recently; however, it has been with us since the dawn of international sports.

Sportswashing

Though international sports competitions like the Olympics and the World Cup have been historically forces for good, it does not mean they are at all free of corruption or manipulated for sinister purposes. Past events can show us where this disturbing trend began. In 1934 Italy hosted the World Cup, the nation at that time was ruled by the authoritarian regime of Benito Mussolini’s National Fascist Party. The Italian team would also prevail in this competition. Next in 1936, the world watched the Summer Olympics hosted in Berlin Germany, which became infamous due to be-

Emancipation

By: Markeith Hogan ‘23 Poet

After Kadir Nelson’s Painting “American Uprising”

What is freedom to the melanin breed?

The cries of youth, uncertain of the trajectory their country marches towards? left with the brutality and hate, expected to create the change their nurturers couldn’t

Maybe it’s the physicality of raging mothers over the premature meeting with the hooded entity gripping his scythe exchanging custody of those once theirs

Suffocating tear filled air, chemicals engulf the lungs of the mob, only warded off by cloth created to represent independence

Perhaps it’s the silence of our fallen family, their cries suppressed within the dirt and gravel and laid to rest in the hollow soil we call

America

ing hosted by the Nazi party. These past examples remind us that even though these actions were not characterized in the same vein as modern examples they provide key information into where this trend might have begun.

But those few notable examples in the past pale in comparison to the sheer amount of the laundering of reputations using sports that we see today. It has also seemed to concentrate in four major areas: soccer/fútbol, golf, international sports events, and alternative sports (WWE, Boxing, UFC...). Soccer’s sportswashing has followed two particular routes: acquiring top/ premier level teams (Paris Saint-Germain F.C. owned by Qatar Sports Investments controlled by Nasser Al-Khelaifi from 2011-present,) or hosting tournaments of various followings or sizes (2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar). Golf has only recently been involved with sportswashing, but the meteoric rise of LIV golf (A professional golf tour financed by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia,) has taken many by surprise and has emerged as a legitimate challenger to the PGA tour. Not only has the World Cup been manipulated but so too have the Olympics ( Sochi 2014 and Beijing 2022). In the realm of alternative sports: many events have been held in countries who are willing to pay top dollar to get the appearance of a modernized accepting nation through sports. Some examples of this are the Crown Jewel, a WWE event in Saudi Arabia, or the numerous UFC events in China, Russia, and the UAE.

Now you might ask; does Sportswashing work? The answer is most often yes. Sports are showing that are beloved around the world, and people are willing to overlook things for the enjoyment of sports glory and excitement. One

Editor-in-Chief

Jackson Baldrate ‘23

Managing Editor

Luke Gormsen ‘24

Editors

Tim Barloon ‘23

Jackson Brewer ‘24

achieved their goal to an

of the best examples of this is, in the months leading up to the 2022 World Cup all this news was coming out attacking Qatar for an innumerable amount of different grievances such as LGBTQ rights or working conditions or women’s rights, and we were led to believe that maybe they might change course and actually reform their nation for the better. Then the games kicked off, and the criticism ground to a screeching halt, with a few notable exceptions, because of the shared passion that we as people have for various sports. So in the end, Qatar worked hard to land and put on this World Cup, and they

Billy Cannon ‘24

Daniel Colucci ‘23

Abram Cutler ‘23

Max Diaz ‘24

Teddy Friesz ‘24

Sam Galupo ‘23

Andrew Lavella ‘24

Will Prisco ‘25

extent, to grow their identity on the world stage. This shows the real danger of this disturbing trend: it strikes at a weak spot in our culture and our society and exploits something that we normally unite around. It hijacks that goodwill and uses it to sanitize or legitimize the image or government of a particular nation.

In conclusion, we need to be very careful with how we view sports to avoid being pawns in a game to sanitize or support a nefarious cause. And make no mistake two things drive sportswashing: greed and lust for power, not a desire to play sports.

Moderator: Dr. Harry Rissetto

With help from the Gonzaga Poets & Writers and its moderator Mr. Joe Ross, The Aquilian regularly features a work of poetry written by a Gonzaga student.

NACAC Travels to AZ for Oak Flat Run

By: Colin McGuinness ‘25 Contributor

Around one month ago, a group of students from Gonzaga’s Native American Cultural Appreciation club (NACAC) took an enlightening trip to Oak Flat, a sacred site for the Apache people. The trip, which took place yesterday, provided a unique educational opportunity for the children to learn about the site’s cultural and environmental significance. The main goal was to participate in a run, officially listed at around 65 miles, to raise awareness for Oak Flat. The members of Gonzaga’s NACAC arrived in Phoenix late one night. Still, they were awoken early the following day to take a trip to a spot on the border of Mexico and Arizona to a town called Nogales, Mexico. In Nogales, the NACAC volunteered at the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), which provides direct aid to deported migrants at its Outreach Center in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The crew also explored downtown Nogales and made killer deals on authentic tortillas and magnificent silver-

ware! After attending school for a day with students who graciously hosted our eagles from Brophy Prepatory’s Native American Club (BNAC), the Gonzaga NACAC and Brophey’s BNAC departed for the Oak Flat run.

Oak Flat is a sacred site for the Apache people and has been used for generations for traditional ceremonies and gatherings. The site is also significant for its environmental and historical value, which includes hosting many native plant and animal species as well as being a site of ancient native Petroglyphs, which are rock carvings made by ancient tribes to record their history. The run itself was very spiritual but the feeling of entering the limits of Oak Flat is simply unparalleled. One member of the Gonzaga NACAC, John Holley, even goes far enough to say that “it was the single most beautiful and at the same time heartwrenching thing I have ever seen.” The reason that seeing Oak Flat was so horrible for John to look at is the same as the reason that

the run takes place. There is a company by the name of Resolution Copper who have been taking steps to claim the land, protected by the US Government as part of the Tonto National Park and blow it up to claim the extensive amounts of copper that occur under the land for their gain. This act would erase centuries of native history, which is why we are working so hard to protect it and believe that all should do the same. Lastly, the president of

the Gonzaga NACAC leaves us with a straightforward message. “It was eye-opening to learn about the cultural and environmental significance of Oak Flat and to hear about the ongoing battle to protect it, and our experience has led us to discover many situations in the world around us similar to the one in Oak Flat, so we should use our unique position of being located in the heart of D.C. to advocate for change and stick up for what we believe

in,” said 16-year-old student, William J. Decker. In conclusion, the school trip was a fun and memorable experience for Gonzaga’s NACAC and a valuable educational opportunity to learn about different cultures and environmental issues. By learning about Oak Flat’s cultural and ecological significance, the children greatly appreciated the importance of protecting sacred sites and preserving our planet’s natural resources.

The Non-Catholic Experience at Gonzaga

By: Daniel Colucci ‘23 Editor

The presence of other religions at Gonzaga besides Catholicism is no new occurrence. Gonzaga’s local reputation allows it to constantly draw from a pool of non-Catholic families seeking the strong academics and athletics that Gonzaga has to offer. According to Headmaster Mr. Tom Every, 77.6% of Gonzaga’s 2021-22 student body was Catholic and 20% was Christian and non-Catholic. These statistics demonstrate a distinguishable majority and minority at Gonzaga when it comes to religion.

Feisal Beidas and Zachary Taylor are among two of the non-Catholic students at Gonzaga. As seniors, they have had four years on Eye Street to develop an honest, insightful view on life as non-Catholics in a Catholic environment. Feisal, a devout Muslim, and Zachary, who comes from a half Christian and half Jewish family, both

came to Gonzaga not knowing what to expect when it came to religion. The fear of being pressured to conform to Catholicism often occupied their minds as freshmen.

“The first week or two I was worried I was going to be converted to Catholicism. When I was doing homework, I told myself I had to learn just as much about Islam as I’m learning about Catholicism or else I would become Catholic,” Beidas said.

Certain aspects of day to day life at Gonzaga originally made it difficult to comfortably acclimate in the classroom.

“I felt pressured at Gonzaga as a freshman having to pray at the beginning of class. I felt like it was something I had to do,” Taylor said.

However, both Beidas and Taylor were adamant that any initial worries they had regarding their religion and how the administration handled it quickly subsided. They agreed that four years

of Catholic religion classes actually strengthened both their faiths, completely contrary to their initial expectations.

“Although I’m learning about Catholicism everyday, I’m still very passionately a Muslim. I honestly do feel that I have grown in Islam because of going to a Catholic school,” Beidas said. Taylor had similar thoughts.

“Not only would I learn about Catholicism here, but in Judaism the Torah is the first five books in the Bible, so I learned a good amount about Judaism, as well,” Taylor said.

Overall, Beidas and Taylor spoke incredibly highly of how Gonzaga accepts its non-Catholic students. They expressed how they truly haven’t felt any form of pressure from administrators or teachers throughout their four years at Gonzaga. If anything, Gonzaga has strengthened their own faiths.

“This year at Gonzaga

Wyatt Croog and I started the Jewish Appreciation Club. It has been encouraging to see that Mr. Every, Mr. Leary and the administration have been super on board,” Taylor said. Beidas had similar praise to offer.

“Mr. Pugliese does a great job of teaching Islam in that freshman year [World Cultures] curriculum. I think that is so important because it eliminates a lot of the ignorance,” Beidas said, jokingly adding how “he taught it so well that my parents thought he was Muslim.”

However, despite immense satisfaction with the administrative side of Gonzaga, Beidas and Taylor have both faced their fair share of ignorance from students at Gonzaga. Specifically, freshmen are usually the ones to cause problems.

“The only ignorance I have seen at Gonzaga is from the students, especially freshmen. The first week of school a kid was berating with my questions, arguing Islam

is a religion that promotes violence because ISIS is so deeply rooted in Islam. Since then, I have realized I just have to be really representative of my religion,” Beidas said.

Taylor recounted a similar experience, which outlines the obvious problem: not the administration, but Gonzaga’s young, ignorant students.

Taylor closed by saying, “The times that there has been anything negative when it comes to Judaism at Gonzaga is kids not knowing. My freshman year a kid asked me ‘but didn’t the Jewish people kill Jesus?’ I don’t think that kid hates Jewish people. I just think if you go to Catholic school your whole life, then that might be something you hold as a belief,”

Supreme Court Hears Cases on Student Loans

By: Michael Bicksel ‘25 Contributor

The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in a case concerning President Biden’s ability to forgive student loans en masse. He claims authority under the HEROES Act, which authorizes the federal government to “waive or modify any provision … to ensure that recipients of student financial assistance … are not placed in a worse position financially … because of their status as affected individuals.” Biden argues that those affected by Covid (literally everyone) must therefore be eligible for relief since Covid has (and somehow remains) a national emergency. The Supreme Court was not asked to

decide whether Covid should be an emergency, but whether the HEROES Act would be authorizing something so major it deserves more express Congressional intent.

The major questions doctrine, which has found some friends on the bench, posits that when the subject of a case is so politically or economically important it needs to be clearly authorized by Congress (surprisingly enough, the man who coined the term in a famous law article back in 1986 was thenCircuit Judge Stephen Breyer). The doctrine has gotten recent attention in the Court’s decision in West Virginia v. EPA from last term, when it found that the EPA needed clearer authorization to regulate emissions from existing

plants. As many Court experts are saying, the justices seem poised to hand down a similar 6-3 or 5-4 decision against the Administration.

Biden’s camp has thus far argued two main points: one, that the plain text gives Biden the authority to do whatever he wants (so long as it is a national emergency, of course); and two, that even if it did not, student loan forgiveness is so important that the Court should uphold loan forgiveness anyway. There are a few problems with this response. First of all, claiming that the “plain text” authorizes the most sweeping unilateral education reform in American history based on an act of Congress passed just months after 9/11 and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan is a

stretch to say the least. It is fair to say that the Republican majorities in the House and (for a time) Senate, as well as President Bush would have some major questions about the HEROES Act authorizing the erasure of student debt twenty-two years later (and twenty years after its initial expiration date). As if that were not enough, arguing that student loan forgiveness is so important that it must be upheld either way (as some Democrats like Ayanna Pressley have supported) only concedes that it is, in fact, a major question.

If President Biden wanted to truly make ground-breaking change to our stagnant education system, he could have asked Congress, perhaps using some connections

from his over forty years of service. Instead, he used a decades-old law created in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, intended to give relief to first responders and locals who suffered from the attacks, to justify some of the most life-altering reforms ever made to the American education system. Such strict interpretation has never been taken so seriously; perhaps then the “plain text” is not so plain after all.

War in Ukraine UK Economy

By: George Koutrouvelis ‘25 Contributor

The one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine marks a somber milestone in a conflict that has claimed the lives of thousands of people and displaced millions. When Mr. Putin first launched what he called a “special military operation,” he assumed the whole ordeal would only last a total of three days. Now one year later, his senseless war still rages on with no definite end in sight. It is a conflict that has not only ravaged Ukraine and its citizens but the world; however, to fully understand the scope of Russia’s invasion, it is important to go back and understand a timeline of events surrounding the entire ordeal. The initial event began on February 24, 2022, when Russian forces invaded Ukraine, attempting to take Kyiv. In March, Russian attempts to capture Kyiv failed, causing mass graves of civilians to be found in Bucha. May marked the surrender of Mariupol to Russian forces after heavy artillery had killed thousands. In July, Lysychansk, the last city under Ukrainian control in Luhansk, fell to Russia. September marked the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. In November, Russian forces retreated from Kherson, and Nato promised to make Ukraine a member of

the Western Alliance. Finally, January of this year was big as Germany and the US agreed to send battle tanks to aid Ukrainian forces. While I only presented a generalized timeline of events, it still shows how, through the efforts of countries’ support and determination, Ukraine and its citizens will always continue fighting for their country’s freedom. Since the initial invasion a year ago, Ukrainian forces have managed to push back most Russian advances; however, the war is far from over. Already over thirty billion in humanitarian and financial aid has been given to Ukraine, a number that will likely only increase in the coming months. Additionally, over fifty billion has been given

for military assistance. This aid includes high-tech military vehicles, equipment, defenses, and drones. These are

By: Joey Bunag ‘25 Contributor

About 4 months ago, the United Kingdom was thrust into a deep recession as a result of former Prime minister Liz Truss’s disastrous economic policy. Experts around the world declared grim numbers on the future state of the economy, such as a 7% drop in household income and an economic crash that would last until 2024. However, things may not be as abysmal as predicted.

amongst the majority of the population. Additionally, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has declared to slash inflation in half, and such declarations are looking more and more likely to happen during the summer. Lastly, energy prices have been reported to be 80% lower than they were in August, few housing repossessions have taken place, and a strong employment market still remains, all of which provide considerable optimism for the British government and people.

the actions that are pivotal for helping Ukraine, and as US citizens, it is important that we continue to lobby and support these actions. With Ukrainians still determined to fight and the war entering its second year, there are still many outcomes that can happen, and until one side gains leverage to impose terms in negotiations, the war will continue to rage on.

Despite the grim numbers and outlooks that many experts around the world had on the U.K. economy, the economy is surprisingly showing some signs of recovery. The British, despite such dark economic conditions, continue to display confidence in their economy through continued consumer activity. Many more people than predicted continue to go out and buy various goods, thus showing more stimulation in the economy than was expected. Moreover, several major businesses reported strong fourth quarter earnings, the most notable of which is Lloyds Bank, who reported a share buyback of $2.42 billion and increased their final dividends to 1.6 pence per share. Tax revenues have also been shown to be increasing as the U.K. reported a £5.4 billion surplus in public finances, implying strong income taxes

Unfortunately, despite these many signs of revival, the road to true economic recovery will still be long and hard. Although inflation is predicted to be cut in half during the summer, it is still expected to be around 5%6%, which would still contribute to a very substantial rise in prices. Furthermore, the housing market continues to look grim, with falls in prices looking unlikely and the highest rates the U.K. has seen over the past 14 years.

Overall, the British people continue to hope that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak can maintain the signs of revival that are present within the economy. The future of the U.K. still remains yet to be seen, but the recent economic data and statistics have provided the British with a spark of hope that can hopefully guide them on the road to true economic recovery.

Premature Aging in Teenage Brains

By: Enzo Bunag ‘25 Contributor

While it is already wellknown that the pandemic induced more widespread levels of anxiety, depression, and mental health-related issues within teenagers, a study by Stanford University indicates that the pandemic also induced physiological changes, particularly premature aging, in teenage brains.

The findings were part of a larger longitudinal study, a type of study conducted over many years that monitors the same individuals and detects changes. In this study, beginning almost a decade ago,

128 teenagers and adolescents received MRI scans of their brains every two years; however, the lockdown caused by the pandemic in 2020 interrupted the study and MRI scans.

Once lockdown orders were revoked and society began to return to normalcy, the same teenagers began to continue the study in March of 2022. Scientists compared these new scans with previous scans of the same teenagers, and found various physiological changes indicating premature brain aging. For instance, the scans indicated thickening in the hip-

pocampus, which relates to memory, and the amygdala, which regulates emotions. The scans indicated thinning in the cortices – which deals with the functioning of emotions – of the teenagers’ brains as well. All of these factors are associated with brain aging, and although such processes are natural, they appeared 3-4 years earlier than they were supposed to within these teenagers’ brains (the average age of the teenagers was 16).

Unfortunately, premature brain aging is not a beneficial process for an individual. Premature brain aging has been

observed before, often leading to various mental healthrelated issues such as anxiety and depression. Although the cause of this phenomenon is unclear, researchers believe stress resulting from the pandemic likely caused these changes. Thus, it seems that this study may provide a link between brain structure and the subsequent mental health plummet that occurred in the pandemic.

This study reinforces that mental health, anxiety, and depression from the pandemic are real issues affecting teenagers, even after the return to normalcy.

If you or anyone else you know is struggling with mental health, never be afraid to contact the right resources. Resources for mental health can be found here: https:// ymhproject.org/resources/.

It’s the Weather Narcan-Opioids

By: Alex Guarini ‘26 Contributor

For many residents of the DMV, the snow-blanketed streets and driveways are a bright spot during the region’s cold winters, and generally, these desires are fulfilled; between the years 1991 and 2020, Washington, D.C. averaged nearly 14 inches of snow each winter. However, this year has been marked by unusual warmth and a lack of snow, with Dulles International Airport tallying a meager 0.4 inches of snow through February. Noting a common trend in recent years, many now wonder if this mild winter is the new norm.

Many might forget that the winter began immersed in below average temperatures. A historic cold system and numerous below-average days capped off December 1.6 degrees below average, making it the coldest in five years. People awaited even more frigid temperatures in January, but the cold never came. Instead, the month finished third warmest on D.C. record, and likewise, February finished as the second warmest on record with temperatures ranging from 16 degrees to 81 degrees.

Meteorologists now warn to bundle up for a cold March, with below average temperatures moving in dur-

ing the middle to the end of the month. Fortunately for snow-lovers, however, Jon Gottschalk from the Climate Prediction Center is “cautiously optimistic” that the Mid-Atlantic will see snow during this period. This cold

By: Daniel Colucci ‘23 Editor

The presence of opioid addiction in the United States is no breaking story. Millions of Americans have died from overdose since the drugs first became prevalent in the United States in the early 2000s. The more recent rise of fentanyl and fentanyl laced substances only worsened a situation that was already out of hand. A drug that’s estimated to be 50 times stronger than heroin is practically a touch of death for many that come into contact with it.

overdose related incidents involving people 18 and younger.

zaga’s own preparation for such an occurrence.

spell should not affect D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms, which the National Park Service projects to achieve peak bloom as early as March 22.

Six of the top-ten warmest climatological winters — which includes the months of December, January, and February — have occurred since 2000. Experts blame climate change and urbanization for the increasingly warm winters in the DMV and say that these milder winters are here to stay. Nonetheless, there is good news for snow-lovers: Though climate change means D.C. will likely see fewer snow showers, it also will supposedly result in more immense winter storms and blizzards in the future.

This epidemic has now spread among the youth, and high school students in the DMV are no exception. Just last month a student at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va. passed out dead in the school bathroom from an overdose. He was a freshman.

This is just one of many examples of overdoses that have occurred in our area recently. Montgomery County announced they have already had to administer narcan, a nasal spray used to treat narcotic overdoses 11 times since the beginning of the school year. Data collected over the last two years in the county shows a 78 percent increase in youth overdoses from 2021 to 2022, recording 48 overdoses with 11 of them resulting in death.

More broadly, northern Virginia as a whole has been struggling with the opioid crisis. State data says there were 289 hospital visits last year in Northern Virginia for

Ongoing incidents similar to the one described are finally prompting school counties to take initiative. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Arlington Public Schools (APS) are among the various school districts leading the charge.

MCPS recently began holding “forums for families about fentanyl and naloxone training” along with promising that “Naloxone (Narcan) kits will be distributed to the families in attendance.”

In response to the Wakefield High School incident and the eight youth overdoses the county experienced last year, APS vows to place a “big emphasis on stocking Narcan in all APS schools, and training staff on how to use it.”

With such a high frequency of overdoses occurring in our area, one could consider Gonzaga fortunate to have not yet had its own incident. Mrs. Amy Harper, school nurse, detailed Gon-

“When I came here three years ago, I noticed you guys did not have narcan at Gonzaga, so I talked with Mr. [Jim] Kilroy and Mr. [Tom] Every about bringing it because I had it at my old school at St Alban’s,” Mrs. Harper said.

After successfully gaining permission to bring the life-saving drug on campus, Narcan is now stored in four places around the school.

“I have it in my office, the AED box in the Carmody Center and the AED box when you first walk into Kohlman. The athletic trainers have it, as well,” Mrs. Harper said.

As far as actually having to use narcan in the case of an overdose, all faculty recently received training on how to properly administer the drug. This training, paired with the relatively simple method of administering narcan, creates a basic foundation of preparation for Gonzaga to handle an overdose.

By: Jackson Baldrate ‘23 Editor-in-Chief

Last week, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) made national news when it announced that it was closing its doors and being taken over by U.S. regulators. SVB is the second largest bank to collapse in United States history and the largest since the 2008 financial crisis. A variety of factors have been named as the reason for the failure. Some blame the Senate loosening regulations on medium size banks in 2018, which meant less oversight into the practices of banks like Silicon Valley Bank. Others blame the interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve in response

Opinion: No More Bailouts

to inflation. This was a big problem for SVB because it invested billions in Treasury bonds with long-term maturities, whose value was practically destroyed due to the increase in the interest rate. The reality is probably a combination of these factors, among many others.

After the crash, the government had to decide whether or not to “bail out” the bank and the depositors. Since the 2008 crash, many banks have gotten the informal classification of “too big to fail,” meaning that the government will bail them out if they get into financial trouble. This system has rightly been criticized as “privatized profits

and socialized losses,” meaning that the banks get to keep any profit that they make, but the government will bail them out if their business decisions don’t pay off. While the government did not bail out SVB itself, it decided that it would pay back all of the depositor’s money, even though 85% of it was above the $250,000 limit that is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. So while it is true that the bank itself did not get bailed out, many rich depositors, who had enough money to deposit multiple millions in SVB, will be getting all of their money back.

In light of this decision,

many people have drawn comparisons to the student loan crisis, wondering why student loans aren’t being forgiven while these deposits are. Consistency is needed when dealing with both of these cases. The guiding principle should be that people are responsible for their own decisions, whether that’s taking out loans to go to college or putting their money into a bank. Their losses should not be subsidized by other taxpayers who were not involved in the decision. For both student loans and bank collapses, we need to address the root of the problem, not the unfortunate effects. We should work on lowering

The Great Gonzaga Crossword

By: Max Diaz '24 Editor

Gonzaga Baseball Preview

By: Peyton Battaglini ‘24 Contributor

Coming off one of Gonzaga Baseball’s best seasons ever in 2022, winning both the WCAC and DC State championships, the team looks to repeat its success backed by many returning stars from the magical 2022

season. Led by captains Bryson Moore (Virginia) and Jake Gupton, the Eagles will face a series of challenging games against McLean, Spalding, and Highland before beginning conference play against St. Mary’s Ryken on March 18. Despite the loss of WCAC Player

of the Year Nick Morabito, the daunting lineup of the Eagles’ returns Jake Gupton (2022 First Team All WCAC Shortstop), Bryson Moore (Virginia), Marcus LeClair (Virginia Tech), Joseph Zorc (Princeton), Jackson Wilburn, and Mason Green. On the defensive side, the

Eagles’ pitching has looked phenomenal through 4 scrimmages thus far behind Ethan Van Sice (Cornell), Evan Cerretani (Denison), Will Shean, Jackson Baldrate, and freshman addition Tyler Majikowski. Coached by alumni Chad Carroll, the Eagles look to replicate their previ-

the cost of college and offering less predatory loans. We can’t just forgive the student loans and, therefore, enable the colleges that demand such high prices. Likewise, we need to take a look at our banking system and question whether fractional reserve banking is justifiable, considering the potential for losing depositors’ money. The answer isn’t to simply put a bandaid on the issue by bailing out banks that are considered “too big to fail.” In all areas of our economy, the answer has never been clearer: no more bailouts.

ous season and bring another title back to Eye Street with a foundation of underclassmen that ensures a very promising future for the baseball program in years to come.

By: Luke Gormsen ‘24 Editor

Last fall, the Major League Baseball’s competition committee voted to introduce rule changes for the 2023 MLB Season. These rule changes will have sweeping impacts on the game of baseball and will likely change strategies within the game. Here’s everything you need to know about these rule changes and how they’ll change Major League Baseball.

First, and most hotly debated, MLB is implementing a pitch clock rule that will limit both the time that pitchers and hitters have in between pitches. Pitchers will have 15 seconds to throw a pitch while the bases are empty, and 20 seconds while there are runners on base. Batters on the other hand will have to step into the box and engage with the pitcher with 8 seconds left on the clock.

Failure to meet these parameters will result in penalties, with an automatic ball for a pitcher not delivering the ball before the clock runs out and an automatic strike for a batter not engaging in time.

There will be two clocks behind home plate on either side of the umpire to remind the pitcher of the time left

MLB Rule Changes

on the clock, and two more clocks in the outfield on either side of the batter’s eye to remind the hitter. Although there have been mixed reactions from major league players, with some worried about the clocks potentially rushing pitchers, there is no doubt that this rule achieves its purpose: to shorten games.

The average time of a major league baseball game in 2022 was 3 hours and 4 minutes, 6 minutes shy of 2021’s record of the longest average game. Minor league games that have been tested with the pitch clock however last only 2 hours and 39 minutes on average, an almost 25-minute decrease in game time.

Although debates are bound to continue on the issue of pitch clocks, there is no arguing that they reduce game time by cutting out the most boring part of baseball games: the time in between pitches. It will be interesting to see the impact that this rule has on baseball and the reactions the fanbase exhibits.

Next, the MLB banned the shift by requiring that, before the ball is pitched, all four infielders must be on the infield dirt or grass and that there must be two infielders on each side of second

base. Infielders will be able to move freely after the ball is pitched. If a player gets on base through a hit ball while a shift violation is being committed by the defending team, the play stands and no penalties are committed. If the batter commits an out while the violation is present, the batting team is either able to accept the penalty and have a ball added to the hitter’s count, or decline it and have the outcome of the play stand.

The shift notoriously overwhelmingly impacts power-hitting pull hitters, preying on their inability to hit to the opposite field by stacking infielders on the side of the field that they pull to. For instance, the third baseman would shift to play as another second baseman for a left-handed batter. The shift has dramatically reduced batting averages and singles, especially for left-handed batters, and its banning in the minor leagues saw the average left-handed batting average rise by 8 points.

Overall the banning of the shift has been met with positive feedback, as its extreme use in the big leagues has especially frustrated left-handed pull hitters to no end. The introduction of a shift ban

will theoretically increase the number of singles in baseball and the overall batting average in the MLB, and will most likely simply force teams to come up with more creative methods of limiting hits (outfielder shifts?).

Another new rule in the MLB this season is the limiting of pickoff attempts per batter. Pitchers will be allowed to disengage the mound, which can include pickoffs, fake pickoffs, and simply stepping off the rubber, twice per batter unless a runner advances to a new base within the same plate appearance.

If this rule is violated and the pitcher disengages a third time, the pitcher is charged with a balk and all batters are allowed to advance a base. This rule was implemented to combat the lack of stolen bases over the past few years in the MLB, with pitchers throwing to first unlimited times to scare runners from attempting to steal bases. With this rule being enforced in the minor leagues, stolen base attempts rose drastically, and it will be exciting to hopefully see the reemergence of stolen bases as part of baseball strategy,

The last major rule change for this season is the

Masters Preview

By: Billy Cannon ‘24 Editor

With elevated events, lucrative prize money, and more drama than ever, the 2023 PGA Tour season is off to an enticing start. However, there is still more to come, as the Masters, the first and most prestigious major of the year, is set to begin on April 6th. The race for the green jacket is completely up in the air, but some of the contenders have separated themselves from the pack early in the season.

As of right now, the favorite has to be Scottie Scheffler. After a completely dominant performance in the Players Championship at challenging TPC Sawgrass, winning by a convincing five strokes, Scheffler is by far the hottest player in the world right now. As the reigning champion, all eyes will be on him at Augusta.

Since the turn of

the calendar year, a “Big 3” has formed at the top of the world golf ranking of Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm. All three have been playing some of the best golf of their careers this season, but Rahm had to withdraw from the Players due to an illness, and McIlroy failed to make it to the weekend. However, neither of these guys can be written off, and both look to add a first green jacket to their impressive resumes. McIlroy will look to finish the career Grand Slam at Augusta, and Rahm will look to add a second major to solidify his standing as a contender in major tournaments.

Other contenders to adorn the green jacket on Easter Sunday include Max Homa, who has been playing lights-out this season, including a win in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Viktor Hovland has also been playing some

of the best golf of his career, as he looks to finally break through in a major. Guys that are always contenders will also be in the conversation, like Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, and Xander Schauffele. And of course, we can’t forget about the players from LIV. Although there hasn’t been much publicity surrounding the controversial tour, it can’t be denied that there are some talented players. Cam Smith, the winner of the 2022 Open, is a threat. Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters champion, is always dangerous when on form. Guys like Joaquin Niemann and Abraham Ancer can’t be overlooked, either.

Overall, while Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to repeat as the Masters champion, the race is still wide open. The green jacket is up for grabs as always.

implementation of bigger bases. Each side of every base will be increased from 15 inches to 18 inches, increasing the area of each base by 99 square inches. This size increase will prevent injuries to fielders and runners alike.

When tested in the minors, there was a 13% decrease in injuries near the bases, a marked change that is welcome in the MLB. Bigger bases also shorten the length between bases by three and a half inches, which will also lead to more stolen base attempts. The size change has been met with overall positivity, as any means of reducing injuries is welcome in the often injury-plagued realm of major league baseball.

MLB’s seemingly drastic measures to reform the game of baseball may appear to be overkill to some, but their promised effects speak for themselves: a faster-paced, more exciting, safer game. What will be interesting to see is the reception from players and the overall impact that these rule changes will have on the way that the game of baseball is played.

By: Ben Profaizer ‘24 Contributor

I walked away from the Bahrain Grand Prix distraught and annoyed. Red Bull pulled off a 1-2 victory 37 seconds ahead from third place, Aston Martin surprisingly did well with Fernando Alonso finishing on the podium, McLaren came dead last with Oscar Piastri retiring on lap 16 with a gearbox issue, Esteban Ocon received over 20 seconds in frivolous penalties (who later retired his car due to a mechanical issue), and unsurprisingly, the Ferrari engine of Charles Leclerc decided to implode (while the vice president of Ferrari watched). While this may sound like a captivating race, there was a surprising lack of content to watch. A few wheel-to-wheel scraps here and there, but a majority of the race was watching Verstappen drive away from the rest of the field. Coming into the 2023 season, I was

prepared for intense wheelto-wheel racing, with only tenths of seconds separating the cars. Initially, qualifying for the grand prix lived up to the expectation, with all 20 Formula 1 cars being less than 3 seconds apart (with a majority being within a second of each other). Lando Norris and Logan Sargeant set the exact same lap time, down to the thousandth of a second.

After a thrilling qualifying, I was so excited to see the race, but the longer I watched the next day, the more disappointment built up. While the 2022 regulation overhaul promised closer racing, many teams struggled to fit within those regulations (remember Red Bull and Aston Martin breached the cost cap in 2022, is it a coincidence they are two of the fastest teams in 2023?). While wheel-towheel racing improved, the gap widened between the front runners and the midfield. Red Bull and Ferrari

CBB T-Portal Starts to Heat Up

dominate the top of the timing sheets, Aston Martin follows as a third, and the gap grows exponentially from there. From the instant the lights went out on the circuit, Red Bull were in a league of their own, making their race look like a dainty Sunday drive to the nearest 7/11. In the past years, Red Bull has grown more dominant in the sport, replacing Mercedes as the top team, but even Mercedes did not win the first race of the year by more than 30 seconds. We head to Jeddah next, but since the season is so new, there will not be many upgrades brought to improve cars. Red Bull will most likely stay at the top of the timing sheets throughout the weekend. Unless Sergio Perez can challenge him for it, Verstappen will easily obtain his third championship this year. One thing is for sure, we are entering a period of total Red Bull domination, with no end in sight.

The XFL - Take 3

By: Abe Cutler ‘23 Editor

As they say, the third time’s the charm. And so perhaps the XFL is finally here to stay. Almost halfway through the season, the XFL is back in business. Many have gone along to praise the XFL and the opportunities it provides to professional football players who did not quite make the NFL. And, being during the winter, it offers a football outlet outside of the NFL’s season where fans coming off of a super bowl high can keep getting more football. But if you have not been paying attention, we should back up a bit. What even is the XFL?

The XFL is a football league that is often dubbed, “the league of second chances” because it offers professional players a league to display their skills and even potentially have a chance to join the NFL. The first iteration of the XFL debuted in 2001 under Vince McMahon. While it received solid ratings at the start, the ratings rapidly declined and the league was dropped by NBC after only a single season. The second iteration of the league began at the start of 2020 and featured new teams, but COVID-19 shut down the league after only a few weeks. After the second collapse, Dwayne Johnson stepped in and purchased the franchise. Finally, under the Rock, the XFL has returned again for spring of 2023. Some of the teams

have changed since last time, but the league has remained much similar to 2020 than 2001.

The League has 8 teams in all: the DC Defenders, Arlington (Dallas area) Renegades, Seattle Sea Dragons, St. Louis Battlehawks, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas, Vegas Vipers, and Orlando Guardians. Games are played primarily on Saturday and Sunday, with 4 games played a week during the regular season. Sometimes games run on Fridays, Mondays, or Thursdays, so understanding the irregular dates of the schedule is important to catching games. As of week 4, the 4 teams with winning records are DC (4-0), St. Louis (3-1), and Houston (4-0), with Seattle and Arlington having a 2-2 record and the other teams with losing ones. In terms of game quality, the jury is still out. Mixed reviews have covered the first games. Some have bashed the league as being subpar and have called it unexciting. Others have met the league with positive commentary, calling the games fun and entertaining. It has been a mixed bag, to be sure. However, the biggest argument is the popularity. As in 2001, the ratings have fallen significantly from the earlier games. Having relatively few fans in the crowds can make watching games almost demoralizing. Some fans have become passionate about

By: Max Diaz ‘24 Editor

Now that the regular season is over and March Madness can begin, the transfer portal is starting to fill up with an insane amount of players for many different reasons depending on the player and situation. The portal has proven to be greatly beneficial to both players and teams, especially since teams with a lot of older players are known to do well in tournament play. As of March 15, according to verbalcommits. com, there have been 460 players who have entered the portal. Here are some of the best or most well-known ones:

JJ Starling, G, Fr, Notre Dame → Syracuse

Season Stats: 11.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.1 APG

HS Rating: 2022, 5 Stars, #21 in nation, #1 in NY

the 17th best in the nation for PPG and earning 1st Team All CAA this season. But, after Delaware going only 17-16 this season, Nelson is moving onto bigger and better teams and he should have many Power 6 options to choose from.

Nicolas Timberlake, G, GS, Towson → Undecided

Season Stats: 17.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.4 APG HS Rating: 2018, N/A

their teams, but on the whole the league does have a fanbase shortage. Channels are attempting to boost viewership, but management will need to address this problem well if the XFL is going to stick around.

Despite the uncertain waters, one feature of the XFL that has drawn praise has been the rule changes. The XFL has some key differences in the way games are judged and played. Coaches are allowed to challenge plays once per game. XFL staff will also be available for comment during games in an attempt to have clear officiating. Also, the points for conversions are different. Teams can go for a one point conversion from the two-yard line, a two point conversion from the five-yard line, or a three point conversion from the ten-yard line. Should these conversions be intercepted and returned, the defense will score however many points the offense was trying to convert. Other, smaller rules have also been implemented by the XFL to encourage better play.

Of course, the XFL will never be equal to the NFL, but the XFL could call some problems people have with the NFL to attention. As a league, it deserves a chance to be seen. However, it will need a few years to assert itself and see if it can garner the attention and ratings it needs to be a mainstay.

After the resignation of Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey, the ACC All-Freshman team guard decided to head on over closer to home to another ACC team, Syracuse. Starling was regarded as one of the greatest players in the portal when he entered, but after only a couple days did it take him to make a decision.

Skyy Clark, G, Fr, Illinois → Undecided

Season Stats: 7.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.1 APG

HS Rating: 2022, 4 Stars, #33 in nation, #9 in FL

After coming into the season as a highly touted Freshman, Clark did not really have the type of year Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini would have hoped. This is mainly due to Clark taking a leave of absence from the program on January 7 for personal reasons. Louisville has been considered the favorite to get Clark.

Jameer Nelson Jr., G, R-Jr, Delaware → Undecided

Season Stats: 20.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG

HS Rating: 2019, N/A

The former George Washington Colonial and son of former National College Player of the Year and NBA All-Star, Jameer Nelson, has become a star for the Blue Hens. Averaging

Like Nelson, Timberlake is another 1st Team All CAA player who can score. Definitely an admirable quality of Timberlake is veteran experience. Timberlake has played in over 100 games in his career and his last 2 years have been at Towson. Timberlake has stated that his main goal is to play at the highest level and that he would like to take a higher step from the CAA, most likely to a Power 6, but he says that he is open to all options and wants to go somewhere he feels comfortable. Timberlake has already been reached out to by teams such as Auburn, Uconn, Clemson, and Maryland.

Other names to know: Myles Stute, F, Jr, Vanderbilt → Undecided (Gonzaga Alum)

Season Stats: 8.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.6 APG

HS Rating: 2020, 3 Stars, #231 in nation, #3 in DC

Primo Spears, G, So, Georgetown → Undecided

Season Stats: 16.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.3 APG

HS Rating: 2021, N/A

Khalif Battle, G, So, Temple → Undecided

Season Stats: 17.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.8 APG

HS Rating: 2019, 4 Stars, #99 in nation, #4 in NJ

Fardaws Aimaq, F, Sr, Texas Tech → Undecided

Season Stats: 11.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.5 APG

HS Rating: N/A

*All HS ratings are per 247sports