Omaha Marian High School Nov/Dec 17 Network Student Newspaper

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THE NET WORK Marian High School - 7400 Military Avenue Omaha, NE 68134 - www.marianhighschool.net - Volume 62 Issue 4 - December 2017

Christmas concert kicks off holiday season juliahingorani

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and “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” by to come back and remember it,” Nikki Christmas Concert wouldn’t be possible,” ne of the best ways to get into the Felciano. Rhoades ’17 said. junior Olivia Hess said. holiday spirit is by listening to the A crowd favorite traditionally perBoth choirs performed as separate “We spend time listening to different joyful songs that play everywhere during formed last was the Hallelujah Chorus ensembles for this concert. The orchestra arrangements of the music Marian has the month of December. from “The Messiah” by George Frideric and band accompanied the choirs for the purchased in the past. The arrangements On Sunday, Dec. 3, the Concert Choir, Handel, arranged by Bryceson Treharne. final song. However, they had their own turn out to be different every year,” Morthe Select Women’s Choir, orchestra, Marian alums were invited to join the performances directed by instrumental rissey said. handbells and band classes performed an choir and musicians on stage to sing this teacher, Mr. Paul Niedbalski. Niedbalski Musicians and vocalists agreed that array of songs in two separate concerts to classic. This opportunity allowed gradeven arranged one of the songs for the the time and effort given in the classroom celebrate the upcoming Christmas season. uates to remember their time at Marian combined band and orchestra to perform. helped them perfect their performances This annual event was free and open to while singing a holiday favorite. Music director and choir teacher Ms. for the concert. Assistant to the Principal the public. This musical tradition was the “It just brings back old memories. I Lauren Morrissey conducted the choir Mrs. Michelle Delisi also helped out as a perfect way to get the Marian community knew the Hallelujah Chorus senior year, and pianist Mr. Tim DiBlasi accompanied stage manager to make sure the concert into the holiday spirit. I just forgot it since then so it was nice the songs. “Without the two of them, the ran smoothly. The concert was held in the Perform“The students have ing Arts Center been preparing for Kish Auditorium, which also holds the concert since the beginning of Novemevents such as ber,” Morrissey said. the fall musicals This shows the dediand spring plays. cation students have Songs perto making sure the formed included songs are polished. “Carol of the The seasonal array Bells” by Leof songs performed ontovich, “God provided a celebration Rest You Merry, to launch the ChristGentlemen” Hallelujah Chorus The alums of Marian join the choir, band and orchestra on stage to sing Handel’s masterpiece. Although they have graduated, mas season for many. by Tchaikovsky alums still remember and enjoy participating in this tradition.

DACA debate: Students think critically about recent government decisions audreyhertel & juliahingorani

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ccording to the 2016 United States Census Bureau, out of the 323.1 million people residing in the United States, 800,000 of them receive benefits from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. “DACA was developed as a way to allow these people who were brought here under the age of 16 to get deferred action. So they are not going to deport them. It’s not like they’re legal now, they’re just not going to deport [them],” social studies teacher and Young Politicians Club moderator Jillian Roger said. The Young Politicians Club held a roundtable debate about DACA on Nov. 21. Junior Cori Johnson, president of the club, said that the DACA debate was very informative for Marian students. “I think that a lot of people left the meeting feeling a lot more informed about what will actually happen to people on both TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and DACA,” Johnson said. The discussion was about whether or not the current Presidential administration’s desires for DACA should happen. Johnson said that the debate was one-sided. “Everyone who participated in the conversation felt that the current administration’s view on all immigration is racist and morally wrong,” Johnson said. The past Obama administration wanted DACA to remain a government policy and allowed the renewal of the program for individuals. DACA recipients are subject to renewal every two years, meaning that this program can be short-term if not renewed. The Trump administration stopped accepting DACA renewals on Oct. 5. President Trump is giving Congress six months

INSIDE

to find a replacement for the program. If Congress cannot make a decision, hundreds of thousands of people will lose the benefits of DACA and face the possibility of deportation as soon as their DACA license expires. The benefits include the ability to go to school, owning a driver’s license, the ability to have a job, social security and much more. Deportations and loss of benefits can start occurring as soon as March of 2018. “The cancellation of the DACA program is reprehensible. It causes unnecessary fear for DACA youth and their families,” The American Council of Catholic Bishops said after receiving the news of the Trump’s announcement to repeal DACA. “Opponents to DACA say that they [undocumented immigrants] broke the law. They shouldn’t be getting special privileges,” Roger said. The individuals who are in the DACA program are not citizens of the United States. In order to become a citizen of the United States, the individual must have a green card for five years prior to becoming a citizen. Receiving a green card can be very difficult for many individuals. Even after receiving a green card, it can take up to 25 years for an individual to gain citizenship. Roger educates students about issues similar to DACA. She also points out that debates on immigration are not necessarily new. “We saw this [debates over immigration] in the 1920s. We saw this again in the 1960s. We go through this every 50 years or so,” Roger said. In 1924, for example, the Immigration Act prevented all but 2 percent of immigrants from any country to come into the

United States. In 1965, the Immigration and Naturalization Act reformed the policy and opened the doors to more immigrants. This sparked a change in the demographic of America that continues today. Teachers like Roger educate and help culRoger’s remarks American Government teacher Jillian Roger educates her students through an open discussion and debate. Roger is also the moderator of the Young tivate the minds Politicians Club, which held a debate over DACA. of the future of America. In the when making decisions about topics such future, the American youth will take the as DACA, officials need to find a middle place of the leaders of today and will need ground. to have opinions on matters with as much To do so, Saalfeld notes that it is prevalence as DACA. One student who is important to be able to listen to other practicing this now is sophomore Emily opinions. “Everyone has their own voice,” Saalfeld. Saalfeld said. “I think it was wrong that [the govAs for the future of finding a middle ernment] allowed these people to come ground, Saalfeld does not see a bright one. in, because they can illegally work then, “Realistically, I’m going to say it will because it’s kind of taking over the jobs probably never happen,” Saalfeld said. that Americans can and should have,” Rutten, on the other hand, said that Saalfeld said. the youth of America is coming closer to When asked about what motivates finding a middle ground due to their level those who defend DACA, senior Megan of involvement in politics. Rutten said she believes that morality “I’m really happy that a bunch of is at the root of this decision. “The idea teenagers are getting really involved with that you are kicking someone out and not politics because everyone complains that thinking about their lives or anything, it’s teenagers are lazy, and they’re gonna ruin just thinking about yourself. I think it’s the future,” Rutten said. “I think that if morally wrong to kick someone out of the there are more teenagers that are involved country,” Rutten said. in politics than adults, then that means in Saalfeld and Rutten both said that the future, politics might be better.”

News

OPINION

in-depth

sports

prioritizing school safety p.3

The poor connotation of people pleasing p.4

extra extra don’t read all about iT: FAke News p.8-9

golden era of basketball p.12


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