V42. Hawkeye Issue IX

The Student Newspaper of St. Joseph's Prep

Vol. 42, I ssue I X

Febr uar y 9th, 2017

Prep Basketball's Eye Set on Palestr a A Young and Talented Squad Seem Poised for Run at PCL Crown.

The St. Joe?s Prep Basketball team, led by juniors Ed Croswell ?18, Darius Kinnel ?18, and Kyle Thompson ?18, senior captain Brian Griffin ?17, and sharp-shooting sophomore Gabe Arizin ?19, has had an impressive showing so far in Catholic League play.

The team has come up with some huge wins as the season has progressed, taking down Catholic League foes Continued on Page 7.

(Photo Courtesy of PhillySportsDigest.com)

By Dan Avington '18

Dar ius K innel '18 sizes up a Bishop M cDevitt defender.

Repor t: Prep Students in D.C for I naugur ation (Photo by Riley Herriman '18

By Patr ick Davies '18

Tr ump's Visit to Philly I ncites Protests, Response from M ayor

By Riley Her r iman '18 In his first trip outside Washington as the President of the United States, Donald Trump decided to visit the GOP Retreat at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia on January 26th.

Mayor Jim Kenney ?76 welcomed the retreatants urging members of the Republican Caucuses to visit important historical places pertaining to civil rights such as Independence Hall, where our founders promised equal rights, and the Liberty Bell.

He suggested that the Caucuses visit a restaurant named Barbacoa in South Philadelphia, owned and operated by an undocumented Mexican immigrant, which generates $300 million in annual revenue and was recently named one of the top 10 restaurants in the United States.

Kenney urged Philadelphians that ?we must demonstrate how a place built on the foundation of equality, diversity and inclusion can thrive.. He continued in stating that ?we do not create a false choice be-

tween public safety and treating all people with dignity and respect.?

Trump began his speech to the GOP retreatants by explaining how ?everybody? told him that he would not win Pennsylvania during his campaign but he persisted against the ?odds? and won Pennsylvania. He moved on to discuss pipelines, his immigration plan, the upcoming March for Life, illegal voting, and sanctuary cities.

After commenting on his ?go-to troubled city,? Chicago,

Trump took aim at Philadelphia. He stated that ?here in Philadelphia murder has been steady? I mean? just terribly increasing." Kenney responded on Twitter, ?False.?

In response to an email, Kenney stated ?I could not stand idly by while the President made false claims about our City [sic] and slandered the men and women of our police force who were working long hours to protect him.. He encouraged like- minded citizens to join him in letting HarrisContinued on Page 2.

Across the span of three days, a group led by Mr. Conners and Mr. Brendan Murphy? a member of the Prep Class of 2001 and a former ASC volunteer? was able to witness the climax of our democracratic process. On Thursday, 19 January, we drove to Greenbelt, MD, where we got on the Metro to head to the capital. We immediately came into contact with people from both sides of the political spectrum, all concerned about the future this great country.

We checked into the Hotel Harrington only a block from where the Inaugural Parade would pass. Being two blocks from Metro Center, we had access to the entire city.

On Thursday we toured Georgetown University with Ryan Mannion ?16 and Joe Egler ?16 (former Continued on Page 3.

2 | News

K enney v. Tr ump (Cont.)

burg and Washington know how they feel.

Also, while the President was delivering his address, many protesters fled to the streets in what some named ?Surround the Loews." Different protests concerning the Affordable Care Act, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ rights, Keystone XL Pipeline and the Dakota Access pipeline, sanctuary cities, and strictly Anti- Trump protests as well as smaller groups, like Philly Socialists, converged to the police perimeter around the hotel.

There was a very heavy police presence in Center CIty as well as a large contingent of officers in riot gear near the Vine Street Expressway. A sheriff replied to an inquiry that they ?are just here for cautionary measures.?

The Wednesday and Thursday protests remained peaceful as 1 civil violation ticket was given out and no arrests were made. ?I just can?t understand why these people complain about jobs when they waste their times marching around for nothing? was the response to the protests of one Prep student who asked to remain anonymous.

(Photo by Riley Herriman '18

I asked a man holding a ?NOT MY POTUS? sign if he thought that President Trump was elected illegitimately. He explained that his sign referred less to the election and more to the fact that the President does not stand for his own values as a citizen of the United States. ?I?m planning on having kids,? the man said, ?and I don?t want them to grow up in a country where the air pollution is as bad as China?s. I want my children to be able to be able to see a glacier. Why are people so worried about the money in their bank accounts when cli-

mate change affects generations to come?" Many protesters shared this man?s view on climate change.

With a new administration, change is inevitable. Change can make beautiful things, can bring hope to the hopeless, or can tear a society down. And Mayor Kenney plans to continue to implement positive changes for Philadelphia and fight any legislation which he sees as unjust for the men and women of our city.

Protesters March Outside City Hall in Philadelphia.

Possible Adj ustment to Bell Schedule in the Wor ks

By Andrew K oh '19 At this point, almost every student has heard a rumor about the potential change to a block schedule that the Prep may employ. Students have heard speculation by teachers and fellow students, and have also been informed about various schedule formats by students who attend other schools.

Since much of this information is inconclusive or incorrect, students have begun to form misinformed opinions. In order to obtain concrete information on the matter, I recently interviewed Mr. Zazyczny. He revealed the origin of the consideration of schedules, as well as the process of evaluating our current schedule and determining a potential new one.

The primary point that Mr. Zazyczny stressed was that nothing is currently decided.

However, he expressed that a decision would be made with the benefit of the students in

mind. He said that the first notion of reviewing the schedule came up a few years ago: ?We had a review of the whole curriculum a few years ago, and the schedule was mentioned.

However, none of us were knowledgeable enough in that area, so the idea was tabled until this year.?

Last week, a consultant from Independent School Management (ISM) was invited to the Prep to review the current schedule, and a very rigorous and extensive evaluation commenced. In an email Mr. Zazyczny sent to the faculty, he explained the evaluation process.

He wrote, ?Ms. Higgins [the ISM consultant] has already begun her rigorous evaluation task as she is currently reviewing the master schedule, teacher schedules, room schedules, course catalog, faculty, parent, and student handbooks and admission materials...she will conduct inter-

views with colleagues, parents and students and fully immerse herself into the Prep culture.?

By conducting this evaluation, the consultant reviewed the effectiveness of the current schedule and possible options that would potentially assist students. Her job was to suggest several schedule models after extensive research, after which a Scheduling Committee was formed, consisting of several members of the Academic Counsel. Their role was to evaluate the options using the information given by the consultant and to discern the potential effects of each change.

This process is still ongoing, so nothing can be said about the structure of the potential change as of yet.

Mr. Morrissey provided further insight on the evaluation process. First, he stressed that the change will not be to a strict block schedule, but rather a variation of our own. He then

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explained the involvement of teachers in the process, which was quite extensive. Each department has different needs and wishes, so they were given whole PowerPoints explaining each schedule model, and all teachers were required to review the current schedule and the suggested options. Feedback was to be submitted to the Department Head, who in turn submitted the feedback to the Scheduling Committee.

He further explained that key issues of the school were addressed in the evaluation, including schedule conflicts with sports and extracurricular activities, the limited time for students to obtain assistance from teachers, and the absence of a true lunch period. To him, the most aggravating problems were the ?persistent and consistent missing of 8th period by students who play sports,? and limited teacher availability. He noted that our current schedule is very rigid and that he would like to see more flexibility, tailored to suit the needs of the students, because, according to him, ?that?s how it should be.

It should be what the students need, not what the faculty wants.? Many students would wholeheartedly agree.

Mr. Morrissey seemed to be in full support of the potential change, and when asked about his opinion, he said that ?I am all for change and improvement at all times.? He continued, saying that as the faculty of a high school, their role is to provide for students and assist them on their path to success.

He thinks improvements to benefit the students should

readily be made, saying ?we are being given the opportunity to improve what we already do here,? and he believes the school should take this opportunity.

Many students will have noticed that the school has recently been going through a great number of changes.

Starting with Chromebooks and the 1:1 program, the school employed several adjustments to long- standing systems, including the change in the grading scale and the decrease of exam weight. In the future, the students may see a modification to the entire schedule, which would be the most momentous change, even more influential than the initiation of the Chromebook program.

When asked about the direction the Prep is attempting to take in these recent changes, Mr. Zazyczny explained that the school, and more specifically he, strives to benefit the students while maintaining a liberal arts, classical education: ?My role as principal is to maintain the integrity of the Prep while maintaining the tradition of the Prep.?

Although some students will undoubtedly groan and complain about the changes and many students will want a say in the decision, the main point that was repeatedly stressed by both Mr. Zazyczny and Mr. Morrissey was that the changes that are to come will solely be to benefit students and their performance. This is something that both students and their parents will be satisfied to hear.

News | 3

This Week in Histor y: Election of Fir st U.S. President most amount of votes achieving the status of vice president.

George Washington, a national hero from Virginia, the largest state at that time in the United States, was an obvious choice for president. Also, he had experiences as the commanderin- chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and as the president of the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

A mannequin at Valley Forge Historic Park portraying George Washington during his time as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, which was highly researched and created to look exactly how George Washington would have looked when he was alive.

By Car son Butler '18 February 4th, 1789, 228 years ago, marks a defining moment in American history. On this day, 69 members of Congress cast their voting ballots to elect George Washington as the first president of the United States.

The presidential electors were chosen between December 15, 1788 and January 10, 1789, by the states, and on February 4, 1789, the newly created Electoral College assembled to discuss who was going to be the first leader and president of the new United States. However, only ten states cast votes to

choose their presidential electors: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. New York had not chosen presidential electors yet, and North Carolina and Rhode Island had not ratified the Constitution yet to be able to participate. Each presidential elector had the power to vote for the next president and vice president, with the candidate who received the most votes achieving the status of president, and the candidate with the second

George Washington was born into a family of wealthy planters who owned tobacco plantations and slaves, which he would inherit after his parents died. At a young age, he became an officer with the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War. Because of his military experience and strategy, George Washington was commissioned by the Second Continental Congress as commander- inchief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. However, in that same year and additionally in 1776, Washington was pushed back after initial success at Boston, and lost the city of New York to the British after being defeated.

Ultimately, after George Washington and his Continental Army crossed the Delaware River on Christmas day in 1776, he defeated the British at Trenton and Princeton, retaking New Jersey for the Americans. These victories restored the patriot cause for many of the Continental soldiers. Later on, Washington captured two major British armies at Saratoga in 1777 and near the end of the war at Yorktown in 1781. He used brilliant strategy during combat, outmaneuvering the British generals with their larger armies.

When the Treaty of Paris was signed and the Americans finally achieved victory over the British in 1783, Washington resigned as commander- inchief rather than seize power, proving his opposition to a dictatorship. After the war, George Washington made plans to return home to Mount Vernon. However, in 1789, during the first presidential election, George Washington won the support of each participating elector and was unanimously elected president of the United States. No other president since has come into office with a universal approval to lead. After serving the United States as its president for eight total years, he retired from his presidency in 1797 even though there were no limits on presidential terms at that time. Peacefully, George Washington transferred his presidential powers to the second president of the United States, John Adams. This tradition of the peaceful transfer of presidential power started with George Washington and John Adams, and has contin-

ued throughout U.S. history even recently with the transfer of power between Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

After Washington finished his two terms during his presidency, he finally was able to return to his home and plantation at Mount Vernon.

On April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, the first capital of the United States, Washington took the presidential oath of office. With a hand on the Bible, which happened to be one borrowed from a local Masonic lodge, he said, "I, George Washington, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." At that moment, the Chancellor of the State of New York, Robert Livingston, the person who administered the oath to the first chief executive, exclaimed, "Long live George Washington, President of the United States!"

Washington speaking at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

I naugur ation (Cont.) were met by a large crowd.

Later, we walked back toward the hotel and saw many protesters. There was a clear shift of who was out as the night went on and the supporters went home, leaving the streets to the anti-Trump groups.

The group at Ben's Chili Bowl which has been an attr action on U-Street since the 1950s.

Editor-in-Chief of the Hawkeye). They provided great insight into what college is like in the political center of our country. We were then able to explore the city and its monuments.

On Friday, we emerged from our hotel to be immersed in the atmosphere of politics

with the large majority in support of the president but also a clear presence of those who were in opposition. This only intensified between the two sides as we came closer to the swearing in and saw more crowds. When we made it through the checkpoint to get close to the Jumbotron next to the Washington Monument, we

Saturday may very well have been the most shocking part of the trip as many of the Pro-Trump citizens left the city open for the Women?s March. The city remained crowded but the fact that they did not support our new president was evident.

The three day trip showed us exactly what democracy is like in the United States - a peaceful transfer of power between leaders, masses of people who care so much about our democracy to show up from all over the country, and a protest objecting the new administration.

Auditions for Cape & Swor d's spr ing show, the M usic M an, will be held on Tuesday, Febr uar y 14th after school.

Prepare a (30 sec - 1 min) selection of a song from the show; and a (30 second- 1 min) monologue from the show (or in the spir it of the show).

Contact M r. Tony Br aithwaite '89 at abr aithwaite@sj prep.or g for more details.

4 | Features

Prep Gr ad's Removal Raises Questions of Political Diver sity involved?.

Tom Ciccotta '13 spoke out against Bucknell after being relieved of his responsibilities as Junior President last April.

Alex Richey ?17, member of the Prep Republicans club thinks that Milo ?Is clearly counter cultural in some of the things that he says and does, but I think he has a right to say whatever he wants and he shouldn't be criticized for that?. He added that ?I think Mr. Ciccotta getting involved with Milo is a great thing. A lot of people right now are quick to bring politics into everything, but to me a job is a job. This is a great opportunity for Mr. Ciccotta, and I think we should be celebrating that, not criticizing it?.

By M arco Sammar tino '18 Milo Yiannopoulos strolls up to the podium at an event known as ?The Triggering? at the University of Massachusetts, carrying nothing but an iPad. He arrives at the podium, clears his throat, adjusts the microphone, and declares ?feminism is cancer?. He then says thank you, walks away from the podium, and returns to his seat.

This is just one of the many stories about a man who has been called iconoclastic, provocative, and just downright evil.

Yiannopoulos, a conservative British author and political commentator who also happens to be an editor at Breitbart News, is no stranger to making controversial claims.

He has gained prominence in recent years by speaking out against the concepts of political correctness and feminism, among other things.

The 33- year- old spends a great deal of his time touring college campuses, delivering presentations covering a number of highly controversial issues. Bucknell University was on the list of schools that Milo visited. It is here that Tom Ciccotta steps into the picture.

Ciccotta is a Prep alum, member of the class of 2013.

When he was a student in Mr. Conners?s AP Government class, he was inspired by Mr. Conners?s teaching through a number of different perspectives.

He is focusing on economics at Bucknell and is hoping to go to law school in the near future, but on the side he writes for Breitbart, a conser-

Breitbar t Wr iter Tom Ciccotta, Prep Class of '13, Bucknell Class of '17. vative news/opinion media outlet of which Yiannopoulos is a senior editor.

Tom says that he is ?fascinated by the cultural aspects of politics?, something Milo focuses upon with his work.

Tom also explained that he watched videos of Milo on YouTube and after seeing Milo?s work, he reached out to him via email in September 2015, inviting Yiannopoulos to appear on his radio show.

Milo responded by asking if he could come to Bucknell to speak.

In February 2016, Milo visited Bucknell, but it was not well received. Weeks before Milo?s visit, Tom wrote in an article posted to Breitbart that ?event posters were torn down and defaced and petitions and calls were made by students and faculty to the university president to have the event cancelled?.

Nevertheless, Tom noted that ?The outrage and buzz surrounding the event filled the auditorium to capacity? and everything went smoothly.

Ever since, Tom has been a writer for Breitbart, covering college or tech issues.

However, Tom, who was junior president of his class?s student government at Bucknell, was removed from his post ?after missing a total of four student government meetings out of at least seventy-five over the course of the semester?, according to a Breitbart article on the matter.

Yet, some suspect that Tom may have been removed to his affiliation with Breitbart, with Milo himself arguing ?The guy takes a job at Breitbart, and what is it, three weeks later he gets removed as class president, on some ? he can?t say this ? but it sounds like spurious grounds??

Regardless of the reason for his removal last April, it?s safe to say that Tom has ruffled a few feathers by being associated with Milo and Breitbart.

And that?s a good thing.

One could argue that Tom, in his political activities, is accomplishing the very spirit of the Prep mission: to go out and set the world on fire.

Political activism, the concept of standing up for what you believe in and making your opinion known no matter the response, is an endeavor rooted in courage. It is Tom?s

way of going out and setting the world on fire.

His passion for getting involved with what he finds important is exactly the kind of thing that makes Prep students special.

Politics aside, Tom?s association with Milo has truly opened up a great opportunity for a former Prep student to make his voice heard in the world.

Tom?s involvement with Milo has gone on to prompt a number of reactions from the Prep community and beyond.

His brother Michael, another Prep alum who is a member of the class of 2015, is a selfdescribed liberal. Michael, on the relationship between his brother and Milo, says, ?Although I find myself disagreeing with Tom and Milo on most topics, they are mainly pushing for freedom of speech and diversity of opinion, which I cannot argue as being a bad thing?.

Ciccotta?s former teacher, Mr. Bill Conners ?80, claims that, as a student, Tom ?Was always open to hear the other side of an argument?. He went on to comment that ?It?s great that Tom is getting politically

When asked about what he likes about Milo, Tom himself responded, ?He?s so over the top so that he can open a window to make conservative or libertarian students who otherwise would not be comfortable expressing their views on college campuses feel comfortable. All the things he said are to allow those who aren?t allowed to express themselves to feel more comfortable doing that?.

While Milo certainly presents controversial and questionable stances on sensitive topics, he also provides a platform of sorts for those who may feel as if they do not have the opportunity to freely express themselves.

Many disagree with the content of Milo?s message, and that?s fine. Political diversity is essential to maintaining a healthy democracy.

In a time of political instability, where protests have been staged at all levels and many are discontent with the current presidential administration, it is important that all opinions, controversial or not, are allowed to be expressed.

Expression of opinions, in accordance with the First Amendment, is what makes this country great.Milo may hold opinions that are ?mean? or ?offend? people, but he also has opened up discussion in ways that were once not possible. That, if nothing else, should be respected.

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

5 | Features

From K รถln, Ger many to the Prep: A Reflection

By M icha Delfmann Already one year before I came to the US my Dad came up with the suggestion to spend four months at the Prep because I always wanted to go to school in another country.

As soon as my Dad and I had prepared everything I got more nervous every day. At the day of my departure I didn?t feel very well, but my flight was really comfortable because I flew first class although we only paid for economy. That was the first and probably the last time enjoying unlimited choices of movies and food.

When I arrived, I had a culture shock because everything was so American and I felt totally on my own. But my host family, the McCabes, treated me like their own son and Mrs. Watson introduced me to everything at the Prep. After one week I already felt like a real American student and identified myself more with the Prep than with my own school in Germany. I was surprised that I made friends that fast and I really experienced the brotherhood at the Prep.

In the first month I already experienced cool American things like a Phillies baseball game, a Prep football game and Costco. I?ve never been in a grocery store which is that big! And of course I tried a Cheesesteak for the first time which is now one of my favorite meals. In ?Cape and Sword? I made friends for a lifetime and spent a lot of fun time with them. I even went to New York City with them and met Jason Sudeikis. I also learned a lot of interesting and important things, especially in my favorite class, American Studies, and ate delicious American candy in Mr. Raffa?s Spanish class. Mrs. Watson always cared about me to make my time as good and successful as possible.

I used cool American inventions I have never even seen before like garbage disposals and electric pencil sharpeners.

To prepare myself for Halloween I went to ?Terror Behind the Walls? in the Eastern State Penitentiary. I also experienced the ?real? Halloween with Trick- or- Treating and

Halloween Parties for the first time because it?s not really a big thing in Germany. My host family even took me to exciting cities like Annapolis, Washington D.C., New York City and historic landmarks like Ellis Island. In Ocean City I saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in my life.

The most exciting and - at the same time - shocking moment was the election where Mr. Conners made it possible for me to participate in Election Polls. I am really disappointed that someone like Donald Trump, who I think doesn?t support the values and beliefs of the Prep, is President now. But especially my host family helped me not to lose faith in the true America, which I hope will overcome the ?Trump- Age?. The true America, which I experienced during Thanksgiving in my family and at the Prep. I was part of a holiday in which everybody no matter what origin or nationality came together to celebrate American values like hospitality and generosity. I was part of living

Book Review: Humans Need Not Apply

By M r s. Sonia Nelson What is artificial intelligence? How has it impacted our lives? What will its continued rise mean for our future?

Jerry Kaplan answers these questions in Humans Need Not Apply: A guide to wealth & work in the age of artificial intelligence with an insight and urgency that aims to help us better prepare for our overlords future.

Kaplan holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania (1979) where he specialized in Artificial Intelligence, and a BA in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Chicago (1972). He eloquently informs us about the history of AI and pushes us to consider ideas and questions that have few answers. Consider the following: can synthetic intellects be charged with crimes? How might an Amazon monopoly affect the economy? Will autonomous cars make us richer, safer and healthier?

In this book you will learn the difference between forged laborers (assembly line robots) and synthetic intellects (IBMs Watson). This distinction is important because ?forged laborers will displace the need for most skilled labor; synthetic intellects will largely supplant the skilled trades of the educated.? You are all fa-

miliar with robots taking over jobs in factories but are you aware there are programs doing the work of lawyers? Or that IBM is working with the medical community to offer Watson- like primary care?

Within the near future the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about ?half of the workforce...is in danger of replacement by a machine.? Kaplan believes one response to this looming reality is to reevaluate our current education system.

He believes we should provide an education where ?subject matter [is] aimed at equipping students with useful and marketable skills.? He suggests vocational training as an alternative to a traditional education. I?m not sure how that would work. What do you think?

In May 2010 the Dow plunged 9% in 5 minutes. $1 trillion in asset value disappeared as a result of synthetic intellect high frequency trading (HFT) or, if you will, computerized stock trading. Even though HFT alarms sounded and some tried to withdraw from trading others kept running which created an ?electronic war.? This type of war, albeit less fraught, is also being waged every time we visit a webpage. How do ads appear on webpages? Synthetic intellects are gathering details about you online, estimating how much you might be influ-

enced and conducting rapidfire auctions to ensure the right ad shows up for you. Kaplan has thought about what we should do about the potential dangers posed by synthetic intellects and believes we need to have more control over when and where synthetic intellects are permitted to act on our behalf. But how? Well, that?s tricky and complicated and requires I write a lot more.

And I wonder, are you still reading this? Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Why should you read it? It is extremely relevant to your life, both now and in the future.

You need to understand what AI is, how it is used, and how you can shape its future use for the benefit of the greater good.

You can borrow a copy from the McShain Library or your local public library.

these values at the Prep while joining the Thanksgiving Delivery and Operation Santa Claus.

sad but I already know that I will come back to visit Philly and the Prep. After all I can say that it was the best time of my life.

Leaving America was really

M icha (r ight) with host student David M cCabe '19.

Sage Dining Celebr ates Chinese New Year

Features | 6

Getting to K now the New I nter im Director of Diver sity, M r. Br andon Brown '87

By William Ouligian ?18

?A4.?

Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Brandon Brown ?87, our interim Director of Diversity, and we had a conversation about himself, his job, and how he plans to work with the student body.

Q: What exactly is it that the director of diversity does?

Q: I understand you went to the Prep and graduated in ?87.

Where did you to school beyond that, and for what?

A: I went to Temple, where I majored in African American Studies and Psychology. I am also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, a historical African American Fraternity. Some of my duties include being Chapter Advisor to Temple University, a writer for the fraternity's regional and national publications, and being involved locally, regionally and nationally with the organization's mentoring program, the Sigma Beta Club.

Q: Where have you worked in the past?

A: I have been working in the areas of mentoring, community engagement, parent involvement, and parent engagement across the country for about the last 20 years or so.

Q: How have you been involved with the Prep since your graduation?

A: I did coach at the Prep for a couple years; I was a cross country indoor and outdoor coach. I have also been involved with the Prep for more than twenty years as a part of the African American Alumni Association. We just call it

A: First, to ensure that The Prep is a place where everyone feels that the space respects them for who they are, and feel that their voice has been validated and heard. Secondly, to really look at the Prep and ask if in fact our conversations and actions are diverse and inclusive.

Q: What are your goals for the student body?

A: To listen first and foremost, and to figure out ways to incorporate youth voice and youth choice within The Prep culture. If it means supporting various clubs, maybe broaden their scope of interactions; working with individual students for personal questions they might have; or working with teachers, staff, and the counselors in this building. No one in the building should say that they have not worked with me in some way shape or form by the end of this current school year. From the president to maintenance, I intend to work with everyone. Father Swope referred to me as the Omnibus person. My job is to look at everything. Academics.

Sports. Everything. For example, did you know we currently have eight practicing religions in the school, and about two dozen ethnicities? My job is to bring the richness of the Prep?s diversity to light. It?s about making sure that our diversity shines.

Q: Tell me about the Adesse

program. What are your goals for it?

was the van that I rode to Suburban Station.

reading the new book right now.

A: Adesse is the program for implementing student voice and student choice. It means ?to be present.?I want to thank Mr. Mullen for making sure I have the right word. The program is done in partnership with the counseling department, so I?m working directly with Mr. Gillespie. It?s an opportunity for you to have lunch in the St. Michael?s Room in Jesuit Hall, and share any observation, concern, or anything that?s heavy on your heart as it relates to The Prep, whether if It?s academic, social, or personal. We have over twenty staff and faculty members that have already been trained in this. They are there to listen to whatever you have to say.

Q: How tough was your first week?

Q: Which Philadelphia sports team is your favorite?

A: My first week was certainly a very interesting week. You don?t necessarily find things to be difficult when you love them. My ability to help through this period has been an honor and a distinction.

A: Oh wow. I don?t know if I could choose. I am Philadelphia everything when it comes to sports, except for football, where I am a staunch, solid supporter of the Washington Redskins.

Q: Currently, what?s your favorite TV show?

Q: Don?t know how that?s going to go over with the student body...

A: Gotham, Agents of Shield, and Lucifer.

Q:What?s your favorite book?

A: I fell in love with the Harry Potter Series. I am currently

A: [laughs] Anyone that wishes to say anything, I am more than willing to take them on.

Q: What challenges did you face as a student of color at The Prep, and do you think the environment has changed since then?

A: That is a very good question. I feel I could argue that the Prep in 1983 is very similar to the Prep in 2016. Young men walk into The Prep learning themselves, but not really understanding and or appreciating differences in others. Often times I feel the inability to understand difference creates cliques, and it limits the ability to have really perceptive conversation.

Q: How else has The Prep changed?

A: Well, I predate Jesuit Hall and The Field House. The only busing system when I was here

The Hawkeye Staff Editor s-in-Chief

Mac Riga '17

Tim Harris '18

Jon Erdy '17

Nick Palermo '18

Dan Morrow ?18

Aidan O'Connor '17

Thomas Dintino '19

Pat Morrison '18

Liam Grugan '19

John Thorell '18

Joe Scott '19

David Sakowski '18

News Section Editor Matt Phillips '18

Simon Williams '18

Features Section Editor

Staff Wr iter s

Robert Calabro ?19

Marco Sammartino ?18

Ryan Breslin '17

Zachary Carr '19

Spor ts Section Editor

Joseph "Porter" Ellis '17

Jacob DeAnnuntis '19

Matthew Brennan '18

Liam Henkels '17

Andrew Koh '19

Opinion/Debate Section Editor

Von Hobe '17

Nicholas Mattera '19

David McCabe '19

Jake Howard '17

Daniel O?Connell ?19

Director of Editor ials

Chris Rathke '17

Peter Banfe '20

John Kromchad '17

Dan Avington ?18

Enter tainment Section Editor

James Brenner '18

M oder ator

Eamon Gallagher '17

Will Breslin '18

Mr. Leo Vaccaro '05

Business M anager

Nathan Coulibaly ?18

David Haddad '18

Ronan Egan '18

Special Thanks To:

John Feehery '18

Mr. Frank Raffa

Head Wr iter s

John Figge ?18

Riley Herriman '18

Liam Scott '17

Liam Gibbons ?18

Prep Basketball (cont.)

Archbishop Carroll, Archbishop Ryan, Bishop McDevitt, Cardinal O?Hara, Lansdale Catholic, and West Catholic, along with non-league teams such as Bishop Shanahan, The Haverford School, and St. Georges (DE).

The Hawks have been fueled by the stellar play of their two junior guards Darius Kinnel and Kyle Thompson.

Kinnel, the team?s point guard, is the floor general, often driving to the basket and either putting up a short floater or kicking it out to one of the other guards on the three point line. Kinnel is typically assigned the job of guarding the opposition?s highest scorer, and has locked down players such as Izaiah Brockington and Marc Rodriguez as the season has gone on. Thompson is the team?s highest scorer, along with being one of the top scorers in the Catholic League, and is practically knockdown from beyond the arc. Thompson also has fantastic finishing ability,

than himself, such as Archbishop Ryan?s 6?7? forward Matiss Kulackovskis and Haverford School?s 6?5? guard Christian Ray, and has more than held his own.

When faced with the question of his thoughts being the only sophomore on the varsity squad, Arizin responded, ?Starting varsity as a sophomore has been a great experience so far. At the beginning of the season I was a little nervous but as the season progressed, I eased into my role. My teammates and coaches have also given me a lot of support and encouragement. I don't feel like playing as a sophomore is adding pressure to me because I feel like I'm part of the team and my teammates will pick me up if I make a mistake.?

Brian Griffin is the only senior in the starting lineup, and his experience shows.

Griffin is a very versatile guard, from knocking down three pointers left and right to diving on the ground for a loose ball. Griffin spoke about the strange situation he has

"I t's reassuring to know that we all support each other and offer guidance and I think that strengthens our chemistry as a team." showcased on his reverse layups on fast breaks, and great dribbling skills, which he often uses to keep his opponents on their toes.

Rounding out the starting lineup is sophomore guard Gabe Arizin, senior captain Brian Griffin, and junior center Ed Croswell. Arizin has been described as having ?the sweetest stroke on the team? by Thompson and has showcased that shooting prowess this season from beyond the three point arc. As the second tallest player on this team at 6?2?, Arizin has been tasked all season long with guarding players taller

been put in, being the only senior in the starting lineup, ?It's definitely a unique position to be in, but I don't think it has added any pressure on me. It's reassuring to know that we all support each other and offer guidance and I think that strengthens our chemistry as a team.?

The final starter is 6?7? center Ed Croswell, who has had a phenomenal season manning the paint for the Hawks. Croswell has been the exact big man that the Hawks have needed, swatting shots down constantly, ripping down rebounds, and posting up against some of the

7 | Sports

Croswell '18, going up for a dunk against Conwell-Egan. toughest big men in the area.

A junior transfer from Math, Civics, and Sciences Charter School, Croswell made the transition to the regime of Head Coach Speedy Morris, and has fit in rather well.

Croswell allows the other members of his team to man the perimeter and not have to worry about the opposition getting an easy bucket because their 6?7? big man is constantly clogging the defensive paint.

Earlier this week, I spoke with various members of the team to get their opinions on what changes they?ve seen throughout the season. Griffin spoke about how he has seen the defense improve drastically over the course of this season, ?As our season has progressed, I think defense has changed from a weakness into a strength.

Everyone on the court has been taking pride in trying to not to let their man score.?

Fans can notice this trend as well, considering the Hawks allowed 100 points earlier on in the season against Malvern Prep, but held Bishop McDevitt to under 30.

Arizin addressed some of the team?s strengths and

weaknesses, claiming, ?Our strengths include a great perimeter game as well as a solid big holding down the middle. Even though we are a young team, we play poised and are well led. Our main weakness is letting our opponents dictate the pace of the game. In order to succeed, we must play our game.?

Arizin, Griffin, Kinnel, and Thompson are all major threats from beyond the three point arc, and whenever they?re stuck outside, they can just feed Croswell, who has used his post moves this season to get some easy points on the board for the Hawks.

Thompson addressed the fact that the players have grown more comfortable with each other as the season has gone on. They?ve grown accustomed to each other?s strengths and weaknesses, and have learned how to play as a unit. When asked if there are any specific games that he?s looking forward to or any players that he really wants to face, he replied, ?I am especially looking forward to playing against Collin Gillespie from Archbishop Wood and Quade Green from

Neumann Goretti, both friends of mine and it is always fun to play against friends of yors and get bragging rights.?

Arizin, Griffin, Kinnel, and Thompson talked about how they?ve learned that they?re able to defeat any team in the Catholic League, even considering the incredibly tough remainder of the schedule this season against top teams such as Archbishop Wood, Neumann-Goretti, and Roman Catholic. The team expects nothing less than a Palestra appearance for the Catholic League semifinals, and truly believe that they can take down anybody that comes their way, especially if they just take it one game at a time and play their game.

Another key for the Hawks for the remainder of the season, according to Thompson, is to keep a level head and remain humble, because, if they get too cocky against all of these skilled, well-coached teams, they will lose. Led by Arizin, Croswell, Griffin, Kinnel, and Thompson, the Hawks look to make a run at the Palestra this season in the incredibly competitive Catholic League.

There will be a Hawkeye meeting on Fr iday, Febr uar y 10th in the Rooney Room at 2:45 pm. All are welcome to attend!

Sports | 8

Embiid and Other s Snubbed, Philly Spor ts Dreams Cr ushed Once Again ting a historical amount of tripledoubles, even though it?s his first full season at point guard. Curry is continuing his stretch of recent success, as the reigning back to back MVP is on top of the Western Conference with the scary Warriors?roster.

Embiid (left) is an ear ly Rookie of the Year contender.

By Zachar y Car r '19 Each All Star Game creates discussion. Whether it?s the quality of play (Pro Bowl), or the selection of its players. This year, the NBA All Star Game is no different. The starters were mostly voted in by the fans, with the reserves being selected by coaches and fellow players.

There were many headlines throughout the releasing of the rosters.

The first All Star Roster related story came moments after the

starting lineups were announced.

The main question was: Where is Russell Westbrook? He is tearing up opposing teams, averaging a triple- double. This is the latest a player has averaged a tripledouble into a season since Oscar Robertson averaged a tripledouble for the whole season in the 1961- 62 season. Many thought that Westbrook deserved the starting nod. No matter a person?s opinion, no one can deny that Stephen Curry and James Harden have had great seasons of their own. Harden himself is get-

Then the reserves were announced. Once that happened, many fans questioned how players like Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, Karl- Anthony Towns, and Joel Embiid were left off the rosters.

Chris Paul was enjoying a great season, leading the 4th seed Clippers. Paul has been an All Star for the last nine seasons, and this year he was playing like an All Star once again. Averaging a double- double, and leading the league in steals, Paul?s great season was put to a halt by an unfortunate injury. The injury may be the number one reason that Paul was left off the roster, but fans think that he still should have been voted onto the roster and then replaced.

Damian Lillard, like Paul, is one of the guards suffering from the

insanely talented pool of Western Conference point guards. Lillard is having another impressive season, hoping to lead the Trailblazers into the playoffs. The Blazers currently hold the last playoff spot in the West. Lillard has established himself as a star in his first five NBA seasons. He won Rookie of the Year in 2012- 13 and was voted to the All Star Game in his second and third seasons. Like last year, Lillard was left off the roster with some criticism from the fans. Lillard is currently averaging 26 points per game, along with 6 assists.

Maybe next year, Lillard could finally return to the All Star Game.

Karl-Anthony Towns is another young All Star bust out of the Western Conference. Towns, after winning the Rookie of the Year last year, has had improved numbers this season. He?s averaging 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. Towns has the shooting touch of a guard, and defends the rim well with his 7 foot frame. Towns is part of the young nucleus hoping to carry the Timberwolves to their first

playoff berth in 12 years.

Joel Embiid is another young player left off the All Star Game roster. Embiid has put not just the city of Philadelphia, but the whole league in awe of his excellent all around game. Embiid, in his third year of his contract, sat out his first two NBA seasons due to injury. This season is his first on the court, and it has been nothing short of excellent. On a minute restriction, he is averaging 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. A great majority of fans across the league believe that Embiid should have received a spot on the roster over Atlanta Hawks forward, Paul Millsap.

All Star festivities begin on Friday, February 17 in New Orleans.

Embiid and Towns will be in New Orleans throughout the weekend as they both will play in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night. Embiid will also participate in the Skills Challenge on Saturday night.Hopefully these four all- star caliber players will either return to the game (Paul and Lillard), or debut (Towns and Embiid) within the near future.

Sixer s Playoff Chances

By L iam Gibbons '18 Processing...

The data says that the 76ers, Philadelphia?s NBA team, will more than likely not make the playoffs this season. Impressive as the team?s ten win January has been, the most by a Sixer team in a month since 2012, ESPN and TrueHoop data show that the chances are slim at best for the 2017 Sixers to make a postseason appearance.

Over the past decade in the Eastern Conference only one team a year ranked ninth or lower after January 20th has made the playoffs, thus if all things were equal the Sixers would have a 14% chance of making the playoffs. But all things are not equal for the Sixers, as of February first they have already played nearly 50 of their 82 games this season and are currently 13th in the conference and more than four games out of the last wild card spot. Over the last decade in the modern NBA only two teams have made the playoffs from a position equal to or worse than the 2017 sixers: the 2015 Celtics and the 2008 Sixers, both of which were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, this would give the Sixers a 6.7% chance of making the playoffs if everything went right.

But nothing ever seems to go quite right for the Sixers. The team has been plagued by injuries. This is one major reason for the sixers upcoming lack of success. Another is the personnel with which head coach Brett Brown has had to work every night. The three trees of Joel ?The Process? Embiid, Nerlens Noel, and Jahlil Okafor have proven that they

simply cannot play together.

All three understand this and have indirectly, though publicly, commented on the issue of what they hope to happen.

In 2015, Okafor when asked about his role on the team when compared to the others said, ?My role is to dominate.?

And in 2016 Embiid and Noel have commented on Noel?s lack of playing time, the former referring to a certain teammate?s (Okafor) lack of defensive acumen and the later saying he?s ?too good to be playing [for] eight minutes.?

Seemingly as a result of these comments, Okafor has lost increasing amounts of playing time over the last few weeks

and has not played in the same games that Embiid has. Okafor has sat out of fifteen games this season due to ?Coach?s decision?, including six of the nine most recent games. One can only hope that some team with a little cap space will be needing a center next year.

The main reason that the Sixers will inevitably fail to make the playoffs lays not in the stats or the public comments but instead at the uncommonly large, fragile feet of Joel Embiid. The rookie phenom leads the team in average points, rebounds, and blocks per game, but does not play nearly as much as a centerpiece

should be playing. ?The Process? is still a mostly unproven commodity. He has played 749 minutes in a Sixer uniform this year due to minute restrictions from the medical staff. And as impressive as he has looked when he played, he has only appeared 31 times in a Sixers uniform, due to repeated injuries over the past three years to his feet and legs. He has only played in nine away games and never plays in both games on back to back nights. Possibly even worse news is that the Sixers cannot seem to win without him taking the court. The team only carried five of the seven-

teen games in which Embiid sat. This is even more troubling because at his current rate of play Embiid will have to sit out at least twelve more games this season which all but guarantees the Sixers another eight- and- a- half losses.

Teams trying to make the playoffs often do not have eight- and- a- half games to just give away, and the 2017 Sixers certainly cannot afford to lose any more games than are absolutely necessary. Maybe it is time to admit that Sixers fans will have to keep trusting the process for at least another year before they see any real results.

Embiid (L eft) and Sar ic (Right) look to lead the Sixer s into a promising future.

9 | Opinion/Entertainment

Atlanta Season 1 Review

By Eamon Gallagher '17 Atlanta, a fresh TV drama premiered on Fx this fall. With its first 10 episode season on the books, it has already garnered an enormous amount of acclaim. The series provides something extremely unique to mainstream media. In a raw yet comedic manner, is able to portray a group of friends attempting to rise through the rap industry.

The show?s creator, Donald Glover, has had success as a comedian, actor and rapper, releasing music under the pseudonym Childish Gambino. His creative abilities have given the show compelling characters, a distinct mood and interesting dynamics in its extremely short existence.

Glover also stars as the shows protagonist Earnest ?Earn?

Marks, who constantly struggles with financial difficulties and a want to provide for his family. Earn decides to drop everything and capitalize off the small popularity his cousin has gained as a rapper.

Seizing the opportunity to manage for an underground rapper strains the already tense relationship with his on and off girlfriend. Zazie Beats plays Vanessa, who often worries for Earn?s lifestyle.

It is clear they care for one another, but often they are dri-

ven apart. It seems that the only constant priority between them is the well being of their daughter. This leads engaging moments where Earn has to balance his home life with his new career.

In this way Atlanta exceeds where other stories fall flat.

The show takes its time in setting up the overarching plot.

Other recent shows and movies seem obsessed with driving the story forward, but end up missing out on developing the characters and relationships.

This is especially apparent in Earn?s exploits with his rapping cousin Alfred ?Paperboi?

Miles (played by Brian Tyree Henry) and his cousins friend Darius (played by Lakeith Stanfield).

While Earn attempts to create a disciplined agenda for Alfred to reach fame, Alfred would rather wait for the fame to come to him and live a loose, laid back lifestyle. This leads to some conflicts about their partnership and the direction of Alfred?s career.

one- time and recurring side characters are introduced. Although often very simply written, these often hyperbolic roles provide clever interplay with main protagonists and in turn reveal more about each character?s person.

Each character has their own hopes and struggles, and Atlanta does an excellent job of tracking the highs and lows of everyone involved. The characters have an ability to evolve and we see them learning and changing each week on screen.

Often an episode will hardly feature certain characters in order to focus largely on others.

The most praiseworthy part about this character development is that, as I mentioned before, it?s not rushed. Each episode doesn?t really come across as having a specific goal. Earn and Alfred don?t simply explode into popularity.

Instead, the viewer watches the protagonists as they struggle through the arduous, sometimes mundane realities of their daily lives.

In addition to the dynamic core of main characters, interesting

For example, one episode focuses on Earn while he waits to

be processed at a jail. This environment isn?t exactly a catalyst for breakneck action, but Glover uses the time to address stigmas of sexuality and mental health.

Similarly, one episode portrays Alfred on a morning talk show.

Interestingly enough, Glover chose to include fake commercials. Some are comedic, some are satirical, and some are left completely to the interpretation of the viewer. In total, Atlanta?s narrative, patience and personality make it one of the most engaging shows in recent history. While there is no set release date for season two, I recommend that anyone catch up on the episodes that have been released.

Video Game Review: Fire Emblem: Heroes

By M ac Riga '17 Video game mogul Nintendo made big waves in December of last year when they released their first game for mobile, Super Mario Run. The game, while critically acclaimed, was panned by some for featuring only three free levels with the rest of the game hiding behind a $9.99 price tag.

Nintendo evidently has changed their tactic. On February 2, Fire Emblem: Heroes hit mobile markets as a free download.

The game is a barebones, shrunken version of Nintendo?s hit strategy series Fire Emblem. Many key elements from the originals are dumbed down for a wider audience: the large maps are reduced to a 6x8 grid,

you can only deploy four units on any given stage, and trademark features like permanent death, hit/critical chances, and breakable weapons are removed.

These changes are made to make the game a more casual, accessible experience as opposed to the original series which is widely regarded as one of Nintendo?s most hardcore franchises. The simplistic feel works well, is just as addictive as the originals, and fits Nintendo?s mobile gaming aesthetic of ?one-handed play?.

The story, while not particularly riveting, is solid enough for a free mobile download.

The player is summoned by a band of warriors fighting an evil empire who plans to conquer the world using brain-

washed heroes from alternate dimensions. It is this last element of the story where the main conceit of Fire Emblem: Heroes comes into play.

Unlike in the main series when characters are recruited throughout the main story, in Heroes players use an in game currency to recruit characters.

Familiar faces, like Marth and Roy from Super Smash Bros. make an appearance.

The visuals of the game are simplistic but have a distinct feel. Additionally, a variety of artists were commissioned to draw the character portraits giving an additional incentive to recruit more characters. The soundtrack features remixed versions of classic Fire Emblem tunes providing a welcome dose of nostalgia for se-

ries veterans.

The biggest defect of the game is its pay to play elements. To play the main game mode, namely the battles, you must expend ?stamina points?. The points recharge slowly, but as you progress through the main story more stamina is consumed per level.

Stamina potions can be used to instantly refill the meter, but the only way to obtain these you must either complete achievements by fulfilling convoluted tasks for little pay off, or purchase potions with real world currency.

Furthermore the currency used to obtain new units are scarce, and the quickest way to get more are paying money. To the game's credit, all in game

purchases are confined to a single menu, but the shadow of this system is ever present.

Overall, Fire Emblem: Heroes is one of the most full and entertaining mobile games I?ve encountered, and despite its flaws is absolutely worth the free download. It is available on iOS and Android now.

Released Date: Febr uar y 2, 2017 M etacr itic Score: 81/100 Pr ice: Free (with in-app purchases)

10 | Opinion/Entertainment

Dr iver less Car s in Our Future?

By M arco Sammar tino '18 Every single day, millions of people get in their cars and drive to work, school, the supermarket, etc. For many, driving is an occupation. Around 3.5 million people in the U.S. alone drive trucks for a living.

However, this may soon begin to change.

Recently, Uber, the popular ride- sharing company, purchased a company named Otto for roughly $700 million. Otto manufactures self- driving trucks for long distance hauls.

The truck is manned by a driver that only takes manual control when the vehicle is not on a highway.

Driverless trucks are only

one aspect of the race to develop autonomous vehicles, and Uber is no stranger to the automation scene. They recently began testing with driverless cars in Pittsburgh, and hope to expand their fleet soon.

The question then beckons: if Uber and other companies begin to utilize robots over humans, what will happen to all the jobs?

It may be hard to see now, but automation is changing the world. Robots and machines are beginning to do jobs that humans traditionally performed. This poses a huge threat. A 2013 Oxford study concluded that automation could be responsible for claiming nearly half of the jobs in

the U.S. alone. Imagine for a second: half of all the jobs in the United States, jobs that people rely on as their primary source of income in many cases, are simply given to robots.

That would leave a huge portion of the workforce unemployed. And no, this process wouldn?t happen all at once.

But over time, the loss of jobs would certainly take its toll.

This leaves many wondering what the next step would be.

Some are suggesting a universal basic income for all citizens, others are hoping that the automation process can be tapered and reduced.

of jobs will never be fully eradicated.

Mr. Hendrzak, a chemistry and environmental science teacher at the Prep, believes that ?Certain automation is good, [but] there?s nothing better than being able to interact with a human.? On the concept of automation taking over jobs, he claims that ?au-

tomation is not supposed to be a substitute to humans, but rather a supplement.?

Whether or not automation steals jobs or produces new one is yet to be seen. In the meantime, it may be important to be aware of new advancements in automation; it may just change the world in the near future.

Yet, an argument can be made that the human element Otto, a self-driving truck company, was recently acquired

by Uber for $700 million.

L etter to the Editor : Cowboys vs. I ndians

By M r. Dino Pinto #NODAPL. This has been the mantra in the Pinto home and my classroom since early fall. The construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline has been a topic near and dear to my heart. I spent three years teaching at Jesuit high school a few hours from the protest site and know many who are actively involved in stopping its construction. Over the course three years, I fell in love with the land, spirituality, and the Lakota people living in the Dakota plains. The elation I felt in early December when President Obama decided construction of the pipeline would pause until a proper environmental impact study was done, was ?trumped? by frustration and sadness when our current President, three days into his tenure signed a memorandum to restart construction. When the news broke that the United States would not grant the easement to run the pipeline

under the Missouri during the waning weeks of the Obama administration, I was overjoyed that our democracy finally worked for the countless Native Americans who suffered from the selective way in which the US government executed the Constitution and practiced the values present in our Declaration of Independence.

Native American and people of every race, color and creed, assembled, demonstrated, and used the law to fight for their cause. In old westerns and throughout the relationship between the USA and American Indians, the ?Cowboys? always beat the ?Indians.? So you can imagine how I felt when President Trump proudly signed a document lifting the halt on the DAPL. That small victory the Lakota had at Standing Rock would soon be over. Corporate influence runs deep regarding the DAPL, and the water protectors can?t win, no matter how hard they try. Kelcy War-

ren, the CEO of ETP, the company building the Dakota Access Pipeline, made a six figure contribution to the Trump campaign. Trump has, or had, financial interest in the Pipeline. Rick Perry, former Texas Governor, who will be heading up the Department of Energy, most recently sat on the board of ETP. The narrative coming out of the White House is that the pipeline is vital because it will stimulate job growth and make us more energy independent.

President Trump and many people who support the pipeline argue that the water protectors, are inflating the potential impact to the environment. However, one of the major issues concerning this project is that it was approved without a proper environmental impact assessment. The arguments, for and against, the DAPL have been debated ad nauseum, and the facts stand firmly with the water protectors. But in our democracy,

that doesn?t always matter. On January 24th, 4 days into new job, President Trump, surrounded by members of his cabinet, paused for a photo-op in celebration of an executive memorandum paving the way for ETP to dig beneath the Missouri and complete the Pipeline. As a I watched the signing on TV and I heard Trump speak, I couldn?t help but wonder if the people of Standing Rock felt as if ?American Exceptionalism? struck again. I couldn?t help but think, here we go again.

Rich, wealthy, Euro-Americans know what?s best for marginalized Indians.

And yesterday, February 7, 2017, it was determined that the pipeline would go through without the proper environmental study. The rich oil tycoons, the 21st Cowboys, got their way, even if it came at the expense of the indigenous peoples who suffered the consequences of this manifest destiny. My experience, reflection,

prayer, Jesuit education, and deep Catholic faith teach me that I must act, and be in solidarity, with those who have the most to lose from this pipeline running through their backyards. In Matthew 25, Jesus explains how his followers are called to serve and praise God through our commitment to the poor and marginalized. He states that in doing so we honor, praise and serve Him. Non- action, indifference, and apathy towards the plight of others is not an option for those of us who are serious about faith.

The Christian faith is an active one. We don?t have the luxury of sitting back while our brothers and sisters are being exploited for profit. The fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline may seem to be over, but our actions or indifference will let God know where we stand. I choose Christ and stand with my Lakota brother and sisters. Mitakuye Oyasin.

For All My Relatives.

HawK ountdown: Top Ten Groundhog Days

By Chr is Rathke '17

10. 1986

7. 2012

4. 1938

He saw his shadow.

He didn't see his shadow.

He didn't see his shadow.

6. 1968

3. 1997

9. 1948 He didn't see his shadow.

8. 1981 He didn't see his shadow.

He saw his shadow. He saw his shadow.

5. 2001

2. 2005

He saw his shadow. He saw his shadow.

1. 1973 He didn't see his shadow!

Punxsutawney Phil, looking lovable as ever.

11 | Opinion/Entertainment

Hawkeye Sudoku Easy Har d

The first person to submit both completed sudoku puzzles to Jon Erdy '17 or Aidan O'Connor '17 will win a Hawkeye sticker!

Editor ials L etter to the Editor s

By Alex Richey '17 This past Sunday, members of the Prep Football team gathered in the fieldhouse in celebration of one of the most successful seasons the team has seen to date. The banquet itself honored the accomplishments and commitment of the senior class, who arrived at the Prep in the fall of 2013. This group of seniors has been a part of a team that has seen three state championship wins and three catholic league victories. Now nearly a week since he signed his official commitment to Georgia, D?Andre Swift became the third player in Prep Football history to have his number (#7) retired, joining Rich Gannon ?83 and John Reid ?15 on the fieldhouse

banner. He spoke in awe of a packed fieldhouse that celebrated his four years of success.

Knowing D?Andre as both a person and a player, I think all of us here at the Prep stand to congratulate him on a successful high school career.

He stands as a true example of the values preached here at the Prep. I am sure that he continue will use his many gifts and talents both on and off the field as he transitions into life at The University of Georgia next year. I think I speak for the entire Prep community when I say thank you, not only to D?Andre, but to all of the members of the Prep Football class of 2017, which has been and continues to be a true example of what it means to be a Prep student.

Would you like to write into the Hawkeye? Contact Jon Erdy '17 or Aidan O'Connor '17 for details.

From the Editing Staff: Are You in Favor of the Gr ading Scale Changes?

At the start of the school year, returning students of The Prep knew the year would be different with the administration's decision to change the grading scale. In prior years, the grading scale was rigid? many students would lose a few GPA points due to a change, perhaps by one point, in their grade.

Though many students complained about their disappointing GPA, but the administration has always affirmed that that?s just how the cookie crumbles.

However, at some point over the summer, there has been talk, and with talk comes change. Now, as many students see it, The Prep has become easier over the summer. The editors of The Hawkeye have voiced their opinion.

In agreement with the grading change, Co Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Erdy ?17 says: ?Anyone who has

experienced missing an A by a few tenths of a percentage points can come to appreciate the changes to the grading scale this year. Often times the vigor of the Prep is not done justice by a certain mark or percentage, but I believe that the changes take steps to make our school more equitable to others in evaluating the academic performance of a student.?

Also in agreement with the change is Opinion/Debate Section Editor David McCabe ?19. He says, ? Grades and tests are how we express what we learn in the classroom and it is important to be as accurate as possible in doing that. Changing the grading scale does not lower the Prep?s standards but helps to more accurately represent a student?s capabilities in the classroom. With a school as challenging as the Prep, we should be thankful for the change in expressing what and

how well we learn.?

However, in disagreement with the grading change is Director of Editorials John Kromchad ?17. He says, ?While I do love the increase in my GPA this year, I do not agree with the idea of the change not being retroactive, as in, not changing my grades from previous years at The Prep. Too many times over the years I have missed an A because of a one or two point difference. I do believe that the change inherently changes the Prep?s standards for the students, but I do not believe that the change will cause a lack of credibility in the eyes of a college admissions officer.? Many of the editors of The Hawkeye are in agreement with the administrations change in the grading scale of The Prep.

They welcome the new grading scale and look forward to their bolstered GPAs.

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

Fr iday, Febr uar y 10th

Tuesday, Febr uar y 14th

Satur day, Febr uar y 18th

Satur day, Febr uar y 25th

Basketball vs.

Neumann Goretti

Valentine's Day

Montserrat II

The Music Man Auditions

Wrestling PIAA Tournament

Bowling Championship

Bowling vs.

Archbishop Ryan

M onday, Febr uar y 20th Presidents' Day

Sunday, Febr uar y 12th

Wednesday, Febr uar y 15th Bowling vs. Lasalle

PCL Indoor Track Champs

Fr iday, Febr uar y 17th

Fr iday, Febr uar y 24th

M onday, Febr uar y 13th

Dress Down Day

Satur day, Febr uar y 11th Father-Son Service Project

Early Dismissal

No School

Parent Teacher Conferences

Wrestling District Tournament Indoor Track State Meet Sunday, Febr uar y 26th Father-Son Communion Breakfast

No School

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