Marian High School Network Student Newspaper - Junior Edition April 2021

The Network

or i n u J n o i t i Ed

VOLUME SIXTY-FIVE • ISSUE SEVEN • APRIL 2021 MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL • 7400 MILITARY AVENUE OMAHA, NE 68134 • WWW.MARIANDIGITALNETWORK.COM

Field Day back in action ClareDegan

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rush off your Keds and practice tying your hair in French braids because Field Day is approaching for the first time since 2019. Field Day is an enormous tradition dating back to 1957. For years, students have showcased their school spirit and creativity through the different committees and activities. Field Day is an opportunity for students to collaborate and establish a deep sisterly bond with their classmates. Marian students are given the opportunity to learn valuable problem solving and leadership skills within strict deadlines. Students learn to stay positive in a stressful environment and look towards the overall prize and purpose of Field Day: unity.

The 2021 themes are “Saddle up Seniors: Our Last Rodeo,” with colors red and turquoise, “Juniors Just Add Sugar: When Life Gives You Lemons” with yellow and emerald green, “Sophomores’ Big Adventure: A Search for Spirit” with bubblegum pink and orange, and “Freshmen Walk the Plank” with royal blue and lilac.

The freshman and sophomore classes are excited to experience their first Field Day this year. “After the long year we’ve had, I am looking forward to spending time with my class and celebrating since we didn’t get our first Field Day last year,” sophomore Maria McLeay said. “It’s sad that we will only have three Field Days, but I think we will have more spirit because of it.”

In April 2020, Field Week was different due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Instead of participating at Baxter Arena, students took part in various activities at home such as drawing sidewalk chalk, wearing class colors while attending zoom classes and baking tasty treats. “We wanted to make the best with what we had and still get everyone involved,” Student Board member, junior Ryan Sully said. Even though the activities were a fun substitute for the real Field Day, it does not compare to the energy created at Baxter every spring. Junior Audrey Daubendiek said, “I’m excited for mascot - I can’t wait to see what it looks like when we are finished at Baxter.”

Along with the sophomores, the freshmen are working hard to promote spirit within their first Field Day. “I’m most excited to see how all of the costumes intertwine with the themes and see how it all works out,” freshman Abi Howard said. All classes are aiming for a fun-filled Field Day season with creativity and spirit.

Although the Class of 2021 did not get to participate in a traditional Field Day 2020 their junior year, the seniors are elated to be given the opportunity

More inside....

For more info on “Freaky Friday” the musical see pg. 11

to demonstrate their school spirit one last time.

Senior Cydney Putnam is looking forward to “working on walls, seeing the finished project and being proud of all the hard work put into them.”

Senior Samantha Jaeke is excited for “all of the Field Day outfits and the adrenaline rush right before demo.” The seniors are striving for a 2021 Field Day victory while also enjoying their last few months at Marian.

The entire Field Day experience can be overwhelming especially with COVID-19. Out of 193 students, 54.4% said they feel less prepared for the annual Field Day events due to the pandemic and the lack of traditional Field Day in 2020. Through the tough times, Marian students are striving to work together as a class and student body to establish unity.

There are new rules and regulations for Field Day this year due to the outbreak of COVID-19. At Baxter Arena, only the upper bowl is allowed for seating spectators in contrast to past years. “Out of the 3,384 seats in the upper bowl, only 1,700 tickets will be sold to spectators,” Student Board co-moderator Ms. Jessica Abel said. Instead of sitting in one column, students in each class will sit every other chair in two separate columns. Field Day will be live-streamed for anyone not able to attend the event. In addition to the new rules, the students have the task of incorporating hand sanitizer in their demonstration. “There will be six hand sanitizer stations on the arena floor and each student will use it twice,” Abel said.

The colors chosen for Field Day play a key role in outlining the basis of each theme. It is no secret that turquoise is one of the most popular colors chosen during Color Block because of its bright and energetic appearance. In a poll of 193 students, the majority said the best Field Day color is turquoise.

Although turquoise was the first color pick for the last two years, it was not the first color chosen during Color Block 2021. The junior class had first pick and they chose yellow. “I’m so proud of our class for getting first pick in colors so that we could get the perfect color that matched our theme,” said junior Class Officer Anne Masek.

Whether you are experiencing your last RODEO or traveling on your first Field Day ADVENTURE with your MATEYS, Marian Field Day is a cherished time of the year where students establish a strong sense of community. Field Day creates a sense of unity among the four classes and will make this year SWEETER.

MONDAY “A” DAY

11:05 a.m.

7:50 - 10:45 blocks A-D. 10:50-11:00 homeroom. 11:05 - 11:55 kick off block. 11:55 - 12:30 lunch. 12:30 - 2:50 work. 2:50 - 3:00 homeroom.

TUESDAY “E” DAY

5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

7:50 - 10:45 blocks E - H. 10:50 - 11:00 homeroom. 11:05 - 11:40 lunch. 11:40 - 2:50 work. 2:50 - 3:00 homeroom.

WEDNESDAY “A” DAY 7:50 - 7:55 block A. 7:55-8:25 clean east gym. 8:30 - 11:35 blocks A - D. 11:35 - 11:45 homeroom. 11:45 - 12:20 lunch. 12:20 - 2:50 practice. 2:50 - 3:00 homeroom.

THURSDAY “E” DAY

DEMO 11:40 - 3:00 p.m.

7:50 - 10:45 blocks E-H. 10:50 - 11:00 homeroom. 11:05 - 11:40 lunch. 11:40 - 12:10 practice singing. 12:20 - 3:00 practice demo.

FRIDAY 7:30 - 12:00 p.m.

7:30 a.m. arrive at Baxter. 8:15 - 11:30 Field Day. 11:30 award ceremony.

Graphics by ShannonMonahan, AnnaRasgorshek & LivBirnstihl

For more photos from Surprise Day see pg. 16

April 2021

02 News

Social safety in sports: How athletes are promoting and protecting themselves online

HaleyHoffman

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thletes everywhere have been using social media to their advantage in order to gain exposure to coaches and colleges and celebrate their successes. Social media can make a positive impact on an athlete’s career, but it’s not always safe.

Athletes in today’s society live in a world where it is expected that they create a social platform. This includes posting highlights clips from games and practices, posting pictures taken by photographers, and celebrating successes and achievements. Basketball player Celia Hacker is a senior who knows just how crucial social media is to upping her game off of the court.

“I would post my highlights and pictures to get my name out there. Coaches would follow me on social media, and I would follow them back as well. This was very helpful to get to know various programs, coaching staff, and colleges to look into,” Hacker said.

Another athlete who strongly believes in this tactic is junior Alyssa Cathcart.

“Gaining exposure is very important in

the softball community. Twitter is the main social platform I use to connect with coaches. I upload my highlights, and the coaches can reach out to me through that,” Cathcart said. Posting sports highlights to the public through social media makes it easier for athletes to get in contact with coaches all over the country.

Though there are countless positive aspects of using social media, there are some major challenges that come along with it, like safety and lack of professionalism. Rules of social safety are important when creating a platform and getting in touch with photographers and businesses to promote yourself.

“A photo can tell a story and it’s important for athletes to have a trusted photographer for their team. Especially if the photographer takes highlight videos, which is extremely important for athletes to have, so coaches can get an idea of your skill set and if you have qualities for their team,” Cathcart said.

March Madness reveals gender inequality in NCAA

AudreyVanDyke & ErinConnelly

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omen in college sports are often overlooked. These athletes have equally as much talent, yet they seem to have half of the perks and benefits that the male college athletes receive.

This issue was not fully brought to light until a few athletes spoke up about it on their social media. The NCAA March Madness tournament put on display the extreme differences between the treatment of the male and female teams.

As the tournament continued to unfold, the inequity between the treatment of male and female basketball teams continued to get coverage. One player in particular, Sedona Prince, who plays for the Oregon women’s basketball team, posted on her Tik Tok account on March 18, the minuscule rack of barbells which was called the women’s “weight room.”

Prince also showed a video of the men’s weight room that was an arena filled with many weight racks, dumbbells, and lots of other sports equipment. This caused an uproar from the sports community.

Katie Sulentic, junior athlete noticed this issue right away. “I think it is very frustrating how women are playing at the same level and putting in the same amount of work and not getting treated equally.”

The food that the players received at the tournament was drastically different.

Female athletes received small containers of food that were often jumbled around, while the male athletes were given buffets of high quality food. Players also receive gifts and NCAA merchandise.

The women clearly received fewer items even though they accomplished the same thing as the men’s teams.

The NCAA did take some steps in the right direction after Prince and other women’s basketball players spoke out about the inequity. A couple of days after the Graphics by MadisonAuman “weight

room” was posted, Dick’s Sporting Goods provided the women’s basketball team with upgraded equipment at the March Madness tournament.

The past couple of weeks highlighted the changes needed to be made to fight gender inequality in the NCAA. People are hopeful this will spark more change.

When asked what the NCAA has done about closing the gender gap in college sports, the Creighton Women’s Basketball assistant coach, Jordann Reese said, “I would say small accommodations were made after the social media blasts. Going forward I think they will make larger leaps so that the negative perception doesn’t happen again.”

Women’s sports have come a long way in the fight for gender inequality.

However, these past few weeks have shed light on how much more progress needs to be made. Despite Title IX, a law passed giving women equal opportunity in athletics and equal funding, it is nearly impossible for women and men’s college athletics to receive equal funding. Forbes, in an April 2019 story about collegiate athletics and gender equity, claims this is due to a majority of the budget going to men’s football.

The press also plays a big role in the inequality. The Women’s March Madness is just as important in women’s college basketball as it is in men’s college basketball yet it continues to be overlooked year after year. The social media coverage made a positive impact for the women’s teams. “NCAA helped, aside from the weight room, they finally started covering the games,” Reese said. More attention was brought to the female athletes as viewers tried to do their part in combating the inequalities.

The inequalities in the weight room revealed the bigger issue at hand: women’s athletics have been overlooked for far too long and the gender inequality gap needs to be closed.

Freshman Lily Fangman shared why she believes it is important for women to be represented in sports. “It shows that we are strong and can do just as much as men do. We can do what we love and show it through our sport,” she said.

Having a trustworthy photographer can make a huge difference in whether or not you choose to use one. Trying to work with an unprofessional photographer who gives off a bad impression can be extremely difficult and can become extra weight to carry on top of trying to get recruited.

To keep Marian a safe place, Athletic Director Ms. Rochelle Rohlfs makes sure that photographers at home games are either parents of players or they have permission to take pictures of the teams that are playing. Along with that, due to COVID, extra fans who were not related to the athletes had to be approved by the player’s parents.

Female athletes also face inequalities and challenges that their male counterparts typically don’t have to worry about. Some photographers favor their male athletes over their female athletes by promoting them more and providing them with more opportunities.

Women have to worry about the possibility of photographers trying to create unsafe and immature relationships with them. While men could pick photographers solely based on their business, women have to take a deeper look into the photographer’s true intentions and the safety of the relationship.

Social platforms are a great tool for young athletes today as long as they’re used in a safe way. “My advice for someone who wants to promote themselves is keeping it professional. If you are feeling uncomfortable about a person taking pictures of you, commenting on your posts, or texting you, reach out to an adult or trusted peer. Do anything to keep yourself safe,” Cathcart said.

Social safety is absolutely necessary for athletes who want to expand their horizons in the social media world. Promoting social safety and encouraging Marian athletes to be smart online is just one more way Marian students have the ability to become strong, independent women in the world today.

Graphic by HaleyHoffman

Historically, women’s soccer has been paid less, but now?

ElizabethMonzu

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ender inequality has been an issue for as long as history has been recorded, and one of the sub-issues of this inequality is the pay gap. This specifically has been an important problem regarding the Women’s National Team (WNT) for soccer when comparing it with the Men’s National Team (MNT). March 24 was Equal Pay Day, which represents the amount of time it takes the average white woman to get paid the same amount men are paid from January to December in the US. It takes Black women and Latina women even longer.

The US Women’s National Team has dominated the soccer field since winning the first Women’s World Cup in 1991.

Since, they have won three additional World Cup titles, for a total of four wins out of just the eight Women’s World Cups that have been played. They won two consecutively in 2015 and 2019, as the finals are played every four years like the Olympics.

Still, the women’s team claimed they were not getting paid as much as the men even though the MNT has never won a World Cup title and didn’t qualify for the last World Cup in 2018. “Statistics-wise, the women’s team does better than the men’s team, so I feel they should be paid the same no matter what, especially since they are both doing the same job,” varsity soccer player junior Bella Washington said.

Now, the Women’s National Team is still fighting for equal pay, and on March 8, 2019, they filed a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) for this reason. June 2020 was when the trial took place. They argued the USSF violated the Equal Pay Act and Title VII. The Equal Pay Act banned wage discrimination based on sex. Title VII banned employment discrimination based on sex, race, and religion. However, the WNT lost the lawsuit because the pay structures are different when comparing male and female teams, and therefore cannot violate the Equal Pay Act or Title VII. The court ruled the WNT was paid just as much as the men because of the women’s Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA). A collective bargain agreement

is a contract between an employer and a union and regards topics like wages, hours, and the terms of employment.

Although men get paid more for each game, the court ruled since the women had their CBA, the teams received the same payment. The WNT has asked for performance bonuses that matched the Men’s National Team, but then they would receive more because of their guaranteed pay and benefits.

It is not just the US that may be disregarding the pay gap, but FIFA itself.

The 2015 Women’s World Cup earned $1.9 million more than the men’s games in 2014. The winning team of the Men’s World Cup received $38 million and the women’s only won $4 million. FIFA acknowledged the pay gap in an article The Guardian in 2019, saying their rules for paying them were “arbitrary.” This problem does not only encompass the US but the whole world. Although women and men may somewhat get paid equally in general, the World Cup is where some discrepancies arise.

Marian president Ms. Mary Higgins coached Creighton University softball for 17 years and explained college sports were different from professional sports, because the college players do not make money.

However, Higgins had thoughts about the pay gap.

“Men are running FIFA and therefore undervaluing women’s contribution to the game. That by itself is infuriating,” Higgins said. “Good for the women to step up instead of letting it continue.”

In retrospect, there might not be as huge a pay gap as initially suspected, but soccer player Alex Morgan said in an interview with TIME magazine on June 3, 2019, “We have to do more in general - we have to be the athlete, we have to be the role model, we have to lead the way for the next generation.”

They have to consistently have outstanding performances to get what they deserve.

April 2021

News 03

Deb Haaland: Leading the way for Native American representation in goverment KenzieDarrow

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new addition in government has given Native Americans across the nation a reason to celebrate. Deb Haaland’s position as the 54th United States Secretary of the Interior allows Native Americans to have greater representation and a valued voice in government. This is truly a historical feat, as Haaland is the first Native American Cabinet Secretary in the history of the United States.

While the news of Haaland’s successful run is impressive, it is not shocking to most. Haaland has always been a trailblazer known to provoke change. For instance, Haaland is not only the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet Secretary, but also the first woman elected to the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors, the only one of two Native American women to be elected into Congress, and the first Native American woman to be elected to lead a state party.

Haaland was born in 1960, when Native Americans still could not vote in most U.S. states. The last state to allow Native Americans to vote was Utah in 1963. However, Native people would have to wait until the 1965 Voting Rights Act to gain any help strengthening their long awaited voting rights. Regardless, this act among others could not protect them

from the discrimination and hate they faced while voting.

Compared to other minority groups, the turnout for Native American voting is the lowest in the country. This is due to a combination of factors such as language barriers, a gradual loss of trust in the government, lack of access to polls, and socioeconomic disparities.

Nevertheless, the leading reason can be rooted in widespread poverty in the Native American community. According to the 2018 U.S. Census, the poverty rate stands as the highest among all minority groups with 25.4% of Native Americans living in poverty. This percentage is expected to increase since Native Americans are also the most heavily impacted ethnicity in the U.S. by COVID-19. This is one of the major issues Haaland plans on addressing with her new title.

As the Secretary of the Interior, Haaland will focus on the use and conservation of federal lands. She will also be in charge of protecting tribal and ancestral lands, treaties, resources, assets, and similarly recognized rights.

Countless Native Americans have placed hope and trust in Haaland.

Many in the Native community have spoken out to say that having a Native leader in a government role is not only transformational but revolutionary.

For most, the support behind Haaland is driven by the hope that they have been given a voice and that she can be an advocate for all.

In less than a month, Haaland has proven to be an active voice for those whose voices have been silenced. On April 1, Haaland announced the creation of the Missing and Murdered Unit in the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services. “Violence against Indigenous peoples is a crisis that has been underfunded for decades. Far too often, murders and missing persons cases in Indian country go unsolved and unaddressed, leaving families and communities devastated,” Haaland explained in a public statement. This new unit brings not only hope to the families of missing and cold case victims but also

Graphic by Christina Tinley great aspirations to what Haaland might do next.

“I think it’s important to always have diversity, in our Congress or anywhere, but you also need diversity not just for women of color who are most underrepresented, but diversity in different walks of life,” Haaland said.

The importance of sexual assault awareness LucyDrexel oung women are raised to be on guard at all times. Girls are encouraged to go to the bathroom in large groups, park in well-lit areas, and avoid getting gas or shopping at night.

It’s common to see girls carrying pepper spray on their key chains and wearing modest clothing in public to avoid harassers. Girls even guard their drinks at parties to ensure their safety on a night out. The list of precautions goes on and on.

Females aged 16 to 19 are four times more likely than the general population to fall victim to rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. This statistic fails to include sexual harassment.

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C), sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This may include catcalling, sexual comments, unwanted pressure for dates or sexual teasing, jokes, remarks, questions, looking someone up and down, and being asked to send explicit pictures or receiving unwanted ones. To put it simply, sexual harassment is any type of sexual activity that people do not explicitly say yes to.

A study in the U.K. found that 97% of women aged 18 to 24 have been sexually harassed. Most likely, this number is probably closer to 100% if minors, who are typically not comfortable reporting the harassment they endured, are taken into account.

Sexual harassment is common, but that does not mean it should go unreported. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recommends keeping a record of the harassment.

Write down the places, dates, times, and witnesses that were around when the act

happened. If someone is harassed online, they should save screenshots, emails, and other evidence of digital interactions.

While it can be challenging to report harassment within schools and workplaces, it can be filed as a lawsuit in a federal or state court. The incident does need to be filed as a formal sexual harassment complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission before doing this. If the harassment is happening at home, file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or call the Department of Justice.

Marian alumna Zahra Snoza-Sorensen ’00 has been working in the criminal justice system for the past 17 years. She has experience with both victims and perpetrators of sexual assault. She said, “The newer generations have become very dependent upon their cell phones. People walk down the street typing, googling and talking on their phones. This is where predators will prey on their victims.”

It is important to stay aware of your surroundings when walking down the street, especially if using the phone.

Most instances of sexual assault occur on college campuses. One in five women in college will experience sexual assault. This is most likely to occur during students’ first six months on campus.

Marian alumna Aubrey Busteed ’17 said that her first year at college was very nerve-racking. “I always made sure I went out to parties with a group of friends, and we always had a plan,” Busteed said. “We would text each other when we got to where we were supposed to be to let them know nothing had happened.”

Rape and harassment aren’t specifically female issues. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), 12 to 16% of males were

increase in stalking through text, email, raped during their college years. They are and social media as well as physical, encouraged to take the same precautions emotional and psychological abuse. “It as females when reporting rape, is important that you recognize these harassment or domestic violence. behaviors either in a current relationship Many factors take part in creating or with a fellow family member or friend this number; one is drug and alcohol use. and ask for help,” Officer Snoza-Sorensen Of the girls on a college campus, 15% said. were raped under the influence of either The best thing to do when made aware drugs or alcohol. Using these substances of an instance of sexual harassment, can make a person unaware of their assault, or domestic violence is to report surroundings and unable to give consent. it right away. The longer these crimes go Students should always be cautious of unreported, the harder it is to find the where their drinks are left at a party, perpetrators guilty. because date rape drugs are commonly used to impair a victim’s ability to fight against an assaulter.

These substances have no taste or smell, but can cause someone to • Park in well lit areas pass out and impair their • Don’t leave drinks memory. Officer Snozaunattended Sorensen said, “Always • Go out in groups know where your drinks are coming from, and • Be aware of surroundings don’t leave your drink unattended. Do not accept a drink that you did not see being poured.”

She recommends watching the documentary Roll Red Roll on Netflix because it shows the effects of excessive drinking and a female student repeatedly being taken advantage of.

Not only has sexual assault been on the rise, but domestic violence has, too. Its prominence has grown among students For more information on sexual in both high school and college in recent assault, visit RAINN.org or call their years. It is important to know boundaries hotline at 800.656.4673. RAINN is and expectations in a relationship, and the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence if it starts to become unhealthy, the best organization and leading authority on thing to do is to leave the relationship as sexual violence. soon as possible.

Officer Snoza-Sorensen has seen an

Safety Tips:

Graphic by Lucy Drexel

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04 Opinion

April 2021

Underclassmen have unlimited opportunities for Field Week

The excitement of Field Day brings Marian girls together for a week of friendly competition. Each class is given the chance to showcase their talents in six committees, revolving around a theme and two colors. For freshmen, Field Day is an opportunity to grow together as a class and learn the ropes of Marian tradition.

When it comes to Field Day, experience is not necessary to succeed.

However, it’s definitely nice to have.

Since COVID-19 wrecked all plans for a traditional 2020 Field Day, both sophomores and freshmen have no experience competing.

B: As an upperclassman, I feel horrible for the disadvantages that the freshmen and sophomores have received this year.

Not only is it their first without any aspect of real Field Day, but it’s COVID. The freshmen not even completely and sophomores have normal. With masks, been disadvantaged and hand sanitizer, and were pushed away from social distancing going the intimacy of Field Day around constantly at that has always been my this year’s Field Day, I favorite, all because of the wish those underclasspandemic. Due to this, I men could experience hope the underclassmen make the best of this odd a classic, passionate experience. day this year, away Opinion by BellaBeck & A: As a junior who has from the restrictions of AveryKinnison COVID. While I comnow experienced two Field Days, I think that the freshpletely understand how men and sophomores have everything they important these restrictions are, I think we all can agree that life, and especially need to succeed on their first real Field Field Day, would be much more enjoyable Day. I remember how nervous I was as an

inexperienced freshman and how I learned all the secrets and tricks to do well.

During my first Field Week back in 2019, I learned to go with the flow and to work as a team with my committee.

Things may seem difficult at some pointsyour ideas get rejected, the object you worked on for hours falls apart, or your skit is too long- but in the end, seeing everything come together on Field Day makes it worth all the stress.

It was also important for me to know that my big sisters were there to help me whenever I needed them.

This year’s Field Day may look a bit different because of COVID, but the traditions and spirit will still be alive and well.

FRESHMEN

SOPHOMORES

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Co critically about topics during ’s very day, whining voices nc ina t e in-class discussions as well s i complaining about too much homework, insanely as assignments comhard tests, and crazy pared to my classmates class rules bombarded who were challenged me. They said it was “so their freshman year. unfair” how I was “so Though my freshman lucky.” year was a breeze, the In reality, I would shock after discovernot consider myself lucky ing that the classes I l under their definition of took my freshman year pi i n would not be the same as n io T luck. Apparently, I got the n by C h r i s t i n a the classes I would take the “easy” teachers: the teachers who gave out little homework, the rest of my high school career was teachers who kept tests short and simple, far worse than taking difficult classes my and the teachers who relaxed school rules freshman year. I wish I had gotten the in their classrooms. My freshman year opportunity to discover how high school schedule was filled with classes taught by would challenge me during my freshman the “easy” teachers. year, but my classmates might disagree.

The problem my freshman classmates Students on the other end of the were faced with was the difference in spectrum did receive the upper hand workload for supposedly the same class. academically compared to their classFor example, all freshmen take similar mates, but they were also given less of core classes, yet many different teachers an opportunity to socialize with other with different teaching styles, classroom students. Freshman year is all about creatrules, and academic expectations teach ing new friendships with people from that specific class. other backgrounds, so giving freshman While freshmen taught by teachers the chance to meet up with friends after with relaxed teaching styles, classroom school benefits them. Students given rules, and academic expectations will more homework and expected to study probably consider themselves fortunate harder for tests are given less free time compared to their classmates with more to hang out with friends, especially if expectations, they are at a disadvantage students are given double their workload academically. A more rigorous workload from their middle school years. The shift during freshman year gives students the from middle school to high school is alopportunity to acclimatize to the new en- ready hard enough, so freshman students vironment they are placed in. The freshneed to be eased into their expectations men who miss out on this opportunity to as a high school student in order to make adjust to a high school workload will have sure that they are able to find a balance to work even harder compared to their between schoolwork and social life. classmates during sophomore year to The solution to this problem is inform good study habits, to keep on track, creased communication between teachers and to behave maturely during class. to ensure that every student is given the In my own experience, I struggled the same opportunity to learn and socialize. first quarter of my sophomore year due Teachers who teach the same class need to the shift in academic expectations. My to keep lesson plans, tests, and classroom workload got enormously bigger, and the expectations fairly similar in order to entests got more challenging. I also found sure that every student receives the same myself significantly worse at thinking academic experience.

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very year, many novels lent film, but I encourage are adapted for the Marian girls to remembig screen. Authors ber to let their brains watch as their stories rest from screens and are passed between relieve stress with a screenwriters, good read. directors, cinematogThe most importraphers, and studio ant benefit of reading heads. It’s a different is the improvement experience to watch of mental health. the same story unfold Books are proven to on the big screen. Readbe more relaxing; they O er alleviate depression, anxiety, ing a good book or watching pini z en on b y MarinKr and stress; they transport you to a good movie are both popular pastimes, but how preferable is it to do another world; and they calm your mind one before the other? and body. Daily reading has been shown Many people argue that it is always to enhance brain communication, improve best to read the book first. If a book has a creative thinking, increase vocabulary and better review than its movie, it’s obvious comprehension, and empower readers to that you should read the original writempathize with people in their everyday ten form before moving on to the movie lives. It’s beneficial to your brain and daily interpretation. When you read the book life to open a book, expand your knowlbefore watching the movie, you realize the edge and ultimately improve your mood. importance of seemingly minor details.

However, there are also many advantages Film adaptations often leave out crucial to watching movies. information to the plot of the story. When While reading stimulates the imagiyou’re reading a book, it’s almost as if nation, watching a movie allows you to you’re in the story yourself, directing a see all of the visualizations you read in film adaptation based on your own imagthe book. Unfolding the story on the big ination. A significant issue among fans of screen gives viewers a visual experience authors is that the message of their books that books cannot. is usually ignored in movie interpretaWe are not just amused when we tions. This is because movie makers want watch a movie; we are also appreciative to target a wide audience in order to profit of something lovely, learning about the off of the story. As a result, they lose book environment and ourselves, interacting fans who enjoy the traditional format and with communities, and making a positive want to see the film adaptation measure contribution to the world. up to the original story.

While forming my own opinions on This semester I read The Girl on the the book or movie debate, I turned to the Train by Paula Hawkins. It helped me Marian community to hear their opinions, step away from the screen and enjoy an too. In a survey of 184 Marian girls, 62% intriguing story on paper. I felt more preferred reading the book before the relaxed reading the book than I would movie, 8.7% preferred watching the movie have watching the movie. I enjoyed the before reading the book, 28.3% preferred limitless creativity that is impossible to fit to only watch the film, and 1.1% would in an hour length film. After finishing the choose to only read the book. book, I was interested to see how the film These surprising results show the iminterpretation modified the story. Despite portance of understanding a story the way the continued suspenseful theme, many the author intended it to. Based on these significant aspects that I enjoyed from the responses, the majority of Marian girls book were left out. It was still an excelprefer the original work!

Differences in course expectations cause unnecessary stress ause fo Ch r

Books explain everything the movies can’t arin’s Moment

April 2021

Opinion 05

Readers’ Advisory: what is it, and why should you consider joining?

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rd’s Writin the meeting and was able We also discuss books we have od a gs o to join in on the discusalready read, are currently W reading, and hope to read in sion. Before we went more the future. These discussions in depth about the book, give Mrs. Raabe ideas for Mrs. Raabe led the group in books that could be put on developing a summary of the shelves in the Haddix the plot and characters for Academic Center. those who didn’t read.

If someone hasn’t finReading is important because you are able to enished reading the book or hasn’t even read it, they can ter totally new and exciting still join in on the discusworlds full of adventure, romance, mystery, and sions. Mrs. Raabe guides the much more. discussions and makes sure You can escape from the everyone is included. As a ni on stress of your daily respongroup, Readers’ Advisory od o

by GraceW read The Running Dream by sibilities and enter stories Wendelin Van Draanen over spring break. that introduce you to new perspectives. This Even though I hadn’t read it, I still went to is beneficial because it opens you to new

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o you ever want to escape your life for a few hours in a good book? Readers’ Advisory is a way for people to be introduced to new stories and members of the Marian community.

Readers’ Advisory is not a club with requirements, dues or a T-shirt. Mrs. Molly Raabe, the librarian, supervises this group for girls who love to read. The meetings are usually before school once every month or two in the Collaboration Room.

In Readers’ Advisory, students recommend books that the whole group will vote on and then read. We then gather to discuss what we liked or disliked, what stood out, our favorite characters, and more.

Readers’ Advisory is a place where you can get together with peers and share your thoughts on books worth talking about.

ways of thinking and ideas, leaving you more empathetic and understanding than before.

In Readers’ Advisory, I have connected with people who I probably would not have normally otherwise.

It is a way to meet people who have different interests and views than you do, which can result in being introduced to new books, genres and authors you might not have known.

It is good to broaden your perspective about topics and ideas that you may come across while reading.

If you’re interested in joining Readers’ Advisory, email Mrs. Raabe (mraabe@omahamarian.org) to ask if she can add you to the mailing list.

The pandemic is temporary, masks remain indefinitely

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he COVID-19 pandemic has been a prominent issue across the world for more than a year now. As more and more people receive the vaccine, it seems like masks are slowly becoming a thing of the past. However, this is far from the case.

The pandemic is not over yet, and although the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight, there’s still a ways to go before we make it there.

When the country and the world eventually make it out together, masks could — and should — remain a permanent staple in the lives of many.

Doctors wore masks before the pandemic to keep themselves safe from infections or illnesses their patients may have carried. The use of these masks helped prevent the spread of sickness to the hundreds of patients they saw.

This, of course, occurred before there was a pandemic where masks would be necessary in public life.

Although there is no official stance by the World Health Organization on this issue, doc-

Opinion by MaddieAdam & CarliAhsan

tors predict that wearing masks after the pandemic will come down to social responsibility.

Some are even pushing for society to embrace masks. That being said, Americans were slow to accept the initial mask mandates, and masks even became a political controversy. Therefore, wearing a mask may not be a social norm after the pandemic. This may lead to a resurgence of cases.

This then raises the question: why not wear a mask when the pandemic is over? The disease is never going to be eradicated — there will always be COVID — just like there is always the flu.

Wearing masks when the pandemic ends will not only protect you from COVID, but also many other viral diseases. When someone has a cold, the flu, or any other sickness, the chances of spreading it to those in your school, workplace, or even at the grocery store will dramatically decrease if they are wearing a mask.

During this current school year, students have noticed the number of people sick with the cold

or the flu has significantly decreased because of mask wearing.

Others will choose not to get vaccinated, so wearing a mask will protect them, as well as yourself. Sitting in large crowds also carries a risk of disease transmission. Wearing a mask, especially when you’re around a group of people you are unfamiliar with, protects you from the various illnesses they may carry.

Everyone wants to get back to normal, preCOVID life. However, there will be places and situations that will continue to be hot spots for germs (such as grocery stores, sporting events, restaurants, etc).

Those who make the decision to wear a mask in public places when mask mandates are lifted nationwide will help prevent another disaster from happening again.

The pandemic will be over soon, so when this does end, continue to keep your mask on when you are around others to protect yourself and those who need it most.

The Pledge of Allegiance: Pledging hope for America’s future Commentary by BaileyKollasch

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he Pledge of Allegiance does not hold the national pride it once did.

When I was a freshman, it seemed that the morning routine at Marian was carried out with a sense of boredom and exhaustion. Undoubtedly, we were tired from a potent combination of our numerous assignments, extracurricular activities, and late-night binges of Netflix’s new releases. Each of us knew the pledge’s words by heart from years of practice and dazedly followed along with the voice over the intercom.

Now, girls don’t even do that. I look around at my community, classmates I have known for three years, and see their arms pinned to their sides and their unmoving masks. My thoughts can’t help but wonder what incited the change, but, deep down, I know. I know the pain and disappointment they might experience as a citizen at this point in the United States’ history.

The Black Lives Matter Movement and the fear of insurrection didn’t weigh on as many of our minds my freshman year as they do now; the words of the Pledge of Allegiance didn’t sound so untrue then.

TheNetwork Marian High School, 7400 Military Ave., Omaha NE 68134 netpaper@omahamarian.org

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However, these events are a much-needed reminder of the nation’s flawed unity. We must acknowledge why we are divided and work towards genuine unity so people no longer go unheard and aggrieved.

The pledge was created in the 1890’s to bring together Americans in patriotism.

As a result of the surge of Eastern European immigrants, the country faced social conflicts of nativist opposition.

Therefore, how can Americans say each day, “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” when the United States continues to be divided and does not provide justice for all? How can citizens with other religious affiliations say those words when they do not apply to them?

Some of my classmates believe the Pledge of Allegiance to be a lie. They think it is used to convince themselves,

The Network is

and others, that there’s nothing wrong in the country, allowing the problems to fester. Unity cannot simply be called into existence with the Pledge of Allegiance; hard work and trust are key components for a nation to be united.

Although I agree that unity takes trust and work, I do not perceive the Pledge of Allegiance as a declaration of loyalty to an idealized vision of the United States. My allegiance is not to the nation itself, but to the goal of creating a just and unified America.

In the back of my mind is an echo of life lessons I have picked up from reading, and one of them is that the world isn’t strictly black and white but different shades of gray. The U.S. is not a chunk of land to be labeled as good or bad. It is a

a monthly publication of the journalism students at Marian High School, Nebraska’s only Class A Catholic, AdvancED accredited college preparatory school for girls. The Network is a member of the N.H.S.P.A and the N.S.P.A. It is our goal to provide an accurate and informative news source for the student community. Students, faculty and friends are invited to voice their opinion in Letters to the Editors.

Letters must be typed, signed, and sent to the address below. Or call us at 402-571-2618 x1134. An electronic version of this paper and exclusive content can be found at mariandigitalnetwork.com

home to millions of people, each striving to fulfill their own goals.

Our nation is undergoing many changes, fighting to be whole. The people who work towards establishing change for the better is where Americans’ pride should reside. Therefore, when we pledge our allegiance to the U.S., we are honoring those nameless, faceless Americans who bring the country one step closer to unity. The words we express in the Pledge of Allegiance resonate with their activism and goals to unify.

My uncle, who serves in the Air Force, agrees with me. “The Pledge of Allegiance shows respect for those who have, and continue to, fight for our country,” Greg Kollasch said.

Nevertheless, my uncle and I believe others have the right, granted by the First Amendment, to choose whether or not to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I choose what I stand for and how I stand for it. So every morning in the silent classroom, I cover my heart with my hand, and I pledge to the hope of a new United States - a nation my fellow citizens can be proud of once more.

Managing Editors: MaddieAdam, AnnaRasgorshek & MelinaPiperis Copy Editors: ElizaTurco & ChristinaTinley Photo Editors: LanyGregor & JillWilliamson Graphics Editors: LivBirnstihl & BellaBeck Online Editors: HaleyHoffman & AshleyDoehner News Editors: MaddieAuman, BridgetMcGill & KenzieDarrow Feature Editors: BriannaDovali, AnneMasek, FionaGautschi, KathrynStec, ShannonMonahan, LucyLoughran & ChiomaAloziem Opinion Editors:KenzieAnderson, AshelyJohanek

& BaileyKollasch Indepth Editors: ElleianaGreen & LaurenMontague Sports Editors: AudreyVanDyke, CarliAhsan, AveryKinnison & SydneySchroeder Entertainment Editors: EliseMoulton & JordanMoser Photo Essay Editor: ClareDegan Reporters & Photographers: GigiSalerno, SydneyWitkowski, GraceWoodard, DanielleCarrol, LucyDrexel, MarinKrenzer & LilyMausbach Adviser: Mrs.MarshaKalkowski

06 Feature

April 2021

World Language Club combines students from all language curriculums AshleyDoehner

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arian girls constantly overextend themselves. This creates full, inflexible schedules that force students to sacrifice certain activities in order to participate in others. Because of students’ full schedules and restrictions on activities due to COVID, club meeting attendance has dropped substantially.

The shortage of attendance was noted in the Spanish and French Clubs. “I used to get 80 kids to come to a French club event, and I am lucky if I get 20 anymore,” Madame Janet Tuttle said.

Señorita Caitlin Gaule, the Spanish club moderator, and Tuttle decided after a few years of debating to merge their two clubs together to make one World Language Club.

The merger was commenced this year.

Tuttle said the merger was a good use of time since their normal club activities, like eating and sitting together to watch movies, cannot be done due

merging the two together. Her concern to COVID-19 guidelines. Other past is about having to split time between activities of the Spanish Club included French and Spanish, but she also looks making salsa and salsa dancing lessons. forward to learning more about different Sophomore Hillary Adovlo’s favorite cultures. memory Tuttle’s from tentative French Club plan for last year the club is was monthly eating events that French alternate pastries languages and between watchFrench, ing a Spanmovie ish, and with the possibly other Senior Ashley Tran sets up for the World Language Club event.

Mandaclub Photo courtesy of Olivia Ost. rin. The memclub will aim to bring people from differbers. She is excited to continue language club activities but is tentative about ent language courses together in order for

girls to meet new people that they would not otherwise see.

“We thought it would be fun to do a few activities and not have to be language specific,” Tuttle said. She is looking forward to students being able to not only explore the cultures of the language they are learning, but also the cultures of the languages their peers are learning.

Their first large group event was this past November. Students from both language courses met on the track to play outdoor, COVID-safe games and try treats from different Spanish-speaking cultures.

The requirements for joining the club are still pending. However, it is most likely that students from any language class will be able to join. It is expected that next year there will be full club participation, so the World Language Club will be open for all students to immerse themselves in new cultures.

COVID-19 vaccination rate rises among Marian teachers Graphic by JordanMoser

As of April 5, 98% of faculty and staff are fully vaccinated. Students aged 16 years or older can now receive the Pfizer vaccine and those aged 18 years or older also qualify for the Moderna vaccine. To make an appointment, browse pharmacies, be aware of specific county vaccination sites, or register at vaccinate.ne.gov.

“I’m so happy to be vaccinated against COVID-19!

I’m thankful for the opportunity to do my part to protect my family, friends and students.

We’re all in this together,” English teacher Alee Cotton said.

“Being vaccinated means I can see my parents in person! It is important because it means I can safely do things,” English teacher Halli Tripe said.

“I felt very excited. I feel like it’s the beginning of getting back to normal. It almost brought a tear to my eye,” French teacher Janet Tuttle said.

IncluCity intensifies diversity appreciation among students BriannaDovali & AnneMasek

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pportunities to be educated on the topics of race, discrimination, and open-mindedness are more available now than ever. One resource that is currently offered for education about these topics is the program IncluCity.

IncluCity is a camp where students are encouraged to have conversations regarding race, gender, and microaggressions. The name IncluCity fits into their mission of creating diversity and inclusivity in communities. This program is wired to have an inclusive environment where people can comfortably share their experiences, feelings, or ideas towards race, gender, and identity.

IncluCity usually consists of an overnight camp, but due to COVID, the format has changed to monthly zoom meetings.

Junior Izzy Soto is one of the many students involved in this program. As the communications director for Marian’s Diversity Board, Soto keeps a stream of communication going on throughout the board while maintaining teamwork. Soto has attended many IncluCity events, and she is now a leader for the camps. “This program has taught me a lot about how to talk about these sensitive topics, especially at Marian,” Soto said.

When students sign up for this camp, they get the opportunity to hear speakers talk about these difficult topics in a safe environment. In small group time, participants can reflect on how they feel towards the topics at hand with a tight-knit group of people

Program Partner for Inclusive Communities Colin McGrew acts as a middleman for this program. McGrew’s job consists of connecting the camp to schools and encouraging others to talk about IncluCity. The most rewarding part of being in this program to McGrew is “the sense of amazement, humility, and pure awe that I feel every time I watch an IncluCity experience unfold in front of me.”

After joining the team at Inclusive Communities in 2019, McGrew soon became the head of this program.

“What makes ‘camp’ so magical is seeing energy, passion, and community collide. This program situates itself at the heart of our organization and thus, it represents the best of IC in so many ways,” McGrew said as he reflected on his involvement in the program.

This program is one of the many steps Marian has taken to grow as a united community. The goal for IncluCity is to celebrate the differences in identity that contribute to the diversity all around us. This program has and will continue to help students across the state embrace the uniqueness of their communities.

As IncluCity has gained more popularity, it is encouraged for students here at Marian to participate. “I 100 percent recommend it,” Soto said.

Since everything has been online, “we are hoping that our IncluCity camps will return to in-person late 2021 or early 2022 depending on what the current CDC guidelines are and the comfortability of all parties involved. As

for our IncluCity gatherings that have been happening virtually, our last one of this spring semester will be April 23 and 24,” McGrew said.

To get involved, you can check out their website and social media and participate in their camps.You can find more information on their social media platforms below.

Feel free to reach out to anyone on the Diversity Board or Director of Diversity and Inclusion Ms. Devin Owens if you have any questions.

IncluCity members participate in a diversity activity.

Photo courtesy of Inclusive Community volunteers

Instagram: @inclusivecommunities Twitter: @InclusiveComm Website: www.inclusive-communities.org

April 2021

The Guitar: The instrument of yesterday, today, and tomorrow

Feature 07

AshleyJohanek

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s the backbone of the band, this instrument strums a tune like no other. With six strings, a stimulating sound, and a striking appearance, this instrument captures many people’s attention. George Harrison once said, “I’m only myself when I have a guitar in my hands.”

With April being National Guitar Month, what better way is there to acknowledge the importance and impact of the guitar than by reminiscing about its history and how it is appreciated today.

The Durham Museum, located in downtown Omaha, celebrates the history of the guitar by allowing visitors to enter its historical theater. Lined on the walls are guitars encased in glass, some even dating back to 3000 B.C. While this exhibit is only available until April 25, everyone is welcome to learn about the history of the guitar by visiting a local guitar shop.

Over the course of many decades, guitars have evolved into what they are today. Many musicians, artists, and companies have worked to create unique guitars that encourage musical experimentation and individuality.

For example, The Beatles used sitars and bouzoukis to incorporate elements of foreign music into their own, while Led Zeppelin used Fenders and Gibsons to create a rough, distorted sound. Others have even made miniature guitars out of cigar boxes and lunch tins.

The Durham Museum’s exhibit showcases the fascinating styles and designs of guitars, as well as the musicians who once played them.

At Marian, the guitar has found its way into students’ lives through the Guitar I and Guitar II classes. Guitar instructor Mrs. Stephanie Dickes is glad to teach her students the next level of the instrument in the newly added Guitar II class. “We felt that girls who wanted to learn a little bit more could take a second level,” Dickes said.

She and her students love getting to spend another semester learning more about one another while improving their skills and techniques. Junior Ryan Sully said, “We always have so much fun and I love when we perform for the lunches too.”

After taking art and pottery, she found guitar to be a new, creative interest she wanted to try. When taking the class, Sully has learned to appreciate the instrumentals in music rather than just the lyrics. Learning the guitar has also given her another hobby she could practice in her free time. For her, guitar comes a little more natural, and she loves the sound it makes over other instruments.

The impact the guitar has made in society is appreciated by many artists and musicians who value its importance through the changing world of music.

Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell taught herself folk style acoustic guitar and began performing at age 9. She is revered for her fluttery vocals, experimental guitar tuning, and honest songwriting. Today, she is famed for her 1971 record Blue, and hit tracks “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Both Sides Now,” and “A Case of You.” Guitar II class members rehearse for their spring concert on April 19.

Graphic by MelinaPiperis

Asian hate in the national community can hit close to home

JordanMoser & ElleianaGreen

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ver the last year, blatant acts of racism have become more evident as people have opened their eyes to the treatment of people of color. In June of 2020, people took to the streets to honor the life of George Floyd, but growing tensions made it clear that other minorities were experiencing acts of racism, too.

According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, within the last year alone in 16 of the country’s largest cities, hate crimes targeted at Asian people increased by 150%. In Stop AAPI Hate’s National Forum, as of February 2021, 503 incidents have already occured this year. When the world shut down, due to the COVID pandemic, people were looking for someone to blame; unfortunately, Asian-Americans, regardless of where in Asia they were from, received most of the backlash. This drastically increased anti-Asian sentiments in the United States. Even though statistics

have increased in the past year, anti-Asian sentiments have always been deeply rooted in American society.

“Growing up, I was one of the only Asian-American students in my grade school,” senior Katie Corpuz explained.

“I remember being called Mulan and Moana frequently, but as a young Filipina girl, I never realized it was an issue.”

Throughout most of Corpuz’s childhood, she experienced microaggressions, and she was completely unaware of it.

Corpuz went on to describe, “In public, people would ask my parents where I was adopted from, and as I grew up, people continued to question where I was actually from.” As Corpuz grew older, she began to understand that these comments were unacceptable.

As tensions have risen in the last year, identifying as Asian has been a struggle for many Americans. “I remember when I heard the phrases, ‘Chinese virus’ and

‘Kung Flu’, it really hurt,” Corpuz said. “It was disappointing to see those in power connecting a virus to a group of people.

It isn’t surprising to see a rise in hate crimes because of this rhetoric.” Even though fear and disappointment continue to cloud Corpuz’s mind, she is still proud to be who she is. Using the tools and resources she learned from attending Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, Corpuz uses her voice to speak up about AAPI (Asian American/Pacific Islander) hate. Since last summer, she has attended several AAPI events to raise awareness and provide resources to Asian American communities to remain safe.

“I still have a hard time talking about the racism I have experienced,” Corpuz explained. “I wish my non-Asian friends made more of an effort to ask, but I also realize some people don’t know what is going on.” Reaching out to those facing discrimination can be challenging

to communicate when you have not experienced it first hand. Nonetheless, it is important to make an effort. “Sharing things on social media, even though it doesn’t always seem like enough, starts the conversation and allows others to learn more,” Corpuz said.

Corpuz, like many other AsianAmericans, does not let the increasing violence get in the way of her optimism for a brighter future. “I’m really proud of the Marian community for starting to be more inclusive, and in the future, I hope to have more conversations with others to open the door for change and healing to occur.”

Currently, there are 19 Marian students who fully or partially identify as being of Asian or Pacific Islander descent, according to enrollment statistics. In a world full of hate and bigotry, it is important to be an ally to the Asian community and voice that Asian lives matter.

Therapist Faithe Patrick helps students navigate their mental health

FionaGautschi

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he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported approximately 1.9 million individuals ages 3-17 have been diagnosed with depression and 4.4 million diagnosed with anxiety. The severity shown of this statistic is shown by the many Marian girls who face these and other mental health issues.

To help girls who are needing guidance or support with their mental health, Marian hired Faithe Patrick, a mental health therapist, to provide mental health services to students 12 hours a week. Patrick is a mental health therapist through Catholic Charities and works at schools across Omaha in the Archdiocese. She can be found in her office in Student Services on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To make an appointment, students can reach out to their counselor and ask if there is availability.

“Marian has been such a welcoming

Faithe Patricik, Marian’s mental health therapist. Photo courtesy of Patrick school to be at, and I feel very grateful to be here two days of my week,” Patrick said.

If you are in need of other resources, Patrick suggests reaching out to your

counselor, and they can request resources from her. She urges students who are ever feeling unsafe to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-2738255, which provides free and confidential support at any time of the day. Another resource students have found to be helpful is the Youthline’s chat feature. The Youthline is answered by teen volunteers daily to provide crisis support. To access this, you can text “teen2teen” to 839863.

Many Marian students believe that mental health issues need to be taken seriously, and hiring Patrick was a step in the right direction. Junior India Zier said she believes that “mental health affects how you perform at school or in sports, so it is important that there are resources available to you if you need them.”

Patrick sees that mental health is important, and it needs to be taken

seriously to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every Marian student.

Patrick said, “Just like when we are sick, and Graphic by we go to see a AnnaRasgorshek doctor to stay healthy, it is very important to keep our thoughts, feelings, and emotions healthy.”

“Not only is Marian here to provide a nurturing learning environment, but they are also here to support you as individuals,” Patrick said.

“Please don’t hesitate to reach out and seek support if you notice you are struggling,” she said.

COLLEGE 08 Indepth

april

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ARE CHANGING Test optional college admissions open doors FionaGautschi he college admissions process in America usually relies heavily on students’ ACT and SAT test scores. This process, however, is undergoing change.

According to FairTest.org, more than half of the 4-year colleges in the United States are ACT/ SAT optional for the upcoming fall admissions for the high school Class of 2022. This is a drastic change from a few years ago when going “test optional” was a new concept. Counselor Mrs. Kathy DeWispelare predicts that “in the next few years standardized tests may become minimal components of the college admissions process, if not removed.”

Standardized tests are not every student’s strong suit, and many see it as stressful and unnecessary. One of the reasons for colleges going test optional is to allow students to show that they are more than just a test score. This provides them with an opportunity to paint a full picture of all of their talents and accomplishments. While these schools are considered test optional, they will still look at test scores if a student’s application is on the cusp of getting in.

Another reason for colleges doing away with test scores for the admission process is because of the disparities in testing scores between high and low income areas. Many factors determine a

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person’s test score, one being their income level and what school they go to. If you go to a private high school, you will most likely be provided with standardized test prep. For example, the 3MT prep sessions offered at Marian for juniors would normally cost a student $225. While some may see it as using your resources, many colleges view the standardized test process as unfair. This is because some students’ access to tutors and ACT/ SAT prep classes is based on their family’s income level.

Senior Moira Hale applied to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Creighton, Marquette, Regis, Michigan State and Loyola Chicago, all without test scores. “For the application, it was similar to what a regular college application would be like, but without test scores,” Hale said. She chose to go to Creighton and received the Creighton Grit Scholarship, which focuses more on the whole picture of a person, rather than their test scores. Hale received $30,000 for each year at Creighton, so a total of $120,000 is taken off of her tuition for all 4 years. For the application for the scholarship, Hale wrote an essay about her interest in Creighton, submitted two letters of recommendation, and

Acceptance rates plummet ElleianaGreen

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ntroduced at major universities across the country to alleviate the stress of application season amidst COVID-19, test optional admissions serve as a beacon of hope.

Because thousands of students saw test optional admissions as an escape from submitting standardized testing scores, many students applied to prestigious universities hoping that their grades and extracurriculars would suffice. Some students, though, had spent hours preparing for the ACT prior to lockdowns and ultimately felt defeated when they found that their scores alone would not land them a spot at top universities.

“I applied to 14 colleges across the country in hopes that my ACT scores would land me an acceptance,” senior Eva Watson said. Watson applied to Creighton, Nebraska,

Iowa, Clemson, Virginia, Duke, Vanderbilt, Miami, Ohio, UT Dallas, Gonzaga, Harvard, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Rice. For Watson and the rest of her family, it has always been important to receive high standardized testing scores. Nonetheless, Watson participated in several extra-curriculars in her time at Marian including speech and debate, National Honor Society, track, cross country, and several retreat leader positions. On top of this, Watson is a National Merit Finalist. When news of test optional admissions reached Watson, she felt that all of the work she had put into testing prior to COVID lockdowns was useless.

Nonetheless, Watson kept her head held high and applied anyway.

Across the country, top colleges reached historic amounts of applicants due to the change in requirements. The emphasis on extracurricular activities over standardized testing scores pushed more students to apply with hopes that the work they put in during high school to become well-rounded students would pay off. Even though there was a record number of applicants, many top colleges were unable to increase available spots in undergraduate

completed an interview at Marian with a panel of Creighton staff members. Hale is an example of someone who succeeded in other areas and did not need her scores to earn a scholarship.

admissions. Harvard University, for example, saw a 57% increase in early-actions applications this year, but was not able to offer more spots. Because of this, Harvard’s early-action acceptance rate plummeted from roughly 14% to 7%, their lowest acceptance rate to date.

With a rise in applicants, colleges can appear more selective and attract more students to apply, while they continue to reject large numbers of suitable students. Students who have faced rejection have found that standing out becomes increasingly difficult among hundreds of thousands of other intelligent students.

Not only this, but some schools have more access to extracurriculars and easier classes to obtain a high GPA. Due to test optional admissions, Harvard, like many other prestigious universities across the nation, saw their most competitive admission seasons yet.

“After hearing back from some colleges, I realized how the shift from standardized testing to extracurriculars negatively affected my appliction,” Watson said. “With a

larger number of applicants and students with more extracurriculars, I got denied from most of the colleges I applied to. It was like a wild card.” With the current admission seasons being one of the most competitive yet, going forward admissions will benefit students engaged in flashy extracurriculars and will negatively impact those who excel in standardized testing.

Watson plans to attend Clemson University this fall and can’t wait to start the next chapter of her life. Her story, just like many other students’ across the country, emphasizes how test optional will continue to create competitive application seasons and become a disadvantage to those who show their accomplishments as students through their standardized tests.

2021

Indepth 09

End of class rank allows students to prioritize themselves

AshleyDoehner t is 1964, and the end of the school year is right around the corner.

Excitement for summer is at an all-time high, yet there is a giant pit in his stomach.

Class ranks come out today.

In just a few short minutes the grades of each student will be posted on the walls for everyone to see, and he hopes that he is in the right spot.

The fear, as seen through David Bouda, a 1964 Creighton Prep graduate, over his placement in his class can be seen in high school students throughout the country.

Although Marian printed class ranks on transcripts instead of hanging

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them in the hallways, students still had copious amounts of stress over their overall placement in their class.

Marian counselor, Mrs. Kathy DeWispelare, who has been helping students with academic counseling for over 20 years, explained that it has been a national trend over the course of the last few years for high schools to terminate class ranks.

Consequently, the Marian administration conducted a great extent of research to arrive at the conclusion to discard the class ranking system in 2018.

DeWispelare explained that one large reason for getting rid of class rank was that it proved to be a disadvantage to a lot of Marian students’ resumés. The college-prep atmosphere at Marian led high excelling students to receive mid-ranged ranks, meaning their position in their class did not reflect their performance.

The positions of valedictorian and salutatorian are still available for

students to strive for. Those titles are highly desirable for college applications, and DeWispelare observed that students want to keep these positions available. Marian also recognizes the top 10 percent of the class with recognition on their transcripts and diplomas.

Currently, the only information that is available for students regarding their academic achievement is their GPA, honors or high honors achievement, and their position in the top 10 percent of their class.

Junior Meg Raabe said she feels that class ranks are a reward that students can work towards. “I don’t think it would be a good idea to be able to see it in PowerSchool, but we should be able to go to our counselors and ask them to show us our ranks,” Raabe said.

Although class rank is still used in many schools, DeWispelare assures students that colleges “look at students holistically, and even when they don’t have a rank, they are able to tell a lot of things about a student’s ability through all the other

information that is provided.”

When filling out applications that ask for a class rank, Marian students should not have to report a rank. If it is a required response on the form, DeWispelare suggests entering a zero in the field.

DeWispelare explained that the response from students has been outstanding. In the past, registering for classes was riddled with schemes for students to earn the most honors credit in order to boost their rank.

Now, students can relax and focus on taking classes they enjoy. DeWispelare said that getting rid of class rank allowed students to “minimize the competition and let students work for their own goals and for their own purpose in their educational process.”

The class ranking system has evolved from Bouda’s high school days. Instead of making a spectacle out of student’ placement by plastering ranks on the wall, Marian will allow individual development to motivate students instead of academic competition.

Looking Into virtual future of visits

KenzieAnderson Virtual tours are available to those uring who do not want an on-campus the experience. pandemic, Tourists can join online inforcollege visits and tours mational sessions and virtual tours. look a little They can also do a 1-to-1 phone different call or a video conference. compared The University of Toledo (Ohio) to previous has cut the number of tours and years. Current- people who can attend in a group.

According to Inside Higher Ed, the ly, there are not many students on university previously gave 11 tours a week. Now, only eight tours are campus, everyone is wearing masks, and given each week.

Senior Katie Liske is going to fewer people interact the University of Washington in with each other. the fall. Due to COVID, she was The University of unable to visit UW in person.

Nebraska-Lincoln has “I only visited Texas A&M and taken many precautions UNL,” Liske said. “A&M was my to ensure that visitors dream school for a long time, and stay healthy. According when I visited, I absolutely hated to the university’s webit.” site, the school requires a Liske also said that tours are reface coverings to attend an on-campus tour. The ally important in that way because school also modified there is no better way to understand event and visit scheduling. the atmosphere of a school.

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Graphics by ElleianaGreen

“If I hadn’t toured,” Liske said, “I would have gone to A&M, and I would have been a really unhappy freshman.”

She virtually visited UW and Boston University, and these virtual tours helped her narrow down her options immensely.

After this process, Liske advises students, “Not to worry about what people will think about where you go, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with going to public schools.”

As a college preparatory school, Marian encourages all students to further their education. Because of this, Marian provides the necessary resources for students to thrive in their future environments. With changing admissions processes, Marian students have adapted to virtual tours and other options.

Looking forward to the future, virtual visits will continue to be part of the new normal for prospective students who can’t attend in person.

Class of 2020 shares video college advice to high schoolers BellaBeck ith the Class of 2020 graduating this past year, Marian’s upperclassmen have been anticipating hearing about their college experiences.

Recently, some members of the graduated class created individual videos filled with college advice for Marian upperclassmen. This took the place of the annual Class of 2020 day. After experiencing almost a full year of college, they are able to spill the beans about any and all advice they can think of.

They included tips such as, “Find something that you’re super passionate about,” as Addison Dunbar, who now goes to Louisiana State Uni-

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versity, said.

Emma Johnson, who attends Dartmouth College, also noted that it is important to “not only explore your environment, [but] to explore yourself as a person.”

One of the most popular words of advice among these students was that Marian adequately prepared them for college.

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The videos were of value to students, especially to senior Grace Ellis. She said she loved “seeing the growth that the Marian graduates had as they went to college” and that “seeing these girls thriving assured me that college will be okay.” She also said she feels at peace with her college decision after seeing how well the graduates are doing in their freshman year of college.

Hopefully this is the same for other juniors and seniors after hearing the Class of 2020’s videos.

TO WATCH

10 Feature

April 2021

Funny or offensive?

Award shows: A thing of the past?

GigiSalerno

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ake yourself a big bowl of popcorn, get comfy on the couch and turn on...anything but the Grammys. What used to be one of the most anticipated events of the year is now just another day to millions of Americans.

This year, ratings for the March 14 show reached a record breaking low, with total viewership being down by 58% according to Nielsen Media Research. This year’s shocking low of 7.9 million viewers can be attributed to growing streaming options, allowing a person to watch only the performances that they want the next day and this year’s new layout due to COVID restrictions.

Junior Marin Miller said that she didn’t watch because she “wasn’t interested in watching hours of nearly the same speech when [she] can just watch the performances and see the fashion the next day.”

Despite this popular opinion, junior Jillian Rater said that she

GigiSalerno

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“love[s] watching the Grammys because [she is] able to keep up with pop culture and see if [her] favorite songs and artists win!”

Alison Rasgorshek, the media director at RCG Advertising and Media and mother of junior Anna Rasgorshek, reminds students that “content remains key to attracting viewers.”

For example, Oprah’s recent Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview drew one of the largest non-sport audiences of the current television season.

In addition, the March Madness game between UCLA and Gonzaga drew about 10 million more viewers than normal on Saturday, April 3, despite it historically being the lowest viewership night of the week.

This begs the question: if the viewers are there for other events, is the issue with the Grammys themselves?

Graphics by AnnaRasgorshek

Go to the Network online (mariandigitalnetwork.com) to tell us what you think!

ithin the past 10 years, there has been a noticeable shift from what was once deemed acceptable and funny to what is currently not tolerated to joke about. There have been countless actors, actresses, comedians, YouTubers and influencers who have been “canceled” throughout the years for comments or old social media posts that have resurfaced.

While we all look at these things now and can’t believe that the blatant racist and homophobic jokes were acceptable, we must ask ourselves is it fair to end a person’s career advancements based on something that society, at large, once laughed about and accepted?

The current answer to this question in Hollywood is yes, as seen throughout award season.

There is a growing trend to not employ a host for shows, such as the Oscars, partly due to backlash over former hosts’ controversial pasts.

Kevin Hart experienced this when he was announced as host for the 2019 Oscars. When

Hart announced his position as host, he was met with instant backlash by millions of people.

The driving force behind this feedback was outrage over Hart’s homophobic tweets made from July 2009 to January 2011.

The Academy met Hart with an ultimatum: apologize or step down from the position. To nearly everyone’s shock, Hart later announced his decision to step down as host. He said that he had already apologized and addressed the tweets and was done talking about his past. While he later did tweet an apology to the LGBTQ community, he held firm on his refusal to host.

Throughout the following years, major awards programs stopped using hosts altogether.

While this has stopped backlash, it begs the question does this accomplish anything? Is blacklisting these celebrities helping to end the problem, or does it cause fear and stifle these celebrities’ ability to educate themselves on their past wrongdoings?

Rise of cancel culture has effects on Bachelor nation EliseMoulton

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he recent controversy surrounding Rachael Kirkconnell, the winner of Season 25 of The Bachelor, shines a spotlight on the important topic of cancel culture. Cancel culture is defined as publicly shaming someone with the intent of excluding them from social or professional circles.

Cancel culture silences the voices, beliefs, and actions of those whose opinions are unpopular. With the rise of social media, it has become easier to publicly shame those who have different opinions than the majority or partake in questionable behavior.

Matt James was the first Black bachelor in history.

Soon after Season 25 of The Bachelor aired on television, news quickly circulated about the actions of Kirkconnell and her alleged racist comments. Photos of Kirkconnell at an antebellum plantation-themed party at the University of Georgia started to surface on social media, along with rumors from her former classmates that Kirkconnell had previously made racist comments in high school.

The Antebellum South was a period in history before the Civil War when slavery was legal and plantations utilizing slave labor were common. Photos of Kirkconnell dressed in an antebellum-style ball gown sparked controversy amongst Bachelor Nation.

Kirkconnell eventually released an apology stating

that she “didn’t recognize how offensive and racist” her actions were. Many Bachelor fans forgave Kirkconnell for her past, while others continued to ostracize her through social media. Kirkconnell acknowledged that what she had done was wrong and stated that she is in the process of educating herself.

Freshman Lilly McAndrews said, “Cancel culture may address a certain issue, but it doesn’t handle it well.

It never educates someone in a certain situation, and it never solves the issue. Yes, it brings attention and it calls the person out, but what do you do after you call them out? You can’t just cancel them and then not educate them on how they were wrong so that they can fix it.”

As of April 2021, Kirkconnell and James are no longer together. The two have taken time apart from each other as Kirkconnell continues to work on learning about the effects of her racist actions.

Within the past couple of years there has been a rise in cancel culture. “Canceling” someone is ultimately done to end a person’s career and revoke their success based on their past actions.

“I don’t think it [cancel culture] teaches them anything and does more harm than good,” junior Lucy Drexel said.

“You should educate them on what they are doing

wrong, not cancel them for making a mistake. We are all human, and we all make mistakes, but we shouldn’t have our lives be completely ruined at that moment because of that,” Drexel said.

Does cancel culture work to influence politically correct decision making? Is cancel culture a way to seek social justice? Or, does cancel culture cause shame through powerful intimidation? These questions provoke necessary discussion about what is considered “cancelable.”

Graphic by LivBirnstihl

Teachers are trained for emergencies too SydneyWitkowski an I go to the nurse?” is a common question students often asked during their grade school years, but it has vanished in the halls of Marian. At least 138 out of 193 girls who responded in the latest Network Google survey did not know that the school had a nurse. Although this is a high school and students are mature and growing independent, some girls believe they would benefit from having a full time school nurse.

“Recently, either me or my friends have experienced really bad bloody noses, lightheadedness, and other unexpected things that we wish we could go sit in the nurse’s office until we can return to class,” sophomore Elissa Eisele said.

Contrary to many beliefs, the school does have a part time nurse.

“Since I have been here, we have contracted visiting nurses, but we have never had a full time nurse,” Principal

“C

completely empty of medical perMrs. Susie Sullivan said. sonnel on a regular day though. The The current nurse, Ms. Erin Randell, does not directly see students. emergency response team of Ms. Esther Hamra, Mrs. Kris Hennings, She goes through student files, keeps Mrs. Jennifer Christen, Mr. MatPowerSchool and all thew Winterboer, Mrs. Meteachers up to date lissa Brusnahan and Mrs. with students’ Susie Sullivan are allergies and trained by Visiting illnessNurses to handle es, and most foreseeable makes sure emergencies.

Marian These response team is in members have comclassrooms and pliance with the offices spread State of around the school so they can Nebraska respond to serious rules for imsituations as quickly as munizations.

Nurse’s office in Student Services on second floor.

The possible.

Photo by KathrynStec The stuschool dent body is is not

a strong, independent and self-reliant group, and the administration has opted to not have a full time nurse for this reason.

“Marian girls know their limits, if someone isn’t feeling well, they can either call their parents, or they can take any medication that they carry with them to tough through their day,” Sullivan said.

If students need anything, Mrs. Judy Turnquist at the front office is also trained by Visiting Nurses, so if students were to need any medication, she would be able to give it with consent from a parent.

When not feeling well, make sure to let your teachers know, so you can go to the office to send your parents a message. Continue to listen to your body about how you feel to keep Marian safe, healthy and happy for your own sake and for the benefit of your classmates and teachers.

April 2021 Amelia Zimmerman ’21 & Luke Meyer at the altar as “Katherine” and “Mike” in the wedding scene between the two characters near the end of the show. Photo by LanyGregor

Luke Meyer, Geoff ten Bensel, Amelia Zimmerman ’21, and Avery Kinnison ’22 bake together as a family. Photo by LanyGregor

Elaina Carleton ’21 reclaims the magic hourglass while CeCe West ’21, Maddie Smith ’24, Abi Howard ’24, Tessa Brooks ’24 and Frannie Cihunka ’21 look on. Photo by BaileyKollasch

All about Freaky Friday the musical

Feature 11

AnnaRasgorshek & LivBirnstihl

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h no! The fall musical and spring play have switched places! This must be a freaky Friday!

For years, Marian’s musical has been in the fall, while the play has taken place in the spring. However, due to heavy COVID restrictions this past semester, Marian decided to move the musical to the spring.

For the first time since Marian’s production of White Christmas in fall 2019, Marian’s musical production was able to proceed in person—with caution.

With the decision to perform Freaky Friday came the opportunity to not only display a story about the struggles and successes of a mother-daughter relationship, but also utilize a small cast which allowed for COVID safe performing.

Despite the COVID restrictions put in place, there is no question about the overall positive energy brought forward by the cast, crew, and directors alike.

“We’re just happy to be able to do the musical this year,” said both Mrs. Michelle Delisi, the choreographer and production manager, and Ms. Lauren

Morrissey, the music director.

Seniors Amelia Zimmerman and Elaina Carleton played the mother-daughter duo of Katherine and Ellie Blake who become stuck in each other’s bodies after a mishap with a magic hourglass gifted to Ellie by her late father. While spending the day in each other’s shoes having to experience the struggles and triumphs that go unnoticed by the other, the pair eventually find a way back to their own bodies after finding the magic hourglass gifted to Katherine as well.

Not only does Freaky Friday incorporate various genres of music into a modern score, but it also makes a point to pay homage to the classic “put yourself in my shoes” storyline.

The energy of the cast was electric and you could feel the

The Freaky Friday Cast gathers before the show for a dance party. This has been a tradition at Marian for many years.

Photo by ElizaTurco

excitement to perform again radiating off of everyone on stage.

Director Mr. Michael McCandless and Student Directors, sophomore Chloé Reynek and senior Murphy Mertz helped make the magic happen. Their dedication to the production is not only clear through those participating, but through the production as a whole.

While the cast was putting in countless hours to provide audiences with a wide array of talents, those behind the scenes were working just as hard to get the show to opening night.

“It’s really fun to be a part of the ‘behind the scenes’ of a musical and get to play a part in developing the finished product,” sophomore Nora Corrigan said. “I’ll definitely do crew next year- it’s a great experience.”

The show ran from Thursday, April 8 to Sunday, April 11 and was put on with COVID restrictions, including all cast members wearing masks and skipped seating in the auditorium.

Graphic by LivBirnstihl

The pit provides the instrumental music throughout the play. There are Marian flutists, cellists and pianists among the musicians. Photo by LanyGregor

The orchestra pit showcases a whole new side of musical talent ElizaTurco

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lthough the Performing Art Center’s orchestra pit is just a short walk down any aisle, it took the musicians inside years of hard work and commitment to get there. In this year’s production of Freaky Friday, student musicians claim three chairs among professional, college, and high school Omaha instrumentalists: senior Maddie Genoways on keyboard, junior Malerie Birkel on cello, and freshman Crystal Gonzalez on flute.

The “pit” (a misleading term considering how nice it is down there), possesses a singular goal: to make beautiful music. This is exactly what keeps Birkel coming back year after year. “I like just performing. The cast practices separately and when we all come together, hearing it for the first time is really cool.”

Birkel’s love for the theater spans into acting, usually in the spring plays, and she appreciates the pit as a place where she can be involved in the musicals without “having to sing,” something she said in a tone hinting that either herself or the audience would not enjoy.

Veteran musician Genoways has worked pit since she was a freshman. She returns because “it’s always been a lot of fun.”

Genoways played the tuba in the pit orchestra for her first three years but switched to the keyboard this year.

Every musician agreed that pit is a great opportunity to build community, sometimes with local musicians. “This is a lot of fun because we also bring in college-age and adult professionals and the students get to learn alongside them,” orchestra director Mrs. Stephanie Dickes said.

Flutist Gonzalez joined to revitalize a skill momentarily forgotten. “I hadn’t played for a while, pit was a chance to play again.” She quickly took to the production and the “being behind the scenes” nature of pit.

Some students began or improved their playing in the performing art center’s fine art courses. Marian offers Band and String Ensemble to students with one year of previous instrumental practice and Honors String Ensemble and Honors Band for those who have completed the college prep class.

Cellist Birkel found her way to the orchestra pit through a band class. “I played in fifth through eighth grade, and took the class here [at Marian] and learned about what pit was and how to

be a part of it.” Genoways was in the band class her sophomore year.

Freaky Friday rehearsal is by no means the beginning or the end of these girls’ practice.

“I try to play piano [on my own] for 45-50 minutes every day,” Genoways said. Gonzales was not far behind. “I usually practice around 20-30 minutes per day.” Birkel practices daily on her own and has been working in rehearsals, “two hours once a week starting in January” with the other musicians.

The musical score has provided new mediums to work with and learn from. “I love playing ‘Somebody Has Got to Take the Blame.’ It sounds so classy and has all these sweeping arpeggios,” Genoways said. Gonzales seconded “Somebody Has Got to Take the Blame” as her favorite piece while Birkel enjoys the “tango vibe” of “I Got This,” a duet between the two female leads of Amelia Zimmerman and Elaina Carleton.

As the audience follows the action on stage, the pit has the irreplaceable job of supporting voices, setting scenes and locking in the atmosphere of every moment. After all, what is a musical without music?

Malerie Birkel ’22 and Madison Genoways ’21 in the pit. Birkel plays the cello and Genoways plays the keyboard. Photo by LanyGregor

Crystal Gonzalez ’24 plays the flute in the pit. Gonzalez has been playing the flute for three years. Photo by ElizaTurco

12 Sports

April 2021

Basketball program welcomes a new head coach, new JV coach

LanyGregor

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arian has officially hired a new basketball coach after Coach Peter Cunningham decided to step down this past winter season.

Players were heartbroken when hearing this news. “It was sad knowing that I only got one season to play under him. Not knowing who was going to be our head coach next year caused a lot of uncertainty among the team,” freshman McKenna Stover said. Right away, concerned players were asking: who will take his spot?

On March 22, Tom Tvrdy, a successful coach from Seward, Neb., was hired.

Tvrdy is taking over the head coach position in hopes of building the existing program up to become stronger.

Trvdy has played and coached basketball all his life. He played college basketball at Kearney State College. He was inspired by his coach Tom Kropp at KSC and his coaching philosophy crystallized at that point.

Track team chases state records

opened up in Fremont. Finally, the job Tvrdy is well known in Nebraska for at Seward was available, and they decided his win streak of 104 games. As Seward’s that was the perfect place to raise their girls’ head coach, his team won four kids. He coached there until the 2019straight state championships from 20092020 season.

2012 in Class B. He is planning to be To add to his list of a teacher for one social accomplishments, he has studies class at Marian and a career record of 470 a substitute the rest of the wins and 183 losses (72% day, so students will be able of games won). He has to see Trvdy in the hallcoached athletes for nearly ways and in the classroom 30 years. throughout the day.

Trvdy started his coachTvrdy said he is very ing career at Rising City, excited to come to Marian Nebraska for two years, and and meet all the students, then moved and coached teachers, and his fellow at Cozad High School for coaches. “For me it is all one year. A job opened about the people,” he said. in Gothenburg, his wife’s Coach Tom Tvrdy Coming to an all hometown, so they made Photo courtesy of Seward Public Schools girls school will be the move and coached something new for him, there for six years. Later, and he said he is excited for the unique an opportunity for him and his wife to be opportunity. He looks forward to seeing able to teach and coach at the same place

how the culture is different compared to a school like Seward.

For next season, his biggest goal is to make it to “the big dance.” Marian’s last appearance at the NSAA State Basketball tournament was in 2010.

He has coached some of the most successful teams in the state for the past 30 years. This is a big change for Marian that could make an impact on the program for years to come.

“I’m excited to have someone new who can help our team be the best we can be!” junior Olivia Heinert said.

Marian has also recently hired a new Junior Varsity Head Coach, Cassie Jones, after Coach Eric Thompson stepped down as well. Jones graduated from Marian in 2015 and played basketball at Dakota State University 2015-2018 and then Bellevue University 2018-2020. This past year, Jones coached at Millard West High School and currently coaches at Omaha Sports Academy.

Final goal in sight for soccer AnnaRasgorshek

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ErinConnelly

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n the absence of last year’s track season, Marian’s track team is back and determined to make it to state this year. The distance track team is ranked fifth in the state and has been working hard to maintain this rank and push their limits every meet to do so.

The team is working hard together and the importance of teamwork is not going unnoticed within the athletes. Senior Eva Watson said, “My teammates always stand and cheer when I am running, which is motivating.”

Coach Greg Golka has been working to help the track teams improve throughout this season. One of his main goals is to be competitive in the meets that they attend, no matter what the final outcome is. “There are a lot of first time people on the track team. The sophomores only got to compete for two weeks last year, the freshmen are transitioning from grade school, and we have added some new juniors.

We have started to figure out how to make the team come together, and we are rolling.”

The track team expects to have meets at Papillion-La Vista, Gretna, Benson and Millard West before Metros at Burke, May 4-5, Districts on May 12 and then State on May 19-20.

University of Nebraska Lincoln commit Emma Prososki ’21 receives the ball in a varsity game against Northwest on April 14.

Photo by ShannonMonahan

Audrey Ehlers ’23 jumps over a hurdle at the Millard West JV meet on April 13. Photo courtesy of Megan Hoppe

n April 4, 2020, the NSAA announced: “All remaining NSAA activity practices and competitions, including district and state competitions, have been canceled for this school year.” This was heartbreaking news for the 2019-2020 varsity soccer team, who had high hopes of a successful season and their first state win since 2017.

Marian had played in the last five state soccer tournaments, winning two of the five.

This year, the varsity team has been working harder than ever to bring the state trophy back to Marian.

Junior Hannah Tate said, “We are a new team with new talent. We are still trying to figure out how to be more cohesive, but we have a lot of grit and determination that will help us get to state and possibly win it!”

While the team did face some setbacks by not being able to play last year, team captain senior Mia Suter remains confident about the team’s chances of getting to state soccer, saying, “We’re getting better and better each game.”

With Coach Teresa DeGeorge leading the team, the Marian soccer team hopes to reach new heights this season. State finals are May 18, and fans hope to see Marian competing to bring home the state trophy.

Keeping faith strong through athletic competition MaddieAuman

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s a Catholic high school, Marian incorporates faith in many ways.

This may be in the classrooms, during all-school Masses, or through the spirits of students and teachers. But one place stands out among the rest: sports.

Having faith incorporated into sports is something that makes Marian different from other high schools and sports teams.

It helps the teams grow closer together with each other and God. “It’s important to incorporate faith into the game because we are all playing a sport we love and God gave us the ability to play,” senior softball player Tatum Villotta said. She said she realizes how lucky she is to be playing a game she loves, and thanks God for it. Villotta remembers God and her faith throughout her practices and games.

The players aren’t the only people who work together to have faith as a center of their sport and team. Coaches lead prayers before games and remind their players of the importance of faith and how to keep it in their lives.

“Before each game we pray for faith and strength to get us through the match, and we ask Mary Queen of Victory to

pray for us and keep us injury free,” sophomore volleyball player Maddie Balus said.

The volleyball program uses Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a focus in their prayers to help each player stay safe and remember their faith.

While winning games reminds teams of what God and their faith does for them, it’s important that athletes also realize that just being part of a team and playing a sport that they have a passion for is a gift itself.

“I believe everything good that happens is God showing up in our lives,” Villotta said. She understands that there are aspects besides winning that she should be grateful for. Her faith helps her realize that and that God is there in every moment of her softball career.

Former basketball Coach Eric Thompson has also had experience with faith in sports at Marian and Creighton Prep.

While COVID changed some of the ways Marian promotes faith in their athletic program, Thompson still believes both schools use their faith in many ways. This includes prayers before and after games at Marian and team Mass at Creighton Prep.

“But when we talk about faith it’s not

always in a religious way,” Thompson said.

Faith also means having trust in your team and knowing they can show up when you need them. There are many different aspects of faith and some people forget that, but Thompson believes that’s what gives Marian and Creighton Prep an advantage over other schools.

Faith will always be something that

keeps Marian and its community strong.

Remembering to incorporate faith into all aspects of student life, including sports, will always be important and something that makes this school unique. It is a place that teaches students the importance of their faith, and this helps the students carry their faith with them in the rest of their lives.

Mary, Queen of Victory, Pray for Us! Crusader volleyball players huddle and pray. Photo by LanyGregor

April 2021

Sports 13

Marian girls back on the tennis courts for full spring season

KenzieAnderson

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pring sports are officially in full swing, and the Marian tennis team is back on the courts for the 2021 season.

Marian’s varsity team is coached by Trish Faust and the junior varsity team is coached by Bridget Mendenhall.

Tennis practices are held after school every day. For warm up, the players run a couple laps around the tennis courts, hit groundstrokes, volleys and serve back and forth. After warm-up, players perform drills and typically end the day with either a singles or doubles 10 point tiebreaker.

Any match in a dual or invitational can be anywhere from one to three hours.

Junior Ellie Harris has been on the tennis team for three years. “I think our teams have a really big chance of winning or getting a really high ranking at state,” Harris said.

As a member of the varsity team, Harris said she feels that the players have grown together both on and off the court.

“I have personally known almost all of the girls from clinics before the season or just from being friends with them, and the girls I didn’t know, I feel I have gotten a lot closer to,” Harris said.

Due to the pandemic last March, team members lost a full season of

Ava Schroeder ‘24 tosses a ball to serve at the Westside Invitational.

Photo by SydneySchroeder

practicing and playing tennis.

Sophomore Elsa Jurrens was frustrated that there wasn’t an official season last year.

She felt like she lost an opportunity to make new friends and pursue her tennis goals.

“While in quarantine, I worked out a lot,” Jurrens said, “and I was still able to get access to courts and be able to hit.”

Now that the tennis team is back in session, Jurrens is looking forward to growing closer

to the team and improving her skills.

The team is working hard this season in preparation for state. The varsity team’s upcoming matches this month are on April 22 and 26. The Metro tournament is May 12-13, and State championships are May 20-21.

On April 9, the Crusaders found success at the Westside Invitational at the Koch Tennis Center. Ava Schroeder and Lauren Mendlick got first in No. 2 doubles. Cecilia Regan and Sydney Schroeder got fourth in No. 1 doubles. Ellen Crotzer got fifth in No. 2 singles. Jurrens got sixth in No. 1 singles.

The last matches played were against Central on April 16. Marian was up 7-0 but when rain started pouring in the last two matches had to forfeit, giving Marian a win of 9-0.

Athletes go the extra mile to improve their respective sports through training LaurenMontague & BridgetMcGill

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arian’s athletic program never ceas- progression is always best. She said, “Ines to amaze our school community. stant gratification is what many athletes want; however, they should not force it.

With 66 state championships and 82 metro championships in 49 years, Marian The key to progress is to go slow and reap the rewards plus staying healthy athletes continue to persist and in the process.” perform to the best of their Success in athletic abilities. Marian athletes seasons is driven by are recognized for their intent, effort, and hard work both on attitude. Barefoot and off the field. said that sports This year’s spring workouts are “not sports are well unjust about physicalderway. Strength and ly being here.” The conditioning coach coach explained that Ms. Lauren Barefoot what is most important said, “Preparation for sports begins in the off “is mentally being here.” season for the girls to build Conditioning for Marian Coach Lauren Barefoot their mental and physical athletics has five stages. photo by LanyGregor toughness.”

Stage one is learning how Marian girls train year to move well, which inround to reach peak physical shape for cludes general prep and learning the cortheir athletic seasons. rect form for each exercise. The next stage According to Coach Barefoot, training involves gaining size and strength. The third step is utilizing that strength, and student athletes with a slow and steady

week to lift weights and train. being able to move heavier weights. The “I work out … to become better as a next part of training involves applying player, improve my skills and get stronspeed to improve agility. The final step in ger,” McAnthe process is drews said. gaining power “Motito move heavy vation and things quickly. determination Coach to improve Barefoot are essential said, “Each in order to be sport requires successful as different types an athlete,” of training, McAndrews however their said. fundamental Coach conditioning Coach Lauren Barefoot motivates Marian Barefoot and is very simiathletes after school in the weight room on other coachlar.”

Along with work- April 19. Photo by LanyGregor es for different sports ing out with Coach host training sessions Barefoot, many athletes train outside of throughout the summer for players to the Marian weight room. Freshman Lilly not only stay in shape, but also improve McAndrews, who plays both soccer and their skills in their specific sports, as well. basketball, attends Warren Academy, a Check the school website for updates on training facility in Omaha, three times a summer conditioning plans.

State Trap date interferes with age-old Marian spirit tradition

SydneySchroeder

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ver the years, trap shooter parents have fallen for the phrase “Marian Trap Shooting: Breaking clays and hearts since day one” - especially when it comes to designing team sweatshirts. Whether you agree with this statement or not, there is no doubt that Marian girls know how to hit a target.

The trap shooting team consists of girls from Marian, Duchesne and homeschoolers.

Marian shooters, juniors Malerie Birkel and Lexi Rowe placed first and second overall in 16s singles and in handicaps for ladies in the second meet of the season in Ashland.

Rowe said she loves trap shooting because it has allowed her to meet new

Lexi Rowe ‘22 practices on post 1 at Harry A. Koch. Photo by Kenny Rowe

Marian students at trap shooting practice. Photo by Julie Rowe. people outside of Marian. She has “made many new friends from different schools and even girls who are home-schooled.”

She particularly enjoys how everyone “has a positive attitude and this season is looking up.” She believes the trap team “will have amazing squads at state this year and hopefully will bring home some jewelry.”

The ‘jewelry’ Marian shooters hope to gain are medals from meets and badges, awarded for shooting a 25 or 50 straight.

Duchesne senior Shaelynn Vaughan has earned some jewelry herself, as she has a 25 straight patch on the back of her Marian Trap vest. This was awarded to her as a prize for shooting a whole box of shells without error. While earning jewelry is incredibly rewarding, what matters most is building relationships within the trap shooting team.

When shooters show up to a Sunday

morning or Wednesday afternoon practice, they are instantly greeted by smiling coaches and a welcoming team. Marian junior Izel Çapan said, “The team is very low drama, and it’s very nice to come to an environment where everyone is welcoming and supportive of each other and pushes for you to be your best.”

As a means to spread positivity, Marian has adopted a tradition where shooters fist bump while switching posts at meets. This simple interaction is Marian students’ way of supporting everyone despite being on another team.

With state right around the corner on April 30 and May 1 at Doniphan, Neb.,shooters have been hard at work in hopes of statewide success. Trap coach David Voth can often be heard at practice saying, “I appreciate how hard you all work. What sets you apart from everyone else is the

positive attitude you all have and the work in practices.”

Attending State is an important element of the trap shooting experience. The skills gained and memories made there every year are priceless.

However, on day one of State Trap Shooting, another Marian tradition conflicts. Marian senior Courtney Thompson said that “Field Day has an unbelievable energy and we only get four of each event in our lifetime. It’s very unfortunate that the two dates had to be aligned together.”

Many trap girls fear missing Field Day for State, or vice versa as this occurs every three or four years. Despite the disappointment of missing either State Trap Shooting or Field Day, Marian girls keep their heads high and remain positive.

Lexi Rowe ‘22 and Payton Kruse at Bellevue Trap Range. Photo by Julie Rowe.

14 Entertainment

Trending musicians top the charts across all genres LivBirnstihl & ElizaTurco

O

ne-hit wonders are nothing new when it comes to chart-toppers of the 2010s. The complete pop takeover of the last few years proved it to be difficult to not only produce a hit song, but to ensure it lives up to the ever-changing requirements of today’s music. That being said, many would believe that the song “New Rules” of 2017 would simply add Dua Lipa to a list of washed-up pop stars never to be seen again, right?

Wrong.

Just in the past year, Dua Lipa has managed to release one of the best pop albums of 2020 titled Future Nostalgia.

Not only did it provide catchy tunes like “Don’t Start Now,” “Levitating,” and “Break My Heart,” but it also won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.

For those eager to listen to some upbeat tracks, here’s the top three: “Future Nostalgia,” “Physical,” and “Levitating.”

Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa

L

ana Del Rey is an emblem of the new Indie-Pop. From the get-go, she has attracted her own fan base, pulling appreciators from every genre. It seems that Rey’s albums, Born to Die and Ultraviolet, can mingle on vinyl collectors’ shelves with classics like Anthology by The Supremes and Joni Mitchell’s Blue. This March, Rey presented her seventh collection, Chemtrails over the Country Club.

This album has everything: Rey’s reverberating layered tones, stories about conference centers, a near-symphony level accompaniment, and trance-like vibe. Topping the album sales chart of Billboard this April, Chemtrails Over The Country Club is already paving its way to cult status. For those new-to-Lana fans, here are the three top tracks: “Chemtrails Over The Country Club,” “Wild At Heart,” and “For Free.”

A

fter a long struggle to obtain the rights to her own discography up until 2017, Taylor Swift made the bold decision to begin re-recording her entire music catalog through her album reputation. Going in order of success and popularity, Swift started her road to owning her own music with her second studio album and her first Album of the Year, Fearless. While it was a surprise to fans that she decided to not go in order of release, the re-recording of Fearless was still highly anticipated by “Swifties” and critics alike. Still rich with the country roots of the original recordings, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) pays homage to young Swift’s songwriting and production while also modernizing some elements that keep the songs familiar for true Taylor fans.

If you’re a fan of Taylor’s music, listen to “Love Story (Taylor’s Version),” “You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Version),” and “Fifteen (Taylor’s Version).”

Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift

April 2021

P

hoebe Bridgers broke through the Indie scene in 2017 with her debut album Stranger in the Alps featuring runaway hits “Motion Sickness” and “Scott Street.” Instantly beloved for her self-reflective, eloquent lyricism and unmistakable modern folk tonality, Bridgers toured internationally. Drawing from tour experience, past struggles growing up, and dreams, she began work on her second album immediately.

In Punisher, her 2020 Grammy-nominated album, Bridgers carefully expresses that everything is chaos, and it’s going to be okay. Utilizing the narrative album structure, Punisher has eerie transitions with violin wanes, storyline, and reverb-heavy even for the post Melodrama era. For Indie lovers and those who appreciate a light nihilistic breeze, here are the top three songs: “Garden Song,” “Kyoto,” and “I Know the End.”

Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers

Golden Palace provides best Chinese cuisine in Omaha ChiomaAloziem

I

f you’re looking for fast Chinese cuisine, the Golden Palace is for you. You can dine-in, takeout or have it delivered. The Golden Palace is located at 4040 N 132nd Street, on the east side of Baker’s. The restaurant is a company-run business that’s been in Omaha for 30 years.

The Golden Palace is known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and their use of fresh ingredients. Their whole menu contains authentic Chinese cuisine.

They have a wide variety of food to choose from like Lo Mein noodles to seafood.

The prices range from $3.50 to $13.95.

I decided to do takeout and ordered the Cantonese Pan-Fried Noodles without the vegetables. It came with one warm crab rangoon and a fortune cookie.

The packaging was classy and cute. The Crab Rangoon came in a small plastic bag with a dragon on top, and the noodles came in a white Oyster Pail (Chinese takeout container). I got the dinner portion which was $10.95 not including tax. They also offer a lunch portion that’s cheaper but it’s smaller than the dinner portion.

It only took about five minutes to get my food after I ordered. I highly recommend these fried noodles because they aren’t salty or spicy. They have a nice rich flavor that makes it delicious.

They only have Pepsi products to choose

from as a drink. The beef and shrimp were not overly seasoned. The fried noodles weren’t dripping with sauce or hard to chew. The noodles were tiny but so filling that I even had leftovers. The Crab Rangoon was warm and soft. The Golden Palace Crab Rangoon is on a whole different lane than Panda Express. The fortune cookie was also good. My fortune said to love yourself which I think is a good message to spread.

The restaurant has a great atmosphere to dine in and you don’t even need a reservation. The parking lot is spacious and close to the restaurant. The employees are very friendly and welcoming. The place is decorated with Chinese decor, plants and mirrors. If a date took me here, I wouldn’t be mad about it. It’s great for a first date because it’s not crowded and noisy. It is also great for family dinner because it’s super kid-friendly. They have a children special that comes with sweet and sour pork or chicken, beef string, Crab Rangoon and small french fries. This restaurant is great for any type of casual event.

There is not a dress code but I wouldn’t wear your uniform because people love to stare. Most people in the restaurant were wearing jeans and a nice shirt. If I were to dine in, I would wear a casual dress or a skirt.

I highly recommend eating at the Golden Palace. They don’t get a lot of business because of COVID, but they are open for dine-in and 4040 N. 132nd Street take out. They space out customers 402-493-2777 really well and clean up after you’re Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. done. The Golden Palace is exFriday: 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. tremely organized and clean. I will Lunch: before 3 p.m. definitely be going back to eat their Dinner: after 3 p.m. fried noodles and try their pineapSaturday: 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. ple shrimp. Go support your local Sunday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Chinese cuisine!

The exterior of the Golden Palace at 132nd and Maple.

Photo by ChiomaAloziem

april network playlist

The Golden Palace

Dinner is served all day

scan the code above to listen!

Playlist curated by GigiSalerno

April 2021

Entertainment 15

So what’s the beef between Gen-Z and Millenials?

Keto diet increases popularity through social media

DanielleCarrol

T

he pandemic has given people too much free time, and yet again, the internet has started a feud. This time it is between Gen Z and millennials on Tik Tok. Generational culture wars are not new; they happen every so often.

The origins of the most recent beef between Gen Z (those born after 1997) and millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) can be traced back to a post made a TikToker by the username “@ thezoereport.” This tiktoker happened to be doing a clothing haul video and called yoga pants “flared leggings.”

This sent millennials on a frenzy because Gen Z calls yoga pants “flared leggings.” What they failed to notice is that companies now call them “flared leggings” to appeal to the younger generation.

“If you wore yoga pants and ugg boots, you had a great outfit,” said Casey Aonso, a YouTuber. However, there was a slow departure of yoga pants due to them being called trashy and basic. It’s the reason that some millennials may not be too fond of the new name.

In discussion with boomer (those born between 1946 and 1964) Principal Susie Sullivan, she said the whole debate about yoga pants is especially confusing. “I had to have three girls give me a lecture on the difference between yoga pants and leggings,” Sullivan said. “This is why boomers are confused. Nothing in my principal masters program prepared me for this.”

The cultural war is not over; it is only beginning. The big debates that contribute to this drama are side parts, skinny jeans and laughing emojis. Gen Z is all for middle parts and baggy jeans, and millennials are not the biggest

Graphic by JordanMoser fans. Millennial anthems, songs, and raps have been the responses to Gen Z’s trends.

“As a millennial, I will always stand by my side parts and skinny jeans,” mathematics teacher Miss Megan Han said. “When we were kids, it was a rite of passage to change from our middle parts to our side parts.”

Mathematics tutor Ms. Jessica Abel agrees. “I am definitely for side parts and skinny jeans now.”

There are also conversations on what emojis millennials and Gen Z use. Supposedly millennials use the regular laughing emoji while Gen Z uses the crying emoji, the skull, or both. When some Gen Z women were asked what emojis they use for laughing, the majority said they use the skull and one said she uses the crying emoji; all of the millennials said they use the regular laughing emoji.

Overall the drama stems from Gen Z expressing distaste for millennials fashion sense and some of the things they do. Gen Z has been poking fun at the 2013 to 2015 era when millennials wore shirts that said things like, “Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee” and the hashtags they used for their social media captions, such as #adulting. Some companies like BuzzFeed are to blame when it comes to generational culture wars, as they are popular for the generation quizzes such as “Find out if you’re a Gen Z or millennial

Mr. Darcy or Mr. Who Bingley? is your Georgian Era soulmate from Pride and Predjudice by Jane Austen?

InfoGraphic by LilyMausbach, JordanMoser and AshleyDoehner Mr. Darcy: You keep to yourself but are not afraid to stand up when you need to.

Loyalty is your number one priority, which can be a blessing and a curse.

by taking this Harry Potter quiz.” Some members of Gen Z believe that millennials take these quizzes too seriously.

After asking millennials and Gen Z respondents their opinions on the matter, the Gen Z members are not well versed about the culture war going on. On the flip side, millennials are well aware of it. When it comes to the yoga pants vs. flared leggings debate, Gen Z and millennials both call them yoga pants.

“I just think it’s funny that Gen Z calls them flared leggings because they had a legitimate name before, so why change it to something different,” Han said.

Although Han stands strongly with calling them yoga pants, she never wore them because it wasn’t her style.

Although yoga pants seem to be known as a millennial fashion trend, some members of Gen Z rocked the yoga pants era more than millennials themselves.

Junior Anna Krupka wore yoga pants all the time as a kid and she still wears them. “I called them yoga pants when I was younger, but now I refer to them as either yoga pants or flared leggings,” Krupka said.

Freshman Madison Terranova also wore the yoga pants and Ugg boots combo. “My parents never really allowed me to wear yoga pants, but when I got the chance, yes I was that girl who wore Uggs and yoga pants,” Terranova said.

It all goes to show that generational culture wars are not always completely accurate and that different generations can wear or follow whatever trends they want.

However, it is a complete mystery to know where the beef will go next.

LaurenMontague

T

he keto diet has become a cultural sensation through a mass media takeover. It is both an alternative treatment for many medical conditions and a healthy diet. Keto is a high-fat, adequate protein, and low-carbohydrate focused diet that has been popularized due to its effects on the body.

The body goes into ketosis which means the body burns fats rather than carbohydrates.

Janelle Rohner is a perfect representation of why keto has gained so much popularity.

Rohner lost more than 25 pounds on the keto diet and is an ideal example of how effective the keto diet can be.

Rohner took the internet by storm when she shared her first video of her keto diet on Tik Tok on March 3, 2020.

She gained millions of followers by sharing her famous cream cheese bell peppers. Rohner became an overnight sensation with her loud, Illustration of Janelle Rohner by healthy eating JordanMoser videos.

Rohner’s platform only grew when a meme video surfaced of two teens dueting her, asking the famous question, “Is it bussin* Janelle?” or, is it good? This question progressed to a whole new trend when her comments soared with Rohner asking “Is it bussin?” Famous people including Lizzo also jumped on this trend.

Junior Isabella Schinco joined in on this food movement and participated in the keto diet. She said, “I liked keto because I felt lighter, cleaner and more energetic on keto and overall just felt healthier and stopped craving fast food, other deep fried food, and other unhealthy non GMO made food.”

Schinco said she believes that the keto diet worked for her. In other words, she believes keto is bussin! *Note: “bussin” is a part of AAVE (African-American Vernacular English).

Are you an extrovert or an introvert?

Extrovert

Introvert

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee

Comedy or Drama?

Drama

Comedy

Tea

Pastels or Dark Tones ?

Dark tones

Pastels

Optimist or Realist?

Realist

Gown or Pantsuit?

Roses or Daisies?

Stay In or Go Out?

Roses Daisies

Optimist

Passion

Go out Stay in

Loyalty or Passion?

Mr. Darcy

Pantsuit

Gown

Loyalty

Photo sources: austenauthors.com and prideandpredjudice05.blogspot.com

Mr. Bingley

Mr. Bingley: You know just what to say to make a person’s day. Your optimism can sometimes blind you from seeing the truth.

16 Photo Essay

SURPRISE DAY 2021 Photos by ClareDegan, LanyGregor, GraceWoodard, EliseMoulton & MaddieAdam

On April 14, students partook in one of Marian’s most prized traditions: Surprise Day. Students and staff participted in a variety of activities, organized by Student Board, including: making bracelets, four different bounce houses, a carnival ride, a dance party, a petting zoo, escape rooms, Just Dance, face painting, a photo booth and a cake walk. They enjoyed tasty treats from both a churro and an ice cream truck. Students enjoyed the afternoon off from classes and were surprised with a day full of fun!

Katie Sulentic ’22, Erin Connelly ’22, Audrey Van Dyke ’22, Kate Timmerman ’22, Brianna Dovali ’22 & Anne Masek ’22 pose for a picture outside of the photo booth.

Marian Students race to the PAC lot following the Surprise Day announcement.

Mia Ramirez ’24 slides outside of the 30’ Rock Climb bounce house.

Percy Prochaska ’23 gets her face painted in the cafeteria.

Wosuk Ando ’23, Shantise Pearson ’22, Tamyiah Nielsen ’23 & Sanaa Slaughter ’22 pose while eating eCreamery outside the main entrance.

McKenna Stover ‘24 feeds a carrot to an alpaca at the petting zoo.

Jill Williamson ’22 crowd surfs during the dance party with DJ LayC.

April 2021