Ragen Frost was feeling the magic Wednesday night. The whole Priory team felt his magic. Down 28-26 in a tough game against OPPONENTS i n t h e V a l l e y P a r k B a s k e t b a l l Tournament, Ragen performed magic. A ball was tipped loose as the Rebels basketball squad defended a very tough, and Ragen was off to the races. He collected the ball and made his way to the hoop, checking to his left as an opposing defender closed in. “I was expecting another (Priory) guy to come in and help me out, but instead it was a one on one.” He dribbled within the three-point line, unsure of what he was about to do. Instinct took over. Frost’s 6 foot 5 inch frame drove towards to the hoop, his right hand outstretched behind his body, clinging to the ball with his powerful fingers. The oncoming OPPONENTS defender jumped from the left and reached out both hands in an attempt to preserve the lead. Ragen had other plans. As Ragen’s feet left the ground, a hush fell over the entire gym. The fans watched in anticipation, the Priory bench in excitement, the refs in exhilaration, and the opposing team in horror. Ragen was oblivious to all of this, as he began to bring his hands

over the top, driving the ball downward into the basket. After what seemed an “eternity” to Frost, the ball silently glided through the red orange rim, barely disturbing the net as Ragen tied the game. As gravity brought Ragen back into reality, the gym erupted. The defender’s cheeks became wet with tears as he realized the thwarted nature of his futile attempt at stopping Frost. The Rebel bench cried tears of amazement, and the opposing bench joined their ineffective counterpart on the court. Ragen himself drew tears of happiness. Mr. Suarez is also reported to have cried, although said reports have yet to be confirmed.

The referee’s soon thereafter stopped play and discussed which measures should be taken. There was talk of ending the game with both Priory and OPPONENTS as the losers, and R a g e n t h e s o l e w i n n e r o f t h e competition, but upon reading the rulebook, they decided to continue play.

The Rebels soon took the lead and outplayed OPPONENTS after tying the game. Ragen was unable to finish the game, however, because of a twisted ankle, and took to the bench, where he sat and cheered the Rebels on for the rest of the game. Priory took Ragen’s heroic dunk over OPPONENTS to heart and pulled out a 65-60 victory.

The Official Student Publication of the Saint Louis Priory School since 1960Volume 40, Issue 12

Friday, December 4, 2009

FROST DUNKSHysteria Ensues

Patrick Mulvihill, ’10Editor in Chief

The Record

Ragen Frost, ’10 performs his patented “I just dunked to tie the game, what are you gonna do

about it?” dance. Fellow senior James Kopfensteiner watches on in jealous amazement.

I know this is a cliche topic, but I just need to talk about it once. You know what grinds my gears? All the facilities in the facilities. I’m talking about the machines in bathrooms. Your most basic frustrating machine here is obviously the air-dryer that goes for a certain period of time when you press the button. The problem is for the first 20 or so seconds of the air, it does absolutely nothing. You’re sitting there thinking "why am I here? Why aren’t there paper towels here? This stinks." Your hands seem to get no drier. Finally, you start to notice a difference “Oh yes, like 10 more seconds of air!” and suddenly it turns off. It is like a rule for these things to turn off right when you are that climactic moment of blissful dryness. So, you either wipe your hands on your pants, or, do the unfortunate thing, and press the button, use the air for 5 seconds then

walk away while listening to that darn thing blow away to nothing. The only solution is to pair up with a buddy and split 3 timed air-dries. You go until you’re right at that climactic moment and it turns off, then take the next 10 seconds of the 2nd one to finish. After that, your buddy takes the remainder of the time to wonder why there aren’t paper towels, and then starts the third cycle, and finishes drying right as it ends. A complex system for what could be a simple solution : paper towels. Now, this problem was partially recognized, some bathrooms started to introduce sensor air driers. They sense your hands and continue to dry as long as your hands are there. The problem is these sensors stink something awful. They are virtually blind and sporadically detect your hands there and basically give you the worst drying experience of all time. They are so painfully inefficient I would rather just dry my hands in a furnace than have to use these pieces of garbage. Here’s one of the w o r s t p a r t s . (continued on back page)

“ ‘Tis the season to be jolly. ” Christmastime is literally the happiest time of the year. It’s a fact of life. However, being happy during this time takes a proper approach. Simply listening to Christmas music on the radio is not enough. That’s why I have compiled this list of the top five things to put yourself in the Christmas mood. 1. Peppermint Hot Chocolate from Starbucks: I am not a Starbucks advocate, but I cannot pass this up. Quite simply, Starbucks’ Peppermint Hot Chocolate is the new eggnog. Few things in life beat the feeling of the hot milky chocolate flow of this peppermint indulgence slide down your mouth, warming your insides like you’ve never experienced before. This cannot be perfectly duplicated, but homemade, milk based hot chocolate stirred with a candy cane can still

work wonders. I suggest trying both, but try not to make Starbucks a habit: you still have Christmas presents to buy.2. Ice Skating at Steinburg: I am not a good skater by any means, but something about Steinburg just appeals to me. I suggest going at night, but any time will do. The usual bonfire and outdoor experience is unparalleled to any other in Saint Louis, save Shaw Park in Clayton. Even if you aren’t Sean Lamb, try it out, and bring a lady friend if you need to. 3. Christmas Lights: Our Lady of the Snows and Tillis Park are both classic, but I’m talking about houses. Put on some sweatpants and grab a blanket, pile up in the car, bring some cookies and a Peppermint Hot Chocolate (see #1) and roam Saint Louis in search of the best-lit houses. Talk to me if you want a list of the best houses, but it makes for a great night. Search for the houses that have lights coordinated with radio stations, but it’s free (save gas money and food) and fun for anyone w h o c o m e s

Arbitrarily Judgementalitastic: The five greatest Christmas mood setters.

Guest WriterPatrick Mulvihill, ‘10

Editor in Chief

Friday, December 4, 2009Volume 40, Issue 12

EditorialsThe Record - The Official Student Publication of the Saint Louis Priory School

The Record StaffEditor in Chief:

Patrick R. Mulvihill, ’10

Layout Editor:

Chad E. Huber, ’10

Content Editor:

Sean J. Lamb, ’10

Faculty Moderator:

Mrs. Barbara K. Sams

In this issue...

Patrick Mulvihill, ’10

Mike Haueisen, ‘10

Andrew Lall, ’10

Dan Ohmes ’10

Clayton Dahm, ’10

Kevin Hess, ’11

Jon Gower, ’11

Krishna Kumar, ’12

Nick Russon, ’12

Brendan Thomas, ’12

The Record is the official student publication of Saint Louis Priory School in St. Louis, Missouri. It is produced by student editors/staff members. Its purpose is threefold: to inform students of events in the community; to encourage discussion of local, national, and international issues; and to serve as a training ground for budding journalists, photographers, and graphic designers. The Record accepts contributions from all members o f the Pr iory community , including students, faculty, and alumni. The Record will not publish content considered legally unprotected speech, including but not limited to: libel, copyright infringement, unwarranted invasion of privacy, or material disruption of the educational process. Student editors apply professional standards to the production of the newspaper and are solely responsible for all content, both explicit and implicit. Letters to the Editors are always appreciated. Feedback not intended for publication is also welcome.

The Record Disclaimer(continued on back page)

What Grinds My GearsPeter Griffinwith the help of

Mike Haueisen, ‘10

Student Council has been laying low for the month of November thus far, with the excitement of fall over. We had a great time at all of the fall events like the Homecoming Bonfire, the ever-popular Junior School Mixer, the exciting football playoff games, and the High School Fall Dance. The time off this month has given us the chance to plan for our big events in December and beyond. Our first major event coming up is the Visitation - Priory Winter Dance. It is on December 12th, from 7:30-10pm and is, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the “social event of the year.” Tickets for couples are $12, and for those who wish to go stag it is only $8. Ask a Student Council member or drop by the office in the next few weeks to purchase them. It is a

formal dance so coat and tie are required and you can only bring one girl. Visitation is setting up decorations with the theme, ‘Under the Mistletoe,” so it is sure to be a good time. We also have a Christmas Assembly

that is coming together nicely with a few new ideas we have thrown in for this year. Of course the tradition of doing a Christmas movie is being

upheld, and it is shaping up to be pretty funny.

Rebel Rock planning meetings have begun and Student Council is looking for all bands that are

interested in playing at the event. Check the front desk frequently as there will be a sheet for each band to fill out. We encourage both Junior School and High School bands. The only requirement is that there must be one Priory student in the band.

Friday, December 4, 2009Volume 40, Issue 12

The Weekly UpdateThe Record - The Official Student Publication of the Saint Louis Priory School

Weekly Calendar

Wednesday, 12/09/2009

Thursday, 12/10/2009

•4:00pm V Wrestling @ WCA•4:30pm C Bball @ St. Pius•6:00pm JV Bball @ St. Pius•7:30pm V Bball @ St. Pius

Friday, 12/04/2009

•4:00pm V Wrestling JBS Tournament

Saturday, 12/05/2009

•9:00am V Wrestling Affton Tournament

Monday, 12/07/2009

•4:00pm JV Wrestling Priory Tournament

Tuesday, 12/08/2009

NO SCHOOL

•4:00pm C Bball v. St. Dominic•5:30pm JV Bball v. St. Dominic•7:00pm V Bball v. St. Dominic

Weekly Lunches12/04 - 12/10

Friday, 12/04

Fish Nuggets, Mac & Cheese

Monday, 12/07Chicken Marsela

Tuesday, 12/08NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, 12/09

Sweet and Sour ChickenThursday, 12/10

BBQ PorkFriday, 12/11

Popcorn Shrimp Wrap

Sports Scores11/ 28 - 12/02

Varsity Basketball63-43, Metro @ Valley Park, 11/30

65-60, CCC @ Valley Park, 12/02

Kwai Nyu Rugby

30-24, Win v. Kwai Nyu Alumni, 11/28

Hockey

4-4, Tie v. MICDS @ Affton, 11/216-4, Lose v. Whitfield @ Chesterfield, 11/23

10-4, Win v. Clayton @ Affton, 11/28

4-1, Win v. Seckman @ Chesterfield, 12/01

Student Council Update: Viz-Priory Dance

Tutoria Activity Planning

All members of Tutoria need to speak with their Community leaders about the next Tutoria Activity (November 8). Because of the meeting last Wednesday, any activity planning will be on your own time, so coordinate with the rest of your community on what you need to be doing. The schedule will be posted outside the Tutoria Room and the Junior School Tutoria Office..

Record Writers

The Record is still looking for opinions and news writers, as well as JV, C Team, and

Junior School sports writers.

We are willing to publish any ideas you may have to a reasonable extent.

Talk to the editors if you are interested.

For Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed was a relative success. It received generally good reviews from most game rating sites and sold fairly well. The game play was original and the story intr iguing, however the biggest complaint was against its repetitive missions and linear areas. For its sequel Assassin’s Creed 2, any criticism has been blown away. The game takes place over three centuries after the events of the first game, during the Renaissance. You play as Altair’s descendent, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young Florentine man, who is seeking vengeance for the murder of his family.

F i r s t o f f , t h e r e i s a n introduction of money to the game. You can acquire it from pick pocketing,

chasing down thieves, completing missions, or investing money. It can be used for all sorts of things, such as upgrading your villa and local shops, purchasing armor and weapons, buying various Renaissance paintings (just ask Doc about them), or even as a distraction by throwing it on the ground. The combat system of the game is very similar to the last, but with a many improvements. The enemies are more challenging so you can’t simply counter them to death and there are a wide new variety of them. You have four basic types of weapons, two hidden blades, a small weapon and a large weapon. You can acquire new weapons by purchasing them from vendors or simply picking them up off the ground. Some guards carry large broadswords, axes, or spears and you can disarm them a n d u s e t h e i r w e a p o n temporarily.

Ubisoft has added several other improvements to the overall Assassin’s

Creed 2 experience. For one, guards are nowhere near as irritable as the original. There is actually a new system called notoriety, where guards start to notice E z i o m o r e b y d o i n g “ s o c i a l l y unacceptable actions.” The only way to lower this is by tearing down wanted posters and bribing or assassinated officials. There is also the addition of a fast travel vendor, which eliminates the excessive horse riding from the first game.

In short, Assassin’s Creed 2 is an improvement from its predecessor. It seems Ubisoft, unlike Activison, actually listens to the gaming community complaints because thus far everything I didn’t like about Assassin’s Creed has been changed. The game has already sold over 2 million copies worldwide. If you even generally enjoyed the original, you NEED to get this game. I give it 3.5/5 stars.

The term, “jumping on the

bandwagon,” does not even begin to describe the popularity of Modern Warfare 2. After Call of Duty 4’s breakaway success, it sold over 13 million copies two years after release. This number, however, does not compare to Modern Warfare 2’s first week of sales alone, estimated at 11.7 m i l l i o n c o p i e s . T h e e x c i t e m e n t surrounding the game is certain, but d o e s i t l i v e u p t o t h e h y p e ? The Call of Duty franchise has been a staple in realism since its inception with the original Call of Duty on the PC. Back in 2007, COD4’s short campaign length was forgiven since the story was so involving and plausible. The same cannot be said for Modern

Warfare 2, however. MW2’s campaign jumps form unbelievable event to unbelievable event. It seems Infinity Ward, the development team, had a set of ideas they wanted to incorporate into the campaign, and developed the story around those ideas. The campaign is fun, the graphics are improved, but it’s just not believable. I n f i n i t y W a r d introduced a great new Co-op mode with MW2: Spec Ops. Although 21 of the 23 missions can be played solo, most require a partner and a high amount of coordination to complete. People will hardly play this mode or the campaign as they jump straight into multiplayer. The multiplayer mode is the biggest disappointment in MW2. Previously, players had a preset killstreak loadout of UAV (3 kills), Airstrike (5), and Helicopter (7). MW2, however, allows players to customize their killstreak loadout. Some killstreaks like the Chopper Gunner (11 kills) are extremely overpowered, and players resort to camping in order to attain it.

The Call of Duty franchise is no longer about skill, but rather camping to get a killstreak. The multiplayer maps are also a disappointment. The clean-cut maps of COD4, like Overgrown, Pipeline, and my personal favorite, Crossfire, are out. The new maps contain so many buildings and alleyways, that it is practically unsafe to move. There are some gems, however, like Afghan and Estate. Overall, MW2 is a disappointment to anybody who played COD4 to the point of obsession (I clocked in 22 days of online play on the PC, but it’s OK, I have like five girlfriends). There is no doubt the game is fun, and any of the 11.7 million casual players who picked up the game in the first week will enjoy it, but it’s no COD4. As for me, I see myself playing this game for a few months until I tire of it, and return to the true Modern Warfare. I give it 3.5/5 stars.

Opinions and EntertainmentThe Record - The Official Student Publication of the Saint Louis Priory School

Friday, December 4, 2009Volume 40, Issue 12

Andrew Lall, ’10Entertainment Writer

Call of Duty Review

Dan Ohmes, ’10Entertainment Writer

Assasin’s Creed Review

The Blues kicked off the season in Stockholm, Sweden where they took home victories in both games against the Detroit Red Wings (4-3 and 5-3). However they left it up to late to win both games, falling behind by two goals in both games, but fought hard to earn those victories. This trend continued and saw the Blues slowly slip away with a sub par record of 5-6-1 in October. However, the Blues did better in November with a record of 5-4-4. Expectations were high for the Blues at the start of the season, as many experts thought the team would have a break out year in terms of offense from veteran forwards like Paul Karyia, Andy McDonald, Brad Boyes, and Keith Tkachuk. However, the forward core has underachieved thus far this season, with Karyia, Boyes and McDonald having 6 goals each and Tkachuk with 5 goals. This has led to the Blues being tied for last in terms of goals scored (62).

On the flip side, the defense has been nothing but stellar for the Note with Eric Johnson, Carlo Colaiacovo, and Roman Polak leading the way, as the Blues boast the 8th best defensive record (67 goals against). The Blues boast a 5-2-3 record on the road, which has kept them in contention for a playoff spot, however their home record has not, with a poor 5-8-2 mark. Their home record was a staple of last

year’s team which carried them from last in the Western

Conference to a 6th place playoff seed. Another bad point

has been the powerplay, with a very poor 12% conversion rate, good enough

for last in the league. If the Blues hope to make the playoffs this year (and they will don’t worry), their powerplay, home record, and offense need to step it up. My suggestion would be offloading Karyia (many will disagree with me), but his numbers have been less than what the management hoped for when they signed him. Trade him for a draft pick, young prospect, or even an established player who can get the job done up front, a Chuck Kobasew-like player possibly. We’ll see what happens come the halfway point of the season.

With a half a year remaining until the start of the World Cup and with the ever approaching December 4th draw, this has already proven to be a very dramatic and controversial World Cup. After a second tier Chilean Club filed a law suit in a civil court (instead of a sports arbitration panel), FIFA threatened to kick Chile out of the World Cup. As Chile is attending their first Cup since 1998, the club immediately dropped the lawsuit, assuring Chile’s attendance. Ireland was eliminated from contention when they lost to France on a play where Thierry Henry settled the ball with his hand on the goal line leading

to the William Gallas goal in overtime to win it for the French. After the game Henry even admitted, ““I will be honest, it was a handball. But I’m not the ref. I played it. The ref allowed it. That’s a question you should ask him.” Initially Ireland asked for a rematch as the game was very obviously won by illegal means. However, this idea was rejected by FIFA. Ireland then asked to be added as an extra, 33rd team, but FIFA also ruled that they would not change the format of the tournament. So much for “the luck of the Irish.”

The top ranked team by FIFA’s last release is Spain who is very nearly followed by Brazil. The United States is ranked 14th ahead of Chile and their rivals, Mexico. The top scorer in world cup qualifying was the giant Osea Vakatalesau from Fiji. Despite his 12 goals, however, Fiji did not make it through the qualifying stages.

iTunes Top 10

1. Jump Then Fall Taylor Swift2. Bad Romance Lady GaGa3. Untouchable Taylor Swift4. The Other Side of the Door Taylor Swift5. Fireflies Owl City6. SuperStar Taylor Swift7. Come In With the Rain Taylor Swift8. Party in the U.S.A. Miley Cyrus 9. TiK ToK Ke$ha10. Watcha Say Jason DeRulo

Top 10Winds of Plague

Songs

1. A cold day in hell

2. Reloaded

3. One body too many

4. Decimate the weak

5. Origins and endings

6. The impaler

7. Anthems of

apocalypse

8. Angels of debauchery

9. Unbreakable

10.  Legions

- Matt Keating, ’11

Contact the editors if you want to provide a Top 10 Playlist of your own for the band or artist of your choice and it could appear in The Record in the future...

Friday, December 4, 2009Volume 40, Issue 12

Opinions and EntertainmentThe Record - The Official Student Publication of the Saint Louis Priory School

Krishna Kumar, ’12Sports Writer

Fifa Qualifiers News

Kevin Hess, ’11Sports/Opinions Writer

Blues Fans Feeling Blue

PuzzlesThe Record - The Official Student Publication of the Saint Louis Priory School

Friday, December 4, 2009Volume 40, Issue 12

Crossword PuzzleACROSS1. Accumulate6. Easy gait10. Not front14. Donnybrook15. Winged16. Wings17. ___ alia18. Prefix meaning "After" or "Beyond"19. A title of address20. Promising22. A ship's beam23. "I knew it!"24. Things that happen26. Ring of color around the nipple30. Excellence32. Happy cat sound33. Journey35. Hemorrhagic fever39. Parisian river41. Muhammad ___42. Merchandise43. An analytic literary composition44. Between the head and shoulders46. Jump

47. Mixed-blood49. Stockings51. Admission54. Behold55. Gosh!56. A type of cooking utensil63. Adjoin64. Tropical root65. Cloth from flax66. Entreaty67. Ill68. Chose69. Inform70. Ultimatum ender71. Noxious plants

DOWN1. Dogfish2. List of choices3. Anagram of "Salt"4. Leak slowly5. Consecutive6. Female demon7. Margarine8. Maori club9. Found at the end of a pencil10. What they play in the NBA11. Unearthly12. Mark of insertion

13. Beams on ships 21. Talk25. Scene26. Basilica area27. Regrets28. Goddess of discord (Greek mythology)29. Decorative30. Units of distance31. Very imposing or impressive34. Hindu princess36. Chocolate cookie37. Not fat38. Vipers40. Visual organs 45. Leg joint48. Spreads sleeping sickness50. The color of the sun51. Customize52. Not satellite TV53. Vicious54. Fumes57. Wood fastener58. Circle fragments59. Squeegee60. Initial wager61. Marsh plant62. Concludes

Sudokus Word SearchWORDBANK

HARD

EASY

black

blows

bluntbrush

checkersdevoid

dimple

downwarddrift

flagfloat

fuel

grace

hare

hoarsehowl

humanillegal

impart

masterpassage

platequeen

radio

return

scare

sometimessore

stallstole

touch

tracktrill

umpirewithhold

would

Cryptogram

- Demetri Martin

The Rebels Hockey team has played well these past few weeks, with games against MICDS, Whitfield, Clayton, and Seckman. Against MICDS, Priory scored 3 goals from Nick Thompson, Colin Kopsky, and Sean Lamb in the 1st Period of the game. However, the Priory defense could not stop MICDS, allowing 4 goals in the game. With almost no time left, Sean Lamb picked up the loose puck behind the net and slid it in front to Sal Revetta, who pounded the puck home to tie the game at 4 with 2 seconds remaining in the game, resulting in a tie. Two days later the Rebels were back on the ice against Whitfield. Again the Rebels jumped out to an early lead with goals from Andrew Halenkamp and Niall Caparon, only to see their lead slip away as the game went on. The Rebels continued to fight back, adding two more but they were unable to hold off the Whitfield offense and lost 6-4. They bounced back a week later against Clayton. This time Priory scored early with goals by John Notter and Hunter Salmon. They held onto the lead, adding another 8 goals throughout the game to beat Clayton 10-4. On Monday night, Priory was back on the ice against Seckman. The game started slow with neither team scoring until early in the second period when John Notter walked the puck out of the corner and put it in the net to put Priory up 1-0. Minutes later, Thompson scored. Liam Ware and the Priory defense held the lead and Priory iced the game with goals from Lamb and Colin in the 3rd, resulting in a 4-1 Priory win over Seckman. Liam Ware played excellently over this four game stretch, holding Priory in many of the games. The Rebels play Ladue at 9:45 at Affton Ice Rink.

Wrestling season has started out strong, with Coach Rolwes pushing the team to be very conditioned for the long

season ahead. Despite a slower start due to the Cross

C o u n t r y T e a m a n d F o o t b a l l t e a m ’ s s u c c e s s e s , t h e wrestling team has

been able to get prepared in the limited time. The

team is also looking better than ever with returning seniors, including state qualifier Jeff Swaney and captains Drew Link and Mikey Hauesien. The Varsity line up currently consists of: Zach LaVallee (112), Drew Link (125), Van Thomas (130), James Merenda (135), Jeff Swaney (140), Sean Sigilito (145), Zach Behnen (152), Nicki Sarai (160), Colin Bruns, Tom Rich (189), Francis Cassidy (Heavyweight). As the season progresses, the line up may change as people may drop weight, especially Tony Hayes, who may drop down to the currently open 119 weight class. In any case, the Varsity line up is almost full and with help the team win more duels this season. As practices continue to be grueling, the wrestling team is preparing for the many upcoming matches. The Brentwood Dual was rescheduled to December 17th due to their football team. There will be a John Burroughs Tournament on Friday and Saturday for the Varsity and a JV Tournament at Affton on Saturday as well. Also, there is a JV tournament at Priory on Monday. It would be great to get a few fans to these events to support the team. The wresting team is hoping to have a great season and hopes to qualify more wrestlers to state this year.

The Rebel’s basketball team looks to have a strong season this year, l e d b y s e n i o r c a p t a i n s J a m e s Kopfensteiner and Matt Jones. Ragen Frost, David Taiclet, Matt Rhodes, Conor Ahlering, and Mike Puettmann are returning from last year, while Matt Keating, Andy Streiff, Jon Gower, Mark Mannino, Patrick Connors, Seve Esparaggo and Jack Taiclet move up to Varsity. Unfortunately, Mike Puettmann is starting the season injured, but is living vicariously through star forward Andy Schwartz. The Valley Park tournament, which started Nov. 30, was a good first chance to check out the competition and to get some early game experience before league play starts. The Taiclet brothers and Jones look to test their b a l l - h a n d l i n g s k i l l s . J a m e s Kopfensteiner looks like he will be the leading scorer again this year between his long shots and ability to get to the basket. The Rebels also hope to have a stronger inside presence this year between Keating, Gower and Mannino. Overall, the Rebels should have a solid season with the help of some good fan support.

Friday, December 4, 2009Volume 40, Issue 12

SportsThe Record - The Official Student Publication of the Saint Louis Priory School

Jon Gower, ’11Sports Writer

Basketball Preview

Nick Russon, ’12Sports Writer

Wrestling Preview

Brendan Thomas, ’12Sports Writer

Hockey Continues Success

There do exist sensitive sensors. Where are they? On the toilets of all places! You’re sitting there doing your thing when suddenly flushhhh the sensor thinks you have gotten up and completely left the bathroom, and water starts splattering all over your legs. They are so horribly sensitive you have to sit there like a gargoyle completely motionless while you’re doing your business lest you be confronted with another icey blast of toilet water from another uncalled-for flush. I get so frustrated when I'm at the Cardinals game, the lines are like 15 people long, and suddenly my toilet flushes, and 15 men outside think I'm done and start side-stepping their way to casually be

next in line, only to discover I'm not done and they are victims of a flush-deceivery. Do I say sorry I'm not done? Or just sit there in silence? They need to switch the sensors they use on the toilets with those on the hand-driers. Because those on the toilets are so horribly sensitive and ruin your bathroom experience, and those on the hand-driers are so blind and inaccurate its just not even worth bothering with them. All in all, bathroom facilities have a way of ruining what could be a pleasant place, somewhere I would like to hang out in my free-time from time to time. But thanks to the lack of paper towels, and the worst sensors of all time, I have to kill time in other places.

along.4. Frank Sinatra/Sufjan Stevens Christmas Music: I have literally been listening to Sufjan and Frank non-stop since Thanksgiving ending and, save Charlie Brown Christmas music, they’re the only Holiday tunes worth listening to. A Sinatra Christmas is the epitome of Christmas class and Sufjan’s five (yes, FIVE) albums offers multiple instrumental and vocal renditions of Christmas classics. While they do not resemble each other, they beat Transiberian Orchestra, which, contrary to popular bel ief , is actual ly a desecration of Christmas music.5. NO SCHOOL: ‘Nuff said.

Friday evening a few weeks ago after exams a contingent of Priory Human Rights Watch members (consisting of Senora and myself due to the football game…) got on a bus with other high school kids from DuBourg, Nenrix, Chaminade, and Villa and drove to Fort Benning, Georgia. Fort Benning is where SOA/WHINSEC, the School of the Americas is located (commonly called the School of Assassins). The SOA is funded by the US government and they train and instruct Latin American soldiers. The only problem is, graduates of the SOA have committed thousands of horrible atrocities. Thousands have been tortured, murdered, raped etc. by these soldiers who learned these techniques at Fort Benning. Saturday when we arrived

we went to the Ignacian Family Teach-in and listened to some speakers on various human rights violations before going to the rally grounds at the entrance to Fort Benning. Sunday was the actual rally, where about 15,000 people stood to protest the SOA. Countless victims’ names were read off. After each name, everyone raised his or her cross (which had a name of a victim on it, pictured below) and responded “presente” meaning; to be present. We

marched in a circle and placed our crosses in the fence at the entrance. The whole trip was a very moving and an eye-opening experience. I had no idea that these terrible acts of violence are occurring currently, and that they are funded by our own government. Your tax dollars fund the SOA. I urge you to learn more and take action to help close down the School of Assassins by visiting the website: www.soaw.org.

THE RECORD - The Official Student Publication of the Saint Louis Priory School 500 S. Mason Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 314.434.3690 ext. 221 therecord@priory.org

Editor in Chief: Patrick R. Mulvihill, ’10 Layout Editor: Chad E. Huber, ’10 Content Editor: Sean J. Lamb, ’10 Moderator: Barbara K. Sams

The Record WeeklyThe Official Student Publication of the Saint Louis Priory School

Friday, December 4, 2009Volume 40, Issue 12

Arbitrarily Judgementalitastic(continued from page 2)

Clayton DahmNews Writer

Grinds My Gears(continued from page 2)

School of Americas:“School of Assassins” Protest