Marian High School Network Student Newspaper - October 2020

THE NETWORK MARIAN

VOLUME SIXTY-FIVE • ISSUE THREE •October 2020 MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL • 7400 MILITARY AVENUE OMAHA, NE 68134 • WWW.MARIANDIGITALNETWORK.COM

How the 2020 election impacts teens, even if unable to vote Commentary by NaomiDelkamiller

R

ight now our halls are filled with plaid skirts and respect, but someday each of us will find ourselves in an environment where that layer of safety and protection is gone. Government teacher Mrs. Jillian Roger will no longer be there playing “devil’s advocate” to balance the conversation, and Mrs. Amy McLeay won’t be around to remind you about the psychology behind belief systems. So how will we know what to do when it is our generation’s turn to lead America?

Maria Corpuz is a Marian graduate from the Class of 2013 who is now involved in the Omaha political scene.

In preparation for Nov. 3, Corpuz is

delivering materials for a variety of candidates, phone banking and sharing educational media on her socials.

Almost eight years out of Marian, Corpuz said, “Marian helped me understand my own voice and what empowerment means. It’s clear Marian has helped you guys, too.”

In this election, only 40 Marian girls are eligible to vote and just 28 percent of Marian students are actively campaigning for a candidate right now, but quite a few of us have used our voice in another way.

“My friend Devin [Miss Devin Owens, Marian’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion] wouldn’t have come to

Marian without the level of change that you guys pushed for. This is really empowering to me,” Corpuz said. She believes that Gen Z is really stepping up. “You are straight up seeing the world for what it is.”

The impacts of the upcoming election have yet to be discovered, but Corpuz said she believes that there is a lot at stake, not just for voters, but for teens as well. According to the New York Times, the 2020 U.S. election will decide the direction of many contentious issues; climate change legislation, gun control, continued pandemic response, the Supreme Court and the process of

redrawing electoral districts to name a few. Although these issues can feel distant to our teenage world, Corpuz suggests that Marian girls, “understand that politics affect your everyday life and the people that you love. You have power to make change when you believe in your role in democracy.”

Although most of us are unable to vote in this election, our generation is already leading the country in an unprecedented way by standing up for our beliefs in creative ways. By starting small we are setting up a future political culture where rhetoric matters, empathy matters, and our voices matter.

Photo Illustration by NaomiDelkamiller

October 2020

02 News

Career paths have clear start in school curriculum

MaddieGenoways

W

and interning for science and programming. “I can’t express hen little kids dream about their suggests that, when Future Politician politicians I align how excited I am that tech classes are now future, they dream big: astronaut, pursuing a career in Callie Cavanaugh ’21 with, running for being held at Marian,” Phipps said. musician, doctor, maybe even president.

STEM, “be strategic smaller offices Students like junior Jada Williams are Their ambitions are inspiring, yet when in the courses you and working for benefiting from such classes, which feed they grow up, they are often told their choose to take and organizations and into her passion for computer science and dreams may be too far out of reach and apply for internships nonprofits that software development (her intended caare guided down a more realistic job path. in college.” promote the issues reer). “I’m interested in computer science However, Marian is encouraging students Gudeman may be most important to to embrace passion and purpose in prepa- seeing a few Marian because I think that the field is so vast, me.” Cavanaugh girls in engineering and it never stays the same. It’s constantly ration for a fulfilling future. plans to study soon, as Marian has changing with new information and deMarian is working hard to maintain political science doubled down in its the spark of ambition in students and signs, and I think that’s amazing,” she said. in college, much goal to balance the help them pursue their dreams in a way Marian strives to be a place where stulike Watters, who gender gap in STEM that’s much more concrete than “what do dents can pursue their goals openly and received the same fields. “Despite being you want to be when you grow up?” In without judgment, but no school is perdegree from the in the minority, womfact, Marian has been encouraging young fect. “I appreciate that young women are University of Newomen to become “confident, indepenencouraged to be independent leaders, but en have a very importI also feel very judged for being outspoken dent thinking leaders” for years, especially ant role in STEM and I braska Lincoln. about my beliefs from time to time,” Cavain male-dominated fields like STEM and am excited to be a part Some girls are politics. of it,” senior Grace Ellis said. She plans to still unsure of what they want to do with naugh said. “I think Marian should work Take ’01 alumna Sarah Shay Gudestudy civil engineering in college. their lives, but they’re not alone. After harder to create an attitude of increased Morgan Watters graduated from Marleaving Marian in 2014, Lauren Koperski acceptance and open-mindedness among man for example. After leaving Marian, Phipps didn’t find her dream career until both students and staff.”

Gudeman attended Iowa State University, ian in 2008 and now works as a political she graduated from the University of NeStill, students are optimistic about the where she earned a bachelor’s degree of operative at Colorado Rising in Denver, future for Marian girls. “I feel like Marian science in mechanical engineering. Gude- CO. Watters’ typical day involves working braska Omaha with a degree in computer is encouraging us science, which she man now works at Morrissey Engineering with many candidates, organizations and to use our voices to uses in her work as an Inc. as a mechanical engineer and sustain- other consultants to organize political make change in socampaigns. “I love that I get to do work application developer. ability manager. “I function as a design that truly, tangibly matters. I get to be a “One thing that was engineer, sustainability consultant, and ciety,” senior Emma challenging, especially commissioning authority,” Gudeman said. part of making our communities more Gunn said, who equitable and bring real representation to as I entered the field, “When I started in the industry, there has plans to study all people in this country,” Watters said. was convincing others were far too few females in engineering. law and eventually Watters isn’t alone in her passion for that I wanted to and That’s changing now, but there’s still a become a judge. politics. Senior could be a programhuge demand for Alumnae share Callie Cavaengineering of all this sentiment, and mer. Some people types in general.” hope to share a bit encouraged me to naugh has Gudeman enof advice with curdreams of pur- avoid programming because it’s notoriously courages Marian suing politics rent students: “It’s a male-dominated field girls interested and becoming okay to not know and that I could be in STEM to take a U.S. senator. what’s coming. better suited for other additional math “I’ve volunYou’ll know what positions,” Phipps and science you want when you teered on said. “To overcome classes, and to see it, and when political cam“investigate you do, go for it paigns before,” this struggle, I worked doubly hard and found different types without hesitation,” Cavanaugh Future Engineer Future Software Developer incredible supporters of engineering Phipps said. “You said. “I underGrace Ellis ’21 Jada Williams ’22 at school: the teachers and start making lose a lot of sleep stand that the who believed in me.” connections or worrying about political proSince the time that Phipps graduated, following people what other people expect from you and cess is a diffiMarian has made a great deal of changat companies that the trade-offs of making a decision one cult one, so I would be of inway or another. Sometimes the moments plan to spend es, one of which being the addition of Photo Illustrations by MaddieGenoways time working of imperfection are the bravest of all.”

STEM-focused classes, such as computer terest.” Gudeman

T

he day Principal Sullivan came on the announcements blaring the Husker Football tunnel walk song, the entire school sat in confusion. She went on to announce that Marian won, for the third time, one of the highest honors possible for a high school. And it’s arguably a bigger deal than a Husker Football win.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award was given to 367 schools in the entire country this year in recognition of academic achievement. Principal Susie Sullivan ‘80 has always emphasized student successes. “You ladies really don’t know how good you are. I always tell all of you that you’re a big deal, and you are!” she said.

The road to the Blue Ribbon has been quite long and winding. “First of all, you have to qualify just to apply.

Your overall math and reading scores on a standarized test have to meet certain minimums,” Marian’s president, Ms. Mary Higgins ‘69, said. “We blew reading out of the water.

The requirement was right around 24, and ours is usually around 27. It’s our math score that we’re just right in the zone, but we hadn’t hit the number yet,” Sullivan said.

Next, the school was given an application to fill out, which ended up being 21 pages long and involved a lot of manpower. Or, rather, womanpower. Sullivan was the primary writer, but then it underwent countless rounds of editing by a variety of staff, including English teacher Ms. Susie Sisson and marketing and communications director Mrs. Susan Rosenlof ‘82. “This marks the third time Marian has been recognized–and gives us more Blue

1993

RyleeGregg

Ribbon awards than any school in Nebraska,” Rosenlof said, sharing her pride in the award.

So what does this mean for the school going forward?

Marian is not allowed to apply for the award again for another five years, but in the meantime, there’s a lot of great publicity coming our way. “It’s huge bragging rights, and it’s proof that we can back up what we say about Marian. It says that students in this school are in the top 15 percent of the entire country, out of every high school!” Sullivan said.

There are so many people whose hard work contributed to the achievement of this award. First of all, the programs Mrs. Sullivan has started helped maintain Marian’s culture of achievement and sisterhood, which is part of what earned the school the award. “I want to give kudos to Mrs. Sullivan, not just because she wrote the application, but because of the new programs that got us into contention,” Higgins said. She gave examples including ACT prep, JumpStart, Pre-AP World History and Geography and a part-time licensed mental health practitioner. Both school leaders expressed their thanks to Ms. Susie Sisson, who took her red pen to the lengthy application to catch any errors.

What’s maybe the best part of this award is that it’s not the final goal for Marian or a reason to take a break; it’s motivation to work harder. “We’re working on our mindset, along with wellness…we’ve got a lot of ideas that we’re still going to work toward,” Sullivan said.

1998

Blue Ribbon Award validates staff, student efforts

2020

Graphic by MaddieGenoways

October 2020

News 03

Marian celebrates National Hispanic American Heritage Month

NatalieCusick

The library displays books in honor of National Hispanic American Hertiage Month. Photo by NatalieCusick

S

ept. 15 to Oct. 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month. This month is a time for everyone to be educated on and celebrate Hispanic and Latino Americans.

According to hispanicheritagemonth. gov, Hispanic refers to someone from a Spanish-speaking country, and Latino, Latina and Latinx all refer to someone who is from a country in Latin America.

Latinx is the most inclusive of these terms, since it is not gendered. These two groups also include their descendants. Marian is home to 35 students who identify as Hispanic.

One of these students is sophomore Audrey Arthur, who is Spanish, Costa Rican and Puerto Rican. “Honestly, I wasn’t very immersed in the culture as a kid, but now growing up, I actually get to experience a lot of things and understand what everything is about,” Arthur said.

“It’s a great culture; it’s so lively- there’s always parties. It’s just fun! ” She appreciates being Hispanic because “I get more experiences. You just kind of get to know more; you see different sides of what the world is like.”

Similarly, freshman Ximena Perez Silva is Hispanic and bilingual. “What it means to me is showing my culture and pride throughout the day, not Americanizing my daily culture, and being proud of what my background is,” Perez Silva said. She wants Marian students to “be okay with

people speaking another language... It’s background of people interested in attendgoing to be something you’re going to ing,” Owens said. have to go through. Just be comfortable “The summit shared a lot of education when people are not speaking English.” and work opportunities for students. We To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, heard from representatives and speakers “my family always reunites in a way-- we from area businesses and colleges/univergo out to eat, we throw a little party, but sities, in addition to state senators who now because of COVID-19, it’s different,” shared the importance of Hispanic and Perez Silva said.

Latinx students being involved in public During National Hispanic American policy,” Owens said.

Heritage Month, Director of Diversity Mrs. Molly McGuire Raabe ‘89 also and Inclusion Miss Devin Owens worked contributed to Marian’s celebration of with a group of students to bring awareHispanic Heritage Month by creating a ness to this minority display in the library. and educate the “I feel it is important Marian community. to support Hispanic The group created a Heritage Month in mural of Frida Kahlo, some way. I put out a famous artist from a display every year.

Mexico whose work I also used to put up reflected the beauty a small display in my of the country and its classroom when I was people. “It took us a a Spanish teacher,” little bit of time to get Raabe said. it together, so I’d say “I always refer the total amount of to the Pura Belpré time was maybe three Awards for guidance Isabel Soto ‘22 and Alyson Tule days,” Owens said. Beand inspiration. I also Martinez‘22 get their salsa on during the look at recommended low the mural, which Hispanic-Latino summit on Oct. 13. is located above the reading lists from the Photo by NatalieCusick quad in Marian’s main National Hispanic entrance, hang posters to inform about Heritage reading lists, the American a few of the many Hispanics who have School Library Association, National made great contributions to our world.

Book Award lists, and compare to the On Oct. 13 from about 9 a.m. to 1 books written by Latino/Latina writers p.m., Marian hosted a Hispanic-Latino we currently have in our collection. I put virtual summit in the collaboration room. out a small sample of our collection and “The summit was 18 girls, so it was more listen to requests I receive from all of our than I initially had planned for, but I was patrons,” Raabe said. glad to see so many students interested in Spanish teacher Señora Cassie Craig attending. Also, not everyone who particis half-Mexican and said she thinks it is ipated in the summit was Hispanic; there important to celebrate her own culture were Black, white, and other ethnicities in and all others. “There are over 60 million attendance, so it was great to see a diverse Hispanics in the U.S., and we contribute

a lot to the country. Hispanics’ past and present are a big part of U.S. agriculture; members of my family including my grandparents and great grandparents have worked the fields of Iowa. Mexican and Tex-Mex food are now staples across the country, Latin music and artists are becoming more mainstream and the use of Spanish is everywhere,” Craig said.

She sees the effects of her Hispanic background in her life every day. “At the heart of Hispanic culture is familia. I am friends with all of my cousins (all 21 of them), and I know my second cousins, third cousins, second cousins once removed, etc. Hispanics place great value in the family unit, and the love we put into our families seeps out into the community.”

“I think Hispanic culture should be celebrated by Marian girls and everyone else because celebrating diversity in general is an amazing thing. Opening our minds and experiences to other cultures makes us more loving, understanding, and well rounded human beings,” Craig said.

Owens encourages Marian girls to “pay attention and be aware, because when you’re aware of other’s history, it allows you to be more informed and able to make thoughtful, intentional decisions about what you’re doing.”

Vaping deaths disappear from news, serious repercussions still exist CourtneyThompson

B

efore the pandemic, vaping hospitalizations and even deaths, spread across the news like wildfire. According to the CDC, every U.S. state had at least one case of lung damage from vaping between 2019 and 2020, with a hospitalization count of 2,807 people. The reported death toll ended up being a much smaller number, 68 people. The doctors could only tell the patients that their illness was related to vaping, but had no more information to offer due to the lack of research behind vaping.

Doctors found that the main cause of this outbreak was the addition of Vitamin E acetate in some THC-containing vaping products.

THC is the main chemical found in marijuana and is known to build up along the inner wall of the lungs.

This buildup causes the lungs to function irregularly, and there is no way to get it out.

When the research behind the harmful effects of vaping were made public, cases decreased quite quickly, but vaping is still a cause for concern. Mrs. Kris Hennings, the Dean of Students at Marian, spoke on the dangers of vaping, regardless of the risk of hospitalization.

“We don’t know everything vaping does to young lungs. Everything I’ve read speaks on the dangers,” Hennings said. “Statistics show that there’s a high percentage of people vaping. It’s hard to catch students in the act, but they are doing it, and there are serious repercussions from vaping. Teens’ growing bodies don’t need things destroying their lungs, especially with COVID-19 taking the toll on the lungs that it does.”

Doctors around the United States are still unsure of the longterm effects of vaping, as there is not enough data to back up their hypotheses. The CDC reports that “the aerosol that users inhale and exhale from e-cigarettes can potentially expose both themselves and bystanders to other harmful substances, including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs.” Overall, though it was not the main cause of deaths, vaping is still harmful for the lungs and is not a substance that should be put into the bodies of young people whose lungs are still developing.

Dr. Amy Beethe, a pediatric anesthesiologist at Children’s Hospital, speaks on why vaping is so damaging to the lungs and why it is so detrimental to teens. “There’s lots of things that can be put in a vape that aren’t supposed to be there that you inhale,” Beethe said Some of the particles that you inhale are the same found in car exhaust. There are microscopic cilia in the lining of your lungs that help get dirt and debris out of your lungs to keep your lungs healthy. The chemicals paralyze the cilia, killing the defense mechanisms of your lungs. If you’re doing this day after day, you’re permanently damaging your lung tissue. I’ve had some teens in surgery, and they have lots of secretion from the damage, which is what you would see in a 40-year-old smoker.

That’s what’s so concerning about it.” So, no matter if Vitamin E acetate is in a vape, they are still harmful.

Graphics by MollyMonohan & MaddieGenoways

growing bodies don’t need “ Teens’ things destroying their lungs especially with COVID-19 taking the toll on the lungs that it does.

Dean of Students Mrs. Kris Hennings

“

Students create a mural of artist Frida Kahlo in honor of Hispanic Heritage month. Photo by NatalieCusick

04 Opinion

October 2020

Divided districts segregate Omaha, decrease opportunities, experiences Column by GaeaKaan

N

early 72 percent of Americans end up staying in or near the city they grew up in, meaning around 480 girls currently attending Marian will theoretically end up settling in Omaha. However, not only does our city matter, but the location within the city where we grow up matters, too. The cultural environment throughout Omaha is extremely diverse but segregated-meaning many Marian students aren’t exposed to all sides of the city without

purposefully going out of their way to do so. Marian students often live from 180th and Center to 90th and Fort. Their home locations tend to lie farther northwest, rather than closer to the heart of Omaha.

It can be difficult to comprehend, but places west of 72nd Street used to be considered “country living” only 60 years ago.

As stereotypical as this column might come across, I want to preface by saying that this is how Omaha truly seems to be

Graphic courtesy of Marian Admissions

Number of Marian girls from each zip code:

I miss the dinner table Commentary by NaomiDelkamiller

R

ight now, our generation is being faced with conversation topics that even adults struggle with. The events of 2020 have sparked intense civil discourse about public health, race and politics (among other things).

Hard topics are rarely talked about anymore, but when they are, the conversation is not taken as seriously.

Mrs. Amy McLeay, a sociology teacher at Marian, believes that the avoidance of difficult topics first stems from a lack of education of civil discourse–a style of conversation meant to enhance understanding between participants. “People want to make statements, but they don’t always know the opposition, and it’s not that you have to agree with [them], but you still have to validate there being a different opinion out there,” she said.

Most of my conversation skills were learned at the dinner table throughout childhood: respect those whom you disagree with, listen patiently, and be productive in a discussion. When teaching me how to handle hard topics of conversation, my parents assumed these situations would take place face to face, which we now know is not always the case.

“A lot of times we hide behind our devices,” McLeay said. “I think this generation has learned to communicate with technology too often, instead of having those in-person conversations.”

After posting a political opinion on my Instagram story last month, a user sent me a video outlining why my beliefs were wrong. I was immediately taken aback, and after letting them know that I do not expect them to agree, I reminded them that we all have a right to be respected.

They responded by typing “lol don’t want to get in a fight over Instagram.”

The sad truth about this is that most people I know have a similar story–some-

“Popeyes or Chick-Fil-A?” “Taylor

Swift or Cardi B?”

one is challenged for their behavior online and they immediately retreat to a lighthearted tone, acting like it didn’t mean anything.

If it didn’t mean anything, they wouldn’t have said something.

The thing is, right or wrong, our generation has an incredible number of opinions. We speak our minds, advocate for change, and use social media to form communities we might not have otherwise. However, right now this is being overshadowed by our inability to hold respect for the opposition while still having a conversation with one another. No matter what your beliefs are, you have a choice to engage in civil discourse without entering the chat with a goal to “win the conversation.”

Back when I was first learning how to actively engage in hard conversation, most of my disagreements consisted of who got to sit shotgun, where to get lunch, and what movie to watch. Now, at 17, I am balancing social, political, and moral topics simultaneously. It’s complicated and messy–even for adults. “I think as parents we are still learning through some of these issues... I don’t think you can stray away from these conversations,” McLeay said.

“That is what the dinner table is supposed to be for.”

As we approach the contentious presidential election this month, along with the rise and fall of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to remember that we are all approaching uncharted territory. “At the end of the day we are all still discerning and navigating through these difficult topics, and there needs to be a safe space to have these conversations,” McLeay said.

for me. After a simple investigation of all sides of Omaha, I can safely say that our city is physically divided by street signs and expressways, a perfect example being 30th and Ames. The cross street in the heart of North Omaha is extremely different from anywhere else in Omaha.

There are rundown buildings and torn-up roads, and although officials, investors and entrepreneurs have recently begun many revitalization projects, North Omaha has been one of the last places throughout the city to receive aid. However, this atmosphere immediately changes as soon as you go a little farther east and you find yourself in the downtown business district, bustling with cars and towering buildings.

The change in just a mile is rapid and extreme. The switch from a somewhat rundown part of town to a section filled with sophisticated offices and businessmen and women is shocking.

Segregation is not just limited to north and east Omaha; it can be seen throughout the city. West Omaha is known for its wealth, home to families who make a solid living and tend to live in houses that are modern and sell for more money.

South Omaha presents a large immigrant population, with South 24th Street being a strip full of Hispanic grocery stores and shops catering to the area’s majority.

Even Midtown has smaller segregated

areas within it. Dundee appeals to the wealthier liberals, and Benson caters to the small, “hipster” starter homes. The stereotyping is not at all true for everyone in these districts, but a vast majority of the population can fit into these categories. Segregation is something Omaha has found itself forced into with divided districts that will likely remain the same due to the consistency of the population over the past sixty years. However, this doesn’t mean we can’t take time to leave the comfort of our residential area to explore another.

Omaha is a beautiful city with so much to offer to the state. It is a tourist attraction for the avid animal lover, a College World Series fan or an explorer of multi-ethnic cuisine. The diversity in Omaha gives it so much personality and liveliness; however, there is a difference between inclusion and segregation. The range of cultures that has been brought to Omaha deserves to be recognized and celebrated, and should not be confined to one area simply because it is different from the majority. In essence, the beauty within Omaha should be explored and incorporated into our lives as Marian students. There is so much diversity in our home; let’s experience it rather than being bound by our addresseses, zip codes or even comfort zones.

Marian students manage increasing levels of stress Staff Editorial

S

tress is a common part of life for most high school students. From grades to activities, not to mention jobs and college applications for seniors, we have a lot on our plates to juggle. Often, all we can do is pray it doesn’t come tumbling down.

The only positive thing that our staff could identify about stress was that it has the potential to prepare us for later in life, but is this a good enough reason for what stress does to us? We don’t think so.

The effects of stress are familiar to most Marian girls. As far as physical symptoms go, one can expect lack of sleep, weight fluctuation, headaches and acne. We also found that stress affected our ability to physically relax without feeling guilty for doing so.

Given the COVID-19 situation, having to participate in online classes and not being able to see all of our classmates every day can leave everyone, including the teachers, feeling unhappy with the way the year is going.

It’s easy to find anger in this reality, too. We become frustrated with our teachers for overworking us, and the teachers become frustrated with us for complaining when they are struggling just as much as their students. Administration is working extremely hard to keep us safe and healthy, but at what cost? It seems like Marian is so different from the past, and as we desperately try to hold onto our traditions that are beginning to slip away, it can create an even larger problem, taking away the things that make our school wonderful.

This isn’t meant to diminish the amazing work our school has done to keep each and every student safe. The precautions we take on a daily basis, although tedious, help to keep us safe. However, it has become increasingly difficult to find fun in the school day given all these precautions, and our events we had to look forward to are gone, thus increasing the school workload and stress.

While stress may prepare us for

later in life, we’ve agreed that it’s equally important to live for the present, meet up with your friends at Starbucks, and hang out at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch (all with precautions and masks). Students live under the weight of a never ending to-do list, and feeling guilty about taking a break isn’t going to solve the problem.

Homework will always be there, but there are some experiences that you can’t get back. That’s why our staff recommends finding balance.

We would suggest for you to keep a positive mind and your eyes on the bigger picture. Life may be about achievement to a certain degree, but it’s also about finding happiness. You can’t do that if you’re miserable ninety percent of the time you’re supposed to be working on something that will make you happy. Furthermore, making time for yourself can help ward off that feeling of being burnt out and allow you to stay refreshed and energetic about the things that give your life that purpose— things that make you smile and laugh and stay up all night writing down ideas and wake up ecstatic about the possibilities the day could bring.

That idea can be difficult, and we don’t want to encourage faking your happiness for the sake of others or yourself. It is important to understand and cope with our feelings, take time to process our stress and anger and find the root of those feelings. Pushing our stress to the side is not going to make it go away, taking breaks to relax is key, but avoiding those feelings all together can prove to be really unhealthy.

While it may be unrealistic to expect life to be all sunshine and rainbows, it is important to keep yourself grounded in the here and now. Even seniors who are stressed about starting to make real life decisions need to take a step back every once in a while and realize that this is still one of the best times of our lives, so plan for the future and get your homework done, but live for the present and for yourself.

October 2020

Opinion 05

Toxic femininity dresses women to uphold sexism, limits future potential Opinion by NatalieCusick

T

he words “toxic masculinity” spark a list of movie characters, male celebrities and situations in most people’s minds.

Your thoughts may run to Jacob Elordi’s character Nate in “Euphoria” or your older brother who laughs every time you cry. As a girl, I can name an effect or example of toxic masculinity without much time to think.

But what comes to mind when you hear the words “toxic femininity”? For me, it was, Girls? Toxic? Can’t be.

Well, it can be, and toxic femininity may be even more widespread than its male counterpart. Toxic femininity is defined as women overly expressing traditionally “feminine” traits, such as “passivity, empathy,

sensuality, patience, tenderness, and receptivity,” according to Psychology Today, at the expense of themselves for the benefit of others-mostly, you guessed it-men. While toxic masculinity may lead to violence or assault toward others, toxic femininity can lead to personal harm in the forms of depression or exhaustion.

Could toxic femininity be plaguing our gender the way we see it forming aggression in the corners of a young boy’s mind?

Honestly, the ‘toxic’ qualities above don’t sound all that bad. It’s the things we feel we shouldn’t do as women that make toxic femininity damaging.

Toxic femininity is the way we reach for a flower-patterned or pastel-colored dress for a first date. It’s the way we save our opinions for our girl friends instead of boys and replace our beliefs with an undemanding laugh. It’s the way teenage girls often hate eating in front of a person of interest of the opposite sex.

Some of these examples may seem like upholdings of sexism, and that is true. But didn’t sexism create toxic femininity and toxic masculinity? Our country seems to have been founded on sexism, which deprives women of power and promotes powerful men. This trickles down into the small sexist characteristics young boys and girls are taught to uphold.

We see the effect of our society’s sexist systems in the ways they are upheld

through toxic masculinity, which tells boys they need to be “strong,” and then turns into “powerful” later in life. At the same time, we teach women to be “gentle” or “sweet,” which has a connotation of “weak.” By focusing on certain qualities when we raise our young girls and boys, we foster in them a fear of the opposite. Women are subconsciously raised with a fear of boldness; there’s a comfort to just ask for something instead of demanding it.

Toxic femininity slowly turns our empathy and patience into allowance and tolerance, which pushes away accountability and justice. It’s harmful to ourselves as women, but it’s more-so supportive of the systems of sexism in our society-which is exactly why we need to be aware of it.

Maybe our society isn’t drawing light to the idea of toxic femininity because the absence of it will threaten the power men have always held over us. If we want to promote the equality of men and women, we can start with equating the toxicities of each gender. Calling out the shortcomings of how we’ve been taught to be women is vital to our success.

It’s hard to think that girls would ever add to prejudice against ourselves, but we do it every day. Stop calling your straightforward friend rude. Stop calling your honest friend dramatic. Stop praising a girl for “how she handled the situation with

they have on them or what was in the dirt they were buried in?

Growing up, I thought that zombies were a much bigger issue than people made them out to be. Every time we drove past a graveyard in town, I would stare out the window thinking the zombies might just be chillin’ by their tombstones.

I can remember my old summer camp actually had a part of the handbook that gave instructions in the case of a zombie apocalypse. They were much more prepared than most other people and it made me feel safe knowing someone had an idea of what to do in the case of this kind of emergency.

Given the string of bad events 2020 has produced, it seems probable that a zombie apocalypse would take place now of all times. I hate to entertain conspiracies about silly things that I know can’t happen, and I know that zombies aren’t real and we won’t fade into an apocalyptic world, but given the state the recent pandemic has forced our world into, it genuinely doesn’t feel so far fetched to wonder what’s next for our world.

Pessimistic behavior is completely useless and silly in the situation 2020 has presented. It does no good for anyone to have a negative attitude to top off an already negative world. It does, however, do everyone some good to be able to laugh about the situation. Humor is a gift in life; it can make so much difference in many situations.

Let’s use our humor to bring happiness to such a depressing time. And who knows, maybe a zombie apocalypse really will happen; I just hope I get to be friends with Emma Stone and Woody Harrelson, too.

The zombie invasion is just beginning...

“

Toxic femininity slowly turns our empathy and patience into allowance and tolerance, which pushes away accountability and justice.

”

grace” if she really just didn’t do anything and allowed injustice to happen to herself or others. What we’re really saying to other women is “I’m uncomfortable with your directness,” “I’m threatened by your power.”

We’re all just subconsciously dishing out the sexism we’ve been fed our entire lives slipped into helpings of compliments and life lessons like we slip a pill into our dog’s food bowl.

So though it’s hard to imagine that any form of toxicity could exist in being the definition of a “nice girl” or within conversations between us and our girl friends, toxic femininity is quietly walking hand in hand with sexism, in line behind the hype of toxic masculinity. It stands there sweet and docile, but it’s in the way of your potential and strength that every woman has.

How can 2020 get any worse? With the zombie apocalypse, of course Opinion by GaeaKaan

T

he year of 2020 has to be the most ridiculous year in history. If someone were to come up and ask me to summarize the year in one word I would simply describe it as ‘scary.’

Not the slasher kind of scary, where Ghost Face is going to give you a call, asking you what your favorite scary movie is, but the kind of scary that you see in a movie, and it makes you ask yourself, “what if ?”

2020 is like a scary movie, making me hide under the covers and have a Nerf gun close to me for protection. Given that we still have a few months of the year left and so much insanity has already taken place, it leaves me wondering: what’s to come next?

The pessimist in me tells myself that there is something worse waiting around the corner of October, but what? The only logical conclusion I have come to is simple really. It has been predicted for years… the zombie apocalypse.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the mechanics “aren’t there” and “it’s impossible for zombies to exist,” but with everything that has happened in 2020, it makes me wonder.

What if COVID-19 is the exact form of bacteria needed to get the zombies going?

The only thing I hope is that it’s more of a “Zombieland” movie situation rather than something out of the film “Pandemic.” If our world is going to be like any zombie movie, I want it to be a funny one.

I never really understood why people weren’t more terrified of zombies, I mean come on, they’re the living dead trying to eat us! Who knows what kind of gross bugs

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

MHSbeat

mhspub

mhspub

The Network is

Cartoon by GaeaKaan

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

Managing Editors: NatalieCusick & NaomiDelkamiller Copy Editor: RyleeGregg Photo Editor: AnnaKidder Graphics Editor: MollyMonahan Online Editor: LexiKetcham News Editors: MaddieGenoways, JessicaBrusnahan & EmilySalzman Feature Editors: AnnaDailey, MollyMonahan, SophieStevens & AnnaKidder

Opinion Editors: CourtneyThompson, LexiKetcham & GaeaKaan Indepth Editor: QuinnFindley Sports Editors: MaryCateTabor & SophiaVirgillito Entertainment Editors: FrannieCihunka & MiaDunker Photo Essay Editor: GraceVirgillito Adviser: Mrs.MarshaKalkowski

06 Feature

October 2020

marian girls rank classic Halloween Movies

#1 hocus pocus #2 the nightmare before christmas #3 the addams family #4 girl vs monster #5 twitches #6 scream #7 beetlejuice #8 ghostbusters #9 halloween town #10 coraline where to watch netflix- the addams family amazon video- all 10 movies disney+ - hocus pocus, nightmare before christmas, girl vs monster, twitches, halloween town (results from the network survey - 176 responses, 32% of student body) Graphic by MollyMonahan

History of Halloween defines today’s traditions

GraceVirgillito

A

s different traditions of ethnic groups began to merge, an American version of Halloween started to arise.

Halloween was a time for people to tell ghost stories and cause mischief. After the potato famine in Ireland, the Irish immigrated to America, bringing their own concept of Halloween with them.

According to the History Channel, the traditional idea of “trick-or-treating” started with the Americans. This tradition came with dressing up in costumes and going door-todoor asking for food or money. Neighbors started to also celebrate this tradition together by going to each others’ houses and telling stories about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft around the fire.

By the 1920s, communities attended parties together, dressing up in costumes, playing games and decorating their houses.

As many parents attended parties, teenagers began vandalizing the streets and houses for fun. Families used “trick-ortreating” as a way to distract the kids, and instead of vandalizing, they were busy getting candy from their neighbors.

Now, Halloween is celebrated with children dressing up as various characters and creatures while going door-to-door asking for sugary treats. Halloween

may have started out differently, but it has evolved over the years, and you can almost always spot the playful, laughing kids on their way to score some candy!

According to WOWT Channel 6 news, “During their COVID-19 response update, the mayor and Health Director of the Douglas County Health Department Dr. Adi Pour said Halloween will not be canceled in Douglas County, but did warn against high-risk activities and listed low-risk ones.

“We are going to have a safe and fun Halloween,” said Dr. Pour. She said trick-or-treating can be done with added precautions. She encourages small groups, wearing masks and bringing along hand sanitizer.

For those wanting to hand out candy, Pour recommends leaving a bowl outside and separating them into baggies.

As COVID-19 is still on the rise, Halloween may look a little different this year. Marian teachers have plans about how the pandemic might influence their kids’ Halloween festivities.

Spanish teacher Señora Cassie Craig plans on continuing her regular Halloween traditions, but with a twist this year.

“We will be trick-or-treating, but the family that we normally trick-or-treat with is opting out this year. The children will wear masks and use hand sanitizer frequently. I am going to buy a

bag of candy that they can eat immediately and will quarantine their candy that they collected for a few days.

“We usually have a big crowd come trick-or-treating with us, including neighbors and family, because we live in a neighborhood that really participates in handing out candy and putting out decorations, and I usually make a bunch of food for everyone before we head out, but that will not be possible this year,” Craig said as of Oct. 23.

“We have never been super crazy Halloween people,” math teacher Mrs. Jaime Piernicky said, “so probably not much change to our normal plan, but our neighborhood can get a little hectic on Halloween. We will probably let them go trickor-treating still, but together instead of with a big group of friends.”

“They will for sure have to wear a mask all night, and then use hand sanitizer like crazy.

Two of my children have October birthdays, so it feels like we are festive all month! When my kids were littler, I tried to get them to dress in theme costumes,” Piernicky said.

“For example, one year I had a football player, a cheerleader, a referee and the baby was the football. Another year I had a knight, a princess and a dragon, but they quit humoring me with that years ago!” Piernicky said.

he month of October is to see that’s what women are full of searching online expected to want to wear,” and in stores to find the best junior Niamh Corrigan said.

Halloween costume. While this “From my perspective, I have is supposed to be a fun, lightbeen desensitized to see sexhearted activity, the deeper issue ualized costumes. It seems so of the sexualization of women normal when it should not be. is revealed while looking up at a Girls should be able to dress up wall of corsets, short dresses and as what or who they want withtight spandex shorts. Women’s out feeling like they have to Halloween costumes are often reinforce the ‘sexy’ stereotype.” very revealing, while men’s costumes are similar to those a child could wear.

To find a non-sexualized Halloween costume for women, the word “modest” often needs to go first in the search bar.

When searching for a photo of women’s animal costumes, the results show women in very short or tight dresses. When searching for men’s animal costumes, most of the photo Margo Haske, age 9, looks for a costume results show costumes similar at Spirit Halloween, 6404 N 73rd to what a school mascot would Plaza. Photo by AnnaDailey wear. The same goes for all categories of costumes; whethSexualized Halloween coser it be witches or a cowgirl, tumes date back to the 1940s, women’s costumes are almost according to the Huffington always much more revealing Post. During this time, actors than men’s. and actresses had to go on “In sociology, there is a publicity tours for movies that term called ‘Moral Holiday,’” their studios produced. When sociology teacher Mr. Chris some studios such as ColumDziadus explained. “It means bia Pictures and Paramount that there are times when norms Studios had publicity tours on a can be broken with no negative date close to Halloween, those sanctions or stigma.” Halloween in charge of styling put the seems to be a time of the year in actresses in revealing costumes. which women are expected to While these costumes were not wear revealing clothes. Whereas extremely revealing by today’s the rest of the year, wearing standards, they were a little revealing clothes is often looked scandalous for the time period. down upon by society.

This was one of the first events “It’s really disheartening that started the ‘sexy’ Halloween

costume trend.

Out of the 190 girls who responded to the Network survey, 93 percent said they think sexualized Halloween costumes are harmful to young girls and teenage girls who grow up seeing them as the norm.

“This is harmful to young girls because they see this as the norm growing up,” Dziadus said. “They don’t just feel like they can be a princess, but they sometimes feel like they have to be an overly-sexualized princess.”

However, not everyone thinks it’s harmful to grow up seeing sexualized Halloween costumes. “In our generation it’s not portrayed as being sexualized, it’s the thought of having body confidence and having the ability to show pride in yourself,” junior Madeline DaSilva said.

“I think every woman has the right to dress as they want to,” senior Macey Carrico adds.

The sexualization of women’s Halloween costumes may lead to frustration and anger. “I feel upset and anxious due to how women are displayed at Halloween because it often further objectifies and belittles the interests and careers of women,” senior Gracie Kerr said.

“Although some women [enjoy wearing revealing costumes], the fact that no alternative options exist is inhibiting many women, and I think that protesting and publicizing this marketing behavior may begin to make a difference.”

The dark side of Halloween sexualizes women AnnaDailey

T

October 2020

Feature 07

Humanities Scholars Program seniors begin capstone projects AnnaDailey

F

or the first time ever, 12 seniors at Marian will participate in the Humanities Scholars Program (HSP). “To me, the humanities are the subjects that connect us to other human beings,” HSP senior Elaina Carleton said. Some disciplines of the humanities include philosophy, art, music, history and identity. “Whether it’s halfway across the world or across town, the humanities bring us together,” Carleton said. To be part of the HSP, students must have taken Introduction to the Humanities and five elective courses in the humanities from at least three subject areas. They must be initiated into an honors society relating to the humanities as well.

“This project is for students to take what they have learned from all of their humanities classes and

the theories and methods they learned in the Intro class, and put it together to make a project that is centered around the humanities in some area that they are interested in studying,” Introduction to Humanities teacher Mrs. Jillian Roger said. “It does have a lot of similarities to Honors Independent Research, but that’s much more science-focused. This one is a lot more humanities-focused.”

This project will take almost all school year to complete. The final draft must be complete on April 30, and presentations of the projects will begin in May. Each student will meet weekly with their assigned faculty advisor who will help guide them through completing their project.

“From this project, I hope to gain a good grasp on the humanities as I head into college. I hope to know how to navigate a pretty open-ended project for future studies,” Carleton said.

As this is the first year this project will take place, there are some concerns about what the outcome will be.

“Being the first year and during a pandemic, this project is

absolutely frightening,” Roger said. “However, I think this cohort of seniors I have are really exceptional, and I think that the work they produced last year was phenomenal. I can’t wait to see what they are going to do this year.”

“My biggest worry about the project is that I might have a hard time researching my topic or being open-minded enough in my learning to really understand the profound nature of what I am learning,” HSP senior Casey Brattain said.

Each student in this program picked her own topic that involves three of the humanities. “I am going to be studying the societal conditioning that has led women around the world to live their lives in accordance with beauty standards. I will be incorporating the humanities of philosophy, history and art into this study,” HSP senior Amanda Hingorani said. “I hope to gain new skills and knowledge from this completely new experience and from the other seniors in this program as well.”

The humanities are unique, because they have their own methodologies for conducting research.

“This project is really going to help these students, especially if they go into the humanities when they are in college, to have the framework and foundation to do this type of research,” Roger said.

“In a school setting where education is more math, science and English based, this project will really let us explore more of a subject we are super interested in,” Brattain said.

“I hope this is a thriving program,” Roger said. “I want it to sustain because this is our first year where we have seniors and juniors, and I have a new group of sophomores who are currently in the Intro class. I’m hoping that it continues to grow and that the students who are currently in the program pursue the humanities in college and in their careers.

That is the real goal of the program, to set students up for success in the future.”

Graphic by AnnaDailey

Bilingual students exhibit expertise of language mastery AnnaKidder “I

think the weirdest part about telling people you are bilingual is the fact that they ask you to say something to prove it. Especially in grade school where they would ask you to teach them ‘curse words’ and proceed to call each other the word shortly after you told them. Of course, sometimes I didn’t tell them the correct phrase because, well, they’ll never know…” junior Anastasia Wewel said. Although all Marian girls are required to take two years of a foreign language, there are very few who actively speak two languages.

Anastasia Wewel

“Vietnamese is a language I was born into. I really don’t remember a time when I didn’t speak it,” Wewel said. “When I was little, my mom was a stay-at-home mom. Since her first language was Vietnamese, she brought it into the household and spoke it with my siblings and I.” Wewel calls her mom “me,” . which is the Vietnamese word for mother. Her mom is her only parent who speaks Vietnamese, so at home, she speaks both English and Vietnamese equally.

“At home, when my father was at work, I would speak Vietnamese with my mother. When he came back home, I would speak to him in English (since he had, and still has, no idea what we were saying).”

This is something she still does today.

Wewel is taking her third year of French at Marian. “I think knowing another language makes you more open minded to new languages. Since you already have experience in speaking another language, you begin to pick up on rules and words of other languages easily.”

However, speaking two languages isn’t always smooth sailing. “Sometimes I find myself subconsciously mixing up

Junior Anastasia Wewel

my words in sentences. For example, if I’m speaking in English, I’ll sometimes replace one word in the sentence with a Vietnamese word.” Despite this occasional challenge, she hopes to someday be fluent in French.

“I feel that Vietnamese is possibly a bigger part of my identity than English.

It was passed down to me from my mom, who is an inspiration in my life, and it will be passed down to my future children, that is, if I have any.”

Crystal Gonzalez

Freshman Crystal Gonzalez speaks both Spanish and English. She learned to speak the two languages when she first started talking. While she doesn’t find it confusing to speak two different languages, learning French at Marian, her third language, can be a challenge at times. “Knowing two different languages is not that helpful. I’m still having to learn entirely new words and definitions,” Gonzalez said.

While she mostly speaks English at home, Spanish still manages to find its way into other facets of her life. “Whenever one of my friends sneezes, I usually say ‘salud’ instead of ‘bless you.’”

Freshman Crystal Gonzalez

Ola Hezel

“My mom and her whole side of the family are Polish, so I learned Polish from them in order to communicate with them.

I still have family members who don’t speak any English, so being able to speak Polish is super important to me,” senior Ola Hezel said. “I try to use as much Polish as I can so that I can keep up and not forget it.”

At home she mostly speaks English, but when she talks to her grandparents she only uses Polish. To add on to her plethora of languages, Hezel is in her fourth year of Spanish at Marian. Learning Spanish has been a lot easier for her since she is able to speak Polish. “It has helped with the learning process, as well as my pronunciation.”

However, learning a third language is not always easy for her. “The sentence structure and grammar are all so different,” Hezel said. During the summer, she speaks more Polish than Spanish, so it can be hard to adjust when she comes back to school. “[Being] Polish is such a big part of my family and who I am as a person, I could never imagine not having it in my life.”

Senior Ola Hezel

Aby Acevedo

Senior Aby Acevedo’s first language was Spanish. She grew up speaking it and only learned English by hearing the language at school, on T.V. and around her friends. She feels like English is a bigger part of her identity. “I grew up watching movies and listening to songs in English; it has just always been English.”

However, Spanish is important to her and her relationship with her parents. At home, she talks to her parents in Spanish and her siblings in English. “It’s really beneficial to know another language because you can talk to a whole new group of people. And it’s also nice to help others, especially my parents, when they need a translator,” Acevedo said. She took Spanish starting freshman year and finished Spanish V as a junior.

“One time I was at the grocery store, and this lady in front of me wanted to say something in English, but she couldn’t. It was nice to be able to translate for her.”

Being bilingual has many other advantages. “I can watch movies in Spanish and view a different culture, and I can also watch movies in English,” Acevedo said.

“I get the best of both worlds.”

Senior Aby Acevedo

THE ENNEAGR

08 Indepth

Octobe

Discover the reasons behind your actions.

Enneagram allows for self-reflection, deepens sense of self QuinnFindley

E

very single person has a different way of thinking, which causes unique outlooks on every situation, however, there are similarities that group people into separate distinctions. That grouping is called the Enneagram, and it is a way to discover the personality traits of others, and why they act the way they do.

Though the in-depth personality depicter has supposedly been around for centuries, in 1915, a Russian philosopher, George Gurdjieff, was researching human development, and thus came the publicity and popularity of the Enneagram. This personality test gives individuals the opportunity to look deeper into the components that guide their thinking, and explains behavioral patterns.

The nine personality types allow for everyone to have a source of clarification for their feelings and

actions. The nine types are subdivided into three categories, called triads: the body, the heart, and the head. In the body lies the Challenger (8), the Peacemaker (9), and the Reformer (1).

The people associated with the body tend to guide their lives by instinct and gut feeling. A more romanticized category, the heart, contains the Helper (2), the Achiever (3), and the Romantic (4). As you could guess, these people base their decisions off of emotion. Lastly, the Head contains the Investigator (5), the Loyalist (6), and the Enthusiast (7). This last group uses intellect to make decisions, and thoroughly thinks through the outcomes.

Theology III teacher, Mrs. Lori Spanbauer, has spent a considerable amount of time studying the Enneagram in her faith journey. She said, “I think that the nine types make up

However, the Enneagram does not simply state the redeeming, positive qualities of everybody; it also points out the faults each type contains: stubborn, self-absorbed, demanding and more. Shedding light on the good and the bad praises everyone, while also humbling them and giving them the gift of seeing their own faults.

Libby Cole, Owner and Certified Coach of Enneagram to Expand, said, “I truly believe learning more and digging deeper into the Enneagram can help you develop into the best version of yourself. Many forms of self-exploration are beneficial to your overall development and self-awareness, but the Enneagram especially is a strong tool.”

The Enneagram gives a specific insight that allows for deep personal reflection and an acceptance and deeper understanding of the self.

the whole person. We all have all of those nine types within us, but we have a dominant type that helps us understand how we interact with the world.”

Just like no person fits into just one category, each type has two wings and security and stress points. The wings of each type are the two numbers directly next to it, and some people with that type may “wing” one of those two numbers; your wing can change over the course of your life, but your type cannot. The security point across the diagram from your number is the type you act like in times of growth.

The stress point, in turn, is the number from which you take the negative qualities during times of stress.

For example, if you are a four, a romantic, you can wing a three or five, your security point is one, and your stress point two.

TYPE 1 TYPE 2 TYPE 3 TYPE 4 TYPE 5 TYPE 6 TYPE 7 TYPE 8 TYPE 9 The Reformer The Helper The Achiever The Romantic The Investigator The Loyalist Values being Very efficient Values creativi- Strong drive Very responsiDriven to follow morals seen in a posi- and goal ori- ty and unique- to understand ble and clings to safety and why, indeented; can be ness, strives to and rules; can tive light, pricomfort; can pendent; can be restricting oritizes helping over-achieving, be authentic; be worrisome, others; can be appear discan often feel making the or critical manipulative people around misunderstood connected and making them seem suspicious them seem lazy closed off Core fear: Being morally bad

Core fear: Feeling unloved

Core fear: Feeling worthless

Mrs. Jillian Roger, Social Studies Teacher, Type 1 “I want to be good and am very critical of myself.”

Mrs. Amanda Pritchard, Spanish Teacher, Type 2 “It just reminded me that I need to prioritize self care, too.

I can help others better when I am at my best.”

Mr. Eric Thompson, Math Teacher, Type 3 “I consider myself to be pragmatic and analytic, which I attribute to my work as a Math teacher.”

Bridget Gerards, Senior, Type 4 “I consider myself different from others in some ways, and I like to maintain a certain self image.”

Ashlee Czyz, Senior, Type 5 “I’m very independent and observant, and I like to be knowledgeable in any topic that fascinates me.”

Core fear: Feeling insignificant

Core fear: Feeling incapable

The Enthusiast Wants to experience everything to the fullest; can be impulsive and lack good judgement

The Challenger Acts as a strong leader for those around them, strives for justice; can be aggressive or lustful

The Peacemaker Strives to create harmony in everything surrounding them, very self aware; can be extremely stubborn

Core fear: Being controlled

Core fear: Not having inner peace

Core fear: Core fear: Living without Feeling trapped or deprived guidance

Grace Ellis, Senior, Type 6 “I think taking the test just reaffirmed what I already knew about myself.”

Laura Torres-Salvador, Freshman, Type 7 “I am very extroverted and optimistic, and the strongest feature I identify with is being spontaneous.”

Mrs. Susie Sullivan, Principal, Type 8 “I do not have a problem asking questions and letting people know my opinion, and I stand up for what I believe in.”

Mr. Kory Delkamiller, Theology Teacher, Type 9 “The strongest characteristic for me is wanting to mediate a sense of peace, and in such a way that there’s growth.”

NETWORK GOOGLE SURVEY RESULTS OF STUDENTS’ TYPES 1

2

3

4

5

6

Don’t know what type you are? Scan this code to take the Truity test to find yours!

7

8

9

Scan this code and click on your type to get an in-depth description!

AM

er 2020

Indepth 09

9

The Peacemaker

1

8

The Reformer

The Challenger

Audrey Hepburn

Teddy Roosevelt

Nelson Mandela

7

2

The Enthusiast

The Helper Mother Theresa

Betty White

Graphic by MaddieGenoways

6

Ellen DeGeneres

Oprah Winfrey

The Loyalist

3

The Achiever

Albert Einstein

5

The Investigator

Kurt Cobain

4

The Romantic

An 8 speaks out:

Understanding the types creates acceptance, love Opinion by NatalieCusick

W

e’ve all grown up with the idea that we are on some transient journey to “find ourselves.”

We hear about people who venture into the wilderness “off the grid” with no reception for a month and emerge from the woods a new person. This leads most to believe that who we are before this big “aha” moment is just some imposter in place of the real version of ourselves that will one day appear.

The Enneagram completely wiped away this faint map of a self-discovery path winding through the back of my brain and replaced it with a road sign saying “there’s no one else to find.”

The Enneagram exposes the concept that you were created to be your authentic self but may have been confusing this with your personality, which is really just the mask we use to strive to protect our true self. “Before we can become who we really are, we must become conscious of the fact that the person who we think we are, here and now, is at best an imposter and a stranger,” Thomas Merton said.

Your Enneagram type or number is not reflective of your personality but actually your most inner, true self.

To take the first steps on the Enneagram’s journey of self-understanding, you can take an online

test, talk to someone who knows both you and the Enneagram well or, to be completely sure of your type, read about it.

After I took those first two steps and was sure of my type, I began to read into it. As I read all about type 8, I felt like I was reading words written by a little elf living in my brain. Everything I read was a direct reflection of who I am, yet I had never been able to put these truths about myself into words.

Although reading all this gave an explanation for the ways I act, love and fail, I didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know deep down. That’s why I have primarily found the Enneagram as a way to understand those around me.

As a type 8, I have a lot of trouble understanding that there are other truths beyond my own and that not everyone can see things the way I do. It was almost earth-shattering to hear from the 9s why they avoid conflict; I always thought that was just a bad habit of theirs that needed to be fixed. I never would have thought that the 3s in my life-who’s constant people-pleasing I can’t stand-are really trying to combat feeling unworthy.

I was completely fascinated to hear about the way other people see life, because I have always

been too busy trying to force them to put on an 8’s glasses.

Reading about each Enneagram type with my family and friends in mind gave me insight into thought processes some of them probably couldn’t even explain about themselves. Understanding provides for acceptance and empathy, which is exactly what I took away from reading about the Enneagram and brought into my friendships.

The Enneagram forced me to look in the mirror at my innermost fears, desires and faults. While these realizations created a few moments of self-hatred, they left me with a greater sense of self and a comfort in knowing why I am who I am. More importantly, the Enneagram allowed me a glimpse inside the minds and hearts of people I thought I could never relate to.

I’ve learned that there is a reason, and sometimes a fear, behind every person’s actions and inactions.

Everyone sees the world in a completely different light, but that should never hinder our relationships or force us into the shade of others’ views. There are many truths in this world, and accepting our own and others’ is the only way to truly love ourselves and others.

Feature 10

October 2020

Not your grandpa’s sneakers: Rare sneakers create a competitive market

QuinnFindley

I

n big cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City, Black Friday happens every couple of weeks. This isn’t the typical midnight of Thanksgiving Eve, discounted Christmas presents Black Friday; these days are dedicated solely to sneakers sold at pop-ups. However, these sneakers aren’t the average Nike Air Force 1s; these shoes are worth up to tens of thousands of dollars, and lines to get in can wrap around blocks on end. And the thing is, no one knows exactly when or where to get them, since the location and times are dropped with short notice.

What makes a majority of the sneakers so desired is that they are shoes that are no longer made, making them extremely valuable. Since the stores only remain for a day or so, sometimes even a few hours, the early bird gets the worm.

Some buyers will even travel hours just to get a place in line with surprisingly little time to get there.

Though each pop-up is unique, a regular pattern of brands is displayed.

Creighton Prep graduate Grant Heider ’18 tries to go to the pop-ups when he has the opportunity. From his experience, he said, “The brands that you can always expect are Supreme, Bape, Yeezys, Jordan’s, and obviously big brands like Adidas and Nike.”

WorkShop is a pop-up store that used to frequent Omaha’s Old Market. Recently, they put in a permanent store on 1125 Jackson St. Alley Suite 7, open six days a week. Not only do they sell exclusive sneakers, but they also sell designer clothes, bags, hats and even skateboards.

Some of the shoes are even collaborative designs with popular influencers, typically in the musical or athletic field: Kendrick Lamar with Reebok, David Glover (i.e. Childish Gambino) with Adidas, Cardi B with Reebok, Travis Scott with Air Jordan and Alexander Wang with Adidas.

However, the sneaker pop-up business acts like a (legal) black market. Without having to identify as an actual store, a pop-up can sneak through loopholes. “The owner of the pop-up can sell any item at any price they want, and they receive 100 percent of the profit because they can avoid taxes,” Heider said.

Although pop-ups still occur, websites and apps have started to take over the sneaker game. “Today, there are resell apps such as StockX and Goat where you can find pretty much every single rare shoe on the market,” Heider said. Some of the credible apps even have the shoes shipped to their own company first to guarantee that the product is authentic. Especially today, with COVID-19, buying from home has become a more popular option.

Similar to the pop-up shops, the online options carry shoes that are no longer made. This allows the sellers to price their shoes up to thousands of dollars more

than the original price in order to meet market demand.

More bona fide, or reliable, apps operate like the stock market, turning the hobby of searching for rare sneakers into a mathematical science. On StockX, there is ticker tape, the red and green arrow statistics, that runs along the top of the screen to display the rise or drop in shoe prices.

In order to sell the shoes, the seller must set a minimum price, and from then on, buyers bid their top prices and the highest closes out the deal.

Whether physically in a shop, or through online bidding, dedicated sneaker collectors are willing to put in sweat and tears to find the shoes of their dreams.

Retailers and buyers from all around the world participate in this network, allowing it to be a diverse market with rare products.

Graphic by MiaDunker

Students lose hundreds from online shopping scams JessicaBrusnahan

B

uyer’s remorse is the worst, especially when you don’t even get what you paid for. Online scamming is so prevalent nowadays that a person can be cheated out of their money without even knowing it. Sometimes you remember looking at the site, and other times the scam comes out of nowhere.

With the many advancements in technology in the past 10 years, especially cookies (which, when allowed on your browser, monitor your online actions), sites know more than ever about you. Google, Amazon and Facebook, three of the biggest power players in e-commerce, can suggest products similar to what you’ve purchased before.

While most products are legitimate, buyers have to be aware of the risk of a scam.

But how do you know if you’re being scammed? The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Omaha’s website has a plethora of information.

They offer tips on how to avoid sketchy sites in the first place. Signs that should make a customer skeptical include missing or faulty contact links, constantly glitching graphics and few to no reviews of specific products or the site overall.

In addition, the BBB advises against online interactions, especially transactions, with “someone you have never met face-to-face,” whether that be on websites directly or through “unsolicited emails.”

It is important to maintain your privacy online, so never share “personally identifiable information” in a transaction or over social media.

Many reviews can be found on the BBB site, and a large number of businesses are accredited, or verified, by the BBB. If one is unable to find reviews of the site in question on the BBB site or on other sites, one good tool for checking a site’s validity is the BBB’s scam tracker, which updates daily to offer constant information for potential customers.

Marian students have had plenty of experiences with online scams. Out of 219 total responses on the Network’s October Google Survey, 26 girls said they knew they had been scammed, and another 28 weren’t sure (owing to the mischievous nature of scams).

The most popular sites students had been scammed by were Shein, Wish, and Etsy. When

asked how much money they had lost from online scams, answers ranged from $10 or less to more than $2000. A few students shared their personal scamming experiences.

Senior Emma Gunn lost $300 from a concert ticket scam on Craigslist. “I sent them half first, then the rest when they told me their bank account app wasn’t working,” Gunn said, remembering her “gut feeling that something wasn’t right.” When she realized what had happened, Gunn was torn on what to do. She knew she had lost the money for good and wouldn’t be able to get a refund, as “[the site’s] information...was completely fabricated.” Her advice: use a verified method of payment, and don’t hand your money out just because something excites you.

Freshman Marin Momsen lost $92 from a gift card scam. When her purchases didn’t process, Momsen was worried, so she checked the card’s website and found out that “someone in Georgia paid their Cox Cable bills with my card.” Angry, she filed a claim with her bank and received a refund after three months. Her advice: don’t depend on online shopping, because not all situations end up as well as hers.

Sophomore Meghan Bartness lost between $2,000-$3,000 from a used car scam. With such a large amount of money, the story had to be convincing, right? Bartness and her dad had been searching for cars and found one advertised on Facebook.

After following up multiple times with no luck, as the phone number provided by the seller was disconnected and couldn’t be traced, Bartness knew she had been scammed. “I felt really sad just [because] I was really excited and very disappointed,” Bartness said.

Her advice: make only small purchases online and view the item(s) face-to-face before you buy.

Altogether, online scams have many layers.

From the original onset to ending scam attempts to receive a refund, they affect more than just the seller and customer. If possible, follow up with your bank as well as the site concerned after you’ve been scammed; this is the best way to safely try to get your money back. But above all, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

While most products are legitimate, buyers have to be aware of the risk of a scam.

Infographic by AnnaKidder

October 2020

Feature 11

Pandemic changes daily lives of Servants of Mary LexiKetcham

F

or more than seven months, the day-to-day lives of the Servants of Mary have changed in the ways they do typical things. The continuous spread of COVID-19 has inhibited them from carrying out their favorite activities such as going out to eat, shopping for new clothes or going to their favorite Omaha attractions. However, it hasn’t stopped them from their faith-filled mission to pray for and minister to the community, advocate for social justice causes and devote themselves to the Blessed Mother Mary.

Sr. Peggy Miller ‘65, who entered the Servants of Mary in 1967, has felt the effects of COVID-19 while being confined to the Advancement and Business Offices at Marian and her home, since she doesn’t live in the Mother-house Convent. “It’s hard knowing I can’t go out and do what I would like,” Miller said. She misses going to the Henry Doorly Zoo and ushering at the Omaha Community Playhouse, as well as not being able to shop for the new clothes she’s in need of. “It isn’t that I do these things very often, but I don’t have the freedom to do them now, and I find that hard,” Miller said. In addition, Sr. Peggy has been attending Zoom sessions for her Marian classmates book club and college group.

Along with Miller, Sr. Joan Houtekier has experienced missing out on typical activities. She has been a Servant of Mary for 58 years and is the Bereavement

Minister for Marian’s alumnae. Her weekly responsibilities in this position previously included attending four to six funerals and visitations per week for lost loved ones of alumnae in order to extend support from the Marian community.

Because she lives at the Convent, she is no longer able to attend services due to living with Sisters who are more susceptible to COVID-19. Instead, she now calls or sends cards to the alumnae.

Sr. Margaret Buchta, a member of the Servants of Mary since 1965, is now learning new things in the Advancement Office. She has enjoyed learning new things and taking on projects, although she misses seeing students while supervising study halls and lunches as a teacher

assitstant prior to COVID-19. “It is fun, and every day when I come to Marian, I am open to what the day will present,” Buchta said. She has discovered new smart phone tricks with the help of her family, friends and community.

The Servites have not been able to visit the seven Sisters who live at the Fontenelle Home where they receive skilled care. “We do try to call them and/ or FaceTime with them, but I miss going to visit them,” Houtekier said. Many Servites, along with students and faculty in the building, are also unable to visit their family members who live out of town.

Daily Mass no longer occurs in the Convent, but liturgies are held by a priest on Sundays without singing due to the fact that it can spread COVID-19. Sr.

Sr. Peggy Miller, Sr. Margaret Buchta, and Sr. Joan Houtekier stand together in the Advancement Offices on third floor. Photo by LexiKetcham

Peggy and Sr. Margaret, who would plan, play guitar and lead the music for Mass, are no longer able to do so at this time.

The Servite Sisters in the Congo have not been subjected to the virus as much as other areas in the Congo because there is less travel between cities there. Sr. Monique, who is from the Congo, is still in Omaha at this time due to travel restrictions. The Sisters in England and France are also quarantined, in addition to wearing masks and social distancing.

In light of current events, the Servants of Mary have found some positive aspects of the pandemic. Sr. Peggy has done more phone and FaceTime visits to stay connected with others. Every Sunday, the Servites FaceTime a sister who used to live with them and now lives in Detroit.

Sr. Joan has found extra time to read and has tried to walk outdoors more. “I have enjoyed watching the changes in nature this past spring, summer and now autumn,” she said.

Sr. Margaret has done more cooking than ever before and has developed barbecuing skills with the help of her brother through phone calls. She continues to take time for prayer and growth.

“Take the time to enjoy your family and your daily surroundings since our pace has slowed down a little. Appreciate the things you have taken for granted in the past,” Sr. Joan said to the Marian community.

Teachers finding their path in the world, sticking to it SophieStevens

M

ost children start to dream of their future profession from the time they can speak. For most, this dream doesn’t turn into their lifelong passion after the twists and turns life throws at them. Every Marian teacher pursued their career in a different way, some never expecting to end up in the classroom. Some teachers grew up knowing they wanted to be a teacher, and others changed their mind throughout college.

“I always played school when I was little,” Spanish teacher Mrs. Amanda Pritchard said. “I had a whiteboard, desks, worksheets, gradebooks - the whole kit and kaboodle in my basement growing up.” She went into college wanting to be an OB/GYN, but changed her mind after one quarter. Pritchard said she must have been on a “Grey’s Anatomy” kick.

“I actually didn’t realize teaching was going to be my path until much later on,” math teacher Miss Megan Han ‘13 said.

“When I was younger, I always thought

I’d probably go into medicine or engineering.”

“I tried to diminish the possibility of being a high school teacher for several years,” theology teacher Mr. Kory Delkamiller said, “but ultimately it kept coming back to the forefront of my mind. The dream wouldn’t let go of me! 28 years later, I am thankful that the desire to teach never left me.” He said that the gifts and joys he has received from teaching are something he will forever be grateful for.

Many people want to leave a positive impact on others, and teachers feel they can do that every day while teaching. “I think my main motivation for teaching comes from the excitement I see when students figure out a difficult concept, or

they come to tell me that they got a better score on their ACT, or let me know that they got into the college they wanted to,” Han said.

Seeing students learn and develop every day keeps teachers on the edge of their seats and is one of the main reasons they love what they do.

“I like that my days are never monotonous or boring,” English, speech and debate teacher Ms. Halli Tripe said. “You never know what will happen!

Another great thing about teaching is that it’s pretty much the only profession where you get to start fresh each year.” Tripe said she feels if she has a clean slate every year, she can continue to become a better teacher.

“I really enjoy teaching, even if this has been an odd year so far,” social studies

teacher Mr. Chris Dziadus said. “It has always been fun, and most days I am excited to get class started.” Dziadus grew up wanting to go into the broadcasting industry, but found his way into teaching.

“I have always been interested in being a teacher,” sophomore Maggie Morris said, “because I love working with kids.

I also really enjoy school in general.” Her mom plays a big role in her wanting to become a teacher. “I am inspired by her teaching and the enthusiasm she has for her job,” Morris said. Her mother teaches online English classes at Metro Community College.

Having youth who are inspired by teachers makes for amazing and enthusiastic teachers in the future. “I think there are many students at Marian that would make great classroom teachers! I see so many students who are empathetic, patient, good listeners, caring, organized, creative, smart and enthusiastic,” Delkamiller said.

Driving: Decide, defend, do what’s safe!

JessicaBrusnahan

T

eenagers often have a love/hate relationship with driving. Sometimes it’s the only thing that can calm them down when they’re stressed, but it can also be one of the most terrifying things they do.

Regardless of how safe a person is, one always has to look out for how other drivers are acting. All it takes is one second for something seemingly innocent to turn into real danger.

Over the years, many Marian students have been involved in car accidents. The October Network survey revealed that about 36 percent of the student body knew at least six people who were involved in car accidents. Moreover, 16 students knew 11 or more people who have been in car accidents, a fairly high number for such a young demographic.

What can one do to prevent an accident? There really isn’t a clear answer.

Sometimes a driver must make the best choice based on the current situation.

Other times, it’s deciding to go the speed

The notion of defensive driving is limit and marking out the roads you will take before you start driving. These actions nothing new to the Marian student body.

96 girls said they had heard of defensive and others taken to prevent accidents are driving before. In response, the most known as defensive driving. popular answers to describe the practice As defined by safemotorist.com, included words such as “prepared,” “caudefensive driving is a practice that tious,” and “vigilant.” “enables motorists to address identified The widespread awareness of Marihazards in a predictable manner” an students is most likely due to the and “[reduces]…driving risks by classes and tests teenagers have to anticipating situations and making safe, well-intake in order to earn their formed decisions.” licenses. While driving Besides following practice is key to gainthe speed limit and ing confidence in the reacting to your car, it is also importsurroundings, the ant to know how to site mentions one work around reckless other important thing to Cartoon by MollyMonahan drivers. Your safety should know: the 2-second rule, always be your top priority, which uses a reference and no one agrees more point between two cars to determine a than Mr. Pat Venditte, founder of Cornsafe following distance (your car should husker Driving School in Omaha. pass the point 2 seconds after the car “We try to get the kids as much ahead does). hands-on and visual training as possible,”

Venditte said. Cornhusker Driving School is at the forefront of modern vehicle technology, with patented safety lights to increase student and instructor attention when driving and a rollover crash demonstration to help persuade the use of a seatbelt. But no inventions are as important as the technique of defensive driving.

“Defensive driving requires the driver to avoid the mistakes of other drivers [and give] 100 percent total concentration,” Venditte said. He hates to see the high injury statistics for teen driving, but hopes to prevent future accidents with enough training and practice.

As reported by the Nebraska chapter of the National Safety Council, “more than 40,000 individuals were killed in motor vehicle crashes” in 2017, with the vast majority being “the results of human error.”

With such scary statistics, it’s easy to get sucked into the mindset that driving is simply too dangerous. Driving safely and defensively can save people’s lives.

12 Sports

October 2020

& MaryCateTabor Eleven moments in Marian athletic history SophiaVirgillito, SophieStevens 2. Marian’s 1988 Varsity soccer team holds the

1

4

1. Becki Clark Carter ‘86, the current Marian dive coach and mother of Taylor Carter ‘17 and Megan Carter ‘21, found her love for the sport at a young age. She was on the dive Taylor Carter ‘17 hugging her mom team during her time at Marian and after being awarded with her state won the state title in 1985 and 1986. medal in 2015.

Taylor Carter was Nebraska’s diving Becki Clark Carter ‘86 state champion in 2015, followed diving at state in 1985. by her younger sister, Megan Carter Photo from Marian’s winning in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

1985 yearbook.

Taylor holds the state meet record Photos courtesy Coach Carter awarding daughter Megan with a score of 526.00. of Megan Carter ‘21 with her third state medal in 2020.

The 1989-90 basketball team coached by Jim Miller. Photos from Marian’s 1990 yearbook.

2

Class A record and state record for goals scored in a single match. They are tied with Millard North and Lincoln Southeast with 22 goals.

Marian’s 1988 soccer team.

Photos from Marian’s 1988 yearbook.

3

4. Marian basketball was on top of its game in 1990-1997, having state appearances in all seven years. The 198990 season started off rocky with losses to Millard North and Millard South.

The team worked hard to prepare for the final moments of their season, ending with a runner-up trophy in the state tournament.

5

6

6. In 2003, the Marian cross country team set out for a state title, unaware they would be back-to-back state champions for the next four years. Mr. Roger Wright and Mr. Greg Golka, head coaches, mentored their team to victory. The 2003-2007 cross country teams brought home state titles for five consecutive years.

The 2004 XC team. Photos from Marian’s 2005 yearbook.

Rachel Faulk from Melissa Faulk from Marian’s 2003 yearbook. Marian’s 2000 yearbook.

7. In 2001 and 2002, Melissa Faulk ‘02 and Rachel Faulk ‘05 both won their matches by close margins. In 2001, Melissa defeated Moira Groh of Fremont High School to bring home the Class A Nebraska state championship title. Melissa’s younger sister Rachel won the following year’s state championship, defeating Melissa Diamantis of Omaha Burke. Both sisters went on to play collegiate tennis, Melissa at Barton College and Rachel at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

8. Marian’s 2005 Varsity golf team won the Class A state tournament. They continued to defend that title for the next four years. Dianne Narzinski ‘10, a freshman in 2005, was on the team for the next four years that they won. They maintained the state title for following five years until losing to Grand Island in 2011. Photo from Marian’s 2006 yearbook.

10 11

Photo from Marian’s 2000 yearbook.

Coaches Mr. Greg Golka and Mr. Roger Wright in 2004.

7

8

3. Marian’s 1989 golf team posing in front of Knolls Golf Course, after winning the state tournament with 352 points. The team was coached Photo from Marian’s 1990 yearbook. by Faye Ford.

Marian’s 2005 golf team, coached by Tara Joyce Whipp.

Dianne Narzinski pictured middle, back row.

10. In 2018, freshman Lauren Harris ‘21 finished her first high school season with two wins at the state meet. Harris won both the 400 meter dash with a time of 57.17 and 200 meter dash with a time of 25.13. She currently holds the Marian record for the 400m dash at 55.93 in 2019 and the 200m dash at 24.86 in 2018.

Lauren Harris high jumps in 2019. Photos from Marian’s 2019 yearbook.

9

5. In 1999, the Marian Varsity volleyball team had a record season of 44-1. Mrs. Amy Sibbernsen McLeay ‘00 social studies teacher and current Varsity volleyball coach and Mrs. Nicole Mausbach Kuehl ‘00 Advancement Associate and current JV coach, were on the team as they were led to victory by Coach Rochelle Rohlfs, current Athletic Director. The team’s spirit and connection took them all the way to state, winning the championship title for the 1999 season.

The 2015 Varsity softball team after winning districts.

Photo from Marian Softball’s Twitter.

9. In 2014, Marian softball was one game away from capturing the state title. They finished as the runner-ups, winning four out of the six games in the state tournament. The following year, they came back more prepared than ever. The team started the following year strong with a (13-0) shut out against Westside. By the end of the season, they were a force to be reckoned with, bringing home the Class A state championship trophy, the first in Marian history.

On Feb. 29, 2020, the swim and dive team made history once again. This is Marian’s most recent state win from the latest school year. Photos from Marian swim and dive Twitter.

Marian is proud to be home to 65 state championships and 14 sportsmanship awards. As always, roll Crusaders!

11. In 2020, Marian’s Varsity swim team took home its 14th state title. They beat Lincoln Southwest, the defending state champions, by 145 points, the biggest margin in state meet history.

Their main leaders were swimmers Jojo Randby ‘21 and Bella Pantano ‘20 and diver Megan Carter ‘21. Head swim coach Mr. B.J. Christiansen said, “It meant a lot to the team and myself to be a part of that history. It was a culmination of a great team effort.”

Young athletes build the future of the Marian athletic program

SophiaVirgillito

Molly VonSeggern ‘23 (left) and Stella Miner ‘24 (right) after their race at Walnut Creek.

These athletes are two of the youngest members on this year’s cross country team.

Photo by CeceWest

T

he Varsity cross country (XC) team was on the chase for a state title this year. Marian had previously claimed seven team Class A state championships in 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Marian has also had four individual state championships claimed by runners in the years of 1999

by Anna Jones, 2000 by Laura Spanheimer, 2006 by Emily Sisson, and 2008 by Kelli Budd.

The 2020 Varsity cross country team competed in the A-4 district tournament hosted by Lincoln North Star on Oct. 15. Coached by Mr. Roger Wright, Mr. Greg Golka, Ms. Megan Han ‘13, and Mrs. Alee Cotton ‘05, the team had a successful race with five runners placing in the top 15.

Freshman Stella Miner placed first with a time of 18:29.37, more than one minute ahead of the second place runner. Gracie Lampert ‘24 finished in seventh, Molly VonSeggern ‘23 in eighth, Emily Salzman ‘21 in ninth, and Eva Watson ‘21 in 14th.

Marian finished as the district runner-ups.

2013 was the first year of the 5,000 meter race. Since then, the best times in the state meet had an average of 18:35.303.

This year’s XC team had a strong freshman class with many returning runners.

“This team is a special combination of experience and youth. We have five returning runners from the squad that ran at state last year combined with the best freshman class of runners in many years,” head coach Roger Wright said.

Prior to state, Wright said, “it’s going to be a good race,” and it was. fter this young group of athletes competed for the 2020 Class A state title on Oct. 23 in Kearney, the team ended its season with a fifth place finish overall with four runners placing in the top 40.

History was made as Miner now holds the Nebraska state record for fastest 5,000 meter race with a time of 18.11.00, beating the previous 2013 record holder Jeralyn Poe of Lincoln North Star, who had a time of 18:14.90.

Gracie Lampert ‘24 races in the Walnut Creek meet. Lampert is another example of young talent on the team.

Photo by CeceWest

A

The 2020 Varsity Cross Country Team The Varsity XC team and coaches after finishing runnner-up in the district tournament. Photo from Omaha Marian’s Instagram.

October 2020

Marian athletes wear masks to practices, sporting events, but outside activities put the entire community at risk of COVID -19

SophiaVirgillito

E

xercising and playing sports while wearing a mask reduces the possibility of contracting COVID-19. Marian athletes are required to wear face masks when playing close contact sports, such as volleyball and cheerleading. Most students even wear them while at their local gyms to protect themselves and their community members.

The CDC states that while engaging in low-intensity activities, face protection and the practice of social distancing is recommended. When engaging in high-intensity activities such as running, wearing a face mask may cause difficulty breathing, but is still highly encouraged.

When wearing a mask while exercising, the restricted flow of oxygen makes the workout more intense. A scientifically more intense workout, will result in a greater number of calories burned. While it may restrict the flow of oxygen, wearing a mask does not trap the carbon dioxide breathed out.

It is important to have a fitted, breathable mask that can be washed after each day of activity to keep yourself and others healthy.

Freshman Margaret McAndrews wears her mask while at basketball workouts, at soccer practice and at the gym. “I get used to it by working on breathing patterns and just always having it on during workouts. It does take time to get used to mask-wearing during workouts, but the more you wear your mask, the more you keep others and yourself safe.”

JV volleyball players sit on the bench at a home game, cheering on their teammates and keeping everyone safe while wearing masks.

Sophomore Ally Ravnsborg wears a wearing a mask, but since then, it’s been mask to volleyball practices and games. manageable. The team just has to focus on “I think that we should wear masks making sure we are clear with our cheers, during sports, because we are all close and so that the parents and students in the breathing heavy...I just got used to it by crowd can understand us,” senior cheermaking sure I always wore one, and you leader Regan Peake said. just have to push through it.”

“Tumbling with a mask is more diffiFreshman Katie Prosser wears her cult though, because it falls down easily,” mask to volleyball. “Wearing a mask was Peake said. a little tough at first, but I have gotten The safety of the athletes, opponents used to it, and it barely bugs me anyand spectators is important, so the cheermore...It took me learning to take deeper, leaders maintain a positive atmosphere at longer breaths rather than short and games and matches. shallow breaths, during which I would While wearing a mask can make just breathe in the mask. That’s about it, usual activities more intense, the Marian I barely remember what playing without community is working hard to prevent one is like because it’s been so long.” the spread of COVID-19 while allowing Not only is it suggested to wear a mask activities to continue. during school sports and public workouts, Despite the protocols, the week of Oct. but also activities where individuals might 12 brought multiple positive COVID-19 raise their voices, chant, or shout, such as results to the Marian athletic community. cheerleading. Marian’s cheer team stands Contact tracing has made it relatively clear on the end of the court this fall. that the athletes had been wearing masks “The first game was hard to adjust to at practices and games but not for other

Sports 13

daily activities. This outbreak has quarantined 63 members of the Marian community in an attempt to protect others.

This is not the first outbreak amongst athletics in Omaha. In early September, the Creighton Prep Varsity football team cancelled practices and upcoming games and quarantined players after a team member tested positive. Since the quarantine, the team has been able to continue with their season and has remained healthy, despite having to forfeit a game against Bellevue West on Sept. 5.

While the other volleyball teams concluded their season, practice remains on schedule for the Marian Varsity volleyball team members who tested negative. The Varsity volleyball team dropped out of the Metro tournament but is preparing for the District tournament.

The Marian administration worked hard to trace and contact students and families who may have been exposed to the virus.

“In no way do I want to blame the athletic teams for this outbreak. The biggest advice I can give to students regarding weekend activities is to wear their mask!”

Principal Susie Spethman Sullivan ‘80 said. “Trust me, I know how hard it can be to not get the same social interaction once allowed, but there are still ways.”

The Marian community is advised to interact in ways that follow social distancing to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Athletic trainer goes above and beyond in the gym and at home CourtneyThompson

T

o most sports teams, the most important person is the star player, or maybe the coach, but to teams at Marian, one of the most important people is Mrs. Melissa Brusnahan. Brusnahan is the athletic trainer and does more for the athletic department as a whole than most students know. On top of being an athletic trainer and mother, Brusnahan has worked as the Assistant Athletic Director since 1997, along with being part of the Emergency Response Team, whose members rush to assist students and staff when they get injured in the building.

“I do all evaluations, treatment and rehabilitation sessions throughout the day during student study halls or lunch,” Brusnahan said. “If I’m not busy with that, I’m doing Athletic Director duties.”

As soon as practice time starts at 3:30, her job is in full swing. She watches the teams practice and makes sure that if she is needed, she’s always right around the corner. Along with her athletic training duties, she teaches a few student assistants how to properly make ice bags, tape ankles

and provide other basic athletic training services. “It’s hard to do all of my athletic training duties on my own. In the fall, there’s four volleyball teams inside, two softball teams outside, and 50 cross country runners everywhere,” Brusnahan said.

“I can’t be everywhere at once, so it’s just nice to have an extra set of hands helping me out with things.”

Senior Abby Russell, one of the Varsity softball team captains, says that her team holds much respect for Brusnahan. “Melissa always helps out everyone, even when it’s not asked of her. She does so much for our team behind the scenes, and we are so lucky to have her,” Russell said.

As the Assistant Athletic Director, Brusnahan confirms schedules with other schools, confirms officials for games and adds the scores to Marian’s website for the use of Journalism students and parents who might have missed a game. “It’s a unique position, but it’s really beneficial because when I’m not busy treating athletes, then I’m free to do a lot of the athletic directing duties,” Brusnahan said.

Softball wins Districts, 4th at State SophiaVirgillito

C

lass A’s third-ranked Marian softball team was the host for the A-3 district tournament. They started off the day with an (11-2) win over Columbus, continuing on with a (12-4) win over Papillion-LaVista South. On day two, Marian was to face Papillion La-Vista South (PLVS) again.

Game one ended with a loss, (9-6), sending Marian and PLVS into sudden death. The girls came out on top with a (9-0) shutout win. The team advanced to the state tournament at Hastings on Oct. 14-16. On the morning of Oct. 14 the Crusaders shut The Varsity softball team lines up to be announced at the beginning of the first state game against Lincoln East on Oct. 14 in Hastings.

Courtesy of LanyGregor

out Lincoln East (3-0) with home runs by Abby Russell ’21 and Danielle Schlader ’22. Later that day, they fell (14-0) to Papillion-LaVista, the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. On day two, Marian defeated Lincoln Southeast (8-2). The Crusaders fought hard, but fell to Lincoln Southwest (11-2). By the end of the state tournament, the team finished with a total of 23 strikeouts, 17 of those contributed by sophomore pitcher and outfielder Maddia Groff ’23. The team also had five home runs and 106 plate appearances.

Ms. Rochelle Rohlfs, Athletic Director, covers most of the Athletic Department responsibilities, but like Brusnahan, cannot be everywhere at once. “She does so much work behind the scenes for the athletic department. I definitely wouldn’t be able to function without her, and the games wouldn’t run nearly as smoothly,” Rohlfs said. “When I go to other schools and witness what athletic training is available to them, Melissa’s expertise and the care she gives to our student athletes is second to none.”

Brusnahan works tirelessly for Marian, as the rest of the staff does, and never lets her personal life get in the way of her duties as the athletic trainer or Assistant Athletic Director. She has three daughters, Melanie ’19, Jessica ’21 and Charli ’23.

“As far as the amount of work, it’s really a lot, to be honest. She has 10-hour days sometimes, of setting up schedules, working practices, communicating with coaches and stuff. She really does love to connect with students, especially the

student trainers or the girls who end up in her office a lot with injuries,” Charli said.

The scholastic athletic training community is close knit, and Brusnahan is respected throughout it. She has been with Marian for much of her professional career, and athletes hope she will stay for the rest of it.

Athletic Trainer Mrs. Melissa Brusnahan treats a student with a knee concern during her lunch break. Photo by: MaryCateTabor

Golf District runner-ups finish 9th at State SophiaVirgillito

T

he Marian golf team competed on Oct. 5 in the district tournament.

Jeslynn Baumgart ‘22 placed first with a score of 78. Not far behind Baumgart, teammates Brielle Abboud ‘23 finished sixth with 86 points, and Sophia Morehouse ‘22 finished seventh with 88 points.

Marian’s golf team was Class A-3’s district runner-ups with an overall score of 343, just two points behind Lincoln East. The top three teams in each dis-

trict moved on and competed at state.

The Marian golf team headed to Norfolk Country Club on Oct. 12 and 13 for the Nebraska state golf tournament. The team finished ninth in the state tournament with +157 points. Individually, out of 75 competitors, Marian’s Jeslynn Baumgart ’22 tied for 10th, Sophia Morehouse ’22 tied for 39th, Brielle Abboud ’23 tied for 41st, Gabrielle Johnston ’22 tied for 55th, and Anna Ulferts ’21 tied for 68th. The golf team has had a successful season with the leadership of senior captain Anna Ulferts.

The Varsity golf team at the Norfolk Country Club for the state meet with the JV team there cheering them on. Courtesy of @_MHSactivities

October 2020

Ryan Murphy’s brilliance displayed in ‘American Horror Story’ and ‘Ratched’ ‘American Horror Story’ is Dante’s ‘Inferno’ Review by GaeaKaan

“

American Horror Story”

(AHS) is a television series directed by Ryan Murphy, taking the audience to a new timeline with each new 10+ episode-long season. With each season comes new mysteries and scares; however, Murphy brilliantly finds small details to tie each season into the next, allowing the audience to put together the puzzle of the AHS universe.

This disturbing show has left fans with many questions about the larger meaning of the series. A popular theory is the idea that each season represents a different ring of Dante Alighieri’s “The Inferno,” recounting the tale of Dante being led by the ancient Roman poet Virgil through the nine levels of hell in order to reach heaven. This theory posits that each season of AHS is a different ring of hell, holding a unique setting that the show revolves around, meaning that could be related to each ring.

The first season introduced was Murder House, representing the circle Limbo. The season presented that once you die in the house, you are trapped there, unable to move on to the afterlife, thus representing the limbo between life and death.

The second season of AHS, Asylum, represents Fraud, the eighth circle of hell. Simply put, all of the inpatients were wrongly accused of insanity and held against their wills, and the entire staff were impostors. An example of this can be seen in the doctor of the asylum being an ex-Nazi scientist.

represents the violence in the River Styx, where sinners are constantly fighting each other, similar to the land in Roanoke.

The seventh season is Cult, representing Treachery. The political cult was made by men to betray women, with the end revealing a woman within the cult who betrayed it from the inside.

Violence represents the eighth season, Apocalypse.

The end of the world represents violence, but the two main rings of the world are the outer ring, where it is raining fire, versus the inner Source: www.mymetmedia.com ring, where the remaining kill Coven, the third season, exeach other off poses the idea of Greed. Each one by one. The witch in the season continues most recent seato backstab the sisters in the son of AHS thus house in order to reach the far is 1984, rephighest position, the Supreme. resenting Heresy.

Freakshow demonstrates This remake of the idea of Gluttony; throughslasher horror out the fourth season the travels back ringmaster of the traveling Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com to the 80s and circus turns a blind eye to the presents characters suffering performers and indulges in who are each guilty of sins against the finer things, dreaming of nothing God, such as steroid use or homicide, but stardom. Season five of AHS is and are being punished by men who Hotel, representing Lust. This season participate in equally sinful behavior. follows the inhabitants of Hotel Each “American Horror Story” Cortez, who lust for the pleasure of season contains quintessential ideas their different vices, whether that be relating back to each circle of hell. sex, drugs or murder. Roanoke is the Murphy, the creator of the show, has sixth season in this series, presenting even commented on the theory callthe fifth circle of hell, Anger. The ing it “interesting, ” leading some to Butcher leads the angry lost colony believe that was the goal of the show of Roanoke to terrorize a couple who all along: to surround each storyline are dealing with anger of their own with an idea in Dante’s “Inferno.” due to infidelity. This season also

Entertainment 14

How to accessorize your uniform FrannieCihunka

“I think that it is important for girls to be able to express themselves through fashion although it’s not needed if they don’t want to. I think it’s important because fashion is all about being yourself and passing boundaries people try to put you in.”

Elise Rose ’24

“I would describe my style as very laid back and comfortable. I prefer to be dressed casual rather than dressed up. I never wear makeup, and I always prefer my Chuck Taylor’s over a pair of heels. I always prefer pants over dresses. Overall, I prefer natural beauty.” Gabrielle Johnston ’23

‘Ratched’ showcases the worst of human nature Review by QuinnFindley

I

n September, the lead writer of “American Horror Story,” Ryan Murphy, released his most recent masterpiece, “Ratched,” on Netflix. The eight-episode season contains an elegant drama style filled with suspense that’s native to classic horror movies, and guaranteed to keep you at the edge of your seat. From the late 1960s setting and nostalgic thriller music, to the binge-worthy mystery, to the dynamic personalities of every character, “Ratched” is a must-watch.

The show is based off of the corrupted character of Nurse Ratched from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” the 1975 classic movie starring Jack Nicholson. The show is supposedly a prequel to the movie, offering a backstory for the notorious villain of the original movie. The majority of the plot takes place in Lucia State

Source: www.radiotimes.com Hospital, a mental asylum run by Dr. Hanover, that’s known for experimenting with new ways to treat patients humanely (how ironic).

All the newspapers are buzzing about Edmund Tollison, a patient convicted of multiple homicides who will soon be admitted into the hospital, and Mildred Ratched, played by Sarah Paulson, is determined to get close to him no matter what lines she must cross. However, Mildred doesn’t

Open your Spotify search bar and search the code to find our favorite spooky songs for October.

Happy listening!

have the same intentions as the journalists determined to just get a picture and a story for their boss.

It’s quickly revealed that she and Edmund had a childhood together, and she is willing to manipulate the people around her to make sure he stays alive.

One of the most compelling aspects of this show is the struggle of good and evil battling in each character. The show allows the viewer to see all sides of the character, displaying not only the malicious, vengeful characteristics that seem to guide the plot, but also the disturbing and painful backgrounds that create a feeling of sympathy, no matter how evil a person they may seem.

Through a suspenseful plot that exposes the corruption in authority and reasoning behind maligned human nature, “Ratched” is a show that leaves its viewer wanting more.

“ I would say my style is goth, very Halloween-based. I like to do a dark cat-eye with lots of mascara. I like to express myself, and it’s fun to show my style with my uniform.” Ada Dyer ‘24

“I describe my sense of style as spontaneous and new. My nails are typically bright or unique colors that show my personality and mood at the time. My shoes represent how I am feeling that day.”

Katie Hedrick ’21

October 2020

Entertainment 15

Revival of Y2K fashion inspires style across all four grades at Marian Entertainment Column by MiaDunker

W

hen you think of 2020 fashion, you may imagine anything from pastel crop tops and cardigans to bright neon athletic wear, or maybe even the emo-adjacent aesthetics of the famed E-girls of TikTok. But what if I were to tell you that these trends are nothing new—that in fact, they were staples of early 2000s fashion just two decades ago? The start of the 2020s has brought with it a resurgence of Y2K fashion.

“Y2K” is an abbreviation of “year 2000” and was originally coined in the late 90s to refer to the turn of the century. The phrase is famous for the Y2K scare—or the fear that all computers would stop working when their clocks would not be able to transition into the 21st century. Today, Y2K is commonly used to refer to late 90s and early 2000s aesthetics and styles.

But why the revival of trends that were deemed out-of-style in the notso-distant past? Look no further than Two Pinterest boards dedicated to Y2K outfits. Board on left by the “20-year rule,” a popular idea in the Pinterest user @seiadorabile and one on right by user @pre2kjodie. sort of went deeper with it from there. I Y2K presented me with an opportunity to fashion world that says current trends often use Pinterest to find ideas for outexperiment with my wardrobe. Though my are influenced by those from 20 years befits.” Quarantine has caused a surge in on- bank account surely could not handle it, fore. The theory goes that as fads decline line shopping, making more unique styles I wanted to explore the different facets of in popularity, people look back to old Y2K fashion. styles they see as nostalgic and incorporate readily available. With the extra time and reasons to shop online, many young I began to turn to Pinterest for this them into their wardrobes, making them people have been experimenting with task, where Y2K aesthetic boards have trendy once more. In general, 20 years styles considered tacky or over-the-top. been thriving. I got an idea of the general in between trends has been a sweet spot The Y2K trend is unique in the fact that it trends of Y2K, with crop tops, smaller between a fashion trend being considered encompasses many different styles—wher- tank tops, oversized cardigans and jackets, vintage but not too outdated. A prime ever you are on the goth-prep-jock-nerd high waisted bottoms and chunky shoes example of this that Marian girls may spectrum you can find a subgenre of Y2K being some staples. In my extensive remember is the popularity of 90s grunge that fits your style. research, I focused on three main styles: and skater-inspired fashion in the 2010s.

Over the past few months, I have goth, sporty, and preppy.

Y2K fashion has recently found become a bit obsessed with Y2K fashI have never been into goth fashion, popularity on social media during the ion, though I couldn’t tell you if it was but I can respect the aesthetic. I found the COVID-19 outbreak. Y2K has caught on because of carefully cultivated aesthetic usual black outfits with fishnets, chains at Marian, with girls across all four years boards or the fact that I haven’t been able and boots while searching goth Y2K fashhopping on the trend. Senior Iris Cunto really go out shopping for six months ion: all things I definitely do not have the ningham said, “I get most of my fashion during quarantine. Either way, my closet confidence to pull off. One aspect of Y2K inspiration off of Pinterest. I keep lots of goth fashion I can appreciate, however, Pinterest boards with different aesthetics.” was chock full of Marian t-shirts and in is the use of more bright colors than I Freshman Schuyler Achola said, “I first desperate need of a revival. In the past, I haven’t had the most pronounced style, so expected. found this style through TikTok and just

Cunningham said, “I’d like to say that I dress in between goth and girly, and my favorite trends are the mini skirts, low rise jeans, and over accessorizing.”

Sporty Y2K fashion was the style I was most confident I would like. Name-brand athletic wear has been popular for a long time in the form of streetwear. Though I love bright colors and how eye-catching they can be, the price tags on many sports brands hold me back.

Preppy Y2K fashion is probably what you first envision when someone mentions 2000s clothes, encompassing pastel crop tops and miniskirts, cardigans, mini purses, and generally just a lot of pinks, feathers, and faux-furs. I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole with this style, enamored with the mix of feminine style and clothes considered campy and overboard. Soon my Pinterest feed was full of cropped cardigans, hot pink skirt sets, chunky silver jewelry, and even jelly heels; I had found my niche in the Y2K trend.

Achola identifies with this style and said, “I love the accessories that are included in this style such as the purses, necklaces, and sunglasses that add a lot of style to any outfit. I also enjoy the oversized look in many outfits and the layering incorporated.”

Sophomore Lily Guinan also enjoys this style, and said, “I would say I have a girly style. Some trends I especially like are front tie tops, long-sleeve or short-sleeve shirts with a small tank top underneath, or just any type of layering.

Also, mini skirts with different patterns or prints.”

The revival of Y2K fashion offers a unique opportunity for people today. Social media gives people a chance to share their own style, and a large theme of Y2K has been mixing old styles with new technology. Today’s technology makes creating and sharing your own unique fashion sense more accessible and affordable to all kinds of people.

Fall drinks bring spice to coffee community Review by MollyMonahan & GraceVirgillito

F

Senior Sydnee Baysa works as a barista at Starbucks at 72nd and Military Avenue.

Photo by MollyMonahan

“I used to love the taste of pumpkin spice drinks but after making 100+ pumpkin spice drinks and smelling it 24/7, I think I could go a long time without any sort of pumpkin spice.”

Sydnee Baysa ‘21

all brings seasonal coffee drinks, but are they worth the try? Investigative team Molly Monahan and Grace Virgillito went to four different coffee places around the Omaha area and tried various fall iced coffee drinks with delicious pumpkin flavors to find out.

Our first stop on our quest to pumpkin coffee heaven was Starbucks. We ordered the basic small grande iced pumpkin spice latte. The drink came lightly topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice. Overall, the drink was worth our $4.95, but spice specialist Virgillito was overpowered by the flavoring on the first sip.

“The drink was sweet, though I couldn’t taste the coffee and cream flavoring, as the pumpkin spice dominated the flavor of the drink,” Virgillito said. She rated the Starbucks classic pumpkin spice latte a 7/10. As Monahan went to sip on her Starbucks signature green straw, her taste buds, craving a delicious pumpkin flavor, were underwhelmed.

“The drink displayed a lot of spice but not enough sweet pumpkin taste, and the coffee left an unpleasant aftertaste. For this reason I rate the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte a 5/10,” Monahan said. The M-Beat team tried seasonal coffee flavors for their Oct. 15 episode, and rated Starbucks as their top pick.

Following our trip to Starbucks, the team ventured out to Scooters and tried their small iced pumpkin caramelicious latte for $4.05.

“The taste was okay, but the pumpkin spice didn’t match well with the caramel. It was weird to taste the spice flavoring and sweet caramel mixed together,” Virgillito said. Overall, detective Virgillito gave it a 6/10.

The drink wasn’t terrible, but wasn’t the most enjoyable drink in her opinion.

Monahan, giving a ranking of 7/10 said, “Scooters, usually, is my go-to pumpkin drink, and when it’s fall, I am the first in line at my local Scooters Drive-Thru to get a taste of the sweet pumpkin drink. The only thing I would dock points for is the fact that the Scooter’s drink was not well-blended.”

Next, we traveled to Dunkin’ Donuts, where the barista suggested we try an iced coffee with pumpkin swirl and cream, which was only $2.49 for a small.

“This drink was not my cup of tea, or should I say, coffee,” Virgillito said. “The taste reminded me of the smell of the inside of a pumpkin. It was sweet, but the flavoring was off, and I couldn’t taste the coffee because I was too distracted by the weird pumpkin flavoring.”

Virgillito would rate this drink a 4/10. Monahan agreed with her taste-testing partner, and gave the iced drink a 3/10.

Our last stop on our journey to find the perfect pumpkin-flavored iced coffee was the Beanery. In the small local coffee shop located only in Gretna, Papillion, and Ashland, we ordered our last coffee in hopes that our hearts would be content. We decided on the pumpkin pie iced coffee, which cost $4.39.

Monahan, being on the verge of tears while consuming this astounding drink, said, “This drink is a perfect 10/10. The taste was everything to be desired. The perfect mix of sweet pumpkin, bitter coffee and a dash of spice. The Beanery never lets my iced coffee addiction down,” Monahan said.

“Let me tell you, this coffee was absolutely heavenly.

It was sweet, creamy, coffee-flavored, and the pumpkin pie flavoring didn’t take away from the coffee taste. It tasted like a classic pumpkin pie you would enjoy on Thanksgiving. I rate the Beanery iced pumpkin pie latte a 10/10,” said Detective Virgillito for the Marian Network.

Coffee lovers can all agree the best time for a tasty flavored iced coffee is during the holiday season. Halloween, with the changing leaves and the crisp air, bring scrumptious seasonal flavors to coffee shops everywhere.

To wrap up their investigation, local Military Avenue detectives Monahan and Virgillito would recommend getting up early to start the day off with a delicious pumpkin pie iced coffee from the first place winner, The Beanery.

16 Photo Essay

October 2020

A Night At The Movies Recruitment Director Mrs. Molly Woodman, paraprofessional Mrs. Rhonda Ronspies and her husband Steve hand out popcorn and greet those who enter the field to watch the surprise movie on Friday, Oct 2.

Photos by GraceVirgillito Daley Mayer ’22, Elleiana Green ’22 and Audrey Ehlers ’23 pose together carrying bags of popcorn and blankets as they get ready for the movie night to commence.

The surprise movie was the late 90s classic “10 Things I Hate About You.” This movie was directed by Gil Junger, based on Shakespeare’s comedy “The Taming of the Shrew.” Girls gush over the main male leads Heath Ledger and Joseph Gordan-Levitt.

Student Board members Ryan Sully ’22 and Kysa Holmstrom ’22 greet and usher girls by the Varsity soccer field entrance.

Bridget Gerards ’21 and Principal Susie Spethman Sullivan ’80 strike a pose together before the movie begins!

Elise Rose ’24 and Maddie Wear ’24 smile and laugh together as they eagerly wait for the movie to start.

Marian girls wait anxiously for the surprise movie to be announced, eating bags of freshly popped popcorn and bringing blankets to keep warm on the chilly fall night. Almost 100 students attended the event.