INSCAPE
Student Edition Vol. 74 Issue 4 January•February 2022
3 From billionare to behind bars 5 Black student union: ‘culture spotlight’ 9 Mighty mac to olympian
Love, myself As we enter the “month of love” in yet another year, it is easy to get caught up in the idea that you need to express love and affection towards somebody else, whether this may be a significant other, a family member or a friend. Many people get caught up in the gratification of materialism and will go to great lengths to affirm their love for someone. However, we often forget our expression of love can be given to ourselves rather than someone else. Self-love, as a whole, is accepting and loving every part of ourselves for who we are. There are different aspects of self-love. It could mean being nicer to yourself, prioritizing your needs over others or reminding yourself it’s okay not to be perfect. Everyone has their own way of expressing self-love. To practice self-love we first need to be self-aware. We need to learn everything about ourselves in order to love everything because it is hard to love something about ourselves that we know so little about. In our world, it can be hard to love yourself with the burden the media puts on us. We see the lives of celebrities and other people
our age and begin to compare our lives to theirs, making us question what we are doing wrong that we don’t live the same life or
Self-love, as a whole, is accepting and loving every part of ourselves for who we are.We need to learn everything about ourselves in order to love everything because it is hard to love something about ourselves that we know so little about.
look the way they do. People often forget that social media is a highlight reel. We need to learn to stop comparing our lives to others because we only see the good parts most of the
time. When we compare our lives to others, we put a restraint on living our own lives because we’re so worried that it is not as fun or not as great as what someone else is doing. Self-love is also often presented in a way where working out and eating healthy are the only paths you can take in order to love yourself, which isn’t true. You don’t have to make your appearance different to love yourself. You can choose to love the way you look without confining to the way society thinks we should look. Some people may choose to work out and eat healthier to practice selflove which is okay, but it’s not the only option. Loving yourself has shown to improve not only mental health, but overall happiness. It also allows you to have better relationships with the people around you. It is hard to put our love towards others if we don’t reciprocate that same love to ourselves. It allows your mind to think more positively and gives you a better mindset. This month, make you your own valentine, and shower yourself with some well-deserved love and attention!
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 Layout Editor Copy Editor Art Director Mac News Editor News Editor News Editor Feature Editor Student Life Editor Opinion Editor Columnist Science & Tech Editor Sports Editor Arts & Entertainment Editor Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Advisor Advisor
Mary Philip Moira Cosme Aine McIntyre Jo Gomez Elena Fernandez Ella Martin Annie Duggan Claire McGrath Mairead O’Carroll Cat Ohle Daniella Hall Nora Harvey Caira Hosty Lily O’Connor Julia Earley Keira Jarrett Lisette Corral Evelyn Ivers Thomas Bochenczak Abigail Sheahan
Editorial Policy: The opinions expressed in this magazine are the views of the individual authors, and not of the Inscape staff or Mother McAuley High School. Inscape is an open forum that welcomes letters to editor, comments, and feedback from all readers. All letters to the editor must be signed in order to be printed. Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School 3737 W. 99th Street Chicago, IL 60655 (773)-881-6500 www.mothermcauley.org Principal Mrs. Eileen O’Reilly Vice Principal Mrs. Meg Gardner Director of Curriculum Instruction Mrs. Kimberly Turnbull
1 table of contents and staff editorial
front cover by Elena Fernandez back cover by Lily O’Connor
january/february 2022
Macs doing the imPosseble The Posse Foundation is a nationwide nonprofit organization that provides fulltuition scholarships to high school seniors that show great merit and leadership within their communities. Students become nominated by a school official and go through a unique three-interview process called the Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP), where over the course of three interviews, students are assessed in a group and individual setting. Rather than the basic “tell me why you should be here” questionnaire, students are challenged to show their true colors with outside-the-box thinking. Students are chosen for the scholarship and receive fulltuition scholarships from their partnered colleges, which they are paired up with by the organization itself. Then, the recipients of the scholarship met once a week for various workshops to prepare them for the college life they are going to experience together. Posse’s famous slogan from which the company began is “I wouldn’t have dropped out of college if I had my posse with me.” McAuley’s very own Sydney Banks and Julissa Rojas are both recipients of this well renowned scholarship and have committed respectively to Oberlin College and Middlebury College.
Elena Fernandez
“I was really nervous when they emailed me that they had follow-up questions,” Banks said. “When I got on the Zoom call, they had
photo by Elena Fernandez
me wait for 30 minutes and I was freaking out so much. But when they actually told me, I was in shock. I didn’t know what to say so I just kept smiling and thanking them. I felt so
accomplished and very relieved after such a long interview process.” The Posse Foundation is greatly advocated by many leadership figures such as the Obamas. In 2010, Barack Obama donated a portion of his $1.4 million from his Nobel Peace prize grant to the Posse Foundation so that students all over the world could continue to thrive. Also, Michelle Obama was a commencement speaker for the graduating class of 2015 at Oberlin College. “The Posse Foundation provides scholars with multiple internship and career opportunities as well as fellowships,” Banks and Rojas said. “I feel blessed to be given so many opportunities to network after college and beyond with other scholars that came before me.” With their pre-collegiate training, four-year campus program, and career networking program, Posse isn’t just a scholarship; it’s a track to a young and ambitious student’s career and eventually their life. It’s more than some money, it’s a community and a family of people who want to see students accomplish their dreams and succeed in life. About 57% of this year’s Posse scholars will be the first in their families to graduate college.
Student becomes the master Moira Cosme Former McAuley alumni and volleyball player Katie Schumacher-Cawley has recently accepted an offer to be the head coach for Penn State’s women’s volleyball team. This is a big role, considering she is only the third head coach hired in the 46 years of Penn State women’s volleyball. Schumacher-Cawley’s athletic career took flight at McAuley, as she was a member of both the volleyball and basketball teams. During her time playing volleyball at McAuley, her team went to state four times, winning the state title two of those four times in ‘94 and ‘95. After her time at McAuley, SchumacherCawley went on to study communications at Penn State and continued her two-sport athletic career in volleyball for four years and basketball for two years. In 1999, she played a key role in their winning the first of their seven NCAA national titles. She also aided the team in winning three Big Ten crowns. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Penn State in 2002, Schumacher continued her volleyball journey, but this time as a coach. In 2003, she started as an assistant coach for the University of Chicago at Illinois (UIC) for six seasons then was promoted to head coach for the following eight seasons. As a head coach at UIC, her team earned two Horizon
League Player of the Year awards and 11 AllHorizon League accolades. She also led her 2012 team to the best start in program history. In 2017, after her time at UIC, ShuamcherCawley briefly took the position of head coach at University of Pennsylvania. In her first season, her team ended with a record of 12-11, which is the best record they’ve had in four years. The team had seven wins in the Ivy League play, which is the most wins by a first year-coach in the program. In 2018, Schumacher-Cawley became an assistant coach for the Penn State women’s volleyball team. With her coaching abilities, Penn State continued to make appearances in the NCAA tournament and became the only program in the nation to make all 41 NCAA Division I tournaments since they began. The Lions also made the NCAA Regional in three of the four seasons and made the NCAA Regional Final twice. After these four seasons of assistant coach, she was promoted to be head coach. Shumacher-Cawley has received many honors for her accomplishments as a coach and player. In 2003, she was inducted into the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Hall of Fame and the Catholic League Hall of Fame. In 2008, she was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame for contributing to volleyball as
both a coach and player. She also received an honor from McAuley, as a banner is hung up in the main gym, commemorating her accomplishments in basketball and volleyball.
headshot provided by Penn State
january/february 2022 mac news 2
Free uber rides help women get “Home Safe” A new campaign launched by a student in the UK is actively working to provide safer transportation in order to protect women and girls from having to walk alone or take the bus at night. Founded in November 2021, Home Safe is raising money in order to pay for Uber and taxi fares for those who may not have the financial means to get to their location safely. “We want to get women, girls and anyone who needs us home safe,” Sienkiewcz said. “We are here to help those who can’t afford to get an uber home. Our mission is to alleviate the financial stress which often is the main factor to why women and girls choose to take a less safe journey home.” The campaign began raising money on Nov. 1 through its GoFundMe page. Throughout November, donors raised over $6000, and the Home Safe Instagram page gained over 20,000 followers in support of the organization. 20 year-old Match Sienkiewkcz started the initiative after a year of multiple threats to women’s safety, with the murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa making nationwide news in the U.K. in 2021. People can use the service by filling out a form and uploading a photo ID in addition to a copy of their Uber or Bolt receipts on the Home Safe Website in order to receive a refund.
Mairead O’Carroll
“I started Home Safe because I felt like there was a real absence of men talking about women’s safety,” Sienkiewkcz said. “Around the time of Sarah Everard’s disappearance, a lot of my girl friends were talking about it and sharing things online, but there was shockingly little support from the male community. I knew that while there wasn’t a solution, there was definitely steps we could take in the right direction…I felt a responsibility to do something about it.” In the future, the initiative plans to employ phone operators who people can call to get a taxi sent to them. This emergency service would be paid for by Home Safe itself through donations, replacing the current system in which the passenger must order an uber themselves in order to get a refund. The goal of this is to make the process more efficient and accessible to those who might not have the means to call an Uber or taxi to begin with. “We are going to have phone operators eventually… so anyone can call them when they are in the Uber or while they’re waiting, just to have someone to talk to if they are worried or scared,” Sienkiewkcz said. Multiple programs in Illiniois and across the U.S. similar to Home Safe have offered free rides to vulnerable members of the public, especially
on holidays like New Years Eve during which people may be more susceptible to drunk driving and DUIs. In the future, Sienkiewkcz suspects that more of these campaigns will follow in Home Safe’s footsteps and become a more permanent way of promoting public safety.
graphic by Mairead O’Carroll
From billionare to behind bars Nora Harvey Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the nowdefunct health technology company Theranos, was found guilty on four out of eleven counts of defrauding investors on Jan. 3. Holmes is said to have misled both patients and investors about the validity of her company’s blood tests, costing investors around $700 million. Despite those guilty verdicts, she was aquitted of all counts relating to conspiracy to defraud patients. Theranos and Holmes claimed to have discovered a way to conduct blood tests, testing for hundreds of diseases, with a simple finger prick. The truth was that her blood-testing device, the “Edison,” could only run tests for a dozen of those conditions, and many of those results were unreliable. A former lab director testified that he had made Holmes aware of “pervasive and persistent errors” in the devices. Holmes knew her devices were ineffective, but continued to promise investors she had made a groundbreaking biomedical discovery. The result was millions in investments down the drain from venture capitalists like the DeVos family and Rupert Murdoch. Public scrutiny and skepticism towards Theranos emerged around 2015, when former employee Tyler Shultz notified the New York
State Department of Health of Theranos faulty technology, which had began to be for commercial use. In 2013, Theranos and Walgreens began a partnership resulting in Theranos testing centers at 41 different Walgreens locations. Employees were concerned that the tests would be used on vulnerable patients. At these locations, many patients recieved false and sometimes alarming results. One patient, a cancer survivor, recieved results indictating her cancer may have returned; another patient’s results showed HIV antibodies. In both cases, the results were found to be false. “If someone lost their job, or someone thought they had a disease when they didn’t, or they should have gotten treatment when they didn’t because of a false test, that’s heartbreaking. It’s wrong,” said Attorney General of Arizona Mark Brnovich. Of the counts Holmes faced, the jury found her not guilty on those involving patients like those described. The prosecution called 29 witnesses to the stand, and only three were patients. Once the world’s youngest female selfmade billionaire, Elizabeth Holmes now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for each guilty verdict. It is speculated that she will file an appeal, prolonging an
already lengthy court process that began in 2018. A Hulu series starring Amanda Seyfried titled “The Dropout” is scheduled to be released on March 3, a day before the deadline for Holmes’ post-trial motions.
above: Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes speaking at the Fortune Global Forum in 2015
photo by Stuart Isett/Fortune Global Forum
3 news
january/february 2022
The ‘Great Resignation’ Many people in a variety of professions are quitting their jobs in a global crisis known as the Great Resignation. The phenomenon began in the beginning of 2021 in the U.S, although people have been increasingly leaving their jobs since the beginning of the pandemic. Other countries like Germany and Japan are also seeing this trend. The reported reasons for resignation range from financial difficulties to simply just rethinking career paths. The expected effects of this movement include slower reopening of the economy and business failures. Millions of people each month quit their jobs in 2021 with November 2021 being the peak at over 4.5 million resignations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By the end of November there were 10.6 million job openings and 6.9 million unemployed people. Karin Kimbrough, LinkedIn’s chief economist, claims that the most openings are in the food service, health care, retail and education respectively. Kimbrough also describes how these openings are not being filled, which leads her to believe that many people are quitting their jobs without intending to find a new one. “We can see what sectors people are quitting,” said Kimbrough. “Retail sectors and
Lily O’Connor
hospitality sectors. It may not just be worth it for some folks. And so in some cases people are quitting and they’re not yet returning. They’re taking a break. Americans are burnt out.” Other experts like Anthony Klotz, a management professor at Texas A&M who coined the phrase “Great Resignation,” are exploring the varying reasons why people are quitting their jobs. The leading cause of job resignations is COVID-19 safety concerns. Some health care workers and teachers fear for their health. The pandemic has also had devastating effects on the economy and is causing inflation, so people are quitting their jobs in search of better pay. Businesses, especially restaurants and hotels, aren’t making enough money to pay their employees. However, according to Klotz, the most unexpected reason for the Great Resignation is people who want to change career paths. According to his research, the pandemic has caused people to reevaluate their needs, wants and goals in life. “When we come into contact with life-threatening events, we tend to reflect on death and consider whether we are happy with our lives or whether we would like to make changes to them,” said Klotz. “The pandemic forced [people] to take stock of their lives and gave them the opportunity to reimagine it.”
Cat Ohle
Two years of living through a pandemic has shown us how important it is to protect one’s mental health. Students endure intense amounts of stress from tests, homework and extracurricular activities throughout the school year, often compounded by things they’re going through at home. A new law has just gone into effect as ofJan. 1. This law, signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, gave Illinois public school students five mental health days to use throughout the year without the need of a doctor’s note. This law allows for students in Illinois to have excused absences, not just for physical illness, but in order to prioritize mental health. Once a student requests a second mental health day in a row, a school counselor will reach out to their family and the student may be referred to get professional help, according to the bill. According to the CDC, mental healthrelated visits have increased by 24% for children aged 5 through 11 in 2020 compared to 2019. Visits have also increased 31% for kids aged 12 to 17. This new bill aims at drawing attention to the discussion around mental health while also helping students if they need it.
graphic by Lily O’Connor
Take five
Some say since we’re not living in the pre-pandemic version of “normal” anymore, expecting students to go about their lives as if nothing has changed, simply demonstrates our society’s failure to take note of the shift. The new law in Illinois is meant to ease the pressure of these misguided yet deemed “normal” expectations and better help students. With a mental health crisis rapidly unraveling in the wake of the pandemic, introducing a legislation that recognizes that mental health is a burden on people — especially, the younger generation — can ensure it is not simply dismissed as an “excuse.” Danielle Angileri, The National Alliance for Menta Illness Executive Director, said that many kids are dealing with stresses that they have not had to deal with in the past. “Think about how much the world has changed over the last two years, and school is already a stressor for some kids, and having a stressed mind isn’t a great place to learn in your head,” Angileri said. “I can’t imagine going to school with everything going on.” Lending legal recognition to the importance of mental health, and the degree to which it can impact people’s lives, has become imperative
in the present times. Without a legally-mandated structure or precedent in place, it may be easier to ignore the valid mental healthcare-related needs of people in a society that still tries to steer away from the subject. So, when it comes to the mental health needs of children, who may not be able to necessarily advocate for themselves always, laws like the one Illinois enacted is a good start for growth. Illinois State Senator Robert Martwick said in a statement after the passing of the law, Illinois’s goal is, “to continue to increase the importance of addressing mental health as a part of health care, and to ensure that our students have the ability to address issues that they are dealing with… This bill removes the stigma and allows students to prioritize their mental health and stability.” It is important that students use these days when necessary, and not as a way of skip school when they want to. The goal is to have students return to school feeling a bit of their stress is relieved, and fully ready to learn and participate in the classroom.
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news 4
Black student union: ‘culture spotlight’ Mary Philip “Beautiful, Strong, United BSU.” This mantra begins every meeting held by the Black Student Union. On Jan. 19, students and faculty were invited to join the BSU for the first ever ‘Culture Spotlight,’ held in the community room during lunch periods, to partake in learning about diversity and acting on the mantra. This event allowed guests to ask questions about the facets of black heritage, share personal experiences and perspectives and start discussions through a student panel made up of students of color. The message: “We hope for the opportunity to host and share information about historical and present day people and events that have contributed to the fabric of the United States,” Co-moderator Shanta’ Wheeler said. “Overall, however, we want to add to the strides that McAuley takes daily to grow in its diversity and equity efforts.” Students on the panel began the discussion by enlightening the group on their transition to McAuley from various grammar schools. “Coming from a predominately black school to a predominately white school was a culture shock for me,” Talaja Taylor 12 said. “It was easy for me to recognize the difference in cultures and it was a difficult adjustment for me at first.” Despite difficulties or challenges, these women feel they have been able to push through challenges of diversity with resilience because of uplifting role models in their lives.
above. BSU member Madison Hughes 12 preforms an original piece at theBlack History month prayer service. photo by Mary Philip
“One person who inspires me to be confident in my own skin is my 8th grade teacher,” Lashone Jones 11 said. “I came from a predominantly black grammar school. My teacher taught us to love our skin and hair and feel beautiful.” Not only have these women had mentors in their lives that have helped them acknowledge their unique inner and outer beauty, but also mentors who encouraged them to embrace their natural talents and abilities fearlessly as strong black women. “On the other hand, I came from a predominately white school” Treazure Edwards 11 said. “My mom always encouraged me to be interested and involved in STEM as a black woman, and she encouraged me to follow my career dreams pushing past obstacles along the way.”
above. the BSU student panel prepares to open the first culture spotlight
Furthermore, junior Michelle Nimo uses her grit and tenacity to bring diversity to the theatre program. “Regarding the subject of diversifying theatre, I do it to prove myself and others like me, especially younger girls who can look up to me,” Nemo said. “I want them to know it is possible for a person who looks like them to be represented so positively, which I have proven after my role in the fall musical.” While these women highlighted the importance of the support they received in their lives leading up to life as a high school student, the struggles and challenges with diversity that they have dealt with are what ultimately brought them together to speak out and educate. “How do I feel about being the only person of color in a space?” Nemo said. “I feel like I am pushing to prove myself because of stereotypes. Believing everyone falls into a specific stereotype is incorrect because we all come from different backgrounds and have had different life experiences. This goes along with why changing your language like AAV (African American Vernacular) to talk to someone is insensitive, because it can be disrespectful to a culture.” As society advances, educational insensitivity has also continued to restrain positive learning experiences for black students. “A flaw with education right now is that slavery is talked about too much,” Edwards said. “It can be kind of triggering and depressing to continuously learn about. We all know the story. Instead, we should be learning and talking about the impact of slavery and how far we have come. This is not the fault of our teachers, but the curriculum itself.” Students at McAuley are continuing to learn how to embrace diversity throughout the school, as it has been recognized that school curriculum across the board does not always do the best job. “I think this year especially girls in my grade have started to open up outside of their groups and branch out which has made me feel like our community is more united regardless of diversity,” Taylor said.
5 feature
photo by Mary Philip
Every day, they will be particularly active in this celebration during Black History month. Following the success of the Culture Spotlight, the BSU and Unity Community have collaborated to host events in honor of Black History month. “We plan to create fliers that highlight prominent figures of color throughout history and into the modern day,” Co-Moderator Tiffany Woronko said. “We hope that this will culminate into a trivia contest with prizes centered around the people they learned about this month. We think that it is incredibly important to know the contributions that people of color have made to society whether it be historical or modern day.” In the future, BSU plans to continue to educate and unite McAuley students so that every young woman feels beautiful, strong and heard in the community. “The more conversations we have about our differing identities and experiences, the more we will begin to see how our differences truly create community when they are celebrated,” Woronko said.
above. BSU member Treazure Edwards 11 speaks at the Black History month prayer service, a BSU hosted event photo by Mary Philip
january/february 2022
Working Macs! Ella Martin
How to not break the bank for prom With prom right around the corner, it is important to start thinking about your budget. The average high schooler spends over $1,100 on prom including the ticket, dress, hair, makeup, etc. The insane amount of money prom may cost you should not stop you from going to the most anticipated nights of your high school years. Every high schooler should experience prom at least once. Here are some simple ways to save a little money during prom season and still look glamourous. The first tip is to ask friends or family if they have any dresses you could wear. Dresses are usually the most expensive part of prom. If possible, borrowing a used dress is perfectly okay! You save a fortune and beautiful dresses should be worn more than once especially for that price! An easy way to find dresses to borrow is going on Instagram and looking at the prom dresses worn last year. If you see one you like you can reach out to an old classmate and see if you can rent or borrow it! Another money saving hack is pick and choose if you can do anything on your own! Maybe if you’re not great at hair, feel free to get your hair done, but then do your makeup yourself! Or vise-versa. Also, getting ready with friends is a great way to save on hair and
Claire McGrath
makeup; it can make the process more memorable and less stressful! Be sure to plan ahead on what look you are going for! Another great way to have your hair look amazing for an affordable price is going to a cosmetology school salon. They also offer manicures and pedicures for great prices! If none of your friends or family have a dress that’s right for you but you’re still interested in renting a dress, there are stores that have prom dresses available to rent! Rent the Runway is in the Chicago area that offers great deals. If you look for dresses off season you could find some affordable gems! Going to get airbrush spray tans can be pricey. Target, Ulta, and most drugstores sell self tanners. Have someone help you if needed to get a streak free, glowy tan! Lastly, a fun idea is making your own corsages! You can find ideas of your dream corsage and make it yourself to match your dress perfectly. This way you won’t have to drop a ton of money on big fancy corsages that are not that special. It is important to feel confident and have fun on your senior prom night. You do not need to follow all these tips, but using one or two could help you not break the bank!
above: flyer for the McAuley graduation/prom dress resale event.
graphic provided by Karen Culloden Hoey ‘84
january/february 2022
student life 6
Hot Takes:
The best Spiderman? Lisette Corral, Ciara Hosty and Daniella Hall
Lisette: This movie definitely came down to be one of the best ones possible. This movie managed to bring comic book history for most. As shocking to all of us to see the return of Tobey Maguire, he is still one of the fan favorites. No way home is a movie you cannot forget. This movie definitely reminds us how important his character is in the film evolution of SpiderMan. He fits Spider-Man so well because he’s someone that kept low, nobody figured for him to be Spider-Man. He was a very quiet yet distinctive character. Even when he saves the day he’s the face of a joke. We all know we love him. He was and is the person that walks on the street and you don’t pay attention to. Even when he was being criticized so much, he fought to save everyone. In his reappearance of his character in the newest Spider-Man he really is the hero. He comes because he knows someone needs help even though it was a risk, especially since he was fighting a lot of villains that he already had fought. The climax of the movie is when we know for sure he would do anything for the people he cares about even if it’s him getting hurt. Ciara: When I say Garfield is the best Spider-Man of all time, I’m not talking about the gingerhaired cartoon cat. I’m talking about THE Andrew Garfield, of course. If you’re not familiar with the various Spider-Man movies out there, Andrew Garfield is one of the three main actors within the last 20 years who brought Peter Parker to life on the big screen. Released in 2012 and 2014, Garfield only acted in two Spider-Man movies: “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”; both of the others starred in three. The world was robbed of additional Garfield/Spider-Man movies. Garfield undeniably brought Peter Parker AND Spider Man to life most enjoyably out of all three actors without relying on Holland’s access to CGI or McGuire’s filmmakers as a crutch. To make up for the lack of interesting antagonists in his movies, Garfield skillfully adapted his portrayal of Peter Parker while wearing the Spider-Man suit. Unlike the other Spider-Men, when Garfield put on the suit, he was extremely expressive with his strut, gestures and voice, providing the audience with a clear sense of emotion even when they couldn’t see his face. His energy encapsulated both the awkward, compassionate personality of Peter Parker and notability shifted when expressing Spider-Man’s confident, jovial aura. The other Spider-Men are great representations of either Peter Parker or Spiderman, but Garfield is the only one that depicts both flawlessly.
graphic by Ciara Hosty Daniella: You practically had to have Spider-Man’s reflexes in order to avoid spoilers and ads for Tom Holland’s newest film “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. Popular web-slinger Tom Holland is undoubtedly taking the cinematic universe by storm. Although Holland is a fan favorite Spider-Man because of the many accolades of his latest Marvel film, which ranked fourth on the All-Time Box Office List. His character also brings intangible qualities to the table, making him the best Spider-Man. The media really emphasizes the cash flow of the flicks rather than why Holland’s portrayal in the Spider-Man trilogy has been so successful. Holland’s version of the awkward teenage Peter Parker is relatable and comedic, and I believe that his authenticity could be due to the young age of the actor. He was only 19 years old in his first Marvel film. Compared to the other Spider-Man movies, the trilogy that Holland stars in is filled with so much “more,” including more complex stunts, more advanced CGI and more variety in villains. The scale of the last three SpiderMan films is incomparable. Not to mention, Peter Parker gracefully deals with the entire world finding out about his identity as SpiderMan. Can you say “unproblematic”? Next time you sit on the couch debating which SpiderMan movie to watch with a bowl of popcorn in hand, consider watching Holland’s polished portrayal of the web-slinger! Who is your favorite spiderman? Cast your vote! Scan the QR code to access the poll
7 opinion
I am incredibly angry. Nora Harvey
I will tell you I am full of resentment and grief and tempted by self-pity. The anger, in particular, comes from the expectations put on me the moment I became part of the bereaved. When you experience a loss, you’re expected to take it with grace. No matter the type of loss, from sports to death, we find ourselves with this expectation of graciousness. If you take losing a big game with grace, you will be praised. If you respond with anger, you will be condemned and met with assassinations of character. When it comes to expressing grief, I sense a similar social paradox in how people respond. In the past (almost) two years, I have heard “you’re so strong!” more times than I can remember. Don’t get me wrong, all expressions of sympathy and love mean a lot to me. I am not angry at the people who tell me those things. Rather, my anger comes from the fact that I am tired of being strong. I am tired of holding it together because “my dad would be proud.” Who am I if I lose my graciousness, am I no longer strong? After my dad passed away, I was driven by that praise to keep going, acting as if my life wasn’t completely altered. I look back with confusion on how I took my AP World History exam alongside millions of other sophomores as my dad lay in hospice downstairs. I internalized the idea that being strong meant repressing my grief. Grief is an angry emotion. It is powerful and legtimate. We will all be touched by it. By now, grief has found a home inside of me, but it does not live amongst my “good traits.” It is neighbors with my dysfunction and anger. I think we are uncomfortable with grief. It is not a negative emotion. It’s not counterproductive. It is the reason that I am here, writing this essay, doing something I love. People want a hero, and sometimes it feels like that need is projected onto those who are reeling from a loss. As for those people we look to as “so strong.” let their private grief alone stand for strength, not only their public grace. I used to be afraid that by slowing down to accommodate my loss, my emotions, people would render me selfish. As time has gone on, I’ve realized that there is anger within everyone with nowhere to go. I see it in the way we talk about life pre-pandemic. The concerts and gatherings and holidays we laid to rest. Somewhere along the way, we decided that getting back to normal was too urgent, too pressing to acknowledge all the things we loss. We decided we were too productive, too determined to deal with our collective grief. Millions of people fighting off an emotion. Nothing good can come of that.
january/february 2022
Aquarium amplification Aine McIntyre The Shedd Aquarium released plans for their Centennial Commitment, a $500 million project that consists of renovations to the inside of the aquarium, to be completed for its 100th anniversary in 2030. Shedd has committed to expanding programs in multiple oceans, helping to combat climate change. The project will create more interactive exhibits for virtual learning, larger space for youth learning and workshops and plans to revitalize exhibits including a glass tunnel that will make visitors feel as though they are “under the sea”. The building of the project is expected to create over 2,000 jobs for residents, especially for women and minority-owned businesses. 26% of The Shedd Aquarium’s contract dollars are spent on minority owned businesses and 6% to women owned businesses. It is a mandate for the Shedd Aquarium to hire from local wards which have a minority population. The Chicago Tribune reported that the funding for the project will come from endowments, corporate gifts and community contributions. It is estimated that upon completion the project will contribute about $360 million annually to the local economy. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Illinois is one of
the top states emphasizing the importance of environmental awareness. The project will contribute to the reduction of climate change globally, strengthening Illinois’ reputation as one of the leading states helping combat the effects of global warming.
photo by Ajay Suresh “The Shedd is one of Illinois’s great gems, and this new vision for the next 100 years reflects Illinois’ leadership and their partnership in protecting the environment, educating the next generation, and serving
as an unmatched cultural asset,” Gov. J. B. Pritzker said. On Shedd Aquarium’s website, the visionary team at Shedd centers their goals for the project around three core beliefs: “For People, For Communities, For Aquatic Life.” By expanding in size, the aquarium will have space to create new experiential programs and house more wildlife. Experiential programs work to increase environmental awareness for children or anyone looking to increase their literacy in biodiversity. By the end of the project, Shedd Aquarium will have more space to house more species that are in crisis. “In an age of increased urbanization, and as a national resource for aquatic conservation and education, we have a deep responsibility and obligation to help close the nature deficit gap,” Shedd Aquarium President and CEO Bridget Coughlin said in a news release. The large project hopes to achieve a more sustainable and thriving future for people and aquatic life. The Shedd offers free days for Illinois Residents Feb. 7-11, and Feb. 14-18. Visitors can experience Shedd today and look forward to the exciting changes to come.
Heart to (pig) heart Annie Duggan A man from Maryland decided to undergo risky surgery: a pig heart transplant. “I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice,’’ David Bennett said. The 57 year old from Maryland has suffered from terminal heart disease, this disease prevented him from getting a terminal heart transplant, and he was declined from many waiting lists at transplant centers. One day, an opportunity fell from the sky, he was offered an experimental option to undergo a pig heart transplant. The surgery took eight hours and was done in Baltimore, Maryland on Jan. 7 at the University of Maryland Medical Center. For people with arrhythmia, which prevents them from being able to have a heart transplant, pig hearts can replace valves in humans. This is possible because humans and pigs have physiological similarities. This brought up questions related to the ethics of xenotransplantation. This term is defined as the exchange of organs between species. Researchers have looked into xenotransplantation for over a century. but recent scientific developments have made it possible for the pig heart to stop being rejected through genetic modifications While this is a huge step for science, the
first ever pig heart transplant brings along the question: will this become a normal option? Even more of an issue though is the question of who deserves the heart and who decides this. For example, after Bennett went through with the transplant, his past was brought up. Bennett’s sister speaks on the transplant expressing her wish that the heart had gone to “a deserving recipient.” This has reopened a debate on whether those convicted of serious offences should be eligible for organ transplants. In an article from the Conversation by Dominic Wilkinson, he reports that “David Bennett Sr., was the same man who had been convicted in 1988 of stabbing her younger brother seven times, leaving him paralyzed.” Bennett was not a current prisoner when he received the heart and he had served his time many years prior, which could affect the opinions of some. Other people, though, would continue to discriminate against prisoners receiving medical treatment over people who have never been convicted. If xenotransplantation does become a realistic option, it will be a convenient last resort for people fighting for their life, but also could turn into a difficult problem of having to pick and choose between patients with organ failure.
The surgery will not be considered an entire success until months after the inital procedure. There is still a chance of a dangerous immune response to the transplant that could kill Bennett. Scientists are optimistic about the new drugs used in the surgery to help supress the immune system. This groundbreaking procedure will help many scientists and doctors determine if this will be an option for future paients.
january/february 2022
graphic by Annie Duggan
science & tech 8
A one woman show
Julia Earley
Keira Jarrett
With Beijing’s 2022 Winter Olympics starting Feb. 4, there are multiple new sports being added to the competition. One of the more notable events added is the monobob. The monobob is the individual version of the bobsled, which is usually a four-man mobile that is raced on a downhill route, with each team competing for the fastest time. So why is the monobob so significant? The name “monobob” means one man is maneuvering the sled, but in this event’s case, it’s women doing the maneuvering. Sports Illustrated states that, “Men have competed in two- and four- person sleds since the 1932 Olympics. Women didn’t compete in two-person sleds until 2002 and do not have a four-person competition.” When comparing the number of the two gender’s events, men have always had more bobsled events than women. “The solo event…will be a women’sonly event to level the number of men’s and women’s bobsled events.” Another reason why this event was so appealing to the International Olympic Committee is that all of the sleds included in this event are coming from the same manufacturer. Victor Mather, author of The New York Times article, All Women and All Alone: Monobob Leads New Events for 2022 Olympics, states that by purchasing each sled from the same manufacturer, the committee is, “equalizing in part the technological advantages that wealthy nations have long
enjoyed.” He continues to say, “In all the years of bobsled at the Games, only Germany, Switzerland, the United States, Canada and Italy have won more than one gold medal.” Twenty women will be chosen to compete in the event, which will run from Feb. 13 to Feb. 14, and that same day the world will discover the first Olympic monobob medallists.
above: photo from the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics during the Women’s Monobo run
photo by Sandro Halank
Mighty mac to olympian Jo Gomez
She’s traveled to Russia, Japan, Slovakia and is headed to China. Abbey Murphy ‘20 will be competing on the US women’s hockey team for the 2022 Winter Olympics! The 2022 Olympics will be held from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20 in Beijing, China. “The Olympics was something I dreamed of the day I started playing hockey so it’s truly a dream come true,” Murphy said. Murphy began playing hockey when she was 6 years old, starting by rollerblading with her neighbor. From there, Murphy advanced from playing with her fellow neighborhood boys to joining the girls Chicago Mission Team at age 9. “I played at the Mission until I graduated high school and had some of the best times of my life there. It is a club team and it truly was special,” Murphy said. Murphy committed to play hockey at the University of Minnesota, the school she had always dreamed of playing at. This ultimately led to her to become a part of the U.S. ‘s very own Team USA.
Play like a girl
“Minnesota is the best place and there is nowhere else I’d rather be. And now I am on Team USA, never thought it would come this quick but it did. I am so grateful to be a part of this team and it’s something I’d never take for granted,” Murphy said. Murphy’s been a member of the US Women’s National Team for the past 4 years, competing at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships. Now, she’s moving on to her ultimate goal of the Olympics after quite the process. “The recruitment was throughout the summer. It was a solid week, and they chose 28 players out of around 50 to be chosen for Olympic Residency,” Murphy said. “Residency started on October 1 with 28 players and had to be cut down to 23 players by January 1st, which was when we found out the roster. It was a nerve wracking and crazy experience, something I’ve never felt before!”
9 sports
Senior Fiona Crane has been playing softball for 13 years and will be continuing her athletic and academic career at Northern Illinois university in the fall. Crane has been a star athlete at Mother McAuley, playing on varsity since freshman year as a shortstop and outfield. She has always had a passion for softball as it gives her a chance to do something she loves and allows her to work hard for what she wants. “The best thing about softball is being able to compete with my teammates,” Crane said. Crane worked hours on end with coaches and practiced outside of school to become the best player she can be. Her hard work has paid off and shows in her skills. She has experienced disappointment and injuries that only made her stay focused and work towards her athletic goals even more. “Softball is time consuming and there is a lot of time you need to dedicate to practicing ball hitting, fielding, and base running,” Crane said. Since freshman year, there has been a noticeable change in her hitting abilities and her confidence on and off the field. She continues to amaze Mother Mcauley as she keeps improving and becoming stronger. “I love hitting because I’m a slapper which is different from traditional batting,” Crane said. Throughout her time playing softball, Crane has collected memories that will last her a lifetime, including tournaments she won and trips with her team. “Receiving All-State for my junior season was so important because I was not expecting it and it was cool to be selected out of girls from the whole state,” Crane said.
photo by Julia Earley
january/february 2022
Artist spotlight Aine McIntyre
An upbeat music classroom is filled with dozens of students harmonizing as one. Mrs. Alifantis leads a classroom of engaged and attentive students. All of whom know her for being an exceptional and dedicated teacher, while simultaneously incorporating fun and loving atmosphere into every class. “I try to foster a feeling of happiness and support in chorus,” Alifantis said. “Also it is very common for the girls to find their best friends in choir class.” Alifantis’s commitment to choir and other musical classes all stems from the great memories she had singing as a Mighty Mac. Alifantis graduated in the class of ‘87 with high hopes for the music department at McAuley. “One of my favorite stories about McAuley was how as the school was raising money in a capital campaign in the late 80’s/early ‘90s, the administration committed that they would not build the big gym until they could also build the music addition on the D wing,” Alifantis said. “That is truly showing the value the school placed on music. That is special.” This year, Alifantis’s outlook on the year is “My Favorite Things.” This means that all the songs played by her musical classes are special and loved by Mrs. Alifants. “After 20 years, there are so many I needed a whole year to do them all! So if you come to any of the concerts this year you’ll get to hear all of them.” Watching her students bloom with confidence and grow their musical talents is the most rewarding part of Alifantis’ career. “I think the happiness the kids feel when they sing as well as getting to share that experience with others who feel the same makes us all feel bonded in creating great music,” Alifantis said.
above: Seniors Sarah Heirdorn, Ally Howe and Monica Alifantis smile with Mrs. Alifantis before going to the ILEMA State competition
Black cinema tribute Elena Fernandez
With Black History Month in full swing, it is time to acknowledge and recognize the various award-winning films that had remarkable significance to the African American community. Films such as these have made history with their impact on society as they produce an important message of the struggles faced throughout history until now “Hidden Figures,” directed by Theodore Melfi and starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe, is based on the three bright African American women Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, who are all mathematicians for NASA during the 1960s. They were recruited as the brains of the John Glenn launch that changed history forever, not only because a human went into space, but because the only way he was successful in going into space was due to the brilliant minds of African American women, even during a time they were opressed. “The Princess and the Frog” holds a significant place in Disney history as it featured and told the story of the first black princess in an animated movie. Tiana is a hardworking and an aspiring young woman, as she has dreams of opening her own fine restaurant in the heart of New Orleans. Once she’s close to saving enough money to buy a building, her plans go awry as she meets
Prince Naveen, an esteemed noble visiting town. Crawling up to her as an amphibian due to a spell by a wicked Dr. Facilier, Naveen asks Tiana to kiss him in hopes of breaking the spell. But, instead of the spell being reversed, Tiana ends up turning into a frog as well. This jumpstarts their mission through the bayous to find help from a voodoo priestess in order to break the spell and return to a normal life. Marvel’s “Black Panther,” featuring the late Chadwick Boseman, was the first bigbudget superhero movie that featured an African American hero as well as an all black cast, directed by Ryan Coogler, who is also a black director. The movie takes place in Wakanda, a fictional country located in East Africa, where it highlights the portrayal of African heritage and the freedoms they hold in a powerful country. “Black Panther” begins after the death of the protagonist’s, T’Challa, father when he returns to his home nation of Wakanda as king, as he is the heir to his father’s throne. It is during his coronation that an enemy appears and T’Challa’s double life as the new king of Wakanda and being Black Panther gets put to the test. He knows many battles will come, but with his good sister Shuri and loyal friends Nakia and Okoye by his side, T’Challa is ready to face it all.
Lumineers on the BRIGHTSIDE Evelyn Ivers
On Jan. 14, The Lumineers, a two-person Folk band composed of singer/songwriters Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, released their fourth studio album, BRIGHTSIDE. The title song “BRIGHTSIDE” was released on Sept. 20, 2021 which was followed closely by the releases of “BIG SHOT” on Oct. 13, 2021 and “A.M. RADIO” on Nov. 17, 2021. Additionally, The song “WHERE WE ARE” was debuted the night before the release on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The first half of the nine-song album shares in the original contemporary sound that The Lumineers are known for. Song one, “BRIGHTSIDE”, and song two, “A.M. RADIO,” set the tone for the album with not only upbeat tempos, but also creative lyrics that can put a smile on any listener’s face. However, songs two and three, “WHERE WE ARE” and “BIRTHDAY,” are where listeners start to hear a small change within the sound that The Lumineers are producing. These two songs, while having optimistic lyrics, contain a more secluded sound than the first two songs. The beat, tempo, and lyrics create a sense of comfort and camaraderie between the listener and artists.
After the fourth song, the album’s vibe and tone completely shift from their consistent folk sound to a more quiet and composed, but powerful sound. “BIG SHOT” and “NEVER REALLY MINE,” while not as upbeat and cheerful as the first few songs, share in a mellow undertaking that features the vocals of Schultz and Fraites more than the instrumentation. The lyrics of “NEVER REALLY MINE” are extremely powerful in saying “Love was not designed for time. You were never really mine”. These two songs, specifically, can really pull on a listener’s heart. The final three songs of the album, “ROLLERCOASTER,” “REMINGTON,” and “REPRISE,” are a combination of both their contemporary folk and quiet comforting sounds that are featured across the album. “ROLLERCOASTER” and “REMINGTON” are passionate and peaceful, but more specifically shows off a more personal side of The Lumineers that isn’t shown on their previous albums. However, “REPRISE” is somewhat of a combination of songs on the album. Lyrics relating to song one, “BRIGHTSIDE,” and vocals similar to “NEVER REALLY MINE,” create a fun, upbeat closing to The Lumineers’ fourth studio album.
january/february 2022
a&e 10
back cover by Lily O’Connor