Student Inscape November - December 2022

If you have a phone, it is very likely that you have heard of the new social media app and trend called “BeReal.” The new social media platform has captured the interest of people of all ages, but it has predominantly taken over the market appealing to teenagers. The app encourages its users to “be real” or honest through the photos that they post once daily. The app sends out a notification to all of its users, and they are encouraged to post a photo of what they are doing at that exact moment or within a supposed “acceptable” time period. The photo includes a front and back camera picture that poses an opportunity for users to show off what fun activities take up their days. You also have the ability to react to the photos that the people you follow post. The goal is to capture everyday moments that other social media platforms are not centered around. BeReal is supposed to encourage the app’s users to post unfiltered, realistic photos of what’s going on in their lives, so then what’s the problem?

Like all other social media platforms, BeReal has positives and negatives. A strong negative aspect of BeReal is its heavier expectation for the app’s users to be realistic about what they’re doing everyday. So, when

people you follow, for example, wait to post their daily picture or stage a photo to make what they are doing look more exciting than it actually is, that person’s followers can

by the ever-present pressure that social media introduces to the majority of the population.

For many, BeReal can be a positive platform and opportunity to connect with others through the power of modern technology. However, the unity aspect of the app is outweighed by the fear of missing out on posting at the “BeReal time.” Many people see the app as being harmless, and it is for the most part. The negatives are introduced with the fact that BeReal is an influential social media platform. Overall, doesn’t “being real” mean not being on your phone and living in the moment? Many of us can get caught up in the trends of social media or other societal trends, but this can be very harmful. When it comes down to it, the problem with using BeReal relates to the destructive, never-ending, and unrealistic expectations that social media poses, and we should really be combating this.

be misled. The person doing the deceiving also evidences a familiar pressure felt by social media users. People are inadvertently perpetuating societal expectations and pressures that can be harmful. Something that is supposed to be a fun and new spin on social media has once again been corrupted

“When

Fall Musical makes a big splash

Daniella Hall

All of the lines memorized, songs sung and flying practiced resulted in a fall musical that did NOT disappoint. The captivating light effects, intricate set, stunning costumes and amazing orchestra added to the “wow factor” of McAuley’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” The acting was on point, and anyone on stage would be a good candidate for a Broadway production. The musical was undoubtedly a result of everyone’s hard work.

“As assistant director, I had to go to every rehearsal, and I was able to see everyone grow both theatrically and in their friendships,” Ava Rosenthal 12 said.

All of the shows were a hit, and tickets were sold out before show week rolled around. At the all-school show, students were actually spotted on the edge of their seats. Would Ariel and Eric live happily ever after? Would Ursula be the eternal owner of Ariel’s soul? The stellar acting had everyone nervous with anticipation! Kaylee McClain 12, who played Ariel at the school show, commented on her reaction to the audience:

“It was unreal. I’ve never felt energy like that before. It fueled me and kept me going,” McClain said. “It really made me realize that the whole school is always behind us.”

From the start of the school show as Scuttle flew in from stage right, the school’s applause was roaring. As if the

the amazing acting wasn’t enough, there was actual flying involved in the show too.

“I would say that being able to fly was a surreal opportunity,” Grace Celauro 12 said. “I feel so lucky to have been given the chance to play the role of Scuttle, and flying just made it that much better. I loved how excited the audience got when they saw us flying throughout the show.”

The audience’s support was out of this world, and it was comparable to being at the McAuley state volleyball game. Some audience members even made an appearance in the musical. Raffle tickets were sold during lunches, and the proceeds went toward supporting an organization called A New Direction. The lucky winners of the raffle joined the actors onstage, and not one of them danced offbeat. One of the raffle winners described her time in the spotlight.

“It was a super fun experience, and I loved getting to go backstage and see the cast before we went onstage,” Georgia Lausch 12 said. “My favorite part was going to rehearsal, learning the dance and getting put in a costume! I went to a rehearsal for 30 minutes, and I was exhausted after. It really shows how hard the cast and crew work on the play.”

Alumnae Spotlight events

Tiffany Gonzalez

Throughout this year at Mother McAuley, alumnae are introducing students to new career opportunities or paths they could consider at “Alumnae Spotlight” events. Students across all grade levels are welcomed to join in and learn more about these career paths during select lunch periods. All kinds of careers are being featured, but there is a big emphasis on nursing and all of the different types of nursing specialties.

One alumnae who came back to McAuley and spoke to students is Maggie Clifford, who graduated from McAuley in 2014. She is now a MSN (Master of Science in Nursing). She talked about all the different roles and opportunities she had throughout her journey; she is currently a bedside nurse on the Postpartum/Mother-Baby floor at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Kathleen Mixan, McAuley’s Director of Student Services, hosts these events at Mother McAuley to give students the opportunity and insight of all the choices one has to choose from for their future careers. Mixan strongly encourages students to come to these events “to be able to strengthen interests and hear about fields you’ve never heard of before.”

You should be informed of what might be out there or an interest you might have!

Finding your career path may be something you stress about, so going to these alumnae events can be beneficial. You can hear about these events through the announcements, parent newsletter and emails that go out to your parents. You can also register through the link that is in your Counseling Google Classroom. Engineering, Business and Psychology are all upcoming sessions for the upcoming year, so be on the lookout for these. Alumnae events are an exciting experience because they help you to think about your future and the upcoming challenges that you may have throughout your journey to learn more about what type of field you want to pursue or the path you want to take. Alumnae that come back to McAuley always express so much pride in what they do. They don’t regret the decision that they chose. These alumnae events set you up for success for your future.

What are you thinking about for your future? McAuley girls who go to alumnae events have a clear mind after going to these events. They have a better understanding of what they might want to pursue, hearing

feedback on career choices and different perspectives. You get a better understanding and view. It’s interesting and an experience you can’t miss out on. Lilly Coakley 12 says, “I really liked it. It was a great opportunity, and I learned about what kind of things I wanted to do in the future.” She was only in her freshman year getting insight, and now she is a senior looking at her options and careers. Alumnae events helped her drastically.

above. The cast and ensemble of The Little Mermaid perform, “Kiss the Girl” on stage. photo by Daniella Hall

Elon Musk buys Twitter

Evelyn Ivers

Elon Musk, the wealthiest person in the world according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, has begun purchasing his next project: Twitter. Musk was born and raised in Pretoria, South Africa before moving to Canada at the age of 17. Following his move, he received bachelor’s degrees in economics and physics from the University of Pennsylvania. He is most well known for being the founder, CEO and chief engineer of SpaceX as well as the CEO of Tesla, Inc. With a net worth of nearly $195 billion, the world is Musk’s playground.

In April 2022, Musk proposed a deal to the Twitter corporation to purchase the firm for $44 billion. The deal was closed on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, making Musk the new head of the Twitter corporation.

Twitter is commonly used by celebrities to share their thoughts and experiences, as well as politicians to share their political views and stances. However, the majority of Twitter users share no celebrity status but are still able to use the app to share anything they wish. Twitter is used by over 450 million monthly active users and almost 240 million daily active users from all regions of the world.

Musk’s latest advancement to Twitter comes with the price of $7.99. Twitter Blue, the latest iOS update to the app on Apple’s

App Store, allows users to receive the coveted blue check mark next to their username that is typically only displayed on the accounts of celebrities, companies and well-known politicians. While Twitter Blue is skyrocketing in popularity, there are many malfunctions still occurring within the app. Many sources attest that the blue check mark and “verified” label are not shown across many profiles despite having paid for Twitter Blue. Twitter also promoted an improved notifications tab that specifically moved tweets from verified users to the top of all user’s screens, encouraging users to purchase Twitter Blue in hopes that their tweets will receive attention. However, the notification tab has also disappeared from the app, leaving Twitter Blue users nothing to show for their purchase.

Musk’s new takeover is not only presenting changes within the app, but also within the company. According to “The New York Times,” Musk has begun transitioning the company to a more privately structured firm, preventing Musk from having to share how the app is performing to shareholders as well as the public. He has also begun terminating some executive jobs such as the chief executive and financial officers, the top legal executive and the general counsel.

World population climbs

Twitter is in for some major changes structurally and socially with the new takeover of Elon Musk, and whether that’s for the best or worst will be revealed soon when his takeover really begins to take form.

above. Elon Musk declares free speech is now available to Twitter users.

Ella Martin

Election outcomes for Illinois

On Nov. 4, voters all over America were getting ready for the special voting day. Many races were up for grabs for either re-election or fist-time politicians. For the state of Illinois, Governor Democrat J.B Pritzker defeated Republican candidate Darren Bailey with 54% of the vote compared to Darren Bailey’s 43%.

For the Illinois Senate race, Tammy Duckworth defeated Republican candidate Kathy Salvi and Libertarian candidate Bill Redpath with 56% to Kathy Salvi’s 42%.

Governor Pritzker has been in office since 2019 and has enacted many policies during his time in office. He raised the minimum wage to a living wage, which has been impactful for people with minimum wage jobs. Pritzker also launched a program to build roads, bridges

and schools. 1.8 billion dollars have gone to tax relief on groceries, gas and property taxes; Pritzker also fought to make college more affordable.

With the win, he still has more to do. Pritzker plans to continue to tackle the issues from the pandemic and overcome issues working families tend to face. “When I took office in 2019, I pledged to make Illinois the best place in the nation to raise a family,” said Governor J.B. Pritzker. “By expanding the Strengthen and Grow Child Care and Child Care Assistance programs, we are living up to that pledge and making sure families in every corner of the state have access to quality care for their children during their most crucial developmental years.” With Tammy Duckworth

Duckworth’s win, she has many plans to help Illinois by fighting issues of agriculture, nutrition, economy, healthcare, immigration and many more. Duckworth also plans to fight for affordable health care. For the agriculture industry, she is committed to reinforce initiatives that eliminate unnecessary red tape and expand opportunities for farmers. While the midterm elections are over, many voters are looking toward the 2024 presidential election. Voters wonder if President Biden will run for re-election; if he does, can he maintain the presidential seat against the Republican frontrunners: former President Donald Trump or the current Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis? We will have to see to find out.

What is causing Europe’s energy crisis?

Many European countries have been going through a major energy crisis in 2021 and 2022. In the European Union (EU), gas consumption has increased by nearly 25%. Many factors including COVID-19 and climate change have contributed to this crisis.

With the pandemic and lockdown, the demand for energy went down dramatically. This led to the supply of energy going down in response to the lower demand. However, after many places in the world started reopening, the demand for energy sources such as liquified natural gas went up, and suppliers weren’t prepared. This led to rapid inflation and unequal supply and demand.

Suppliers were also under extra pressure due to droughts in North and South America and heatwaves in Europe. The extreme heat had impaired the functions of many hydro powered generators. According to publichealth.org’s article “Climate Change,” “Most climate change experts agree that greenhouse gases-which trap heat and prevent it from leaving the Earth’s atmosphere-are mostly responsible for the temperature spike.

Even with a worldwide emphasis on reduced greenhouse emissions, temperatures continue to climb.” The recent colder winters have also frozen a lot of the liquified natural gas used for energy. These extreme changes in temperature have also caused many to use their heat and air conditioning more than usual. Renewable energy is also not as prominent in Europe as it is in other countries such as China and Uruguay. To make matters worse, the intake of gas was also impaired because suppliers in the United States were not able to transport as much liquified natural gas due to losing Texas’s power grid in the winter of 2021.

Sanctions on Russia and the war in Ukraine have also contributed to the energy crisis. Even without sanctions, Russia has been short on their gas storages. This is in part due to climate change and the war in Ukraine. Fossil fuels release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere which absorb heat. This raises the temperature and causes the Earth to be warmer and dryer, leaving many areas more susceptible to wildfires. The ozone layer of our atmosphere has also been damaged and is letting in more ultraviolet radiation.

All these factors have contributed to Europe’s energy crisis. Now, countries in the EU are being asked to scale down their energy consumption by 15% in order to prepare for the winter. They also want to become less reliant on gas coming in from Russia and want to be able to provide for the industry through other countries and resources. With time, hopefully inflation will go down, and resources will be more widely available so that European nations will be able to better provide for their citizens.

Lilly Daggy

graphs by Lisette Corral

Chasing freedom: untold stories of Ukrainian women

On Feb. 24, 2022, life changed for 44.13 million Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine from both Belarus and the Crimea Peninsula. Since the war began, it has killed thousands of both Russians and Ukrainians and displaced millions of families. Here are the stories of three brave women living in Ukraine today.

These stories have been collected by Oksana, a friend of my mother from when she formerly lived in Transcarpathia, a large region in Western Ukraine.

Oksana

Oksana was born in 1981 in a city called Berehovo. Oksana is currently living in a small village named Hut, located in Transcarpathia. Oksana is a freelance translator and entrepreneur. Her husband has been working abroad for 5 years and would typically visit twice a year. Unfortunately, the war will not allow him to come home due to the risk of losing his job. On Feb. 24 Oksana decided to begin working from home. “It was not easy, especially because we watched the TV all day long for the latest news. My husband wanted me to go to him, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy for us and our children to live abroad because of the money,” Oksana said. Fortunately for her and her children, the region of Transcarpathia has remained relatively safe. For Oksana work is one of the best ways to cope with war depression. “Continuing work and doing the usual routine made us bring back the sense of life.” The local kindergarten in Oksana’s village remained closed until September. The children are becoming accustomed to the air alarm, which goes off a few times a day, requiring them to go to shelters. Oksana’s children both have routines: one of her daughters goes to school and the other to kindergarten. Her mother-in-law is fortunately available to help around the house.

Margareth

Margareth was born in 1961 in a small Transcarpathia village. She is currently still living in that same village with her husband. Right before the war, her husband had a stroke, and the left side of his body became paralyzed. He is a pensioner but with an extremely low pension. “Prices have risen significantly. In the beginning of the war, it was difficult to find medication for my husband. At the moment, the problem is already settled, but we need to economize on everything to be able to buy the necessary things,” said Margareth. Her son went abroad for work before the war, but since then, his wife and children have left Ukraine to safely be with him. Within her village it is mostly elderly who stayed. Most of the young people fled across the border to Hungary. Margareth was nervous about staying warm in the winter. “For the whole summer, I could not manage to find firewood, but thanks to my son and our relatives, we managed to buy some wood for winter.” As a housewife, her day consists of housework, working on their land and caring for her husband. She manages to visit her friends in the village and is fortunately able to speak with her son and grandchildren daily via online messaging.

Svetlana

Svetlana was born in Novoiehorivka, Mykolaivska Oblast in 1986. In April she and her two sons packed up and moved to the safer Western Ukraine. She and the other internally displaced persons (IDPs) were living in a local kindergarten in a small village in Transcarpathia. Svetlana’s husband is currently serving in the East and has been since the beginning of the war. “At the moment, I’m alone with my children. When we left our home, I was pregnant, and a month ago I gave birth to a child.” Even though Svetlana and her three children lost their home, she is relieved

they are safe. Previously, Svetlana was a janitor, but she is currently on maternity leave. “I hope, when my husband is demobilized, we will be able to find some work and rent a place for our family,” said Svetlana. It was difficult for Svetlana and mostly everyone in Ukraine to understand why Russia would invade their country. “We were watching TV and just could not accept what was happening. We were shocked. Especially when we found out that the war was coming closer and closer to our home. I was staying at the hospital because of my pregnancy. Not far from the hospital there were missile strikes.” At that moment, Svetlana knew she had to flee. It is hard for Svetlana and many other IDPs to have motivation to do anything. “We mostly just layed in our beds, having no purpose and no interest in any activity.” Svetlana said the locals began to organize activities for families such as Easter egg painting or postcards. IDPs have also found work in factories. Svetlana is slowly but surely rebuilding her life and patiently waiting for her husband to come home.

Lilly

above. the Southern slopes of the Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine..

Christmas on a budget

A bike! A pony! A magical hairbrush that helps my hair grow longer than a rope! No matter what the gift may be, maintaining a budget and buying good quality gifts can be a struggle during the holiday season. Here are some tips you can use to avoid hurting your wallet!

Tip #1: First off, you want to set a reasonable budget for yourself. Each person will have a different budget based on their income, but placing a limit on how much you can spend can prevent you from spending more money than originally planned. Sticking to a budget may be difficult, but your future self will thank you.

Tip #2: Once you start shopping and purchasing gifts, it is important that you track your spending. Write down what you are buying and how much that item costs. This helps you keep a record of how much you are spending. This will also help you to stay on your budget by preventing you from overspending.

Tip #3: Who doesn’t love gift cards!

Mia Miceli

Shopping for presents is the perfect time to go through old gift cards and use them when going Christmas shopping. By using these gift cards, you can discount anything you may be buying. You can also re-gift the gift cards once you put more money on it!

Tip #4: Cutting down on the number of gifts you give can be beneficial to your wallet. Only give gifts to your family and the people you are closest to. This allows you to spend more money on meaningful gifts for the people you are closest with but also allows you to save money buy not buying extra gifts,

Tip #5: If you do not want to exclude someone from your gift list, ask some friends if they want to chip in to get a group gift or someone. This helps everyone save money while getting a nicer gift for someone you all care about!

Tip #6: Re-gifting is also a smart way to save money and not waste someone else’s! Instead of throwing away a gift you won’t use or keep, you can re-gift it to someone you believe would have a better use for it.

All of these tips are little ways that you can save some money during one of the most expensive times of the year. By following them, you can make your wallet and bank account happy!

Stay green and shop clean

You may have heard not to shop at fast fashion sites before. Shein, Romwe, Zara, the list goes on and on. It’s something we are told not to do but rarely told good alternatives. Here are some ways to avoid fast fashion and the negative impact that fast fashion has on the environment.

Fast fashion brands often put an emphasis on trendy clothing. Although it may be fun to follow trends, it is expensive to keep up with them. More importantly, it is detrimental to the environment. Trendy clothes come and go pretty quickly. By the time you see the trend and order the clothes, the next new trends are already around the corner, and the current trends are already dying. Following trends is not worth the effort, the money and the negative impact it has on the environment. A great way to avoid fast fashion is to buy classic and timeless pieces.

Clothes from fast fashion sites aren’t made to last. Since the quality is so low, you will have to continue to throw away clothes and keep replacing them. These shopping hauls add up, and in the long run cost you more money than it would to buy quality clothes less often. The lower quality clothes are also difficult to reuse. The clothes typically fall apart and have to be thrown away because they aren’t made with recyclable materials. Out of all the clothes that people get rid of yearly, only 15% of that gets donated or recycled. That leaves the other 85% of the textiles and fabrics to the landfills. That 85% is about 21 billion pounds.

Some good ways to shop sustainably is to simply check how eco-friendly the brand you

Gabi Hynes

graphic by Gabi Hynes

might buy from is. Some good eco-friendly clothing brands to check out are La Relaxed, Girlfriend Collection, For Days, Levi’s and Fair Indigo. Stay green, and shop clean!

Hot Takes: Holiday music

Christmas time or all the time?

Lily O’Connor and Ella Martin

Lily:

My absolute favorite holiday is Christmas, so obviously my favorite genre of music is Christmas music. My favorite concert I’ve ever been to is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas show, and my all-time favorite song is “Carol of the Bells.” I think Christmas music should be an acceptable genre all year round. Most people consider country music to be music for the summer, yet plenty of people listen to it all year. Some songs even have an allusion to a season in the title like “All Summer Long” by Kid Rock or “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood.

Christmas is a time of joy for a lot of people–at least it is for me. Why wouldn’t you want to keep a piece of that joy throughout the year?

Even if you think the cheesy songs like “Frosty the Snowman” by Jimmy Durante and “Here Comes Santa Claus” by Gene Autry should be left in December, subtler and simpler songs like “Little Drummer Boy” by the Trapp Family and “Silver Bells” by Bing Crosby can definitely be year long classics. Along with that, some of the best classical and instrumental music is associated with Christmas. The upbeat melodies and sleigh bells makes for some of the cheeriest music that exists.

Ella:

Now, I’m a very consistent Christmas holiday celebrator, I will admit, but I believe there is a specific range of time in which the Christmas holiday should be celebrated. When the clock strikes 12 a.m. on November 1, my mind only thinks about decorating my tree, warm cookies and driving past Christmas displays on chilly Friday nights with friends. However, Christmas lights, decorations and especially music should not be displayed or played until at least the beginning of November until the end of December. I have never understood the idea of having Christmas music playing all year round, especially during the middle of the summer. Summer is associated with pool parties, outdoor concerts and hot weather. Why would music that is associated with hot chocolate, ice skating and freezing snowy weather be played during the summer time? There is also a difference in styles between winter music and other seasons of music. No one wants to listen to “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Michael Bublé while driving with friends on a cozy spring day when they could be listening to “California Gurls” by Katy Perry. There are certain genres of music that can be listened to all year round, but Christmas music is definitely not one of them. Christmas music excites people for the upcoming holiday and makes them look forward to the annual traditions and celebrations, but if it is played all year round, it takes the special feelings of expectation out of the song. So, no, Christmas music can absolutely not be played all year round.

Ideas of college always mean different things for everyone, especially for me. In this journey, I thought I was completely lost being first-generation college student and even sometimes embarrassed to ask questions that would seem knowledgeable to others. But something I have noticed the most is judgment and care of where someone goes to college.

How many times when looking for a college do we tend to look at acceptance rates? Or even how we sometimes tend to judge others if someone doesnt go to such a highly selective school? It is highly encouraged to go to college, but wherever anyone ends up, it is awesome. Nor is it someone’s business because when it comes down to certain people, affordability is a big part of it. It just bothers me that there is so much judgment.

above. Holly Jolly Lily O’Connor believes the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear, even if it is all year long!

O’Connor

above. Ella Martin plots to ruin Christmas for all who play Christmas music before the month of December.

I wish we didn’t put such light to more schools that are harder to get into or more attention if one gets into one college. People are working to their full potential to get to where they want, whether it’s college or not. Four years of work and effort into a college prep school is not easy, The nights one has a paper or a big test and is striving to put all of her time into that is where credit should go. I just want more attention to people that do not get the credit they should.Whatever college one ends up at, congratulations! They worked for it. One should never feel as if they are getting judged or people bothered if it doesn’t please other people because the only person it should please is themselves. Now for me, I do not know where I am going to end up, but what I do know is wherever it is, I know it will be the right fit for me. It will make me and my family happy because some might have goals that we don’t even know about. We should all be happy for all the accomplishments one makes because we never know what people are going through in life.

graphic by Lily O’Connor

Lisette Corral

photo by HR imaging

graphic by Lily

above. Insect swarms that populate the skies, such as in the image above, are as powerful as the lightning in a thunderstorm.

Daniella Hall

“A study published October 24 in ‘iScience’ suggests that the electricity naturally produced by swarming insects like honeybees and locusts is an unappreciated contributor to the overall electric charge of the atmosphere,” Darren Incorvaia wrote in “ScienceNews.”

Electricity working in our natural world can be easy to picture as a thunderstorm with lightning strikes meeting the Earth from the clouds. It can be more difficult to make the connection the power that thunderstorms hold compared to the electrical power that insect swarms create. Surprisingly, the power of both can be on the same level.

“Clouds of locusts could produce electricity on a per-meter basis on par with that in storm clouds, the scientists report,” Darren Incorvaia wrote in “ScienceNews.”

Insects and other bugs that inhabit the skies have charges that relate to big picture atmospheric charges. Whether it is flying or obtaining a foodsource, it is proven that insects have some effect on the overall charge of the natural world. After studies were conducted, it was found that the insects and other bugs’ electrical capabilities can be dangerous. As a society, we are more familiar with the research

of lightning and thunderstorms; however, the advancement of the studies of insect swarms and their connection to electricity is less apparent and has only just begun. Additionally, tracking lightning may be made more difficult by the insect swarms.

“If you have something messing up our electric field measurements, that could cause a false alarm,” physicist Joseph Dwyer said to “ScienceNews.” “Or it could make you miss something that’s actually important.”

The correlation between insects and lightning is impressive, and the exploration of this correlation has really just begun. With our technology, a negative impact on our current understanding and tracking of the atmospheric electricity can derive from the insect swarms as the studies need to be further explored.

“There are many unsuspected links that can exist over different spatial scales, ranging from microbes in the soil and plant-pollinator interactions to insect swarms and the global electric circuit,” biologist Dr. Ellard Hunting revealed to “The New York Times.”

Oz of the Middle East

Lilly Coakley

You know those sci-fi movies with cities that have flying cars and levitating buildings? What if I told you Saudi Arabia is building a megalopolis shaped like a line? Saudi Arabia has proposed a smart city, called “The Line.” The Line City will avoid carbon emissions all together, designed without streets or any other car accessible routes. Saudi Arabia is creating this city in order to give 380 thousand people jobs and 48 billion to the country’s GDP. The Line features a crazy design containing a full mirrored exterior wall that is 500 meters tall, 200 meters wide, and 105 miles long. With people all over the world skeptically watching, this groundbreaking proposal has actually broken ground.

The company responsible for this monstrous project is Neom, an architectural company founded by the Saudi Arabian government. The project has made its claim to fame from TikTok, Twitter and Instagram filled with criticism and support on both sides. The entire idea of the city is baffling for many people. Neom claims that the city will contain 105 mile end-to-end travel within 20 minutes. Neom also stated that there will be several walkable neighborhoods at a consistent micro-climate. This means the climate within the city will be completely different from the surrounding areas and will always be comfortable for its inhabitants. The timeline

for this project is still unknown, which is why skeptics still exist. Ground was officially broken to begin the building of this project in October of 2021, but some skeptics believe the technology and design of this proposal seems a little too unreal. Saudi Arabian government officials and Neom architects shared that the goal is to have the entire city completed and livable by 2030.

The budget for this project is huge: a whopping $500 billion. Many Saudi Arabians are outraged, confused as to why there is so much poverty and the government is hoarding billions of dollars for unrealistic projects. The benefits to the city include how little it will affect the environment. The Line is going to be powered by renewable energy, sustainably connected and surrounded by nature that will be “re-greened.” This plan all sounds and looks like a movie, specifically a sci-fi movie. CNBC was able to interview Antoni Vives, who is the chief planning officer at Neom. Vives stated to CNBC, “I want to be clear about this:Neom is a complex, bold, and highly ambitious undertaking and most certainly not an easy one to deliver.” The Line is certainly an ambitious idea, but if completed it will change the face of our planet forever.

above. The Line, planned futuristic city in Neom, Saudi Arabia, to be developed over 100 miles long. photo source https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/user:Luistxo

McAuley’s sweet 16th

Evelyn Ivers

On Nov. 12, 2022, the Mighty Macs varsity volleyball team finished their “unfinished business.” After a second place finish in the IHSA Class 4A State Tournament in 2021, the Macs were even more determined to finish on top, which is exactly what they did. The Mother McAuley volleyball program is the most decorated program in the state having won sixteen volleyball state championships–the most of any school in the state.

Following wins over Marist High School in the sectional championship and Joliet West High School in the super-sectional championship, the team headed down to Illinois State University to face-off against Saint Charles North High School with a chance to play for the state championship on the line. The winner would play the winner of Barrington High School and Benet Academy.

The first set against St. Charles North was the closest set of the whole state tournament. The Macs ended up losing the first set 25-27, but showed their dominance in the final two sets winning 25-17 and 25-20. The following day, over three full sections of McAuley students filled the stands to cheer on the Macs as they played the Benet Academy Redwings for the title. This was the first time the Macs and Redwings had faced each other.

The state championship game was a rough start for the Macs, as Benet was able to block star outside hitter Ellie White for the first three points. Eventually, the Macs found their groove through other powerful hitters Jill Moonan 12, Maeve Moonan 12 and Sydney Buchanan 10. They won the first set 25-22. Tess Hayes 12 and Olivia Klapp 12 added multiple assists.

Benet answered back to win the second set 25-17, forcing a third set for the title. Both sets, however, had been extremely close with each team matching the other in points for most of the sets.

The game was not only a showcase of powerful hitters, but also showed the defensive abilities of Northwestern-bound libero Gigi Navarette as well as defensive specialists Sam Falk 11 and Mary Hannon 12.

The Redwings jumped out to an early lead during the third and final set, but they were just no match for the Mighty Macs. With the power of White, Ellery Rees 11 and Mary Kate Sheehan 12, the Macs bounced back to stop the Redwings and win the third set with a score of 25-14. The Mighty Macs are the new IHSA Class 4A State Champions! “After we won, I had no words. Winning state was the best ending to this awesome season!” said Navarette.

Play like a girl

Keira Jarrett

Senior Megan Murphy has been playing softball for over 11 years. She went from playing in local recreational leagues, to intense travel teams, to now being committed to play softball at the Division III level at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. Murphy has also been playing for McAuley softball all throughout her four years in highschool. She made the junior varsity team her freshman and sophomore year, and halfway through her sophomore year, she was pulled up to compete with the varsity team.

When asked which team/season has been her favorite out of all, she expressed her love for McAuley softball. “We always have so much fun! It’s like a huge family.” Players on McAuley’s team have expressed their love for Megan, as well as her work ethic. When asked what they admire most about Murphy, Lillia Benoit 12 stated, “I love her grit and determination to win. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to win a game, and Megan brings it everytime.” Megan has truly left her mark on the program. When asked what she believed was her most memorable moment, she responded, “I actually got stepped on last year while stealing second base. I had to get 10 stitches.”

above. McAuley players cheer as they lead the third set.

Women Cricket players fight for equal pay

Olivia Murray

The influence to fight for equal rights for women in sports began in 1970. One of the most famous tennis players, Billie Jean King, stood up to the significant difference in pay between men and women in sports, mainly targeting tennis. During the Italian Open, King said, “Everyone thinks women should be thrilled when we get crumbs. I want women to have the cake, the icing and the cherry on top, too.” During the US Open in 1973, King threatened authorities that she would sit out if the prize money was unequal between genders. Because of her determination, authorities backed down and made sure the prize money was equal.

King’s influence still lingers on to the present day for all women’s sports. There was a monumental event in history for women cricket players in India. 52 years after King took a stand, the Board Of Control For Cricket In India, or the BCCI, announced on

Thursday that women cricket players in India will receive the same match fee as men cricket players. This was made under the board’s new pay equity policy. This announcement will positively impact society by bringing women to this sport. Having equal pay will influence players to stay in this sport and to make it far in their career as an athlete.

We are now seeing the effect of the board’s new policy as India will be hosting the Women’s Indian Premier League 15 years after the men’s league was created.

Mithali Raj, a former captain of India’s team, said that the BCCI’s action for equal pay was historical. She said, “We’re ushering into a new era.” Players, fans and people have been longing for equality within women’s sports. BCCI’s announcement is a massive step forward in our world as we know it.

To dedicate another four years of her life to softball shows how committed Megan really is. When asked how she fell in love with the sport, Murphy replied, “ I realized softball was what I wanted to do while watching my older sister, Claire.” She continued, “Being able to watch her play in college made me realize that I wanted to as well.” Her love and dedication has truly carried her through all of the ups and downs of her athletic career. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family–my mom especially. They’re my biggest supporters.” Playing softball at the collegiate level will be much more intense and difficult. Keeping that in mind, Megan commented, “I’m excited to see what the future has in store for me.” When asked if she wanted to add anything else into her interview, Murphy responded, “Roll Rangers!”

photo provided by Megan Murphy

photo by Ms. Halleran

Artist spotlight

Mia Miceli

We all know Ursula as the old, purple lady with octopus tentacles who wanted to steal Ariel’s voice in “The Little Mermaid.” But at McAuley, we know her as Alexandria Johnson.

Alex Johnson is very active within the theater and music industry and has been for years. To get to where she is today, Alex has been working hard since she was a little girl.

“I was introduced to the art of music at the ripe age of 4. I started to play the piano at that age, and I then started singing. My love of music,art and playing the piano sparked my interest in my grammar school theater,” Alex Johnson 11 said.

Being a part of the theater is no easy task. Alex has played a variety of roles in her life, each with different personalities, values and backgrounds. In order to become the character she’s portraying, Alex has a special warm up.

“I embody my character by listening to the Broadway soundtrack of ‘The Little Mermaid.’ I have always found listening to my character’s songs motivating and beneficial. It relaxes and takes this unwanted tension off my shoulders, giving me the confidence to not only play the role, but BE the role,” Johnson said.

Music and theater has become a huge part of who Alex is. It has taught her life lessons that she will never forget and has introduced her to people who will help guide her through life and her musical journey.

“Music has changed how I carry myself and how I live my life. Without my love and passion for music and art, I would not be in the space, nor would I have met all of the wonderful people I have met today,” said Johnson.

The true problem with true crime

There is a fine line between a fascination with true crime, and the romanticism of these crimes and their conductors. As humans, our curiosity sometimes overrides our sense of morality. The reason why we obsess over these violent crimes is solely due to our deep rooted instincts to avoid these predators. From the article “Why We Are Fascinated by Serial Killers,” author Coltan Scrivner stated, “We are voracious consumers of thrillers, horror, and true crime precisely because these genres provide a safe way to learn about threats.”

While this explains the allure true crime provides people with, what is left unanswered is why people romanticize serial killings.

With the recent release of the Netflix original, “Dahmer,” the surge of obsession with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer has caused massive controversy on social media and in everyday life. There are many issues with this recent documentary, such as viewers downplaying such horrific events and insensitivity shown towards the victims and their families. In the article, “The Controversies Surrounding Netflix’s ‘Dahmer’ Show So Far,” author Shira Li Bartov explained to readers, “In one disturbing TikTok trend, viewers described how ‘unbothered’ and ‘unfazed’ they were by Dahmer.” Bartov continues, “Critics of true crime argue that as the genre has grown, so has the comfort of audiences with scenes of horrific violence that killed real people, whose families are still alive.” This article was released October 5, and less than 25 days later, thousands of people, including teenagers and grown adults, were shown dressed up as the killer celebrating Halloween.

Jeffery Dahmer was not the only serial

killer recent generations have obsessed over. Much like Dahmer, Ted Bundy was brought back into the public eye with the Netflix addition of the 2019 movie, “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” The movie depicts Bundy’s 4 years of horrific killings all while Zac Efron stars as the killer. While Efron did boost the popularity of the movie, it was social media that restarted the obsession over Bundy that was once popular when he was first incarcerated. Starting in 2019, trends surged on Tiktok. Varying from role-playing as one of the killer’s “fans,” one of his victims and even as Ted Bundy himself. One popular user Christina Alekseeva gave her take on this controversy by saying, “I don’t think that it’s right to make videos like this for clout.” She continued, “People pretending to be victims because its ‘aesthetic’ is not OK.”

While there is no clear answer as to why serial killers such as Dahmer and Bundy are more recently being glamorized, horrific events such as the murders should be remembered as tragic events–not to satisfy a viewer’s obsession with true crime. Cases such as Dahmer and Bundy happened not even 40 years ago. The respect for these people, as well as the victims, should be prioritized before the romanticization of these events. MTV News staff sums it up the best in their recent Ted Bundy article by explaining, “Trends rise and fall out of popularity all the time; some last for a few days or a few weeks… but such memories and traumas aren’t as easily erased for victims or their loved ones; for them, stories like this are the furthest thing from entertainment.”

The fall of Ye

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, got himself and his business into some trouble after making anti-Semitic remarks. What many interpret as Ye’s downfall is primarily due to him saying that he is going to go “death con 3 on Jewish people” (which is a misspelling of defcon 3) because he believes that Jewishowned record labels are participating in “modern day slavery.” Inside sources who used to be close to Ye have also stated that he has an “obsession” with Adolf Hitler, even wanting to name an album after him. West is typically a hot topic in the media due to his behavior on social media, which has included generally hateful speech in the past.

Forbes Billionaires List. Along with Adidas, he was also dropped by his talent agency and Balenciaga. However, many people are wondering why this was the breaking point for these companies as West has a history of racism. The most popular conclusion is that it’s harder to punish a Black person for being racist than it is to punish a non-Jewish person for being anti-Semitic.

above. Alex Johnson takes center stage performing, “Poor Unfortuante Souls” from The Little Mermaid

Ella Martin

“Although some have tried, there is no rationale, no explaining away Kanye West’s rants on social media for anything else than what they are: vicious antisemitic statements that pose a clear and present danger to every Jewish person,” said American Jewish Commitee CEO Ted Deutch.

After Ye’s anti-Semitic rampage in early October, Adidas terminated their contract with him. This caused him to fall from the

“When a Black person says things about Black people, it’s like, ‘Okay, what do we do? What do we do with that?’” said author and “Washington Post” magazine writer Damon Young in an interview with CNN. “It’s an easier conversation and easier path to consequences when you start talking about people that you’re not a part of.”

While West is not the first person to be antiSemitic or racist, his large platform makes his case more dangerous. He has influence over the ideas of his fans, so he can broaden the ideas of anti-Blackness and anti-Semitism. Many brands cutting ties with Ye helps take steps towards the shut down of hate speech in pop culture.

Lily O’Connor

Keira Jarrett

photo by