Student Inscape - September - October 2023

INSCAPE

Student Edition Vol. 81 Issue 1 September•October 2023

2 Mercy Day gives back 5 The downfall of YouTubers 9 Race to the 1%

Another day, another tragedy When watching the news, do you really process the information presented? From the news story about the national demonstrations to the shocking current state of the economy, does any of it truly register?

The problem with contemporary news sources is that they jump from one story to the next, omitting important contextualizing information and contributing to the normalizing of tragic situations.

News sources capitalize off of the grief of others while simultaneously “anothering” victims of tragic events. When a mother loses her son to, say, a drive-by shooting, the article about her son will more than likely include some variation of a statistic on the growing trend of drive-bys rather than detailing the son’s life, goals or personal identity. The news source will turn her son into just “another” number or “another” statistic to be analyzed and disposed of rather than commemorated. It allows the tragedy of victims to overpower their personal stories, devalue their existence and minimize their families’ grievances.

Moreover, news sources fail to surpass the surface of an event; they often leave out contextualizing information that could help viewers to personalize the stories, and understand why cer-

tain events are happening in large or how these problems can be addressed or solved. It avoids prompting critical thinking when it disseminates information. For example, a news story may tell

“News sources capitalize off of the grief of others while simultaneously ‘anothering’ victims of tragic events.” you that a protest is taking place for a social justice cause; however, it will not tell you the historical contexts that explain why these protests are happening or how systematic behaviors have prompted such a reaction. The news only portrays the prominent aspects of stories that grasp

the short-term attention of audiences. They pay more attention to constructing buzzword-filled headlines rather than creating an in-depth, detailed-filled article, which does a disservice to the topic addressed and anyone impacted by said topic by minimizing the gravity of tragic situations.

Though, to what extent should we blame the news? The in-and-out revolving of news stories is a fault to be held accountable for; however, these outlets have only distributed the information. While, consciously or unconsciously, the underlying issue of the never-ending cycle of decontextualized news is society, to whom have normalized events.

This generation has created a norm of mechanized emotions, secluded perspectives, and lessened morals. Modern-day society can change this trend, stop the cycle and any more irreversible damage.

So, as Mother McAuley girls, it is imperative for us to read the news beyond the surface level, do our own research, ask our own questions, and understand the contexts that prompt certain situations so that we can continue to challenge and educate ourselves beyond the textbook, effectively, avoiding “anothering” tragic events and the people impacted.

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.

1 table of contents and staff editorial

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

september/october 2023

Mercy Day gives back Garrison Urbon A great way to kick off the 2023-2024 year, the entire McAuley community celebrated our foundress, Catherine McAuley, with a full week of song, gratitude and mercy! Part of the celebration included the McAuley annual “Mercy Day of Giving.” This year, the Institutional Advancement team set a goal of $150,000 and over 700 donors, which was greatly surpassed and resulted in fundraising $156,540!

McAuley benefits greatly from the donations made from alumni, faculty/staff, parents and more. “The funds raised through Mercy Day of Giving go directly into the McAuley Fund, an unrestricted fund that is utilized for McAuley’s areas of greatest need. This fund is used to support, improve and repair various areas of the school,” said Director of Alumnae Relations and Development, Maura Saas. Last school year, the funds went to the remodeling of the science & engineering classroom to accommodate a robotics lab to broaden STEAM-related offerings, the installation of new stage lighting and light rigging system,

the installation of new curtains in the auditorium and a continued investment in the turf field. This year the funds will go to the areas of greatest need, yet to be determined.

The funds also directly benefit financial aid and different scholarships students receive.

“It is our mission to keep McAuley moving forward, raising additional funds to set future Mighty Macs up for success,” Saas said.

This tradition is a great way to continue Catherine McAuley’s mission. Each year, the school community celebrates her mission through the annual Mercy Day ceremony.

“Mercy Day of Giving” also allows alumni to celebrate Mercy Day and give back to Mother McAuley for making them the women they are today. The donations allow the growing women of McAuley to receive an amazing liberal arts education. We’re excited to see how the goal funds will benefit the students throughout the years at McAuley!

photo from mercydayofgiving.mcauley.org

A club commemorating culture Addison Haywood Created by Marie Cruz and Bertha Espinoza, both current seniors, Mother McAuley welcomes the Mariachi club, which is an after school extracurricular that celebrates and shares a valuable part of Mexican culture to the McAuley student body. What is a mariachi you may be asking? A mariachi is a small band consisting of trumpets, guitarrones, singers, guitars, vihuelas and violons. This form of art is especially important to those of Mexican heritage, as mariachis usually play at monumental events such as weddings,

baptisms and funerals. Additionally, this cultural practice is imperative to many Mexican identities because it usually celebrates embracing Mexican heritage and commemorating the struggles, joys and progression of life. Furthermore, mirachi is commonly used as a communication tool; it can be used to serenade lovers as well as to tell stories of oppression significant to Mexican history.

Taking into account the cultural significance of Mariachi bands and music, Bertha Espinoza

above. The McAuley mariachi club performing at the Hispanic Heritage Month prayer service. photo provided by Ms. Rachel Howard

and Marie Cruz, aforementioned, felt inspired to share this beautiful and uplifting culture with the school community through the creation of the Mariachi Club, which is a club that embodies everything that Mariachi is to the Mexican community. This club, as Espinoza and Cruz have described, is supposed to share and preserve a vital aspect of Mexican culture, as well as provide students with Hispanic heritage a safe space within the Mother McAuley community.

When asked what their ultimate goal was when creating this club, Espinoza responded, saying, “We aim to represent that small percentage of Latinas in our school, and to share the beautiful culture that is Mariachi.”

However, though this tradition is of Mexican origins, Espinoza and Cruz emphasized that they still invite everyone to join, stating, “An important part when we were creating this group was to have diversity. We don’t want people to be afraid to join because it is a culture closely tied to Mexico.” Furthermore, the Mariachi club will be providing the school community with appearances at school events–notably, the Hispanic Heritage Month prayer service and the talent show. In addition to these performances, the club also plans on doing serenades based on requests around Valentine’s Day. Undoubtedly, this club will bring much needed diversity, representation and culture to the Mother McAuley community, and we are so glad to have it.

september/october 2023 mac news 2

No cash bail law in Illinois Molly Carr

graphic by Molly Carr

On Sept. 18, Illinois added a new no cash bail law. Illinois is the first state to completely eliminate cash bail, aiming for a more fair system. Illinois can no longer force people to pay money in order to get out of jail while awaiting their trial. This means people can’t be held in jail because of the fact that they can’t afford bail. Some think this new law will cause great harm, while others see it as a step in the right direction towards reform.

Those against the law argue that it takes discretion away from judges, forcing them to release suspects they believe are dangerous.

Some state’s attorneys have shared concerns about defendants being released on pre-trial.

“The frustration in that case is the judge felt his hands were tied because of the law,” said DuPage State’s Attorney Robert Berlin on WGN news. Berlin was talking about one of 30 cases this week where his office asked the judge to detain the suspect, but since cash bond is eliminated, half the suspects walked free. Several Illinois state’s attorneys said they believe it’s just a matter of time until a dangerous criminal commits another serious crime after being released because of the law.

But those in favor of the law claim it is working as intended, keeping people who have not yet had a trial from being locked up only because they cannot afford bond. “So today in Illinois, we mark where people will be able to keep their jobs, stay in their homes, maintain custody of their children while they await their trial,” said Tanya Watkins with Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation on WGN news. Those in favor of this new law claim that “bail” doesn’t require money. There are plenty of ways for courts to ensure that people return to court, and keep everyone safe, without ordering a person to pay for their freedom. Under the new law, judges have to consider safety risks and then give victims notice of bail proceedings. This means that when the law was still in place, people could get out of jail just because they had the money to do so. Supporters of the new law also say that the reliance on cash bail over the last three decades has caused a significant rise in pretrial detention (going to jail before a court hearing). This new law has caused a lot of uproar, but we will continue to see the effects of it.

Broadcasted assault Elise Malinowski Sexual assault has been an ongoing issue for as long as most can remember. However, now it has taken to live television. In recent months, public cases of sexual assault and harassment have caused an outburst against sexism in Spain.

On Aug. 20, 2023, Jenni Hermoso, a member of Spain’s national female soccer team was sexually violated by her coach, Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish soccer federation and coach of Spain’s national female soccer team. After Spain’s victory against England in the Women’s World Cup, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the face with two hands and kissed her on the mouth without consent. Hermoso described the event as an “impulsive act, sexist, out of place, and without any consent on my part.”

There was extreme backlash from the soccer players and the public. Therefore, the national soccer federation asked Rubiales to resign; he addressed this situation as ridiculous, referring to the public as idiots and stupid, further claiming it was a consensual peck.

On Sept. 8, Spain’s criminal court announced they were investigating the incident; soon after, Hermoso filed a complaint resulting in a 200-meter restraining order. Also, a jury

will eventually decide if Rubiales will face a possible fine or one to four years in prison for sexual assault.

On Sept. 12, 2023, in Murad, Spain, mere days following charges placed on Rubiales, Isa Balado, a journalist and correspondent for Channel Cuatro, had been reporting on a story about a local store clerk when she was sexually assaulted by a pedestrian. The footage shows a 25-year-old man, the offender, approaching Balado and hitting her buttocks. On air, Nacho Abad, the host of Channel Cuatro, encouraged Balado to confront the offender. Abad voiced his disgust and apologized to Balado for being in that situation; in a later interview, Balado responded,“It’s not just me, it’s happening to every woman he comes across.” The offender was later found and arrested for sexual assault.

Hermoso and Balado were both public cases of sexual harassment, though they are not the only ones. Since the broadcast, journalists worldwide have shared their stories of the sexual harassment they have experienced while on the job. Despite laws enforced to protect victims–such as Spain’s “Only yes means yes law” or the United State’s “One-Party” law–sexual assault is still

a prominent issue. The difference in the cases of Hermoso and Balado was the publicity and the action taken to obtain justice

above. Demonstration Coruna, Spain in August after the Women’s World Cup. Participants held a sign reading,“RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE, EVERYDAY” in support of Jenni Hermoso. photo by Estevoaei

3 news november/december 2023

Chicago’s gun violence: A growing crisis Fiona Stanek

In recent years, Chicago’s gun violence has escalated to an extreme. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, a non-profit organization whose mission is to end gun violence, “the percapita murder rate of gun violence between citizens reported by the Chicago Police Department, has climbed 274% between 2010 and 2020. Compared to other big cities, such as Los Angeles and New York City, Chicago’s homicide rate was relatively the same. In 2016, a stream of violence surged Chicago ahead of the other coastal cities.”

One of the main reasons for the skyrocketing in shootings is the lack of Chicago Police Officers throughout Chicago. One Aim Illinois, a organization that educates, advocates, and organizes to end gun violence in Illinois reported that in Illinois, someone is fatally shot every six hours, resulting in approximately 1,363 annual gun-related deaths, including 183 teenagers and children. Despite various gun laws set in place by the state, these laws and policies disproportionately affect Black and Latino individuals (both adults and youths compared to White adults and youths).

The neighborhoods that are most impacted by this stream of violence tend to be in the West Sides of Chicago. The Harrison Police District reported that what includes Humboldt Park and Garfield Park neighborhoods have experienced the most shootings in the last five years. These neighborhoods are already plagued with drugs, poverty and a lack of economic investment.

Recent news from ABC reported that over the weekend of Sept. 23, 2023, at least twelve

people were shot, killing one on the West Side alone. One of the victims, 86-year-old Charles Hobson Sr., was shot and killed when he headed to get something out of his truck.

This uprising of gun violence has plagued a terrifying fear over most of Chicago.

Theo Watson, a West Side citizen and member of the anti-gun violence organization READI Chicago, said “I’ll pay my respects, but I’m not going to funerals no more, I done watched a lot of people leave this world.

A few weeks ago, a student named Jaahnavi Kandula at Northeastern University in Seattle, WA was killed by a Seattle police officer Kevin Dave while he was responding to a drug overdose call. Kandula was crossing the street when she was struck by Dave, who was driving 74 mph in a 25-mph zone to respond to the call. While he did have his flashers on, he did not have his sirens on to alert nearby pedestrians.

While the accident was tragic and horrifying for the Kandula family, it was what another policeman, Officer Daneil Auderer, said about Kandula after the accident that truly disturbed and enraged the Kandula family and the Seattle community most. The Seattle Police Department released body camera footage of Auderer mocking and making jokes about Kandula after the incident. Officer Auderer said to fellow policeman Officer Solan, “No, it’s just a regular person, just write a check for $11,000. She was 26, anyway. She had limited value.”

Seattle residents are furious and believe Kandula deserves justice, as they firmly believe that Auderer should have charges put against him. Many Seattle residents have protested and stood with the slain Kandula and her family. At Northeastern University’s Seattle campus where Kandula attended, many have grieved for Kandula. “It’s a second grieving,” said Khalid Bugrar, director of Northeastern’s graduate engineering programs, in regards to the horrible comments made by Auderer toward Kandula and his complete disregard for her life. One of Kandula’s academic advisers said, “As an educator, it’s my job to make sure kids blossom in their lives and in their career. And to feel it taken away from one of your students is a horrible thing.”

Kandula’s family is distraught by this incident. Jaahnavi Kandula’s family said in a public statement, “Jaahnavi is a beloved daughter and beyond any dollar value for her mother and family. We firmly believe that

To combat this violence, multiple anti-gun violence organizations in Chicago have taken to the streets, including READI Chicago, Strides for Peace and Chicago CRED. They are actively working to remove firearms from the hands of individuals who should not possess them. This violence throughout Chicago will likely worsen unless government officials in both Chicago and Illinois implement stricter gun laws and regulations to address this ongoing crisis.

graph by Fiona Stanek

Seattle police crashes into student

u

Tiffany Gonzalez

every human life is invaluable and not to be belittled, especially during a tragic loss.”

South Asian communities in Seattle feel disrespected, saying it could’ve been anyone in the community who was killed and slandered so badly by the police in the area.

Auderer said that this is all a big understanding, as he was just mocking what the lawyers would say in court about the accident that unfolded between Dave and Kandula.

Auderer and Dave are still being investigated, and charges have yet to be formally made against them. Auderer has since been assigned to a desk position by the police department, but he is still working with pay. Keep an eye on this heartbreaking situation to see if justice is brought to Kandula and her family.

september/october 2023

news 4

The downfall of YouTubers Cancel culture has become a prominent topic in today’s society. It refers to the phenomenon of calling out and boycotting individuals or entities for their perceived offensive or controversial actions or statements. It often sparks heated debates about the boundaries of free speech and the consequences of public scrutiny. A recent example of someone targeted by cancel culture is famous YouTuber, Colleen Ballinger. She recently has faced backlash and was “canceled” by fans after multiple old videos resurfaced, sparking discussions about accountability and personal growth.

The recent controversy surrounding Colleen Ballinger getting canceled has been a hot topic in the media. The controversy began after messages and accusations surfaced of Colleen contacting and having inappropriate interactions with her minor fans.These allegations suggest that she used her position to establish inappropriate relationships with underage individuals and manipulated them emotionally.

In April 2020, Irish contact creator, Adam McIntyre, posted a video statement, accusing Colleen Ballinger of putting him in multiple uncomfortable situations. Colleen responded back, “It was completely stupid and admitting I should never have sent that.” She continued to explain that the unboxing items she sent to him were a joke. Another fandom posted a YouTube video on June 4, showing screenshots of Colleen asking her fans about inappropriate topics over text messages. On June 7, McIntyre responded to a series of videos on his YouTube channel about Ballinger, and he stated how she would emotionally abuse her fans. On June 28, Ballinger had broken her silence by playing the ukulele as an apology, comparing the accusations to gossip. She claimed in her apology that she was “just a loser, not a groomer.” Another similar example is the 8 Passengers YouTube channel.

above. Colleen Ballinger as her character “Miranda Sings” taking a selfie with a fan at VidCon 2014 photo by Gage Skidmore

Fiona Stanek and Mireya Gomez de la Casa

above. Jodi Hilderbrant(left) and Ruby Franke (right) on YouTube channel “ConneXions”. screenshot of “ConneXions” Youtub Utah-based family vlogging channel, 8 Passengers, has transitioned from being what is seen as controversial to facing criminal charges. Ruby Franke, along with her business partner Jodi Hilderbrant, co-founders of the life consulting organization “ConnieXions,” were both arrested on Aug. 30, 2023 on multiple counts of aggravated child abuse.

The arrest was due to an incident where the youngest Franke child in the family, Russell, escaped from Hildebrant’s home and ran for help to a nearby neighbor. Ruby Franke, known for her family YouTube channel, gathered over two million YouTube subscribers where she gave parenting advice and documented her life with husband Kevin Franke and six kids: Shari, Chad, Abby, Julie, Russell and Eve. The 911 phone call regarding Russell Franke’s escape revealed alarming conditions about the child. He was reported to be extremely malnourished with duct tape covering his hands and feet. Police were called to the house to find another child in similar conditions to Russell. After Ruby and Jodi’s arrest, a collaborative effort between Springville, Utah police and Washington County, Utah police located the last two minors, Abby and Julie, in the Franke residence. In a NBC interview, multiple neighbors in the Franke family neighborhood said that they have been worried about the well-being and safety of that family for a while. A male neighbor even said, “Everyone is just breathing a collective sigh of relief, because we thought they were going to come out of that house with body bags.”

This arrest does not come as a surprise to many, given the controversy that had been surrounding the Franke family’s parenting

5 feature

methods for years. In a video, Ruby once refused to bring her youngest daughter’s lunch to school since she had forgotten it at home. She encouraged everyone to not give her six-year-old daughter lunch so “she could learn her lesson.” In another video, it was revealed how Ruby had her oldest son sleep on a bean bag for months after playing a prank on his younger brother. These are only a few instances that were documented and posted online.

Most recently, in an article by ABC News, on Sept. 1, 2023, Ruby and Jodi were charged with six counts of child abuse and are to be held without bail. Their hearing is scheduled to continue on Oct. 5.

The cases of Colleen Ballenger and 8 Passengers, who both had significant fan bases since the early 2010s, is illustrative of the cancel culture prevalent today. Colleen Ballinger has lost over 200,000 subscribers, while Ruby Franke is incarcerated and could face a lengthy prison sentence. Both cases highlight the exploitation and harm inflicted on minors. It raises questions about where the line should be drawn between canceling influencers and pursuing criminal charges.

Was Colleen Ballenger a “groomer” rather than merely a “loser,” and was Ruby Franke genuinely parenting her children in the best possible way?

These cases serve as stark reminders of the responsibilities influencers have, especially when it comes to vulnerable individuals like minors, and the consequences they may face when their actions cross legal and ethical boundaries.

above. a group of students were asked if they personally think Colleen Ballinger is a groomer or if she is “just a loser” like she claims. graph by Fiona Stanek

september/october 2023

Fall fashion tips Elysia Gonzalez

Stress less!

Aniyah Roberts

photos and graphic by Brijana Labiak

High school. For some, it’s the most overrated experience of a student’s life. For others, it can be a liberating experience that builds up independence. There’s one thing though that all high school students can relate to: stress. High school has so many important events, tests and assignments that it becomes overwhelming for one to carry it all. Here are a few tips that could help with the strain of high school.

1. Use your resources. When you don’t understand something, asking for help doesn’t make you look bad. Asking for help shows that you want to understand to the best of your ability. Your teachers are here to help you, so ask for help! You can also find help in The Math Center, LRC (only available to all students during lunches and before/after school) and in any room that has a yellow sign that says “NHS Tutoring.” Girls in the NHS will be able to help you with your questions and give you resources to aid you with your work.

The LRC is on the second floor to the right of the chapel. The Math Center is on the second floor to the right of the stairs in the C-wing.

2. Use a digital reminder app. It’s hard to remember all of your homework, and it can be hard to remember to check your planner.

Since most of our school work is online, the best thing to do is download a reminders app and write your homework there. This way, you can get notification reminders without stressing about remembering your homework assignments. You can also use these apps to remember important dates or events.

3. Take care of yourself. During the school year, it’s hard to focus on taking care of yourself. Having so much schoolwork can sometimes make it hard to maintain your wellness. You have to remember to take some time for your mental health to make sure that you ‘re okay. You can do this by taking some time to catch up on a show, doing a facial or simply doing something you love but haven’t been able to because of stress.

september/october 2023

student life 6

Hot takes:

Streaming services smackdown Olivia:

Olivia Murray, Garrison Urbon, and Lorelei Saczek

As an avid TV show watcher there is nothing worse than unskippable ads and unreasonable prices for mediocre shows. Whenever I turn on my TV I always choose HBO Max. Now, even though HBO Max is the most expensive out of the three streaming services, it has the most benefits.

For starters, Hulu has the smallest selection of content. While Netflix has the oldest selections, with only a few new shows carrying their platform. But, HBO Max has a large variety with the newest selections from movies that were just played in theaters.

Netflix is notorious for deleting shows from their programming, but where do these shows go? Popular shows like “Friends”, “The Vampire Diaries,” and “One Tree Hill” were booted off of Netflix and have now found a place on HBO Max. What is better than brand new movies and our old favorites all in one place?

Now if this doesn’t convince you that HBO Max is the best streaming service option, then here’s one last thing to consider; HBO Max has the legendary Young Sheldon. What can get better than that?

Lorelei:

Here’s the deal: Hulu is THE best streaming service there is. With a wide variety of genres including dramas, comedies, reality TV, animated shows and everything in between, Hulu really has it all. It has some of my all time favorites, such as “The Kardashians,” “Say Yes to the Dress,” “Bones” and “27 Dresses,” which barely scratches the surface of the seemingly endless list of movies and shows.

For only $7.99 a month, you too can join in on the awesomeness Hulu has to offer with ads.. However, if you prefer ad-free, the price is upped to $14.99 a month. This may seem like a lot, but it is almost five dollars less than the Netflix and HBO Max ad-free subscription.

Additionally, Hulu offers a student discount which is only $1.99 monthly, or for $5.99 a month you can get both Hulu and Spotify Premium. Hulu also promotes bundles with other streaming services, including ESPN+, Disney+ and HBO Max that will ultimately save you money.

In conclusion, Hulu is the best streaming service not only because of the shows it offers but also because of the price. With over 2,500 movies and shows, Hulu truly is the best streaming service.

above. Senior Olivia Murray watching one of the many shows that Netflix booted off their platform.

Garrison:

Confused on what streaming service to invest your money into? Netflix is a very solid option with multiple features and benefits to make your binging as easy and costly efficient as possible.

Netflix offers many shows, movies and originals that are constantly getting swapped out with the newest additions. The common subscription used for Netflix offers no ads for $15 a month, while Hulu offers $19 a month for ad-free binging. Netflix also is very inclusive in multiple countries for streaming everywhere. They offer multiple profiles and easy offline downloads to make your WiFi-less travels comfortable and easy. The offered genres and recommendation system gives easy access in guidance for finding your next favorite show/movie. It also provides Netflix originals that can only be found and watched on Netflix. In conclusion Netflix provides the best price and content for binging and relaxing.

above. Senior Lorelei Saczek attempts to choose one of the limitless Hulu options to watch.

Cast your vote for your favorite streaming service! Scan the QR code to vote!

Shopping Scam Lorelei Saczek

I hate shopping! In actuality, I love shopping, I just hate–with a capital H–shopping as a 6-foot1 woman. Growing up I was always tall and finding clothes that fit correctly has always been an issue. The legs were always too short, and if I got a bigger size, it would be longer and the waist would be too big. And it NEVER got better.

When I graduated 8th grade, I was already tall–around 5-foot-8. Now, nearly 4 years later, I’m just over 6-foot-1 and shopping has only gotten harder. My most recent challenge was homecoming.

UGH! Dress shopping is the worst. With most clothing companies designing their products for the “average” woman height of 5-foot-6, it leaves us who don’t fit their proportions struggling. Online shopping is always a hassle because of the fit. It’s impossible to know how something will fit you when the model is 5-foot-8. Instore shopping is just as bad. I tried on a total of 15 dresses and most of them barely covered my rear-end. All in all, the experience is just a massive headache.

And don’t even get me started on finding pants long enough. Since last year I’ve grown about an inch and a half leaving me with ill-fitting, ankle exposing pants. And I’ve had enough. So naturally, I decided to buy some better fitting pants. BAD IDEA. I went to TONS of stores including American Eagle, Aerie and Aeropostale, and–you’ve guessed it– none of them, although claiming they do, carry their tall sizes in stores. This left me having to try on a short pair just to go home and order it in the long size and having to pay more for the extra length. And I might just be complaining here but no one wants to have a multistep process for buying a pair of pants.

I’m just tired of it all. Tired of all the pants ending before my ankles, shorts and skirts looking extra short, dresses not being long enough, long sleeve shirts not going all the way to my wrist and having to pay more for a basic necessity like clothing. So as much as I love shopping and spending money, a small part of me always dreads buying clothes just knowing the hassle that goes along with it.

7 opinion

september/october 2023

The new planets Lauren Nichols NASA discovered a new planet, TOI-700 e.

This planet is a terrestrial planet that orbits the M-type star in the Dorado Constellation.

Scientists have discovered that this new planet is the closest in size to Earth.

“TOI-700 e is just over 100 light years away from Earth-too far away for humans to visit-but we do know that it is similar in size to the Earth,” said journalist Joey Rodriquez in his article about the new planet from astronomy.com.

The TOI-700 has its star system. TOI-700 e is a potential habitable planet. Scientists can confirm that there are three to six other planets within the TOI-700 system. ”Habitable planets are those that are just the right distance from their star to have a surface temperature that could sustain water,” said journalist Joey Rodriquez and Andrew Vanderburg in their article about the new planets from thecoversation.com.

Scientists use their studies of finding new planets to figure out how planets form, evolve and find out if there is life on other planets. NASA’s transiting exoplanet survey satellite and scientists have used TESS (NASA’s astrophysics explorer) to discover these planets.

There have been over 5,000 planets found since TESS was launched in 2018. TESS was launched to detect any far-flung planets and

stars. TESS was launched for the unknown planets that we didn’t have satellites for and couldn’t see from Earth.

“NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch in May 2027,” said journalist Ashley Balzer in her article about the new telescope used to see the new planet from nasa.gov.

With the TOI-700 system, one of the three planets is within the star’s habitable zone, where the temperature of the planet’s surface will allow liquid water. TOI-700 is between 90-95% the size of the Earth. TOI700 e is the fourth planet to be discovered in its system 100 light-years away. Discovering this new planet helped scientists discover better and more efficient satellites to discover

other planets.

“This is one of the only a few systems with multiple, small, habitable-zone planets that we know of,” said Emily Gilbert from the NASA TESS mission which she mentioned in the science.jpl.nasa.gov article TOI-700 is so close to Earth that it is one of the most accessible systems in terms of ‘future characterizations.’ The reason this is so important is that this specific planet and the whole solar system surrounding said planet is what scientists call ‘perfect’ because it could help answer some of the bigger questions that exist outside of our known solar system and if there is life beyond.

above. digital illustration of planet TOI 700e in orbit. Planet 700d can be seen in the distance. photo byNASA/JPL-Caltech/Robert Hurt

Aliens are real?!?

Caitlin Sears

There was an issue though: the Peruvian Are aliens real? A Mexican journalist said X-rays, 3-D reconstruction and DNA claims that he has found the remains of aliens, analysis had been carried out on the remains. attorney general’s office together with the and some forensic specialists believe that he is “I can affirm that these bodies have no Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic telling the truth! relation to human beings.” Maussan declared Sciences had launched an investigation years José Jaime Maussan Flota from Mexico City, they allegedly were recovered in Peru near before the alleged aliens were first found. It Mexico, a journalist, TV personality and self- the Nazca Lines in 2017. He said they were was discovered they were just animal bones proclaimed ufologist believes that he found about 1,000 years old and analyzed through glued together and covered in a mixture of the remains of an extraterrestrial creature. a carbon dating process by Mexico’s National plant fibers and synthetic glue to stimulate a type of skin. Additionally, UNAM was not in Maussan found the remains of an organism Autonomous University (UNAM).

What do McAuley students think?full agreement with the results of the carbon with small, chalky bodies, with elongated dating process. People have spoken out saying heads and only three fingers on each hand, What do McAuley students think? the results were not true and they were staged. resembling the well-known image of an alien.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12 Maussan said under “I think there is a clear demonstration that Are aliens real? oath, “We are not alone.” During his testimony we are dealing with non-human specimens No to the Mexican Congress, he presented all of that are not related to any other species in 27% 27% his results and information on these creatures. our world and that all possibilities are open The sample of dirt off the alleged alien was for any scientific institution...to investigate dated correctly but there is no evidence that it,” Maussan said. When he presented the Maussan lied about where the sample came two mummified specimens to the Mexican from. There is tons of evidence for and against Congress, they were skeptical. But eventually, aliens. What do you think? they decided to accept his theory and do tests 73% on the remains.

Yes Jose de Jesus Zalce Benitez, director of the 73% Mexican Navy’s Institute for Health, presented that the bodies weren’t manufactured. The results of the tests shocked everyone. Benitez graph by Caitlin Sears

Are aliens real?

No

Yes

september/october 2023

science & tech 8

Race to the 1% Brijana Labiak On Oct. 8, nearly 50,000 runners from over 100 countries participated in the prestigious Chicago Marathon. Our very own Mary Ellen Clifford, one of the science teachers at McAuley, and her four daughters embarked on this incredible challenge, which unified their familial bond and shared passion for running. By coaching each one of them in cross country, Clifford instilled a passion for running in the early years of their lives. “I’m excited that their interest continued into their twenties,” she exclaimed, reflecting on the very beginning of their running journey.

Training for a 26.2 mile marathon is not easy to accomplish, as it is demanding and requires resilience and dedication.

The Cliffords followed an 18-week training regimen consisting of family runs, increasing mileage each week, as well as yoga, which “helped the soreness aspect of running,” Clifford said. Taking care of the body and mind was of utmost importance during these weeks. Healthy, well-balanced meals, proper amount of sleep and plenty of hydration are some other components that greatly affect your running performance.

The Clifford family’s dedication went far beyond the training alone. Three of Clifford’s daughters chose to run for charitable causes close to their hearts - Misericordia, LurieChildren’s and Ronald McDonald House.

On top of that, they organized a highly successful garage sale this past summer, raising a commendable $700, split amongst their chosen charities. “People were very generous,” Clifford added, referring to the community’s unified effort in the process.

Clifford had invaluable advice for newcomers considering their first marathon.

She encouraged all to “be confident in yourselves, find a committed running buddy and fully embrace the unique marathon experience. Only 1% of the population has completed a marathon, so wouldn’t it be amazing to be in that 1%?” The Clifford family’s journey reminds us, as a community, that with determination, passion and a shared commitment, extraordinary milestones can be reached.

above. Molly ‘16, Maggie ‘14, Mary Ellen ‘84, Tess ‘19 and Mary Kate ‘18 Clifford photographed after completing the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

photo provided by Mrs. Mary Ellen Clifford

The new “love”of tennis

Play like a girl Elizabeth Gadzik

Decreasing a three mile run by over six minutes is a huge feat that not many people can say they accomplish over the course of a high school career. For senior Eileen O’Connor, she is able to proudly make this statement.

Eileen started running freshman year with no prior experience. She had a 26 minute three mile run. Now Eileen is running three miles in under 20 minutes. Eileen started running because her older sister, Caitlin, ran at McAuley. She said it was a great way to get involved with the school. Eileen said that her mindset was a big factor in her improvement. She likes to think positively throughout the day of her meets, and while running she said, “I tell myself positive affirmations like ‘I got this.’” As well as having a positive attitude, Eileen likes to hype herself up before the meets by playing rap music.

Eileen attends all the McAuley practices and trains in the off season. Not only is Eileen a cross country star, but she also dominates on the track. Last year her 4x8 meter relay was highly successful, winning multiple races.

Although running can be a toll mentally and physically, Eileen has a great support system, and said that her dad “is the biggest supporter and #1 fan.” This year she hopes to set a new PR and earn a scholarship. Eileen is excited to continue her next four years running, as she is chasing after her dreams.

Savannah Simon 19-year-old Coco Guaff is the newest sensation in women’s sports. At a young age, she dreamt of playing in the U.S. Women’s Open. Her victory has inspired many people worldwide, especially people of color.

At the age of fifteen years old, she met the idols that inspired her to pick up a racket: Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Roger Federer. Adjusting to her new reality was a bit of a struggle, but Guaff eventually got comfortable with her new life. At the beginning of her career in 2019, Gauff set fire at her first WTA tournament. She beat Jelena Ostapeko, who was the winner of the French Open in 2017.

Her new reality started off strong, and her biggest achievements in her career were in the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. and at Cincinnati, OH. In 2022; Gauff had her doubts

and so did her fans. Last year she lost in the French Open Grand Slam final. She constantly trained after that loss, and was able to prove those who doubted her wrong. Her confidence in believing she can do anything she put her mind to made her such an incredible role model.

At the height of her career, she was ranked the number six player in the world. She’s been offered partnerships with many famous brands, which has raised her fame since she first started playing professionally. In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, Gauff spoke out about her fame. She said, “ I don’t consider myself famous or anything, I’m just a person who plays tennis and people like to watch that. Off the court, I’m completely normal and I don’t get why people get hyped up about me. I really don’t, truly.”

9 sports

photo by Eileen O’Connor

september/october 2023

Artist spotlight Olivia Murray

As we watch “Chicago” in November our attention will probably be casted on the leads on stage. But what happens behind the scenes?

Seniors Caroline Deiters and Giuliana DeLeon are active members of stage crew who have been participants since their freshmen year. Having Deiters as Assistant Technical Director and DeLeon as Stage Manager, both of these members have been a significant part of the stage crew. “As a Stage Manager I help assist and lead different cues, special effects and light and sound,” DeLeon said.

Throughout the months of preparation, they have meetings a couple times a week where they each are assigned a part of the set to work on. Some projects might include building a platform or painting a set.

When asked why they joined the stage crew, Deiters said, “I wanted to hold onto my theater roots but switch to the other side of it where I can be creative and see a new side to myself.” While on stage crew, Deiters realized that there is a large chance she will major in Technical Theater in college.

During their time as stage crew members, they did not just build sets, but lifelong friendships. Deiters favorite part about being in the stage crew is the family she built through it. “It’s such a strong community after spending so much with these incredible humans I’ve met during the process.”

Stage crew doesn’t get enough recognition for the endless work and hours they put into these incredible sets.

So, when “Chicago” hits the stage, make sure to admire the work put into the lights, sound and set!

“Chicago” comes to McAuley Julia Easterhouse Heads up Macs- the play is out! It was recently announced that Mother McAuley will be performing the play “Chicago” Nov. 15-19!

Chicago is set in the Roaring Twenties and captures the story of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly as they face trial for murder. The leads of the show will be Ellie Marron grade 12 playing Roxie Hart, and Riley Burke grade 12 playing Velma Kelly. I was able to interview the star of the show, Ellie Marron, and receive some insight from behind the scenes of the preparation.

When asked what she is most excited for about the performance, Marron shared, “I am excited for everyone and myself to see everything come together. We rehearse separately, so I can’t wait to see the final product.” This all-school musical takes months of preparation, hard work and dedication.

Each member of the theater community plays an intricate role in making sure the production is perfected on every aspect of the performance. The student actors, dancers, orchestra, stage crew, costume crew, lighting and sound crew. put their all in formulating the best performance they can.

McAuley is widely known for their theater productions, especially their stellar hit from last year, “The Little Mermaid.” When asking Ellie what differs “Chicago” from the previous show, she shared, “The show is primarily dance heavy, featuring barely any dialogue.

There is also no love story.” “Chicago” is said to have one song after another with complex,

upbeat dancing, expected to make the crowd jump in their seats.

The play lacking in dialogue is new to the McAuley plays, which will surely cause this show to be a new, exciting and thrilling experience for all of the McAuley community.

Chicago is going to be one for the books!

graphic provided by Ms. McCasland

Rodrigo spills her guts!

Elysia Gonzalez

If you’ve been a fan of famous actress and pop star, Olivia Rodrigo, you know that after the success of her debut album SOUR, a second album was highly anticipated. Finally, on Sept. 8, Rodrigo released her sophomore album, “GUTS.” On first listen, I noticed the sound was different in comparison to “SOUR.” Although Rodrigo is considered to be mainstream pop, I feel like her and her producer, Dan Nigro, experimented more with the rock and pop-punk genres as shown in songs such as “all-american [girl]” and “ballad of a homeschooled girl.” However, this isn’t an entirely foreign genre to her discography as songs off of “SOUR” such as “good 4 u” dive into this sound as well. I also noticed her love for sad ballads as they were very apparent in “GUTS,” typically following after every hype song.

The first track I heard from this record was “vampire,” which was the first prerelease single. I believe it really set the tone and overall theme of this album as Rodrigo expresses the hardships she dealt with during her relationships and the temptation of

regressing back to those exes. Nonetheless, she expresses ideas of relationships and love from many of the tracks off of “GUTS.” These feelings of love are up and down as described in the songs “get him back!” and “bad idea right?” where Rodrigo shares her longing to get back with someone who constantly hurt her with the intention of fixing them.

I love the theme of “GUTS” as it shares a new chapter in Rodrigo’s life. It totally differs from her album “SOUR” as now she’s entering adulthood and leaving her teenage years behind. Currently, my favorite songs are “pretty isn’t pretty,” “lacy,” and “love is embarrassing.”

When I listen to music in general, I care for the melody over the lyrics, but both are equally important in creating great songs, which Rodrigo never fails to do. So, in these songs I feel as though the instrumentals are very beautiful; however I also enjoy the meaning of these songs as they are the most relatable to me. As a fan of Rodrigo for almost all of my life, “GUTS” speaks to me in many ways and– like numerous fans–I’m really excited to see where Rodrigo takes her music in the future.

september/october 2023

a&e 10