Loyola Academy Jesuit College Preparatory School
The Loyola Academy Prep Wednesday, February 22, 2017 A.M.D.G.
www.goramblers.org
Volume J Issue VI
Loyola Bassmasters Chill Out Katie Nugent Junior Writer On February 5, the Loyola Fishing Club hosted its 8th annual ice fishing event. Joining the fishing club were sixteen Ramblers from all grade levels. This year’s event took place on Liberty Lake, in Libertyville, a private lake owned
the ice. Coach Nugent followed behind with freshman, Jake Carr and began setting up tip ups, a device used to catch larger fish such as northern and bass. Meanwhile, Coach Zaker and son, Josh, class of ‘19, began setting up ice shacks. They had to secure these shacks to the ice due to the gusty winds. Almost immediately, the tips ups began
to pop, orange flags everywhere! First it was Jake Carr with a 13 inch bass. Then it was freshman Joey Urbanczyk with a monster 12 inch crappie. Soon freshman Ryan Weigand got into the action with a bass of his own. After putting heaters in the shacks, Josh Zaker caught a jumbo perch. As the day progressed
the flags continued to pop. Junior Katherine LeStingi had a bass on the ice within minutes of arriving. A group of junior girls as well as a group of senior boys went to their respective shacks and were vertical jigging for panfish. This involves an ice fishing rod rigged with a jig and bobber, with the jig tipped with a wax worm. Both groups used a fish finding device, known as a Vexlar, to adjust their bait to the depth of the fish. The girls also decided to try using a minnow under their bobber. When all else failed they threw a cheddar cheese goldfish cracker down the hole. Unfortunately, the panfish were not hungry for cheese. As the fishing picked up, Kelly Littau, class of ‘17, put on her ice skates to have the advantage of speed. She zipped from flag to flag and helped bring Coach Nugent distribute minnows as needed. Soon the other girls wanted in on the action, and Kelly found herself skating them around the ice in a sled. Later in the day, as the action slowed down, several groups of boys walked to Culver’s for milkshakes and cheese curds. At the end of the day, all sixteen participants caught at least one bass and several had multiple fish. The largest bass weighed in at three and half pounds. The species caught included largemouth bass, crappie, perch, bluegill, and bullhead. Twice, the line of the tip up was bit off by the
Drought Ends page 3
Travel Ban page 4
Josh Zaker holds up a big catch after a successful day of ice fishing with fellow group members. Photo Courtesy Katie Nugent
by Bob Hicks and his son, Loyola grad, John Hicks. The day began at 7:00 am with overcast skies and slight wind. Coach Nugent, a.k.a Bass Master Nuge, got right to work. Senior and co-president Ryan Nugent, with the help of Susie Driscoll, class of ‘18, grabbed the power auger and began drilling holes in
What’s Inside?
The girls smile proudly while standing behind one of their catches. Photo Courtesy Katie Nugent
sharp teeth of a Northern. In the end, as the winds increased and people got tired of running for flags, they decided to call it a day. Because of warming temperatures, the group will not have a second outing, but all
are encouraged to come out next year to this amazing lake. The group would like to thank the Hicks family for their generosity and providing Loyola students with this wonderful opportunity.
The group takes a break on top of the frozen lake after a successful day of fishing. Photo Courtesy Katie Nugent
SNL Surges page 7
Super Bowl Recap page 9
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The Prep Editor-in-Chief Charlie Power Thomas Murphy Moderator Ms. Katie Klein
EDITORIALS
Loyola Academy’s Oldest Organization Founded September 20, 1912
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
THE
PREP
1100 Laramie, Wilmette, Illinois 60091 Phone: 847-256-1100
A Letter from the Editor No experience at Loyola Academy is as shrouded in secrecy as Kairos. In the minds of those who have not taken part in the retreat, it seems like a cult; a four day ritual that steals your friends and returns them as slightly different people. People are
Contributors Katie Nugent, Emily Devyor, Martin Susanto, Eva Vitanovic, Thomas Schweider, Neil Gorman, Mitchell Deligio, Hannah Sim, Charlie Cronin, Brady Reichert, Mira Balsam, Riley Harwood, Madeleine Quackenbush, and Kelly Reichert
Notes in the News By Editor-in-Chief Charlie Power Flynn Resigns - Investigation to Follow? As this paper went to print, former General Michael Flynn had resigned as President Trump’s National Security Advisor. Before the Inauguration, Flynn had discussions with the Russian ambassador about
told to bring various types of vegetables, and rumors circulate
the U.S. sanction policy and then misled officials, including the Vice
of naked baptisms, but no facts are known to the uninitiated.
President, by claiming the topic did not come up. Reports show the
I myself took part in K232, an all-boys Kairos retreat that oc-
conversations took place after President Obama expelled Russian dip-
curred at the turn of the month. I am actually contractually bound to
lomats as punishment for meddling in the election. To get to the bot-
secrecy regarding any and all elements of the event, including and
tom of this issue, Congress should launch an investigation into not only
especially the naked baptism, but I will in this letter attempt to ex-
Flynn’s conduct but wider Russian meddling in the election and possible
plain why your friends are different than before they left and give my pitch as to why you should follow in their Kai-high footsteps. The key to Kairos is its lack of superficiality. It is surprisingly, awesomely, intoxicatingly honest, and that honesty seeps into the souls of all who attend. I believe that it is the honesty that makes someone Kai-high. The trials and tribulations of high school are reviewed and wiped away. The adolescent baggage of high school
Trump administration ties to the country. House Republicans were eager to investigate Obama and Clinton, and they should be able to, for vigorous oversight of a President and his appointees is a critical responsibility of Congress. This spirit should continue in the new administration, for to hold back now would not only be dangerous but hypocritical.
Repeal, Replace, or Keep? After the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as
is thrown out the window and left at the curb of Lake and Lara-
Obamacare, was passed in 2010, Republicans promptly made large gains
mie. With this honesty comes a more clear perspective on life
in Congress the following fall. For the past seven years, the party has
and one’s community. It brings an enhanced appreciation of your
called for a “repeal and replace” of the law. They came close to crippling
friends and family, and the countless opportunities with which
it in the courts, but the law was upheld and the Obama administration
God has blessed you. Retreaters receive the opportunity to reflect
used its second term to further implement it. Now with Donald Trump
on their lives without the constant buzzing of phones and TV. You are finally given a chance to partake in true Jesuit reflection. Each person is affected by the retreat differently, but no one ever regrets it. For me, Kairos officially began my gradual transition from high school to college and beyond, from teenager to adulthood. Kairos is an essential piece of the Loyola experience. I
in the White House, Republicans can finally repeal Obamacare, but they are struggling to come up with proposals that will replace it. Whatever direction they decide to go, it will face scrutiny, for under Obamacare 20 million people have gained health insurance, and it is uncertain if these people will get to keep their coverage. This confusion was on full display at several town halls where angry constituents asked their congressmen how the law would be changed. Republicans have also prioritized
beg you not to receive your diploma with the regret that you chose
changes to the tax and regulatory codes, creating jobs, and confirming a
not to go on Kairos because at the time it seemed weird or you
Supreme Court nominee. A comprehensive replacement for Obamacare
felt that it interfered with school too much. Kairos is your final
would take months to craft, and there is no sign Republicans have a plan
chance to do something real in high school, to be honest with your-
ready, which is ironic since they spent the six years under Obama edg-
self and others, and be rewarded for it. Please, please, please go.
ing for “repeal and replace.” And all these legislative priorities hinge on President Trump, who will also want to push his own wish list of infra-
AMDG Thomas Murphy
structure or trade policy. Time is the greatest enemy, and Healthcare may get lost in the shuffle. A repeal would be chaotic for companies and families alike, and many expect the tension to build as the frustration mounts.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
The Prep
ENIVRONMENT
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Boxed Water Breaks New Ground Emily Devyor Sophomore Writer In a continual effort to help reduce plastic bottles, last year Loyola said that they would no longer be selling plastic water bottles in the vending machines or in the cafeteria. The initiative, Revolution H2O, was aimed at helping eliminate plastic water bottles in the school and replace them with boxed water. The cartons are made with 100% recyclable paper and are much better for the environment. The SAVE club really pushed to get the school off of plastic bottles, especially because a majority of Loyola students already carry their own water bottles and water bottle refilling stations are
In an effort to take better care of the planet, LA embraced the decision to stop selling plastic bottles and sell boxed water instead. Photo Courtesy AP
located around the school. Right now, no water bottles are sold in the cafeteria and only boxed water is sold at football games. Because not many people bring their own water bottles to football
games, so changing this was a crucial point because a lot less plastic water bottles were used and Loyola was able to spread its message of recyclable, better for the environment bottles. Right
CA Drought Finally Ends Riley Harwood LA News Editor Californians who have spent the past five years praying for rain are now begging for the hydraulic onslaught to end. Standing at all time lows until recently, the state’s biggest reservoirs are on the verge of overflow. Several hundred thousand natives have evacuated the area of the Oroville Lake reservoir. The daunting prospect of this natural catastrophe is eerily reminiscent of the man who could make it rain. In 1902, Charles Hatfield, at that time a sewing machine salesman, developed an undisclosed recipe for artificial rainfall. Hatfield became immersed in the art of pluviculture, or rainmaking. In 1904, Hatfield advertised what he called “moisture acceleration” to ranchers in the Los Angeles area. That year in April, Charles and Paul Hatfield built a tower on the peak of a mountain where Charles released his classified concoction. And the rain fell. Hatfield’s apparent success earned him $100 and some notoriety in the region. Soon job offers began to pour in. Hatfield collected $1000 for his part in delivering 18 inches worth
of rain to the city of Los Angeles. Charles faced his first defeat in 1906 in the Yukon Territory. The Rainmaker promised the water-dependent miners rain in exchange for a sum of $10,000, but collected ten percent of the contract when he was unable to create any precipitation. The failure doesn’t impede Charles Hatfield’s venture in the least. Almost a decade and countless deluges later, America’s landscape was beginning to change. California was in the midst of a harrowing drought and the Midwest was beginning to witness signs of the impending Dust Bowl. Meanwhile, Charles Hatfield was about to encounter his most notable challenge. In 1915, Hatfield received a contract from the San Diego City Council to replenish the mammoth Lake Morena. Charlie and Paul once again started the preparing to make the rain. On January 5, 1916, the tower was built and the mixture was released. A downpour ensued and grew consistently stronger. Riverbeds and fields flooded. Bridges and streets were destroyed. Dams overflowed. The lower Otay Dam broke causing over twenty fatalities. Hatfield was largely blamed for
the travesty. The city of San Diego refused to pay him the agreed upon $10,000. Hatfield sued the city, arguing he fulfilled the terms of his contract and the city was at fault for not taking the necessary precautions. In response, the city counter-sued to hold Hatfield responsible for the nearly $4 million worth of damage claims. Eventually both cases were dissolved. Charlie continued to “accelerate moisture” until the Great Depression forced him to return to sewing machine sales. Just when the world needed the waterbender the most, Charlie Hatfield and his awesome feats by and large disappeared. Not too long ago, California looked to El Niño with anticipative eyes much like San Diego once looked to Hatfield for salvation. Although the present events evoke a certain déjà vu, Charlie took his rain recipe with him to the grave. Hatfield-esque events have begun to make a dent in the drought throughout the state, but some regions, Oroville in particular, watch as their impending doom stares them in the face. The western natives could learn the midwest truism: “be careful what you wish for.”
now, SAVE is working on the Earth Day fair and preparing for what they are going to show to the students on April 28, the club is still discussing further ways that they can eliminate plastic waste in the school. One of the ideas to eliminate plastic waste that will be discussed is to stop selling other plastic bottles in the school and only sell aluminum cans and glass bottles. Alejandra De Leon, a member of SAVE explains, “We have to discuss that at a future meeting which will probably happen after all the organization for the earth day fair is done.” While that is happening, at the Earth Day fair, they plan to have boxed water like they did last year. There are also plans to sell reusable
water bottles that students can buy if they don’t have a bottle or find a new bottle that they think is cute. Having eco-friendly things in Loyola is important because we are a big school, and if everyone decided to use a non-reusable plastic water bottle, we would be producing over 2000 empty water bottles in waste every day. Over the years the SAVE club has supported many eco-friendly causes, including saving water, organic items, recycling and producing less waste, and awareness about bees. Supporting these causes is important because we need to keep the earth clean and healthy for generations to come.
Diversity Week: Feb 27 - March 3 From Where I Stand Monday-Friday: Visual Displays #FromWhereIStand in the Ignatian Foyer will display images and words that depict how students see the world. Two Truths in a Lie in the Student Center connector will ask us to question how we judge others as we determine which statements about a person are true and which is false.
Tuesday: Music in the Chapel The band and orchestra will perform periods 1-6 to rehearse for their Chambers Concert.
Thursday: Guest Speakers Maria Toorpaki will speak to all students about her experiences dodging the Taliban. To experience some freedom and pursue her love of squash, she dressed as a boy in her home country of Pakistan. Jess Goodwin (‘01) shares her “Shameless” presentation in the theater during periods 5 and 6. Her performance, using singing and songwriting, promotes an awareness and empowerment of self.
Friday: International Night Students will present an evening of dance, song, and games to highlight their heritage and culture at 7:00pm in the East Gym.
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The Prep
CURRENT EVENTS
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Trump’s Travel Ban Bites the Bullet Martin Susanto Freshman Writer On January 27, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order that prevented people from seven predominantly-Muslim countries from entering the United States of America. More specifically, anybody entering the U.S. from the countries Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen were met with a visa suspension lasting 90 days. Other aspects of this order include an absolute ban on Syrian refugees and a decreased limit to the amount of annually accepted refugees. “This is not about religion – this is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order,” stated President Trump in response to the controversy that arose from this order. Part of the controversy arose from the fact that in 1965, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act which prevented people from discrimination for their race, sex, nationality, ethnic background, or place of residence. Banning countries based on a dominantly Muslim population brings up enough questions to challenge President Trump’s decision in court. This order has the potential to affect many lives, especially those of refu-
gees or frequent travelers. However, the sudden retreat of the many immigrants can affect many businesses and industries here in America, with the tech industry as one of the leading examples. Many iconic names such as Uber, Tesla, Google, Microsoft and Ebay were founded by immigrants. One of the founders of Google is Russian, and its current executive is Indian. Silicon Valley is another example of a place or institution that relies on worldly views. John Collison, co-founder of Stripe, said that “The U.S. is sucking up all the talent from across the world.” Silicon Valley acts as a sort of beacon for likeminded people, which is one of the reasons why the spread of ideas must not be hindered. People from around the world bring in new ideas from their perspective which brings up the challenge of making a product internationally appealing. A ban or limitation on immigrants would cause the technology companies to lose good standing with the working community, which could lead to the potential collapse of the technology business. While the travel ban appears to only affect certain groups of people, the effects of the absences of these people affect American lifestyle in a relatively broad manner. With technology being something used frequently in everyday life,
Crowds gathered at JFK airport in New York to protest President Trump’s executive order that banned travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the country. Photo Courtesy AP
the potential tech industry collapse would greatly change the availability and development of new technology. The United States of America was founded with the original purpose of a land where dreams can be achieved. Limiting the types of people allowed into the country not only contradicts the Immigration and Nationality Act, but goes against the purpose that this country was originally made to serve. While there can be arguments made in favor of public security, this ban is likely to increase tensions with other countries, affecting the economy, pushing this country into new, uncharted territory. Shortly following President Trump’s signing of the executive travel ban order,
President Trump’s ban affects seven countries that have majority of Muslims, which has led to many calling his travel ban a ban on Muslims. The ban is mean to ensure national security. Photo Courtesy AP
federal judge James L. Robart from Seattle temporarily gained permission to suspend the ban. Before this suspension wore off due to the President’s commands, another court unanimously decided to refuse the reinstatement of the travel ban, successfully upholding Robart’s suspension. The panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stated that this ban did not help national security in any way as nobody had any clear evidence that the seven banned countries were responsible for any acts of terrorism. This caused the administration to retaliate with the claim that national security was not a court decision. “This is a traditional national security judgment that is assigned to the political branches” said August E. Flentje, the lawyer from the Justice Department, concerning the court’s decision. A few minutes after the court’s overruling, President Trump expressed his desire to appeal to the Supreme Court about this matter in the form of a Tweet, which read “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!” This sparked the ongoing conflict between the Judicial and Executive branches of government, which happens to be the first major one to occur in American History. One of the main roles of the Judiciary Branch is to keep processes running ac-
cording to the constitution. Part of the reasoning behind this court override is the fact that some aspects of the ban are considered unconstitutional. Travelers who are deprived of access to America are sent away without any form of hearing or notice concerning why they were being sent back. Another unconstitutional aspect is the implied purpose against a certain religion, in this case, Islam. Going off Trump’s previous campaign promise to prevent Muslims from entering the U.S., this ban can be seen as Trump’s statements transformed into actions. The ongoing conflict between the Executive and Judicial branches has led to the travel ban being lifted. However, as the President and the Court are deadlocked, there is bound to be changes to the state of this ban in the near future, which in turn are very likely to incite responses from other countries. President Trump’s decision marks a turning point in history which will begin to set in stone how the U.S. perceives the outside world, and, eventually, how the outside world perceives the U.S.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
The Prep
CURRENT EVENTS
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POTUS Names New SCOTUS Nominee Thompson Schweider Senior Writer On January 31, President Donald J. Trump announced his nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court of the United States. The President’s nomination would seem to fill a yearlong vacancy on the nation’s highest court, caused by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February of 2016. Gorsuch, a U.S. Court of Appeals Judge since 2006, is a husband and father of two. The nominee was also classmates at Harvard Law School with Trump’s predecessor, former President Barack Obama. The nomination of Gorsuch could be a bookend to what has been one of the most unprecedented and controversial chapters in the history of the Supreme Court. The past year has been marked by contentious politicization of the court vacancy and disagree-
ments about legal ideology and Senate tradition, but it was for the most part overshadowed by a polarizing presidential campaign. This bizarre episode in our history began in midFebruary of last year, when Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin G. Scalia passed away in his sleep at the age of 79. Scalia served
on the court for nearly three decades, having been nominated in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan. During his tenure, Scalia was known to be one of the court’s most reliably conservative votes, and a strict literalist interpreter of the Constitution. The day after Scalia’s passing, Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch Mc-
Gorsuch, a conservative judge, speaks to the media as President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court. Photo Courtesy AP
Connell said that the Senate would not consider any nominee put to them by President Barack Obama, citing the fact that the thenPresident’s term expired in less than a year, arguing that the winner of the 2016 presidential election should select Scalia’s successor. Citing the fact that he was the President, and it was his constitutional duty to fill the vacancy, Obama submitted a Supreme Court nomination to the Senate on March 16, 2016. Many in the legal and political sphere disagreed about what the Senate should have done, asking the question of whether or not a president can make such an appointment during his final year in office. Many asked the question of whether or not the Senate can ignore such a nomination. Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, was kept in suspense. Ultimately, the Senate did ignore the nomination, and did so for nearly
a year, subsequently setting a new record for the longest ever Supreme Court vacancy. Previously, the longest vacancy was four months. After President Trump was inaugurated, former President Obama’s nomination of Garland expired. This ensuing vacancy provided an extra level of gravitas to the 2016 presidential election, although it received relatively little coverage or conversation in the media, and most voters made their decisions primarily off of other issues. In September, then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump released a list of twenty-one individuals, one of which he would nominate to fill the Supreme Court vacancy should he be elected president. When asked about his requirements for a nominee of the kind, Trump made it clear that the individual would be “absolutely” procontinued on page 6
Selfie Causes Social Media Strife Eva Vitanovic Sophomore Writer Back in 2015, Syrian refugee, Annas Modamani’s selfie with German chancellor Angela Merkel resulted in an explosion all over social media and now, a lawsuit. Modamani moved to Germany from Syria and was living in a Berlin shelter when Ms. Merkel came to visit as a symbol for her pro-refugee immigration stance. Although this photo had good intentions, Facebook users used this image as a link between Mr. Modamani and the recent ISIS terrorist attacks in Berlin and Brussels. This clearly “fake news” grew in popularity across the network as more and more people began to repost and comment on what they saw as a hateful image. However, Mr. Modamani is suing Facebook not only for the destructive repercussions, but also for not taking action and deleting all forms of his selfie when he initially took it down. When in court, Mr. Modamani’s
lawyer argued that Facebook was being “ridiculous” when they claimed they could not completely erase all copies of the image from their network. In response, Facebook told The New York Times that its sole purpose is “meeting our obligations under German law in relation to content which is shared by people on our platform.” What does this mean? Well, the social media site claims that they took down all reported copies of the image, but they had no control over the ones people did not bring to their attention. In addition, Facebook states that they should not be it the line of fire when the real people at fault are the ones who defaced the image and created fake news. At the end of the trial, Facebook agreed to pay for any damages done to Mr. Modamani if he was not to take the matter any further. Also, the court brought up an important issue about personal rights in the digital realm, and if restraining
these rights conflicts with German law, or if Facebook is held accountable for all its defaced content. The court is said to deliver a final ruling on March 7, 2017. However, this whole mess has permanently left the Syrian refugee with a connection to terrorism. In an interview after the hearing, the teenager stated, “I want peace in my life. Not everyone believes that. Many people hate me, but all I did was take
a selfie with Ms. Merkel.” This trial brings up a bigger issue about the media spreading fake news on a large scale. Facebook specifically is trying to fight this by connecting its viewers directly to credible news sources, like the Washington Post, under its “Trending Now” section. Interestingly enough, this is not the only battle Facebook is facing in Europe. Reports in Dublin say the Facebook also transferred
invalid data to the United States, violating a contract the nation had with the site. Cases like these are what cause nations to look more closely at the credibility of the media, even though Facebook has tried to make it easier for users to access secure news sites. However, many people argue that this is not enough. Privacy has always been a major issue in the media, but targeting innocent refugees has raised it to another level.
Mr. Modamani innocently took a selfie with German President Angela Merkle unaware of the drama that was about to ensure. Photo Courtesy AP
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The Prep
CURRENT EVENTS
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Iran Responds to Trump’s “True” America Eva Vitanovec Sophomore Writer During a speech on February 8, the 38th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressed Mr. Trump’s aggressive attitude and view towards Iran as the “true face” of America. Khamenei draws this conclusion from the many statements by Trump where he states that Iran is “#1 in terrorism,” and the “biggest sponsor of state terrorism.” Since Trump’s election, the Iranian government has kept their distance from the Trump Administration, careful not to provoke the newly elected president. “Trump is trying to corner Iran, to make us bow before the U.S. and change our behavior, or face confrontation,” said Nader Karimi Joni, an
Iranian political activist. These comments have also been sparked by the recent statements by Michael T. Flynn, national security advisor to Mr. Trump and Secretary of Defense, about Iran’s nuclear missile testing. Back in 2015, the National Security Council reached a decision about Iran’s nuclear program, but this test was claimed to be only an action of self-defense. This was most accurately a response to the accusations Trump had made about Iran, like labeling the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organization inside Iran. Furthermore, the Ayatollah has stated numerous times that the United States is “not to be trusted,” and for him this belief was strengthened during the election of President Trump. In Khamenei’s speech, he
states that “He has proven what we have been saying for more than 30 years…we would always speak about the political, economic, moral and social corruption in the U.S. administration, this man revealed it during the election campaign and since then...” Due to Trump’s, “threatening and ranting” style, Khamenei is determined not to let Iran be intimidated and make it clear that Mr. Trump should not underestimate its power. Over the decades, the United States and Iran have had a violent history, and Mr. Trump makes this clear when he apparently views Iran and its leaders as “the leading source of evil.” He even went on to say in his inaugural address that he will “unite the civilized work against radical Islamic terrorism.” Many took this to mean the
Iran’s Ayatollah believes that Trump’s presidency is revealing the true face of America. Photo Courtesy AP
prevalent ISIS threat, but as stated before, Trump views Iran as the most dangerous and violent threat to peace. By describing Trump’s attitude and “corruption” of political and social values, Khamenei is clearly taking
a strong stand against the new United States administration. However, as relayed in his address, Khamenei is more “thankful that that this newcomer has comforted us and shown us the true face of America.”
SCOTUS nominee, cont Happy Birthday continued from page 5 life and that he or she would need to interpret the Constitution “in the way that it is supposed to be interpreted,” also saying that he would like to choose someone who holds similar views to the late Justice Scalia. At the time, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton made it clear that she would nominate a justice who would uphold Roe v. Wade and overturn FEC v. Citizens United, which loosened transpar-
ency guidelines on corporate money in politics. Despite the unique political timing of this vacancy, voters in the 2016 election considered it to be a relatively unimportant issue when deciding for whom to cast their vote. According to the Pew Research Center, the economy was the number one issue for voters, followed by terrorism, foreign policy, health care, education, and several others. Overall, the Supreme Court vacancy was reported to be the ninth most important issue in this past
Gorsuch found himself in the news once again after called Trump’s comments against judges “disheartening.” Some take this as a sign he will remain independent of the pressures of the current administration. Photo Courtesy AP
election. However, voters reported the vacancy to be a more important issue to them than the environment. After the 2016 presidential election, The New York Times ran a story titled “The Stolen Supreme Court Seat.” Despite this sentiment held by many, the majority of congressional Democrats say that are committed to giving President Trump’s nominee due consideration. Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said earlier in January that Democrats will take a fair look and fair vote on Trump’s selection. Republicans hold 52 of the Senate’s 100 seats, and a Supreme Court nominee requires 60 affirmative votes to be confirmed. Despite the controversy surrounding the vacancy he has been nominated to fill, no one is questioning Neil Gorsuch’s qualifications to sit on the Supreme Court. Neil Gorsuch is well qualified and has been praised by conservatives wishing to see the court tilt in their favor. Gorsuch, at the age of 49, would be the court’s youngest justice and could presumably serve for many decades.
To...
Seniors Brendan Blockovich Thomas Murphy Sophomores Blake Stevenson Yosan Worota
If you see these Ramblers in the hallway, be sure to wish them a Happy Birthday!
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
The Prep
ENTERTAINMENT
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Star Wars Spin-Off Succeeds at Box Office Neil Gorman Junior Writer With Disney continuing the Star Wars franchise with The Force Awakens, released last year, and episodes 8 and 9 on the horizon, they are filling the time gaps between movies with spin off movies. These films still happen in the same universe as the Star Wars saga, but follow different characters and tell their own unique stories. The first of these movies is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Rogue One takes place directly before the events of A New Hope. (For those who sometimes forget the order, A New Hope was the first movie Lucas released in the 70s but technically episode four in the grand scheme of Star Wars.) Rogue One’s plot is derived from
a single sentence shown in A New Hope’s opening crawl: “During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.” As it was stated, the story follows a group of rebels whose mission is to steal the plans of the Death Star. Being a Star Wars movie, the film is filled with some fun and exciting action scenes, as well as spaceship battles. The movie is darker than previous Star Wars movies, which isn’t entirely a bad thing. The film takes itself a lot more seriously than the previous Star Wars films. While there are some positives in the movie, the shortcomings in Rogue One are much more prevalent.
For one, the sheer number of main characters in the movie makes them all pretty forgettable. While they certainly are cool, there just wasn’t enough character development to make me care for them, so much so that after seeing the movie twice, I still can’t remember most of the characters’ names. This is the same exact problem that Suicide Squad faced. Trying to introduce so many main characters and giving them equal screen time just makes for undeveloped characters. The other big problem with Rogue One is the pacing and the amount of subplots within the movie. The movie bounces around from plot to plot so often that it’s hard to keep up. All in all, however, the film is solid. It is definitely not the best Star Wars mov-
ie out there, but it is far from the worst. At least Rogue One had an original story and didn’t just copy and paste the plot from the original Star Wars with some different characters and up-
dated effects (see The Force Awakens). Whether or not you like it, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story proved at the box office that the spinoffs can definitely work in the Star Wars universe.
believe Trump would became President, and Fox News defended their knight in shining armor, SNL flirted with the idea of Trump becoming President. Of course, the show didn’t flat out say what they were thinking at the time, there’s no such thing as honesty in the art of politics, but SNL did not hold back from making fun of both political parties. There were multiple actors portraying President Trump, but the man who always got under his skin was Alec Baldwin. Alec Baldwin has been
a 17 time host of the show (from April 21 1990-February 11 2017) and in season 42, on October 1, he made his first cameo as Donald J Trump. With the repeating of simplistic catch phrases, waving his hands around, pursing his lips (putting all duck faces to shame), and a phenomenal tanning job, Baldwin shines with his superb mimicking abilities. Instead of having a cool demeanor while dealing with stress of being lampooned in front of a national audience, Trump will not let up with the angry
tweets whenever there is a skit based about him. Unless there are to be serious personality change with our dear President (and there won’t), it seems that SNL will continue to mock him, and he will continue to fire off disgruntled tweets. These skits may start to feel like beating the dead horse after four years. Perhaps it would be wise to consider the thought that, “We used to laugh at comedians and listen to politicians, now we laugh at politicians and listen to comedians.” While Alec Baldwin
makes an amazing portrayal of Trump, John Oliver only fuels the comedic fire to politics. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver takes into account what Trumps administration has been up to, but puts it into a more analytical sense with wonderful jokes thrown here and there. I do not mean to tell you to just get all your information from comedy shows. I bring up SNL and John Oliver because it’s good to let out a good laugh here and there! In our lives we get so caught up with stressful things that we channel our emotions in doing all the wrong things. While politics may seem dire, what with all the hard work Donald Trump really is doing (cough Steve Bannon), he really needs to learn to not tweet everything he does not agree with. That not only makes him look insecure (it already does), but presidents like Obama and Bush shrug it off, because it’s just a joke. What would really be funny, if Trump took the countless of jokes from these comedy shows and actually...changed? *Insert Gasp Here*
SNL Pushes President Trump’s Buttons
Mitchell Deligio Senior Writer Donald Trump is the President of the United States. A sentence you have heard many times from friends, family, newspaper and the media. While it’s been barely a month since he took office, he has done questionable things. It seems the phrase “Let’s give him a chance!” has run its course. The dead horse has been beaten so many times, it’s nonexistent. These four years will be a constant cycle of him surprising us and then protesters responding to his decisions. Thankfully, there is a program that handles the coverage from the White House. Step aside CNN and Fox News, there’s a contender that has been waiting in the wings for quite some time. A program where President Trump continues his twitter rants after every Saturday. If the answer hasn’t popped in the minds of the reader, it’s Saturday Night Live! Even before Donald Trump became President, comedy shows have never been short of a few quips. While “credible” sources like CNN wouldn’t dare
Alec Baldwin’s impersonation of Trump brings the character to the People’s Court to defend his travel ban. As the skits continue, so do the tweets. Photo Courtesy AP
8
The Prep
FUN & GAMES
The February Prep Challenge
This month, we thought we’d mix it up. No numbers this time- a throwback challenge instead of your usual Japanese puzzle. Be the first to correctly find Waldo and he or she will give you your prize!
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Charlie Cronin’s Comic Corner
Where’s Waldo? Find the Rambler who satisfies these clues: 1. A true long boy 2. An eagle scout 3. Has fifth lunch 4. Will not be attending Prom 2017 5. Collects Vinyl Records 6. Member of one of Loyola’s secret societies 7. It’s his Birthday!
Coffee or hot chocolate?
Do you think there’s a chance of any more snow this year?
Netflix or YouTube?
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
Hot chocolate
Yes!
Netflix!
I don’t watch TV
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
Tie, but if I had to live off one, I’d choose coffee.
Probably not
YouTube
Supergirl
“Waving Through the Window” by Dear Evan Hansen
Hot chocolate, definitely
I wish, but no.
YouTube
Zero
“Paris” by Chainsmokers
Hot chocolate!
Yes, don’t underestimate Chicago.
YouTube
The Bachelor (#obviously) and Scandal
Anything by my queen, Beyoncé
Coffee
Yes!
Netflix
What TV shows are you currently binge watching?
What is your current favorite song to sing along to?
Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl Anjali Katyal ‘20
Taylor Hoang ‘19
Kathy Ulowetz ‘18
Kim Enrile ‘17
Dr. Leider (Biology)
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
The Prep
SPORTS
9
Patriots Clip Falcons’ Wings in Houston Kelly Reichert Sports Editor The hype began two weeks prior to the kickoff as the Falcons and the Patriots disarmed their opponents in the division championships to earn the opportunity to play in Super Bowl LI. The story line was for the ages. In one corner, there was the underdog Atlanta Falcons who have been in existence for fifty-one years. That first Sunday in February was only their second Super Bowl appearance in team history. In the other corner, there was the highly favored New England Patriots who were about to compete in their ninth Super Bowl appearance in team history, and the seventh since Tom Brady and Bill Belichick began their historic run together. If that was not impressive enough, just consider that if it were not for Eli Manning and the Giants beating them a few years back, the Brady and Belichick team would be 7-0 in the Super Bowl appearances. There was also the lingering controversy
of deflate-gate which confused many fans and their loyalties. Quite a record! The hype crescendoed as the big day approached, and it seemed almost inevitable that Brady would be
case you missed the grudge match, it truly appeared to be over by half time. The Falcons were clearly the more dominant team, and as the second quarter was coming to an end, they were
vinced would win again? For them the halftime appearance of Lady Gaga was a welcomed sight. The third quarter began like the other two and as Brady was sacked and
The Patriots celebrate their unprecedented come-from-behind win that culminated with an overtime touchdown to win Super Bowl 51 against the Atlanta Falcons. Photo Courtesy AP
crowned the best quarterback of all time. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the crowning ceremony was taking place before the teams hit the field, and in
cruising along with a 21-0 lead. The announcers were beside themselves as the second half began. Surely this was not the same Patriots team they were con-
picked off, one could imagine televisions switching the channels across the country. Announcers began quoting the probabilities of a comeback as zero. But as
the fourth quarter began and Matt Ryan of the Falcons was being hurried at the line of scrimmage, a sense of excitement and wonder took hold. Was it truly possible for Brady and Belichick to engineer a comeback of this magnitude? Once again televisions switched back as the two-minute warning was reached and the score was 28-20. The audience was stunned and with each play that followed, the Patriots crept closer and closer as the Falcons slid from confident to hopeful to apprehensive to dejected. The Patriots marched down the field again and again and again. Then as overtime approached and the Patriots won the toss, there was an ominous feeling that it was over. In the end, it was the most super of all Super Bowls. Not only did the Patriots overcome the largest deficit in Super Bowl history, they played and won the first overtime game in Super Bowl history. Despite which team you were rooting for, there is no need to deflate these facts.
St. Norbert’s Wins CYO Championship Thomas Murphy Editor-in-Chief On Sunday, February 12, the Christian Youth Organization of Chicago celebrated its 77th winter basketball championship at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines. The storied winter leagues include teams organized by parish, allowing high schoolers to reignite their former grade school glory. This year's men's champion was St. Norbert's who, after defeating St. Giles of Oak Park, squeaked by OLPH's 11th grade team. OLPH, Loyola Academy's largest feeder school, enters several CYO teams, two of which faced off in the semifinal. In an epic battle between former peers, OLPH (Juniors) defeated the OLPH (Seniors), led by Pat McCabe and Jack "Big List" Lister. Senior teams almost always defeat their
Junior counterparts, but this year OLPH was ready to change this narrative. The championship game was a nail-biter as OLPH (Juniors) mounted a sixteen point comeback with just three minutes left in the game. Matthew Jen led this final surge, but as the final seconds ticked off the clock, St. Norbert's held on to a one point lead to finish on top, 47-48. St. Norbert's, located in Northbrook and comprised primarily of Glenbrook North students, follows Faith, Hope, and Charity School as champions of the division, a team that had previously dominated the league under the name "the Average Joes." "[St. Norbert's] was really an all around great team," remarked shooting forward Patrick Sullivan of OLPH, "they played hard and I'm just glad we all went out there and enjoyed ourselves.
In the end it's just about having fun with your friends." Spectators would agree with Mr. Sullivan's uplifting remarks, as Sean McNamera, a senior at Loyola Academy and avid CYO fan, attended the semifinal game with signs encouraging players to do their best and play fair because "sportsmanship matters." The competitive spirit of CYO attracts hundreds of basketball players to their leagues each year, men and women alike. In a nod to its Catholic roots, each game begins with a prayer between both teams. The majestic pageantry of the Christian Youth Organization draws crowds by the dozens. Among these dedicated spectators is Riley Harwood, who with a glisten in his eye, stated that "CYO brings out the best in all of us. There's so much history and tradition at work in
each game that you really feel inspired after watching one. CYO has made me the person I am today." Founded in 1930, CYO was founded in Chicago in order to provide young men and women alternatives to joining gangs and foster community growth. In previous years, CYO
has also organized boxing leagues, however now the organization focuses on basketball, track and field, and cheerleading. Congratulations to St. Norbert's and all who participated in yet another successful and exciting CYO winter season. We are all witnesses to your greatness.
Quinn Boyle looks for an opening in Patrick Gubbins’ shut down defense. Photo Courtesy Riley Harwood
10 The Prep
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
JOIN US!
Do you want to write the latest news for The Prep? Then join our staff now! Talk to Ms. Klein in the English office or email her at kklein@loy.org
UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS Friday, February 24 Boys Swimming and Diving IHSA State Finals @ New Trier @ 3:30
Saturday, February 25 Girls Track and Field @ Evanston @ 11:00 Boys Swimming and Diving IHSA State Finals @ New Trier @ Noon
Sunday, February 26 Boys Track and Field @ Lewis University @ 8:00
Monday, February 27 Girls Track and Field vs. Downer’s Grove South @ North Central College @ 6:30
Wednesday, March 1 Girls Track and Field @ Niles West @ 4:30
Friday, March 3 Boys Track and Field Invitational @ Glenbard North @ 4:30 Girls Track and Field @ Maine South @ 4:30 Girls Track and Field Invitational @ Evanston @ 5:30
Wednesday, March 8 Boys Water Polo @ St. Rita @ 5:00 Girls Water Polo vs. Marian Catholic @ 6:00
Sports Basketball Looks Ahead come champions.” “During the tournament, we started to trust the process and we started to believe in ourselves and our teammates,” says senior player Kris Lampley. Starting point guard, Ramar Evans, described Florida as “a wake-up call that snapped us into action.” Concerning their near future, Evans plans to “get revenge” on Fenwick for their loss earlier in the season and as the championKris drives to the basket for an easy layship approaches, up in a win against Providence. Photo Courtesy The Year he says he’d like to add the CCL Championship to his list of wins as Mira Balsam he plans to “win as many Junior Writer championships as possible.” With an 18-7 record so None of this would be far and still going strong, the Boys Varsity Basketball Team is on their way to the CCL Tournament Championship. They play a familiar foe in the Fenwick Friars, who snapped their ten game winning streak earlier in the season. With a rough start at the beginning of the season, the players were able to pull through and win the Christmas Tournament in Florida and have been on fire ever since. Written by one of the coaches before the tournament, he gave inspiration to the players stating, “Those who commit will be-
possible without the support within the team. “This year’s team is so much more close than last year’s and that 100% makes us better on the court,” says Lampley. He credits the team’s ability to talk on the court as a main factor in their season’s wins, as well as the entire team’s involvement in the progress throughout the season. “We all get along really easily and that definitely makes a difference on the court,” Evans comments. As the team prepares for the hopeful championship, the Rambler community is cheering them on each game, hoping to see another trophy in their hands. Scores for the game against Fenwick were unavailable at press time.
Ramar takes it to the hoop against Jesuit rival St. Ignatius in another Rambler win. Photo Courtesy The Year
Congratulations to the following Ramblers who committed to their college programs on February 1. Soccer Sean Hickey - Denison University Football Jake Marwede - Duke Tommy Herion - University of Iowa Jack Badovinac - Colgate Mickey Kane - Butler Ian Swenson - UCONN David Terrell - Howard University John Brekke - Holy Cross
