by John Selby ‘15

The implementation of random drug-testing as a key component of the Student Wellness Initiative announced on April 29 has been a source of significant controversy inside and outside of the Saint Ignatius community.

The discussion has evolved both inside the school community through debates in Morality class, and through explicit and sometimes negative student reactions expressed in written form such as Ben Seeley’s ’14 recent opinion article published online in Scene Magazine. At the heart of the debate has been the definition of privacy and the degree to which the drug testing program is sanctioned by law.

The 4th Amendment to the Constitution in the Bill of Rights guarantees “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,” against unreasonablesearches and seizures. While this Amendment protects citizens against unjustified, warrantless incursions by the police, the Court has also extended the 4th Amendment to protect the rights of students from unreasonable searches by public school officials. But the Court has also upheld the right of public schools to combat drug abuse through random drug testing of students.

In 2002 the Supreme Court ruled in Pottawatomie County v. Earls that all students involved in extracurricular activities could be randomly drug tested.

But what of Saint Ignatius’ plan to test all students?

“There are no legal ramifications [with random drug testing] as we are a private institution,” said Principal Bradesca.

As a private school, Saint Ignatius is not bound by the same constitutional restrictions that public schools are.

That’s an opinion that finds support among some of the student body.

“Since we are private institution, I do not feel that my right to privacy as an American citizen is being violated,” said AP Government student Harrison Klee ’15. “The administration is trying to better our community as a whole, and the compassion they are showing for students is reason on its own to not feel like some ‘right’ is being violated.”

But even if their legal rights are not being violated, some students argue that a higher ethical question is raised by the Wellness Initiative.

“As much as I agree with the safety precaution reasoning for the testing, I would argue that they may cross the line of our right to privacy,” said an anonymous student. “The testing is another restrictive, organizational structure in our lives. The greatest teacher is failure and experience. Instead of making their own moral decision on whether or not they choose to use such substances, now the school may force students into that decision out of fear of ‘getting caught’.”

Students in the mandatory government classes are instructed in the values that the American republic was built on, including the right to privacy. The possibility exists that a “disconnect” may become apparent for students in government class or other history classes that discuss the legacy of the United States Constitution.

A stranger is using scissors to take a solid chunk of hair from every student’s scalp to determine the results for something that the student may never have been involved in to begin with. Private institution or not, students may grow to feel that their privacy has been lost.

“I understand why some may feel a ‘disconnect’ on some level,” said an anonymous AP Government student. “In class, we have learned about the core constitutional values the Founding Fathers used to build this nation, including the right to privacy, so I think [drug testing] is complete hypocrisy on the school’s part because it entails the complete opposite of what we learn in class.”

According to Mr. Bradesca, however, the response from the community outside of actual enrolled students has been positive.

On the day the program was announced, Mr. Bradesca received over 75 emails, “thanking the school for being bold enough to take this next step.”

by Brandon Borges ‘15

Saint Ignatius High School prides itself on the diversity of its student body in race, financial background, and geographical origin. The campus culture celebrates an ethic of diversity – but this characteristic may be markedly changed in respect to acceptance of different sexual orientations. As our society moves towards the acceptance of gays, lesbians, and transgendered people, so too does this school. The question remains as to how accepting Saint Ignatius is of gay students right now.

“I would say that, in general, Saint Ignatius makes homosexuals feel accepted,” said one anonymous gay student, “mostly because the teachers and staff enforce it.”

However, what students do under the watchful eyes of teachers is not necessarily indicative of how they behave among themselves.

“This is a very macho-thinking school,” said Myles Lundberg ‘15, “but it should be noted that just because I am gay, I am not attracted to you.”

“Because the environment isn’t perfect, there are many students who do not feel comfortable identifying as gay or bisexual,” said Mr. McManamon, facilitator of Campus Life, which seeks to “build acceptance, provide information, and encourage communication.”

“It’s a huge leap for a young person in high school to first know that God loves them, that they are created in the image and likeness of God,” McManamon said.[pullquote]

It’s a huge leap for a young person in high school to first know that God loves them, that they are created in the image and likeness of God.” – Mr. McManamon

[/pullquote]

“It is open to everyone Thursdays at 6th period,” said Lundberg, a member of Campus Life. “You can get passes from Mr. McManamon and Mrs. Reagan. You don’t have to be gay.”

When it comes to the Catholic aspect of homosexuality, an anonymous student said that sometimes students can warp or misinterpret what they hear in theology class.

“The teachers, before they talk about topics regarding homosexuality, they preface it by saying that being gay isn’t a sin, it’s just the actions. And that is good and all, but not every student learning it takes it that way. A few take it as a reason to justify hatred. I don’t really associate with those people, so I don’t care, but it’s just stupid,” he said.

Mr. McManamon said that he believes Catholicism does not exclude gay people.

“Catholic teaching around issues of homosexuality differentiates between orientation and activity. No one outside of marriage, straight or gay, is permitted to engage in sexual activity. So in a sense, there is no difference in that regard,” he said.

“The Church does still have some language that is somewhat hurtful in regard to homosexual beings, but for the most part, the rules apply equally to all. However, there are instances, even in the classroom, in which homosexual activity is discussed in a far sterner light than heterosexual activity,” McManamon said. “In our Campus Life group, we pray at the beginning of every meeting, we sometimes discuss the challenges students in the group face being gay and Catholic, and it is a healthy dynamic.”

The students quoted in this article said they were optimistic about what the future holds for attitudes toward different sexual orientations at Saint Ignatius. Lundberg said he believes that Saint Ignatius will “become more tolerant, just as the church will.”

“Well, you look in the past and you see all the hate on homosexuals and what the world thought of them at the time, and you look at today’s society, where you can say you are gay and people will be proud of you, like Jason Collins, it’s very obvious the school and world are becoming more accepting,” said an anonymous student.

“I believe we have to continually discuss the issue,” said Mr. McManamon. “I believe educational programming for faculty and staff, as well as for students, is critical, and the newly created Diversity Committee is looking to do just that. I would love to see a day when this is a non-issue, when anyone in the Saint Ignatius community could be fully who they are in terms of their sexuality, without worry of retribution, mocking, or job loss. We’re getting there, and we’re going to keep working on the issue.”

While Saint Ignatius can improve in terms of how it discusses homosexuality in and outside of the classroom, McManamon affirms that it is has become a much more tolerant school.

“We’re at a great school,” said Mr. McManamon, “and it’s amazing to me how few problems most gay or bisexual students face here.”

By John Selby ‘15

When Pat Mulach ’15 walked confidently to the podium to address over 1,000 students, he proclaimed that he and his colleague Danny Ertle ’15 were the men for job after emphatically reciting the refrain to Aloe Blacc’s hit single “I’m The Man.”

The student body evidently agreed that Mulach was in fact the man for the job, as they elected him President of the student body and Ertle as his vice president. The Mulach-Ertle tandem, running a campaign characterized by slogans like “Slow Animals, Fast Government,” are and have been a dynamic combination since they first set foot on the grounds of our famed alma mater.

“Freshman year we really got to know each other well in Bro Co’s class – shoutout to the man himself, Brother Cordero – and have been best friends since,” said Ertle. “Sophomore year we gained a ton of experience and realized we worked well together.”

Ertle also adds that it was a “natural transition” to this year’s campaign since Pat had served as Sophomore class president and he himself had served as vice president.

Mulach, a St. Christopher grad, and Ertle, a Ruffing Montessori grad, have both had extensive involvement in Student Senate and agreed that they wanted to continue their involvement as leaders together for the 2014-2015 school year.

The campaign was a “ton of work” according to President Mulach. “From creating posters to crafting the speech, Danny and I put a lot of time and effort into the whole ordeal.”

Mulach had high praise for his running mate.

“Danny was fantastic during the entire campaign for he played a key role in making sure the speech flowed smoothly and creating new posters,” he said. “We are still waiting to celebrate at Applebee’s half-priced apps.”

Mulach believes that the decisive factor in a tight campaign against the Dugan-Eckman and Schumacher-Raddell slates was the emphasis they put on making sure students got to the polls during lunch periods.

Mulach said he credits the get out the vote effort with getting him elected. “This was especially vital for the second round of elections as the number of voters significantly rose,” he said.

Mulach and Ertle both have freshman brothers who Pat says helped, “spread a good word” among the underclassmen.

“We’re so grateful and honored to be chosen for these positions,” said Ertle. “We really look forward to the upcoming year and promise to work our hardest to make next year reach its full potential.”

President Mulach says he looks forward to creating some “ill” student sections next year and enjoying the perquisites of office. “I haven’t put much thought into titles yet, but Geoff DiMassa would definitely be a fan of ‘Mr. President’ as he shouts it throughout the halls whenever he see me.”

Mulach summarized his goals for next year in the following statement:

Ignatius Students,
Danny and I would like to truly thank you guys for the support during this year’s campaign. Thank you to everyone who voted both in the slate election and the class officers election. As “King” Zupan clutches onto his final week in office, I want to give you guys a heads up on what you can expect next year.

The Student Senate next year will be ultra-receptive to you, the students. I will add a student suggestion box outside of the senate office so that you guys can drop off ideas for events such as homecoming and student section themes. We really want to incorporate the student body’s ideas into senate next year, and to accomplish this we need student participation.

Thank you again to all who voted and I am looking forward to a fantastic year. Thank you for trusting Danny and I to run the show next year. We promise to do everything we can to make the next school year your best at Ignatius.

Go cats,
Pat Mulach

by Kellen Dugan ’15

The college application process is notorious as one of the most stressful times of a student’s high school career, and perhaps their entire life.  Between pain-inducing standardized tests and endless supplementary essays, sleep is at an all-time low and pressure an all-time high.  But once it’s all over, students expect to be relieved by an end to the incessant pressure.

Having attained acceptance to their dream school, they believe, not unjustly, that the suffering should be over.  Unfortunately, the harsh realities of rising college tuition mean that their struggles don’t always end there, nor does it always have a storybook ending.

One word more than any other is decisive in the college decision processs: money.

With college tuition higher than ever, having increased more than 500 percent since 1986, the cost of school plays an integral role in college decisions regardless of financial background.  The phenomenon of rising tuition and unrealistic financial aid estimates has had a pronounced effect on members of  the Saint Ignatius community alone.

Zach Keirn, a senior member of the track team and National Merit Semifinalist, knows just how important financial aid is in the college search.  After applying Early Decision to Amherst College, not only one of the most selective schools in the country but also known to be one of the most generous in regards to financial aid, he received word of his acceptance in mid-December and couldn’t be more excited for the following year at his “dream school.”

“I knew it would be a [financial] stretch from the beginning,” Zach said, “but I figured it would all work out in the end.”

With the acceptance letter and nothing but a quarter left of his high school career, Zach was “all but sure” he was attending Amherst College.  Since Amherst College has an endowment that could accommodate each student in the school with one million dollars, finances didn’t stress him out very much.

“I have four siblings yet to come through school, and my dad is in the process of starting a business; I thought they would be able to evaluate my situation fairly,” said Zach, after receiving the first financial aid package.

However, after financial evaluations, Zach realized that he needed a very small amount more from the school if he was going to be able to attend; he quickly notified Amherst and submitted his appeal with plenty of time for the school to reevaluate.

As the days quickly passed and the decision deadline approached, Zach became more and more frustrated with the service he received from the financial aid office at Amherst.

“I sent email after email and got nothing in return. I understand if you don’t have enough money for me, but I don’t understand how unprofessionally I was treated,” Keirn said.

Having received no word with just one day remaining before the decision deadline, Zach called Amherst one last time to ask if the financial aid office had been willing to come down the small amount, but he was greeted with a rather curt secretary and a significant raise in the amount of tuition he would have to pay to attend.

“There was just no way,” Zach explained, emphasizing how surprised and upset he was by the disrespect with which he felt he had been treated.

However, the result isn’t all bad; Zach will be happily attending Fordham University at Rose Hill next year on a full academic scholarship.  One dream may have been deferred, but Zach is determined not to be held back.  

by Patrick Millican ‘15

At Saint Ignatius High School, as at any institution with a mission statement that it takes seriously, there is at times a conflict between our school’s professed ambitions to train applicants for excellent colleges and broaden our scholastic horizons on one hand, and to form men who enthusiastically serve their community and the world and who are possessed of strong faith on the other.

When time and money devoted to one comes at expense to the other, debate begins about the potential contradictions between the school’s core Jesuit identity and academic mandate.

“To me it has always seemed like there is a contradiction between the Jesuit core belief – really the Christian core belief – of others-centered service and the academic mandate to strive for success at all costs,” said Chris Bambic ‘14. “If we go from a purely logical standpoint and attempt to achieve success at all costs, then we might easily step on our fellow man in our climb up the ladder of success.”

The Ignatius student body is composed of two main camps, divided on the issue, not by it, since differences of opinion the school’s primary object don’t make enemies of friends or segregate lunch tables. Nonetheless, the difference in what students want out of their education here is palpably evident in the attendance at various extracurriculars.

With exceptions, competitive academic organizations like the school’s traveling Model United Nations team tend to attract intellectuals who affiliate with the pedagogic aspect of our school’s Jesuit identity, whereas service organizations, coordinated especially through the Arrupe House, attract students more attuned to the Man-for-Others ethic espoused by Jesuits in more recent decades.

Dean of Academics Mr. Gavin, however, thinks that people are operating under the wrong assumption if they believe that the two aims are necessarily at cross-purposes.

“I would never look at it as a conflict,” he said when asked whether he believes that the divide exists. “This school is college-prep, but it’s also life-prep. Personally, that’s where the religious and service formation comes in most handy–after college.”

He admits, however, that it’s a balancing act, noting that Sophomore Service and Kairos retreats are longtime obstacles in sophomores’ and juniors’ schedules and come – especially in the case of Sophomore Service – at the expense of academic pursuits, while teachers are “gatekeepers” in that they reserve the right to refuse to allow a student to go on a retreat or serve a funeral if he is struggling in their class.

Bambic, involved in both service and more academic extracurriculars like Science Olympiad, said that his experience at Ignatius has showed him that it is possible to reconcile both goals.

“Ignatius’s Theology courses and focus on Christian service has taught us that it is indeed possible to strive for success while serving God and our fellow man in the process,” Bambic said. “One can be a billionaire or a famous scientist and still be a good man, the part that matters is that he makes his money or achieves his success not for his own benefit but for that of his friends, family, and the community as a whole and for God’s greater glory. Hence the all important motto of AMDG which was instilled in us from the moment we stepped in.”