The Aquilian September 2018 Volume 81, Number 1
Gonzaga College High School Men For Others Since 1821
19 Eye St, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Photo By: Peter Rizzo ‘19
Attention, Attention, Atención: The Booster Club By: Michael Smolskis ‘19 Senior Contributor You see them banging drums, yelling in the commons, and leading the Gonzaga student body on the court, field, or rink. They are... the Gonzaga Booster Club. This club, comprised of Luca Militello, Matty Thompson, Julien Giscombe, JP Mastal, Evyn Owen, John Thompson, and the Hyre twins (Davis and Hews), supports our athletic teams by “bringing the ruckus,” and they want all of us to
help them out in motivating our brothers to victory. Julien Giscombe claims that “the boys are bringing a new level of madness every week,” but each member “expects much more” from the student body. “Everyone loves to tell all the girls they go to Gonzaga, but I rarely see a turnout that correlates to that,” stresses Hews Hyre. Throughout Gonzaga’s history, the students have gained a reputation that can be described by one, over-
used word that constantly floats through the air on campus, and that is “ruckus.” Legendary “ruckus” and institutionalized chants seem to fade though. Pep rallies are now overlooked by SAGE breakfast sandwiches, and the only sporting events that seem to be attended are the basketball and football games. Luca Militello “loves the energy” brought to the football games where, as of week three, the Eagles “out-soar” opponents 125-7, but Militello still wants more of a
turnout at games for soccer, lacrosse, and the other sports. So why should you go to the rivalry games and the ‘regular’ games? Well, because the athletes are your brothers, and the Booster Club has “big things in motion,” according to Hyre. If the thrill of witnessing our Eagles crushing the competition doesn’t match up to your standards, then Matty Thompson asks you to “come find out” what the Club has in store for you. Maybe some new chants
Eye Street Clubs, p.3
Summer Service Trips, p. 4
Water Polo p.7
New Faculty/Staff, p.8
will be integrated into the already earth shattering cheering regimen, maybe you can meet some girls outside of the stands waiting for the surprise of a 4th quarter, or maybe, just maybe, you can take off your newly bought “Beat St. John’s” tee shirt as all your friends do the same. Whatever you’re hoping for, the Booster Club has it, and they want you to join your fellow Eagles in bringing the rukus, winning championships, and making history.
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Fresh Beets--Chilled Section By: Augie Sommers ‘20 Contributor
August 10th Nicki Minaj – Queen: Her ego and public issues seem to take control of her most rap-influenced album to date and is ultimately lacking substance. Rate: 3/10
August 3rd YG – Stay Dangerous: The L.A native spends the majority of this album talking about his success, gang, and women. It is club ready, but Trippie Redd – Life’s A nothing special here. Trip: Flashes of potential Rate: 2/10 are shown in this young star, Mac Miller – Swimming: but Trippie fails to do what The late rapper sings about he does best for a portion of his mental health and heart- the album; instead, he moans break after his breakup with over forlorn guitar loops. Ariana Grande. The emotion Rate: 6/10 is evident in this project and makes for a crestfallen, but enjoyable listen. R.I.P. MAC. Rate:7/10
Travis Scott – Astroworld: Scott’s third studio album is as spectacular as anyone has heard him. This project was worth the wait as it provided psychedelic vibes and club bangers with excellent production value. Rate: 9/10
August 17th Young Thug – Slime Language: A great party record just in time for the end of summer that is easy to listen to, but a totally expected sound from Thug. Rate: 6/10
within three weeks deal with uncharted emotions for Youngboy; combined with his same sound, but that seems to overshadow the quality of the music. Rate: 4/10 August 31st Eminem – Kamikaze: The rap god shows the world that he still has the lyrical ability that everyone knew he already had and exhausts the listener with his anger toward the new generation. Rate: 5/10 Russ – Zoo: Russ confronts his internal struggles about why he is such an un-liked social media personality; even though he has had tremendous commercial success. The project does what he wanted it to do, but frankly is boring. Rate: 4/10
Upcoming Projects These are expected release dates, as they are subject to change 9/14 6LACK – East Atlanta Love Letter Wale – Free Lunch 9/21 Gunna & Lil Baby – August 24th Drip Harder NBA Youngboy – 4Respect, Lil Wayne – The Carter V 4Freedom, and 4Loyalty: 9/28 Logic – Young Sinatra The three EPs all released IV
Confession By: Aaron Davis ‘19 Senior Contributor Young men walk past me without noticing me I listen and watch attentively. It is often said “the eye in the sky” does not lie but in this case, it does If walls could talk, Here is my testimony: I have seen the rise of I Street from the beginning I have seen the brokeness, the fallen eagles, loss of family, threat of self-harm. I hear the silence of students. I walk without identity, hiding behind a veil of others. I’ve heard parents criticize children. A numerical plea “what can I do to make him work harder?” the frustration of students seeking college and life. I hear a community, a brotherhood, a shield for the defenseless. I have seen these things. Fractured boys living in a broken world. With help from the Gonzaga Poets & Writers, The Aquilian plans to feature a work of poetry written by a Gonzaga Student in each issue.
Editors of the World, Unite! By: Jack Martino ‘20 Editor Patrick Begala ‘19 First Year as Editor Activities/Sports: Rugby “Guess what? Death hurts!” - Mr. L’Etoile Joe Boland ‘19 (Editor-In-Chief) Second Year as Editor A/S: It’s Academic, Ping Pong “Wow.” - Owen Wilson
Andy Borman ‘19 First Year as Editor A/S: Tennis, Book Club,
Best Buddies Club “This is the best bad idea we have had, sir.” - Argo
Tommy Fisher ‘20 First Year as Editor A/S: Hockey, Tennis, NHS Quote: “There’s only two things I hate in this world: people who are intolerant of other people’s’ cultures and the Dutch.” - Michael Caine Josh Knutsen ‘20 First Year as Editor A/S: Rugby, Phoenix, Photography
The Aquilian Founded In 1940 Gonzaga College High School 19 Eye Street NW Washington, DC 20001 Men For Others in the Jesuit Tradition Since 1821
“I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.” - Michael Scott Jack Martino ‘20 Second Year as Editor AS: Hockey, NHS, Comedy Writers Club, Guitar Club “Are you on horse tranquilizers?” - Mr. Pugliese Daniel Podratsky ‘19 (Editor-In-Chief) Second Year as Editor A/S: NHS “Fool me once, strike one. Fool me twice, strike three.” - Michael Scott Editor-in-Chief Joe Boland ‘19 Daniel Podratsky ‘19 Phototography Editor Peter Rizzo ‘19
Peter Rizzo ‘19 First Year as Editor A/S: GDA, Yearbook, NHS “How the turntables…” Unknown
Adam Wojciak ‘19 First Year as Editor A/S: Hockey, GIST, NHS “In my defense, I was left unsupervised.” - Unknown
Editors Patrick Begala ‘19 Andy Borman ‘19 Tommy Fisher ‘20 Josh Knutsen ‘20 Jack Martino ‘20 Adam Wojciak ‘20 Moderator: Dr. Harry Rissetto
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RISE Up to Injustice By: Ryan Vigilante ‘19 Senior Contributor Over the summer, I went to Providence, Rhode Island, to shoot fundraising videos for a nonprofit called RISE. This nonprofit, also known as Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education, was established to “break the intergenerational cycle of poverty, addiction and crime by investing in children of incarcerated parents.” How does RISE break the cycle? It sends these children to Catholic schools. For one fundraising video, I interviewed a series of students who are either currently in or have been through RISE. After hearing their stories, I felt it was important for everyone to know about RISE and the state of education nationwide for children with parents in prison. For starters, RISE is fueled by two types of people: sponsors and mentors. Sponsors help fund these students’ education, while mentors
help them on a more personal level. They help them with their homework and grades, but they also act like an older sibling to the child. They’ll guide them through social issues, help them with sports, and take them to activities like hikes or trips to the beach. This system sounds great, but does it work? The stats seem to say so. A RISE study reports that the high school graduation rate among children with parents in prison is around 55%. When RISE gets involved, this rate shoots up to 89%. The problem with
children who have parents in prison is that most of them live in low income households, so they can only afford to go to public school. To
many students at Gonzaga, this may not seem like a big deal, since the public high schools where many of us live are academically outstand-
ing. Institutions like Whitman, McLean, and Churchill are nationally ranked high schools. When you go into less affluent neighborhoods, however, the quality of education decreases sign i f i c a n t l y. Students are often unacknowledged, unchallenged, and unguided. When you put a child without a parent into this environment, their probability of success is reduced even further. Catholic education, according to Dr. Tony Bryk, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, reverses this worrying trend. His research, which is described in
the book, Catholic Schools and the Common Good, found that schools successful with at-risk children have the following characteristics: small class size, an independent student government, a focus on academic excellence, high expectations, and a safe environment. Most Catholic schools share these qualities, while public schools, on the other hand, especially those in the innercity, tend to lack the resources to meet the same requirements. Another researcher, Harvard Prof. Paul Peterson, found that minority children who attended a parochial elementary school had a 24% higher college enrollment. Education benefits the individual as well as society. RISE addresses the needs of underprivileged students across Rhode Island, but this underreported epidemic is pervasive throughout the country, and the situation can’t improve nationwide until more people are made aware of it.
Rule #1 About Gonzaga Clubs...Whoops By: Reid Norton ‘21 Contributor There are plenty of clubs at Gonzaga providing opportunities for everyone. The various groups help students find out more about themselves and are a really fun way to get more involved
with their interests or hobbies. If you enjoy hanging out with Mr. Cardozo and learning how to fight with swords, then the Fencing Club is the club for you. It meets only twice a week, so it is easy to fit in a busy schedule.
According to Avo Reid, Junior Olympian fencer, “the fencing club is the best club because of Mr. Cardozo.” Another interesting club is the Toastmasters club. The Toastmasters club is a great way to bond with Mr. Pugliese and learn how to become
more comfortable speaking in front of audiences. This is a great skill to have for not only college, but also many career paths. If you can’t stay after school, this is a great club for you because it meets in the mornings before.
If neither of these interest you, then you may be interested in the Ski club. The Ski club is run by Mr. Waller, and plans an incredibly fun trip towards the end of the year. Last year, the Ski club went to Lake Tahoe, California, and had a blast. If you are in to skiing out west, then this is the club for you. Another interesting group is the Sports Broadcasting club. The Sports Broadcasting club is run by Mr. Kilroy. They live stream, film, and edit Gonzaga sporting events, and meet after school for fifteen minutes. If you are into sports, film, or both, this is the right thing for you. These are only a few of the clubs open to Gonzaga students. Other options that might interest you are the National Honor Society, Model United Nations, the Fishing Club, the Best Buddies club, and the Gonzaga Poets and Writers club. There are over fifty more to check out, so take advantage of what Gonzaga has to offer. You can also start your own club if you feel passionate about something that isn’t already offered.
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From Eye Street to NOLA By: Patrick Begala ‘19 Editor For each and every Gonzaga student, service is an integral part of their education. From forging bonds through hot food in the McKenna Center as freshmen, to McKenna’s Wagon as Sophomores, and to WJA chess as a junior, we all participate to some extent in this most important Jesuit tradition of service. Yet those are simply a build-up to something even bigger. As all seniors know, service is a big part of your summer going into senior year. This summer serves as the grand finale to all the hard work you’ve put in over the last three years. For those of you who do not know, each and every senior must complete twenty hours over the summer, and twenty more hours during the actual school year. Thus, in addition to private ways of getting those treasured service hours, Gonzaga offers some truly special service trips. From the US-Mexico border to an Native-American reservation in North Dakota, we really do offer it all. This past summer, I went on the New Orleans service trip. Chosen in early May, each and every member of our 12-man group was beyond excited. We departed on June 10th, at an ungodly early
By: Jack Martino ‘20 Editor The Gonzaga community service minivan pushed down a rural highway towards a tiny retreat center, standing alone on a hill. The retreat center was waiting for the freshman and sophomore students and junior leaders, tired from working for three hours at a construction site. When they came over the hill they saw an amazing sunset go down over the hills of rural Maryland - the perfect beginning to 2018’s Emmitsburg Trip I. Every day that week, the group did a service project in the morning, broke for lunch, and performed another service project to end the day. The group helped the residents of Emmitsburg and neighboring Fairfield, Pennsylvania, with house projects or some other form of manu-
time. Way before normal humans are awake. Nevertheless, we persisted. Arriving in the steamy city of NOLA was a fairly big shock. Luckily, our fearless leader Ms. Murphy reminded us time and time again to “never complain about the heat. We know it’s hot. No need to keep the group updated.” Upon arriving at our retreat house, we quickly unpacked and departed for Bourbon Street. Justin Duckett ‘19, especially enjoyed this part of the trip. He appreciated the “immense culture and progressivism displayed upon Bourbon Street. Filled with people of all races, creeds, and colors, this is certainly a place I could spend some time in!” Following a quick mass in a stunningly grand church, we departed for our retreat house once again. The real work began in the morning. A rolling rotation was set for each of the 12 guys, split between cleaning, cooking, and leading prayer. Prayer was the favorite job. Heading bright and early at 7:30, we once again split into two groups to go off to our work sites. Each group was given different tasks, depending upon the stage which each house was currently in. My group was asked to paint, scrape, and generally not screw up the nearly completed house. That was a huge
part of our job. Not screwing up. We trudged along for two days in that house, scraping up each and every speck of paint. This job, better suited to those with a smaller stature, was not exactly a joy for those of a larger nature, such as young Duckett and myself. Oh well, life goes on. On the third day, we met up with the second half of our group to work on a house together. We piled into the house, and proceeded to cover the finished drywall with “mud,” a substance used to fill in any and all cracks within and between each piece of drywall. If we saw a crack too small to fill with mud easily, we were encouraged to smash the hole into one large enough to fill with said mud, something we all took liberal advantage of. Smashing stuff is fun. The following day we took off of work, going to a plantation and then a tour of a Louisiana swamp. The Whitney Plantation was once the pinnacle of plantations, and a monument to the numerous atrocities committed there. Some inexplicable with mere words, I encourage all of you to visit if you are ever in the greater NOLA area. To put it simply, the plantation is harrowing. A guide leads you around the expansive property, discussing and detailing the various methods of producing the most sugar from
the backs of the hundreds enslaved people on the property. After, we needed to blow off a little steam. Following the tumultuous tour, we took on the swamp. Guided by the most Cajun man on earth, we took off down the Bayou surrounded by a swarm of gators. The guide’s accent was perfect, requiring subtitles for nearly everything he said. The guide had an obvious love of the swamp, going on and on about its beauty, crea-
the day we moved out. This feeling was by far the most rewarding, relieving, and overall cathartic experiences of my life. Throughout my years at Gonzaga, the main attitude of the student body has been casual. Lots of laughs, jokes, and easy going times. But as the older guys know, those moments are not the ones that have a lasting effects on you. The real ones are. Real moments happen on these types of experiences. This is what happens af-
tures, and general perfection. The climax of the tour came as our guide suddenly grabbed a piece of raw chicken, and hopped into the water. He started cooing towards the various gators, tossing bits and pieces of the chicken into the awaiting mouths. Crazy Cajun. The work culminated with us returning to our original house, perfecting each and every aspect so the homeowner was ready to move in
ter you finish your work on these trips. You take a step back from the standard jovial state of being with the boys, and reflect in the magnitude of what you and your brothers have accomplished. You have helped build a home. You’ve given a week of your summer to help a person or a family have a better life. You’ve done something good. As any student knows, this is the goal of Gonzaga: to do something good.
al labor. As described at the Seton Center on the first day, many of the residents of Emmitsburg needed help because they were elderly or widowed, and could not get work done on their own. Many of the sites visited by groups were older women living alone. They all were very grateful Gonzaga men showed up to repair of maintain their homes, as many of them are not physically able to do so. Even though they were not asked, the residents were more than happy to give food or Gato-
rade in return for the service. From yard work to preparing a meal for the rest of the volunteers, every task was new. The scents of change, from mulch to a grill, exemplified the new experiences to be had on the excursion. The service sites were unique in their rural charm and scenery. Each day held its own beauty whether it was in the people, the town, the Allegheny Mountains surrounding the area, or just the simplicity of life on the trip. When the boys were not volunteering, they were able to become closer to their Gonzaga brothers. Long games
of capture the flag until long after the sunset, card games that got quickly competitive and louder as the night went on, lunches in the vans with their individual groups just listening to the radio and talking about anything that exploded into their minds. Throughout the week, each and every person on the trip had made a connection with one another that when they see each other in Gonzaga’s halls, they greet or in some cases make a quick inside joke only five people on campus would understand. The visit is not all manual labor. The group went to a bowling alley to spend time with members of The ARC, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those with disabilities. The explosion of color that was the sunset on High Rock, or the angelic looks of joy on the disabled
at Thunderhead Bowling Alley summed up the beauty of a trip like Emmitsburg. The Emmitsburg service trip is the ideal model of being a man for others and following Gonzaga’s message of service. Any freshmen or sophomores looking to do service should seriously consider making the trip out to Emmitsburg in June. Doing service earlier in your Gonzaga career allows you to branch out to things even more outside of your comfort zone as an upperclassman, such as Kairos or other service projects around the United States. A service trip like Emmitsburg allows students to see the lasting effect their work has on those they help and brings them closer to God in a peaceful rural environment with their Gonzaga brothers.
The Emmitsburg Address
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A Border Initiative By: Henry Mudlaff ‘19 Senior Contributor Nogales, Arizona, a town of 20,000 and its Mexican neighbor Nogales, Sonora, population 220,000, were once thriving border towns filled with college students who came down from Tucson for a good time. Since then regulations have been tightened and the demographic has shifted to people struggling to find jobs and stay away from violence. The wall in Nogales is about 12 feet high and stretches for 7 miles in each direction. For
many Mexicans, the only foreseeable way to improve their life is to trek through the scorching desert for days. For foreigners from places like Guatemala or El Salvador seeking asylum, all they can do is wait. This was one of the most moving aspects of the immersion trip: hearing the stories of people at the border. While serving food at the “Comedor”, a soup kitchen for the recently deported and those seeking asylum, I had the opportunity to hear of many people’s experiences.
The one that stood out to me most was that of Santiago and his son Jose. The man and his son were fleeing Guatemala because of poverty and intense gang violence in their hometown. There is no work for people of Santiago’s age where he lived, so he had worked in the U.S. for five years before coming back for his son. All of Jose’s friends at school are part of gangs so he is constantly surrounded by violence. When I asked Santiago what his dream is, he said his only dream is for Jose to complete his education. Nothing showed how proud Santiago was of Jose more than the look on his face
when he pulled out Jose’s student ID card. One of the words we were asked to keep in mind during the trip was complicate, and complicated it was. Our group talked to every party involved with the immigration issue in Nogales. We talked with ranchers who have vast amounts of land touching the border. We talked with a border patrol agent who had grown up in Nogales. We talked with a judge who deals with over 50 deportations a day. Lastly we talked with the immigrants themselves. The people at the center of the problem and who it affects most directly. With all of these conversations in mind. Our group concluded that yes, there are
drugs and bad people who cross the border occasionally; however, the large majority of people attempting to cross into the U.S. are simply looking for a more sustainable way of life where they don’t have to worry as much about how they’ll pay for their home or food or where they can raise their children without interminable violence. As a result of our immersion trip, myself and the other students on the trip have formed a club to address immigration concerns both in our immediate area and on the border itself. If you have any interest in immigration or human dignity in general, I highly recommend you come to a meeting this fall.
A Red Cloud Tradition of Brotherhood By: Luke Winters ‘19 Senior Contributor I stepped onto the rusty fire escape, and called my friend to follow as we headed off for our first day of tutoring at Red Cloud Indian School. Daniel Roginski and I were paired up and sent off to tutor incoming ninth graders. I expected initial awkwardness for this new encounter with a classroom of people I did not know, but Daniel
assured me that it would go smoothly. I was right about the awkwardness, but after a couple minutes of talking to these soon to be ninth graders, I realized that there was no reason to be nervous. We first stepped into a math class with a teacher all the students called, “Melinda.” It surprised me that all the students called their teachers by their first name, but it was later explained to me that the teachers allowed this as a sign of
respect to their students. Some of the kids were testing the waters with us asking us silly questions and trying to gauge what we were like. They seemed to accept Daniel and I because they began joking around with us and asking us what level we were in Fortnite. Next period was study hall, and we all transitioned over to the library. We were just helping these kids with their math problems and talking, getting to know them when one of them realized that we did not have our phones. He asked us why we didn’t have them and I answered saying that our teach-
ers collected them when we arrived. Even though I barely know this student, he asked me if I want to use his phone to go on my social media to talk to my friends because I probably missed them. I was touched by how much this kid already cared for us and how open he was to us. I kindly declined telling him that both his teachers and
mine probably would not like that, but that did not matter, I very much appreciated the notion. The days I was able to tutor the highschool students were the days I went back to our rooms the happiest. I have learned to be more selfless from small acts of kindness from those kids during my short trip to Red Cloud Indian School.
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By: Josh Knutsen ‘19 Editor On August 25, 2018, the world lost John McCain. As a prisoner of war, presidential candidate, and respected senator of Arizona, he was a man of worldly experience and enduring character. Whether you agree with his political opinions or not, it is undeniable that he was
John McCain - A Life’s Legacy impactful, but I can say with absolute confidence that his intentions were to improve the lives of Americans. Even on his deathbed, he knew that, “we [Americans] have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement.” While our differences deserve a debate, it is important to remember we are all one.
on open-minded individual who truly did his best to form opinions based on fact, instead of party allegiance. Unlike many politicians nowadays, McCain had only a loyalty to The United States and its people without the corrupting influence of personal gain or public influence. This man was not without his mistakes, some very
Year of the Eagle By: Tommy Fisher ‘20 Editor This summer, several members of Gonzaga’s Chinese II class took a nine-day trip to China. Led by Mrs. Wei, Gonzaga’s Chinese teacher for the past twelve years, and chaperoned by Dr. Rissetto of the Religion Department and Kevin “King Kevin” McLaren, a Gonzaga dad. We experienced three amazing cities—Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. A native of China, Mrs. Wei has led seven Gonzaga trips to China and provided students with a unique perspective on each trip. Through a combination of sightseeing, socializing, and other experiences, we were fortunate enough to get a glimpse into one of the oldest continuing cultures and nations on Earth. Following an approximately 12-hour flight, we (John Koenig ‘20, Ryan Luetjen ‘20, Connor McLaren ‘20, Harrison Snyder ‘20 and me) arrived in the city of Beijing on a sunny afternoon. Despite the sunshine and our best efforts at deterring jet lag, we sensed that it was 4am Eastern Time, and needless to say, we were all exhausted by the time we arrived at our hotel. Highlights of our four days in Beijing included the Summer Palace of the Emperor, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and of course, the Great Wall. The Summer Palace is a historic location which for years was used as a summer retreat for the Emperor. It features Kunming Lake, a man-made lake created in the 1100s over the course of only two years. The lake covers three-quarters of the palace grounds and is so big that it looks like a natural lake. The Summer Palace
grounds were filled with breath-taking artistry, with elaborate paintings and sculptures everywhere we strolled. This experience starkly contrasted our next tour stop at Tiananmen Square, which had an almost ominous feel. We could see exactly where
tan Beijing stretching out in one direction offset by endless rolling hills the opposite direction. To reach Xi’an, we took a high speed train, traveling at a constant speed of about 301 km/hr (we speculated that this is because the gov-
erybody was so excited about the special food culture in Xi’an, someone even tried the scorpion at the market.” On the final leg of our tour, we flew to Shanghai, which is definitely a more Westernized city. We enjoyed its huge outdoor mall,
the famous “Tank Man” stood in front of the Chinese tanks during the mass protest and slaughter of the demonstrators in 1989. The Forbidden City was filled with culture and tradition, and we were all grateful that the Communist Party in China preserved some of the old Chinese culture to admire. Our trip to Beijing also included a visit to a traditional medical practice, where we received a health evaluation based on the taking of a three-fingered pulse. I think all of us enjoyed our final destination in Beijing, the Great Wall, the most. It is a monument not only to Chinese culture but also to the capability of humanity. The climb was unexpectedly arduous, long and steep with challenging footwork since the stairs vary in size with each step. Reaching the top of the section of the wall we climbed, I was the most exhausted yet the most exhilarated I have ever felt. The views were amazing with the endless horizon of metropoli-
ernment didn’t want us to ride slowly through the uninhabited farm country that the train passed through. Much of it was covered by hedges anyway.) The main event in Xi’an was the viewing of the Terra Cotta Warriors, a grouping of terra cotta sculptures depicting the army of the first emperor of China. The figures, of which there were more than 8,000 at one time, are more than 2,000 years old and were designed to protect the first emperor in his afterlife. The bricks on the side of the walls in the excavation are possibly the oldest bricks ever made. Afterwards, we enjoyed the local markets, where we adventurously tried many local delicacies, including skewered lamb, sweet rice, fried scorpions, fried cicadas, and fried silkworms. Mrs. Wei was impressed with our culinary bravery. According to her, “The most fun part [of these Gonzaga trips] was always the Great Wall. But last summer ev-
its elaborate gardens featuring plant life older than our own country, and a beautiful skyline. We explored a Buddhist temple and experienced the peaceful presence of the monks. There were numerous idols, some of them jade, that were elaborately crafted, each one having its own unique aspect or message, and stunning architectural detail in all of the buildings. John Koenig ’20 was impressed with how the modern architecture of Shanghai was intricately layered in with truly ancient structures and landscapes. As part of our tour of Shanghai, we were lucky to do some shopping in a bustling underground market, where everything sold was most likely off-brand. Using our Chinese language skills, we were able to barter the price of “an authentic Supreme backpack” down to something around 6 US dollars. It was very easy to get lost in this market as it was so incredibly large. The aspect of Shanghai I will always
remember, however, are the skyscrapers. The skyscrapers of Shanghai have lights around their windows that broadcast advertisements and messages, similar to Times Square. When the sun went down, these lighted buildings defined the city: bright and looking to the future. Dr. Rissetto reflected on the trip, saying, “It was a privilege to join Mrs. Wei and the Gonzaga students on such an exciting trip. It’s not every day that you have a chance to travel to Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai in such good company. From the Forbidden City to the Great Wall, each day was filled with interesting interactions and eye-opening experiences. What a fascinating way to begin the summer.” Despite, or maybe because of, the huge variation in our cultures and lifestyles, I didn’t really want to leave China when our tours had ended. I easily could have stayed there for a month or longer without ever feeling homesick, perhaps exploring the less urban regions of the country. While I am saddened by the fact that institutional forces intrude on so many aspects of their lives, the Chinese people persevere to maintain their unique identity and culture. Perhaps most importantly, the experience reminded me about how grateful I am for the freedoms I have as a U.S. citizen. I wish nothing but well-being for the Chinese people, and I hope to visit them again because I believe that immersion is the key to better understanding and improving our relationship with China. Our Gonzaga trip to China was truly the adventure of a lifetime, and I look forward to returning. China had me at ni hao.
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Marco? Water Polo. By: Rowan Kreischer ‘20 Contributor This year, Gonzaga’s Water Polo program is led by Coach Tory, Coach “Bobo” Williams, and Coach Pugliese for the Varsity, JV-A, and JV-B teams, respectively. Sadly, Coach Viola announced his retirement from water polo this season, but he is still very supportive of the team, present at games and practices to help out wherever he can. Michael McGuckin, a freshman playing water polo for the first time at Gonzaga, feels optimistic about the current season with his JV-B team’s record of 4-4. When asked about his head coach, Mr. Dominick Pugliese, who teaches World Cultures and European History at Gonzaga, McGuckin replied that
“he is a great coach… and a fun guy.” McGuckin also said that his favorite part of water polo, so far, has been scoring goals and cheering from the bench as his teammates score. Ryan Bond, a sophomore at Gonzaga playing for his second year on JV-A, was ecstatic for water polo season to
start again after falling in love with the sport last season. After having Coach “Bobo” Williams as assistant JV-B coach last year, Ryan Bond had nothing but kind things to say about him. Bond raved about his coach saying, “he’s a very inspiring guy… very knowledgeable but also very demanding.” So far the team has come to an almost even record of 3-4, but Bond is very confident they will pull ahead in the coming matches. Chase Gurey, starting both his third year at Gonzaga and third season with water polo on Varsity, plays attack on the Varsity team and has scored two goals so far. More than anything else,
Chase is “looking forward to the new beginning of the water polo program and achieving a winning record” by the
games. This season, the Gonzaga Water Polo program has planned a lot of great tournaments both at Navy and
seasons end. The team’s record currently stands at 5-7. Players such as Michael, Ryan, and Chase make the program what it is by bringing their personalities and energy to both practices and
out-of-state, which they have dominated in past years. All three teams hope to improve over this season and hopefully bring another championship trophy back home to Gonzaga.
show a glimpse of hope after scoring for the first time all game with David Johnson finally breaking through the defensive line, but they were ultimately disappointed as the game resulted in a dominating 24-6 Redskins victory. Johnson finished with a shocking 37 yards on 9 carries, hardly helping Bradford, who finished with 153 passing yards and a pick. As the game closed, the stadium filled once again with echoing boo’s, and Redskins hopeful’s were over the moon due to the performances from the 2 veterans leading this squad. Smith finished with 255 yards and 2 touchdowns (11 yards better than Cousins), and Peterson finishing with 96 rushing yards complemented by another 70 receiving yards. That may have only been Week 1, but it
was a good start, and a promising one at that. The Redskins’ strong start may signal a new era for Redskins football.
I Swear(inger): Redskin Revival
By: Patrick Twomey ‘20 Contributor After many years of continued disappointment from the hometown team, Redskins fans hope that this will be the year that it turns around. With newly signed players such as quarterback Alex Smith, acquired from the Chiefs, and running back legend Adrian Peterson, our expectations are through the roof. Before our game Sunday, we watched as former Redskin Kirk Cousins looked impressive throwing for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Vikings as they defeated the 49ers, leaving us with a little regret as we waited to see what the new ‘Skins offense could do against the
Cardinals and David Johnson. Fans couldn’t help but worry about this high powered offense and what they could do to our flimsy run defense that ranked 28th in the league last year. It was a daunting task, but we came out looking promising. Smith marched the offense down the field, throwing a dart to Jordan Reed across the middle for 16 yards to spark a charge down into Cardinals territory. Despite the penalties that knocked us out of field goal range, we looked impressive and strung together several completions and solid runs. On the other side of the ball, our defense looked like a wall, causing a three-andout. This pattern continued
throughout the game as our defense did not even allow a first down until mid-second quarter. With our offense still marching down the field, we were dominating the gridiron on both sides of the field. In the first half alone, the Redskins held the Cardinals to 97 yards of total offense and posted a score of 21-0, with the three touchdowns coming from the combined efforts of Smith and Peterson. Before the game, few would have expected that the University of Phoenix Stadium would be filled with loud boo’s followed by complete silence the entire afternoon. When Smith wasn’t carving up the Cardinals defense, Peterson was running through it. The second half wasn’t as dominant scoring-wise, but the game remained completely one-sided in terms of possession time the Redskins finished with 22 minutes of possession time compared to the C a r d i n a l ’s mere 7 minutes. Late in the fourth, the Cardinals seemed to
From the Editors: Okay, we know that the exclamation point from week one was replaced by a question mark after week two. But did you see week three? Sure, Rodgers had a bad wheel, and it was raining, etc. But the Skins put up 28 in the first half, AP looked like he had turned the clock back six years to his MVP season of 2012, Richardson flashed a bit of what brought him from Seattle with the 46-yard score, and the defense sealed things with a strip at the right time late in the fourth. So, are we excited? Maybe. But definitely no bye week blues here in the aerie.
Welcome New Staff & Faculty
Mr. Cris Hairston, (College Counseling), North Carolina, University of Mary Washington, Loves to work with Gonzaga students on planning the next phase of their lives, Was confident but also scared in high school, Fav 90s Song is “Summertime,” Enjoys Sports and Video Games
Ms. Shelly Hoard (Data Systems Administrator), Bay Area, CA, Montgomery College, Favorite part of my job is the people of course, Time flies on Sunday night, I’m still in high school, (smile)...a thirst for information - the library was my friend, Too many favorite 90s songs to think of just one
Ms. Gael Miller, (Business Office, Buget Manager and Financial Analyst), Washington, DC, George Washington University, Time flies when she travels, Enjoys Problem Solving, Fav 90s song is “No Ordinary Love,” A huge Sci-fi fan
Mr. Marcus Taylor, (Strength & Conditioning), Washington, DC, Hampton University, Loves to show people how to properly work out, Enjoys a nice midday nap, Fav 90s song is “Can I Live,” Was the cool kid in high school, Looks forward to keeping Gonzaga students on the path to greatness
Ms. Meaghan Tracey, (Counseling, Class of 2021), Arlington,VA, Loyola MD, Loves learning about her students, Enjoys watching her students grow as time goes on, Loves doing yoga and reading, Was shy in high school and worked really hard, She is a huge Nationals and Caps fan
Ms. Brittany Smith (Receptionist), Las Vegas,Nevada, PGCC, Loves meeting and greeting the people of Gonzaga, Time flies when she is spending time with her family, Fav 90s song is “This Is How We do It,” Wants Gonzaga students to know she is here to help, Was the “mom” of her group in high school
Ms. Leyla Cook, (Modern Language Dept, Spanish), Arlington,VA, Middle Tennessee State University, Loves spending time outside with her family, Spent seven years in the US Army
Mr. Samuel Gerdano, (Computer Science/Varsity Hockey Coach), Falls Church,VA, Syracuse University, Loves working at Gonzaga because it had such a big impact on him when he was a student, He was on the Hockey team in high school
Mr. Tony Jackson (Social Studies), Bethlehem, PA & Brooklyn, NY, Boston College (JD), Penn State (BA/MA), Introducing new concepts to students and multiple ways of analyzing historical events, In high school I was a band geek, Time flies when I am lesson-planning, Fav 90s song is “That’s the Way Love Goes”
Ms. Colleen McGrath (English), Chicago, IL, Marquette University (BA), Benedictine University (MA), I love teaching students to appreciate literature, Time flies when I am spending it with family and friends,I was pretty quiet in most classes but very outgoing outside of class, Fav 90’s song is anything by Third Eye Blind or The Backstreet Boys
Mr. Marshall Marks, (ASC), Silver Spring, MD, Xavier University, Looks forward to giving back to the Gonzaga community, He was shy and happy in High School, Fav 90s song is “Jump Around”
Mr. Paris Person (ASC), Washington, DC, Alderson Broaddus University, Loves helping Gonzaga students and guiding them to become “Men for Others,” Time flies when he gets a win in Fortnite, Played College Football
Mr. Michael Russo, (ASC), Bethesda,MD, University of Georgia, Likes to pretend he is still in high school, Enjoys living with the other ASC volunteers, Time flies when he watches Georgia football, Fav 90s song is “Macarena,” Wants everyone to know whoever finds his picture in the Gonzaga parking garage gets free Starbucks