The Aquilian Gonzaga College High School
May 2016 Volume 78, Number 6
Men For Others Since 1821 www.theaquilian.com
19 Eye St, NW Washington, DC 20001
Historic Holocaust Artifacts Found By: Holden Madison ‘16 Managing Editor Mr. Steve L. Kruskamp of the Gonzaga Network Operations Center spoke to The Aquilian recently about his discovery of some truly remarkable and rare Holocaust artifacts. This discovery happened at the same time the sophomore class was participating in its annual trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Each year at Gonzaga, sophomore religion classes are given a 3-hour, docent led, VIP tour of the Museum. For many students it is an opportunity to walk through the Museum’s permanent exhibition with
Mr. Theriaque, p. 2
someone who is a Holocaust survivor. For all of the sophomores it is a powerful experience. This year Gonzaga was very lucky to welcome Dr. Gideon Frieder, a Holocaust survivor, to the Sheehy Theater to speak to the entire sophomore class after all of the religion classes had completed their visits. Dr. Frieder spoke movingly about his family’s experience and offered the assembled students a rare glimpse into that era in world history. Here’s where the story takes an interesting turn. At the same time Gonzaga sophomores were making their visit to the Museum, a friend of Mr. Kruskamp’s was help-
Fr. Meehan, p.3
ing another friend prepare to move into an assisted living facility. In the process of clearing out they discovered four perfectly sealed and protected volumes of photographs and diary passages documenting the journey of one United States military officer named Kenneth Gosnell as he served in World War II, and the places he subsequently visited. He served in Corsica before making his way to Germany, passing by Hitler’s bombed retreat home. Toward the end of the war, the Nazis were frantically attempting to erase any trace of the Holocaust atrocities. Gosnell captured graphic photos of camp workers
Mr. Baker, p.6
shoveling corpses into the furnaces, using large iron tongs to transport and dispose of the emaciated dead. In 1984, Gosnell predicted that one day people would deny the existence of the Holocaust and claim that it had never happened, but it was his dying wish that the evil events that unfolded across Germany never be forgotten. Painfully ironic, these volumes were dangerously close to becoming incinerated at a waste management facility. Mr. Kruskamp was able to bring the meticulously kept journals and photo albums into Gonzaga and showed them to Religion
Mrs. Joncas, p.7
Department Chair, Dr. Rissetto. After looking at them together Dr. Rissetto suggested that they be brought to Dr. Frieder and his colleague from the Museum, Ms. Rebecca Dupas, Coordinator for Student Leadership Programs, while they were here on Eye Street. After Dr. Frieder had finished his presentation with the sophomore class, Mr. Kruskamp had a chance to discuss and share the rare historical find. Dr. Frieder and Ms. Dupas were both taken aback by the photos and letters the albums contained. They strongly encouraged Mr. Kruskamp to Continued on p. 2
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WebAssign: Going the Way of the Dodo? By: Andy Carluccio ‘16 Managing Editor
As President of the Gonzaga Initiative for Student Technology (GIST), it may seem a bit out of character for me to write something critical of EdTech on Eye St., but I think it is important for us to not only praise areas of success in these areas, but to look for areas that might need some work. And so I’ve trained my crosshairs on Webassign, or more accurately, Gonzaga’s specific implementation of the platform. That is an important distinction, as you are not about to read an article demanding the science department’s primary homework tool be thrown out into the hellish wasteland from which it emerged. Instead, I want to take a quick look at some of the deficiencies of our current approach to Webassign and suggest a few improvements. We will start with the merits of the system. Webassign contains thousands of
science problems related to hundreds of different topics our various courses cover, and with the ability to constantly change numeric values for each problem, the platform provides a very attractive practice database. Because it is an online system, student responses can be rapidly organized, alleviating the scoring work from a teacher that would be required of a penand-paper system. The questions are also tied directly to the textbooks we “use” in class, bringing the whole ecosystem together in one nice package. Not to mention that one of the best feelings in high school is the dopamine hit you get from getting a green check on a Webassign problem. And now, the roast. Our implementation of Webassign in our science department is, in most classes, a complete brain drain because it is not used correctly. The reason for this is quite simple: the system tests more troubleshooting skills than it does science skills. I have
Artifacts Continued from p. 1 bring them to the attention of the Museum. Mr. Kruskamp, after reaching out, was then contacted by many individuals from the Museum, including the curator. The volumes are now scheduled to be assessed, and copies will be made and returned to the family while the originals will be archived and preserved at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in downtown Washington, D.C. Further details are to follow, but for now we thank Mr. Kruskamp for facilitating the preservation of Gosnell’s work.
observed that most students, myself included, spend more time trying to identify where they made an algebra error, or worse, where Webassign incorrectly evaluated the number of significant figures a response should be reported in. In most cases, students can generally solve the chemistry or physics of a problem in significantly less time than it takes to receive the semi-sacred green check mark. The hours spent blindly groping through the land of red x’s only to find that you entered a digit incorrectly in your calculator somewhere, though, is a complete waste of time. If it wasn’t clear yet, I have a huge bias against the system. I resent the late nights spent poring over Webassign problems because, frankly, after solving the science of the problem, I take off the lab coat and begrudgingly put on a detective’s overcoat for the next hour to find where I made my simple error. For the most part, this is not an issue with Webassign as a platform. Rather,
it is an issue of the standard policy in the science department that your homework is not complete until you have a Webassign-approved correct answer for every problem. Our approach is tragically designed to prioritize correct answers over the science that was used to produce them. This is dangerous because it encourages students to scour the internet for quick solutions designed to give a green check without any learning actually taking place on the assignment. If continuity of learning and lesson reinforcement throughout the day is the fundamental reason for homework, Webassign is not homework, it is busywork. There has been one notable exception to this pattern of Webassign, though, and it occurred in AP Chemistry last year. Mr. Heetderks graded our Webassign based on the work we submitted, not on
the 100% sticker online. The degree to which our work represented our application of proper chemistry determined our homework score, even if the answers we produced were occasionally erroneous due to simple computing errors. In my mind, that is the dream for Webassign. Use the platform’s massive question database to give students unique problems to solve, but evaluate the submitted work packets instead of the online score to determine a student’s grade. I’m not asking for less homework or easier questions. Fundamentally, I am asking that the science department reconsider its approach to Webassign in order to prioritize student opportunities to demonstrate an understanding of scientific problem solving in various disciplines instead of training a class of green check addicts.
Thank You Mr. Theriaque! By: Nick Jenkins ‘16 Managing Editor How long have you been on Eye Street? I arrived at Gonzaga in 1999 and have been here ever since. (17 years)
Did your time at Gonzaga meet or exceed your expectations? If so why? My time here far exceeded my expectations. This was my first experience in a Catholic school as well as an all boys school. I was exposed to camaraderie like no other. My experiences here enabled me to deepen my faith in a nurturing environment. Most significant experience at Gonzaga? That would have to be the service projects, particularly, Emmitsburg. I love see-
The Aquilian
Founded In 1940 Gonzaga College HIgh School 19 Eye Street NW Washington, DC 20001 www.theaquilian.Com Men For Others in the Jesuit Tradition Since 1821
ing the boys’ enthusiasm for helping others in need. What you’re going to miss the most about Gonzaga? Interaction with the guys and the close relationship with the students. What are you planning to do post Gonzaga? My wife and I will be managing a retirement facility for independent senior citizens, putting the service I learned into practice.
Mr. Theriaque is one of the most popular physics and chemistry teachers at Gonzaga. He is also the varsity golf head coach and has helped with the GDA. When you walk into his classroom, you see a lot of memorabilia including the eagles, spaceships, golf items and who
can forget his Caddyshack poster. Mr. Theriaque is one of the nicest, funniest and coolest teachers in the school. He is also known for some of his catchphrases such as “Awesome”, “Chap-
Editors-in-Chief Liam Burke ‘16 Peter Marcou ‘16
Production Editors Peter Brown ‘17 Jonathan Kokotajlo ‘16
Managing Editors Andy Carluccio ‘16 Holden Madison ‘16 Nick Jenkins ‘16
Associate Editor Griffin Buising ‘17
Photo Editor Nick Lazaroae ‘17
ter next” and “it’s the exact same thing only different.” Mr. Theriaque is a character, we will all miss him and wish him well.
Photographer Matt Bailey ‘18 Moderator: Dr. Harry Rissetto
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Father Ken Meehan, SJ Leaves After 24 Years By: Peter Brown‘17 Production Editor Recently I heard the news that Fr. Ken Meehan S.J. who works in the Classics department will be leaving Gonzaga at the conclusion of this semester. I myself had Fr. Meehan for Latin I during my Freshmen year, just like all other students who went through the Latin program here at Gonzaga. Fr. Meehan teaches Latin I, Honors Latin I, Honors Latin II, and the Film Study course. Next year would have marked his 25th year of service here on Eye Street. I decided to take the opportunity to visit him and learn more about his journey here at Gonzaga, and below is a portion of our interview: Where did you come from originally? I was born in Baltimore on April 21, 1940. But what’s interesting about that was that the founding of Rome is on the same day, April 21, 753 B.C. I guess I was really born to love Latin. How long have you been teaching at Gonzaga? I came here in 1992, so about 24 years now. I’ve taught Latin and Film Study in the Fine Arts department. The whole time I was here, only those two subjects. Where were you before you came to Eye Street? Before I came to Gonzaga, I was one year at Loyola in Baltimore which was sort of a transition from where
I had been 12 years before that, namely in Huntington, WV, where I was teaching at a co-ed Catholic high school. What else do you do here as a faculty member other than teach Latin and Film Study? I’ve been moderating the It’s Academic! quiz bowl team ever since I got here. When I came here in 1992, the team was only appearing only on the TV show each year. So I decided to take the initiative and turn them into a competitive club that went to various tournaments. Not just local tournaments that were sponsored by local high schools and universities, but national tournaments! We went to some pretty prestigious national tournaments in places like Harvard, Princeton, Yale. We won a tournament at Princeton, one at Yale, another at Duke University, and another in New York at a high school up there. There were four separate years that we went to national tournaments. One year we even got 8th out of a 160 teams on the national stage! It was great; they won trophies and everything. It’s great because not many schools in the area have this program. It’s a cool experience for the kids who go through it. Other WCAC schools used to go to a few tournaments, but not many were as active as we were here at Gonzaga, and certainly didn’t achieve as much. In 1998 we won everything
on local It’s Academic! TV Show. That was my greatest year! We were the best of 81 schools at the end, and won the DMV Super Bowl event. I really enjoyed being able to travel to these events. Probably the biggest thing was that we made Gonzaga respected by all of the coaches in this area, which even more impressive given how the DMV is considered the toughest area for quiz bowl because of its many elite private high schools that were used to winning all the time. We really made quite an impression when I had a really good team! We also put on a tournament here at Gonzaga for five years at one point. That was fun, we wrote the questions and edited them ourselves. Those were the glory years; it will be sad to leave that all behind. Some of the kids went on to do some big things. One of them ended up going on Jeopardy! What was it like in the classroom here? I was blessed to have my own classroom thanks to the way Fr. Novotny set it up, and I’ve sort of turned it into a second home with all of the decorations and movie posters galore and of course Latin posters. I tried to make it as much of a creative, inspiring academic atmosphere as possible. I’ve worked hard to maintain that. It was nice how I could be creative, and that’s one of the reasons why I will miss the whole teach-
ing atmosphere here, I had a lot of flexibility. Year after year my kids win lots of awards. In fact, this year, 25 out of my 28 students are winning an award for their performance on the National Latin Exam. Latin is a staple of Jesuit education, and I think it’s certainly not a dead language. You have an awful lot of movie posters around your classroom, so I’m curious, what’s your favorite movie of all time? That’s a tough question, but it would probably be Paths of Glory (1957), directed by Stanley Kubrick. It’s partially because of nostalgia, though, as that was one of the first movies I ever saw, but to this day I am a huge fan of Kubrick’s work. What has been your fondest memory of your time at Gonzaga? I think it would be the privilege that they have given me to do the film study course, despite only having a few kids enroll in it. It was unique to the school, and something special that I brought to Gon-
zaga. I think that the kids who went through it really enjoyed it. I’m going to have to find some way to dispose of a closet full of 16mm films and two projectors and all the stuff and posters that I’ve collected over the years. I will say that I am disappointed that I do not have more time to simply gradually close things and move things out of here and not leave so soon. I also have fond memories of Doc Warman. We actually planned to announce our retirement together, as next year would have been his 50th year at Gonzaga and my 25th. We were even planning some sort of celebration of sort with fanfare and everything. We were buddybuddy, and we would chat a lot about this and that. It was wonderful working with him. He did his thing, I did mine. He was a great departmental head chair. Doc died doing what he loved, and that truly was a blessing.
SGA: Moving Forward By: Andy Carluccio ‘16 Managing Editor This past year has been one of first steps for the Student Government Association and for Gonzaga as a whole. Guided by the list of promises my team and I made to our classmates, we approached this year with the mentality of laying a foundation for future students to build upon. In many respects, we were successful. In others, we were not. I am confident, though, that we have been able to reinvent the role of the SGA at Gonzaga through the dedication of Ms. Miller, Mr. Hanagan, and the student leaders in the council. Together, we took first steps in transparency through our meeting notes and State of the School videos. We
took first steps in having regular activities with our sister school through the movie night series with Visitation. We took first steps in exploring new opportunities for our community through Spirit Week and the town hall meetings. But frankly, first steps don’t get you very far if they are the only steps we take as a community. That will not be the case here on Eye St., though, as I have great confidence in the dedication of the students who call this place home and seek opportunities to give back to it. As a community, we will continue to value Magis. I believe that the most important item Gonzaga needs to consider in the coming years is how student initiative is encouraged. As
someone who has been involved in many student-lead projects over my four years, I have relished in how great of a school Gonzaga is when students are trusted with an appropriate amount of leadership on major school projects and have also become discouraged when I see these opportunities shut down, neglected, or forgone. I do not blame any administrator for these moments of frustration, though, because everyone here is well intentioned and wants the best for Gonzaga. To take further productive steps over the course of the next academic year the SGA will be called upon to work even more closely with Gonzaga administrators. Our goal is to communicate not only our resolutions and requests, but the context that
surrounds them - so that we can work together to make progress as a community. One possible suggestion would be to add a once a month administrator panel to the SGA meeting calendar. This would allow student representatives and faculty to have formative dialogue about different initiatives the students are interested in implementing at Gonzaga. The result of this once a month panel meeting will hopefully be an additional step toward co-operative construction and implementation of student driven progress. I suppose that the conclusion I leave behind, then, is the challenge to cherish student initiative. This is not solely a goal for faculty. For students, this means taking tangible steps to demonstrate
our responsibility, and work effectively with the trust administrators place in us. Tuck in the shirts. Clean up the place. Follow the rules because you know they are there to help make you a better person. If we don’t do that, arguments to have a senior lounge or wear dress shorts will never make it into a real discussion. It’s no secret that the winds of change are blowing through Eye St., and our approach to student initiative and respect for our core values as a school will determine if the next four years are a period of unprecedented growth at Gonzaga or a period of stagnation. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have served this community. Go Eagles.
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By: Jack Royston ‘16 & Liam Modesti ‘16 Senior Contributors The 2016 Gonzaga Rugby Tour was an amazing experience. We were fortuntate to be a part of the journey. Here is a little taste of what it was like. Cultural Experience The 2016 Gonzaga Rugby Tour in Spain was a fantastic cultural experience. Throughout the tour the players, parents, and coaches had the opportunity to venture throughout and really get a great taste of Spanish and Catalan culture. Barcelona Soon after our arrival, we went to a bilingual mass at St. Luis Gonzaga church, which was celebrated by Father Stephen Planning, SJ. At times it was difficult to follow the prayers, but we quickly became comfortable with the proceedings despite the possible language barrier. Later in the city, the whole group went on a guided walking tour to the “Old City,” which had many structures and buildings that Barcelona is known for and date back many centuries. We also saw the home of St. Ignatius Loyola, the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catedral de Barcelona, and many others. Afterwards, the players and adults had the opportunity to explore the city on their own while walking or taking advantage of the hop on / hop off buses and the convenient metro rail system. Manresa On tour, we had the amazing opportunity to visit Manresa. Manresa is a small town in the heart of the Catalan region wherein St. Ignatius Loyola had his spiritual awakening. Without Ignatius’ experience here,
2016 Gonzaga Rugby Tour our school would most likely not exist; Manresa is kind of a big deal. Our group was greeted by the vice mayor of Manresa who welcomed the group and introduced us firsthand to this historically rich city. We then broke up into smaller groups for another guided tour. We walked through preserved streets and neighborhoods that have been around for centuries. We visited a well where Ignatius appeared to a local girl, saw a cathedral (currently without a bishop) that was built in the 1300s were Ignatius attended daily prayers, explored the hospital where Ignatius volunteered and was nursed back from grave illness. The highlight of the tour was when we saw the exact cave wherein Ignatius reflected, prayed and where he wrote the Spiritual Exercises. The city later built a basilica dedicated to St. Ignatius literally on top of the cave, and this was where we celebrated another mass with Father Planning. Valencia During our stay in Valencia, the famed Festival de Fallas was taking place in town, which was quite an experience to be a part of. Many thousands of people across Spain and Europe flock to this annual festival, which symbolizes the end of winter and the rebirth of the seasons with spring. For the festival, hundreds of massive and artful (up to two-story) figures made of materials like paper mache, cardboard, and wood were placed throughout town; at the end of the festival, they would all be burnt to the ground. In short, there was a lot of people, celebration, marching bands, and fireworks.
terranean coast. We again briefly toured around, visited another Gothic church, and enjoy the coastal view on the beach. Sitges The coast city of Sitges was our final destination on our trip. We attended mass at San Bartolome y Santa Tecia, where we listened to the Passion in Catalan, for it was Palm Sunday.
Game Summaries With a total of 85 players on the trip, the Gonzaga rugby program fielded three teams: two 18U-sides (Varsity Purple and Varsity Black) and one 16U-side. The three teams had a significant physical-size advantage over their opponents throughout the tour. Despite this however, our opponents’ fast-paced style of play proved to challenge our players to operate more tactically, further preparing our program for secVilla Joyosa ond half of our season back Villa Joyosa is a town in the States. that is situated on the MediUnio Esportiva Santboiana Rugby Club (Barcelona) The first of the three teams’ matches were held in Barcelona against three sides of the local Unio Esportiva Santboiana rugby club. Varsity Black kicked off the trip against a Santboiana 18U-side, jumping out to an early lead with a try by team captain Seamus O’Leary and the successful conversion by flyhalf Quinn Lewis. 8-man
Danny Plantamura followed with explosive runs through the opposing defense, giving the Eagles another try. However, the Santboiana defense came back hard and managed to turn over the ball, possibly having the chance to shift momentum. Senior flankers Liam Mulcahy and Michael Riedford though fired back with hard tackles and effective ball hunting. Senior centers Thomas Kernan and Dan Kirvan tallied a try each. The shifty opposition then managed to answer back with a try of their own. Black tightened their defense and powered through with their forwards, scoring seven more tries by Teddy Flood, Plantamura again, AJ Powers, Aidan Rafferty, and Riedford and successful conversions by Lewis. To conclude the scoring, Santboiana displayed quick ball handling and great footwork to put one more try in before the final whistle. Black came out with a 69-10 victory. Gonzaga’s U16 side was next to face off against Santboiana. Sanboiana’s ruggers sprang quickly out of the gate with strong running skills and quick ball movement to score a try. The Eagles though fought back as they began to use their size advantage and aggressive forward play to gain ground on their opponents. Soon enough, junior scrum half Ignacio “Iggy” Mata-Cordero drove through for the first try with the score now 5-5. Late
in the first half, the speedy Spaniards answered while pulling ahead 10-5 before intermission. After halftime, junior flanker Billy McKinnon shot through the Spanish defense to tie the score, and outside center Grant Connolly nailed the conversion to take the lead, 12-10. The two teams battled back and forth; the Eagles continued to press their opponents with tries now from inside center Elias Garcia and junior scrum half Michael Davis and another great conversion by Connolly. However, Santboiana battled back and scored the game winning try with less than a minute to go for the final 36-29 tally. Varsity Purple now took on the 18U Santboiana A side. The match did not start off well for the purple ruggers as an errant pass was intercepted and returned for a quick try, score 5-0 lead for the hosts. Nevertheless, the Eagles then buckled down and did what they do best. Senior captains Dante Lopresti and Patrick Sheehy set the tone with a beautiful try and conversion, starting the team’s charge. Tries by sophomore wing Ryan Ebel, senior lock Michael Shincovich, and senior flanker Joey Freeman (2) with Sheehy conversions set the score to 35-5 at the half. In the second half, junior center LJ KoiLarbi, sophomore scrum half Owen Sheehy, senior lock Colin Healy, and junior wing (and Man of the Match) Ma-
2016 Gonzaga Rugby Tour caiah Paige all touched down for tries of their own. With the final conversion by senior flyhalf Mac Stiles, the match came to a close with a 69-5 victory for Purple. CAU Rugby Valencia (Valencia) The Gonzaga ruggers next took on the CAU Valencia rugby club, whose U18 is the defending Spanish U18 National Champion. Varsity Black started the day with a tremendous 88-0 win. Great team play led to the first try of the match, scored by senior center Thomas Kernan and converted by senior flyhalf Quinn Lewis. Kernan, Lewis, junior fullback Cliff Wallace (2), Riedford, Mulcahy (2), junior hooker Charlie Adams, senior flanker Jack Winters, senior flanker Joe Walthall (2), and junior wing Will Valentine all touched down tries in the match. The purple U16 side, coming off a dramatic last minute loss, was determined to defeat their next opponent. This was incredibly exciting match, which had twelve lead changes and was once again decided in the final minute of the match. Tries were scored by sophomore wing Elias Garcia (2), sophomore scrum half Thomas Nalls (2), freshman lock DJ Jimenez (2), and Grant Connolly with Connolly’s conversions, which set the score tied in the final minutes of the match: 41-41. Gonzaga continued to press with time running out; finally, junior prop Reggie Frost powered through 15 meters to the try zone to clinch the victory. With Connolly’s conversion, the final score was 48-41. Varsity Purple then took the pitch, taking on the U18 Spanish National Champions. The match had a great display of the contrast in styles of American and Spanish rugby with the Eagles’ physicality and defense/attack structures and the Spaniards’ quick pace and tremendous ball handling. Gonzaga drew first blood ten minutes into the match on a try by junior prop Johnny Jordan from a lineout wheel. Jordan then added a second try about ten minutes later with the offload from senior flanker Joey “Manbun” Freeman. CAU Valencia battled back, bring-
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ing the score to 12-5 with a try of their own. Before the end of the half, junior wing Tyree Randolph raced in to touch the ball down, making the score 17-5 at half. In the second half, both Gonzaga and CAU Valencia threatened to score in many instances while the other defended with vigor. CAU Valencia finally broke through, making the score 17-10. Randolph then touched down his second try, which CAU Valencia responded in kind. At 24-17, senior prop Dante Lopresti made an excellent turnover in Gonzaga’s 22 in the last minutes of the match, sealing the victory. “This game was something we needed,” said Gonzaga Coach Peter Baggetta. “We were pushed hard by a very skilled and tactically smart team.” La Vila Rugby Club (Villa Joyosa) The tour’s final set of rugby matches took place near a town on the Mediterranean coast called Villa Joyosa, which is in fact known for its rugby. The Gonzaga teams faced off against the Vila rugby club. The matches were held in a rugby stadium in the mountains about twenty minutes from the town. Vila’s rugby stadium was awesome because it is strictly purposed for rugby and has a dedicated training facility. In fact, the French professional team Claremont was going to use the facility for training the following week. The U16 team was again the first to take on our hosts and came out victorious with a score of 31-0. Tries were scored by sophomore lock Jack Dufour, sophomore fullback Grant Davis, Garcia (2), and junior flanker Billy McKinnon; final conversion was made by guest appearance Spencer Davis who, at a wide angle, gloriously dropkicked the ball through the uprights. Varsity Black won by a very large margin. Tries were scored by junior wing Will Valentine, Thomas Kernan, junior flanker Manny Panzardi, senior lock Andrew Hicks, junior outside center Cliff Wallace, AJ Powers, Spencer Davis, Billy McKinnon, Michael Riedford, Thomas Pulliam, and Danny Plantamura.
Finally, Varsity Purple took the field. Senior lock Michael Shincovich, junior wing Macaiah Paige, and sophomore 8-man Will Lyke scored tries while senior flyhalf Mac Stiles nailed the conversions to tally the score 21-0 at the break. Sophomore 8-man Aidan Rafferty, junior prop Seamus “Big Pretty” O’Leary, and Mac Stiles touched down as well in the second half; Stiles went 7 for 7 on the day with conversion kicks. The Eagles topped the tour with a great victory. Social Experiences Following a spirited practice on the first day in Barcelona, we accompanied our once rival team and engaged in spirited conversation between both teams which ended with some commencal accounts from various players of, “what they bring to Gonzaga Rugby.” Answers varied from players divulging their gifted waterboy skills to others telling of their great heroism on the field. Following the meeting, the coaches were able to first experience the culture with local restaurants and Barcelona’s famous tapas dishes. Days after great rugby matches, the teams came together to watch skits from first time tour players or “Tour Rookies’ which helped the players unwind from a long day of rugby. During this the adults helped them-
selves to a tour of the Old City where they finished at the Rossini in the Plaza Riele, where Coach was able to celebrate his birthday. One of the following days we were allowed a break which gave us the chance to take in the gorgeous city of Valencia, where the famed Festival de Fallas was in town, an annual week long tradition which attracts Spaniards from all over. This festival is complete with street vendors; marching bands; parades; decorative dressing and lots and lots of fireworks, which were not always pointed at the sky During the nights we were allowed to go out and explore this breathtaking city and its’ sculptures. The following night all of the seniors met for a senior dinner, where every senior after being hailed by Coach Kelly said their favorite part about Gonzaga rugby and how it affected them. It was during this dinner where I believe that the seniors realized how much the program and coaches meant to us all. Upon our return to Valencia, it was time to head out to see the conclusion of the Fallas Festival. As per tradition, each of the displays in the squares, which for some had taken the whole year to build, were torched in an inferno accompanied by fireworks. Every few minutes throughout the evening, one could hear fireworks and see
another square ablaze. What an incredible tradition. On our last night it finally came time to assess various tour “fines” for transgressions both large and small during the week, which were satisfied by a song. Personally as a rugby player, I find this to be the most fun tradition. First up were some of the coaches with “My Girl” which was of course executed in perfect pitch and harmony. They were followed by a series of some great, and sub-par performances. Other highlights of the night included Coach Yates performing Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” the seniors singing some throwback Taylor Swift, and Joe Walthall hollerin’ up “Wagon Wheel” with the Davis’ (and Mr. Davis on the lead guitar). It was a great way to end the 2016 Gonzaga Rugby Tour. Conclusion The 2016 Gonzaga College High School Rugby Tour was a huge success by all measures. Our cultural exposure, rugby matches, and social experiences were simply amazing while the hospitality and generosity that we were shown by our various hosts was truly heartwarming. On behalf of the players, we would like thank Mr. and Mrs. Plantamura, Mr. Nalls, the coaches, and all those who made this incredible rugby trip possible.
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A Bye-Bye from Mr. Tom Baker
By: Aquilian Staff
he illustrated the elements of the guided retreat. “That second time was more like what Hopkins said about kingfishers and dragonflies,” Baker remembered. “I tried to spend more time in the paintings and thought about what it means to be painter.” Another fond memory for Mr. Baker was volunteering weekly at the McKenna Center in the basement of St. Al’s. “For about ten years I went down once a week and the guys and I would paint and listen to jazz.” Mr. Baker also helped ot start the long-running Guatemala service trip and he himself joined the Roman Catholic faith while a member of
Mr. Tom Baker has been an educator for the past fortyfive years, with thirty-three spent here on Eye Street. Gonzaga was Mr. Baker’s first job at a high school, prior to his arrival he had worked with deaf students and children with special educational needs. “I felt like a freshman when I arrived here,” Baker said. “I didn’t know anyone, I had a lot of enthusiasm, and I had faith that I could do this.” While here at Gonzaga, Mr. Baker lists as a highlight his opportunity to do the Spiritual Exercises twice. Both were rich with artistic experience. The first time through
the Gonzaga Community. When asked what he would miss, Mr. Baker said that he would miss “the relationships with the students and how they develop over four years - it is inspiring to see how a student grows as an artist over that period of time. When a student creates at the intersection of the material, emotional, and spiritual it is a lifelong gift to both the student and the teacher.” Leaving Eye Street, Mr. Baker is looking forward to using his studio at home, painting on location, and further developing the spiritual dimensions of his work. He will also have his hands full with his seven grandchildren.
Let’s Take a Look Over BYOD, Shall We? By: Peter Brown ‘17 Production Editor As the school year draws to a close in a few weeks, we can take a moment to reflect on some of the recent changes and developments that have been added to classrooms here at Gonzaga. This year, we saw the introduction of the BYOD program (Bring Your Own Device), where students can bring various electronic devices into their classrooms in order to “enhance” their learning. Gonzaga began its implementation of BYOD this year by requiring all members of the Freshmen class to have a device while in the classroom. The BYOD program may not have been mandatory this year for all students, but it will be mandatory next year. Next fall, each Gonzaga student will be required to have an electronic device on them for class. Despite not being mandatory this year, however, a grand majority of Sophomore, Junior, and Senior students have not been deterred from experimenting with this new program. I actively participated in the new program myself throughout a majority of the first semester, and I observed the habits and tendencies of my classmates using devices throughout the year. And I can say with reasonable certainty that the Bring Your Own Device program deserves careful reconsideration, and it would be best to remove it as a note-taking utility unless drastic changes are implemented to prevent it
from becoming as it has been dubbed by various teachers, the “Bring Your Own Distraction” program. That phrase, “Bring Your Own Distraction,” while seeming overly critical on the surface, actually contains a great deal a truth. Furthermore, I would bet that it would actually contain more truth than teachers and administrators would truly understand. Allow me to give a brief report on what students in some of my classes have been doing, and show to you that it really is an epidemic. The best example that indicates a clear disengagement of students would be in an un-named class, where a little bit more than twelve to fifteen or so of the twenty students in that class have a computer on their desk. The purpose - for taking notes, or looking up a term or concept. However, 95% of them are doing something else during class other than paying attention and taking notes. They are usually doing one of three things: watching sports replays from the night before on YouTube, ranging from the Masters, to football highlights, to the NBA playoffs; messaging friends using their MacBook’s iMessaging system; playing video games, which usually involves Slither.io, a Tron-style game that you can easily zone out to and has been wildly popular among Gonzaga students. I’ve even seen students play games that require a great deal of attention, such as Star
Wars Battlefront. Sometimes when I arrive at school a few minutes late and walk through the large gate that is off of North Capitol Street, I always pass by the window of a religion class. What I see the devices on desks and a strikingly similar scene to that of my class. A grand majority of the students in that class are playing Slither.io or some other game or watching a video, and only 5-10% of them are taking notes. Note that I am not pointing out these people in an attempt to shame them. Nor am I implying any wrongdoing or fault on the part of my teacher or another teacher. Rather, I am trying to say that the implementation of BYOD at Gonzaga has resulted in many students disengaging themselves, and missing out on valuable class time. I myself used my gloriously powerful HP Spectre x360 to take notes in classes that allowed devices during the second half of the first semester. For the most part, I used my device responsibly, primarily as a note taking apparatus. It wasn’t easy though. Very often I would have the ability to look up something I shouldn’t have such as gaming news, but I would resist and try to remain actively engaged and participate in the class. But I cannot say that I was perfect. Sometimes I would succumb to that irresistible urge to just check out of class momentarily, just like many other students.
My 8th grade German teacher at Eagle Ridge Middle School in Ashburn taught us not just about the German language and culture, but also about learning and how people really learn. According to her auditory learners are those who learn material by listening; visual learners, those who learn by watching or seeing something; and kinesthetic learners, those who learn by writing. She helped me realize that I fall into the last category, the kinesthetic learners. In fact, the majority of American students do as well. If most students are kinesthetic learners, then it seems illogical to promote devices as the preferred means of note taking. Smashing buttons is different than writing, and doesn’t correlate to a translation of knowledge. The overall effect of this
phenomenon is a lack of knowledge retention for kinesthetic learners. I saw this first hand with my 2nd quarter grades being my poorest academic performance out of my Gonzaga career. When I put down the device and decided to take notes just using the conventional paper and pen for the 3rd quarter, my grades had considerable improvements. That’s a clear indication to me that BYOD was having a negative effect for myself academically. That isn’t to say though that BYOD is just a terrible program inside and out and was a mistake, and I don’t mean to portray it as such. However, I think that it is critical that we fully assess the pros as well as the cons to the program when moving forward.
Eagles Lobby on Capitol Hill By: Holden Madison ‘16 Managing Editor Recently, I had the chance to lobby for immigration reform on Capitol Hill with Gonzaga’s Peace Club. We met the soft-spoken, yet commanding senator, Harry M. Reid. At first, we were taken aback by his directness; he explained that he wanted to hear us speak without any prompts, he wanted us to speak from our hearts. So we did. We raised our concerns on the current controversial treatment of migrant families. Our concerns about children and their parents that are being separated and deported by Immigration Control Enforcement across the US. We asked for his thoughts
on the inhumane conditions of the detention facilities. We asked how his Mormon faith directed his daily decisions. After each question, he responded with sincerity and honesty. He stressed the humanitarian and political nature of the immigration debate. He has supported a pathway to citizenship and has a special concern for children of foreign parents living as residents in the US. He encouraged us to participate in our government. We really had a conversation, and I believe we brought a message that resonated with the congressman. In my four years at Gonzaga, I have never had an opportunity like this. It’s something that will
stay with me as I continue my journey on to college and hopefully onward. I could see Senator Reid living out the Gonzaga’s Grad at Grad when he spoke to us. His faith, being religious, guided his actions. He clearly was open to growth by listening to each of us voice our opinions. In his years of service to the citizens and residents of the United States, he sought to bring legislation that was committed to doing justice by protecting immigrant families. He was also both loving and intellectually competent by not only being familiar with the issues, but also embracing the people the issues affect.
Thank You Mrs. Joncas! By: Holden Madison ‘16 Managing Editor Mrs. Courtney Joncas had a chance to sit down with The Aquilian for a final exit interview as she says farewell to Gonzaga College High School. She has been a longtime faculty member of Gonzaga since 1989. Appointed by Fr. Dooley, SJ she assumed her role in the position of admissions officer. She has had a deep attachment to her babies of Eye St. As we opened up the discussion, Mrs. Joncas reflected back on her time in Admissions. She shared some of the inspirational figures she has encountered over the years: Brother John, Opel Bell, and Joe Ciancaglini, to her students, Curome Cox, Mike Orfini, Marcello Diclemente. “What’s
special about Gonzaga is the relationships between the adults and the students,” she added. Taking over after Ms. Whitcomb and Brother Ritzman, she played a monumental role in supporting the annual Halloween Costume Celebration and Contest. She, in conjunction with Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Armwood, established a committee to gather funds from departments across Gonzaga (from the Headmaster’s Office to Language Departments) to reward creative designs by students and teachers. At one point, the administration threatened to get rid of the annual tradition, but Ms. Joncas fought hard to keep it in place. She has most likely been the first face many future Eagles see, greeting eighth graders on their Eagle-for-a-day visits.
She ushered in a warmth and respect for these young boys, with her iconic basket of candy and bright smile on her face. When she shook your hand, you got up and looked her in the eye and said hello. As she puts it, “We’re here to be an advocate and a friend.” As she looks to the journey ahead, she says she looks forward to a long-awaited Viking’s River Cruise down the Danube River from Budapest to Prague in October this year. She plans to spend more time with her 10 grandchildren, play more tennis, participate more in volunteer work, relax, and enjoy life. We thank Ms. Joncas for serving 27 years on Eye Street, and we wish her the very best as she enters a new chapter of her life.
The Aquilian 7
Here’s to It All comma rules. Junior year was also the year that many of us went on Kairos together, and Gents, we have had a many seniors say to this day great four years here and I that that was one of the best have no doubt that it has been experiences in their time at some of the best years of our Gonzaga. lives. Then senior year came Going back to Freshman around and it has been going year, our whole lives were great so far. Senior year based on who we had for has been a great time with gym; if you had Jackson you everything from Mr. Turner’s were in for a year of fun and life lessons to some eigth sports, and if you had Mad- period shenanigans. We have dox, it was sports and fun. had some great teachers this Then again those of us who year from Mr. L’Etoile and were “blessed” enough to his encouraging words to Mr. have sister Carol Ann were Viola and his drill sergeant given some of the best ex- ways. periences of our lives. When Over the past four years it came to history you either we have won many State talked about chipwiches all titles in sports, put on many day or the Simpsons. fantastic shows, and just Sophomore year was a made Gonzaga that much year for firsts for many of us, better with our presence. having to take a science class Our years here have not for the first time and discov- been without tragedy and setering the legend of Sergio backs, but we have made it and his whale noises and hav- through together as Brothers ing the ability to take an elec- and we will have this bond tive. We were able to take our for the rest of our lives. first AP sophmore year and We have met new people listened to Mr. Schourek’s and those people have turned classic “Get it!” Also every into friends that we hope to night we would go on our have for the rest of our lives, Facebook to find that famous we are brothers and brothquestion, “Wagner HW?”. ers stay brothers forever. Junior year was our first We have had a great run and year as upperclassmen and though it is almost time for us we had our first taste of to leave for college we will independence and the ability always remember Gonzaga. to go off campus for lunch. Ad *bang* maiorem It also gave many of us the *bang* Dei *bang* gloriopportunity to learn about am *bang* For *bang* the “apt word[s]” and that there *bang* Greater *bang* Glois no such thing as a perfect ry *bang* of God *bang* paper, and the ever important By: Liam Burke ‘16 Editor in Chief
Volunteerism By: Henry Nimey ‘17 Contributor My name is Henry Nimey, class of 2017, and I founded The Online Volunteerism Club this past year. Currently, it has about 10 very involved members. A normal meeting consists of the club discussing our work on Tomnod (a site that crowdsources after different disasters) and our progress on recording audiobooks for the blind. This club does require outside work, so you must be dedicated to the cause if you join. Most of the work is on your own time, in your own house. This is perfect if you don’t have a car or driver’s license but still want to serve others, or if you just have a busy schedule. We have logged over 500 total hours
of searching disaster sites, such as the Japanese Earthquake for destroyed houses, roads, and bridges, so that resources can be sent over to those areas. Another way we used Tomnod is to search through villages in Ghana to find signs of child slavery, an issue that remains prominent in Ghana. Also, we have read children’s books for the over 39 million blind children worldwide. As Vice President Billy Rice said about the club, “I have learned a lot so far. Not only have I learned that Ghana suffers from child slavery abuses, or that earthquakes plague Japan, I have also learned how to interpret satellite photos and work cooperatively with strangers.” Contact nimeyh@gonzaga. org if you would like to sign up for the club.
Going Off Eye Street to eat
Bold Bite- When it comes to hot dogs, this place comes in a close second next to the famous Bens Chili Bowl. There are countless ways to customize your hot dog or half smoke (if you’re brave enough). They have burgers, which are also pretty tasty, but take a while. They serve their fries in paper cones and can come with different sauces. Definitely a place to try. - Nick Jenkins
Some people know Sakura Japan as “that place in the Union Station food court that gives out free samples,” but those who venture past the grumbling employee in a chef’s uniform holding out a piece of chicken on a toothpick are in for a treat. What is that treat you ask? Teriyaki. Their menu includes chicken teriyaki, shrimp teriyaki, beef teriyaki, salmon teriyaki, and basically nothing else. These come with your choice of white rice, fried rice, or noodles and the option to add vegetables for free. The meal is then served in the classic three compartment white foam take-out container for maximum portability and ease of food storage. The prices aren’t bad, and one meal is enough to conquer the appetite of even the hungriest cross country runner after a fighting through 10 miles in the September sun. So if you say you want to travel to Japan to taste authentic Japanese cuisine, but are content with walking 4 blocks to taste the less genuine, but just as delicious American version, Sakura Japan is the place for you. - Quinn Aitchison
Wiseguy’s- This is by far the best pizza place in DC. The slices are huge and at a great price. My favorites are the pepperoni and buffalo chicken. Be sure to try their amazing cookies and garlic knots. - Nick Jenkins
Sbarro- One of the best pizza chains ever. From their slices to Stromboli and their fresh made pasta and salads, this is definitely pizza we all grew up eating.
Charley’s- If you’re looking for a good cheesesteak outside of Philadelphia, this is the place. They also have great chicken and Italian subs. Be sure to try some of their famous lemonade and cheese fries. - Nick Jenkins
- Nick Jenkins
Johnny Rockets- One of the greatest diners around today with over 10 different burgers and even more sandwiches. I prefer the original burger with onion rings. Be sure to try one of their creamy shakes. - Nick Jenkins
Shake Shack- Has some of the best burgers I’ve ever had. A little pricey, but totally worth it. I ordered the Chicken Shack with fries. Their chicken supersedes Chick-fil-A. Don’t forget to try one of their special weekly custards or milkshakes. Warning: may take a while. - Nick Jenkins