Vol. 42, I ssue XI I I
The Student Newspaper of St. Joseph's Prep
M ay 4th, 2017
Petr uzzelli Pledges to Crew Wins PCL Championships Pay Attention in Class I ncoming principal wants to have his "finger on the pulse" of Prep's classrooms; said that he will advocate for students By M att Phillips '18 "I?m leaving a place I love to go to a place I love,? reflected Mr. John Petruzzelli when asked about his decision to return to the Prep. Petruzzelli will be succeeding Mr. Jason Zazyczny next year as the Prep?s Principal, after an extensive search conducted over much of this academic year. A number of qualified candidates were interviewed by and met with various members of the Prep community, including students, faculty and alumni. On March 8th, it was announced that Petruzzelli had been selected for the role. Petruzzelli has been in education for his entire adult life. ?I thought I really wanted to teach, I had some really great teachers in high school that really inspired me,? he notes, describing his path from Archbishop Ryan to deciding that his career would be in education. He started teaching seventh and eighth graders in December of his senior year at St. Joe?s University, and remained at the school for two years after graduating. He then moved into high school education, where he was the youngest teacher on the staff and involved in a number of extracurricular programs. ?As I got more involved in different activities of the school, I saw how, as an administrator, you can really affect school climate and the experience of your students,? a realization which led Petruzzelli to pursue his Master?s Degree in School Leadership and Instruction. As implied by his earlier statement, Petruzzelli is no stranger to the Prep community. He was hired as the Dean of Students in 1998, soon after completing his Master?s Degree, a position which he held for four years. He also served as the school?s Director of Ignatian Service for the following two years, a change that arose out of his desire to see a different side of his students. Petruzzelli
pioneered summer service trips at the Prep, a program that is still very much alive today. This belief in service trips remained with him after leaving the Prep; Petruzzelli notes that he introduced a summer service program to every school at which he worked after leaving the Prep. One of his fondest memories of his time at the Prep, the Ivanhoe, Virginia, service trip, directly affected school policy at Bethlehem Catholic: ?Last summer, we did our first trip to Ivanhoe, so I went back to Ivanhoe. It was the first time I was there in ten or eleven years, and the people were the same people as when I went with the Prep.? His affection for the experiences he had at the Prep remained with him long after leaving, and eventually informed his desire to return. ?I never wanted to leave the Prep,? he says, ?at the time, I knew that I really wanted to be a principal, and I knew I had to get different kinds of experience.? Petruzzelli did not, initially, think much of the news that Zazyczny would be stepping down, but after months of reflection, decided to look into the principalship. One of the reasons he chose to seek out the job was his unique outlook on the Prep: ?I think I?m uniquely qualified because I was a part of that community, and know that community; the Jesuit charism is something that I?ve always loved since my time at St. Joe?s University. But I?ve been away for thirteen years, so I have the unique perspective of being an outsider that has a pair of fresh eyes and fresh ears. I think I have the best of both worlds.? Whether at the Prep or at Bethlehem Catholic, his emphasis will remain on the educating each student. ?I?m a teacher first and foremost, and my relationship with the students is key,? he remarks, ?we have 770 kids at Bethlehem Catholic and I know every single one of them by their first name.? His hope is to be an
Prep Crew Wins the PCL Championships for 3rd time in 4 years. Story on Page 2.
Prep Community Stands Up for Financial Aid By L iam Scott ´17 For the past four years, a monumental date on the calendar for the Prep?s Development Office has been the annual fundraising gala, Stand Up for the Prep. Born out of the Hawktion, the predecessor to Stand Up, this event provides an elegant and classy evening for adults in the Prep community and does wonders for the school?s financial aid and scholarship budget. This year, the Prep dining hall was formally decorated and SAGE graced guests with some of their finest options. Money was raised through an auction that spanned the length of the evening. Kevin Ryan ?08 expands on this: ?Items ranged from Prep beach chairs to a trip to Italy with former Prep Classics teacher, Dr. Henry Bender ?63, and from a reserved parking spot in the plaza lot to Super Bowl tickets. There are some awesome items.?
"The financial aid budget is truly the cornerstone of the Prep?s ability to diversify its student body with students from all types of economic backgrounds while maintaining an effective institution" aspect of the Stand Up for the Prep event, however, is the fact that all proceeds go directly to the financial aid and scholarship budget. The financial aid budget is truly the cornerstone of the Prep?s ability to diversify its student body with students from all types of economic backgrounds while maintaining an effective institution. Since this night is pivotal in the funding of that budget, it is, by extension, pivotal to the Prep?s Arguably the most important success.
The guests at this year?s Stand Up event constituted every part of the greater adult Prep community - from alumni and former parents to current parents, faculty, and staff. Pretty much anyone who loves the Prep and values giving back is welcome to join in this great night. The night itself is very enjoyable for the guests, complete with a live band, dinner, drinks, and dancing.
2 | News
Petr uzzelli I nter view (Cont.) ?aggressive listener? with faculty and students alike as he prepares to step into his new role, making decisions collaboratively based on what he feels is best for the community. An important means by which he will remained in touch with students is through teaching a class, a practice which he implemented during his first stint at the Prep and as Bethlehem Catholic?s principal. While this may not come to fruition next year, as Petruzzelli will still be learning the ropes of his new role, he hopes to be in the classroom as soon as possible. ?I want to have my finger on the pulse of what?s going on the classroom, and there?s nobody better to tell you than your own students.? A hallmark event of the 2016- 17 academic year at the Prep was the senior class?s letter to Prep faculty regarding the school?s policies on testing, homework and the like. Asked about the workload that students at prep schools take on, Petruzzelli believes dialogue is paramount: ?I think every teacher, myself included, believes that their class is the most important class that a student has - - I mean that jokingly, but with some level of seriousness.? He acknowledges the plight of both the teacher with a curriculum to fulfill and the student with hours of nightly homework, and stresses find-
ing a balance that works for both parties. Above all, he claims, ?The students will have someone that will advocate for them in me.? The Prep appears to be addressing this issue of student?s mental health, in the context of the Jesuit idea of cura personalis, through the new schedule that will first be implemented for the 2017- 18 academic year. One of the most notable changes is the introduction of a designated time for students to seek out involvement in clubs and activities, which Petruzzelli sees as an essential part of Jesuit
period every Thursday to encourage student involvement in extracurriculars. Through all of these facets and many more, Petruzzelli deeply believes in the mission of St. Joe?s Prep and the role he has to play in that mission: ?I love St. Joe?s Prep, and if I didn?t, I wouldn?t be here. I am so looking forward to cheering for you from the audience and the sidelines, being excited when you get into great colleges, and being there for you in the rough times.? He emphasizes the importance of having real, personal interactions with
?The students will have someone that will advocate for them in me.? education: ?I?m of the mindset that students don?t just learn in the classroom, but on the stage, the practice field, playing chess, doing service. Kids that don?t have that experience are missing out on a huge piece of the high school experience.? At one of his previous schools, Petruzzelli and his fellow faculty held an activity
every member of the student body. Many changes will be coming to the Prep in the upcoming year, but students seem to have a dedicated advocate in the school?s new principal. To be sure, Petruzzelli is willing to listen -- Prep students need only be willing to do the same.
Crew Wins PCL s (Cont.) By Dylan Robak ´18 and Sebastian Por recca ´18 On Saturday, April 22, The St. Joseph?s Prep Crew team took home the PCL championship, marking the third time in the past four years where Prep Crew took home the gold. The championship was clinched by the Varsity 8, who beat rival La Salle by over a boat length in the final event. Another big help to the team's success was the varsity quad, made up of rowers from the Second Varsity 8, who brought home extra points for the team. The quad, a true underdog boat, beat out the powerhouse scullers of Roman Catholic, with only a week of practice together under their belts, providing a huge morale booster for the whole team. The additional members of our Second Varsity 8 raced in the the Varsity 4 and placed 4th in their category. The Lightweight 8 also helped contribute to the team's success, beating competitors, La Salle and St. Augustine, by over a boat length of open water. Other varsity boats bringing home points for the Prep included the Varsity Single, the Varsity Double, the Lightweight 4, and the Lightweight Double, who all raced wonderfully
against tough competition. While only varsity boats could contribute points, the Prep?s JV, Freshman, and Novice boats offered some great racing performances. The JV 8 took home gold medals after a solid victory against La Salle and Montclair. The Freshman 8 also won their race over La Salle?s Freshman 8 by yet another open water victory. The Novice 8 finished in a close second behind La Salle, fighting them until the finish line. The crew team looks poised for even more success in the upcoming races, especially the Philadelphia City Championships, taking place this upcoming weekend. This event will pit teams from all across Philadelphia, New Jersey, and beyond against the Prep. Andrew DiCandillo ´17, coxswain for the Varsity 8, reflected on the experience: ?After a close finish with LaSalle the week before, we trained hard all week so that we could earn our first medal of the season. Last year was very disappointing after we lost to Roman, so bringing the PCL Championship back to the Prep was wonderful. The team's hard work paid off.?
The Hawkeye Staff Editor s-in-Chief
Jonathan Procopio '18
Jon Erdy '17
David Sakowski '18 Simon Williams '18
Aidan O'Connor '17
Head Wr iter s
Robert Calabro ?19
Matthew Phillips '18
Mac Riga '17
Zachary Carr '19
Marco Sammartino '18
Liam Scott '17
Jacob DeAnnuntis '19
Dave McCabe '19
Nick Palermo '18
Thomas Dintino '19 Michael Koenig '19
M anaging Editor Joe Scott '19
Andrew Koh '19 Staff Wr iter s
John Thorell '19
Ryan Breslin '17
Nicholas Mattera '19
Spor ts Section Editor
Von Hobe '17
Daniel O?Connell ?19
Matthew Brennan '18
Chris Rathke '17
Reza Ali '20
Dan Avington ?18
Peter Banfe '20
Director of Editor ials
James Brenner '18
Liam Grugan '19
Will Breslin '18
M oder ator
Enter tainment Section Editor
Nathan Coulibaly ?18
Mr. Leo Vaccaro '05
Eamon Gallagher '17
Ronan Egan '18 John Feehery '18
Special Thanks To:
Business M anager s
Liam Gibbons ?18
Mr. Frank Raffa
David Haddad '18
Tim Harris '18
Riley Herriman '18
Matthew McCabe '18
John Thorell '18
News | 3
The Eyes of the Wor ld Are On Fr ance By M arco Sammar tino '18 Polls are funny. Most polls didn?t give Trump a shot at winning the presidency back in November, and although he lost in the popular vote, he won where it counted: in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, and Ohio. A good amount of those polls had Clinton winning the majority of those swing states, and with those states, the election itself. Huffington Post?s forecast gave Clinton a 99% chance at winning, for example. In France, an election is underway that resembles the U.S. election in many forms. The French election consists of two rounds. The first round serves to narrow the field down to two candidates. Those two candidates then participate in a two- week runoff against each other, and the winner of that will be elected the president. Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen earned 24% and 21.3% of the first round vote respectively, meaning that they will compete against each
other, with the second round election taking place on May 7. Macron is seen as more of a centrist candidate representing the En Marche! party, while Le Pen represents the far right interests of the National Front. Seem familiar? Le Pen, with her similar ideology and ?underdog status?, has often been compared to Trump, and it is easy to see why. As for the polls, Le Pen appears to be in a bit of sticky spot. The numbers reveal that she is roughly 25 percentage points behind Macron. To compare, in most swing states Trump was only a few percentage points behind Clinton. Therefore, Le Pen has a steep hill to climb. But what about predictions, both poll-based and others? Le Pen has been given anywhere from a 40% chance to a 1% chance to beat Macron. Similarly, Trump was given anywhere from a 28% chance to a 1 % chance to beat HIllary. So while Le Pen has done poorly in the polls, she still has a shot, especially if a ?silent majority? turns out to vote. Yet, it is unlikely. While
Le Pen (left) will face Macron (right) in the second round of the French Election many claim she could pull a Trump and beat the polls, she would need to overcome a 25-26 point deficit. Trump only had to beat a deficit of a few points. Technically, it?s possible. As many have seen from the past year, anything is possible. The chances just aren?t in her favor. So why is this election even worth writing about? Well, it has been historychanging. Both Macron and Le Pen have thrown a curveball at the French political sphere, as both their
ideologies and rise to fame could be described as way outside the norm. As French and Spanish teacher Mr. Raffa observes, ?To have a far right wing candidate (Le Pen) go against a relative unknown (Macron) with no party background whatsoever is one of the most shocking elections in France that I have lived through?. Additionally, the election has huge implications in regards to the European Union. Macron has run on a pro- EU platform, while Le Pen has pushed to hold a
referendum on whether or not to stay in the EU. With Brexit sending shockwaves throughout the world and leaving the future of the European Union in question, this election could be a game changer in terms of the EU?s future. Clearly, a lot is on the line here. The world is watching with more interest than ever before as yet another history- changing event is underway. The second round vote will take place on May 7.
The Tr adition L ives On: Cape and Swor d's Visit to Scr anton By David Haddad ´18 Last week, Scranton Prep and the ?Prep Players? welcomed the Cape and Sword Drama Society to their campus to keep alive a 20 year long tradition of trips from both school to see each others performances. Mr. Braithwaite explained this partnership saying that in 1997, ?SJP's then-Principal Father Herb Keller and I took the Seniors in Cape and Sword to see Scranton Prep's show, and that started of a tradition of mostly annual reciprocal trips back and forth.? Last year, SJP welcomed Scranton Prep for their production of Curtains and our students went to see their performance of Hello, Dolly!. This year our actors saw Scranton?s performance of The Drowsey Chaperone, a show-within-a-show, and musical comedy ironically about a musical comedy in 1920s America. However, this year was no ordinary year for Scranton Prep. Just recently, they
welcomed a new director, Mr. Colin Holmes, after their former director, Mrs. Ann Moyles, stepped down from the position. With this being the first time the Prep students saw a production under the direction of Mr. Colin Holmes, they remarked that they were ?blown away? by the performance of the Prep Players in The Drowsy Chaperone. The Cape and Sword members added that they were very impressed with the new director's vision for the program. Mr. Braithwaite commented saying that he enjoyed being able to watch the students from two Jesuit schools in Pennsylvania applaud each other for their performances. He added that ?honest to God - their production of Drowsy Chaperone was the best high school show I have ever seen? of course not including Cape and Sword?s performances! Not only was the performance special for its quality, but also because the Prep was able to see how The
Cape and Sword Drama Society has paved new roads for High School theatre. Back in 2010, the Prep actually produced this same show, The Drowsy Chaperone; they were the first ones to do so on a high school level. Seeing this performance was certainly a special moment for our actors as they saw a visual representation of the legacy that they are leaving behind.
Supervening the performance, the Prep students was able to connect with a former teacher at the Prep, Fr. Ryan Maher, SJ, who is the current President at Scranton Prep. He led our students into Scranton?s dining hall where Cape and Sword was surprised with a welcome song from the Prep Players to the tune of the very popular comedy series, The Office, which takes place in Scranton Pennsylvania.
Following the song, the students were provided dinner and had the opportunity to meet the cast. They chatted with them about the performance and more. The Cape and Sword Drama Society looks forward to welcoming the Scranton Prep?s Prep Players to see their spring performance of The Music Man, which opens Friday, May 12th.
The Cape and Sword Drama Society with students from Scranton Prep
4 | Features
We Say Goodbye to a L egend: An I nter view with Fr. Steve By M ac Riga ´17 School Chaplain and ?trendy homily giver? extraordinaire Fr. Steve Surovick S.J. is regrettably leaving our fold at the conclusion of this school year. I got a chance to sit down with Father Steve and get some of his thoughts on the last few years here at Mother Prep as well as what the future holds for him.
Riga: You first arrived 2014? Surovick: Yes, Fall of 2014. R: Where were you before you came to Mother Prep? S: Holy Trinity Parish in Washington D.C., a Jesuit parish near the campus of Georgetown. All newly ordained Jesuites get sent to a parish first. R: So you were ordained right before Holy Trinity? S: Yes, I was ordained in June of 2015 and then spent the year in Holy Trinity working as a parish priest and then came here. R: What exactly were your duties in your last three years here? S: To teach ignatian way course for the most part, although I taught Freshman religion when I first got here. And especially to support the work of Mission and Ministry. R: And of course to preside over school masses. S: * laughing* And to make cameos in Cape and Sword. R: So what does the future hold for you next year?
S: I?ve been assigned to work in the Jesuit Novitiate in Syracuse NY. R: That?s where former faculty member Shaun Slusarski is in formation as a Jesuit Novice, correct? S: That?s right. The Novitiate is a two year program and he?ll be entering his second year as I begin. I?ll be one of two guys called to train and teach these guys beginning their journeys and discovering if this life is for them.
memorial service. All those moments highlight how the school came together in moments of great joy and great pain. They can?t all be labeled as ?favorite moments?, but certainly ones that stood out to me. It struck me how the whole school seemed to lean on one another and be with one another in that experience. R: If you had to choose one aspect of the Prep that you?ll
miss the most, what would it be? S: The thing I?ll miss the most? The students! It?s been a great privilege to be with you guys and to be welcomed in the way i have felt to be the case. And getting to know students beyond the classroom and be welcomed into their lives, it?s been a real privilege. R: Fr. Steve, thank you so much for sitting down with
me! Before I go, do you have any last words for the Prep Community? S: Be good to yourselves and be good to one another. Fr. Steve has stood as the epitome of humor, grace, and dedication to the mission of Jesuit Education at our school for these past three years. From all of us at SJP, thank you for everything, Fr. Steve.
R: And how long will you spend there? S: Open ended. I don?t know and they didn?t provide a concrete number. R: Is it possible for you to come back to the Prep in the future or is it not the norm for Jesuits to be reassigned to places they?ve already been? S: No, it?s definitely possible for me to return! And I?d be happy to if that?s the case. R: So looking back on your past four years here, what would you say is you favorite moment? S: That?s a good question. So a few of them come to mind. One is the first time I saw the football team with the state championship. Another is the first time I saw Cape and Sword. That would?ve been Me and My Girl. R: That?s right! I remember you giving the homily for our Sunday mass and quoting Gladiator! S: * laughing* I don?t remember that, but okay! Another moment that stands out is Ryan Gilliard?s
Fr. Surovick posing with his colleague, Mr. Sam Deitch, in celebration of both of their birthdays earlier in the year.
Prep Students Exper ience L ife in Ger many over Spr ing Break By Joe Scott ´19 Over spring break, Mr. Connors ?80, Mr. Vaccaro ?05, and 16 Prep Students got to spend a week in Munich, Germany, touring the city and the surrounding area while taking in the culture and the life of the place. 16 is a large group, one of the largest that has gone on a trip like this with just two teachers, but the trip went very well nonetheless. The group stayed in the same small hotel that groups from the Prep always stay in, run by a very kind native German woman, Frau Claus, who, ?is like an aunt to you,? according to Mr. Connors. Their living quarters for the week was a large part of creating the atmosphere for learning and experiencing life in Munich to the fullest. Mr. Connors is a long-time veteran of international trips
with the Prep, since his first time abroad to Europe as a student in 1979. According to Mr. Connors, ?The first trip really just opened my eyes up to everything outside of home. It was like a shock that there is a whole world out there, and it really affected the way I?ve lived out my life, with my studies and my travels.? Since then, Connors has gone on 11 trips with the Prep as a teacher, 5 in Munich, 3 in Berlin, and 3 with the Exchange Student Program in Bonn. Each one is different, with all different students having all different experiences. When asked what was different about this trip, Mr. Connors praised the students involved, saying that they were especially curious, patient and open to learning about a country foreign to them. Their openness to learning
was displayed in the lack of hesitation toward trying new foods or going to places and learning about their history. Mr. Connors told me a story about one tour they went on as a group. ?We had this one guide who I hired to take us around a tour of Munich during the Third Reich. It was very interesting more interesting than I expected, and they really appreciated how good he was as a guide. So I hired him again to show us around the concentration camp at Dachau. The guys were all so receptive to the things that he was teaching us about the important history. Even on our tours that were not very interesting they were respectful, like the one of Munich during World War I, which was not the most interesting tour ever, but the guys were good, they hung in there very well.?
According to Mr. Connors the people he went on the trip with were really the highlight. Along with the students, his good friend Mr. Vaccaro joined him on the trip and the whole group got along very well. Mr. Connors really values these trips, and through them he hopes that at least one student from each group, ?might have the kind of life changing experience that I had. The goal is to open their eyes to the world, and if that can happen for someone in the group, that?s what we?re trying to accomplish.? These trips to Germany are just a facet of the Prep´s flourishing international program, which has made wide strides in recent years. Mrs. Mareile Watson, a German teacher at the Prep, came onto the Prep faculty full-time last year in order to assist this program. Her aim is to work with any and all
students who wish to see a specific country or are interested in a specific culture, helping them to have that experience. As this program continues to improve, more of these trips can only be expected.
The blast that this trip was is exemplified by this candid shot of Conners and Vaccaro enjoying a ride during their time in Germany. "Gluck Auf!" indeed.
Features | 5
Prep Alumni M ovie Shot in the Church of the Gesu By David M cCabe ´19 As I was walking into the Prep on my way to Sophomore Retreat two months ago I ran into Brendan McHale ?14. He was with a group of students from Drexel University filming a short movie for one of their friends, Matt Yeandel. Matt is a film major and they were using the Church of the Gesu for one of their scenes. I had the opportunity to sit down with Brendan and fellow Prep alumnus Christian Turzo-Egan ?14, drummer for RFA ? their band which has been featured in the Hawkeye before. The short film is about a financially struggling church in Philadelphia that needs to turn to less than moral means in order to fund their parish. Brendan plays the pastor of the church and the scene that was shot in the Gesu is about Brendan trying to raise money from the parish itself before turning to another way. The film itself was a very small, low budget project with no
crew, no special lighting, one camera, and it was shot in one weekend. He approached Mr. Jerome to ask about using the Gesu for one of their scenes; it's beauty and atmosphere made it perfect for what they needed. Brendan also said that he knows that the Gesu is never used often and he wishes that it could be used for more because it is such an awesome and beautiful space. Several Prep alumni and all of the members of RFA were in the short film. In addition to McHale and Turzo-Egan, Alec Powell ?14, Dan Cousart, and Mike Doe ?15 all participated . Right now, RFA is ?oozing
success,? McHale said jokingly. McHale hopes to make a career out of his band. Last March, RFA went on a 10-day tour around the Southwest to perform and ?play as much as they can to build up a fan base. We try to do different things like make videos or go on tours to let people know that we?re here and we?re active and we?re creating. Sometimes it feels really slow, but it is very enjoyable.? At Drexel, Christian is a Communications major and Brendan and Dan are Music Industry majors. Alec studies Psychology at Temple University. Brendan currently does theatre at Drexel,
Wr itten by: Patr ick Fallon Stor y by: M att Yeandel Directed by: M att Yeandel Star r ing: Brendan M cHale, Dwayne Per r y, James Davis, Chr istian Tur zo, M ike Do With appear ances by: I mminent Domain
Main Actor Brendan McHale
however, he does not always have the time pursue full-length, stage productions, so he turns to smaller projects like this. ?Acting just really helps me grow as a person, but if I don?t have the time to do it on stage, little films like this substitute well. If the opportunity to do these keeps coming up then I?ll keep doing them. I like to play the different characters,? McHale explains. McHale and Turzo-Egan talked about how the Prep has
massively influenced the places they have gone and the things they done. Turzo-Egan says that the Prep taught him that ?You can always do better. If you?re going to do something do it well. 'Age quod agis.' It?s such a powerful message because it applies to everything.? The short film will be released in a few weeks, but a few preview shots have been released by Yeandel to the Hawkeye.
The Ball I s in Student Council's Cour t for Next Year By Simon Williams '18 Time and time again the question is asked: ?What does Student Council even do?? Just as frequently stated, though, is the response: ?I don?t even know.? With the events of the past week, the St. Joe?s Prep Student Council looks to reverse that trend. Student Council just wrapped up the elections for the 2017- 2018 Executive Board with five members of the class of 2018 taking up positions. Christopher Ix was named President, Nicolas DiPrinzio and Daniel Guinan were chosen as Co- Vice Presidents, Aidan Kelly was selected as Secretary, and Brendan Farrell was picked to be Treasurer. These five campaigned over the last two weeks to get past the preliminary round to see who would make it to the primary election ballot. The tactic of hanging signs in various stairwells and hallways featuring funny slogans or the classic
meme approach were utilized again this year. Once speeches rolled around, the rest of the student body prepared for what has been referred to by some to as ?one of the worst days of the year.? Whether it is because of goofy and sometimes cringey one-liners or the shear length of time for which all are to sit in the Church of the Gesu, the Student Council elections make for a rather ?interesting? assembly. This year held little fanfare, though, unlike years prior where a candidate attempted to begin his speech with a shower of candy over the student body only to be promptly halted by Mr. Ghee. With the results announced at the end of last week, many students wondered what the newly elected plans to do. President-elect Ix laid out what some of his objectives are via email. ?A personal goal of mine is to reevaluate the library,? he said. ?[I want] to make it the most student friendly environment
possible. I want to help out the students, not by necessarily making the Prep ?easier? and making us all ?soft,? but helping each student to be in the best position to succeed and not be hindered by outside adversity.? As for the Board as a team, Ix noted that his responsibility as Class President is to be a ?liaison between the student body and the administration? and to help coordinate events, specifically - but not limited to - the Blood Drive and Pep Rallies. Student life is an area soonto- be Co- Vice President Nick DiPrinzio also commented on via email. An event called ?Class Day? was an idea of his. Class Day is, as he describes it, a ?competition between each graduation class ? Each team would wear a specific color shirt and compete in different activities throughout the school: basketball, kickball, wiffleball, chess, board games, etc.? This festival of fraternal fellowship would be fixed right before Winter Break as a fun send off before the holiday. ?[Each] student would contribute $5 sort of like a dress down day,? he would add. ?The winner of all the events would receive a prize of some sort, maybe a special HawkLife t- shirt or maybe even a Donut Day. Either way, I think it would be great competition and would allow our students to meet new people and just have fun before we go on break.?
From left to right: Brendan Farrell, Dan Guinan, Chris Ix, Nick DiPrinzio, and Aidan Kelly
Though elected not purely to organize grade- wide Royal
Rumbles in the Fieldhouse, that area of StuCo responsibility certainly played a part in DiPrinzio?s interest in running. Added to that dimension was what he took from the past two years?officials. ?[What] really inspired me was the stupendous job our previous student council Presidents did,? he said. ?They [took] great strides to integrate the student body with as many fundraisers, functions, sports events, and incoming students throughout the past couple of years.? He spoke about a desire to ?continue this success and introduce myself to as many people as I could.? He isn?t so sure why he enjoys meeting new people as much as he does, as he would admit, but he thinks that being personable contributed to his running.
getting kids involved.? What DiPrinzio considered a topic found in discussions beyond the student body, but within the faculty and administration, too. Within the conversation of next school year?s schedule change is an additional ?community period? that is looked to be installed. Now, not many students (including myself) are so sure what this allotted time may be directly for, but it is of the understanding that it would act like a quasi- free period where co- curriculars would be able to meet. The amount of activities partaken in combined with the burdens of six or seven classes worth of schoolwork lends itself to a loaded day-to-day for students.
Again, not all of Student Council is fun and games, though it certainly may be the more enjoyable aspect, and rightfully so. When asked about the potential challenges they would face as an individual officer and as a team, both Ix and DiPrinzio offered insight. ?I believe I will run into the usual challenges such as money or people refusing change because of ?how things have always been?,? Ix commented, ?but I wish to approach these challenges in an understanding way and work for compromise.? Spoken like a true diplomat.
DiPrinzio wants to ensure that all things are taken into account and managed fairly, because as he himself said, the role of the Vice President is ?to reach out to present and incoming students and introduce them to the abundance of resources and activities that the Prep has to offer ? they can get involved in the Prep by joining a club, getting involved with a fundraiser, or simply giving us feedback about what they would like to see integrated into the Prep.? A similar sentiment was shared by Ix, who explained that his reason to run for office was that he cares ?about the school and want nothing but the best for the school and its students.?
DiPrinzio offered his position: ?As a student council VP I will have some challenges getting everybody to check their e- mails. I'm just kidding about that, but the one challenge that lays ahead of me is
Despite Farrell, Guinan, and Kelly?s inability to be reached for comment, Ix and DiPrinzio offered insight as to what Student Council really does and what this Board specifically wants to really do.
Sports | 6
Prep L ax Set to M ake Some Noise in Catholic L eague Tobia ?18. Mulholland suffered a concussion early on in the season, but in the matchup against La Salle, he exhibited his strength and skill on the defensive side. He lacks fantastic speed, but is fundamentally sound, which allows him to keep up with his opponents. Tobia is a quick, physical midfielder, and is lethal on both the offensive and defensive ends. Another player who gets lots of time as a D-middie is Luke Arizin ?17, who is quick and athletic and provides a spark off the bench.
The Lacrosse Team seniors with their parents By Dan Avington '18 The St. Joe?s Prep lacrosse team looks to be one of the top teams in the state of Pennsylvania and specifically in the Catholic League this season. Last year, the Hawks took home a crushing loss against the La Salle Explorers in the Philadelphia Catholic League championship to end the season. That team was led by a fantastic core of seniors in attackman Griffin Fleming (Marquette University), midfielder Pete Gayhardt (University of Notre Dame), defenseman Brendan McGinn (University of Scranton), midfielder Alex Scalamandre, midfielder Kyle Scheuerle (Franklin and Marshall College), and attackman Kevin Stump (Williams College). Despite the loss of all of these talented players, the Prep lax squad, led by head coach Sean Delaney, is expected to be one of the state?s top teams. The Hawks are skilled in all facets of the game, on both the offensive and defensive ends. In the offensive zone, the Prep is starting three seniors at attack: Pat Boyd ?17, Finn
Monahan ?17, and Andrew Schreder ?17 (captain). Schreder, a lefty attackman, is a returning Third- Team AllCatholic and a 2nd year starter, and he has assumed a leadership role on the team this season as one of the four captains. Monahan often plays at the X, and he is small and shifty out there on the offensive half of the field, with a knack for netting goals. Boyd is bigger than his attack counterparts, and he uses his size to work the crease well with catching and quick, easy shots. Brad Ehrlich ?18 and Dan Maguire ?18 provide a needed spark off the bench at the attack position, and they have a great ability to get the ball past the goalie when out on the field. The midfielders for the Hawks are Jake Goss ?18, Ryan Ledwith ?17, and Eric Scheuerle ?18, with Liam Callahan ?17, Trey Fruncillo ?18, Dante Lucarini ?18, and Kevin Ortlieb ?19 getting significant time as well. Goss, also a safety on the football team, is a physical middie with some great speed who is skilled on both ends of the
field. Ledwith is smaller and quicker than his two counterparts, and is a phenomenal passer. Scheuerle is a bigger midfielder, and is a beast on the offensive end, with a powerful shot and an incredible passing ability. And as for the guys off the bench, Callahan has a phenomenal knack for scoring goals, Fruncillo is an excellent passer and shows his physicality in his cuts to the net, Lucarini uses his quickness to blow right by defenders and keep opposing attackers in check, and Ortlieb, only a sophomore, has fantastic passing ability and is a lefty, which makes him useful on man-up situations. Long stick midfielder Zach Snider ?18 is one of the most skilled and reliable players on this team. He is a commit to the Naval Academy and a returning first team All-Catholic at LSM. Also a linebacker on the football team, Snider has a unique mix of strength and speed, and shows his versatility on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field. Two other midfielders are the defensive middies Eric Mulholland ?17 (captain) and Joe
The three starting defensemen, Alex Boyce ?17 (captain), Mike Browne ?18, and Chris Conquest ?17 (captain) are all key components of this team. Boyce is a returning Honorable Mention AllCatholic, and, this season, he was named a captain of the team. Boyce anchors this defense, rarely ever crossing the line at half, and he uses his strength and agility to steal the ball from opponents. Browne is a returning First Team AllCatholic and is only a junior. He is very fundamentally sound and super athletic, and he uses his speed to his advantage. Conquest, a captain of both the lacrosse and wrestling teams and a returning Honorable Mention All- Catholic, is fast enough to go all over the field, but he remains on the defensive side most of the time. He has offers from Drexel, Franklin & Marshall, and Gettysburg. Conquest is one of the cogs of the Prep defense, but is rather dangerous if he takes the ball past the halfline. Another key member of the defense is Jack Coogan ?18, who uses his quickness and strength to lock down his part of the defense.
The starter at the X for the Hawks is FOGO Dan Fisher ?17, who is the best faceoff man in the Catholic League and is committed to Villanova University. Fisher has been 1st Team All- Catholic in both of the past two seasons, and he uses his fast hands to win practically every faceoff. Lacrosse is a possession game, and Fish ensures that his team gets every possession possible. Manning the net for the Prep this season is Nick Cissone ?17, who, in his first season as starting goalie, set a record earlier on this season for most saves in a single game against Episcopal Academy with 28. He is excellent on clears and rather solid between the pipes. The schedule so far for the Hawks has been loaded, with the likes of Episcopal Academy, the Hill Academy (the number one ranked team in North America), Malvern Prep, San Ramon Valley (CA), St. Ignatius Prep (CA), St. John?s (DC), and, as always, the La Salle Explorers on their list of matchups. So far, the Prep?s record is 3-6, with wins coming against Archbishop Ryan, Archbishop Wood, and Conwell-Egan. To round out their season, the Hawks take on Avon Grove on April 29th, and then take on Father Judge, Lansdale Catholic, and Don Bosco Prep (NJ) in the first two weeks of May. Following the regular season, the team will most likely have to get past La Salle in the Catholic League playoffs in order to advance to state play, just as they did two seasons ago. And behind a talented Hawks team like this one, not even the Explorers can stop this Prep Lax squad.
The NFL Dr aft Retur ns to Philly By Ryan Breslin '17 and M arco Sammar tino '18
the third through seventh rounds.
81 years after the first ever NFL Draft, the ?player selection meeting? returned to Philadelphia this past weekend.
Each team gets ten minutes to make their pick from the pool of prospects.
Continuing with the trend of firsts that Philadelphia set long ago, the 2017 draft was the first one to be held outside. According to the NFL, over 250,000 people attended the 3 day event. For those unfamiliar with the structure of the draft, each of the 32 teams are awarded a pick in each of the 7 rounds. Additionally, this year, there were 32 compensatory picks available to teams, which lost more or better compensatory free agents than they signed in the previous year. These teams receive picks somewhere in
The draft as a whole was truly something to behold, as the outdoor venue appealed to the general public. The free experience had interactive exhibits, immersive games, virtual reality experiences, free player autograph sessions and more. And of course, the Philly fans turned out in full force. The boos rained down as everybody?s favorite commissioner Roger Goodell announced the picks. Especially for the Cowboy?s picks. As for the draft itself, plenty of talent was available this year.
The main stage where draft picks were announced The Cleveland Browns drafted defensive end Myles Garrett out of Texas A& M with the first overall pick, as many expected.
257 pound defensive end from Tennessee, whom Pete Prisco of CBS Sports claims could be ?the best pass rusher in the draft.?
The Philadelphia Eagles had the fourteenth overall pick as a result of their trade with the Minnesota Vikings. They selected Derek Barnett, a 6?3?,
The Eagles made a number of other selections in the later rounds, including San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey, who ran for more
than 5,600 yards in college. Overall, it was a great way for the NFL to involve the city of Philadelphia in an event that was typically only available by TV to the public. One can be certain that the 2018 draft will have a lot to live up to in the next year.
Opinion | 7
Opinion: I n Defense of Brother K ania By M att Phillips '18 I was left disheartened and slightly dissatisfied after reading the recent debate between Liam Grugan and Jack Thorell on the topic of politics in the classroom and, consequently, Brother Kania?s New Testament class. While the pair of articles did not purport to be about sophomore religion from the onset, there seemed to be a tacit understanding from the two writers that Kania would be brought into the debate. Perhaps Grugan and Thorell have argued about this before.
I also did not gush about the greatness of the Brother after my first day in the class. My appreciation for him and the lessons he taught was a good
The finest unit of Bro?s New Testament class, however, is his unit on pain and suffering. Having taught at the Prep for some forty years, Brother has seen his fair share of untimely deaths. In the unit, he reflects on multiple Prep students who died for what appeared to be no reason as he wrestles with the idea of an afterlife and of a purposeful human life, in front of and in partnership with his students. Perhaps Kania is not
the most aggressive or jittery teacher at the Prep, but his calm demeanor, steady wisdom, and willingness to debate his students are parts of my day which I sorely miss, now a year removed from the class. In addition to his subtle greatness as a teacher, Brother Kania understands something about religion and politics that Thorell fails to recognize, and Grugan fails to use to his advantage. This is, of course, the simple reality that Jesus was an agitator with a strong political ideology. The Catholic Church attempts to reflect this ideology today; in my opinion, they are more effective in some parts of it than in others. But to imply that Jesus would sit idly by while the poorest among us are under-served by the healthcare system, or while deregulations and tax cuts are proposed at the expense of the working class and the poor, is a severe and selfish bastardization of his message. By all means, believe what you want, but do not pretend that Jesus was without a political agenda. After all, if he were among us in the flesh today, would he not be reclining at table with members of the LGBTQ community and victims of an unfair criminal justice system?
(Photo Courtesy of the 1980 Chronicle
Let me begin by saying that I was certainly not jumping out of my seat when I learned, as a sophomore, that my schedule would include Bro. Since I was an aspiring Cape and Sworder, I hoped to be taught by Mr. Slusarski, and found this to be the case after receiving my class schedule in August. However, in the process of moving my free period from seventh to third, I was forced to switch my religion teachers. Since I bought lunch and seventh free was therefore not an option, I settled for Bro.
kind of slow burn, as I watched the ways in which he realistically approached faith, explained the nuances of it, and connected the central teachings of Jesus Christ to the everyday lives of his students. I still remember sitting in Room 211 as Kania explained the controversy over the translation of the ancient Greek phrase, ???? ??? ???? (the son of God / a son of God). Whether or not the article is translated as ?a? or ?the? informs much of what the New Testament actually says about Jesus, and whether he is just another prophet, or God?s chosen son. It fascinated me that centuries of religious debate and conflict could be tied back to an ambiguity in the writing - - this fascination was, I?ll admit, amalgamated by the fact that I was and still am a Greek student.
Brother "Bro" Kania has been teaching at the Prep for over forty years
Student Council Elections Question L ibr ar y Rules By Joe Scott '19 Our library is one of the most regulated parts of Saint Joe?s Prep. It has become a concern for many of the students that the rules of what should be a very accessible place hinder the ways people can use it. The common opinion of the students has gone so far as being voiced in the student government elections. Chris Ix, our future Student Body President, asked in his speech, ?Why should there be only one open door into the library, when there are actually four doors?? That is the first of the absurd rules set forth in our library, and no one seems to be able to explain it. Our school gives us, as students lots of freedoms: ?College Starts Here,? they say. For a place that claims to treat students as adults, there is no reason for restricting entrances to a library. The only effect of opening more doors is a positive one: more students would be able to access this important room in their building more easily. More people could
come in and study, not having to worry about getting Jug for menial things like which door you use. Ix also questioned the library on the fact that our school issued Chromebooks are unable to print in our library. It seems like an avoidable inconvenience to have every student be required to use a computer for work that will have to be changed at the last second to be handed in. There is nothing more irksome than having a paper due in which the format is very important and be forced to change to print it because of an avoidable change of computer. It isn?t that Chromebooks can?t print at all, just that they can?t print at school, where we need printing capabilities the most. Printing is another source of angst for a student using the library. If anyone has ever tried to print before school they know well the line of twenty or so students who need to use the short time the library is open before homeroom to take advantage of one of the main
The familiar, restricted, one-way door of the library. functions of a modern library. There is only one printer in the library and only a limited number of computers to print from. If there were more options for printing, like having Chromebooks print, or having more printers that could be used when one breaks down, more could get done in the library. Isn?t that the library staff ?s goal? More productivity seems to be the justification for most rules in the library, but they are also hindering productivity in more ways than one. There seems to be a lack of under-
standing that each student has a very specific way of studying and learning, and the over structured library is missing the mark on catering to those needs. Having four people to silent tables is too much to ask of some students, who may work better in groups or be working on group projects. The signing in for tables is not a reasonable request either, as there is no justifiable reason for the trouble of a tedious survey on a Chromebook to sign in. Every Prep student learns in their Biology class that in an
organism there is structure and function. Each part of a working body has a specific structure that exists solely to fill its specific function. The St. Joe?s Prep Library seems to have missed that day in biology, as it has given structure without an explanation of function. If the library was to give reasonable explanations for the structure of the place, or if the needed function was recognized and adapted to, the students of the Prep would not have problems with the library anymore.
Debate | 8
I ssues Outweigh Benefits of New Prep Schedule By Ronan Egan '18 As the 2016- 2017 school year winds down into the summer, the Prep will undergo its biggest change since replacing Aramark with the addition of a new schedule. This new schedule consists of one 60 minute class, five 45 minute classes, a 50 minute ?community time,? and a 30 minute lunch. It also creates an 8-day schedule, contrary to the 6 day one we currently operate on. As for one last kick to the throat, the schedule now puts midterms before Christmas break, giving students less time to study for the important tests. While some may be open to the idea of what they hope is a life- changing, sleep- saving schedule, the reality is that it is actually the opposite. In giving us students an extra 20 minutes added to one class each day of the cycle, we are given, in turn,
more material, resulting in more homework to be covered on a nightly basis and either more material on each test, or an increase in the amount of tests taken per class. When first realizing this harsh truth, one rising senior called the change a ?downright atrocity,? threatening to protest on a daily basis in the lobby of Villager Hall until the changes are reversed. He is even coordinating a march throughout the hallways, planning to block off K- Street for a the bulk of a school day.
The next major issue is that of the so- called ?community time.? At first glance this seems like a great change. You might be thinking, ?Now I can just finish my homework at school without losing my lunch!? Sounds great, right? Wrong. Instead of being a free period where a student is able to get homework done, they will now have to attend clubs, activities, and intramural sports. No longer are we able to gather after school on a Friday for a big senior basketball game, rather we are now stuck
doing this on an average Tuesday morning. Frankly, it takes some of the fun out of the experience. The most important issue to the average 14- 18 year old high school student is lunch. Lunch not only serves as a place where you can chow down on those delicious parmesan fries we all love, but also a key social hour, or at least a social 40 minutes. These 40 minutes allow students to engage in heated sports debates, get caught up
" I think the Prep pr ides itself on being a ver y difficult school. I think it relies on that difficulty to provide success to its students. And the students get a lot out of wor king ver y har d. Now, with the schedule changing, along with the GPA change, the school is becoming a lot easier. A lot of Prep kids say that other schools like M alver n and L aSalle are like daycares: they boost your GPA, it's ver y easy to do well. You don't have to wor k as near ly as har d as at the Prep. The Prep is becoming more like them. I t's unfor tunate that the students won't be getting the benefits of the har d wor k that the Prep is known for."
on the recent school news, and, of course, study. But we are no longer given that privilege. Instead, we are given a lengthy half hour lunch, taking away a valuable 10 minutes of studying that all Prep students so desperately need. Even I must concede that there is one good part about this: Wednesdays. For those of you who do not know what I am referring to, we students are allowed to arrive at 9:15 on this day each week. Yes, you read that right: 9:15. With that, we truly get the study break we need, allowing us to sleep in after experiencing the rigors of Mondays and Tuesdays. Still, this one positive cannot outweigh the negatives. The increased homework and material covered on tests, the shortened lunch, and the addition of community time make for the new schedule to be nothing short of disaster in the works.
- David M olz '17
Change L eads to Oppor tunity with New Prep Schedule By David M cCabe ?19 There has been much discussion within the Prep community of the recent changes to the schedule. People have argued about why there is a need to change and how the school could ever break such a historic tradition. I believe that, in response to the overwhelming climate of stress that exists in the school, we are in need of change. Many will say that ?the Prep is lowering their standards.? But that?s not exactly it. We recalibrated our grading system this year to better match the schools around us that students may be in competition with for college. That didn?t lower the net. It changed the rims from 10 feet to 120 inches. The new schedule is designed in the same way: to help the student body. Fewer periods in the day provide the students with the chance to focus more exclusively on fewer classes, preparing more and preparing better. Every
Wednesday classes will begin an hour later. This is for faculty and staff to focus on adjusting to the new schedule and, as accountability between the teacher and student is very important, will allow the staff for more frequent reviews to analyze and compare teaching styles to optimize learning. The aptly named ?community period? has stirred mixed feelings among students and faculty alike. I have heard it been mockingly called things such as ?nap time? and ?fun period,? but I think that there is a so much more merit in the concept of it that it has been given credit . It opens up so many opportunities for everyone in the school. The possibilities are endless. Students who are busy, for example, with Crew have no time for extra clubs after school, and so this time will provide to them opportunities to participate outside of athletics. Teachers will also be available during this period to
offer extra help for preparing for tests and exploring extra material with interested students. One of the fascinating possibilities that could be available next year is a variety of service opportunities through Mission and Ministry. Having the mid-term examinations prior to Christmas break will probably cause a great amount of stress because of cramming so much material into a shorter amount of time, but it is also what many, as a school, have been asking for for years. It allows for students to relax over Christmas break and not have to worry about impending exams. To offer a wide variety of opinions, I asked four random students, a freshman, a sophomore, a junior, and an outgoing senior, what they thought about the new schedule. Colin McHale ?20 says, ?I think it will be a big adjustment and could turn out either better or worse than how it is
now. I'm curious although excited to see how much differently I will have to approach the school year. Overall it should help with the time management factor that students seem to struggle with.? Patrick Lorei ?19 says, ?I?m glad, as someone who participates in athletics and never wants to skip practice, it gives me the opportunity to meet with teachers and participate in clubs and other activities that I otherwise never would have been able to.? James DiCocco ?18 says, ?I like it. I really like the idea of how it, for example, can help the music department. They can practice during the community period. And having classes during the different parts of the day will help students be more awake with the rotating schedule. Having your first period change each day will help everyone immensely.? David Molz ?17 says, ?I think the Prep prides itself on
being a very difficult school. I think it relies on that difficulty to provide success to its students. And the students get a lot out of working very hard. Now, with the schedule changing, along with the GPA change, the school is becoming a lot easier. A lot of Prep kids say that other schools like Malvern and LaSalle are like daycares: they boost your GPA, it?s very easy to do well. You don?t have to work as nearly as hard as at the Prep. The Prep is becoming more like them. It?s unfortunate that the students won?t be getting the benefits of the hard work that the Prep is known for.? Although the administration may not have communicated the change and reasons for it effectively, a la the service trips, they were handled with care for their reasons and they did so in the favor of the student body?s well- being and future. But, nothing can really change the Prep at its core.
Editorials | 9
From the Editing Staff: Should AP Classes Have a Separ ate Final Exam? By L iam Gr ugan ´19 With the school year coming to a close, AP students at the Prep once again face the daunting task of dual exam preparation: anticipating both the department?s and the College Board?s final assessments. The typical AP exam is administered over a 3 hour and 45 minute period, and the school?s over 2 hours; on paper, Prep students are forced to recall a year?s worth of information, and be able to apply said information over a split 6 hour period. This all comes at a time of heightened time requirements for Spring?s activities. So the question becomes, ?is the current system of assessing AP classes at the end of the year considerate enough of the students? Hawkeye editor and accomplished Cape and Sword actor, Matt Phillips ?18, leans towards the opposing faction. In a recent, candle- lit interview,
Phillips qualified his stance as ?not against finals for AP classes in their entirety,? but cited the current manner in which they are given as ?flawed.? He stated that ?in the early, pre-finals weeks of May, students are usually forced to shirk preparation for either a regular test or an actual AP test at the expense of the in- class finals for AP classes.? The time in which to apply this effort has to compete with schedules for the many extra-curriculars the Prep offers. Cape and Sword?s Spring production, the Music Man (opening next Friday), is one of many activities keeping students, like Matt, at school for practice. Phillips is by no means alone: others sided similarly, calling the tests ?simply too much? for the students, as well as pointing out that ?the schedule does l ittle to accommodate them,? forcing many ?final? exams to take place
while new information is still being given. Alternately, some students see in- class exams as an essential tool for preparing for the College Board?s exam. Editor and "Chief Emotional Analyst" for the Hawkeye, David McCabe ?19, calls these assessments ?the best review you can get for the AP exam.? McCabe, also spending his evenings on the Prep?s stage, continues to say that ?a student will strive to do well on these initial exams because they will impact his final grade and then, as a result, he will be more prepared to take the AP exam.? Jonathan Erdy ?17 would agree. Erdy, a practiced typist and a 20162017 Editor in Chief of the Hawkeye, calls this process ?fair,? finding that each exam ?aids in the preparation of the other and the mastery of the subject.? As for the issue of time, students find take-home assignments ?could provide
an alternative? to the traditional method of administering them.
the current means of distributing them.
Though the burden of testing on students may lead them to imagine ulterior motives, the use of in-class exams is an integral ppof teachers? preparation process for AP exams. Not only does it allow them to more directly meet the requirement on Powerschool for a final grade, it enables them to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their class, and to target the more troubling topics in anticipation of their appearance on the AP exam. While the task of cramming two exams into a two- week period will always pose a problem for scheduling, the process lends itself to constructive criticism. As of right now, though, it would appear as though the general consensus at the Hawkeye is in favor of additional exams for AP classes, but is unsatisfied with
Want to reply to this article, or any other articles from this week? Contact Liam Grugan ´19 for details.
M usical M usings: Damn. By Jon Er dy '17 Music, and all other forms of artistic expression, has been a medium through which the artist expresses their unique view of the world. Kendrick Lamar is no stranger to this expression, proving once again that he is the refined voice of his culture with his fourth studio album, Damn. While less politically charged than his previous studio album, To Pimp A Butterfly, Damn. features Lamar?s signature flowing lyrics, beats that turn on a dime, and stories that provoke conversation and reflection. The great achievement of this album is its refusal to be confined to one single hip-hop trope. A natural storyteller, ?Kung-Fu Kenny? maintains his hardened image while exploring themes of loyalty, love, and self-actualization? a flexbility that is rarely displayed in the hundreds of rap albums that have been released in recent years. The diversity between songs have made nearly every song a standalone hit. One week after the album?s release, Lamar?s ?HUMBLE.? topped the charts and each of the remaining 13 tracks earned a spot on Billboard?s Top-100 chart. And for good reason. Damn. has a little bit of every
vibe and style that makes rap the powerhouse genre that it is. Tracks like ?DNA.? and ?HUMBLE.? serve as quintessential crowd pleasers with their well-crafted beats and hardhitting lyrics. The depth of the album comes in the more experimental tracks, such as ?LUST.? and ?XXX? featuring U2. In each of these two songs, Kendrick Lamar turns hip-hop tropes on their head in his use of falsetto vocals and cogent social commentaries. Perhaps the greatest deviation from the traditional ?Sex and Violence? narrative of rap culture comes in ?LOVE.?. Kendrick shows a rare form of vulnerability, reminding his listeners to consider that which is truly important in a world marked by the struggle and pain that he documents in his songs. Disguised as the exploding hip-hop album of the summer, Damn. is a masterpiece and Lamar at his best. In a popular culture where it is somewhat easy to replicate sounds and styles from fleeting musical trends, Kendrick provides substance in each of his carefully constructed songs. Self-reflective, intellegent, new, and raw, Damn. creates no ceiling for itself, leaving fans to analyze and enjoy the fruits of Kung-Fu Kenny?s labor for years to come.
A still from the music video for "HUMBLE."
Entertainment | 10
Captain Alatriste Book Review By M r. Dave For tin, Histor y and Social Sciences Depar tment One of the things that led me to a career in history is reading good historical fiction when I was growing up. My bookshelf in my room when in high school had the likes of Alexander Dumas?, The Three Musketeers, Herman Wouk?s Winds of War and War and Remembrance, James Michener?s Poland and The Covenant. Good historical fiction can transport the mind to times long past, with compelling characters set in a realistic a time period. If the author has done his or her work, it can also help the reader learn about that time period and what it was like to live then. One type of historical fiction is the series built around a set of characters which recounts their experiences through a more lengthy time period. C.S. Forester?s Horatio Hornblower, Patrick O?Brien?s
Captain Jack Aubrey/Dr. Stephen Maturin and Bernard Cornwell?s Richard Sharpe are all wonderful, engaging characters experiencing the Napoleonic Wars on land and sea. O?Brien?s works have established a cult following given his attention to historical detail as well as the Russell Crowe film Master and Commander, while the series by Forester and Cornwell have been turned into popular TV miniseries.
was raised by Captain Alatriste and his friends, relates the events of his youth. Captain Alatriste is a soldier in one of the fearsome Spanish tercios, and whose quick sword earns him a reputation as a man to be reckoned with. While there is a lot of swashbuckling action, Pérez-Reverte incorporates poetry and drama, which were much more
important to the time than today. I was introduced to the wonderful plays of Lope de Vega through this series and I hope that any of you reading it will explore the oftenoverlooked Spanish literature of Spain?s Golden Age. Finally, one of the things that attracted me to this series is the writing- - Pérez- Reverte
writes in a noir style, and the translations do a very good job of capturing the ennui of the original. There are currently seven books in the series with two more projected by the author. There is a Spanish film version combining the plots of several of the books entitled Alatriste and starring Viggo Mortenson.
A more recent addition to the genre is Arturo PérezReverte?s Captain Alariste series. Pérez- Reverte was previously a Spanish combat journalist for 21 years before taking up writing. Currently, his main success has been La Reina del Sur, which has been made into a very popular telenovela airing on Telemundo. The Alatriste series is set in Spain during the 30 Years? War, and is told as a frame story where an older man, Iñigo Balboa y Aguirre, who
The author Perez-Reverte alongside the cover of Captain Alatriste.
Faculty Gr id By Jack Thorell ´19
M r. Ronan K elly
M r. Bill Avington '90
M r. Paul K ania
Dr. John Ber na
Turkey
A tossup between cheese, crackers, & fruit and granola; Protein shake with a banana fruit, raisans & walnuts with yogurt and milk!
Gardening
King of Useless Trivia
Cross country travel. Living out of my Toyota van, I always win at hide including overnights and seek in the Walmart parking lot in Santa Fe.
Are you willing to befr iend a vegan?
Another one?
Abso-freakin-lutely, all deserve friendship
Why not? Vegans have souls
Only if I get to pick the restaurant
What is the best boy band of all time?
Boyzone
New Edition
What even is a boy band?
The Jackson Five
What is your go-to Breakfast food?
What is your hidden talent?
Puffins
Entertainment | 11
Video Game Review: Owlboy
By M ac Riga '17 With the rise of downloadable distribution and cheaper production costs, the last decade has been largely defined by the inundation of the games market with independent (or indie) developers and games. Such projects historically had a reputation for being shoddily made, lackluster, and altogether unremarkable. But the last few years in particular have seen a shift in that dynamic. 2014?s Shovel Knight and 2015?s Undertale stand as paragons of Indie Development; titles that ooze authenticity, dedication, and above all else intimidating levels of quality. Owlboy, released on November 1st, 2016, is wellqualified to join the ranks of these Indie titans. The title, developed by DPad studios, is a 2- D Puzzle Platformer. You control Otus, a young owl- boy training to
join the ranks of the guardians and cartographers of the world amidst his floating island home. His world is turned upside down when an attack by pirates sends him on a quest to recover a set of ancient artefacts, drive off the terrible invaders, and keep the islands of his home from crashing down to Earth. The story is intriguing and features a number of truly surprising twists that keeps the player engaged. Furthermore, the dialogue and characters are genuine and at times hilariously funny. The game?s presentation is truly breathtaking. Apart from a solid albeit unremarkable soundtrack and sound design, the visuals of the title are truly spectacular. The game features pixelated graphics (seemingly a prerequisite of indie games nowadays) but rather than a simplistic style ala Undertale or one mimicking classic
There will be one final meeting for the Hawkeye next Monday, May 8th. I nformation regarding editing positions will be given. Contact Matt Phillips ´18, Marco Sammartino ´18, or David McCabe ´19 with any questions.
The first person to submit the completed sudoku puzzles to Jon Erdy '17 or Aidan O'Connor '17 will win a Hawkeye sticker!
NES- era visuals like Shovel Knight, the game boasts absurdly detailed and frankly breathtakingly ornate graphics, with animations and pixel arts that look gorgeous, especially at 60 Frames Per Second. The care and dedication put into each pixel of this game is truly praiseworthy, and the visuals alone more than warrant the game?s 9 year development cycle. The gameplay too is noteworthy and extremely solid. While the player directly controls Otus, you are also able to make use of the abilities of three companion characters. Otus alone cannot fight enemies, but by carrying the three allies, Otus is enabled to engage in combat, move in unique ways around the world, and solve puzzles previously impassable. Now admittedly this interesting and unusual concept of having a main character unable to fight on his own is weakened
slightly by an early- game mechanic. In the tutorial levels, Otus must keep track of his combat- oriented companion making sure he is close by in case enemies appear. But the reward for the first game?s dungeon is the ability to instantly summon these companions when the attack button is pressed. While this helps the flow of gameplay and avoids inevitable annoyances from what would be essentially a game- long escort mission (often cited as the most laborious part of any game), it makes the advertisement for this game seem somewhat disingenuous. If you?re considering this game for an incredibly tight platformer, you?ve come to the right place- just don?t look for any revolutionary game mechanics.Owlboy is an immensely satisfying and quality experience. It perhaps isn?t as good as its spiritual predecessors Shovel Knight and Undertale but
it certainly proves itself as another prime example to support indie developers. Furthermore, it helps to restore faith in kickstarter games after the lukewarm or negative reception of such eagerly awaited titles as Mighty No.9 and Yooka- Laylee. Owlboy is a fine addition to any collection, especially at it?s relatively low price tag. Owlboy is available now on PC, Mac, and Linux.
Released Date: November 1, 2016 M etacr itic Score: 88/100 Pr ice: $24.99 Aver age L ength: 8 Hour s ESRB Rating: Pending
Th is Week On Tw it t er By Jon Er dy '17
Upcom in g Even t s at t h e Pr ep By David M cCabe '19
Fr iday, M ay 5th
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Volleyball vs. LaSalle
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