by Conor McConville ‘17

Based on events in the television show American Gladiator, the Gladiator Games are an annual event held by the Latin Club. The Games consist of three events: the obstacle course, where students run through a few different obstacles while being pelted with tennis balls and giant exercise balls; the joust, where students try to knock teachers off the platform and vice-versa; and powerball, in which students try to get rugby balls into a garbage can while teachers try to knock them down with a blocking pad.

The routine was amended this year in order to increase student participation and enjoyment. the bumper balls section saw the addition of bumper balls, which had been bought by the Latin department earlier in the year. The obstacles in the obstacle course, however, remained the same and included scaling stacked mats, running through hurdles, running up and down a ramp, and being hit with a steady barrage of tennis and exercise balls.

The joust, too, escaped major alterations, except that this year it was student-versusstudent rather than student-versus-teacher.

However, powerball was replaced with bumperball, an event in which students, in bumper-balls, try to to knock over bowling pins which are defended by teachers in bumperballs of their own. The event seemed to be a big step up from powerball with both the students and teachers enjoying it much more because it enabled the teachers and students to slam into one another with a strength they ordinarily couldn’t.

While most participants agreed that the event was a worthy addition to the usual itinerary, strategies for bumper ball differed. Some groups tried immediately to knock the bowling pins over, while others immediately tried to the knock the Latin teachers over, a pointless effort because both Mr. Arbeznik and Mr. Masterson levelled anyone in their way. No matter what strategy a team pursued, everyone had a great time, and the Gladiator Games achieved another year of success.

by Nick Craicun ‘16

On November 15, 2014, a group of 33 Ignatius students went on the Ignatian Family Teach-In in Washington, D.C. The students were led by Mr. Tim Evans, Mrs. Mary Catherine Koehler, Mrs. Emery, Mr. Savastano, and Ms. Malone. This year’s Teach-In was composed of over a thousand students, teachers, and a bunch of campus ministers. The majority of the students are from Jesuit high schools, universities, and institutions
just like Saint Ignatius High School from around the United States.

So what is the Ignatian family Teach-In? Well, for starters, the Teach-In is an opportunity to work for peace and justice. This Teach-In focused on social justice, the promotion of a just society by challenging injustices, and valuing diversity. The Teach-In provides the chance to learn about many interesting topics, such as immigration, taxation, and environmental protection, among others. The Teach-In helps students realize what they can do to start making changes.

Students began to take action on the most important day of the trip, the final day. On Monday, November 17, students were able to take their ideas to federal senators and representatives in the Capitol Building. The students brought up important topics such as immigration and gave ways that the nation as a whole can make the process easier and more just. Students supplied their own ideas and were given immediate feedback on what the government is already doing. Furthermore, many of the councilmen and senators took the advice into deep consideration, which benefits the students by demonstrating that they themselves can make changes happen.

Aside from learning about social justice, the Teach-In was also very focused on prayer. Students were given the chance to learn about the Jesuits and how they fight with the help of Christ. Many of the speeches given at the Teach-In showed how a strong faith can basically make anything happen.

This is the nineteenth year of the Teach-In, and if you are interested in attending next year, flyers will be sent out around our high school next year for students who want to participate. Don’t miss your chance to take action!

by Christopher Rini ‘15

Recycling at Saint Ignatius is still in its infancy and has much room for improvement, but already it is an effective program that with plans to expand. Although the bins serve only as receptacles for paper, plastic, and cardboard, they don’t serve that purpose all that often, it
turns out.

Mr. Nolan, moderator of the student Green Team and the head faculty member responsible for the recycling program, says that as a young program, we aren’t yet recycling enough both in terms of participation and what we recycle. In the works are plans to begin composting (a type of a recycling of organic materials) as much of the food as we can at school, and to make forays into the recycling of small electronics. Also, more emphasis will be put on all three R’s of recycling: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Considering these three, Mr. Nolan advises everyone to, “reduce how much they use, use reusable containers, and recycle everything you can.”

Most importantly for improving recycling at Saint Ignatius is ameliorating the problem of the simple fact that students choose not to recycle even when it is available right in front of them. For a lot of kids, just walking an extra five feet to throw that can in the recycling is a burden that they see no worth in doing. So while improvements on the technical parts of recycling are going to be made, the charge of recycling lies in the students’ willingness to recycle and the understanding of its importance.

Right now, that willingness and understanding is neglected by the student body. Mr. Nolan tells The Eye that, “We’re going to work on education, so that kids are more in tune with the spiritual side of recycling. Part of the Jesuit philosophy and teaching curriculum is care for the environment and the gifts God has given us.” Despite this unfortunate setback, the recycling program saves energy, saves money, and cuts down on waste for the school. With just more willingness and compliance to recycle, all of these positive outcomes will grow.

So in conclusion, Mr Nolan’s message of advice about recycling to the student body is simply “Walk the extra five feet.”

by Kevin Deegan ‘16

Fifty-three Saint Ignatius student-delegates from the Junior Council on World Affairs club departed for the University of Virginia on November 6 for the thirty-fourth annual Virginia Model United Nations conference.

The second year participating in the esteemed conference, the “Diplocats” engaged in debate with fellow delegates while solving past, present, and future issues from all corners of the world. The conference, held November 7 to 9, entertained schools from all over the United States.

But this isn’t just a show-up-and-debate kind of club. JCWA requires months of research culminating in the (hopefully) perfect position paper. Delegates know their topics inside and out before stepping on the bus to head to the conference. Research is done, papers are written and graded, some tears are shed, and the final products are at last sent off to the whatever university is holding the conference. Furthermore, the students practice parliamentary procedure and speaking techniques and review proper format for resolution papers, also known as working papers, and other rules of the conference.

At UVA conference, once Mr. Arko and Mr. Peter Corrigan ‘69 had finished registering the group, the students were given the chance to tour the campus or participate in either delegate workshops run by the university’s professors and students. Talks’ topics varied from the importance of civic engagement to about the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. Other workshops trained inexperienced delegates by introducing them to parliamentary procedure, which is the rules by which a conference is run.

“The workshops were interesting and helpful. The talks by the professors were somewhat like college lectures.” said Bryan Fuerst ‘15.

After the opening ceremonies and a dinner break, delegates entered the first committee session. This is where Model United Nations actually occurs. Twenty-four different committees were available, all of which had at least one Ignatius student in them. Committees ranged in chronological and geographic focus from a simulation of the Roman Senate in 63 BC to the Russian Security Council in 2015.

“I personally enjoyed my committee. It was interesting to hear the ideas of the other delegates and to see which resolutions would be passed.” commented Ryan Spolar ‘15 on his experience in the African Union committee. Delegates worked together for a total of eleven hours over three days.

Finally on Sunday, the closing ceremonies occurred. The Saint Ignatius team came in with an energetic atmosphere around them.

However, the competition was challenging, with only two students, Kellen Dugan ‘15 and John Selby ‘15, winning recognition for their superior work in committee.

Selby reflected: “JCWA is a very important club to me. It has helped me to develop valuable skills such as communicating better with others. But the club is more than diplomacy. I love all the guys in it, and because of this I have made some great friends.

VAMUN was an amazing conference. The competition was strong, and my Press Corps committee was by far the most intense committee I have ever been in. Winning Best Delegate was an incredible feeling. All the hard work paid off, and hearing the Ignatius guys explode when they called my name was a very special moment to me.”

The loss was a blow to the Saint Ignatius team; however, the Diplocats walked out with their heads held high at this challenging conference. “Even though the result wasn’t what we expected, it was nice spend-
ing time with my fellow sweet boys.” commented Gennaro Olivo ‘15.

JCWA is the favorite extracurricular of its members and for good reasons. Although it may seem boring, to the Diplocats it is far from that. Students enjoy everything about Model United Nations. One of the best parts is that students get to experience a college campus for three days.

“The university was beautiful and the architecture was amazing. The history around the university with its being founded by Thomas Jefferson was great to experience,” stated Gabe Mielke ‘16.

Students also enjoy the freedom and fun that are had at these conferences. Students eat at many different local restaurants, spend time hanging out or playing frisbee on college green spaces, and even attend the exceptional and prestigious Delegate Dance on Saturday night. “The conference was well-run and I really enjoyed participating in it.” said Jack Seeley ‘16.

But the club is even more than just fun. “In all, JCWA is one of the most well-liked clubs at Ignatius. I encourage all students from all years to give JCWA a try.” said Brian Messina ‘16, one of the leaders of the club. The Diplocats meet every Tuesday after school at 3:00 in room 419, for those interested.

The club has already begun preparing for the next conference at Michigan State University from January 30 until February 1.

Each student is ready to make even more of an impact at this conference. The team should do much better since they are dedicated to putting in more preparation time.

“I personally believe that we will win at MSU because of our strong veteran delegates and our promising underclassman.” stated David Rossman ‘16. The Diplocats are prepared to win and get back the national ranking they had held over the summer.