Student Inscape November - December 2023

INSCAPE

Student Edition Vol. 82 Issue 2 November•December 2023

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D-Wing cat finds a new home

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Crisis in Congo 4

Phishy hospital attacks

Holiday baggage Did you know that while you are drinking hot chocolate and opening gifts, there are 600,000 home people suffering from homelessness? Suffering to find their next meal? Knowing these statistics, it is difficult to believe that Christmas is known as the “the most wonderful time of the year.” If we were to look at the reality of this season, we would see that it is double-sided. For instance, although opening presents may be a time of great joy and excitement, often, gift-giving may counter-actively bring about the problems of overspending and excessive consumerism. Furthermore, while cooking with your family may be a joyful and fulfilling experience, for many, it is a time of hunger and despair. The point is, Christmas is a time of great duality; for some, it can be a joyous season of gift-giving and bonding time, while for others, it can be a reality check of their shortcomings.

We need to acknowledge both these actualities.

For example, indulgence in hyper-consumption is incredibly common during the holiday seasons. Why buy one Stanley Cup when you could buy 10, even though you already have 10 Hydroflasks sitting in your cabinet from last

year’s trendy buys? When you buy off of trends in excessive amounts, you are at risk of phasing out said trends, causing you to end up with a surplus amount of unwanted items that typically end up in the trash. This waste goes to landfills; it goes

Overconsumption is one of the leading causes of the climate crisis,, and yet, it is often promoted by companies, especially around the holiday season. to oceans and goes to habitats of endangered species, which will consume the non-biodegradable, toxic constituents of the “last year’s” must-buys.

Overconsumption is one of the leading causes

of the climate crisis, and yet, it is often promoted by companies, especially around the holiday season. That is not to say that it is bad to pamper yourself during the holidays. This is more of a suggestion to watch what you buy and always question the longevity of your purchases.

Additionally, the other side to those who hyper-indulge are the impoverished. Homeless adults and children cannot afford to buy the bare necessities like winter coats, food or shelter–let alone gifts. It is no surprise that depression rates increase this time of year. Research has shown during the holidays, depression in everyday people increases by 38%, while depression in people with pre-existing mental disorders worsens by 68%.

In and out of the Christmas season, aspects such as consumerism, depression and poverty are continuous. However, now in this season of giving, it is important to stay educated and appreciate the privilege to have all you have and the option to help. There are countless opportunities to actively make a change, which can truly make this “the most wonderful time of the year.”

What’s inside this edition 2 Mac News

5 Feature

7 Opinion

9 Sports

3-4 News

6 Student Life

8 Science & Tech

10 A&E

Inscape staff Co-Editor-in-Chief Co-Editor-in-Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor Mac News Editor News Editor News Editor Feature Editor Feature Editor Student Life Editor Opinion Editor Columnist Science & Tech Editor Sports Editor Arts & Entertainment Editor Staff Photographer Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Advisor Advisor

Elise Malinowski Addison Haywood Molly Carr Julia Easterhouse Garrison Urbon Mireya Gomez de la Casa Lauren Nichols Elizabeth Gadzik Fiona Stanek Aniyah Roberts Tiffany Gonzalez Lorelei Saczek Caitlin Sears Savannah Simon Elysia Gonzalez Brijana Labiak Brijana Labiak Olivia Murray Ms. Abigail Sheahan Mr. Thomas Bochenczak

Editorial Policy: The opinions expressed in this magazine are the views of the individual authors, and not of the Inscape staff or Mother McAuley High School. Inscape is an open forum that welcomes letters to editor, comments, and feedback from all readers. All letters to the editor must be signed in order to be printed.

Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School 3737 W. 99th Street Chicago, IL 60655 (773)-881-6500 www.mothermcauley.org Principal Dr. Kathryn Baal Vice Principal Mrs. Sandra Smycz Vice Principal Mrs. Sarah Kolkmeyer ‘06

Front cover by Brijana Labiak Back cover by Elysia Gonzalez

1 table of contents and staff editorial

november/december 2023

Mighty Macs are back-to-back Julia Easterhouse The Mother McAuley volleyball team is the class 4A IHSA State Champions yet again! The team advanced to the state semifinals at Illinois State arena where they played Barrington in a fierce, cutthroat fashion to compete for the spot in the state championship game.

Taking place on Nov. 10, the team started off strong winning the first set 25-19. The Mighty Macs were able to defeat Barrington in two rounds, advancing them to the state championship the next night. The game was against Benet Academy. Mother McAuley lost to them during the season, so the pressure was on. The first set was nothing short of a heart stopper, ending in a Mac win but with a tight score. Losing the next set and having to go to a third, the Mother McAuley volleyball team did what they do best and gave it their all. The team ended the third set with a score of 25-16, making them back-to-back state champions! This game resulted in not only pure excitement, but gave Mother McAuley their 17th state title, an Illinois record!

The Mighty Macs did not just become state champions overnight; they spent months perfecting their skill to live up to their title. The

girls practice schedule is a grueling MondaySaturday with training starting in May. The work may be hard, but it all pays off in the end with their consistent motivation throughout the season. When asking Ellie White 12 what motivated the team this season, she mentioned the loss of the first game against Marist High School. “It was good to have lost because it was a wake up call for motivation for playing them again in semifinals,” White shared. It sure was motivation as they ended up winning the sectional championship against Marist in the later season.

The titles received by the Mother McAuley volleyball team were nothing short of deserved due to their hardwork and dedication every game. The team is not only known for their skill on the court, but the bond and attitude they portray off of it too. When asked what she will miss most about McAuley volleyball, White said, “The tradition and legacy and the environment and people I am surrounded by.” The team was congratulated as State Champions on Nov. 11 and will be remembered as champions on and off the court.

above. The varsity Volleyball team celebrate their back to back victories with a ceremony to welcome them, and their new trophy, back to campus! photo by Brijana Labiak

D-Wing cat finds a new home Lorelei Saczek When one hears “cat” and “theater department,” their mind immediately goes to “Cats” the musical; however, that’s not the case for McAuley.

The theater department started to see signs of an animal sneaking around. After checking security camera footage, it was revealed that there was a cat in D-Wing. The cat was also spotted wandering around the school. From hallways to the chapel, the cat was able to experience life as a McAuley girl.

During tech Sunday, the theater department realized that the cat was becoming a problem.

above. Security spots the cat exploring D-Wing after school hours.

The cat had scratched up the very expensive mirrors in the choral room. If not for Ms. McCasland’s cat wrangling skills and a cast member with experience rescuing cats, there could still be a cat running around McAuley.

Mrs. McKee recounted the events: “Gigi was the first to spot him, in a box under the choir robes. Ms. McCasland gave him food. He was very hungry and nervous, but very sweet” After a while the cat came out and was picked up by Ms. McCasland and put into a cat carrier. With many names including: Chicago, Kitty Mac, Baby Gigi, Billy Flynn, Roxie and Velma-Kitty, it’s clear the cat was loved by many. One cast member in particular, Shannon Pasters, 12, volunteered to bring him home.

Pasters boyfriend decided to take the cat, unfortunately, “[we] didn’t know that his father [is] allergic,” Pasters explains. Unable to take the cat in herself, due to already having a cat, Pasters had to give the cat away.

“The day after, on Saturday, I went to a police station to see if it was chipped, it wasn’t” Saturday night Pastors sadly had to give the cat, whom she named Flint, to the officer to “find a nice home for it.”

Hopefully the McAuley cat finds a home with owners who love it as much as McAuley does. It’s safe to say that this was definitely a unique experience McAuley has never encountered before.

above. The mysterious cat of D-Wing sneaks a bite during rehersals.

Photo provided by Mrs. McKee

McKee concludes, “I thought I had seen it all in the D Wing, but a cat was a surprising twist.” And, in case you were wondering “No, we are not doing ‘Cats’ next year!”

november/december 2023 mac news 2

Chicago becomes “sanctuary city” Tiffany Gonzalez

graph by Tiffany Gonzalez

Designated as a “sanctuary city,” waves of migrants–mostly from Venezuela–have come to Chicago to seek asylum. The number of migrants is overwhelming, and many opportunities open for asylum-seekers to find work, housing and resources are dwindling.

Since last year, more than 20,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago, and many are living inside police stations and airports while they await for permanent independent housing.

Chicago has been making it accessible for migrants to get a work permit, housing, food and clothing. They are coming to Chicago with the intention of finding a home, a job and a better future for themselves. “We came here with one sole purpose: to work,” said 41-yearold migrant Eudo Luis Ledezma. Many Venezuelans have fled their country due to the exhaustion of economic struggles and global policies that never change nor benefit them; they were unable to build safe or stable lives.

More than 3,000 asylum-seekers are still waiting for placement. All over Chicago, churches have opened their doors to migrants, housing many of them as even more are dropped off by the busload. “We’re definitely doing everything possible to keep them out of

Crisis in Congo The eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been affected by violence involving armed groups.

Different militias from countries across Africa have raided the country for its precious resources since the 1990s, and the DRC and the peacekeepers of the United Nations have struggled to defend its territory. This has ravaged the local populations, and as of this fall, a rebel militia force called M23 launched a new wave of attacks, brutalizing the already dilapidated country.

Savannah Simon

The Congo is among the poorest countries in the world, but it is wealthiest in natural resources. Resources such as diamonds, copper, gold and coltan–which is used in our cellular devices–all originate from the Congo. The Congo is 905,000 square miles and holds 96 million people. Their resources are estimated to be worth roughly 24 trillion dollars. This raiding of their precious resource started after the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

Because of all of the fighting by different armed factions, there has been a mass

graph by Savannah Simon

the districts and into shelters. We do provide them blankets and everything to prepare them if they do go to a district,” said Eddie Fuentes of New Life Centers of Chicagoland. The city has been struggling with where to house all the migrants as freezing temperatures hit the city.

Since mid-December, 17 churches across the city have been used as small 60-day shelters funded by private donations through the city’s new Unity Initiative. “The help that the church is giving us, for me, is the best thing that could have happened to us during these circumstances,” migrant Jeily Rosa Ortiz Ramos said. “I got sick due to the cold weather since I was sleeping on a cold floor, and the weather affected me.”

State officials will spend 65 million dollars to build a winterized base camp in Brighton Park. Pritzker announced Nov. 16 that the state will spend an additional 160 million dollars to care for the migrants during these hard winter months. The base camp will have separate tents for sleeping, dining, showers and bathrooms. Most migrants will only be able to stay for a maximum of 60 days, and volunteers have been working to help asylumseekers find a more permanent residence.

displacement of communities, which has caused a huge humanitarian crisis. Innocent men, women and children caught in the crossfire of this bloody war for resources and territory have no choice but to leave their homes for a chance of survival. Since 1996, as many as 6 million people have been killed in the conflicts in the DRC–half of which were children younger than the age of five. The conflict has been referred to as the “African World War’’ due it being as bloody as World War II. President of the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi, has repeatedly said in recent interviews that he wants the United Nation peacemakers to withdraw from the country. These peacemakers have been in the country for decades, and citizens in the DRC have protested the peacemakers for stealing the Congo’s resources and because they are not being efficient enough peacemakers. In the early 2000s, a group called the March 23 Movement (M23) attacked parts of the Congo; the faction is a rebel military force in the DRC backed by Rwanda. Over the past five years, M23 has had control over some large parts of North Kivu. In October of this year, M23 launched a new wave of attacks, defying a ceasefire agreement they had with the DRC government. The Congolese citizens of eastern DRC and the DRC military will continue to defend their resources and territory from M23 with the help of other militias.

3 news november/december 2023

Phishy hospital attacks Many U.S. hospitals have experienced data breaches and ransomware attacks this year because hackers are trying to turn an easy profit. The hackers have shut down patient portals and hospital equipment, charging the hospitals high ransoms for their services back. Because hospitals serve such vulnerable patients, they often give in to the hackers’ demands and give them millions of dollars.

Over 551 U.S. hospitals have been affected so far. Emergency rooms in at least three states have closed their emergency departments and diverted patients to other hospitals. Ardent Health Services, the company affected by the hackers, took their entire network offline, suspending user access and information applications, including any software used to document patient care and history. In doing this, the hackers could no longer access the data.

The company said it cannot yet confirm the extent of any patient health or financial information that has been compromised. The attack has been brought to the attention of law enforcement, third-party threat intelligence advisors and forensic investigators. The company will restore online access once the threat has been fully resolved, but there is no set date for restoration.

In Amarillo, Texas, William Spell said his mother, who was experiencing flu-like symptoms for days, couldn’t make a doctor’s appointment through an online patient portal because of the cyberattack. Their primary care

Caitlin Sears

provider explained how she didn’t know how long the shutdown would last and suggested an urgent care facility.

“That’s just something we cannot do because urgent care charges a lot of money just to walk through the door and be seen by a doctor,” Spell said. “There’s no way we can afford that.” Many other patients have had similar issues accessing appointments and contact with their doctors.

No person or organization has claimed responsibility for the attack at this moment.

Ardent Health Services says it’s still unclear of the full impact of this event, what data was

compromised and how long it will take to fix. The company continues to evaluate safe treatment for patients and will make its next moves based on the quality of care the hospitals could give. Cyber attacks are becoming more common and hospitals are most at risk due to the switch from paper to digital systems.

Source: The HIPAA Journal graph by Caitlin Sears

2024 presidential candidates

u

Olivia Murray

Source: The Washington Post

november/december 2023

news 4

Hot takes: Macs crack the zodiac Lauren Nichols and Elysia Gonzalez Lauren: I do not fully agree with zodiac signs, although I do somewhat agree with the characteristic side of the zodiacs.

I feel as though in some aspects every person can relate to the characteristics of their zodiac sign.

With me being a Virgo, I can agree that I can be a perfectionist at times. I can be very introverted. I can be very stubborn, and I can be overly independent. I am very well-grounded, creative and reliable.

I don’t agree with the sun and rising aspects of zodiac signs. I think there can be times when people use zodiac signs too much, as if zodiac signs have to explain every behavior and personality trait one has. I think the zodiac sign that astrologists are trying to add between the Scorpio and Sagittarius signs is a bit too much. With there being 12 months and 12 signs, adding a new sign would throw the whole thing off. People have built strong personalities and identities tied to their signs, so this change wouldn’t be good.

I don’t think it’s right when people assume what your zodiac sign is due to your personality because I don’t think your personality must match with your sign. Again, with me being a Virgo, I don’t feel like I’m uptight, sensitive or secretive. “Research published in the Journal of Consumer Research has found people who checked their horoscope daily were more likely to behave impulsively or exhibit indulgent behavior if their zodiac sign was negative,” said Heather Saul in the article about zodiac signs from The Independent. Overall, zodiac signs are fun, but I don’t think people should tie their whole personality to it.

Elysia I believe that horoscopes do not determine an entire person’s personality.

As you may know, each sign has different traits assigned to them, but are they completely accurate? Who came up with them in the first place? For example, there’s always a negative stigma toward Cancers, Geminis and Scorpios saying they’re untrustworthy and “fake” while those are the signs of some of the sweetest people I’ve met!

It’s jarring to me how a lot of people automatically assume what a person is like based on their sign and immediately judge them or think negatively of them.

I’m a March Aries, and according to my horoscope, I’m highly competitive, impulsive, moody, aggressive, childish– you get the idea. I’d like to think I’m not all of these traits and hope people don’t assume these things about me.

I also think people justify and excuse their bad behavior on their sign. Like you could meet the worst person ever and they’ll say, “Oh sorry, I’m a Leo!” No, you’re just a bad person, sorry.

Don’t get me wrong, I love how people use horoscopes and signs as bonding opportunities. If this is something you’re interested in, go for it! Astrology as a whole is a very interesting concept, but not everyone understands it, (like myself) which is why I feel this way. However, I’m not opposed to learning more about it! But in terms of personality, I feel it is developed and based on what a person has experienced in their life, what they are surrounded by, what they like to do and what makes them unique–not just by their sign.

Do you believe in horoscopes? Scan the QR code to vote!

Disney dilemma Lorelei Saczek

What do you think of when you hear the phrase For princess?”

“Disney me, it’s a swirling story of gumption, romance, adventure and girl power.

However, that’s not the case for everyone.

In recent years there has been a decrease in Disney movies that feature a true “princess.” Yes, there are still movies with strong female leads, like “Encanto,” but Maribel is no princess. I’m talking about a full blown princess with a crown, a dress, all the works. So what happened to the iconic princesses of my childhood?

The answer is simple: supposedly, the classic Disney princess movies don’t promote female independence.

Well, I’m here to prove that wrong.

Out of all the princesses and female characters Disney has, only 14 are considered princesses–most of which include strong women who are able to stand on their own, without needing any man to help them. Of the 14, only two princesses were actually “saved” by a man: Snow White and Aurora. The remaining 12 were entirely capable of incredible things all on their own. I mean, Mulan saved a whole country.

On the topic of girl boss princesses, there are quite a few to talk about.

Moana saved her whole village; Merida showed her family that you don’t need to marry to thrive, and Tiana was able to buy her dream restaurant (after being turned into a frog I might add).

You might be thinking: “Didn’t they fall in love and have a male companion along the way?” Yes they did, but what’s wrong with a little romance?

Even though nine of the 14 princesses got married to their prince, they were able to thrive on their own. Snow White survived in a forest, made friends with dwarves and escaped the Evil Queen all on her own before getting married.

Belle sacrificed herself to a wicked beast to save her father all while she went against Gaston to pursue her own wishes.

All I’m saying is that a little princess never hurt anyone. What’s so wrong with a girl watching a movie where a princess and her prince go on an epic adventure and–maybe–fall in love along the way? You can be a princess and still be a strong, independent woman.

Sept/Oct Hot Takes results: 80% HBO Max, 20% Peacock TV

7 opinion

november/december 2023

Super soap Heman Bekele is a 14-year-old boy who attends W.T. Woodson High School in Annandale, Virginia who created a cure for skin cancer with a simple bar of soap. He spent eight months developing a cure for skin cancer in the form of a soap called Melanoma Treating Soap (M.T.S.). The teenager recalled seeing many people working under the sun and wondered if they knew it was a great risk.

Bekele found that treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy, can add up to as much as over $40,000. He discovered the disparity between recovery rate of individuals with melanoma in sub-Saharan Africa and the United States: “When I first heard about this issue, I was devastated by the amount of preventable deaths caused by this illness and knew I had to take action.” The United States has a recovery rate of 99% while sub-Saharan Africa has a recovery rate of 20%. This disparity is the result of a lack of accessibility to resources needed to treat melanoma in thirdworld countries. Recognizing this disparity, Bekele desired to create an affordable cure for melanoma.

In order to create the soap, Bekele used a 50:30:20 ratio of salicylic acid, glycolic acid

Aniyah Roberts

and tretinoin, which are keratolytic agents that slowly reactivate dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are cells that boost immune responses, but weakens when it comes in contact with a skin cancer cell (HPV), allowing the cancer cell to take over. When someone with skin cancer uses Bekele’s soap, it releases toll-like receptors into the skin. The receptors latch onto dendritic cells to reactivate them. The reactivated cells join with TN io12 cells to fight infected HPV cells. Bekele went through many prototypes to form the one he deemed perfect.

In an interview with Fox News 5 Washington D.C., he recalled, “And I remember it being so, so difficult to get a bar of soap that didn’t just melt immediately.”

The soap Bekele developed won him the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

He received a grand prize of $25,000 and was granted the title, “America’s Top Young Scientist.” Bekele has plans to refine M.T.S. in the next five years and create a nonprofit to distribute his treatment to communities that need it.

graph by Aniyah Roberts

A new hope for sperm whales Molly Carr Endangered animals are a growing concern for our planet. The sperm whale in particular has been endangered since 1970. They can be found in all deep oceans, from the equator to the edge of the pack ice in the Arctic. There are many reasons why these whales are endangered, some of which include hunting, being hit by ships, entangled in fishing gear and being affected by agricultural runoff. In the pre-whaling days, there were an estimated 2 million sperm whales roaming the Earth’s deep waters before they were hunted for oil and used to burn lamps and lubricate machinery. Now, there is an estimated 800,000 left.

But there is a solution being implemented.

The world’s first marine protected area for the endangered sperm whale was announced on Nov. 6. It will be located in Puerto Rico on the Caribbean island of Dominica. Three hundred square miles of water on the Western side of the island are being used as nursing and feeding grounds that will be made into a reserve. “We want to ensure these majestic animals are safe and continue keeping our waters and climate healthy,” said Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

Scientists say that this reserve will protect the animals while fighting climate change

at the same time. The reserve is helpful specifically to the island of Dominica because when sperm whales dive up to 10,000 feet, they defecate near the surface, and their vital functions shut down and plankton blooms are created along the ocean’s surface. And for some reason, these sperm whales are believed to defecate more than whales everywhere else.

The government of Dominica said the reserve will allow sustainable artisanal fishing and mark out a specific path for ships to follow to avoid more deaths of sperm whales, which have the largest brain in the world and can grow up to 50 feet. Once the reserve is created, Prime Minister Skerrit said his administration will appoint an officer and observers to make sure that the area is respected and that whale tourism regulations are enforced. Visitors can still swim with sperm whales and see them from a boat, but in limited numbers. Enric Sala, an explorer-in-residence at National Geographic, said, “The government of Dominica has realized that the sperm whales, which were probably here before humans, are also citizens of Dominica.”

above. Map of the Island of Dominica western coast where the reserve will be loacated

november/december 2023

science & tech 8

Freak accident?

Play like a girl Garrison Urbon

Elise Malinowski On Oct. 28, 2023, in Sheffield, England, Adam Johnson, a 29-year-old former American NHL player and current player of the Nottingham Panthers, tragically died from a skate slash to the neck. While playing a game against the Sheffield Steelers, Johnson was approaching the commotion of a play when an opposing player, Matt Petgrave, flung his leg up while “falling.” The video footage shows Petgrave kicking and severing Johnson’s carotid artery. Johnson then fell to the ground. He was taken off the ice and urgently transported into an ambulance, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. He was rushed to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital where he was announced dead.

The incident became extremely controversial as to the intention of Petgrave’s actions, especially since he has a history of similar behavior. Elmo Aittola, a former coach of Petgrave, said, “He has no respect for himself or his opponents. He used to get into a bit of a mess. He is a very dirty player.”

These accusations were magnified when fans, as well as the rest of the internet, got a hold of the video. Then, on Nov. 14, 2023, Petgrave was arrested for manslaughter; however, he was released on bail the next day. Petgrave is said to have been extremely distraught over Johnson’s death. The court case is pending.

After his death, the team took a sabbatical from Oct. 28, 2023 to Nov. 26, 2023. In addition, the Nottingham Panthers commemorated Johnson by permanently

retiring his number “47.” The Panther’s released statement emphasized how “truly devastated” the team is and that it was a “freak accident.” This tragedy influenced the English Hockey Association, which governs the sport below the elite league, to require all players in England to wear neck guards at the start of 2024 onward so that hopefully, nothing like this can ever happen again.

left. QR Code linked to GoFundMe campaign in honor of Adam Johnson.

A homecoming Fiona Stanek This year, the Mother McAuley basketball program welcomed a new assistant varsity coach to their staff, Grace Hynes. Hynes is very familiar with not only the basketball program but Mother McAuley as well. Grace Hynes graduated from McAuley in 2019, and throughout her four years, she dominated in the basketball program. In her senior season, she played a pivotal role in leading the team to a remarkable second-place finish in the Illinois State Championship. In the state final game, Grace proved her hard work and resilience, earning a double-double with an impressive 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Post-high school, Hynes continued to be an awesome player throughout her four years at the University of Chicago, where she maintained her stellar performance on the court. Over her four years, she had a total of 1,045 points, averaging 16.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game her senior season. In

her 2022-2023 season, Hynes was a WBCA All-American Honorable Mention, the UAA Athlete of the Week (on Nov. 21, Jan. 17 and Feb. 27), a Dudley Medal Winner and a UAA All-Academic.

Despite her outstanding college career, Grace’s dedication to Mother McAuley did not waiver. Shortly after her graduation, Hynes returned to her roots on 99th and Pulaski, taking on the role of assistant varsity coach for the current 2023-2024 season, joining head varsity coach Curtis Lewis. With it being just a few weeks into the season, Coach Hynes has already made a significant impact on all the girls. Grace Hynes’s return to Mother McAuley not only signifies a homecoming for the athlete but also marks a new era of success for the McAuley basketball program under her guidance.

9 sports

Senior Grace Gambotz is a 5-foot-8inch shooting guard that has contributed time, special skill and many victories for the Mother McAuley basketball team.

Gambotz has been on the varsity basketball team since freshman year and continues to impress her teammates and herself with many accomplishments and victories. But McAuley basketball was not the start of Gambotz’s career.

“I’ve been playing basketball ever since I was 5. My older brothers would spend their time playing basketball out in the driveway, and being the only sister and the youngest, I followed everything they did.

This allowed me to pick up on basketball, and it’s something I’m very grateful for,” said Gambotz. Gambotz played all throughout grammar school and also kept her time busy with a club basketball league.

With all her experience and hard work, she was able to make varsity as a freshman.

Gambotz has big expectations for her senior year. She said, “This season my expectations are for our team to have a deep playoff run, and the only thing that matters is us winning games.” Gambotz has recently committed to Saginaw Valley State University, a NCAA Division II institution located in Michigan, where she will take basketball to the next level. “My basketball goals are to be as complete a player as possible. I’ll do whatever role my team needs me to fill to my best ability.”

When asked about pre-game rituals, Grace said that her favorite meal before a big game is Jimmy Johns. It easily fuels her to have a solid game. Grace also said that she and the team listen to “Party in the USA” or “your go-to McAuley songs” to hype everyone up. Grace is an amazing player and a great teammate, and I’m certain everyone’s excited about what the future has planned for her!

photo provided by Portrait Plus

november/december 2023

Artist spotlight Elizabeth Gadzik

As you walk along the halls of McAuley, your eyes may be drawn to the striking pieces of artwork hung on the walls. One of McAuley’s best artists is junior Bianca Martinez.

Martinez has been drawing ever since she could walk. She recalls drawing on anything she could find, whether that be her bedroom walls, menus at restaurants or doodles on her homework; Martinez truly has a special talent for encapsulating the emotions of her subject. She said, “When I want to create a new piece, I pull from the life experiences I have had and what emotions that have come with it such as grief, anxiety or happiness.” She has the ability to take those emotions and express them on the canvas for others to relate to.

Martinez is able to create art with all types of mediums, although oil paint is her favorite. When painting intricate works of art like human bodies or fabrics, she is compelled to work with oil. “Even though oil paintings take me a long time to make, I feel naturally drawn to them and always feel the need to challenge myself,” Martinez said. Through putting herself up for the challenge on every piece of work she does, Martinez improves as an artist.

These challenges test Martinez’s limits and expand her horizons. When creating a new piece, she feels stressed to live up to her goals, but when the piece is finished, she feels a satisfying sense of accomplishment and relief. Martinez feels immense achievement when others are able to admire the beautiful art she created. Keep an eye around the school for all her amazing work!

above. Works from Martinez’s AP Art and Design Portfolio on display in B-Wing.

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Olivia Murray

If you have ever seen the previous four movies in that dystopian universe, you definitely know about the notorious President Coriolanus Snow, the main villain in the series. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is a prequel which follows Snow’s journey as a teenager who is chosen to mentor Lucy Gray from District 12: one of the 24 teens chosen for the 10th annual Hunger Games.

Throughout the duration of the film, we see the chemistry of Gray and Snow intensify.

Gray helps show Snow’s soft side, making you question what all went wrong in who Snow became. The director, Francis Lawrence, creates a different persona of Snow that almost makes you sympathize with him.

Through his protection of Gray and working frivolously to help get his family out of poverty, viewers see a sweet side of Snow that they weren’t able to visualize in previous Hunger Games movies. Lawrence did a remarkable job at slowly portraying Snow’s decline in his character by casting Tom Blyth as Snow. Blyth perfectly shows Snow’s “psychotic break” as his paranoia destroys his relationships.

As an avid fan of “The Hunger Games” series, I can tell you that this movie does in fact live up to the hype of the original series.

It fits right into the dystopian feeling of that franchise.

However, there are some cons to point out.

If you have read “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” novel, you will see that numerous factors were left out of the movie, which might come as a disappointment. There were some

scenes between Gray and Snow that were cut out from the film that helped reveal Snow’s love for Gray. Also, if you have not read the novel, the movie’s ending might seem rushed or confusing. I recommend watching all of the previous Hunger Games movies and maybe even reading the “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” novel before going to see the movie.

photo by Olivia Murray

Grammy nominations Mireya Gomez de la Casa

The Grammy Awards is always a hot topic in music culture, sparking discussions and predictions about who will take home the coveted awards. This year is no exception, with a diverse range of artists recognized across the major categories. The Grammys will take place on Feb. 5, 2023 at Crypto. com Arena–most commonly known as Staples Center–in Los Angeles, California.

The Album of the Year, one of the highest honors at the award ceremony, is filled with diverse and talented nominees. The contenders include Boygenius for “The Record,” Janelle Monáe’s “The Age of Pleasure,” Jon Batiste’s “World Music Radio,” Lana Del Ray’s “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,” Miley Cyrus’s “Endless Summer Vacation,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts,” Sza’s “SOS” and Taylor Swift’s “Midnights.” Considering the depth, range of her work and popularity, I’d say Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” could be a strong contender. The album has a unique narrative style, and Swift’s storytelling ability really shines through.

The Song of the Year is also a hotly contested category. The nominees are Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night,” Jon Batiste’s “Butterfly,” Lana Del Ray’s “A&W,” Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire,” SZA’s “Kill Bill” and Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero.” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” has been a massive hit this year. It’s not just catchy, but it also has meaningful lyrics that many people relate to. Plus, Rodrigo’s rise to fame this year could sway the decision.

In conclusion, this year’s Grammy nominations reflect a rich diversity of music and talent. Predicting the winners is challenging, but it’s clear that no matter who takes home the awards, all the nominees have made significant contributions to music this year. Let’s look forward to the awards night to find out who will win!

november/december 2023

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