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New steel drum ensemble expands students’ musical creativity

by Sean Soeder ‘18

Opportunities for extracurricular involvement always seem to be popping up here at Wildcat High. From Tolkien Club to Human Chess Day, there is always some new club or group to participate in. It looks like the school is about to get another addition to the multitude of opportunities offered on campus: the Steel Drum Ensemble.

This new group came about through the efforts of the Principal, Mr. Bradesca. He asked Mr. Dan Hamlin, the band director, if he had any experience with the instrument – which, luckily, he did. This interaction kicked off a process of tracking down and buying these instruments, which proved challenging since the instruments are made in Trinidad. All in all this ended up being about a year-long process with the funding for the ensemble coming from the school budget.

The Ensemble is intended for students who have some basic background in music, the ability to read it, and some interest in a new outlet for musical creativity. Although, all levels of musicians are welcome to join up.

“The overall purpose of the Steel Drum Ensemble is to be a new hobby, an outlet for fun, and to diversify what one listens to,” Mr. Hamlin said.

“The overall purpose of the Steel Drum Ensemble is to be a new hobby, an outlet for fun, and to diversify what one listens to,” Mr. Hamlin said.

Performance scheduling right now is similar to the way the Circus Company is set up, in that there will probably be one big performance a year with the possibility of some smaller performances scattered throughout. Details are still being worked out, but practices for the whole group will most likely be once a week for about 2 hours. In addition, students will be allowed to come and practice during their free time.

Currently, around 25 students have shown interest in joining the ensemble. One such student, Khalid Williams ‘16, had this to say about why he joined the Ensemble: “Because I like the instrument itself, I fell in love with it when I went to Kalahari.”

While Jacob Henkels ‘16 said, “Steel drums are unique, [the ensemble] would bring something new to the school that I want to be a part of.”

Just because some of the scheduling is not nailed down yet, do not dismiss this new group. The instruments are here on campus, waiting to be played. They are quite large, and can play a variety of music, including songs like: “Under the Mango Tree,” “Some Nights,” and “Jump.”

This project is just one of many that the music program continues to expand with in order to give students a variety of opportunities to enjoy music. So if you are looking for something new and unique to do on campus, the Steel Drum Ensemble is waiting.

CYO Power Rankings for the week of January 17, 2016

by Chris Larsen ’18

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1St. Greg (5-2) up 1

The Jaguars came up clutch with two full-strength wins against Gesu in the St. Ann’s Tournament on the same day. The first game had a score of 59-32, and the second had a scoreline of 64-51. They did lose by 4 to St. Paschal, but the two wins on the same day against Gesu put them at the top of this week’s rankings.

2St. Paschal (3-1) up 2

Photo Credit: Nick Ferritto ‘17

St. Paschal is a legitimate threat in the loaded State-White division that includes St. Greg and Gesu. After two straight 70-point performances, the Knights showed their true stuff in a critical mid-season league win over #1 St. Greg. If they can beat the St. Albert team that defeated both Gesu and St. Greg, I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran all the way to a state title.

3Gesu Bulldogs (3-3) down 2

Gesu had a bye week in league play this weekend, but two losses against a reborn St. Greg squad moved them down two spots. The Bulldogs are nothing to turn your nose up at though, this is still a very good team that has a very palpable chance of winning a state championship.

4216ers (5-0) down 1

The squadron of class-leading juniors representing the 216ers this season. Photo Credit: Adam Shibley ‘17

This a team that can really play. After a 82-48 thrashing on 1/10, the 6ers look to be running away with the State-Red division. They may be playing against lesser competition, but they could run with any of the teams listed above them.

5Sts. Joseph and John (3-1) up 2

The offensive juggernaut that is the Vikings has been quiet all season, but a 92 (!) point performance proves that they are a legitimate threat to the 216ers. The game on 1/24 against the 6ers will prove the validity of state championship aspirations for both teams.

6Gesu Jazz (2-2) no change

The Jazz are a young, talented squad of juniors that has been on and off all season. This is evident in a one-point loss this past weekend, after coming off of two 15 point wins. If captains Nick Neroni and Trey Burke can lead this team to consistent play, they could end up taking the Local-Green division title.

7OLA (2-1) down 2

Photo Credit: Caleb Geiger ‘17

The Cougar’s habit of playing close games finally caught up to them, with a 5 point loss on the 10th. Their next matchup, against fellow Westpark school St. Patrick, could set them on a course to come out on top of the Local-Navy division.

8St. Mary of the Falls (5-3) no change

The ‘Bolts are starting to heat up, coming off of a huge 76-25 win over St. Jude. Jared Yant, the self-proclaimed “Magic Johnson of CYO”, has been racking up stats in points, assists, rebounds, blocks, and fouls. In their 51 point triumph, he had 19 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks. The team has been playing well too, sitting at #2 in the Local-Maroon division.

9Holy Family (3-1) up 1

The Centurions are starting to heat up, winning a close game right after the CYO-mandated winter break. If they can hold their current form, Holy Family might just be able to jump up to the top of the division.

10St. Albert (1-2) down 1

Ignatius students, from left: Liam Jenkins, Andrew Zawie, Matt Szubski, Will Cotton, and Alex Ray. Photo Credit: Andrew Zawie ‘16

After an apparent forfeit in their first game after break, the Mustangs find themselves in a hole in a critical point of their season. Their next two games, against the top two teams in the State-Blue division, could by the spark that turns this season around for the ‘Stangs.

11St. Mark (1-2) up 3

The Lions seem to have found their groove, winning handily in their last contest, 50-35. If this talented team can keep up their momentum from the previous game, they could challenge for a title in the Local-Maroon division.

12St. Joseph (1-3) down 1

St. Joseph has been at the mercy of two very good teams in their past two losses, with one team managing to score the most points I have ever seen in a single CYO game, a remarkable 104 by St. Mary (Plas). The upcoming schedule has done no favors for the Vikings, but at least one win should turn their season around.

13St. Bernadette (0-4) down 1

The Bulldogs have not lived up to the hype so far, losing all their games this season. Their most recent game was a 58-30 defeat to the hands of Sacred Heart of Lorain. Something needs to change, and change quickly, if the Bulldogs want to salvage a season that has been less than ideal so far.

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Puns of the Week #16

Hello everyone!

John here again for another amazingly awesome pun!!! (:

Wow! It’s hard to be on top of this whole Puns thing, emailing you guys every week! I do it for your guys’ enjoyment! Who would’ve thought I’d get this popular? First this, then being on Channel 8, then the Eye asking me to share my puns with the whole school????? I guess luck is on my side!!!!!! #Famous #ItAintEasy

Alright, here’s the pun! (It’s a long one!)

Pun:

My ten-month-old was sitting in her high chair, twisting and moving all over the place. My wife then said to me, “Straighten her up.” I looked at my daughter and said, “What are you doing with your life? Do you want to be this way forever? It’s time to grow up.”

My wife hasn’t asked me to do anything since.

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! Wow! What good parenting right there! Have a preposterously peaceful weekend, ladies and gents!

John Heisterkamp ’16

Puns of the Week #15

Howdy y’all!

John here again with Puns of the Week #15!!!!!!!!!!! (:

I hope you all had a fabulously fantastic Christmas vacation! It’s always a joyous time no matter how you slice it! It may have been cold out, but that didn’t ruin my holiday spirit!!! #AlwaysLookingOnTheBrightSide #SantaIsReal

Okay, here’s the pun!

Pun:

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station…

Hahahahahaha!!!!! Just a little implication that senioritis might kick in sometime soon. #SorryTeachers #TotallyKidding #WeWillSee

Have a casually cool day!

Also, unfortunately, Puns of the Week will take a bye week on January 29th as I will be leading Kairos #184. Feel free to write me a letter detailing your enjoyment of my puns!!!!!!!!!!! (:

John Heisterkamp ’16

CYO Power Rankings for the week of January 10, 2016

by Chris Larsen ’18

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1Gesu Bulldogs (3-1) no change

Gesu has had the hardest schedule so far of any team on this list, playing ranked teams St. Paschal and St. Greg, as well as a non-Ignatius but still solid St. Albert squad in 3 of 4 weeks, beating all but St. Albert. Although their scores have been low so far, look for the Bulldogs to start pouring in the points in the latter half of their front-loaded schedule. They have shown they can beat less talented teams with ease in a 66-24 effort over St. John Vianney.

2St. Greg (3-1) no change

The Jaguars’ only setback of the season was a 3 point loss to #2 Gesu, but other than that they have averaged 53 points per game, winning by a margin of 20 or more twice, with Gesu and Lake Catholic being the only two close games. Like Gesu, they are a team that has the ability to win the rest of their regular season schedule against lesser teams. Be on the lookout for the Jaguars to put up some big scores in the next few weeks.

3216ers (3-0) no change

The squadron of class-leading juniors representing the 216ers this season. Photo Credit: Adam Shibley ‘17

The 216ers have not had a legitimate challenge all season, scoring more than 45 points and winning by at least 15 points in every game. The sixers are a very talented squad that has 5 former Ignatius basketball players on it. They should be an exciting team to watch in the coming weeks.

4St. Paschal (2-1) up 8

Photo Credit: Nick Ferritto ‘17

After an 8 point loss to Gesu in week one, the Knights put up 70 points in the next two weeks to skyrocket to #4 in the rankings. The game versus St. Greg on January 10th should be telling whether St. Paschal is a legitimate title threat.

5OLA (2-0) up 5

Photo Credit: Caleb Geiger ‘17

The Cougars are undefeated in the 2015-2016 campaign, but have had both of their games been decided by less than 10 points. As the season wears on, it will become more clear whether or not the Cougars have the skill and talent to win a title.

6Gesu Jazz (2-1) up 1

The Jazz got off to a slow start with a loss to NDCL in their first game, but have since heated up and won 2 in a row by 10 or more. The captain play of Nick Neroni and Trey Burke have been a key factor in their recent successes.

7Sts. Joseph and John (1-1) down 2

The Vikings have not had the hottest of starts, currently sitting at 1-1 with one close win. Expect SJJ to start to heat up with back to back games on the 9th and 10th.

8St. Albert (1-1) down 4

Ignatius students, from left: Liam Jenkins, Andrew Zawie, Matt Szubski, Will Cotton, and Alex Ray. Photo Credit: Andrew Zawie ‘16

St. Albert is off to decent start, winning one close game and losing another close one. Each of the Mustang’s games have been decided by a total of 5 points. If they can remain as clutch as they appear to be, they could go deep into the postseason.

9Holy Family (2-1) no change

Holy Family is off to a good start, winning their first game and their third. The only loss on their results came from the top team in the division, who they play again on the 23rd. That game could be what sets the Centurions apart from the crowd.

10St. Mary of the Falls (1-1) up 3

The Thunderbolts have had a see-saw season so far this year, losing by 20 and then winning by 30.However, one thing has remained constant: MVP candidate Jared Yant has been lighting up the scoreboard. I have heard from multiple sources that Yant has been “balling out of control” and “has already got MVP on lock.” If Yant and the rest of the Thunderbolts can improve upon their recent 65 point performance, they could bring back more than just an MVP trophy to St. Mary.
Fans: bring umbrellas to your game, because he will make it rain all game long.

11St. Joseph (1-1) no change

St. Joe has been a different team each time they stepped out on the court, getting blown out once and blowing another team out the other time. Time will tell whether the Vikings are a legitimate team or not.

12St. Bernadette (0-3) down 4

The Bulldog’s record doesn’t indicate the type of team they are and could be. They lost to the 216ers by a sizable margin, but have kept every other game within 5 points. Once they hit their stride, the Bulldogs could do some damage.

13St. Mark (0-2) down 7

St. Mark came into this season with a lot of promise. They have a talented team that have played against 2 of the best teams in their division in the first two games. Look out for the Lions to turn it on towards the end of the season.

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Diplocats place fourth at VAMUN 2015, Hearns takes solo honors

by Brendan O’Donnell ’16

Fifty delegates from all grades went to the 35th University of Virginia Model United Nations conference on November 13-15. The delegates performed their best yet in their third showing at the conference, earning a 4th place finish among 48 top high schools.

In Model UN, delegates represent a country or influential person and debate important topics, both global and regional. There were conferences of the World Health Organization, the French Parliament in the wake of the Algerian War in 1954, the Irish War of Independence in 1919, and many more.

Five delegates from Ignatius won awards in the program. David Scheatzle ‘17 received a verbal commendation for his work. Michael Benevento ‘16, Sam Watters ‘18, and Cullen Viancourt ‘18 all received awards for outstanding (2nd place) delegates in their committees. Owen Hearns ‘17 swept the gold medal, winning a gavel for Best Delegate in the Second Continental Congress.

Sam Watters ‘18 delegating. The young lady to his right is clearly impressed. Photo Credit: Peter Corrigan
Sam Watters ‘18 delegating. The young lady to his right is clearly impressed. Photo Credit: Peter Corrigan

According to Secretary-General of the club David Pietrow ‘17, lots of preparation was put into these awards. “We had the guys work hard, plain and simple. We put them through rigorous checks about what kind of research they did, how prepared they are for the conference, and, most importantly, how aware they are about the topic.”

In order to perform well at the conference, delegates spent many hours in preparations and research. This year, the club has more strict deadlines and requirements for delegates to board the bus. These obviously paid off, given the great performances of our delegates.

According to Best Delegate Owen Hearns ‘17, hard work paid off. “Like all St. Ignatius delegates, I compounded a huge supply of research before the conference. Then, I took all of the essential information from my sources and transformed it into a paper.” These preparations, along with his natural knowledge and debate talent, enabled him to trump delegates from the best high schools in the area, like Langley High School.

Awards aside, there are other important reasons that delegates choose to participate in Model UN. As Owen says, “The idea of a social aspect within debate really intrigues me. You need to make friendships and work with other delegates to achieve an ultimate goal. Also, the fact that there are real world implications to a Model United Nations conference is an important aspect of the simulation.”

The Diplocats will continue their domination at Earlham College MUN in late January, and more conferences are to follow.

Crew kids: Saint Ignatius’ most misunderstood athletes

by John Pacholski ‘18 and Matt Lindholm ‘18

Around Saint Ignatius, crew kids are known by many titles and names, both good and bad. When Nick Showman ‘18 was asked about how he thinks other students perceive the crew team he said, “I think that a lot of kids know that crew is a difficult sport, but it’s seen as the joke of St. Ignatius sports.” Bruce Bingham ‘17 after being asked the same question responded, “I think we’re seen as a sport that unathletic kids or kids who got cut from other sports go to.” However, despite these preconceptions that many students hold about the crew, being on the crew team entails serious commitment and rigorous work ethic.

The crew team competes in their main competitions during the spring, however it is essentially a year round sport with year round practice. Griffin Fox ‘18, commenting on the year round commitment and practice, said, “I would say the most difficult part of crew is the double practice days. Lifting in the morning and then practices after school which usually include a long run. It’s pretty much year round too, when the river is frozen we’re in the gyms on ergs. The biggest struggle is that it’s hard to schedule your personal life around it because of how when you miss practice you will be setting back the other eight guys in your boat.”

Another summary of a daily practice for crew is summarized by multiple members of the crew team: Practices for rowing have different challenges than any other sports because of some unique problems. Before practices start they have to move the boats and oars outside to make sure they are ready for practice. Next, on the water, they usually go about eight kilometers out on the lake or south to the steel mills and turn to row the same distance back. The boats also have a unique set of challenges. Far too often there will be almost 1,000ft freighters that will crawl their way down the river to the steel mills and will force the boats to stop practice and move to a “safety zone,” so the barges can pass.

To get a view from the other side, student athletes from other sports were asked of their opinions of the crew team and their members. Matt Hunt ‘18, a member of the baseball team says, “I like some people of the crew kids, but some can be overly passionate and annoying when talking about the team,” showing how crew kids are given titles that are complimenting but also offending. A member of the basketball team, Ryan McLain ‘18, was asked about how much effort is put into the team. He responded, “They put in as much work as any other sport. You can see your classmates in bunches working on rowing machines all the time. The team is very much committed to excellence as much as the football, soccer, basketball teams, etc. are.”

Team co-captain, Mitch Patterson ‘16 explained his reasons on why people do not understand more about the sport of rowing. Patterson explained that rowing is a sport you take up in high school and there is no prior exposure to the sport. Also, events range from Columbus to Pittsburgh, so attendance is usually low. Without this exposure to the sport, incoming classes are left to believe what others say about crew.

Many stereotypes are perceived when crew is brought to mind. People seem to be uneducated about the team which leads them to jump to conclusions about what actually happens on the team. Rowing boats according to Brad Anderson ‘18 is, “a sport in which most can play however at times it’s more a mental sport than anything.” Like all sports, crew requires time, hard-work, and dedication.

Twitter VP of Sales, Jeff Dejelo ‘95, speaks to seniors about college, career choices

by Kevin Deegan ‘16

On Friday November 13, the majority of the senior class gathered in the Breen Center to listen to successful alumni Jeff Dejelo ‘95, Vice President of Sales at Twitter.

Mr. Marc Milkie, the Advancement Department’s Major Gifts Officer, coordinated the talk with Jeff and was the main reason that the seniors had such a great opportunity. When asked why he chose Jeff to present to the class, Mr. Milkie said, “When I met Jeff, I was with Father Murphy. Jeff had an interesting way of looking at things and an interesting ending. I thought this would be valuable for the senior class with college decisions just around the corner.”

Jeff, the valedictorian of his class, spoke with the seniors mainly about the importance of a Jesuit education. Jeff had received admission into many prestigious universities like Yale, Stanford, and Notre Dame, but Jeff wanted to bring the tradition of a Jesuit education that he got from Saint Ignatius into his college choice. This lead him to choose to attend Fordham University.

Jeff often used the phrase ‘community’ when describing Fordham. He ultimately chose Fordham over some top-tier schools because he loved the sense of community there. Jeff said that he got a sense of community from Saint Ignatius, which was the main thing that he looked for in colleges. He also looks for community and passion in his team at Twitter. Jeff believes that this communal feeling is crucial to the success of his team members.

Mr. Milkie said that Jeff’s talk conveyed two major ideas: “Don’t expect life to go as planned, and don’t fret.” Jeff’s life went down a completely different path than he had imagined. Although he is the Vice President for Sales, he actually majored in Philosophy and Theology at Fordham. The path that he expected his majors would lead him down completely shifted after beginning his career on Wall Street in the early 2000s. He later moved on to working with finances at Yahoo, Google, and now Twitter. It’s quite obvious that life didn’t go as expected for Jeff.

This senior talk was very beneficial for the class of 2016, as students were engaged with questions and learning about what to look for in colleges. “It was nice of him to come and talk with us and I feel that I learned a lot about how to make my college decisions,” said Mitch Brezina ‘16. Although only three seniors signed up a week before the talk, roughly 90% of the senior class ended up attending the presentation. Mr. Milkie was very pleased with the outcome: “I thought the questions from the seniors and their attentiveness was great.”

Caution should be taken when handling refugees

by Robert Hilbig ‘16

As ISIS continues their campaign of terror throughout the world; the question of whether or not the United States should let in Syrian refugees is becoming more and more prominent. This question brings along with it a long string of possible results and consequences that could be detrimental to our country. When asked this question, a natural response would be based off of pure emotion instead of logic. While it seems like the nice and moral thing to do, bringing in 45,000 refugees from a war torn country is not the best plan of action right now.

Our national interest and the security of our citizens should be the basis for our policy. There are so many other things we can do to help the Syrians instead of bringing them to America. For example, the U.S. and its allies could establish safe zones in Syria which would provide protection to the people affected by this violence. Also, we could promote re-settlement of the refugees in a number of other neighboring countries. An analysis from the Center of Immigration Studies found that it would cost over $64,000 for a five year period to settle one refugee in the U.S. where as any neighboring Middle
Eastern country would cost twelve times less. However, a report by Amnesty International shows that six of the wealthiest Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates all refuse Syrian refugees due to security risks. Obviously, if those countries have concerns about their security, we should too. On top of all that, a poll from the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies showed that 13% of the refugees have a positive view of ISIS. It would be wrong for our government to endanger its citizens by allowing these refugees to settle here.

Author Leo Hohmann states in an article that ISIS has even publicly declared that they will use our refugee system as a means of placing soldiers on U.S. soil. In fact, one of the terrorists from the recent attacks in Paris on November 13th posed as an immigrant who sought refuge in France. That brings up another point which proves it is impossible to know who we are really letting into our country. The Director of the FBI, James Comey, even admitted during a House Committee on Homeland Security that the U.S. Government has no real way to conduct background checks on the Syrian refugees.

For every 5,000 innocent people we let into America, we could also be letting in one ISIS terrorist. Like I said earlier, we should not leave these people defenseless and helpless. We could easily aid them by offering them protection within their own country.

According to www.endhomelessness.org, as of 2014-2015 veteran homelessness in the U.S. is around 48,000 men and women. The $64,000 we would be spending on each Syrian refugee could easily be spent on each homeless veteran in America. The people who have ser ved this great countr y in order to protect our freedom deserve a chance to rebuild their lives before the people of Syria. The interest of America and her people comes before the interest of anyone else. The objective of our government is not to provide money and shelter to war refugees but rather provide protection to its own citizens. What ISIS is doing to the people of Syria and all of the world is atrocious and needs to be stopped. However, at the same time, the decision of how to solve this problem should be based on the interest of our nation, the safety of U.S. citizens, and what’s truly best for the Syrian refugees.

Catholic teaching calls on us to be good neighbors

by Jack Seeley ‘16

As the holiday season grows ever closer, it isn’t uncommon for us to forget the kinds of unrest being experienced all over the world. But, at a time when a range of international conflicts seem so remote, we should appreciate the freedoms and comforts at our every disposal– not everyone can.

The crisis in Syria is becoming a situation that involves more than just its own people. Close to 12 million Syrians (including nine million women/children) are fleeing their homes to find sanctuary in neighboring countries to avoid the atrocities of the Syrian Civil War. In light of the tremendous exposure to violence, hunger, and disease by the refugees, it seems only reasonable to ask, “Why aren’t we doing everything possible to help?” The explanation, quite predictably, is one that reflects our natural tendency towards self-preservation, but one that diverges completely from our Ignatian values.

The growing opposition to take in refugees is based on what is ostensibly a “national security risk.” Many have been led to believe that large numbers of refugees are associated with terrorist organizations. If this were true, it would give reasonable cause to protest the flow of Syrians; yet, this has no backing. In fact, the Migration Policy Institute indicates that of the 784,000 refugees brought into the US since 9/11, only three were arrested for activities involving terrorism (two were planning attacks not on the US; the third’s intentions weren’t even plausible).

Further, those opposed to such immigration argue that the cost of bringing in refugees would prove hurtful to our economy. Even from a purely economic standpoint, the cost (estimated to be around $65,000 over five years per refugee) is minor, especially when compared to the projections of economic growth seen in countries hosting the largest amount of refugees.

If these major concerns are based on such unsubstantiated claims, why does our country remain so averse to providing shelter to Syrians? Despite having moved past some of the greatest social injustices of history, we continue to alienate races that we see as unfamiliar. Sadly, this intolerance creates feelings of antipathy for those of a different background. Many Americans proclaim our country to be one of tolerance, freedom, and opportunity– if only we practiced what we preach. Even the Statue of Liberty, perhaps the greatest symbol of America, has an inscription that promotes inclusion:

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”

We simply can not continue to go on believing that these refugees will find a home purely by chance. Saint Ignatius High School’s mission does not advocate that we merely stand by, but to take action. Pope Francis even recently called for worldwide Catholic participation in the effort to provide assistance: “The Gospel calls,” he said, “asking of us to be close to the smallest and forsaken. To give them a concrete hope, and not just to tell them: ‘Have courage, be patient!’”

As the Christmas season approaches, I urge you to consider a story that should be quite familiar. Upon Mary and Joseph’s entrance into Jerusalem, they were repeatedly denied shelter by innkeepers whose indifference left the couple destitute. But, in the end, one hospitable neighbor gave what little shelter he could. And thus, from these humble beginnings, the Son of God was born.

In matters such as these, let us all follow the example of this courteous neighbor, working towards one mission: to give and not to count the cost.

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About The Eye

The Eye is the student-led publication of Saint Ignatius High School.

Editors-in-Chief: Kelly Coleman '23, Young Kim '23 & Aidan Oliss '23