V42. Issue XIV

Vol. 42, I ssue XI V

The Student Newspaper of St. Joseph's Prep

M ay 23r d, 2017

Fir st Ever Full-Ride Scholar ship Awar ded

By L iam Scott ?17 As proof that the Prep bond surpasses years and age, a member of the Class of 1954 has recently changed the life of a member of the Class of 2021.

Jim Agger ?54 and his wife Pat have introduced the first ever Full-Tuition Scholarship to the Prep entitled the ?St. Joseph Scholarship.? The first ever of its kind will be awarded to Daniel Sponseller ?21.

The scholarship is a fouryear, full-tuition merit scholarship awarded to one incoming freshman who demonstrates the highest standard of excellence in academics, character and leadership. The first recipient of the St. Joseph Scholarship was chosen this January from Gwynedd- Mercy Academy in Spring House, PA. In an interview with the Prep News magazine, Director of Admission Howie Brown ?99 states that ?We are thrilled to have this St. Joseph Scholarship awarded annually to a student whose academic and personal profile is clearly a cut above those competing for merit scholarships and a place in the incoming freshman class. I know that it was important to Jim that the recipient be of the highest quality.

Daniel more than qualifies on all fronts, and we couldn?t be happier for him and his

Daniel Sponseller '21 (center) is the recipient of the St. Joseph Scholarship family.?

And he and his family could truly not be more excited. ?It still seems a bit surreal to us that Daniel is the recipient of such an incredible award, the St. Joseph Scholarship,? says Daniel?s mother Carol Spon-

seller. ?We are so deeply appreciative of this honor that has been granted to him in recognition of all his hard work. We look forward to beginning our journey with Daniel through his years at the Prep and can?t wait to witness what he makes of the wonder-

Spr ing Spor ts Spr int I nto Final Stretch

ful opportunities that await him.?

Jim Agger ?54 requested specifically that the scholarship be established in memory of Reverend William Lynn, SJ. Lynn was a Jesuit scholastic at the Prep from 1950- 1953, and

Political Apathy L essens With Addition of Special I nterest Clubs

By Jon Er dy `17

By Dan Avington '18 and Simon Williams '18 Baseball After a difficult start to the season, the St. Joe?s Prep baseball team bounced around the standings before surging to the top of the Philadelphia Catholic League. The season started out with a 9- 3 loss against Germantown Academy of the Inter- Academy League, followed by back- to- back losses in North Jersey to Manalapan High School (NJ) and fellow Jesuit school St. Peter?s Prep (NJ).

The team would bounce back from the troubling start to reverse the trend with a three game winning streak of their own. Included in those three games were two pivotal earlyseason Catholic League wins against Lansdale Catholic and an extra inning victory over

Father Judge. Losses against Archbishop Ryan, the Episcopal Academy, Penn Charter, and Roman Catholic that all came within the span of a week and a half would be another blemish on the schedule, but two PCL wins against Conwell- Egan and Cardinal O?Hara steadied the Hawks to a solid 5-6 record at that point.

In the April 12 game versus Egan, pitcher Colin Scanlon ?17 (La Salle University) nohit the Eagles in a 15-0 victory where junior left fielder Luke Donaphon smashed a three-run dinger and senior third baseman Jeff Manto (Villanova University) went 2- 2 against his former teammates.

After a win against Friends Schools League foe the Shipley School, the team would drop back- to- back contests against Archbishop Carroll and West Chester East of the

Chest- Mont League, and then finally began to get things clicking. The team went on a five game win streak to close out league play, but the road was not as smooth as it sounds.

The Hawks took down Archbishop Wood, Bishop McDevitt, Bonner- Prendie, rival La Salle, and Neumann-Goretti to end the regular season. Junior catcher Logan Kellerman was the hero against Wood, delivering a walk-off single to bring home Donaphon and win the game for the Crimson and Grey.

Drama arose late into the night on Monday evening, as Prep, Neumann, and Carroll finished the season with a three- way tie for first place, sharing the regular season championship and putting playoff seeding on the line. So, with three teams boasting the Continued on Page 6

taught both Latin and French during his three years. And all these years later, Lynn?s memory is carried on in one special student from each forthcoming class: Daniel and the all future students who get to call themselves St. Joseph Scholars.

At 17th and Girard, there has been a renaissance in special interests clubs, giving new credence to the Jesuit mantra and expectation of magis. In recent years, the Prep has lengthened its long list of extra- curriculars with clubs like the Harry Potter Club, the Strategy Gaming Club, and Breaking Barriers to name a few. Now more than ever, there seems to be something for everyone to be a part of and enjoy.

Among these newer groups are the Prep Republicans and the brand- new Prep Democrats, joining the Junior Statesmen of America (JSA) as means for students to have political discussion and camaraderie with like-minded individuals. Most especially in a Jesuit school like the Prep, these forums for reflection and self-discovery prove to be en-

riching enterprises, and in light of a divisive political climate, provide members with a much needed outlet to vent frustrations and discuss their ideals for the future.

The Hawkeye approached both political clubs, and while one was more responsive than the other, there is indeed something to be said about the growing interest in politics at the Prep.

The newer of these two political clubs is the Prep Democrats, led by student copresidents Will Breslin ?18 and Simon Williams ?18. The Prep Democrats was established late in this school year, holding its first interest meeting on April 28th.

Four meetings later, and fresh off meeting with former mayor Michael Nutter ?75 and former governor Ed Rendell, president Will Breslin is alContinued on Page 3

2 | News

L etter s from the Editor s

Dear Reader,

Dear Readers, Peers, and Friends,

The year was 2014. Print news was a dying industry. The Hawkeye, once a beacon of light in the darkness of high school publications, had become relegated to a four page tabloid print. This paper, started in the seventies by Richard McMonigle ?73, was simply not living up to its legacy.

When I was ten years old, I went with my family to see my older sister perform in a show in the theater. This was my first encounter with the Prep and I remember begging my brother to walk me around so I can see around the building and stare up at the towering ceilings in the dining hall. From that day forward, I had a second home and I wanted nothing more than to be a ?Prep Kid? like my brother was. Although I can?t believe that four years has passed so quickly, and although I still feel like the awkward kid trying to find his way to Mr. Rupertus?freshmen English class, it is time to face the music.

The year is 2017. Print news is a dying industry. And yet, The Hawkeye is still chugging along, doggedly putting out biweekly issues on sixteen page newsprint.

I would say it has been an honor to serve as Co Editor-in-Chief this past year, but that would be an understatement. I find it hard to articulate the amount of gratitude I have for everyone who has helped improve The Hawkeye this past year.

Whether it be our fearless moderator, Mr. Leo Vaccaro ?05, dropping his sage wisdom on us, or even you, dear Hawkeye reader, who always picked up a copy of the paper in the foyer, I owe you all a round of thanks.

This paper would not be what it is today without the guidance and tireless dedication of Leo Vaccaro. As the moderator of numerous clubs, he still manages to find the time to help us put out The Hawkeye week in and week out.

Thank you to anyone who wrote in letters to the editor. I appreciated every one.

Thank you to the faculty for giving interviews and putting up with (sometimes banal, sometimes actually funny) faculty grid questions. The interaction with the Prep community is what keeps this paper going.

To all of our writers on the staff, you are what drives the paper. We simply could not operate as we do without your hard work. And so, thank you. Thank you for putting up with sometimes unrealistic deadlines, pedantic editing suggestions, and your two editors-in-chief.

We had some fun; the April Fool's issue, HawKountdowns on dubiously researched topics, and all those great Hawkeye sticker giveaways made for a rollicking good year. I like to think we helped inform you, the student body, somewhat as well.

It was always a challenge to strike that balance between world news, Prep news, and a hefty dose of irony. I enjoyed every minute of it. There is nothing like those late nights spent editing and formatting, but it was a privilege to work with my fellow editor Jon Erdy on every single issue. There is no one else I would have wanted to work alongside this past year.

Next year I will be attending the University of Pennsylvania and I plan to write for The Daily Pennsylvanian. While it is with a heavy heart that I leave The Hawkeye, I know that it is in capable hands for next year.

And now, before I get too sentimental and start referring to this school as ?mother Prep?, I will leave you with a piece of advice. Embrace the challenge of this school; it is all too easy to fall into mediocrity. That is no way to go through life. Swim, don?t float. Ask your own questions. Always seek the truth. You only spend four years walking these halls; don?t wait to go after what you want.

That?s all she wrote, Aidan O?Connor ?17

In each of my four years at the Prep, I have been surrounded by positive influences and people who have made this journey both enriching and rewarding. One of the many rewarding aspects of my time here has been being a part of this great little newspaper. This year, we were able to accomplish many great things? like printing a Day One issue, subsidizing our own budget with advertising sales, releasing an April Fool?s edition, and winning a national award from the American Scholastic press association. All of these accolades could not be possible without the team effort of the entire Hawkeye staff and the support of countless people along the way.

First of all, I would like to thank my co-editor Aidan O?Connor. If Aidan and I were not friends before the late nights stressing over line placement and photo captions, we certainly are now. I couldn?t have asked for a better working partner or friend to steer the ship with.

Second, I would like to thank Ryan Naehr and Joe Egler, last year?s editors-in-chief for their guidance and trust in me. Had Joe not given me a chance to help out with formatting, I would not be writing this letter today.

Next, I would like to thank Mr. Leo Vaccaro for his tireless effort and zeal that he contributes to the Hawkeye and to the Prep on a whole. Mr. Vaccaro is the king behind the scenes and is invaluable to anyone who needs him. His encouragement and advice as a former editor was a catalyst to any and all good work that we accomplished this year.

I would like to thank anyone who would take the time to read each paper and participate in the discussion that we tried to facilitate. Nothing was better than seeing someone with a newspaper open on his lunch counter or seeing people excited to take the new issue from the table as they left.

There are many specific individuals that I would like to thank for their support of the Hawkeye and for their support of my development of the Prep: Ms. Cook for your active role in the refinement of my writing and for all the encouragement along the way; Mr. Braithwaite for your emphatic support of the Hawkeye this year; Ms. Pinto for all the counsel and for not getting annoyed when I leave newspapers everywhere; Mr. Raffa for all the great photos and for always asking me when the next issue was coming out; and to everyone who has went out of their way to be a fan and friend of our newspaper.

In the fall, I will be attending the University of Pittsburgh and pursuing a degree in Marketing and a minor in Economics and maybe, just maybe, writing for The Pitt News.

Thank you all and Go Prep!

Much Love, Jon Erdy '17

News | 3

Ur ban Studies

By Joseph Scott ?19 The belief of many people at the Prep in ?service learning? will finally be put into action this summer by Ms. Weed of the Social Studies Department with her Urban Studies course.

This new course will take place at the Prep from June 12th to the 24th, and will total to 60 hours, 30 of which will be spent in the classroom, and the remaining 30 will consist of service with the Lutheran Settlement House, an urban farm in Fishtown. The whole course will be geared toward better understanding and action regarding hunger in Philadelphia, specifically the neighborhood surrounding the Prep.

This course could be a very important opportunity to many students at our school. It is a chance to learn about problems, then create and follow through with solutions to those problems in intelligent, comprehensive ways.

Having completed this course, a student would continue on during their time at SJP as a vanguard for social change stemming from these halls. Ms. Weed commented on the purpose of the course: ?Our

goal for this course is to equip students to approach service with an intellectually grounded understanding of the issues at play so that ultimately, they become effective advocates for social change. I hope students begin to see this city, and the neighborhoods surrounding the Prep, through a new lens that inspires lifelong commitment to justice and advocacy. I also hope they experience firsthand what a thrill it can be when school work, service, and ?real? life all connect.?

discovering spots that can be focused on to solve the problem, for instance, plots for a community garden, or a produce stand.

The actions taken by the students in the class will directly affect the lives of some community members of Philadelphia.

According to The Notebook, a non- profit news organization dedicated to exploring poverty and educating on how it can affect the lives of Philadelphia

residents, over 11% of residents of this city live with ?food insecurity.? Students from the Prep will, through this course, learn exactly what food insecurity is, how it comes to be in an urban environment, and how it can be fixed.

Not only will the students learn how to stop problems like food insecurity, they will take action toward solving them. The course will culminate with the

students creating policy proposals to be presented at City Hall.

Using the knowledge gained through the experience of this summer course, SJP students will make a real difference in the community around the Prep, and take the experience of making that difference off into the world with them, spreading the ideas and curiosity about social change far beyond 17th and Girard.

Students involved will be truly immersed in the community to better understand the circumstances of some of the people living around us. The ?classroom? time will include many walking field trips during which students can talk to and interview people who experience hunger in their lives, hopefully creating lasting relationships in the hope of improving their situation, as well as trips used for mapping and studying the area.

These mapping trips will serve the purpose not only of understanding exactly what the problem is and where, but

The Lutheran Settlement House where students in the urban studies course will perform service.

Clubs (cont.)

ready looking forward to next year: ?In terms of accomplishments for next year, I think it comes down to two words: ?getting involved?...We live in one of the hubs of American politics, if we were to take advantage of that, there?s an incredible amount of things [that] we can get done. Specifically, volunteering for primary elections in the coming years, running voter sign up drives for these elections, and tons more?.

The adult moderators for the Prep Democrats are Mr. Howie Brown ?99 and Mr. Bill Avington ?90. When asked about his role in the operation of this new club, Mr. Brown stated that from the start his intention was to have this be ?a completely student-run organization?.

Tom Ciccotta '13 (front row, right) speaks to the Prep Republicans.

From left to right, Will Breslin '18, Michael Nutter '75, and Aidan McGahey '20

Although the Prep Democrats are in their nascent stages of developement, they are building upon a unifying central mission. ?I think the mission of the Prep Democrats is to bring everyone back to the table,? Breslin explains, ?After this last presidential election, this country has been divided in a way that we haven?t seen since the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s...One of the things we strive with the ?Young Dems?is inclusivity. So while everyone (or nearly everyone) in the club is ?left-leaning?, we try our best to keep any hostility towards the ?right? out of the discussion in order to focus on the actual issues.?

The Prep Republicans have been a staple at the Prep for a few years, promoting conservative discussion within their gatherings and inviting guest speakers to participate in their meetings.

This year, the Prep Republicans welcomed Prep alumnus and Breitbart editor Tom Ciccotta ?13 in March, one month after his story of facing political scrutiny at Bucknell was featured in the ninth issue of this year?s Hawkeye.

In attempt to learn more about the Prep Republicans, their mission and their goals, the Hawkeye reached out to the student president of the organization, asking if he would be willing to offer a quote. He both declined to comment and instructed his staff not to respond to the Hawkeye in any form.

Additionally, the club president sent an email addressed to his entire staff that read: ?Please do not give [...] any quotes for the Hawkeye. Dont [let] the fake news media slander us?. The email was immediately forwarded to the Hawkeye by multiple members within the Prep Republicans.

The moderator for the Prep Republicans club could not be reached in time for the publication.

The decline of political indifference is indicative of a newage of young adults who desire to be well- informed citizens.

Both the Prep Democrats and Prep Republicans are already achieving their purposes at the Prep simply by being active in the community, and facilitating a healthy political environment.

Undoubtedly, as these two clubs expand and develop, an aura of political awareness and activism will permeate to the entire student body? and the Prep will be better off due to the efforts of each organization, both next year and beyond.

4 | News

Prep Students Gear Up for Summer Ser vice Tr ips

By Scott Hibbs '19 With summer being only a few days away, the Summer Service Immersion Trips are just around the corner. These trips, offered every year to current juniors, are week long service opportunities. However these service projects are not only based in the Philadelphia area; students are given an opportunity to travel around the country to partake in service.

The locations of these service opportunities are Rural Retreat, in Virginia; Saint Michael's in Arizona; New Orleans, Louisiana; Washington, D.C; Tohatchi, New Mexico; and Baltimore, Maryland. Along with these there are three service opportunities in Philadelphia.

In order to be chosen for these opportunities juniors had to have already successfully completed their service hours for their freshman, sophomore, and junior year. Students also had to write essays to describe why they wanted to partake in the service trips. Then students

were assigned to a service project based on their availability and essays. All together there are 72 juniors involved in summer service trips, with each trip containing 8 juniors each.

For each trip students stay in

lence towards some faiths the Mission and Ministry team decided that this would be a good opportunity for students to learn more about the various faiths that are in Philadelphia.

The other service opportunities that take place in Philadel-

?I believe that students need to be taken out of their comfort zone, much like a retreat, they need to be together with a community, in order to serve, reflect and pray appropriately? their locations for a week and are involved in service in their location. Many of these service opportunities have been projects that Prep students have been involved in in the past.

However this year there is one service project that is completely new, and had not been offered before at the Prep. This project is Philadelphia Interfaith, whose mission is to serve and learn about different faiths.

With the recent rises in vio-

phia are with Habitat for Humanity and St. Vincent DePaul Center, where the students will help to run the center. The Prep also works with Habitat for Humanity in Baltimore, and with a similar organization, the Fuller Center for Housing, in New Orleans. Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center for Housing are both focused on building homes for the area they are working in.

However, the students in-

volved in these projects are not just doing it so that they can just travel for a week. Instead the students believe that by having these big service trips they can impact a community more. Simon Williams ?18 who is going on the service trip to Rural Retreat, Virginia said ?I wanted to take the opportunity to service a community that may need some help, and with the time over the summer you can take more time to help out

the community than with a one day project.? The Mission and Ministry team also believes in the effect of the service trips for students.

Mr. Samuel Deitch, the Director of Ignatian Service said ?I believe that students need to be taken out of their comfort zone, much like a retreat, they need to be together with a community, in order to serve, reflect and pray appropriately.?

Summer Cour ses Present Unique Challenges With Only Six Weeks of Class

By Jack Thorell '19 With summer around the corner, most Prep students are ready to forget about school for three glorious months of vacation. However, some among us have opted to spend six weeks of their summer back in school, taking one of the optional summer courses the Prep offers. This summer Prep students can take PreCalculus, Latin III, Biology, Chemistry, or US government to count as full year credits.

The question often posed to those sacrificing their summer for a class is: Was it worth it?

Thomas Dintino ?19, a former summer biology student, is happy with his choice saying, ?[Summer biology] will allow me to further progress in my science education. Whereas I would be taking Chemistry next year, I am going to take AP Chemistry and Physics.?

Similarly, Liam Grugan ?19

said, ?I chose to attend Summer Honors Pre- Calculus in order to better advance my understanding of math.? While the ambitions of both Dintino and Grugan to get ahead are valid ones, I questioned how the mere six weeks in which the courses are taught is enough to cover a full year of information. Grugan explained that each five hour day of the Pre- Calculus course was supposed to represent a full week of the regular school year, with quizzes every day and tests at the end of each week. While this structure allowed all the material to be covered, it seems it may have crammed too much information into too little time.

Having also taken summer Pre-Calculus, and finding myself at the beginning of this school year forgetting much of what I had learned, I wondered how successful a six week summer class can be. I never

had to really study or review the material, but rather repeat it on quizzes the following day. I wondered if others felt the same way about their summer course experiences. When asked if the six weeks allowed him to fully absorb and process the information, summer biologist Dintino answered, ?Yes, but it?s all gone now.?

If classes being offered over the summer require and result in only short term comprehension of the material, are they even necessary full year classes? What does Liam Grugan?s ability to succeed in AP Calculus having forgotten much of what he learned in Summer Pre- Calculus say about the Pre- Calculus curriculum? The classes offered each summer are picked by a team of The Principal, Assistant Principal, Department Chairs, and the Director of Summer Programs, Mr. Brown.

Many of the classes being offered are available because they have always been in the past, according to Mr. Brown, but who or what deemed those classes fitting for a six week time slot? With the short term comprehension experienced by multiple students, it seems a class should be required for a full school year, or not required at all. Grugan notes, however, that with review beyond the six week period, taking a summer class can be worth it. And while, without that further practice and review after the course, the material may not stick with those taking a summer course, the experience is far from a useless one. ?I wholeheartedly recommend and support summer courses,? says Grugan, ?But I?ll warn that they do come with higher workload expectations than normal classes.? This extra work doesn?t necessarily come in the form of homework, but

rather a commitment to keep an understanding of the material once the course is over.

Therefore, the worth of the summer course depends on what you wish to get out of it, and how much time you put into it. For someone expecting to put in the same amount of effort as in a regular year long course and to have the same recall of information, summer courses have proven unsuccessful.

However, for those, like Dintino and Grugan, wishing to get ahead and willing to work hard, the summer course program is a valuable one. Depending on an individual?s goals, work ethic, and expectations for a summer course, the experience may be a worthwhile one to consider, even if it does mean giving up your summer to go to school.

Features | 5

M usic M an Shows M ore Than I t Tells

By Chr istopher I x '18 The Cape and Sword Drama society performed The Music Man by Meredith Willson for their 2017 Spring show. Our high caliber cast has not let down the incredible name they have built up for their program with this most recent production. While the song and dance remains well choreographed as always, the Music Man really shines where there are no lines.

One of the most visually pleasing effects for the audience to pick up on is the astute use of color symbolism within the production. In the second scene, multiple traveling salesmen are depicted in their stereotypical gray and black suits on a 1950s train. In accordance

with this monotonous tone set in the scene, the setting for the play takes in what the audience might expect to be a rather boring place: a small town in Iowa. As the train scene comes to a close, we as the audience are introduced to the main protagonist, Harold Hill dressed in a similar grey suit, but with a hint of red. Upon arrival in this small town, Harold is displayed again through brightly colored garments as the townspeople continue with their drab attire.

As the production continues and Harold Hill begins to bring joy and life to the town, a visual effect is executed perfectly by the drama society.

After Hill has made an impression on an individual in the show, that character?s garment changes to an

identical piece of clothing with extravagant color.

This symbolic theme becomes most obvious at the pinnacle of the play, when one business man attempts to bring evidence towards Hill?s past chauvinism.

The townspeople have traded in their drab clothing for vibrant colors and extravagant gowns displaying their newfound zest for life, while the one character attempting to bring down Hill, remains in his depressing grey suit.

Another testament to this production?s capabilities are the scenes where no words are spoken at all, and none need to be. The cast does an incredible job of playing the human side of Harold Hill, aside from the con-man exterior, in his interaction with Winthrop. Hill finds Winthrop walking alone

with a wagon, and with no words being uttered, makes a connection with the boy and offers him a marshmallow.

Through this communion scene, the humanity of Harold Hill is elucidated. Marion was not there to watch him, nor was Hill trying to impress anyone else in the town, he was simply attempting to be a good person to a lost boy. This portrayal of the human side of a seemingly cold con-man was carried out exceptionally well.

For the keen-eyed individual, the first scene is also a widely symbolic exhibition, yet again uses no words. When the curtains open for the first time, the audience is caught off guard to be facing the back of a weary man on a typewriter.

While this in itself deserves credit for displaying a

frustrated and then soothed emotion without using any words, the scene contains more. Based on the clues found on the desk and the radio, it can be inferred that this stranger at the typewriter is a grown-up Winthrop.

The fishing rod that Winthrop and Hill use together is located above the picture, while marshmallows sit on a desk, and he is calmed by the sound of the Minuet in G on the radio. While situated at the front of the play, this author is Winthrop reflecting on his experiences with Harold Hill and writing his own play version based on this point of view. Thus, the stage is set for an excellent performance by the Cape & Sword Drama Society in the Spring of 2017.

The cast of the music man, with Jay Fogarty '18 center as charming conman Professor Harold Hill.

Prom Season Proves To Be A Blast Once Again

By David Haddad '18 Over the weekend of May 5th, The Prep hosted two memorable proms, held at Lincoln Financial Field and The Union League as they have been for a few years now.

There was a lot of feedback, positive and negative, from both grades but the overall consensus seemed to be that prom was a great experience for those who attended.

The junior prom, held at Lincoln Financial Field, went smoothly. Almost the entire room was up on their feet dancing through the night.The students had access to a private parking lot right in from of the doors to the stadium which was a great added bonus. The venue was unique from that of other schools?and students had

the opportunity to walk out into the stands. The food was buffet style and included sliders, mac and cheese, caesar salad, and nachos. The room was relatively large and overlooked part of the city.

Although students enjoyed the prom overall, they did expressed some concerns about the venue. Most students took advantage of the access to the stands, but were disappointed to find the field was not grass, but had been uprooted and all that was visible were slabs of concrete. In addition, the junior class expressed concern over the food, explaining that they had wished for the food to be more formal and a sit down setting rather than buffet style.

Finally, some students had concerns over the music that

was played. One student, Robert Saldutti ?18 said that overall, he ?thought the DJ could?ve done a better job feeling out the crowd and their music tastes?.

On the dancefloor, students were going crazy. Matthew Bevs ?18 felt like he was flying while crowd surfing over his classmates. He explained the experience saying that ?it was fun until I saw the crowd of girls I was heading towards run in opposite directions?. Many of the students nights were completed upon our own, Mr. Monroe dancing among the students to the beat of ?This Is How We Do It?.

The senior prom, held at the Union League, was also a hit.

Because of the Union

League?s location, students were able to take photos outside on Broad Street before entering, which was a memorable experience for many. Upon entering the room, students were impressed by the elegance and the paintings of presidents that hung on the walls around them. At a very classy venue, they were served chicken parm pasta, sliders, salad, and bread rolls. They also had an ice cream bar for dessert.

Unfortunately, the seniors did not have the opportunity to see Mr. Monroe dance, but everyone was on the dance floor enjoying themselves.

Joseph Ellis ?17 recapped the experience: ?the venue was really cool and taking pictures on broad street was a very

unique experience. The food was delicious as well. It was a fun prom that I will never forget.?

Overall, prom season at The Prep was a success and many students are looking forward to next year?s proms. Brad Ehrlich ?18 expressed his excitement saying: ?How great is Prom? - it?s not great. It?s fantastic.

You totally undersold it. The pageantry, the costumes. Wow! What a night?.

Students are already talking about the possibility of a prom committee to get the student voice more involved in the process of selecting a venue, food, and DJ. If you are interested, contact David Haddad ?18 or Chris Ix ?18.

6 | Features

M r. Jonathan Jerome to Head to Villanova in the Fall

By Simon Williams '18 Dedicated leader, driven worker, and St. Ignatius lookalike, Mr. Jonathan Jerome has stood as an anchor in the faculty of St. Joseph?s Prep since his arrival in 2013. Countless hours have been put in on his end towards the refinement and facilitating of 227 liturgies and 15 retreats annually - stunning statistics when paired with the amount of service projects the Mission and Ministry Department runs a year. 2017 marked Mr. Jerome?s fourth and final year at the Prep, bookending a quartet of years spent embodying the values of the school to a tee.

Winding up at the Prep was no accident, as ironic coincidences may have stood as signals to the eventual position as Director of Retreats and Liturgy. There was a job posting online for the position, but it specifically stood out because it was at the Prep.

Now, being from Charlotte, North Carolina, one does not run into Prep guys often nor are the chances of attending SJP from the Queen City high.

But as a rising junior in high school, Mr. Jerome took part in a national speech and debate hosted by? you guessed it: the Prep. As 15 or 16 year old, there was no chance he could have augured such a situation where he would be a member of the staff at some Catholic school in Philly where this debate tournament just so happened to be, but a friendship with a Prep alumnus while attending Catholic University may have been the second in a series of instances where the puzzle pieces weirdly fell into place.

The Prep would come to mean something to Mr. Jerome before he even gave a highfive to a statue in the lobby. So much so, in fact, that it may have spooked him from apply-

ing. ?It had a storied and impressive tradition that I was aware of,? he said. ?[So] when I saw the job posting I actually didn?t apply for it at first - I thought it was out of my league - and a few weeks later after prayer and discernment, I decided to submit my application and after a long, rigorous interview process, Mr. Zazyczny called me one day and offered me the job.?

The job description also may have eerily been ?too perfect.?

He knew that after working in college campus ministry for six years, where his strengths were and also where he foresaw his abilities being put to use the best. ?I wanted to work primarily with guys and primarily with retreats and liturgy and the Prep opened up and it seemed like a perfect fit? and it is? it still is!?

In his first year on the job, he recalled the major challenge was winning over the students, seniors in particular, he noted because ?they were the ones primarily attending Kairos at the time and I implemented some changes that were not very popular that made sense but also were controversial, very minorly.?

After a successful first year at 17th and Girard, the second year provided a challenge that would be an overarching theme of the rest of his time: ?How to take resources we?ve been given and make sure that we can offer a consistent, clear, charitable, direct, responsable message to our students so that they can grow in our faith.?

Mr. Jerome added that the consistent efforts on that behalf would be a focus for the next campus minister, too, for it is ?one thing that is honestly a bit lost at this point,? as he said.

Year three was all about ?if we have this vision and we?re implementing this vision, and we?re doing well, how do we

meet the needs of our students challenge them to do bigger and greater things??

At that point things looked to be steady. The objectives of the Department were in line with what the staff thought best suited the student body and the greater school community.

That brings us to Mr. Jerome?s fourth year, this year. ?This past year the challenge has been many,? he recalled. ?It has been continuing to figure out how to be sustainable, continue how to meet our students?

will be a part of a drastically smaller program ? I run one service trip, one retreat, and will lead a weekly small group.?

hope moving forward. That same Holy Spirit that descended at the Mass of the Holy Spirit in 1851 will and is continually at work.?

He would add, ?I?m living in a college dorm again which is going to be? interesting?

I?m going to have to figure out what to do with furniture that I?ve acquired for 10 years. I live by myself currently so having essentially 500+ hallmates for the next two years will be interesting and challenging. I?m worried about

As for the Department, specifically, the changes present new opportunities for growth as a staff. Fr. Chuck Frederico, S.J., of Ash Wednesday Mass fame, will be the new chaplain and Director of Mission and Ministry as the ever- woke, memecultured Fr. Steve Surovic heads to St. Andrew?s Hall in Syracuse, New York to help with formation at the Jesuit Novitiate. Frederico, will ?bring new vision and new life and ? will be good for the Prep and for this office,? in Mr. Jerome?s eyes. Formerly the Director for Vocations for the New York and Maryland Provinces, Frederico will be a key figure in the spearheading of this new era of the Prep.

"They weren?t worried about money, about enrollment. They weren?t worried about a lot of things that consume the Prep these days.

They were worried about sharing their Catholic faith, their Jesuit charisms with young men in Philadelphia" challenges? and most what is most disheartening, ?continue to figure out what the future might hold for a program that has taken a backseat in the priorities of the school.?

For the staff focused solely on the formation of the student body through faith - the same Catholic faith with which the school was founded by and still run by today - to be on the outer layers of the cynosure of the institution is at its core sad. ?I think money has spoken louder than mission in the past few years,? Mr. Jerome stated. ?You have robust staffs in Development and Finance and Marketing and Admissions right now - all good things but I don?t think they should take precedence to other departments that are struggling.

So to have two full- time staff members in Mission and Ministry versus upwards of 13 [sic.] in Development, it shows a pretty clear idea of where priority is.? Amidst the hot takes, there is validity all over those statements.

That lack of priority derives, as Mr. Jerome comments, from ?a different vision moving forward that [he] can?t necessarily get behind.? In addition to ?an opportunity that has presented itself elsewhere that [he thinks] both personally and professionally makes sense? the lack of support behind the M+M office is ultimately the reason for him taking up the new position at Villanova.

Next year, the famed- bald headed wonder will serve as a Campus Ministry Intern in a freshman dorm at Villanova University, all the while earning a Master?s degree from VU. When asked about obstacles that may arise in adjusting to the new job, he noted ?I live in a freshman residence hall, I will minister to the students that live on my floor, and I

writing papers; I haven?t done that in 10 years.? Besides the occupation- related woes, questions of exigency appear as well: ?what do I do with all of this free time? How do I find balance? How do I take care of myself?? With all of the drastically new facets to the career change, it?s hard not to ask about the strikingly similar scene back at Prep.

There will be anywhere from two to four new members to the M& M Department next year. With Father John Swope, S.J. ?72 entering his third year as President, Mr. Jason Zazyczny ?90 stepping down as principal, the assistant Dean of Students, Mr. Randy ?Coach? Monroe entering his second year, and the ominous new schedule, there is difficulty in trying to decipher the direction of the school.

Mr. Jerome weighed in on where he felt SJP was headed: ?I believe at it?s core, the Prep is a school that is founded on truth, goodness, and an earnest faith in God. So at the end of the day, I have hope that those things will prevail and that the Prep will be alright. I believe so much in the mission of this place that I believe the mission will overcome any obstacle or challenge that are posed by a vision or a person or challenge.?

He would hark back to the founding of the school as an ever- prevalent message for today: ?In 1733 Jesuits came to Philadelphia and in 1851 they started the Prep, or rather St. Joseph?s College. They weren?t worried about money, about enrollment.

They weren?t worried about a lot of things that consume the Prep these days. They were worried about sharing their Catholic faith, their Jesuit charisms with young men in Philadelphia. And because we?ve survived for as long as we have, there definitely is

Largely speaking, Mr. Jerome was uncompromisingly forthright when he said that ?it?s going to be really challenging for everyone in the Prep at least next year because there are certain realities and comforts that people have that won?t be taking place or will be challenged or will be different.?

He honestly believes, though that the school community as a whole will try and figure out ?what?s in the best interest of the students and move forward with vigor and faith and with hope that the they?re doing the right thing.? He cites a need for flexibility, compassion, open- mindedness, amongst other characteristics for a successful transition.

Even with what seems like negative circumstances surrounding, Mr. Jerome retains the optimism and the humor that is a hallmark of the first floor of Jesuit Hall. It?s a positivity that hasn?t wavered. In fact, he is still positive about his odds at playing varsity basketball one day. ?I want this to be taken down verbatim? he commanded, ?Coach Speedy Morris has refused to play me for four years at the Prep so I?m taking my skills elsewhere ? I expect I will finally go out there and get my shot on the court with the Villanova? uh? Wildcats??

Clearly he has his eyes on the prize here.

All in all, there is an immense gratitude for the students, his co- workers, his friends, and especially Mr. Deitch, Fr. Steve, Mr. Verghese, Mr. Rosinski, and the Alumni Service Corps members. Mr. Jerome has exuded a warmth, a light, and an admirable devotion to the school. Thank you, Mr. Jerome for each and every thing you have done for the Prep.

Sports | 7

Spr ing Spor ts (cont.) same in- league record of 9- 3, the tie breaker consisted of record against each other, but since all three schools went 1-1 against the remaining two, further stipulations needed to be invoked. It was determined that since all three beat La Salle, the next ranked team below the triumvirate, victories versus the remaining teams in descending order would be the qualifications for first place.

The Prep and N-G both beat Wood, but Carroll did not.

Thus, Carroll was placed third.

With third place situated, first and second?s lineup was based off the original rule of head-tohead results being the primary tiebreaker, so Prep got first, NG got second. The first place positioning gave the team a bye in the first round of the playoffs and home- field advantage.

The surging play is due to the contributions from a group of key players. Manto, the team?s 3B and occasional designated hitter, has been huge in the cleanup spot. He along with fellow DH Phil O?Connor ?18 and first baseman Brandon Sanders ?18 provided the much- needed power for this Hawks lineup. The outfield trio of Ronnie Cavalier ?17, Donaphon, and Evan Matthews ?18

has been strong this season, not allowing any unearned extra bases and has hit consistently as well. Matthews? ability to work long counts at the dish and Cavalier?s speed out of the box has situated them in either the leadoff or second spot in the lineup at different points this season. Second baseman Greg Martin ?17 and shortstop Gianni Arici ?18 have been a dependable tag- team in the middle infield, finding their roles on the team quite nicely as the season has progressed.

Similarly, the speedster of South Philly, Dom Leuzzi ?18, lit up the base paths all year and is the go-to guy for pinchrun situations. On the hill, the Hawks have been dominating their opponents. The two main starters are J.T. Gosweiler ?17 (Iona) and Scanlon, who are recognized as two of the best tossers in the area. Scanlon is a returning second- team AllCatholic selection from last year. Pat Woltemate ?17 (Chestnut Hill College) has found himself in the closer role and has brought the heat in the latter innings of games.

L acrosse The Prep lax team had a somewhat rocky beginning of the season, but really picked it

up as the schedule advanced.

Three straight losses to start the season was not ideal, but the Hawks were put up against three of the best teams not just in the area, but all of North America. Double- digit losses fell at the hands of Inter- Ac challenger Malvern Prep, internationally-ranked and starstudded Hill Academy from Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, and yet another IA squad in the Episcopal Academy at 16- 3, 16- 2, 12- 1, respectively. The first win of the year came in the team?s PCL opener against Ryan with a 16- 10 final. Over Spring Break, the team was given an incredible opportunity to fly out to San Francisco, California, and play against two of the top teams in the state. A 9-3 stumbling block to the currently-ranked #5 team in CA, San Ramon Valley was the first of two losses, the second being to brother Jesuit school St. Ignatius College Prep, 1610.

The team came back to the East Coast in search of something to rejuvenate a team that went to the PIAA 4A State Championship just two short seasons ago. Wood and Egan were the next two teams on the schedule and easy wins came out of those contests, setting up another bout with out- of- state

power St. John?s (DC). A loss to the Cadets and rival La Salle in the next game would sandwich a win over O?Hara with another loss against the ChestMont League?s Avon Grove.

The Hawks would revisit the feelings they had coming back from Cali; they needed a win., desperately. The grind in practice over the next few weeks would boost the Prep to a six game winning streak to close out the season, with dubs coming against Judge, Bonner, Lansdale, Roman, Don Bosco (NJ), and Carroll on Senior Day. The undulations of the season reflect both the ceiling the team has and the work that needs to be done before PCL playoffs start up with SJP sitting nicely in the second spot at 9- 1 in league play.

Tennis The team charged their way to the Catholic League championship before being halted by previously undefeated La Salle. In the semifinals, they defeated No. 3 seeded Cardinal O?Hara five sets to none to advance to the finale. The doubles combinations of Colin Browning ?17 and Russell Seneca ?19, and Dan and Nick Stahl ?17 pulled out wins to put the Hawks up two sets to

none. Jack Crossed ?17 dropped back to back sets to bring the score within one, with Joe Wahba ?20 taking two tough losses against the Explorers to knot up the score at two. In the day?s final match, Mike Haley ?17 won his first set, but dropped the next two, giving La Salle the Catholic League Championship for the 11th consecutive year.

Volleyball Under the direction of head coach Scott Murphy, the Prep Volleyball team has had a very successful season. With a Catholic League record of 8-4, the Hawks are in a fantastic position to take the PCL this season. Led by captains Jack Kichula ?17, Alex Monari ?17, Brian Shields ?17, and Angel Velazquez ?17, the Prep has taken down Ryan, Wood, O?Hara, Catholic, and Roman, but suffered losses against Wood, Lansdale, and twice against La Salle.

The key players for this Hawks are team setter Kichula, returning 1st- Team AllCatholic Mark Miller ?18, and Shields. The team hosts O?Hara on Wednesday, May 17 in the first round of PCL playoffs.

Prep Hockey Scores The 2017 Hur tado Cup

By Johnny Procopio '18 The third period buzzer has rung, the game is over, Prep Hockey wins the 2nd annual Hurtado Cup. It is no secret that The Prep is an institution dedicated to the distribution faith and service. Among the many programs that Prep has to offer, The Hurtado Food Pantry is indeed one of the most distinguished. It all started around 5 years back when History Teacher Mr. Leo Vaccaro and a few students wanted to start a food pantry within the school. After some valuable advice from Fr. George Bur (president at

the time), the pantry took on the name of a 20th century Chilean Saint: Alberto Hurtado. Hurtado was known as a ?social apostolate? for his founding of homeless shelters, as well as his daily trips to town in which he would ration out food to poor families. The goal of the Hurtado Pantry and Cup alike is to carry on the mission of Alberto Hurtado by bringing compassion and service to our local streets of Philadelphia. Year after year Mr. Vaccaro and his staff never fail to disappoint.

The Hurtado Cup itself is an inter school competition be-

tween sports teams and other activities at the Prep. The mission is to raise as much money for the Pantry on behalf of a team or club. The money doesn?t go directly to our school however, as donors are actually able to choose how they want to spend their money using a website called ?yougivegoods.com?. In fact all of the goods donated are given directly to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for their summer day camps as well as their nutritional development services.

These services are crucially important for Philadelphian Families because children who receive free lunch during the

school year often find themselves hungry during the summer. The Diocese not only provides these free day camps, but a meal as well for its campers. ?The Hurtado Cup is a very smart plan with contributions from very generous people? said Leo Vaccaro, founder of the pantry. Indeed the competition is a very smart plan as its positive effects continue to shine over the community. In total, the Prep raised $4,523.38 and bought 738 items. Prep Hockey, the winner of this year?s cup, was remarkably able to raise around $1,000 for the cause. Congratulations, Boys.

Word of the Hurtado Cup was recently mentioned in a press release by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Ms. Brooke Mullen, Assistant Director of Community Relations, said ?The PREP?s Hurtado Cup donations are tremendously helpful in providing summer sites with the items they need to give the children an impactful, enriching experience while receiving a healthy meal.?. This year?s donation will have a huge impact on the program as the Diocese traveled to 415 sites and served 182,400 breakfasts, 174,800 snacks 402,800 lunches and suppers.

The Hurtado Cup is one of outstanding service programs that the Prep has to offer. Hurtado Service in general truly illustrates what it means to be ?men for and with others? as well as its dedication to community. Prep Hockey Coach Dave Giacomin said that ?service is part of our core values.

We want our players to lead on the ice, but to be leaders in the community.?. He also mentioned that ?The competition is representation of the type of families we have in our hockey teams. Giving back is our way of life.?.

Prep hockey wasn?t the real winner of this competition, as the families across Philadelphia will reap these benefits.

Friday will mark the trophy ceremony and a ?passing of the torch? from last years winner, Prep Rugby. The conclusion of the 2nd Annual Hurtado Cup only marks the beginning of a future for the program. This years contributions were significantly higher than last years, and club Vice President Matt Zito says that he only expects these numbers to grow.

As the buzzer rings and this competition comes to a close, St. Joseph?s Prep and members of its community can proceed knowing that they helped make the City of Philadelphia a better place.

8 | Sur vey Results

Hawkeye Final I ssue Sur vey Results Who Voted?

Freshmans -22%

How Many Years Until the Sixers Return to the Playoffs?

Sophomores-20.1%

2017-18 Champs, Baby - 12.3%

Juniors-21.3%

Next Year 26.3%-

Sen ior s-24.6%

2 Year s - 29.3%

Faculty/Staff-11.9%

3 Years - 15.3% 4+ Years - 16.8%

Best Decade to Be A Prep Student?

2010s - 31.2% *

Who is the G.O.A.T.?

2000s - 15.3%

Tom Br ady - 62.8%

1990s - 12.7%

Dan Marino - 5.9%

1920s - 9.6%

Peyton Manning - 15.4%

1970s - 6.4%

Joe Montana - 15.9%

What department is the best?

What is the Best Sports Team at the Prep?

En glish - 34.5% *

Foot ball - 38% *

History - 15.7%

Other - 13%

Science - 12.3%

Crew - 9.6% Ultimate Frisbee - 8.7%

How many wins will the Eagles have next year?

Rugby 8.3%

9-10 Win s - 29% * 8-9 Wins - 26.9%

Do You Support the Wing Bowl?

6-7 Wins - 12.9%

Yes - 70.7% *

13+ Wins - 10%

No - 29.3%

0-4 - 8.7% Have You Been Satisfied With Trump's First 100 Days?

Coke or Pepsi?

Yes - 46.5%

Cok e - 74.2% *

No - 53.5%

Pepsi - 25.8%

Is Knowing Not Enough? Is Willing Not Enough?

Is Lavar Vall Insane or a Marketing Genius?

We must apply - 45%

In san e - 59%

We m u st do - 55% *

Marketing Genius - 31%

This Year I n Review

By David M cCabe ?19 and Joseph Scott ?19

August

September

October

November

December

Januar y

31: Freshman Orientation

6: First Day of School

4-7: Kairos 151

15-18: Kairos 152

11-19: Midterms

9: First and only Mixer hosted by SJP

13: Freshman Elections

22: Thanksgiving Food Drive

4: Operation Santa Claus

22-23: Freshman Retreat

31: Quarter 2 Begins

26: Homecoming

10: Football Championship 11: Christmas Concert 13-16: Kairos 153

20 Semester 2 Begins 25: SpeakUp! 31-2/3: Kairos 154

Sur vey Results | 9

Hawkeye Final I ssue Sur vey Results Best "Always Sunny" Character?

Which album was better: More Life or Damn?

Mac - 28.9% *

More Life - 26.4%

Dennis - 11.6%

Dam n . - 73.6%

Ch ar lie - 34.9% Frank - 18.1%

Qdoba or Chipotle?

Dee - 3.1%

Qdoba - 23%

The McPoyles - 3.4%

Ch ipot le - 77% * Do you like/respect the Warriors?

Nike, Adidas, or Under Armour?

Yes - 31.7%

Nik e - 60.4% *

No - 68.3%

Adidas - 10.6% Under Armour - 15%

Who is the Newcomer of the Year?

New Balance - 14%

Ran dy M on r oe - 32.1% Christian Vergheese - 21.3%

Is a Hot-Dog a Sandwich?

Kevin Tkachuk - 21.1%

Yes - 26.2% No - 73.8% *

Who has the best hair in the school?

Br yan Gh ee - 42.2%

Are you excited about the schedule change next year?

James Doyle - 24.1% Ronan Kelly - 21.3%

Yes - 54.1% No - 45.9%

Best Bathroom in the School?

5t h Floor J-Hall - 29.8%

Which Show is the Best?

4th Floor J-Hall - 19.5%

Th e Of f ice - 34.3% *

1st Floor J-Hall - 14.8%

Parks & Recreation - 6% Rick and Morty - 10.7%

Which is the Best Video?

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 25.2%

"Humble" by Kendrick Lamar - 29.9%

Friends - 11.3%

Th e In f am ou s Wet Willie Video 47.1% *

Seinfield - 12.6%

Mr. Z's Ice Bucket Challenge - 23% Which phrase is the most Jesuit?

Google Classroom or Edmodo?

Magis - 29.1%

Classr oom - 51.2%

Age Quod Agis - 5.1%

Edmodo - 48.8%

Ad M aior em Dei Glor iam - 65.8%

This Year I n Review (cont.)

Febr uar y

M arch

Apr il

M ay

June

3-5: Night of Scenes

3: Homeslessness Sleepout

1: Junior Ring Mass

7: Spring Concert

2: Last Day of Exams

4-7: Kairos 156

12: Music Man Opens

7: National Latin Exam

7-17: Spring Break

21: Quarter 4 Begins

27: Executive Board Elections

12: Sophomore/Junior Elections

5: Chilean Exchange Program Starts

18: 2nd Sophmore Retreat 27-3/3: Ignation heritage Week

21-24: Karios 155

28: Sophomore Conversation

7: Philly High School Theatre Festival 23: German Exchange Program Starts

10 | Opinion/Debate

Exemption Policies: Too Easy, Too Har d, or Just Right?

By Nicholas Paler mo '18 Exemption policies have never failed to procure debate and controversy, no matter how stagnant those policies may be. For those unaware, the exemption policies for each department are as follows: Mathematics and Computer Science do not allow exemptions. English requires an A average for the entire year along with an A in the third and fourth marking periods.

Classics, Science, and Modern Language all require an A in each of the four marking periods and an A on the midterm. Religion, meanwhile, varies based on course length. For year-long courses, an A average for the year. For semester long courses, an A in each of the two marking periods. And finally, History calls for an A average for the first semester in addition to an A on the midterm and an A in the third and fourth marking periods.

The policy, or lack of one, that creates the most controversy is that of the Math Department. Many students argue that if they have demonstrated capability and knowledge of the subject throughout the year then they should be exempt.

Steve Dierkes ?18 voices his opinion on the topic by claiming ?that was one of the few classes I would have gotten an exemption in, so it was frustrating that I had to take the exam,?. Many other students can sympathize with Steve, as they achieve flawless marks yet still have to sit for the Math exam in May (or even June).

The Math Department axiomatically does not require all students sit for the exam just to frustrate them. Mr. Morrissey requests that we include the response of the Math Department unedited: The Math Department believes all students should take final exams for three reasons: (1) We are a college preparatory school. We are unaware of any top university that exempts students from final examinations, papers, projects or any combination thereof.

Prior to the Math Department's decision to do away

with exemptions, it was possible for a student to spend 4 years at St. Joseph's Preparatory School and not take a single final exam.

(2) Finals are tools for both students and teachers. If we don't have our top students taking the exams, how do teachers know if the exam is fair? Also, not having the top students take final exams could lead to grade inflation whereby B students earn top grades because the competition pool has been diluted.

Awarding unearned grades and building false confidence is not in the best interests of our students.

(3) Exemptions provide students with unfair advantages in classes for which they do have to sit for the exam.

Imagine two sophomores have all 7 courses together.

Student A is exempt from 5 but must take Latin (and Math); Student B, however, must prepare for all 7. Both students have borderline 83 averages- - borderline Bs- - in Latin. Student A has an unfair advantage over Student B in Latin for no reason related to his performance in that class. Student A earns a high grade on the exam because he had more time to prepare for it. Student B's grade drops to a C+. Are the exam grades comparable with this un-level playing field?

The Math Department raises several valid points that many students may have failed to consider, but other departments hold different opinions on the matter. The science department believes that ?An A in every quarter and the midterm indicates proficiency in a subject,?-Ms. Brown. It?s difficult to refute that if a student demonstrates their understanding of a subject quarter after quarter then that student knows the material well.

It asks the question ?What is the purpose of the exam if the student has already proven his capability??.

Classics possesses an identical exemption policy to that of Science, and reasons that if a student consistently earns As throughout every quarter and on the midterm, then the student taking the exam would be pointless. Mr. Dougherty explains that, especially in a subject like

Latin, students are using prior knowledge on every assessment they take, and since the final is a cumulative test, the exempted student has already proven every test he knows the material, and ?to sit for the exam would be unnecessarily extraneous?.

With a narrowly looser requirement, the History department requires an A for the year, an A for the first semester, an A on the midterm, and an A in the third and fourth quarters. The only discrepancy is that the History department?s policy allows for an early slip in grades due to adjusting to the class style.

Mr. Fortin elucidates that ?For us, it?s a matter of whether the student needs the summative assessment to ensure that he has fully comprehended the material and meets

marking periods required.

Mr. Patragoni made clear that ?we review the policy often and agree (as a department) that our parameters are reasonable. The policy is endorsed only through consensus,? which puts students at ease knowing it is not just one voice deciding what they will need for an exemption.

All members of the English department regularly consider their exemption policy and decide through a group decision, and I imagine most other departments are similar.

With undeniably the easiest exemption policy, the Religion department grants exemption when a student receives a yearly average of an A for a full- year course, and an A in each marking period for a semester-long courses.

?We must not forget that although St. Joe?s Prep is a college preparatory school, the Prep is still a high school.

Just because colleges require finals does not mean that the Prep must do away with exemptions. I f a student works diligently and excels all year, why shouldn?t he be rewarded?? the learning expectations of the teacher,? and Fortin made known that ?we are discussing modifying the exemption policy, but want to wait and see how the new grading scale plays into the number of exemptions?.

Fortin raises a good point in discussing the new grading system. The new system has without a doubt changed the value of an A. Even though the numerical value remains a 93, some teachers and students take a different approach to this number now.

For example, Mr. Oldham exempts at a 90 average for both quarters. The new system has most likely affected the quantity of exemptions in some way, and Fortin suggests that our exemption policies should reflect that.

The English department has a relatively easy requirement, with only an A for the year and an A in third and fourth

Mr. Pinto explains since there is less time in a semester long course, more consistency should be demonstrated by the student through both marking periods. Pinto also spoke to how the Religion Department?s exemption policy is not much different than that of other departments, stating that if a student obtains an A for the year then they have most likely been consistent throughout that year.

A lot of students have differing opinions on the exemption policies, but nearly every students prefers to have exemptions than not to. Ronan Egan ?18 argues that ?our exemption policies are absurd.

Seniors at Malvern don?t have to take the exam if they get a B?. Paul Koenig ?18 states ?We must not forget that although St. Joe?s Prep is a college preparatory school, the Prep is still a high school.

Just because colleges require

finals does not mean that the Prep must do away with exemptions. If a student works diligently and excels all year, why shouldn?t he be rewarded??

Joe Cahill ?19 thinks that ?If you take away exemptions then you take away a large portion of the student?s motivation to excel in the classroom?.

Ultimately, I believe the argument for exemption raises an incredible amount of questions and considerations.

What grade requirements indicate proficiency in a subject? Does an exemption policy create an unfairness between two similar students?

Does an exemption policy provide a student with an incentive to work more diligently, and how effective is that incentive? If universities and colleges hardly ever exempt students, then as a college preparatory school, why should we?

While I do enjoy the privilege of an exemption when I receive one, I must logically concede to the Math Department?s argument. If we are truly a college preparatory school, then we should be preparing our students in every way possible for the challenges outside 17th and Girard. That includes final exams.

At the same time, however, many could argue that since colleges usually offer semester long classes, as opposed to year- long courses, students have less assignments to indicate their consistency and proficiency, making exams more necessary to indicate the student?s ability. In a high school with year long classes, students have more opportunities to demonstrate their aptitude, and teachers have more information to determine whether a student has fully comprehended the material.

Rest assured, more thought than you realize is going into these exemption policies.

Whatever exemption policy a department has chosen, there has been a serious consideration of why they should use that particular policy. Each department?s policy on exemptions has the student's best interests in mind, even if this produces different results.

Follow @Haw keye_SJP on Tw it t er f or Br eak in g New s, St or ies, an d Updat es!

Editorials | 11

L etter to the Editor Dear Mr. [Joe] Scott, Imagine, if you will, a library with a security gate at the main door. Then imagine that as you walked in you were told to put your bag on metal shelves. You couldn?t bring your bag with you to the table! There was no talking, no eating, no drinking, no cell phones. The chairs were made of wood and very heavy and uncomfortable. That sounds horrible, right? But that is the library I walked into when I started twelve years ago. Over the years, I have worked to make the library a more comfortable space with regard to atmosphere, rules, and furniture. However, I am still the voice for those who want a quiet place to work and I will not

please everyone. At this time, given the physical limitations, I believe the library should be a comfortable space where people can be productive with few distractions.

I?d like to address some of the issues you raised in your article, ?Student Council Elections Question Library Rules.? You state that since ?College Starts Here? there is ?no reason for restricting? the number of entrances in the McShain Library.

However, depending on the size of a college library, I found it is typical to have, at most, two entrances with multiple emergency exits. That is on par with what is available here. You go on to say more entrances would make the

library more accessible for studying. Yet, it is more likely that increasing the number of entrances would make the library accessible simply as a hallway or shortcut. Perhaps we need more data to make an informed statement.

Unfortunately the library, as it is designed, does not accommodate various needs. It is one big room that everyone needs to share. It is my belief that there are many spaces in the school for noisy group work but few for quiet, independent work. Based on this belief, I try to keep the library quiet. Last year the behavior upstairs was such that we decided to stop allowing students up there for a time. However, this wasn?t

Want to respond to an article?

Contact Liam Grugan '19 for more details!

The final Hawkeye meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, May 23rd in the Rooney Room. Come celebrate the end of a great year with us. Snacks will be provided.

fair either; so with the help of Andrew Oliver (Student Council) we came up with a way to sign up for seats.

Believe it or not, I am an advocate for your need to print at school. You should not be penalized for our lack of color printers or for double-sided pages.

Are there times when there are lines at the computers because of an overwhelming need to print?

Yes. But you have a part to play as well. Could you be better organized and use your time more wisely? Probably. Could you print things out the night (or dare I say the day) before it is due? Yes. Could you print things at home?

Maybe. Could more assignments be handed in digitally? Perhaps.

Again, more data could help us understand this issue and suggest ways of improvement.

Ultimately the question for us is: What is the purpose of the library at The Prep? I have reached out to past Student Councils with the hope of creating a library advisory board. Will this be the year it will happen? Personally, I?d like to focus on helping students write thesis statements, understand citations, and find quality information rather than monitoring behavior. Mr. Scott, will you work with me to shape the future of the library?

Sincerely, Mrs. Nelson

The Or igin of J.U.G. Jacob DeAnnuntis '19

It?s the second week of school and you are sitting in the cafeteria enjoying your lunch.

Then all of the sudden you notice a quiet panic around the cafeteria. Dean Greene has decided to do his first I.D. check of the year, and as you look down your stomach drops; you left yours at home.

As you look around in a frenzy, you see your classmates receiving JUG left and right, knowing you are next. Your mind is racing, thinking about what your parents are going to say and how your coaches will react when they hear the news. The story of your first JUG. But what really is JUG? Justice under God right?

Nope. JUG is commonly misinterpreted as this, but fortunately on my first day of freshman year I was lucky enough to learn the real meaning, thanks to Dr. Pollock, who no longer works here. He explained to us that ?JUG? is derived from the Latin word ?jugum,? meaning ?yoke? (as if Latin couldn?t cause us anymore pain). A yoke is the wooden device fastened to the back of animals, commonly oxen, which aid to keep them in line. The early Romans used the yoke in order to get the animals to do what they wished.

In reading Caesar?s works Commentaries de Bello Gallico (Chapter 1.7) in Latin class this year, I again encountered the word ?jugum,? except this time in a different context. Caesar speaks of troops being sent ?under the yoke.? Mrs. Primmick filled me on this, explaining how in early Rome when legions were defeated, the survivors were sent under the yoke as an act of humiliation. She also informed me of the story of Horatius, detailed by Livi in

very early Roman history.

Horatius, who killed his own sister, was also sent under the yoke, but this time it was for atonement. The reason he did this however, was justified because his sister was in contact with the enemy and he was even exonerated, but nonetheless the yoke was to help him attone.

Eager to learn more, I inquired first year Assistant Dean Mr. Monroe on the subject. To my surprise, he informed JUG stands for ?Justice under God.? I hate to break it to you Mr. Monroe, but that?s not correct. They must not have given JUG?s over at Roman. However, that?s most likely because Roman Catholic isn?t a Jesuit school, as other Jesuit schools do distribute JUG. Although Mr. Monroe was not aware of the true meaning of JUG, he did inform me on some useful knowledge. ?It?s basically detention,? he said, ?to get youngsters to understand the difference between right and wrong.? He explained how JUG is given to help students understand what is acceptable within the confines of the Prep community. For example, the Prep takes its dress code very seriously. Mr. Monroe elaborated on how the students should be presentable and carry themselves a certain way, starting with dress wear. How you dress goes a long way in showing how you feel about yourself, and even how you treat others, says Mr. Monroe.

Even though you may not think of JUG in a favorable fashion, Mr. Monroe justified it in saying how it aims in changing certain behaviors that help students with growth and development. Now that you know the truth about JUG, you can sound smart by educating the next person who calls it ?Justice Under God,? and prove to them that Latin class does serve a purpose.

12 | Grid

By Will Breslin '18 Favor ite M emor y at the Prep?

M ega Faculty Gr id

M r. Paul M or r issey

M r. John Groch

M r. L eo Vaccaro '05

M r. Br ian M cCloskey '91

Nephew Patrick Boyd's 1st day Presenting Prep diplomas to my When Mayor Michael Nutter '75 Watching the students from all as a freshman sons got really excited at the end of the Jesuit High Schools arrive at that Christmas concert a few the Prep for 2Philly4Francis. years ago and high-fived as many students as possible.

Thoughts on the new schedule?

Excited

I like its variety from day-to-day and the opportunity for club and student meetings during the school day.

I'll have to change my lesson I think it is great. I like that stuplans! dents who play a sport won't miss the same class each day and I love the new initiative of "Free Lunch Friday's" that Sage proposed.

One thing you would change about the Prep

Have soda (Coca-Cola products) in the cafeteria

More innovative use of TV monitors for daily announcements

We need more "rally points."

Favor ite subj ect as a student and why

Dream j ob and why?

Favor ite book and movie?

Constitutional Law - Our Science, because I like to know History, I think because my Founding Fathers wrote and how nature works mom (also a lover of history) adopted a straight-forward and introduced me to her friends fairly simple document that John Lukacs and Lester Conner formed the government for the when I was a kid. They were greatest country this world has both accomplished academics. ever seen. This class explored how brilliant minds have interpreted the Constitution over two centuries.

Challenge creator on "The Amazing Race"/"Survivor"

Marine biologist in Key West. I think you can guess why.

Book:The Sun Also Rises by Book: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Ernest Hemingway Follett Movie: Silence of the Lambs

Movie: To Kill a Mockingbird

I would make Kairos mandatory for all students and required by faculty and staff every 5 years.

I am not sure if it is a subject per se, but I love watching the students in their Public Speaking classes. They put a lot of time, effort and thought into their projects and the end product is always great to see.

Teaching history at St. Joe's Prep!

Other then the one I am doing now, that is tough. I would say that is a tie between being a bullpen catcher for the Phillies and the host of Survior.

Book: the Great Gatsby.

Book-The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Movie: Aguirre: The Wrath of God.

Movie- The Great Escape

I f you could have Myself at age 14 because I'd tell JFK, because of the mystery sur- Lincoln, because he was good at Any one my grandparents. dinner with one permyself not to worry so much rounding his assassination and avoiding direct answers to cer- Looking back, the time I spent son, dead or alive, because life tends to work out the impact his presidency had on tain questions, it would be nice with them was never enough. who would it be and when you set goals and work me as a teenager. to try to ask him in person. why? hard.

One goal you have left?

To see the pyramids.

To go fly fishing with my granddaughter

I have many goals! I'm 30 years To walk all my girls down the old, what's this 'one left' aisle. nonsense?!?

Follow @SJPr ep_Spor t s on Tw it t er f or Scor e Updat es an d Gam e Resu lt s

Special Prep Tr ivia-Themed Hawkeye Crosswor d Puzzle

ACROSS 4

This faculty member won "Best Hair" in the Hawkeye's End of Year Poll

5

The name of the Prep's library

6

The number one flipped classroom at the Prep

7

"Saint Ignatius, pray for us. Saint ____, pray for us."

8

This sports team won the coveted Hurtado Cup

10

The religious order that runs the Prep

DOWN 1

The president of the Prep before Father Swope

2

Whom Saint Ignatius told to "Go forth and set the world on fire."

3

The postmark computer of the Prep

9

"To give and not to count the ____."

Be the first to turn in your completed crossword puzzle to one of the Editors-in-Chief below to win a Free Hawkeye Sticker

The Hawkeye Staff Editor s-in-Chief

Business M anager s

David Sakowski '18

Jon Erdy '17

David Haddad '18

Simon Williams '18

Aidan O'Connor '17

Jonathan Procopio '18

Robert Calabro ?19

Matt Phillips '18

Zachary Carr '19

Marco Sammartino '18

Head Wr iter s

Jacob DeAnnuntis '19

David McCabe '19

Mac Riga '17

Thomas Dintino '19

Liam Scott '17

Michael Koenig '19

Nick Palermo '18

Andrew Koh '19

M anaging Editor Joe Scott '19

John Thorell '19 Staff Wr iter s

Nicholas Mattera '19

Spor ts Section Editor

Ryan Breslin '17

Daniel O?Connell ?19

Matthew Brennan '18

Von Hobe '17

Reza Ali '20

Chris Rathke '17

Peter Banfe '20

Director of Editor ials

Dan Avington ?18

Liam Grugan '19

James Brenner '18

M oder ator

Will Breslin '18

Mr. Leo Vaccaro '05

Enter tainment Section Editor

Nathan Coulibaly ?18

Eamon Gallagher '17

Ronan Egan '18

Special Thanks To:

John Feehery '18

Mr. Frank Raffa

Liam Gibbons ?18

Riley Herriman '18

Tim Harris '18

14 | Entertainment

Video Game Review: Undertale

By M ac Riga ?17 In 2013 a solo developer named Toby Fox created a Kickstarter to fund his ambitious game project. He wanted to make a video game where every enemy was a fully fleshed out character and the game could be won without killing a single one.

This idea, while simple, has rarely been executed before and never in an action game.

Two years later Undertale hit shelves. But Toby had taken his original idea and run with it. Over the course of development, Undertale had evolved from a unique RPG to a humorous, heartfelt game steeped in strong morals.

The gameplay is simple. The majority of the game is a topdown, 2D RPG with some puzzles scattered between major towns. In certain areas, random encounters trigger a turn- based battle system. The player alternates between choosing actions in a menu and controlling an icon to avoid enemy attacks. This in of itself is unique, but more so given the ?ACT? tab of the menu. This allows the player to non-lethally end confronta-

tions. This mechanic is hugely counterintuitive: refusing to kill enemies nets no experience which means no leveling up.

The mechanic goes against the grain of every other RPG in the books. In most RPGs, the player is encouraged to ?grind?: fight enemies over and over until they level up sufficiently. Doing this in Undertale however results in the game becoming slowly more twisted (the so called ?Genocide Route?). The more ene-

mies you kill, the more aware you become of the severity of your actions. NPC (Non- Player Characters) are scared of you, flavor becomes more twisted, and eventually an ending more befitting a horror game than the lighthearted Undertale.

The presentation of the game is phenomenal. The graphics are purposely primitive, looking like something off the NES, and the soundtrack is all chiptune. Nevertheless, character designs are unique and memorable and the soundtrack is a tour de force.

The soundtrack is made up of 100+ tracks each more memorable than the last.

The game?s writing, from its dialogue to its flavor text, is brilliantly crafted. It achieves a level of hilarity, poignancy, and at times eeriness that puts most modern writing to shame. Every aspect of the game serves to heighten and emphasize the central gameplay and the result is one of the most beautifully and solidly crafted games from this past decade.

Undertale is a shining example of what games should be. Not only a medium for entertainment, but one that can be used to try and make this world a better place. It?s no mere coincidence that in a conference held by Pope Francis with a handful of important internet celebrities, an act attempting to show the Church?s dedication to serving the modern world, Undertale was symbolically gifted to him.

Apart from being a phenomenal gaming experience, Undertale attempts to teach empathy and morality in a world that so desperately needs it. Undertale is available now for Windows and Linux.

Released Date: September 15, 2015 Pr ice: $9.99 Aver age L ength: 9 Hour s ESRB Rating: N/A

Prep Lightweight Eight Wins Gold at Stotesbury Regatta on May 20th: (L to R) Coach Sean Clarke, Brendan Richey '18, Dave Molz '17, Declan Mirabella '17, Mike Fedele '17, Michael West '18, Sebastian Porreca '18, Eric Geiger '18, Aidan McGuigan '19, and Billy Zsembik '18.

Seven Prep seniors were honored at the Archdiocesan Academic Honors Convocation on May 18th: (L to R) Daniel Leonard, Jay Miles, Jack Mitchell, Thomas White, Aidan O'Connor, Declan Mirabella, and Jack Yocom (not pictured).

Class of 2017 | 15

Class of 2017 College Statistics

Prep senior s will be attending the following schools in the fall: Albr ight College - 1 Amer ican Univer sity - 3 Amher st College - 1 ? Assumption College - 1 Aubur n Univer sity - 1 Bates College - 1 Belmont Univer sity - 1 Bloomsbur g Univer sity of Pennsylvania - 1 * Boston College - 5 Boston Univer sity - 2 Bucknell Univer sity - 2 ? Cabr ini Univer sity - 1 Car negie M ellon Univer sity - 1 Champlain College - 1 ? Chestnut Hill College - 1 Clemson Univer sity - 1 College of Char leston - 1 Columbia College Chicago 1 * Creighton Univer sity - 1 ? DeSales Univer sity - 1 Drew Univer sity - 1 Drexel Univer sity - 14 ? Duquesne Univer sity - 2 East Stroudsbur g Univer sity of Pennsylvania - 1 Elon Univer sity - 1 * Fair field Univer sity - 2 Flor ida Gulf Coast Univer sity - 1

Gwynedd M ercy Univer sity - 1 ?Har var d Univer sity - 1 High Point Univer sity - 2 ? Holy Family Univer sity 1 ? I ona College - 1 James M adison Univer sity 1 K ent State Univer sity - 1 ? L a Salle Univer sity - 2 L afayette College - 2 L ehigh Univer sity - 1 L I M College (L abor ator y I nstitute of M erchandising) 1

By the Number s: 226 of 227 or 99. 6% of Class of 2017 is going to College -224 are going to 4 year schools, 2 are going to 2 year schools

-Applied to 299 different schools -Will be attending 109 different schools next year -Students will attend schools in 31 different states

-884 were acceptances (70%) -111 were placed on Wait List (8%) -44 are Unknown (4%) Data gathered by L iam Scott '17, cour tesy of the College Counseling Depar tment

* Saint Joseph's Univer sity 18

?United States Coast Guar d Academy - 1

? Saint M ar y's College of Califor nia - 1

?United States Naval Academy - 1

? Salve Regina Univer sity 1

Univer sity of Califor nia, Ber keley - 1

Savannah College of Ar t and Design - 1

Univer sity of Califor nia, San Diego - 1

? St. Edwar d's Univer sity 1

Univer sity of Califor nia, Santa Cr uz - 1

M onmouth Univer sity - 1

? St. John's Univer sity Queens Campus - 1

Univer sity of Color ado at Boulder - 2

M ontgomer y County Community College - 1

Syr acuse Univer sity - 3

? Univer sity of Dayton - 1

Temple Univer sity - 10

Univer sity of Delaware - 4

? The Catholic Univer sity of Amer ica - 3

Univer sity of M aine - 1

* L oyola M ar ymount Univer sity - 1 * L oyola Univer sity Chicago - 1 * L oyola Univer sity M ar yland - 3 M anor College - 1 * M arquette Univer sity - 4 M cGill Univer sity - 1

M orehouse College - 1 M uhlenber g College - 1 M unich Business School - 1 Nor th Carolina State Univer sity - 1

Pennsylvania State Univer sity - 18

The Univer sity of Geor gia 1

* Geor getown Univer sity - 7

?Pr inceton Univer sity - 1

* The Univer sity of Scr anton - 4

Gettysbur g College - 1

Quinnipiac Univer sity - 1

* Gonzaga Univer sity - 1

? Rosemont College - 3

?

Rowan Univer sity - 1

The Univer sity of Tampa - 1 Tufts Univer sity - 1 Tulane Univer sity - 1

Ur sinus College - 1 ? Villanova Univer sity - 8 Vir ginia Tech - 1 Wake Forest Univer sity - 1

Univer sity of Oregon - 1 ?Univer sity of Pennsylvania - 3

? M ilit ar y Academ y

Univer sity of Washington 1 Univer sity of Wisconsin, M adison - 1

? Univer sity of Notre Dame - 4

Jesu it Un iver sit y

? Univer sity of San Diego 1

Univer sity of Vir ginia - 1

Univer sity of M ichigan - 1

*

Univer sity of Pittsbur gh - 6

Univer sity of Souther n Califor nia - 2

Univer sity of M iami - 1

The Univer sity of Alabama 3

Nor theaster n Univer sity - 1

* For dham Univer sity - 5

-Avg. Student Submitted 5.6 apps -228 were denied (18%)

-48.4% In-State vs. 51.6% Out-of-State

The Univer sity of Ar izona 2

Flor ida Souther n College - 1

1,267 applications were submitted

Wentwor th I nstitute of Technology - 1 West Chester Univer sity of Pennsylvania - 2 Widener Univer sity - 1 * Xavier Univer sity - 1 ?Yale Univer sity - 1

? Cat h olic, Non -Jesu it Un iver sit y ? Ivy Leagu e Un iver sit y

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 Aidan O'Con n or '17

Tuesday, M ay 23r d Quarter 4 Ends Tribute Day Yearbook Presentation

Fr iday, M ay 26th Crew SRAA Championships Track PIAA State Championships M onday, M ay 29th

Wednesday, M ay 31st Math Exam History Exam Thur sday, June 1st

Wednesday, M ay 24th

Memorial Day

Modern Language Exam

No School

Satur day, June 3r d

Science Exam

Tuesday, M ay 30th

Thur sday, M ay 25th

Classics Exam

Baccalaureate Mass & Reception

Religion Exam English Exam Ascension Mass

Computer Science, Economics, Greek, Psychology Exams

Sunday, June 4th Graduation