La Salle College High School
THE WISTERIAN Vol. LXXX VIII No. 1| September 2022
SITTING DOWN WITH BROTHER JAMES Every new year at La Salle brings forth new opportunities, adventures, and experiences for all our fellow brothers to embark on. A new year provides opportunities to grow, learn, and lead together as a school community, and our community itself has never looked better. I had the pleasure of sitting down with our school president Brother James Butler and asking him some questions about what’s been going on at La Salle over the summer, as a lot of new and exciting features have been added to our campus. “I think you can see as you go around the work in the Mc Shain Center was completed, so that the furnishings are all completely new, and that work was extended into the room where there is tutoring going on.” If you find yourself walking through our school building, it’s very hard to mistake the Mc Shain center. The brand-new innovative space creates a great environment for students to equally study and collaborate on work and projects alike. A wide variety of desks, tables, and chairs have been added to improve the functionality of the space and create the most optimal environment possible for getting work done. Students this year also get to enjoy
new innovative classrooms, with write-on walls and desks and a new layout that gives our teachers flexibility to move around whilst teaching. “Going downstairs, our robotics room has received a very thorough renovation and has expanded to include that whole corridor [of the basement].” New renovations have been added to the music corridor as well, “to give the place a character appropriate for a storied music department, making it a little less institutional, and a little more La Salle.” In other words of what’s new and innovative around La Salle, there are now an impressive eight Christian Brothers who come to school every day. “I don’t know if there is another LaSallian high school out of the 50-some in the country that has anything like that. To have eight brothers here is a sign of the faith that the order has in this high school of fulfilling the LaSallian mission and the meaningful collaboration of the Brothers.” Both new faces and innovations have been added to La Salle to set our student body up for nothing short of success as we enter and explore this new year. -Daniel Rovi '23
Brother James sits down with Danny Rovi '24 for opening WEXP Broadcast
INTRODUCING THE GPS PROGRAM
As a new school year begins, new programs are introduced to better the community of La Salle for both the students and faculty. This year, La Salle has introduced the GPS program, with Mr. Tony Resch at the helm. The GPS program, short for Guide their Path to Success, is designed to form a stronger connection between students and counselors throughout their time here. Each year, around twenty freshmen will be selected to join the GPS program, where they will receive a variety of guidance and tutelage from Mr. Resch. This help includes, but is not limited to, joining clubs and activities, receiving advice on topics both inside and outside of school, and finding their path to success at La Salle. This year, Mr. Resch will only be involved with freshmen; however, moving forward, he will be taking twenty students per class. This means that, by the end of its fourth year, the GPS program will include upwards of 80 students. As a long-time guidance counselor, Mr. Resch describes his move into the GPS program as a “difficult decision,” but an opportunity that he is thrilled to be a part of. Michael Vesey '23
THE PATH TO LA SALLE On the morning of Sunday, September 25th, prospective students and their families will wander the halls of La Salle College High School at the school’s annual Open House. La Salle’s Open House is a pivotal part of the admissions process. “The Open House gives students a glimpse into what La Salle, both as a school, and as a community, has to offer,” Mr. Kevin Dougherty, Vice President of Enrollment Services, told us. All prospective students will be given a tour of La Salle when they visit the open house. A student ambassador will be matched up with a prospective student based on mutual interests to give them the tour. After the tour of the school, families will be able to explore everything else on display at the open house. “Our 40+ athletic teams, 60+ clubs and activities, robust music program, art program, and much more will be on display at our open house,” says Mr. Dougherty. While the open house provides prospective
families with a great overview of La Salle, spending the day as a “VIP” at La Salle is equally important. A VIP Day gives a 7th/8th grade student the chance to spend a day on campus with a current freshman. “Similar to the open house, your 7th and 8th grader will be matched with a current freshman who shares their similar interests. This really helps to personalize the admissions experience.” Mr. Dougherty added. VIP Days are offered at La Salle throughout the school year. Another critical part of the admissions process is the school’s entrance exam. The entrance exam will be offered twice this year. The first date being Saturday, October 15th and the second being Saturday, October 29th. Decisions for the Class of 2027 will be mailed to families before Christmas. Admission information can be found on our website! -Aidan Maloney '23
WELCOME TO OUR NEW FACULTY!
Mr. Resch receives 2020 Lasallian Educator of the Year Award
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EDITORIALS VIABILITY OF CALIFORNIA'S 2035 GASOLINE-POWERED CAR BAN The government of California plans to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by the year 2035, meaning all new cars sold will be electric. This legislation is meant to bring about a variety of environmental improvements but has been met with criticism. This begs the question: will this ban prove to be a mistake on behalf of California’s government, or will it transform the state as proposed, with numerous environmental benefits? With both the needs of society and the state of Earth’s ecology in mind, California has made the right call. The gasoline burned to run an automobile releases many harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and dioxide, hydrocarbons, benzene, and formaldehyde into the environment. These pollutants contaminate all aspects of Earth’s ecology, particularly air quality. All living organisms suffer from living in the presence of such toxins. For example, in the city of Linfen, China, which has an extreme case of pollution, breathing the air each day has the same impact on one’s body as smoking two packs of cigarettes. To a lesser extent, the city of Los Angeles, California is enshrouded in a layer of photochemical smog due to the city’s immense traffic density. Photochemical smog is created when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, which are pollutants, in the atmosphere. Research conducted by the World Health Organization reveals that prolonged exposure to such pollution exponentially increases a population’s risk of developing respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer. It is evident that what we breathe has an extensive impact on our health, and electric cars can help to reduce the number of pollutants emitted into Earth’s atmosphere. The net pollution created by electric cars is significantly less than that of gasoline-powered cars. While the production of electric cars and their components do generate pollution in the form of greenhouse gases, they do not produce tailpipe emissions after leaving the factory. The California Air Resource Board projects, because of the ban and the consequent pivot towards electric cars, air pollutants will decrease drastically in prevalence. Greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks are
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expected to be 62 percent lower in 2040 than in 2026, and nitrogen oxide emissions to be 70 percent lower. These anticipated changes towards improving air quality are not only beneficial in theory but are imperative to assure the health of all life on Earth. The ban has received criticism based on three main perceived shortcomings regarding cost, range, and the sufficiency of charging infrastructure. For cost, electric cars are expected to become more accessible soon. According to projections from the International Council on Clean Transportation, electric cars will reach cost equivalence with their gas-powered counterparts by 2030. In terms of range, electric cars have enough range per charge for everyday use. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average household’s daily travel distance is 50 miles, and most EV models have a range of at least 200 miles on a full charge. Additionally, automakers have announced their plans to produce vehicles with even greater ranges in coming years. Regarding charger availability, there are many options for recharging an electric vehicle and more will exist soon. Owners with singlefamily residences can charge their vehicle with a standard 120-volt outlet in their garage. Those who reside in apartments in more urban settings can access one of the 45,000 charging stations in the United States, which are particularly common in cities. Additionally, charging stations are becoming increasingly common nationwide as amenities at apartment complexes and workplaces. Considering how far electric vehicles have come thus far and what the future holds for them, electric cars are a viable option for future transportation. The health of our planet and its inhabitants should be of utmost importance when deciding what regulations to establish concerning the environment. With its ability to detoxify Earth’s atmosphere, California’s decision to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035 is a necessary step towards improving Earth’s climate, yielding benefits for Earth’s ecology as well as humanity.
COMMENTARY ON HUMAN NATURE AND LITERATURE For a not-insignificant period in the history of American education, the concept of inherent human evil has been nearly inseparable from the subject of literature. From middle school onwards, most students are introduced to books such as Animal Farm and, what has become a mainstay of La Salle’s curriculum, Lord of the Flies. In reading, one will quickly ascertain the design of characters in these stories as being premised on unabashed greed and primal violence, indeed, to such an abundance that the archetypes in these fictional stories have come to be generally regarded as pillars of the human psyche. But does repetition make something true? Are we really beasts in sheep’s clothing? Did Golding have it right? Our nature is oft different from what is portrayed in media. If our first instinct were to kill each other and impale animal heads on pikes, how would we have survived past the dawn of our species? If we were incapable of contributing towards a common good without deadly factionalism, how did early civilizations become successful? To understand this, one must look at prehistory. When the first humans evolved from early hominins, we were illequipped to defend ourselves from the wild Pleistocene fauna – even with primitive tools, man could seldom fend off natural predators on their lonesome (or even in family-sized groups). Only through tribalism – humans banding together – was long-term survival possible. As history then demonstrated, this need for tribalism gave us the instinctive connections between each other to allow for expansion and development. But as history has also demonstrated, these primordial bonds are far from
unbreakable. So, if not for instinct, then what leads to evil? Culture. Over time, as we moved past pre-industrial society, the need for communal (tribal) living diminished significantly. Whereas common intergenerational teaching was once to contribute to the needs of the group, it has now become to fend off outsiders – with sayings such as “we live in a dog-eat-dog world” being common axioms recited by parents (in no small part due to the literature). As can further be seen, the more disconnected one becomes from common, or natural, society, the greater their capacity for evil becomes. Aristocrats and those born into power more often neglect those below them, sometimes to tyrannical degrees; persons born in violent or otherwise disordered households often reflect, to one degree or another, those behaviors. Thus, the philosophy of instinctive human evil is not only largely incorrect but also diminutive of important social issues. It fails to take insight from early human life despite being premised off existence in a natural state, and subsequently reduces the amount of resolve which can be afforded to major issues regarding societal division and early-stage parenting; largely boiling the topic down to “it is what it is.” Ultimately, the problems stemming from this belief extend not only into what has already been mentioned, but also into our own interpersonal relationships (i.e., how we think of each other) – therefore, it is only logical that we reject “natural evil” as being an instinctive element of our makeup and begin to take a more critical approach towards works such as Golding’s Lord of the Flies. --Nick Wilson '24
-Jacob Daniel Crowell '24
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FEATURES
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Friday Night Tunes The La Salle Pep Band, established in 1970, has been an integral part of the school’s rich history. They begin practicing in July and proudly welcome the incoming freshman class on the first day of school. Pep Band also takes part in playing at various events and picnics throughout the year. However, arguably their most important responsibility, which is ever-present in the ears of the student body, is supporting the football team at every game. Every game, whether it be twenty minutes away or three hours, no matter the weather or time, the La Salle Pep Band is there to back them up. The most important tradition upheld by the band is done at the beginning and end of every game. From the most jubilant victories to the most crushing defeats, the
football team gathers in front of the band to perform La Salle’s alma mater. Chris Dolich, the band’s president, says, “I think the Pep Band is a cornerstone of the schools culture.” Chris attends every football game, and both plays and conducts. He guides the over 60 people that make up the school’s band. Every single member in the band has a specific role to play in order to support the team. Dolich adds, “I hope after I graduate, the band grows even more”. Despite La Salle’s deep and treasured history, the Pep Band stands out as a core aspect of school spirit. Every time the football team takes the field, they take their place in the stands, ready to provide the occasion’s musical component.
-Jack Kramer '24
La Salle’s investment club has consistently held the highest membership count out of all La Salle’s clubs. After seeing firsthand, it is easy to see why. When going to an investment club meeting, you are introduced to terms that you may be familiar with or are completely foreign to you, such as index funds, the NASDAQ, and an S&P 500. The investment club can teach student life skills and how to navigate an ever-shifting financial environment. The club teaches students what a stock is and when to invest, but also tests their increasing knowledge by using these acquired skills in a virtual stock game. The game can get wildly competitive, with students ranging from massively wealthy to bankrupt. Occasionally, a guest speaker comes in and gives a lecture about what a mutual fund is or how to calculate risk versus reward. Recent events have made the stock market very volatile and unpredictable, so this semester's game is going to be interesting, to say the least. -Ronan DeStefano '23
Hispanic Heritage Month La Salle College High School is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by offering a live educational Bomba and Plena Music and Dance presentation by the band Los Bomberos de La Calle on Monday October 3rd from 1:40-2:40 in the auditorium. The performance offers an engaging educational performance that will enlighten the student body on the rhythmic art of Latin music. Mrs. Marlyn Arellano, Diversity Consultant, will be visiting with a selected group of students in their history classes to provide an interactive presentation on Hispanic Heritage traditions.
CARTOON CORNER
Mr. Jim Sinnott '06 speaks to the Investment Club photo courtesy of Mr. William Leahy
Liam Mote '23
ADVISORS Mr. Matthew del Rio Mr. Rob Johnson Mr. John Young
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WHO IS THE WISTERIAN? The purpose of The Wisterian is to inform the student body of news and opinions of relevance to the school community. The views expressed are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect official school policy.
CONTRIBUTORS Ronan De Stefano ‘23 Aidan Maloney ‘23 Liam Mote ‘23 Brendan Olimpo ‘23 Dan Rovi ‘23 Dan Van Thuyne ‘23 Mike Vesey ‘23
Jacob Crowell-Alvarez ‘24 Jack Kramer ‘24 Nick Wilson ‘24 Jackson Trymbiski ‘25
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The Wisterian SPORTS REPORT
THE CHAMPS RETURN TO THE PITCH This Fall, the defending Philadelphia Catholic League Soccer Champions are having a great start to their season. La Salle currently holds an excellent record of 7-1. The Explorers won their first game against North Penn, then followed it with a nail-biting 1-0 victory over rival Malvern Prep. However, La Salle’s biggest win of the season was against Archbishop Wood, which they won 2-1 in overtime. As Explorers Soccer continues its season, we wish them luck on their quest to win their third-straight PCL championship! -Brendan Olimpo '23
Peter Williamson '23 Water Polo Interview “Chemistry” is the word that Peter Williamson ‘23 uses to describe La Salle’s 2022 Varsity Water Polo Team. Williamson is a senior captain playing his fourth season as a member of the varsity group. In speaking with him, he described his experience as junior last year and as a senior leader this year. “Last year the team had a lot of skilled and talented players. This year we are young, with three sophomores starting on varsity, but we all play well together.” In touching on the team’s chemistry, Williamson remarked, “We hang out together in school, eat lunch together, and have a great bond with each other. Our team is very close, and we all operate well together in the pool.” After coming up just short last year, falling to North Penn 7-6 in the State Championship, Williamson said that the team is hungry for another run at states and that this year they have a very good chance. The success they have this season is going to come down to their willingness to work together and play as a whole unit rather than as individuals. Williamson is eager to get another shot at states this year. -Jackson Trymbiski '25
Varsity Football Defeats North Penn The Explorers did not start the game knowing who would be taking most of the snaps at quarterback this season, but, by the end of the third drive, they found their quarterback for the year in freshman Gavin Sidwar. The freshman quarterback threw four touchdown passes in the first game of his La Salle career, beating the North Penn Knights 37-28. The other star on the offensive side for the Explorers was running back Stevie Davis, who dominated North Penn's defense. Davis was the workhorse Friday night; he had thirty-two carries and rushed for 239 yards. Senior defensive tackle Darold DeNgohe came up huge for the Explorers in big moments with three sacks. The Knights took the lead early with a six-yard run for the opening touchdown. After the first two La Salle drives, Sidwar came in after a special team mistake by North Penn, which resulted in La Salle getting the ball at the 18-yard line. The first play of the drive was a 5-yard run for Stevie Davis. On the next play, the young quarterback attempted the first pass of his high school career, and it was a 13-yard touchdown to wide receiver Ryan Sorge. North Penn scored early in the second quarter, but Sidwar responded with a 65-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nole Henry. The Explorers scored on a two-point
conversion to tie the game. La Salle ended the second quarter with a field goal as time expired. At the half, they trailed the Knights 21-17. The second half started in the worst way possible for the Explorers; the opening kick was taken all the way back for a touchdown and North Penn added seven points to their lead. However, Sidwar and the La Salle offense responded with a nine-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jimmy Dolan. La Salle’s defense took control in the second half, with consistently excellent play. On the next drive, the Explorers took the lead for the first time in the game, with a great pass from Sidwar to Jimmy Dolan. On the next drive, the Knights charged down the field into La Salle’s redzone. However, with the defense on their heels, Mekhi Johnson made the biggest play of the night for the Explorers and intercepted the ball in the end zone. After this, La Salle begin killing the clock with their run game and Davis was able to break free for a 37-yard touchdown. The defense was able to stop the Knights on their final possession and enter victory formation. It was a fantastic start to the season!
-Brendan Olimpo '23