INSCAPE
Student Edition Vol. 75 Issue 5 March•April 2022
2 Plunge for a cause 5 Building bridges to success 7 Best Southside food spot
Lessons from Ukraine Our world has been facing many challenges recently, one being the war in Ukraine. Many Ukranians are struggling with obtaining basic everyday items that should be easily accessible to everyone, such as food, clothes, water and even shelter. Children are going to school and living in bomb shelters. People are also being born and dying in those same places. Families are separating and sending their children across the border for safety, supplying them with only a bag of a few items. Through the news and social media, many heartbreaking stories have been shared; however, this allows people to empathize with victims and feel an urge to help. For about as long as anyone can remember, one of the biggest problems the world has faced is unity. Countries and their leaders do not agree with each other, ultimately leading to war. There are very few things in this world that everyone will agree on, which is okay; people are allowed to have differences. However, there are some cases where we need to learn to put our differences aside and
unite to help those who need it. Especially after a worldwide pandemic, it should not be hard to realize the importance of unity during times of distress and hopelessness.
“We need to learn the levels of extremes between certain situations in order to have the correct reactions.” Although devastating, the war in Ukraine has shown hope for humanity and unity among nations as people have contributed to support the wellbeing of the Ukrainian people. Videos have been posted and reposted across the internet to reach the devices of everyday people. We are becoming educated on the devastation of the current events and feel sorrow for the entire Ukraine community. The support for Ukraine can be seen as people across the world hold collections of everyday necessities, candlelight vigils, rallies and fundraisers.
It is unfortunate that it sometimes takes a large scale disaster to bring out the best in people and bring hope to the struggling. If we can come together during times of crisis, could, why can we not come together before the crisis sets in? We have seen the power of a world united behind the Ukrainian people. Imagine the power that we can muster to do great things rather than just responding to great tragedies. The question is: how do we get there? Maybe a small first step is to have some perspective. People losing their homes and their lives is a tragedy. Someone leaving a rude comment on a post is not. Someone disagreeing with something that we have said is not. Someone talking behind your back is not. We need to learn the levels of extremes between certain situations in order to have the correct reactions. There is not a lot that any of us can do about a war on the other side of the world. What we can do is to try to take this moment of unity and make it last a little longer by having some perspective and a little patience with each other.
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 Jr. Reporter Jr. Reporter Jr. Reporter Jr. Reporter Jr. 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 Ciara Hosty Lily O’Connor Julia Earley Keira Jarrett Lisette Corral Evelyn Ivers Ava Eleveld Natalie McKenna Mia Miceli Gabi Hynes Abby Olsen Thomas Bohenczack 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
front cover provided by the Chicago Polar Plunge back cover by Abby Olsen
1 table of contents and staff editorial
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Plunge for a cause On March 6, Chicago held a benefit known as the Special Olympics Polar Plunge. The Polar Plunge is a fundraising effort that helps to benefit the Special Olympics and its athletes. Every year, those who are brave enough dive into the cold waters at North Avenue Beach to support the cause. People are able to collect pledges from friends and family to help provide year round sports training for the Special Olympic Athletes. An estimated 3,650 people bravely dove into the 37° water of Lake Michigan, and many of the participants were students of Mother McAuley. In order to plunge, every participant needs to raise $100 each. This year, McAuley students from Macs LEAD, ASL Club and Intramurals joined with Brother Rice students and raised over $15,000 for the Special Olympics. With the help of all of the raised funds and support from the 19th Ward, McAuley and Rice students formed the “Best of Both Worlds” team and drove down to North Avenue Beach together on a school bus. When it came time to plunge, the students got ready under a heated tent. Once it was time to plunge, they headed over to the starting area. Then, the students quickly ran into the water, dunked themselves under, and ran out of the water and back to the heated
Natalie McKenna
tents in an attempt to warm themselves up. “You’re so cold that you stop breathing for a few seconds,” Lucy Shields 11 said. “Then you run back to get warm and your whole body is tingling!” Over the past decade, the Chicago Polar Plunge has become very popular and the most well-known plunge in the country. “It is a really wonderful event, but a very cold one, too!” Shields said. The very first Polar Plunge occurred in Rochester, N.Y. in 2001. At the first plunge, the Special Olympics raised over $15,000. On March 6, the Special Olympics altogether raised over $2 million dollars. Since then, more than $24 million dollars has been raised from all of the Polar Plunges in Illinois, benefitting approximately 23,000 Special Olympics athletes. Celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon, Lady Gaga, Vince Vaughn and Dax Shepard have all participated in the Polar Plunge within the past several years, both in Illinois as well as other states. Their participation and support highlights the importance of the plunge and the impact it has on Chicago, as well as all over the country.
The Polar Plunge is truly an experience that McAuley participants, as well as all participants, will remember for years to come. Being able to participate with friends and family is a lot of fun, and many students are impacted knowing that they are plunging for a cause. The plunge is a wonderful opportunity for McAuley students to get involved with their community and to help spread awareness and support for the Special Olympics athletes. “Plunging for McAuley was a great experience that I hope more girls can have next year. I went with my friends and dressed up in school colors. Overall, I think the experience was definitely one I would like to repeat,” Lucy Pheifer10 said.
above. Br. Rice and McAuley ‘Best of Both Worlds’ polar plunge team down at North Ave. Beach photo provided by Ms. Sheahan
McAuley’s scholar Julia Earley Annie Justic 12 is Mcauley’s only National Merit Scholar for the 2021-2022 school year. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic scholarship competition for recognition and scholarships for college. Junior students take the PSAT/NMSQT and
photo provided by HR imaging
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around 50,000 of those students with the highest scores qualify for recognition. Onethird of these qualifiers become National Merit semifinalists and have to fill out the application to become a finalist. Then, about 15,000 become finalists and have the chance to be selected for a scholarship. “I think that the AP classes I’ve taken at McAuley helped me to achieve this,” Justic said. “These classes are challenging and help me become a better student.” Justic has made McAuley proud by showcasing her abilities as an exceeding student. She is involved in Math Macs, Spanish Club, Ecomacs, National Honors Society, English Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. Justic balances all of her academic involvement with also playing varsity tennis. She is a put together student which shows in her involvement and hard work at McAuley. “McAuley has aided me to become a better student and get this achievement by always encouraging me to push myself and work hard,” Justic said. Justic is continuing to look into colleges to find the best one for her. She is considering schools such as University of Illinois
Champaign Urbana, University of WisconsinMadison, and University of Indiana. She plans to major in business or finance depending on the college she ends up attending. Justic describes the scholarship as something that made her keep working in her studies and strive for a bright future that is well ahead of her. It also made her appreciate the teachers and support system she receives as a McAuley student. “My teachers help me to realize that I can achieve more than I believe I am capable of, and they helped me develop a strong work ethic that allows me to be successful and continue to learn,” said Justic. Justic’s dedication and time that she puts towards her school work and being a leader at school doesn’t go unnoticed. It shows through her 4 years as a student. McAuley is so proud to have a student like Justic and will continue to be proud as she goes on to achieve amazing things in her life that are well ahead of her. “When I first realized I was a National Merit finalist, it was a very rewarding feeling. I was proud of myself and it encouraged me to keep working hard in school,” said Justic.
mac news 2
Pro-Ukranian “Hacktivists” Mairead O’Carroll Since 2008, the Anonymous activist hackers, or “hacktivists,” have been making headlines for taking on many high profile incidents from their protest against Scientology to their recent cyberattack on Russia. At the end of February, a popular Twitter account named “Anonymous” declared that the collective, which has no defined structure or leadership, was launching a “cyber war” against Russia and the invasion of Ukraine. “We, as activists, will not sit idle as Russian forces kill and murder innocent people trying to defend their homeland,” said a Twitter account associated with Anonymous on March 1. In order to stop the spread of information that goes against the Russian government’s narrative, the Kremlin banned social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter and passed a new censorship law that essentially banned the spread of information about the war in early March. Due to these strict measures, Russian citizens have not had access to accurate information regarding the invasion. Anonymous hackers therefore disabled prominent Russian government, news and corporate websites in order to send unbiased messages about the conflict across these platforms. “There is less and less access to accurate
information from the West amid the relentless pounding from increasingly hysterical state propaganda, which admittedly, is having its effect,” Sergey Radchenko, Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Europe said. Anonymous hackers have also leaked data from organizations such as Roskomnadzor, the federal agency responsible for overseeing Russian media. “Anonymous has proven to be a very capable group; ... (of) 100 Russian databases that were analyzed, 92 had been compromised,” Jeremiah Fowler, the co-founder of the cybersecurity company Security Discovery, said. Hacktivists have also claimed via Twitter to have infiltrated pro-Kremlin Russian state TV stations such as Russia 24 and Russian streaming services similar to Netflix, such as Wink and Ivi, in order to post pro-Ukraine content including images of bombings and damaged buildings from the invasion. “My partner at Security Discovery, Bob Diachenko, actually captured a state news live feed from a website and filmed the screen, so we were able to validate that they had hacked at least one live feed [with] a proUkrainian message in Russian,” Fowler said.
The decentralized and informal nature of Anonymous makes it difficult to define which attacks were definitively carried out by the collective. “It can be difficult to directly tie this activity to Anonymous, as targeted entities will likely be reluctant to publish related technical data,” US Cybersecurity Consultant Jamie Collier said. “However, the Anonymous collective has a track record of conducting this sort of activity and it is very much in line with their capabilities.”
above. an example of the ‘anonymous mask’ seen as a symbol for the collective group of hackers.
The grapple with global warming Aine McIntyre Currently, climate change is one of Lebanon’s greatest challenges, and it requires immediate action and attention. Women are at the forefront of the climate change movement in Lebanon. Women, men, and children living in Lebanon have long endured challenging environmental conditions. Climate change activists are involving the youth of Lebanon to start making a difference. “Young children are very enthusiastic about finding solutions to climate change and tackling the problem of pollution. Older generations seem more reluctant to take action, as they ask for concrete evidence that human activities are contributing to climate change,” says Nouhad Awwad, the founder of the Lebanese national chapter of the Arab Youth Climate Change. According to UNwomen.org, Awwad is also a project campaigner at Greenpeace MENA, supporting the implementation of the Ummah For Earth project, a global non-profit initiative working to empower Muslim communities on climate action. The health of the citizens of Lebanon has become increasingly more of serious concern. Long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution slowly ruins lung function and the risk of respiratory symptoms increases.
According to the World Bank, the destruction of the environment is generating significant economic losses for Lebanon, a country that already suffered one of the world’s worst financial downfalls since the 19th century. Lebanon’s densely populated urban areas feel the direct negative impacts through its lack of agricultural productivity, deforestation, urbanization, and illegal quarrying. U.N. Women collaborated with the Lebanon Gender Working Group (GWG) and came together around a joint campaign: “Women and girls leading the fight against climate change to build a more sustainable future for Lebanon.” Many Lebanese people are beginning to pay more attention to waste management and to join recycling initiatives. Whether it is beach cleanups or planting trees, Lebanese people have been engaging youth in environmental issues since the age of 15. In 2015, at the age of 25, Nouhad established the Lebanese national chapter of the Arab Youth Climate Movement to create early awareness on climate change of young children at schools. Rhyme Assaad, President of Sustain the World, a Lebanese organization working on climate justice and a member of the Lebanon Gender Working Group, said on behalf of the GWG:
“Despite restricted rights, limited access to political decision-making, financial resources, and employment opportunities, women and girls in Lebanon are proving to be leaders of change, driving and inspiring the change they want to see in their communities.”
above. Teenage Syrian girls learn about children’s and environmental rights at a community centre in Lebanon. The country’s emphasis on the importance of human and environmental rights has been evident for many years and continues to progress. photo by Russell Watkins for the Department for International Development
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Toxic positivity Elena Fernandez One would think that toxic positivity is not a thing. What could possibly be toxic about pure positivity? It is what is needed in life in order to live healthy and happily ever after, right? Actually, wrong. Toxic positivity, or sometimes known as positive toxicity, is the persistent belief that regardless of any situation or circumstance, it is vital to have a positive, indestructible mindset. While enforcing an exaggerated level of optimism, toxic positivity diminishes and even shames people from feeling other important emotions such as sadness or anger. Emotions are a huge part of humanity, and while it may seem unconventional to accept those negative ones, it’s important to embrace them rather than suppressing them. Neglecting negative emotions can cause even more damage. Rather than dealing with the negative emotions certain situations can cause, toxic positivity encourages people to avoid dealing with them and bottle it all inside, thus internalizing toxic ideas and coping mechanisms. It rejects any negative emotion to put forth a positive, perfect and cheerful façade that does not solve any problems. In turn, people end up feeling ignored, invalidated or even that their feelings are unacceptable, rather than feeling supported. Toxic positivity can create guilt by sending the distinct message that if you are not always
happy or trying to be positive, then you are not living your life right. Avoiding those negative emotions prevents people from growing and prospering as it denies the challenge that lies within learning how to get through a difficult situation. Imagine losing a loved one and the first thing a person says to you is “to look on the bright side.” What bright side? An event such as that can be painful and almost unbearable, yet being told to look on the “bright side” isn’t going to help with that loss. According to licensed therapist Samara Quintero and Dr. Jamie Long on their blog thepsychologygroup.com, “In denying our truth, we begin to live inauthentically with ourselves and with the world. We lose connection with ourselves, making it difficult for others to connect and relate to us. We might look unbreakable from the outside, but on the inside we’re just scared little teddy bears longing for a hug.” In order to avoid toxic positivity, one must be able to manage all of their emotions and not deny them, be realistic and stay true to the emotions that arise in any situation. No one has the power to influence a person on how they should feel about their grandma’s death, a parent’s divorce or even a break up. On the contrary, don’t feed into the toxicity with a “good vibes only” mantra. Provide support for
friends and family members by just doing the simple act of listening; it can go a long way. It is okay to be negative. It is a part of humanity. Like the Yin and Yang, both light and dark times balance out each other and are inevitable in life. It is what brings harmony.
graphic by Elena Fernandez
CPS seniors granted college scholarships For some high school seniors, the only thought on their minds are the big events that every kid looks forward to: prom, graduation and the last day of school. However, many other seniors are left stressing about college and their future plans, or, more specifically, how they are going to pay for it. Within the past month, thousands of senior students throughout five CPS public high schools received the news that they would be able to relax about their college worries. On Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, thousands of senior students, parents, faculty and staff filled the auditorium at Benito Juarez Community Academy High School in the Lower West Side of downtown Chicago. The meeting was said to be about typical end of the year events, but suspicions immediately rose when the attendees were greeted with TV Cameras and microphones filling the auditorium. Principal Juan Carlos Ocon shared opening remarks related to the resilience and determination of the Class of 2022, who had faced much adversity within their high school years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After explaining the plans the school had for the end of the school year events such as
Evelyn Ivers
prom and graduation ceremonies, he passed the microphone over to Pete Kadens, the school philanthropist, who announced a huge surprise for every student: they were each getting a full scholarship to one of twen-
ty different Illinois colleges or universities! The scholarships extend to many different Illinois colleges and universities including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University and all of the City Colleges of Chicago. Benito Juarez Community High School was the first of five CPS high schools to receive the news that every senior would be recipients of these scholarships. Seniors at Al Raby High School in Garfield Park also found out on February 22, 2022 that each senior would be eligible to receive this scholarship. Later in the week, Morgan Park High School in Morgan Park, Farragut Career Academy High School in the Little Village neighborhood and NobleJohnson College Preparatory High School in the southside of downtown also received scholarships for seniors. Other schools also received the news that their students would be eligible to receive full scholarships. Throughout all the schools eligible for the scholarship, over 4,000
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students will be receiving a full tuition schol-
arship. The scholarships are being funded by a non-profit organization called Hope Chicago. The organization is founded and directed by former CPS CEO Janice Jackson. Jackson served as the CPS school district’s superintendent from Dec. 8, 2017 to June 30, 2021. She resigned from the school district in order to start Hope Chicago.
above. Bar chart representing the growth in average cost of college tuitions to public universities from 2018-2022 graphic by Evelyn Ivers
news 4
Building bridges to success The IIT Bridge Building Competition tests the construction and structure of model bridges built by high school students all over the Chicagoland area as well as surrounding suburbs. Four students from Mr. Thomas’ sixth period engineering class competed in the 2022 IIT Bridge Building Chicago Regional Contest. Seniors Anna Pavilon, Leah Zemgulys, Katelynn Marquez and Hope Lukasik all placed within the top ten, Anna Pavilon taking first place, respectively. These students entered the competition as a part of McAuleys Engineering Principles class. “Mr. Thomas had everyone in class build bridges, and us four had the top four bridges with the highest efficiency, so we were chosen to go to the regional contest at IIT.” Pavilon 12 said. Pavilon signed up to take engineering class her senior year for not only for fun, but to pursue her interest in systems engineering; systems engineering has to deal with techniques that are used for bridge building. “I’m not sure where I am headed for college yet, but I’m leaning towards University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana (UIUC). If I decide to go to UIUC, I will for sure be in their college for systems engineering and design.” Pavilon said. Pavilon is headed to the international bridge contest during the first week of May in Covington Township, Pennsylvania. The top two people from every region attend this international competition, using the same bridges that were tested at regionals. The bridges are tested the same way, by judging whichever one that can hold the most or that
above. Anna Pavilon 12, Katelynn Marquez 12 and Leah Zemgultys 12 ready to be on their way to the IIT Bridge Building Competition. photo provided by Jo Gomez
Jo Gomez and Ella Martin
above. Seniors Hope Lukasik, Leah Zemgulys, Anna Pavilon and Katelynn Marquez showing off their model bridges,
has the highest efficiency; bridge efficiency (E) is measured by dividing how much mass a bridge can hold by the mass of the bridge itself. The official IIT website provides these guidelines for the contest: “The object of this contest is to see who can design, construct and test the most efficient bridge within the specifications. Model bridges are intended to be simplified versions of realworld bridges, which are designed to permit a load to travel across the entire bridge. In order to simplify the model bridge design process, the number of loading positions is reduced, and to allow the contest to proceed in a reasonable amount of time, only one loading position is actually tested. These simplifications do not negate the requirement that the bridge must be designed to accept a load at any of the positions. Bridges determined by the judges to not meet this requirement will be disqualified and tested as unofficial bridges.” Pavilon exceeded these requirements, going above and beyond what was expected. “I used the program White Box Learning to learn about bridges and used their online simulation to test different bridge dimensions to see which model had the best efficiency, while also making sure I met the requirements for the contest. I then printed out a template and cut out pieces of basswood to fit the template. I glued the pieces together and tested out my bridge. I used a warren truss bridge design because the design has equilateral triangles on the sides, and I thought it would have the best efficiency to even the stress of the members of the bridge.” For the competition in May, Pavilon must assemble at least two prototypes to
5 feature
photo provided by Anna Pavilon
bring with her. These prototypes must meet certain requirements: “My prototypes must have loading points at center, 40mm to the right of the center and 30mm to the left of the center. These loading points must have a 100m opening. They must have a span gap between 300mm and 400mm, be no taller than 150mm and no wider than 80mm.” Pavilon said. Marquez, Lukasik and Zemgulys were all astounded by not just their own achievements, by the durability of Pavilon’s bridge. “We are all so happy for Anna. We were at the competition and we were all so surprised at the amount of weight that kept getting added,” Zemgulys 12 said. “It just kept going and we were so excited when we found out she placed first.” Marquez, Lukasik and Zemgulys joined Pavilon on McAuley’s signature cart ride, cheering Pavilon on for her upcoming journey.
above. McAuley celebrates our Bridge builders with a congratulartoy golf cart ride through main hall. photo provided by Jo Gomez
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Women supporting women Ciara Hosty
What’s the best prank you pulled on someone? “I did the penny and water bottle prank on my sister. I had a water bottle, a penny and a towel. I put the water bottle on top of the penny and told her it was in the water bottle. She went to look in it, and I sprayed the water in her face.” -Maeve O’Sullivan 9 “Whenever my brother is up super late watching TV in the basement, I sneak down and whisper-yell his name to sound like my mom. He always gets so startled because he thinks that it’s my mom coming down to yell at him for being up too late. I repeatedly do it, but he falls for it every time. -Caroline Murphy 11
“For basketball, we went to a tournament in Bloomington, Illinois, and one of my roommates was my friend, Sarah Ternes. When she was in the shower, my friend Morgan and I put EVERYTHING on her bed. We took the desk chair, the table, the lamps, the pillows and the couch and put it on her bed. -Brigid Maloney 11
“My friends and I just like having a good time in school and brightening the mood, so we thought what better way than bringing candy into my teacher’s room. We left a bunch of Hershey’s Kisses on my teacher’s desk.” -Emily DuMais 12
By; Daniella Hall
A major addition to McAuley Gabi Hynes McAuley has just introduced a new club, the Mac Majorettes. The Mac Majorettes was founded by Maya Hooks 9 and Kierra Hudson 11 and is led by Coach Newell. The Mac Majorettes have already begun to make an impact and formed bonds within the McAuley community. It is a place where students feel safe expressing themselves through dance. As of right now, the majorettes is a club that will be able to see put on performances throughout the year. Coach Newell hopes that they are able to compete against other teams soon. “Right now, we’re a club and don’t compete yet.” Newell says. “We hope to compete maybe next year.” Majorette dancing took full form in a carnival dance in Germany in the 1960s. A majorette has to master the skills of dancing, and in many cases, baton twirling and gymnastics. It allows the dancers to really express themselves using a very spirited and upbeat dance style. It combines marching with modern, jazz and hip-hop choreography. Kierra Hudson 11 helped start the majorettes, is a co-captain, choreographer and has been dancing most of her life. She has always wanted to be a part of a majorette team and is excited for this new opportunity. “I wanted to start one around sophomore year, but unfortunately, I was e-learning the entire year,” Hudson says. “As soon as I heard about it, I jumped at the opportunity.” The members of the majorettes are made up of a group of talented individuals who now get to show off their talents.
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“This is giving students another opportunity to do something that they love,” Hudson says. “It allows them to express themselves, and I love to see the girls display their talents and abilities.” Although the club is brand new, the welcoming and friendly community has made it easy to fit in and feel a part of the group. “We have a welcoming environment too,” Hudson says. “The first day of practice, I felt like I’ve known these girls for a while. There is no audition process for the majorettes. They are welcoming to everyone and are still accepting new members. “Majorette is a dance style where you can fully immerse yourself into your movement, and feel good about it.” Hudson says “People should consider joining this team if they want to try something new.” Mac nation will view the Majorette’s first performance live at Macs got Talent.
above. Jada Jones 9, Maya Hooks 9, and Kierra Hudson 11 preforming during the Mac Majorette’s preformance at the 2022 Macs got Talent
student life 6
Hot takes:
Best Southside food spot Lily O’Connor, Keira Jarrett and Moira Cosme
Lily: Janson’s is by far the best locally owned fast food spot in the area. Coming from someone who lives in Evergreen Park and grew up with both Janson’s and Pappys, Beverly wins this one. I love the 50s decoration and vibe of the diner. Complete with vintage and neon signs, you feel like you were taken back in time when you walk in. The tables outside are perfect to sit at with friends in the summer drinking milkshakes and smoothies. The food is just as good as the environment. I remember as a kid going to get cheese dogs and chocolate soft serve cones. Now, my favorite thing to get is their fries with their amazing chocolate shake to dip them in. I love their chicken tenders and burgers for a quick meal. It opened in 1960 so it’s been around forever and, from what I’ve heard from my grandparents, it has always been a beloved spot.
above. Pappys located at 3301 W. 95th Street in Evergreen Park, IL photo by Keira Jarrett
Moira: : Whether you’re in need of some 12am Rosie’s cheese fries or a midday burger for lunch, Rosie’s is open 16 hours of the day to provide you with whatever you choose to satisfy your hunger. Rosie’s has been an establishment 32 years, opening in 1990 on 103rd and Cicero in the heart of Oak Lawn. It is named after its owner, Rosie John. It is known for its gyros, pizza puffs, shakes, and cheese fries; but that’s not even close to all they have to offer. Not only is the quality of their food good, but so is the efficiency of their service. They are quick with orders and you will get your food within minutes of ordering it. The workers will greet you at the window with a smiling face and send you off with your food and a “have a nice day.” So next time you’re on the Southside, stop by Rosie’s for a quick bite.
above. Janson’s iconic neon sign outside thier drive-in at 9900 S. Western Ave. in Chicago, IL photo by Eric Allix Rogers
Keira: Looking for a family-owned diner that can serve just about anything? All you have to do is go a few blocks northeast of McAuley, on 95th Street, and you’ll find a small restaurant called Pappys. For nearly 20 years, Pappys has been a staple for not only Evergreen Park, but to the entire Southside. The appeal of Pappys comes from the warm environment that many people, including myself, consider a safe space. Growing up in Evergreen Park meant you were likely to visit Pappys at least once a week, which would most likely lead to an unforgettable bond with the diner’s staff. As it has been the same staff for years, the workers at Pappys never forget a face. As I was born and raised in Evergreen Park, and am currently an employee at the restaurant, I am biased. But, this just proves that Pappys’ top priority is your satisfaction. Not only does Pappy’s have a top quality menu, the dessert section is always a fan favorite. Pappys can do anything, from shakes to even ice cream pies. As it’s always said, You come for the food, you stay for the atmosphere!
above. Rosie’s Drive-In located at 10235 S. Cicero Ave in Oak Lawn, IL photo by Moira Cosme
Which is the best southside food spot? Scan the QR code to cast your vote!
Jan/Feb Hot Takes: The best spiderman? 50%-Andrew Garfield 26%- Tobey McGuire 24%-Tom Holland
7 opinion
My TikTok problem Nora Harvey
Fascination and hate are not mutually exclusive, and I am realizing that every day. Well, at least every day that I had tiktok downloaded on my phone. The ever-so-popular social media has had its fair share of controversies. From data leaks to safety concerns, it’s safe to say this isn’t the app held in the highest regard. However, it’s given me the most insight into why people use social media the way they do. Like a toddler’s grimy fingerprints, tiktok’s influence has seeped into everything I consume. It is the most miniscule of problems, but why was everyone’s quarantine metamorphosis identical? Because an echochamber of trends was established. You can probably guess which app it existed on. I had hoped that the phase of everyone saying quarantine had changed their means of self-expression in the exact same way as everyone else would end, but it never really did. It evolved into a competition. This is where I become fascinated. When I do find myself scrolling endlessly through the app, I usually come across a few videos made with the intention to establish a dominance. Posting to prove something. My least favorite would probably be the genre of posts that are among the lines of ‘Phoebe Bridgers is Taylor Swift for people whose Uggs are Doc Martens’. That’s using a lot of words to say “I’m not like other girls”. What I did just now is make an extremely lucrative tiktok; You can find hundreds of viral tiktoks using that exact same template. What makes that genre of videos so interesting is that the comments are full of people trying to prove the same thing to themselves. Tiktok has turned interests into an accessory, the more obscure will be the most coveted, and when people can relate to having your obscure accessory, they’re gonna make you viral. They’re going to make you viral so that they can show other people ‘Hey! I have this too! Look how interesting and better I am!’ Scrolling through social media becomes a lot more depressing when you begin to realize how much people are posting to prove to themselves that they are interesting in some capacity. I would be doing a disservice by not disclosing that I am a consumer of the tiktok economy. I wonder why I am so concerned about the reasoning for people’s consumption of media, rather than just embracing it; I’m still seeking an explanation better than “I just like being a hater”. What I fear is that we are creating a world where music, fashion, literature has lost its meaning in exchange for its social currency. As always, there comes a time where participation is inevitable, especially if you fear being left in the dust.
march/april 2022
A new change to animal names Claire McGrath
Cryptocurrency, NFTs and Controversy Daniella Hall Cryptocurrency and NFTs are often accompanied by the word confusing. Conflicting opinions about cryptocurrency fill the internet, but the basic definition of a cryptocurrency according to Merriam-Webster dictionary is as follows: “Any form of currency that only exists digitally.” The definition then discusses the fact that it includes “a decentralized system.”Additionally, NFTs or non-fungible tokens are incorporated into the understanding of this complex network. Bitcoin is an example of a cryptocurrency network, and it ultimately boils down to anonymous transfers of money, which can include crime and illegal activity. Cryptocurrency can be characterized by its role in the trading of digital money in a decentralized network, and this money is not protected by the FDIC, according to CNN. The cryptocurrency network that was made in 2009 poses dangers, and there is evidenced illegal activity surrounding NFTs as well. “An NFT is a digital asset that represents real-world objects like art, music, in-game items and videos,” Robyn Conti and John Schmidt wrote in Forbes. As it is a digital method of trading, some consider the cryptocurrency network to be a means of investing. Some celebrities are included in this group even though
fickle values of cryptocurrency create high risk “investments” for many people. NFTs and ownership of certain things, such as digital artwork, for example, are traded or transferred. The entire cryptocurrency value and its high risk creates controversy and can decrease financial security. “But influential figures attaching their names-and finances, in some cases-to the burgeoning form of currency carries implications beyond their own padded wallets, physical or digital,” Sonia Rao wrote in The Washington Post. Even though the ownership of NFTs is expected to be established in the cryptocurrency realm, the entire system includes high risk. Because the system is so complex, there are, what some people consider, both pros and cons of obtaining this “digital wallet.” Either way, the incorporation of celebrities’ interest in the cryptocurrency network has only led to an increased use of this system. When this digital money is transferred, it has a fluctuating value. Low return on investment can result from cryptocurrency usage, and even a loss of the cryptocurrency invested is possible. For example, the value of the cryptocurrency for a non-fungible token is essentially based on the want for that particular NFT, whether it be ownership of a
piece of artwork or a tweet. “Many marketplaces called ‘bitcoin exchanges’ allow people to buy or sell bitcoins using different currencies. Coinbase is a leading exchange, along with Bitstamp and Bitfinex. But security can be a concern: bitcoins worth tens of millions of dollars were stolen from Bitfinex when it was hacked in 2016,” Tal Yellin, Dominic Aratari and Jose Pagliery wrote in an article for CNN.
above. Graphic showing the increase of blockchain wallets from 2015-2021. graphic by Daniella Hall
march/april 2022
science & tech 8
One team, one goal
Annie Duggan
Cat Ohle As the spring season approaches, the Mother McAuley soccer team made big changes in regards to their coaching staff for this year. Maggie Bettindardi was named assistant coach of the varsity team and Elaine Gralak head coach of the junior varsity team. This new leadership is a way for teams to share new ideas, work ethic and team dynamics. Coach Bettindardi mentioned her goal for the girls is “to improve their skills and have a fun season!” Along with improvement and a joyous experience this season, the team is in full force to work hard and play even harder. Along with the new coaches, there is a new morale within the team. Bettindardi mentions, “We have a great team with really highly motivated players. We try to keep this momentum going by working together as a team on each goal.” This spirit is a great way for the players to feel bonded as a team while also staying in shape and having a good time. It is not always an easy adjustment when change is made, but the experience the new coaches have eases these worries. “I started playing soccer when I was about 6 years old and continued to play when I was at Mother McAuley. While I was in college at University of Dayton, I coached youth soccer for two years at a local school in Dayton, Ohio. This experience helped me transition from the player role to a coaching role,” Bettindardi said. Her experience not only as a former
McAuley soccer player but as an individual shows how determined and dedicated she is to this team. A goal the team has set for themselves is to improve their technical skills while having fun together. Change can sometimes be difficult, but as McAuley athletes and coaches this team is willing to push forward and have fun while doing so, allowing them to make this the best season yet!
above. Coach McCauley (far left), Coach Bettinardi (far right) with the varsity soccer team sharing a sweet treat aftger practice. photo provided by Coach McCauley
Strike, you’re out! Mia Miceli this from happening again, the lockout was put in place. “To be clear: this hard but important step does not necessarily mean games will be cancelled,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wrote in his letter. “In fact, we are taking this step now because it accelerates the urgency for an agreement with as much runway as possible to avoid doing damage to the 2022 season.” The MLB has offered many solutions and compromises to address the concerns of the players; however, the union turned down all of the offers they were presented. “I do not doubt the league and the players share a fundamental appreciation for this game and a commitment to its fans,” Mandfred wrote in a letter to fans. The MLB and Players Association will continue to meet and discuss possible agreements for the future.
9 sports
Being a goalie means you are potentially under much more pressure than the rest of the team in some circumstances. In water polo, goalies have to keep a mentality for success as well as physically defending the team. This is not an impossible task for sophomore Becca Enquist. “I love being a goalie because of the advantage my spot gives me. I can see everything and am ready for whatever direction the game is going in!” Enquist said. Becca has been playing water polo for eight years and has been a goalie for three years now, starting on Varsity at Mother McAuley. “Water polo is time consuming but I feel it will always be a part of my life no matter what,” Enquist said. For Becca, it is not just water polo that she participated in, but swimming is a big part of it too. “To get to where I am now, I did club swimming in grade school as well as O practices,” Enquist said. Becca has been playing at a varsity level since freshman year, but she quickly learned to love her team. “My favorite part about playing really is the team. I look forward to playing with the people there, and it’s the bonding and getting along after the games that really make us have a great team dynamic,” Enquist said. The team has had a slower start to the season with games getting pushed back, but there have already been some great moments for Becca. “My favorite memory so far has been shoot outs where I have to block all the shots”, Enqusit said. “As a goalie, all the pressure is on you, which is nerve-wracking and definitely leaves you with some guilt if you don’t perform how you wanted to, but it gets easier and I have grown to love it .”
photo provided by HR imaging
As of March 11, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor deal; however, it still needs to be ratified. There will be a full season while hopefully improving conditions for players. Back in December of 2021, the MLB enforced a lockout of every U.S. MLB team in the country. The lockout was enforced due to the expiration of an old Collective Labor Agreement between the MLB and the MLB Players Association. This deal encompasses many of the MLB rules along with the economic aspect related to revenue and player salaries. Without a new agreement, players and teams were unable to train or practice, and no one could sign onto teams. In 1994, the season was cancelled due to a strike by the MLB Players Association. This cancellation marked the second time a World Series was never played. In order to prevent
Play like a girl
march/april 2022
Artist spotlight Ava Eleveld
Creating her way to prosperity, Senior Leilani Diaz has drawn her path through high school. Since as long as she can remember, Diaz has been communicating her emotions through the canvas with much success. Through her time at McAuley, Diaz has been adding her own mix of fervent talent to not only B wing, but also beyond the classroom. “For two separate pieces, I won a Scholastic Silver Key and a Scholastic Gold Key award. Two of my other pieces were recently on display at the Illinois State High School Art Exhibition,” Diaz said. Diaz is roused by influence in different art forms to build on her designs. “I am so inspired by how music takes you to another world, and I want to be able to translate that world into something that you can see visually,” Diaz said. “I love that I can express myself through my art and hopefully help even one person feel less alone through my work.” It is not a secret that Mother McAuley’s art department is one of a kind. Diaz is encouraged by the passion behind McAuley’s art community. “It is so inspiring to be in an environment where I get to be surrounded by other people who also feel passionate about art,” Diaz said. Fortunately for all art connoisseurs, Diaz plans to approach a career in art. “I am definitely looking forward to finding ways to incorporate art into my future career and cannot wait to explore courses that will help me discover new creative fields,” Diaz said.
Photos from sustained investigation for AP art and design. Photos provided by Leilani Diaz.
“Encanto” scores magic music Lily O’Connor
In the predominantly male dominated field of composing, a Latina woman named Germaine Franco is making history as the first female to ever score a Disney animated feature with the movie “Encanto.” Franco was given an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score, making her the sixth woman and the first Latina woman to be nominated in that category. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe, an SCL Award and an Annie Award for her work on “Encanto.” Franco was recruited by Lin Manuel Miranda to compose for the movie Encanto. She studied Miranda’s previous work to ensure she matched the liveliness of his music. The movie takes place in Colombia and she wanted to make sure that was obvious through the music. Franco researched indigenous Colombian instruments and purchased them to create the soundtrack. The rhythm is based on the traditional Colombian dance: cumbia. “What I did was spend time with [directors] Byron and Jared to discuss how to apply magical realism from literature to the score and what they wanted was something that didn’t sound traditionally Disney and huge Hollywood orchestra all the time,” Franco said in an interview with Yahoo
Entertainment. “They wanted something more intimate and they definitely wanted Colombian instruments.” Franco got her start in 2007 scoring for Argentine-American drama film “3 Américas.” She has worked on many other films in a variety of genres, including co-writing songs for the animated film “Coco” and creating a hybrid electronica and action score for the movie “Tag.” She also worked on films like the “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy and “Rio” as an assistant for the well-known composer John Powell. Franco predominantly works on animated films because of Powell. “When I started working with John Powell he was doing all these amazing animated features,” Franco said in an interview with Awards Daily. “The first one I worked on with him as his assistant was “Happy Feet,” and I watched him work with George Miller with hundreds of songs in several sessions. Then working with DreamWorks on “Kung Fu Panda”–John Powell and Hans Zimmer worked on those, and then he did “How to Train Your Dragon.” I was at all those sessions and helping out and orchestrating. I felt like there was something special about animation.”
Batman saves the box office Lisette Corral
Sitting through a movie for three hours never sounds appealing, but I promise you, “The Batman” is one you want to sit through. One might even say this is the best Batman movie ever. Batman embraces his sense of misery and fights a battle with himself he has never faced; Batman’s intelligence plays a huge role because this movie highlights his detective skills. When hearing Robert Pattinson of “Twilight” was going to be playing Batman, many people were skeptical; however, this film proved that the actor had what it took to play the Caped Crusader. Some think he portrayed the superhero better than his predecessors such as Ben Affleck and Christian Bale. In “The Batman,” a young Bruce Wayne– not even done with his second year as Batman–faces his most challenging mystery and villains yet with unexpected twists and shocking turns. The film was a murder mystery mixed with a superhero movie. Batman struggles with his identity: his need for vengeance and inspiring fear into the criminals of Gotham City overshadows his public persona as Bruce Wayne, the son of a slain philanthropist who donated millions of dollars to help save the city. Throughout the film, Batman wrestles with what it means to be Batman and Bruce Wayne as he comes faceto-face with dark revelations and startling truths about the very city he fights for. To many comic book fans, the character was the
most accurate portrayal of Batman. Even though we have seen his story play out before, we see it unfold and affect him in a much different way. “The Batman” is a story with crime and injustice in Gotham City. The movie stars a number of Batman’s comic book adversaries such as Colin Farrel as The Penguin and Paul Dano as The Riddler. The movie starts with the Riddler killing the mayor of the city, and it only gets worse from there. Both villains thwart Batman’s attempts to stop the murders of high-profile officials in the city. Batman has a few allies in his quest to stop these murders. His closest allies are his trusty butler Alfred Pennyworth and police lieutenant Jim Gordon, who are played by Andy Serkis and Jeffrey Wright, respectively. Along his way, he even meets Selina Kyle who is also the vigilante Catwoman. She and Batman have a contentious relationship; you are not quite sure if she is a friend or foe. Zoe Kravitz plays her, and she shines among the mostly male cast. Batman and his allies do everything they can to find who is causing all this chaos. It is a gripping mystery with some great action scenes. It can be analyzed and looked at in a lot of different ways. It even connects with our times and the world we live in. If you haven’t had the chance yet, this is a great movie to see with your family, so grab some popcorn and cheer on Batman as he attempts to save the day!
march/april 2022
a&e 10
back cover design by Abby Olsen