The Crusader - Fall 2012

Big Brother Is Watching You? Moe-pinions page 2

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THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ARCHBISHOP MOELLER HIGH SCHOOL 9001 MONTGOMERY RD. CINCINNATI OHIO 45242

NEWS BRIEFS

DEPARTED The foreign exchange students recently left for Australia and Spain after their American sojourn. Soon Men of Moeller will follow in their footsteps as they shadow at new schools on the other side of the globe.

LET DOWN The Cincinnati Reds made it to the playoffs, causing student and teacher absences. Baseball has turned itself around in the Queen City in the last couple years. But once again the season ended on a low note, as fans crowded into the Help Desk office to watch the Giants’ Sergio Romo dance out of Great American Ballpark.

HURT Head wrestling coach Jeff Gaier injured his achilles at a conditioning practice in September. Props to the neon green and blue cast.

He’s currently rocking crutches.

NEW There are plenty of new faces in the faculty this year, including three female full-time teachers. Two are gracing the science department, getting their own rooms from the first day. The third you will often find dwelling in our out-of-the-way basement art room poring over student sketches and digital art.

SURVIVED Sophomore and Junior religion teacher Mr. Paul Kindt had a gall bladder removal along with with a hernia repair. Although he hardly ceased his caffeine intake, heavy lifting posed a problem for a time following his surgery.

He will continue to tuck his shirt in and is not about to let this get in the way of his academic and detention slip responsibilities.

DEBATED The Presidential race continues for a few more weeks before we find out whether Obama or Romney will claim the Oval Office for the next four years. Students can pretend to know everything about politics, and the seniors finally get a chance to vote for something other than skip day.

CLOTHED The football team’s new gold uniforms are swanky and bright, giving a little more flavor to our sea of gold. Nike doesn’t skimp.

INSIDE Moe-Pinions...........2 News.....................4 Features.................5 Sports...................7 Entertainment........8

OCTOBER 2012 VOL. 49 NUM. 01 FALL ISSUE WWW. MOELLER.ORG

Has the Moeller-St. X rivalry gone too far?

By Michael Pilipovich ‘13 Crusader Sports Editor

What could be worse than getting blown out against St. Xavier on their home field?

The answers make it embarrassing to be a Man of Moeller. From decades of constant tension, the cross-town rivalry between St. Xavier and Moeller could only be compared to that of Michigan and Ohio State. These are two schools that love to hate each other.

Social media, such as Twitter, played an important role for the attitude of the September 21 game. For many students, 140 characters couldn’t sum up the amount of animosity that these two student bodies had for each other. An example of a tweet about the game was, “northbend #Alot-HatersOverThere”, and the constant antagonistic hash tag of “#week5”. Can this draw too much attention away from the game that has to be played in the first place?

When asked if Twitter was a distraction before the game, captain and inside linebacker Shane “Primetime” Jones said, “I was one of the guys that got caught in the mix of it too. We should have controlled ourselves and focused on the game.” With such a high stakes game to be played, it’s easy to talk the talk, but the true challenge in this case was to walk the walk.

The infamous “Sea of Gold” brought a lot of attention to itself that Friday night.

During the opening ceremonies, the Moeller student body joined the band in singing the national anthem. With excitement running through the Moeller student section as fast as Mr. Paul Kindt spying an untucked shirt, they were ready for some football. The only problem was that every other fan in the stadium was still busy singing the national anthem.

There could not have been more awk-

“We should have controlled ourselves and focused on the game.”

- Shane Jones ‘13 ward cricket chirps in the air as the St. X chorus concluded the song nearly twenty seconds later.

“We were in the locker room at that time,” said senior tailback Jo Jo Eramo. But for those players who were already outside, “you could definitely hear the Moeller mix up,” says Eramo. Moeller students were named by the St. X students as “the Moeller ‘I Hate America and the Nation Anthem’ Crusaders.” That’s not the reputation this school strives to have. “We were singing so loud that it was hard to hear anything,” said senior Quinn Collison. “There were several hundred guys screaming the same thing at one time.” The section, he explained, didn’t intend to be disrespectful.

This was not the end of the chaos for the Sea of Gold. Just before half-time, a certain inappropriate cheer regarding St. X students as homosexual came screaming from the top of the student section. This got Principal Blane Collison’s attention.

The fearless leader became redder than Mr. Eric Eble’s beard and let the student section hear his firm tone of disappointment and anger. His tear into the students wasn’t pretty, but it was fully justified. “As men of Moeller, we are taught to be gentlemen and to always be respectful,” said senior yellman Bruno Rozzi, “that chant was more of a blow to our image than to theirs.”

The controversy did not stop at Balaban Field. According to Twiter bragging by a

Crusader File Photo

few St. X students, the fighting Crusader statue received a temporary makeover -- at least for a few photo opps. This included the removal of the “BEAT X” sign (above) and a few St. X students proudly mounted on the Crusader.

The game should have ended on North Bend Rd., but some St. X students found the game not to be enough of a victory. No names have been released as to who the nightriders are. However, it is rumored that these new cameras could help bring them to justice.

With this year’s football rivalry coming to a close, for at least the regular season, tensions could not be higher. From trash talking on both sides, a poor student section performance, and the attack on a famous Moeller figure, the only thing missing is a movie recapping it all. For many of the other Men of Moeller, it will be a tough night to forget.

New School Surveillance System Raises Questions

By Ben Land ‘14 Crusader Op/Ed Editor

significant incidents of vandalism or serious crimes, at least in recent memory.

Last year, however, the school fell victim to a number of after-school thefts of petty cash.

Walking into the halls of Moeller High School for the 2012-2013 school year, the first things that students may have noticed were the 60 high-tech security cameras installed over summer break.

Many wonder why the big Some believe that Moeller now looks push for 24-hour security more like a lockdown facility than a modall of a sudden? ern day high school, with the creepy feeling of being constantly watched by Big Brother.

Many wonder: Why the big push for 24-hour security all of a sudden? After As with any school, students complain all, Moeller High School has not had any about thefts of personal items such as lap-

top batteries, chargers, and I-pods.

Moeller, of course, is not the only school dealing with this issue. The addition of updated security is also being added by schools all around the country.

Yet, unlike Moeller, most of these schools have introduced surveillance in order to combat more serious issues. During the 2005–06 school year, according to the most recent statistics available from the U.S. Department of Education, 86 percent of public schools nationwide reported that one or more serious violent incidents or other crimes had occurred at their school, for a total of roughly 2.2 million crimes.

SERIAL KILLER

BEAt this man

CALL HIM ISHMAEL

English department head Mr. Geoffrey Girard recently sat down with The Crusader to discuss his recent literary endeavors. Teaching at Moeller for a decade inspired him to pen two techno-thrillers about teenage serial killers.

Mr. Michael Shaffer is more than just an A.P. Psychology teacher. He’s a one-man gaming machine who won’t back down from any student-initiated challenge, be it in tennis, ping-pong or eraser toss.

Math and science phenom Mr. Mike Ward recently returned from a high seas adventure on the Atlantic! He survived a stormy 25-day solo navigation on his way from Bermuda to England before his return to Moeller.

see page 4

Photo by Britt Raymond

see page 8

Crusader file photo

see page 5

Photo Courtesy of Mr. Ward

OPINION

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Nothing to Hide

MOE-PINIONS

Camera Concern

By Joe Pappalardo ‘14

October 2012

Making the Grade

A

By Quincy Williams ‘14

Big Brother is watching. That’s the mentality we now have at Moeller. He watches our screens, controls our internet, and now has access to every move we make in the hallways. Why does it matter though? Is it really important that a teacher doesn’t know what a student’s highest round on Bloons Tower Defense 4 is?

I understand that as students we have an aversion to being watched by teachers. But the cameras are really only there for our safety. All I do is walk between classes. Is there something else that we need to do in the hallways that should be considered private?

The summer installation project cost $60,000 to purchase and install these cameras, and there is still more work to be done, according to Mr. Jeff Gaier, who managed the project. The plan is to reduce theft at Moeller through 24- hour surveillance. Anything that is reported can be reviewed on the cameras, as long as it occurs within their proximity. The project can also be used against bullying, vandalism, and littering.

I have no problem with being watched by cameras as long as I’m attending this high school. The cameras are not restricting my movements throughout the building, or streaming to my parents what

“The argument against these cameras is not because they are wrong, or expensive, but simply because another decision was made without asking the opinion of every kid in the building.”

I’m purchasing for lunch today. They are passive tools used to make sure Moeller is a safe and secure school. I don’t see how it is wrong that by choosing Moeller we are supposed to accept the school policies. Every time I boot up my computer I click okay to say I am aware that anything I do on my laptop could be monitored. Do we need to sign a form each day to feel secure about these cameras? I think the argument against these cameras is not because they’re wrong, or expensive, but simply because another decision was made without asking the opinion of every kid in the building. This is school; it’s not a democracy. I accept the terms Moeller presents and in turn get an education. That’s the trade-off.

However, it is understandable that the camera system is not effective. Students say that the money was wasted on the hallway instead of the classrooms. Theft can take place most commonly in places where the thief is unseen and can remain unknown. A thief could take a gym bag, or laptop, or both, and walk out with them. The surveillance only supplies us with images of the before and after in a classroom theft. This has been done intentionally to respect that privacy people fight for. But what could be done differently? Is there any other way to prevent theft, short of adult hallway monitors and locker room guards? If you’re worried about your stuff, just lock it up.

For me, the idea of surveillance cameras at Moeller High School is very concerning. Twentyfour-hour cameras observing students’ every move conjures up images of a dystopian Orwellian future in my mind. The moral implications behind the installation of cameras at Moeller fall into a grey area that can be argued either way.

However, I believe that the finances behind the camera installation are a much more clear-cut problem. Installing $60,000 cameras was a dire misappropriation of valuable Moeller funds. If I was an administrator, I would have used the funds for student assistance.

As we all know, many are affected by the tough economic climate, and the tuition for Moeller has steadily increased each year since we’ve been students here. Many young men who once would have attended Moeller can no longer afford the tuition.

Being able to see Moeller students pick a wedgie in the hallways or being “able to see someone’s eyes on the Moeller football field” shouldn’t be more important than helping a student go through school.

The problem that is most apparent is that there isn’t a significant amount of crime at Moeller. While there was a recognizable rash of thefts last year, let’s all be honest, Moeller isn’t Hughes or Withrow.

What’s next? Metal detectors? Strip searches? The cameras are doing nothing in the way of improving student safety.

In any school setting where there is a large population there will be theft. If there were routine fights in the hallways, and installing cameras would help student safety, I would have an easier time accepting the allocation of these funds.

The petty theft at Moeller is not a reason to shell out $60,000 for a surveillance system. I think the installation of these cameras shows a lack of trust from the administrators. While the teachers at Moeller often say that school is an environment where the teacher is a friend and not as an overseer, this attempt to maintain constant vigilance over the student population undermines those statements.

The installation of these cameras strains the teacherstudent relationship, which has always been a strong one at Moeller.

A tiny percentage of the student body has been affected by theft, and an even smaller number of them have been involved in theft. I think that this issue was blown way out of proportion. In a school where we have few disciplinary problems this seems like a larger issue than it actually is. To provide worthy students an opportunity to be educated at Moeller should be of paramount importance, and superfluous cameras should take a backseat.

What’s on YOUR Moeller mind?

The Crusader wants to hear from you! We welcome letters from everyone in the Moeller community and encourage students to submit articles for publication. Get in touch with us at crusader@moeller.org

Crusader Mission Statement The student press of Archbishop Moeller High School has adopted the following as its mission: 1. To publish news, information, and opinion articles for and about student, faculty, and administration activities, interests, and policies.

2. To maintain high ethical standards with regard to fairness, legal rights, responsibilities and accuracy.

3. To provide a forum for free and responsible expression of student opinion and present well-balanced, locally researched coverage of issues of broader student interest.

4. To strive for a high level of competency in technical aspects of writing, including grammar, spelling, clarity, and precision.

5. To increase the scope and depth of our coverage in order to heighten mutual understanding and awareness throughout the entire school community.

Nick Staresinic was named National Merit Scholar and and A.P. Scholar with Distinction!

MaeMae’s pep-rally video appearance was epic. She also showcased her strong throwing arm.

New Nike uniforms are awesome. “Pretty slick,” as Coach Rodenberg would say.

Football locker room remodeling work Okay, it took a lot longer than planned, but the place now looks like a major league facility.

Mr. Rosfeld’s e-mails Some of them are even funny. “Juice!”

Number of B-day assemblies Can we get a little more regularity in the schedule?

A Walk in the Woods Bill Bryson ruined summer for 900+ students’.

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Crusader

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Published quarterly, The Crusader is the student newspaper of Archbishop Moeller High School. All published material is subject to approval by the Moeller administration. Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board. Letters to the editor are welcomed and will be published as space allows. Letters must be signed, although the staff may withhold the name on request. The Crusader reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity.

Opinions in letters are not necessarily those of The Crusader staff or its faculty advisor, nor should any opinion expressed in these pages be construed as the opinion or policy of the administration of Archbishop Moeller High School.

Kyle Zimmerman Editor-in-Chief

Chuck Smallwood Entertainment Editor

Jared Kroger Managing Editor

Andrew Buschbacher Art & Photography

Joe Pappalardo News Editor

Evan Verrilli Illustrator

Ben Land Op/Ed Editor

Mr. Michael Rose Faculty Advisor

Michael Pilipovich Sports Editor Connor Borton Features Editor

The Crusader Archbishop Moeller 9001 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45242 Crusader@moeller.org

EDITORIAL

The Crusader

Page 3

Fall raffle or fall hassle?

Alternative plan reaches same fundraising goal, eliminates trans fats Moeller’s annual Fall Raffle generates tens of thousands of dollars in revenue which goes directly to tuition assistance. It also provides the necessary financial foundation for each house’s respective fund. It goes without saying that the Fall Raffle benefits a worthy cause, but is it really worth all of the hassle that comes with it?

First and foremost, the Fall Raffle makes the daily school schedule even more complicated than it already is. A myriad of B-day assembly schedules and mixed-up lunch bells spanning the duration of the raffle leaves students swimming in “Schedule changes” e-mails from Mrs. Vicario. As if freshmen don’t have enough trouble navigating their schedule already, the plethora of assembly days creates even more problems.

The administration, particularly Fall Raffle coordinator Mr. Carl Kremer, uses incentives to encourage students to “sell, sell, sell,” but these incentives do not actually provide much motivation. A trip to a local restaurant with your house dean requires an individual student to sell $125 worth of tickets. A typical Moeller student might weigh his options: Is lunch at Willie’s with Dan Dever talking about the rope of life while I fight over mediocre chicken wings and soggy French fries and then going back to school smelling like stale smoke worth selling $125 of raffle tickets? Hmmm.

Students, particularly upperclassmen, are obligated to choose between incentive lunches and missing class. As anyone who has taken an honors math class with Mr. Braun, AP Chem with Mr. Conlon, or rocket science with Mr. Ward knows, missing class can be more of a hindrance than a reward.

Aramark’s Moeller chef, MaeMae Hurt, is saddened by the exodus of students to off-campus restaurants during the Fall Raffle season. “I try my hardest to prepare them all some good food that they will enjoy. I don’t like these kids going to Willie’s or Montgomery Inn or wherever and leaving my food behind!”

The incentive for students to sell $300 is a luncheon with the administration—if a luncheon with

“I try my hardest to prepare them all some good food that they will enjoy.

I don’t like these kids going to Willie’s or Montgomery Inn or wherever and leaving my food behind!” the administration doesn’t sell tickets, nothing will!

“Pondering academics with Mr. Wilke, discussing discipline with Mr. Kremer, and exchanging extremely firm handshakes with Mr. Collison, though tempting, are not enticing to me at all,” said a senior who wished to remain anonymous.

The Fall Raffle creates tension in mentor groups—the exact opposite of what a mentor group

Students tethered to Help Desk “I would rather give a kid a detention and save him money”

By Andrew Buschbacher ‘13 Crusader Staff Reporter “Did you pray and restart your computer?” This is the question that is written on small pieces of paper posted throughout the room formerly known as the library. It’s usually thought of when you have issues with programs, email, and printing. However now you might want to start praying if you don’t have your laptop case or a tethered laptop pen.

The Help Desk wants students to use the laptop cases that were given out freshman year with the laptop. Although it is a “free” case, many students prefer to carry their laptops in their backpacks between classes or they choose to carry them by hand.

Many students, when they ask teachers if they can go to The Help Desk, have to be reminded by classmates that they need a case when they go down.

Sometimes students don’t have their case with them or they don’t even know where their case is, so another student will lend them one so they don’t get a detention from Mr. Charlie Lytle, the manager of the Information and Technology Center.

Teachers will sometimes remind students to take their laptop case down with them and in some instances, teachers will suggest that a student might want to ask a friend for a case before going down.

I don’t think students are going to want to replace their laptop case for $20. The big thing about this policy is that they want the school issued case.

If a student went out and bought his own case, he should be able to use the case he bought. The cases cost the school $43 a person and the case is upgrad-

ed every year. Mr. Lytle tests the cases himself and says that the cases do indeed protect the laptops. If your laptop screen cracks you have to pay $250 for the repairs. “It is the most common issue for sophomores through seniors,” says senior Matt Kraemer, who works at The Help Desk during A1. Kraemer also said that this year the freshmen screens are made from Gorilla Glass. The tethers are free, so that is a plus and students will not lose their pens at home or have them stolen. It is $40 to replace pens, so when doing the math you save $40 if you have your pen tethered. Now the down side to tethers is that they do get caught on things rather easily. “It gets it the way and it is annoying! There’s no other way to put it,” sophomore Max Ongkiko said.

The most important reason to have a tether is that it makes it harder for other students to take or steal your laptop pen because you now have to either untie the tether or cut it. The tethers also stop students from having to come down to The Help Desk and ask for a loaner pen. However one senior said in one of his classes another student untied the tether and the teacher was right there. Many students still do not have their pens tethered at this time.

Some students look to Amazon.com, Micro Center, or even to other students to buy pens that are cheaper than the help desk price if they have lost theirs. Mr. Lytle said he indeed bought laptop pens for $17 and has tested them like many students do.

The results, he reported, ranged from “just stopped working after three days” to a crashed hard drive.

Mr. Lytle added, “I would rather give a kid a detention and save him money.”

is supposed to accomplish. Obviously some teachers are more competitive than others, but regardless, everyone has seen it: An ambitious mentor teacher forces a perfectly involved, upstanding student to agree to a grandiose raffle ticket sale pledge. Final turn-in day comes and the student has barely sold $50 worth and the mentor teacher delivers a heart-throbbing speech about how he or she is “not mad, just very disappointed in you,” in front of the whole mentor group. The Fall Raffle should not be this intense. Is the Fall Raffle really in the Marianist Tradition?

The Fall Raffle culminates in the same way every year. Mr. Horst’s mentor group wins and Mr. Kindt’s comes in second. Then Mr. Kremer gets on the PA and reads off the names of two people no one has ever heard of. Some freshman’s neighbor and a sophomore’s eccentric aunt are announced.

Everyone breathes a collective sigh of disappointment and goes home.

Men of Moeller: It doesn’t have to be this way!

Moeller’s tuition is around $11,000. With recordbreaking numbers last year, the raffle brought in a net total of $73,314. Mr. Kremer proposed an alternative plan that would be equally effective. “We could charge each student $80 more each year. If we put that on everyone’s tuition, we would make the same amount, if not more.” An annual payment of $80 in exchange for permanent removal of the Fall Raffle is a trade worth considering.

Twenty percent of all money raised is spent on incentive lunches. Twenty percent, yes, two zero.

Money that could be going to tuition assistance is instead being spent on ribs and trans fats. Something as simple as recess and Skittles would be just as pleasing to the student body as a lunch would!

A simple change in the Fall Raffle structure would lead to more money and less hassle.

The days of schedule confusion, missing class, unfriendly competition, disappointment, and odorous bus rides to Willie’s on L&L Charters could be laid to rest and the Men of Moeller would have one less thing to worry about.

! VIOLATORS BEWARE !

A friendly reminder from your friends at the Help Desk Laptop Cases Beginning Tuesday September 4, any student walking around campus with his laptop outside of the case will receive a detention. Teachers will be supporting our efforts to insure you are following this policy.

Trips to the Help Desk or to the Library to print without the laptop in a case are a violation of the policy.

Laptops not in a school-issued case are also a violation of the policy. This includes laptops in a backpack not inside of a school-issued case.

• Replacement cases are available for $20 in the Help Desk.

Digitizer Pen Tethers Beginning Monday, September 17, all pens must be on a tether. Failure to have your pen on a tether will result in a detention. Teachers will be supporting our efforts to insure you are following this policy.

Tethers are available in the Help Desk at NO CHARGE. Digitizer Pens are available for a fee of $40. Please see Mr. Lytle or Mr. Dean Gaier if you need to work out alternative payment arrangements.

Digitizer Pens can be engraved with your initials or name at NO CHARGE.

Page 4

NEWS

Mr. Girard signs killer book deal

By Kyle Zimmerman ‘14 Crusader Editor-in-Chief Moeller High School’s own Mr. Geoffrey Girard is undoubtedly a very talented and interesting man.

He is best known for his ability to humble English students with 85s, beat even the finest chess players, and organize the beloved Moeller Monday Movie Nights. The 44 year-old Girard can now add published techno-thriller novelist to his list. Although he has been published numerous times previously, Girard’s latest works are shaping up to be his most successful yet. Prominent New York publisher Simon and Schuster will publish Girard’s two latest novels. Cane’s Blood, an adult techno thriller, and Project Cane, a spin-off for young adult readers, will appear in bookstores in 2013.

Girard stays away from the popular themes of vampires and zombies in his latest books. Instead, he focuses on an unprecedented theme—cloned serial killers. In Cane’s Blood, the government clones serial killers in an attempt to create bioweapons.

But these are not your everyday adult serial killers; these are teenagers. In doing this, not only does his story appeal to a larger audience, but Girard also provides himself with an opportunity to demonstrate his knowledge of teenagers, in all aspects. Girard explained, “The reason I know teenagers, and teenagers are done in both of my books, is because of my ten years at Moeller.”

Mr. Girard also pays tribute to Moeller through countless allusions in each of his new books.

“They’re filled with Moeller allusions. Dozens!” says Girard. He says there is an English teacher named Eble, an evil general named Stanforth, and a mercenary named Wilke.

As far as Moeller students are concerned, Girard says he does not plan to make either of his new books required summer reading for any grade.

“Both books explore themes that could very relevant for Moeller students—nature versus nurture, a study in morality and free will—however other topics are lined up that will fit better,” says Girard.

It looks like students will have to sit through more speeches like Sr. Helen Prejean’s instead of speeches involving cloned serial killers. Bummer!

Girard spent roughly five years writing Cane’s Blood. It started as a novella that he later decided to turn into a novel. Girard’s investment of personal time paid off financially, too.

Though he did not release specific details about the contract he signed with Simon and Schuster, an official press release from Moeller communications director Johanna Kremer stated that Girard was paid “six figures” for Cane’s Blood and five figures for Project Cane. If you can do math, you know that

is a minimum of $110,000. Do not rule out the possibility of Girard getting a new automobile, kitchen appliance, or maybe even a haircut. Girard did confirm the rumors of a possible movie deal for Cane’s Blood. Mandalay Pictures is in the process of con-

Both books are “filled with Moeller allusions. Dozens!”

There’s an English teacher named Eble, an evil general named Stanforth, and a mercenary named Wilke. necting directors and scriptwriters for the movie.

Mandalay produced the Jessica Alba romance/adventure film Into the Blue, along with the Jude Law WWII thriller Enemy at the Gates. Girard could soon become a Hollywood name.

Mr. Girard emphatically offers one bit of advice to all aspiring authors: “Read more, read everything, read constantly. I learned how to write by reading, end of story. Period.”

October 2012

Candidates seek young voters

By Jared Kroger ‘13 Crusader Managing Editor I’m Barack Obama/Mitt Romney and I approve this message” is easily the most repeated phrase people hear seemingly every time they turn on the TV for more than a minute. It arguably gets repetitive and dull after the about the first time hearing it. It also leaves a bad taste in your mouth after hearing that “Romney hates the elderly!!” or that “President Obama is friends with terrorists!!”. As many of our Moeller seniors are turning the age of 18, many of them have to choose how they’ll cast their ballot.

In the 2008 election, voters turned out in record numbers, and young people were the only age group that showed a significant increase in turnout. According to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, it was the second largest youth voter turnout in American history, and even locally, as shown in the 92% increase in voter turnout at The Ohio State University. The youth vote turnout in the last election made senior Edwin Doll want to vote because he “saw how the youth influenced the majority vote in 2008. I want my voice to be heard like that and to vote for what I stand for.”

President Obama won the presidential election four years ago partially because he controlled the 18-24 age group. A whopping 66% of people under the age of 30 voted in favor of the Democratic party, showing the impact that the youth demographic can have on either of the parties running for office. However, as the country seems to be dissatisfied with whoever is running the country, many young prospective voters are questioning what to do.

As senior Ryan Boothe explained, “These political campaigns are funding millions and millions of dollars just to smear the other guys Are they really trying to help improve the economy or what?”

He shares the same sentiment of a lot of the American people who questioned the purposes of these lavish campaigns, as Obama and Romney together spent over a billion dollars by the end of August. Furthermore, many young people think that their vote doesn’t matter in a country of almost 400 million people.

As Moeller is naturally a Republican-leaning school because of its Catholic tradition that many of the seniors follow, the favorite among Moeller seniors appears to be Romney.

But as many people are raising questions about Romney and his inexperience with foreign policy and sometimes questionable tactics, this race could easily be a coin flip that can be decided by the young vote.

Unified 4 Unifat: A cause beyond the ordinary

By Michael Pilipovich ‘13 Crusader Staff Reporter In the gymnasium of Moeller High School, two strangers showed up from overseas. Will Tardio and Opiyo Denis made the long journey to visit this school from the African country of Uganda. Excitement filled the air as Moeller began its Unified for Unifat (U4U) kickoff this fall.

To most of the students at Moeller, U4U is a commonly heard phrase. To others, it’s a new phrase that sparks many ideas. The program that began right here at Moeller many years ago has made national prominence. Moeller alumnus Will Tardio, started something great when he saw a great cause in Africa.

A year after his interest started Tardio met Abitimo, founder of Unified for Unifat. After learning of the program Unified for Unifat, Tardio turned his focus to this cause. Through fundraising efforts and spreading the word, three schools in Cincinnati were able to get involved. Fast-forward until today.

There are now 20 chapters throughout the entire U.S working for the same cause.

“They bring reality,” said Connie Ring, director of U4U. “People from Moeller can stand up and talk all day long, but this outside view establishes that connection with Moeller.” As many already clueless freshmen looked around, many questions were running through their heads about why this excitement existed.

In the town of Gulu, Uganda, a school is present that educates 1,500 students. This is Unifat School.

Of the 1,500 students, two-thirds are seen as very poor. With extreme poverty being a factor of life

“People from Moeller can stand up and talk all day long, but this outside view establishes that connection with Moeller.” in Uganda, some cannot afford an education. For those kids who are living day to day in constant struggle, Moeller High School is there to help.

Of the children at Unifat, 150 are “sponsored” by donors in the States. At the Moeller chapter of U4U, many mentor groups support a child. A sense of community is built.

Many of the sponsored students experienced a great tragedy somewhere in their life. For some of the kids in Unifat, Moeller is one of the closest things they can call to family.

The U4U sponsorship supports mentor programs, construction, technology, and education. Aside

from the money raised in the sponsorship program, mentorship is the greatest beneficiary of U4U. The mentor program is where the kids meet with their mentors and establish that relationship in Uganda.

The issue is, none of the $300 dollars that is raised

by Moeller goes to paying the mentors.

Three times a year, the selected children who are sponsored through U4U have a meeting with their mentors in the school. This is where the profile for each student is created and given to their sponsors here in America.

“The big initiative is to get separate money for Unifat and the community,” said Tardio. With such a push to get the money for the children who need it the most, where does that leave the mentors? These mentors still need their salaries in order to make a living. That is where U4U is turning its focus in the near future.

Since U4U has been started, Moeller has been a driving force that has saved the lives of countless children at Unifat School in Uganda. But the work could not be further from over. Through the development of the Unifat, these children still need to be supported.

“We want to show our appreciation for Moeller and all they have done” said Opiyo Dennis. Moeller has done great things, but it is each student’s responsibility to live up to the Man of Moeller standard that is expected. What a better way to show you care!

The Crusader

FEATURES

Page 5

Mr. Ward: (Not So) Old Man and the Sea

Humble calculus, physics teacher mans up, makes solo Atlantic crossing in small vessel

By Jared Kroger ‘14 Crusader Managing Editor Picture this: A man hasn’t slept in over two days, is slugging along in a sailboat in the middle of the Atlantic, fighting against high winds and a furious storm. He has already been on the boat, sailing rough waters over 20 days after starting his voyage all the way back in Norfolk, Virginia. This has to be a veteran seaman taking this daunting and treacherous challenge by its horns right? Of course not! It’s Moeller’s own A.P. calculus and physics teacher,

became more experienced, he wanted to get more out of his new found passion.

A couple of years after being introduced to sailing, he began to plan and prep for a bigger kind of expedition. Last year he went with a crew on the Seahawk, sailing from Norfolk, Virginia, due east to Bermuda, an island 640 miles off of the coast of North Carolina.

Mr. Ward found that the voyage made him want to come back for even more. He wanted a bigger “personal” challenge, and as Ward explained, “the society we live in is very safe, and I wanted to challenge that. As they say, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.“ He set off this past June on the Sea Major, appropriately named for his love of music and for the water, for a solo expedition to England. The 25-day trip began once again in Norfolk, Virginia where he set off for Bermuda. From there, Ward sailed onto

“The society we live in is very safe, and I wanted to challenge that.

As they say, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.“ Mr. Ward looks out for the eye of the storm on his Sea Major.

Mr. Mike Ward, known for his academic acumen and humility.

Mr. Ward doesn’t really fit the traditional “born by the water” sailor archetype. He was introduced to it by another Moeller faculty member, biology teacher Mr. Tim Erdmann.

“Mr. Erdmann brought me up for the Fourth of July to Lake Erie a couple years back, and sailing was a natural fit for me,” said Ward. “I loved the experience and especially enjoyed the physics and systems of the sailboat.”

As he grew much more accustomed to the complex practice of managing a sailboat, Mr. Ward began spending much more of his free time away from Moeller learning by being out on the boats.

“If we had a three day weekend, or if we had a break during the school year, I drove nine hours to Norfolk to get on the boat,” he explained. As Ward

the 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic. According to the videos Mr. Ward posted on seahawkadventure on YouTube, he didn’t get many days that were smooth sailing in the beginning of the trip.

He had no technology, TV, high speed internet, or even any company to talk with while being out on a boat for days. “It’s just you, the boat, and the water.”

Mr. Ward passed his time by reading nine books on the boat, including Two Years Before the Mast, the story of another man’s sea voyage. As for communication with people back home, Ward sent email through a HAM radio (at a measly 10 kbs per minute) to people on his mailing list.

“I was only able to sleep about two hours at a time to constantly check my course and sails, but I was fortunately able to have a boat that was self steering and I didn’t the steer boat for more than

Mr. Ward documented his journey with pictures and videos.

two hours the whole trip,” Ward explained. Having all of that down time on the boat, he ate canned soups, oatmeal, powerbars, and peanut butter whenever he felt hungry. Coffee was vital as he ran on little sleep.

“I used to love Ramen noodles on previous trips, so I brought about 80 bags and after having them once I didn’t want them ever again,” he confessed with a grin.

With rough waters and a storm swirling around him nearing England, he had to be constantly aware of where he was and make sure that the boat was under control. Having not slept for 36 hours, he was trying very hard to make the right decisions.

Getting through the trip was all worth it for Ward, who says he is extremely proud of himself for crossing the Atlantic on his own. Ward: “I am blessed to be in a job where I have 10 weeks off to do something like this. Most people would have to quit their jobs. The majority of people never do anything like this, and to say I did something like this that only maybe 50 people do a year, I’ll take that to my grave.”

Academic ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ honored

By Connor Borton ‘15 Crusader Features Editor

The annual academic awards assembly was held earlier this fall to recognize student achievements for the 2011-12 school year.

It was a special occasion for the entire Moeller student body to come together and celebrate a talented group of scholars who achieved excellence in a number of different ways.

“The long nights of studying and hard work deserve to be recognized,” said academic dean Chris Wilke. “Blood, sweat, and tears uphold academic achievements as its highest honor.

Students can receive awards as a result of receiving first or second honors, having the highest grade in a class , from the results on the A.P. exams, or

Brother Flaherty, sporting his signature white New Balance shoes, leads student body in prayer before start of the ceremony.

foreign language programs. To earn First Honors a student must have an average GPA of 90% or higher, without failing a class.

For graduating classes of 2013-2015, there were 230 First Honors recipients: 74 students for the 2013

graduating class, 66 students for the 2014 graduating class, and 90 students for the 2015 graduating class.

Second Honors students must have an average GPA from 85% to 89.99%, with no failing classes. A total of 200 students received Second Honors: 48 students for the 2013 graduating class, 76 students for the 2014 graduating class, and 76 students for the 2015 graduating class.

With a total of 430 students receiving First or Second Honors awards there is no question that Moeller is producing a well-educated generation of students.

Students who have superb grades in foreign languages were also recognized. The National Latin Exam Awards, Spanish Honor Society, and National Spanish Exam Awards are just few of the many foreign language awards given out.

In addition to academic awards, students with a significant amount of service hours (50 or 100) were recognized in front of Moeller students, teachers and parents.

The Charlotte McCullough Award was presented to one student from each class who exhibited a strong desire to serve others. The honor is given in the spirit of Charlotte McCullough, a former Moeller social studies teacher who was dedicated to serving others and helping those in need. The recipients of the award are students who follow her footsteps of having strong faith, a positive and enthusiastic spirit, and a dedication to servant leadership.

The honorees for this award were Luke Gurekovich ‘15, William Ittenbach ‘14, and Corey Carroll ‘13.

One of the highest honors is the A.P. Scholar with Distinction granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all A.P. Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of the exams.

The only student to receive this award for 201112 school year was senior Nicholas Staresinic.

“These academic awards get underclassman to understand the importance of academics,” says Principal Blane Collison, as he explains how aca-

demic recognition is equal to athletic recognition.

Mr. Collison says that the two academic award ceremonies serve two distinct purposes. The first one in the fall sets the tone for the rest of the year and the second one in the spring congratulates those who achieved academic excellence.

Started seven years ago, there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for the academic awards. The event planners are responsible for interpreting data to find out who receives each award, organizing, creating a detailed PowerPoint, and physically setting up the gym.

Mr. Wilke said he gives a lot of the credit to Moeller’s two main office secretaries, Mrs. Edith Vicario and Mrs. Joanne Sweeney.

These awards are meant to reward all of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by students and encourage other students to strive for academic excellence as well.

Senior Andrew Benza receives another well-deserved honor from Principal Blane Collison at the academic awards assembly.

Page 6

October 2012

FEATURES

Health teacher to abandon loved ones?

By Joe Pappalardo ‘14 Crusader News Editor Mr. Matt Rooks will be the new head coach for Wyoming High School’s varsity boys basketball team, but Moeller High School can save its farewell for another year. Rooks, the health and second-year gym teacher at Moeller is not leaving the school just yet. He may not even leave next year, he says. It will be his fifth year teaching, and first time not coaching Moeller basketball, after an eight-year career with the Crusaders.

“It’s a tough decision.”

“It’s a tough decision,” Rooks says, after deciding to coach at another school. With Mr. Dan Ragland looking on, Rooks admits he loves Moeller. The switch should not be treated like LeBron James, because it’s not about money. Mr. Rooks’ dream has been to become a head coach, and that’s what Wyoming High School, his new team, offered him.

Mr. Rooks is already coaching at Wyoming, but continues to teach at Moeller until he can work at his new school. “It’s important to be in the house,” he says, meaning that his commitment to coach also means he wants to teach at the same place. However, he knows little about his new destination, a public school in a Hamilton County suburb.

Mr. Rooks’ only information on Wyoming from a teaching standpoint is that it is very different from Moeller.

The bells are fifty minutes, so there is no 90-minute block schedule. The community is local, unlike Moeller’s outreach to more distant communities. But just like Moeller, Wyoming has strong academics that are top-notch for its area. He will still have to teach with standards as high as Moeller’s.

Communication with the Wyoming players is not as easy as that with Moeller’s. “There’s no school email,” Rooks says. Mr. Rooks will face new challenges in the world of pen and paper as he says goodbye to Moeller’s laptop program. But he’s not leaving Moeller yet.

Coach Rooks and the 2011-12 freshman team went undefeated at 26-0 last season.

Let’s get chemical: Life after Sodium Joe Science department welcomes Mr. Russ Pinkerton

By Joe Pappalardo ‘14 CrusaderNews Editor After the retirement of Mr. “Sodium Joe” Meale last year, Mr. Kevin Conlon moved up to A.P. chemistry, leaving an open spot next door for a new CPI/CPII chemistry teacher. Mr. Russ Pinkerton is filling those big shoes after substitute teaching at Moeller last year.

Mr. Pinkerton was previously a teacher at Winton Woods for seven years, and also a three-year part-time teacher at Wichita State in Kansas before that.

He says the difference between Moeller students and those at Winton Woods is the daily struggles they face in their lives. Moeller students have it a lot easier than those in some schools. He says physics is his other favorite subject in the science field.

Mr. Pinkerton attended high school in Argonia, Kansas. There were 27 students. Three were girls.

He moved on to Kansas State University, eventually married, and now has two children at Sycamore High School: a son who’s a junior and wrestles, and a sophomore daughter. If he’d taught at Moeller when his son was in eighth grade, Mr. Pinkerton says his son would have attended here.

The family lives close to Moeller, a bonus for traveling frequently to and from the school. And not just for teaching. Mr. Pinkerton says his goal for the year is to attend an event from every sport in the school. Despite his Kansas roots, he also cheers on the Bengals and Reds, and supports the other local sports teams.

But how did he come to Moeller? Last year, Mr. Pinkerton was substituting in math classes and meeting with Mr. Conlon. Mrs. Pinkerton had recently contracted breast cancer and her husband quit his job at Winton Woods to take care of his family. That’s when he found Moeller. The substitute teaching gave him a job that he could hold while making sure his wife was okay during her struggle. The reason he is teaching full-time this year is in part due to his wife’s fortunate recovery.

Mr. Pinkerton also says that he likes a couple of the differences that Moeller has in contrast to Winton Woods. He sees the laptop program as a very useful tool in class, and says that, while he sees little difference in co-ed and all-boy schools, Moeller’s all-guy environment removes some of the distractions that are present in co-ed schools.

The new chemistry teacher has an interesting life story that is both shocking and inspirational, because of his wife’s recent struggle and his small beginnings in Kansas. Be sure to welcome Mr. Pinkerton as a new addition to Moeller’s science department.

Testosterone levels see decrease at Big Moe

By Joe Pappalardo ‘14 Crusader News Editor Mrs. Heather Wunder is the new teacher for Study Skills 3. She also spends time at St. Nicholas Academy in Reading, (previously known as Our Lady of the Sacred Heart). She is married to Nick Wunder, a 2001 Moeller graduate, who also went to Sacred Heart. However, Wunder says he was not the only reason she came to Moeller. The school’s reputation as a strong community helped guide her decision to teach here.

Wunder loves the family atmosphere at Moeller, and she is learning to use computers at both Moeller and St. Nicholas.

She previously taught at Winton Woods grade school where all of the teachers were women.

Mrs. Wunder with Wunder is comfortable husband Nick ‘01 with the all-guy atmosphere at Moeller. She says it “works well as it is” with more male influences, but she admits she wouldn’t mind more female teachers. According to Wunder, most of the students here do act as Men of Moeller, and she would definitely send her children here if she had the chance.

Mrs. Terri Schaffer will be a full-time teacher at Moeller for the first time this year, teaching Physics to seniors, Algebra 2 to juniors and Physical Science to sophomores. She is also the first female science teacher at Moeller! It’s her third year teaching, after teaching part time for two years.

Schaffer married into a Moeller family, to Jim Schaffer – who is in the Moeller sports Hall of Fame for football – and has sent all her children here,

“I can handle noise and smell over drama.”

MOE Tweets

Bill Braun @bigbilly03 “i love messing with these fire alarms lol” Brian Gilronan @servicemaster47 “make it a great day! #serviceopportunity”

including freshman Nicholas Schaffer ‘16. “We’ve been around a long time,” she says.

The all-boy home atmosphere Mrs. Terri Schaffer more than prepared her for life as a teacher at an all-boys high school.

Schaffer says she had to earn a little respect from her students in her first days of teaching here, partly due to the fact that she is a woman. However, she believes it is also good for the guys to see both strong male influences and be able to relate to female authority, especially in a technical field, such as engineering.

The Marianist tradition is Schaffer’s favorite aspect of Moeller. She loves the Moeller family and the House System as an alternative to friction between classes of students. She says she prefers Moeller to an all-girls school: “I can handle noise and smell over drama.” Schaffer also believes that the boys are truly Men of Moeller and says any issues are just part of the growing process.

Mrs. Jacquelyn Sommer is the new art teacher and loves her experience at Moeller. She likes the “opportunity to be part of something huge and Paul Kindt thriving,” in a place with a dynamic environment @starwarslover75 such as Moeller. Sommer enjoys the communal “church is fun!!! @God” J. Alberto Delgado family atmosphere and appreciates the support of @jalbertodelgado administrators and students. Sommer plans to con“ok guys. que es twitter??” tinue to teach at Moeller and is certain she will send any boys she has to the Big Moe.

MaeMae

@chefmaemaebaybay “just got my hair did!! hate these stupid hair nets tho :/”

“You guys are goofy.”

Sommer recognizes that Moeller is the opposite of most Bob Tull schools in having more male @roberttull teachers, but would like a “come buy powerade now or else” “nicer ratio” of women to men in the faculty.

Todd Naumann Mrs. Sommer replaced However, she does not see @cheeseandcrackers38 Mrs. Elliot in the art dept. her gender as in issue in her “history is cool, so to speak.” role as a teacher. Sommer believes that it is imporMatt McLaughlin tant that students are exposed to a variety of people @mattm722 to prepare them for the real world.

Moeller has made a great impression on Sommer. “i love reality tv and naps #survivor “You guys are goofy,” she says, smiling. #bigbrother18 #amazingrace

The Crusader

Moeller wrestling seeks redemption Crusaders look to pin rival powerhouses Detroit Catholic and St. Ed’s

By Chuck Smallwood ‘13 Crusader Staff Reporter The Moeller wrestling team is already preparing for the upcoming season. The O’Connor Center is filled with sweaty wrestlers seemingly every day.

There seems to be a driving force that inspires the wrestling team. They have high aspirations and a particular plan to reach their goals this year.

Along with the grueling conditioning practices comes the idea of redemption as Moeller mattys work to improve and redeem themselves of last season’s losses, few as they were. Wrestling teams all over the country need to watch out for Moeller this year. Head coach Jeff Gaier commented on what he wants from the team and what Moeller wrestling fans can expect.

“Those two teams have always given us a run for our money; now I want to give them a run for their money.”

“Some of the expectations this year,” he explained, “would have to be that the freshmen grow to love the team and that we will beat our two biggest rivals, Lakewood St. Ed’s and Detroit Catholic.

“You can’t be a good wrestler if you’re not a good athlete,” added Gaier.

He would go on to say that he looks for guys who work hard, don’t take shortcuts, and don’t make excuses. He wants this season to be the one where they make something happen.

Because this season there are some changes from which the wrestling team can benefit from. For example, the introduction this year of the “dual meet” format means rival teams can come up against one another head-to-head.

Page 7

SPORTS

The team wants to set the bar high. Like every year, the wrestling team is a national contender.

Coach Gaier spoke from his heart when he said that the coaches for the entire wrestling team love what they do and have been doing it for a long time.

He said that he loves this sport because it gives everyone a chance to “show their stuff.” It’s a team effort but it’s an individual effort as well.

Sophomore Conner Ziegler says he aims for Moeller to place at least second in Ohio, and go top 20 nationally. He a said that Moeller has a better shot at beating longtime rival Detroit Catholic this year, better than the prospects of defeating wrestling super powerhouse Lakewood St. Edward’s.

St. Ed’s is on a different level, Moeller wrestlers like Conor Borton ‘15, admit.

Specifically, the matches against the two afformentioned rivals are what many wrestlers want are looking forward to most. William Smallwood ‘14 wants more than just redemption; he wants to “smash their faces into the mat.”

“Those two teams have always given us a run for our money; now I want to give them a run for their money.”

Smallwood and other members of the team have been working out at the pre-conditioning practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help him get ready for the upcoming season.

Smallwood said that they start by doing to warm ups and then go into weight lifting. Near the end of each practice they do anywhere between four and six sprints up and down the length of the football field. By the time it’s all over, he claims, he usually is lying on the ground yelling for a Diet Coke and McDouble.

With as hard as the wrestling team works, they appear to be a team ready for redemption and need the support of the Moeller community to do so.

Fall Sports By the Numbers 291

Cincinnati east division sectional Moe golf team total score (two strokes off record)

42.6

Percentage of Keith Watkins’ yardage that accounts for total offense

68.8

penalty yards for the Crusaders football team per game

33.5

penalty yards for Moeller opponents per game

10

times in the past 11 years that the golf team qualified for state

5

months to complete the football locker room renovation

3rd

place finish by the cross country team at the GCL finals this year

Does Moeller have a sports advantage because it’s private?

Crusaders continue to be falsely accused of “recruiting” top athletes away from public school systems

By Connor Borton ‘15 Crusader Staff Reporter Archbishop Moeller High School is a strong academic, faith-based college prep school that is often misunderstood as an organization that uses its private school position as a way to recruit top athletes.

“Public schools are at a disadvantage when compared to exceptional athletic programs at private schools,” explained Brian Nicola, English teacher and head wrestling coach at Olentangy Orange High School located just outside Columbus.

“The nature of a private school requires it to recruit, whether it is math, band, or wrestling.”

Even if a school is supposedly recruiting students or athletes, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) requires every school to provide education to any student who decides to attend it,” said Nicola, “Look at the mission statement of any school district or institution and you will not find any mention of athletic success.”

“The nature of a private school requires it to recruit, whether it is for math, band, or wrestling.”

Ultimately, disadvantages only stem from those who do not provide the work ethic needed to build a reputation of an institution like Moeller.

According to the Ohio Legislative Commission, Ohio Public Schools spend an average of $10,173 per pupil. Moeller spends $10,190 per pupil which is only $17 higher than the average.

“Private schools must generate their own funding, which typically comes from a variety of sources: tuition; private grants; and fundraising from parents, alumni, and other community members” according to GreatSchools.org.

“In either public or private education, there

of students looking to play for ascendant schools.

In 2002, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, considered to be one of the country’s top high school athletic leagues, established a rule that forced athletes to sit out a full school year if they transferred from any school in the Washington D.C., area.

The OHSAA’s rule is the same for Ohio Athletics.

In May of this year, the state of Ohio had 830 high school principals vote on a poll that would have changed the way school teams were assigned to athletic divisions. The proposal sought to balance the “playAthletes face controversy for their high school choices and the sports they play ing field” between private and public schools. will always be the limitation of funding,” said Stu According to Our Sunday Visitor, the poll, which Hartenstein assistant basketball coach and history was defeated by 29 votes, received significant atteacher at Orange, “this is the same problem that tention after Ohio’s December state football finals, public and private colleges and universities face where five of the six state champs were Catholic nationwide.” schools.

However, many private high school coaches and The debate will continue for years to come. athletic directors of private sports teams say the However, like Brian Fraga writes in the Our Sununeven playing field argument misses the point. day Visitor, athletic competition is not necessarily a “In my opinion, what truly makes private sports stand-alone element of a private school education. so special and unique is the devotion, dedication, It is a piece of the whole puzzle, which includes and passion that the private community, studentthe academic, intellectual, spiritual and community athletes, coaches, teachers, fans, administrators, service elements. etc., possess for their schools and teams,” said Chris Jung, director of operations for LouisvilleCatholicsports.com.

Kids across the state attend private schools because of their winning tradition or their academics.

With the thought that private schools are at an advantage when it comes to athletics, many states are attempting to take away free-agent-type systems

Opinion? Sound off: crusader@moeller.org

ENTERTAINMENT

Page 8

Is Chipotle worth the embarassment?

More than psychological, Mr. Shaffer invites you to try to beat him

By Chuck Smallwood ‘13 Entertainment Editor

the Castle, King of the Castle” from the movie Borat.

“I am very competitive at these games and hate to lose,” he admitted.

Freshmen receive a “mercy gloat” from Shaffer, The 2012 London Olympics this summer were meaning that he will refrain from trying to make fantastic but caused the Shaffer games to go almost them feel terrible and possibly cry. However, stuunnoticed. The Shaffer games 2012 are back in full dents in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade are susceptible to swing this year. Participants are not required to be Shaffer’s trash talk. freak athletes nor to drink lots of protein. All stu“It depends on the student and the game. If it is a dents have to do is talk to Mr. Shaffer, Psychology cocky student whom I know well, I definitely gloat, teacher, and set up a time and place. but a freshman who gets destroyed is more likely to Mr. Shaffer said that the tradition started about receive sympathy.” four years ago when he and Mr. Jim Elfers, PasHe has compiled an impressive record of 31-9 toral Ministry legend, started two-on-two basketover the past two ball games with the years and is still going students. After about strong. Apparently, two years, Mr. Elfers he has perfected some couldn’t play anygames to a point more so Mr. Shaffer where it’s almost imcontinued on the possible to beat him. legacy but expanded Whether the game the challenges to requires physical or include any and all mental skill, Shaffer games known to man. will most likely win.

Board games, video When asked about games and sports are the worst loss he has all included. The fee endured in the Shaffer for any challenge is games, he was pained 10 dollars. Mr. Shaffer to recall the incident. uses the money that “Probably when Zach he wins and puts it Dwire hit a three from towards his Quiroga somewhere around house fund for events midcourt to defeat or other charities.

Mr. Shaffer plays Gamecube in his classroom, 327, after school.

Mr. Elfers and me in “It’s both a way to overtime,” he said. raise money, he explained, “and to get to know the For the victors he uses the $10, the cost to chalstudents outside the classroom,” he said. lenge him, to buy Chipotle and brings it to them These challenges often bring out people’s competitiveness. Mr. Shaffer doesn’t just do it for fun, he during lunch. comes to win. When he gloats, he pulls a “King of

October 2012

Moeller Theater presents Oscar Wilde’s comedy

November 16-18 Tickets available in Spirit Shop

Revised November Calendar Thursday, November 1 Late arrival--parking assembly Friday, November 2 No school--Water main break

MOE Memes

Sunday, November 4 Open House Monday, November 5 No school--Open House recovery day Tuesday, November 6 Late arrival--anticipated bad traffic on I-71 Wednesday, November 7 No school--pay $3 to U4U to skip school Friday, November 9 No school--MaeMae’s birthday Monday, November 12 No school--Veteran’s Day Wednesday, November 14 No school--teacher in service (CPR training)

MOE Culture

Nolan Morrow ‘14

Austin Morrow ‘14

Thursday, November 15 No school--student printer not working

Moeller Twins

Friday, November 16 No school--academic intervention

Nicholas Armour ‘16

Josh Armour ‘16

James Hertenstein ‘15

Joesph Hertenstein ‘15

Obama or Romney?

Romney

Romney

Romney

Romney

Obama

MND or Ursuline?

MND

MND

MND

MND

Ursuline

World Series prediction?

Reds

No Idea

Reds

Reds

Reds

Reds

Wilke

Wilke

Nelson

Kindt

C.K.

C.K.

Batman

Robin

Batman

Batman

Favorite Administrator?

Batman or Robin?

Batman

Obama Ursuline

Batman

Monday, November 19 Incentive lunch schedule--Dan Dever takes whole school to Chipotle Tuesday, November 20 Late arrival--why not?

Wednesday, November 21 No school--Thanksgiving break Monday, November 26 Classes resume