The Quill The Student Newspaper of Mount Saint Joseph High School - Volume LXXIX - Issue V - May 2010 St. Joe Welcomes Gibbons Transfers School Closings Create Sadness, Offer New Opportunities Moses Hubbard Quill Staff Editor Parker Mellendick Quill Staff Writer The Blood Drive Saint Joe Students Generously Perform a Christic Act There is something about a needle that seems to scare everyone at least a little. However, this didn’t seem to keep more than 70 people at MSJ from donating blood on Friday, March 5, 2010. Nearly everyone is a little nervous the first time they donate blood. Most donors will tell you they only feel a slight pinch when the needle is inserted, so there is no reason to be scared. Most donors consider the little pinch to be the reminder that their donation can help save the life of up to three other people. The blood drive is almost always a great success here at MSJ and the Red Cross always looks to us to lead the way, especially this time around since the blizzards this year kept the blood banks low. Most students who give blood enjoy the experience. They know they are helping to save a life and they get to miss out on class too. The SADD/ Lifesavers Club helps give out snacks and refreshments provided by the Red Cross to the donors to keep them from feeling faint. These refreshments include cookies, crackers, and even nachos. Donors also receive a t-shirt and a sticker indicating they gave blood. Before donating, you are interviewed and tested to make sure that you are healthy enough to give blood. Generally, a male has to be over 130 pounds and at least 5’1”. However, you may not be able to donate if you have high or low blood pressure or any diseases transferred through the blood. Reactions to giving blood rarely occur and are usually minor. The best way to avoid problems is to remain calm and understand the donation process. A donor must also be sure to eat regularly scheduled meals before donating and to drink plenty of fluids. Fluid depletion is one of the most common causes of reaction to the process. It is impossible to get AIDS, or any other disease, from giving blood. The needle and container are sterile. They are used only once for your donation and then discarded. Your activities after donating aren’t too limited. You are only requested not to lift anything heavy with your donation arm for 4 hours and to refrain from strenuous exercise for at least 12 hours. If you play a sport at school, you may want to check with your coach to make sure it is alright for you to donate. Some donors choose to make a double red cell donation. This saves time and makes your donation go further. This is a donation where blood is drawn from one arm and channeled through a sterile, single-use collection set to an automated machine. The machine separates and collects two units of red cells and then safely returns the remaining blood components, along with some saline, back to you through the same arm. Since a smaller needle is used in the process, many people find double red cell donation more comfortable than whole blood donation. Given that all of your platelets and plasma are returned to your body and you receive some saline in the process, you don’t lose the liquid portion of your blood and may feel more hydrated after your donation. Source: American Red Cross “It’s gonna be real hard, loosing a family like that.” Jake Parry, in his red Gibbons Polo, looks down for a moment, staring blankly at a spot somewhere behind me. “I think everyone’s taking it hard, all of us.” And he looks back up. Just a few Fridays ago, Jake, a sophomore at Cardinal Gibbons, shadowed at Mount Saint Joseph, where he’s considering moving for his junior year. After Wednesday the March 3, when Archbishop Edwin O’Brien announced that Cardinal Gibbons, along with 12 other Catholic elementary and middle schools, will not be reopening in Fall of 2010, Jake will have to find a new high school. Jake’s old middle and elementary school, Saint William of York, is among the twelve other schools that will be closing. Father Marty Demek, the priest at Saint William’s Church, declined to make a comment. Jake is just one of thousands of Catholic School students who will be affected by the recent school closings. In a letter prefacing the report, the Archbishop wrote, “As a result of under enrollment and financial difficulties, I must do what many organizations, businesses and families are doing in these challenging economic times: make difficult but necessary decisions about the allocation of limited resources.” Therefore, thirteen Catholic schools will be “consolidating,” leaving a total of 2,160 Catholic students to find new schools. The realities are painful but undeniable: Out of 32,500 spots, there are currently 10,000 empty seats available in Catholic schools. The schools have also been “hemorrhaging” money – already in debt $11.7 million, and projected to add an additional $2.2 million to that this year. In an interview with the Catholic Review, Archbishop O’Brien said, “We want to stem the hemorrhaging. It’s been going on since the turn of the century and especially since 2002 and the last couple of years, with the economic downturn.” The archbishop has made it clear that “there will be a place in a Catholic school for every student who wants to be in one.” The Mount is an obvious choice for Gibbons students to turn to – It’s Catholic, all male, and relatively close by. So the Mount Saint Joseph community faced a question: What do we do about the closings, and how do we do it? I sat down with Mr. Hoffman, the Mount’s director of admissions, to talk about the Mount’s involvement in the relocation of students. “The admissions criteria are going to be the exact same as we would for any transfer student,” he said. “The things we’ll look at are their grades at their current high school, discipline records, and the like. Every applicant will have to go through the interview process just like all our other applicants, so there won’t really be any change to our procedure.” If a former Gibbons student wishes to go to the Mount, he’ll have to go through the same process as any other student would. Transfers will also be expected to pay the usual Mount tuition: “. . . Most of our financial aid for next year has already been allocated. If any of that money does come back, it can be reexamined and reallocated to perspective families. The diocese, I know, is trying to get together a fund to offset some of those costs – to compensate for some financial aid the boys got at Gibbons, or even possibly some scholarships they got. But that would have to come through the archdiocese,” Mr. Hoffman reported. A total of 46 Gibbons students have been accepted: 11 could be entering as seniors, 12 as juniors, and 23 as sophomores. We don’t have control over the admissions process, but as students, and as members of the Mount community, the burden falls equally heavily on us to make the relocation process as easy as is possible for former Gibbons students. I asked Brother James for a message to the Mount’s student body. He said, “We say that we are a Christian community, and we are. We’re a Christian fraternity, a band of brothers. I think we need to show that to the Gibbons community when they come here – that we’re going to welcome them into our band of brothers. My hope is that the Gibbons kids who come will want to be a part of that. We realize that as hard as it is for them to leave Gibbons, they’re coming to a new community, and that community is willing to welcome them.” Information for this article was taken in
Transcript
The Quill The Student Newspaper of Mount Saint Joseph High School - Volume LXXIX - Issue V - May 2010
St. Joe Welcomes Gibbons Transfers School Closings Create Sadness, Offer New Opportunities
Moses HubbardQuill Staff Editor
Parker MellendickQuill Staff Writer
The Blood DriveSaint Joe Students Generously Perform a Christic Act
There is something about a needle that seems to scare everyone at least a little. However, this didn’t seem to keep more than 70 people at MSJ from donating blood on Friday, March 5, 2010.
Nearly everyone is a little nervous the first time they donate blood. Most donors will tell you they only feel a slight pinch when the needle is inserted, so there is no reason to be scared. Most donors consider the little pinch to be the reminder that their donation can help save the life of up to three other people. The blood drive is almost always a great success here at MSJ and the Red Cross always looks to us to lead the way, especially this time around since the blizzards this year kept the blood banks low. Most students who give blood enjoy the experience. They know they are helping to save a life and they get to miss out on class too. The SADD/Lifesavers Club helps give out snacks and refreshments provided by the Red Cross to the donors to keep them from feeling faint. These refreshments include cookies, crackers, and even nachos. Donors also receive a t-shirt and a sticker indicating they gave blood.
Before donating, you are interviewed and tested to make sure that you are healthy enough to give blood. Generally, a male has to be over 130 pounds and at least 5’1”. However, you may not be able to donate if you have high or low blood pressure or any diseases transferred through the blood.
Reactions to giving blood rarely occur and are usually minor. The best way to avoid problems is to remain calm and understand the donation process. A donor must also be sure to eat regularly scheduled meals before donating and to drink plenty of fluids. Fluid depletion is one of the most common causes of reaction to the process.
It is impossible to get AIDS, or any other disease, from giving blood. The needle and container are sterile. They are used only once for your donation and then discarded. Your activities after donating
aren’t too limited. You are only requested not to lift anything heavy with your donation arm for 4 hours and to refrain from strenuous exercise for at least 12 hours. If you play a sport at school, you may want to check with your coach to make sure it is alright for you to donate. Some donors choose to make a double red cell donation. This saves time and makes your donation go further. This is a donation where blood is drawn from one arm and channeled through a sterile, single-use collection set to an automated machine. The machine separates and collects two units of red cells and then safely returns the remaining blood components, along with some saline, back to you through the same arm. Since a smaller needle is used in the process, many people find double red cell donation more comfortable than whole blood donation. Given that all of your platelets and plasma are returned to your body and you receive some saline in the process, you don’t lose the liquid portion of your blood and may feel more hydrated after your donation.
Source: American Red Cross
“It’s gonna be real hard, loosing a family like that.” Jake Parry, in his red Gibbons Polo, looks down for a moment, staring blankly at a spot somewhere behind me. “I think everyone’s taking it hard, all of us.” And he looks back up.
Just a few Fridays ago, Jake, a sophomore at Cardinal Gibbons, shadowed at Mount Saint Joseph, where he’s considering moving for his junior year. After Wednesday the March 3, when Archbishop Edwin O’Brien announced that Cardinal Gibbons, along with 12 other Catholic elementary and middle schools, will not be reopening in Fall of 2010, Jake will have to find a new high school.
Jake’s old middle and elementary school, Saint William of York, is among
the twelve other schools that will be closing. Father Marty Demek, the priest at Saint William’s Church, declined to make a comment.
Jake is just one of thousands of Catholic School students who will be affected by the recent school closings. In
a letter prefacing the report, the Archbishop wrote, “As a result of under enrollment and financial difficulties, I must do what many organizations, businesses and families are doing in these challenging economic times: make difficult but necessary decisions about the allocation of limited resources.” Therefore, thirteen Catholic
schools will be “consolidating,” leaving a total of 2,160 Catholic students to find new schools.
The realities are painful but undeniable: Out of 32,500 spots, there are currently 10,000 empty seats available in
Catholic schools. The schools have also been “hemorrhaging” money – already in debt $11.7 million, and projected to add an additional $2.2 million to that this year. In an interview with the Catholic Review, Archbishop O’Brien said, “We want to stem the hemorrhaging. It’s been going on since the turn of the century and especially since 2002 and the last couple of years, with the economic downturn.”
The archbishop has made it clear that “there will be a place in a Catholic school for every student who wants to be in one.” The Mount is an obvious choice for Gibbons students to turn to – It’s Catholic, all male, and relatively close by. So the Mount Saint Joseph community faced a question: What do we do about the closings, and how do we do it?
I sat down with Mr. Hoffman, the Mount’s director of admissions, to talk about the Mount’s involvement in the relocation of students. “The admissions criteria are going to be the exact same as we would for any transfer student,” he said.
“The things we’ll look at are their grades at their current high school, discipline records, and the like. Every applicant will have to go through the interview process just like all our other applicants, so there won’t really be any change to our procedure.”
If a former Gibbons student wishes to go to the Mount, he’ll have to go through the same process as any other student would. Transfers will also be expected to pay the usual Mount tuition: “. . . Most of our financial aid for next year has already been allocated. If any of that money does come back, it can be reexamined and reallocated to perspective families. The diocese, I know, is trying to get together a fund to offset some of those costs – to compensate for some financial aid the boys got at Gibbons, or even possibly some scholarships they got. But that would have to come through the archdiocese,” Mr. Hoffman reported.
A total of 46 Gibbons students have been accepted: 11 could be entering as seniors, 12 as juniors, and 23 as sophomores.
We don’t have control over the admissions process, but as students, and as members of the Mount community, the burden falls equally heavily on us to make the relocation process as easy as is possible for former Gibbons students.
I asked Brother James for a message to the Mount’s student body. He said, “We say that we are a Christian community, and we are. We’re a Christian fraternity, a band of brothers. I think we need to show that to the Gibbons community when they come here – that we’re going to welcome them into our band of brothers. My hope is that the Gibbons kids who come will want to be a part of that. We realize that as hard as it is for them to leave Gibbons, they’re coming to a new community, and that community is willing to welcome them.”
Information for this article was taken in
Little Shop of HorrorsThrills and Kills in the Saint Joe Theatre Department
page 2
Dominic SalackiQuill Staff Writer
Spring Pep RallySaint Joe’s Spring Pep Rally Falls Short
Zev BurrowsQuill Staff Writer
Seymour Krelborn’s life is not going so well for him. The nerdy low-life florist shop employee in the Little Shop of Horrors gets negatively criticized by his boss, Mr. Mushnik, on a daily basis. He is secretly in love with his coworker, Audrey, who is dating an intimidating dentist, and he lives in a town called Skid Row, a rundown dump heap. These events and more were acted superbly on the Mount St. Joseph stage April 15-18, 2010 in the spring musical.
Mt. St. Joe senior Torrance Winder, who played the male lead of Seymour, commented about his amazing adventure saying, “With this being my first play at the Mount, I didn’t know what to expect, but it has been an amazing, fun experience and I’m glad I decided to audition!”
Seymour will give anything to escape from his boring life to live a happy and exciting one. But, when Seymour comes across a “strange and interesting plant” that is some sort of fly trap from outer space, life starts to change dramatically for him.
The plant becomes a draw to the
viewing public, receives a lot of attention, and brings in a myriad of money just as the florist shop, Mushnik’s Skid Row Florists, is about to shut down from bankruptcy. After all of Seymour’s success starts piling up, he gets the feeling that Audrey is taking a liking to him.
Mt. St. Joe senior Kasey Ashton, who played the voice of the plant Audrey II, commented on his experience saying, “It’s been my life-long dream to play a carnivorous plant, and I don’t think I could have chosen a better show or cast for my last St. Joe show.” But after Seymour discovers that the secret ingredient which makes the plant grow so beautifully, he quickly decides that he should not care for it anymore and that it should be destroyed. Will Audrey still love Seymour without his plant? Will the plant take over the world or will Seymour defeat it? This musical showing of Little Shop of Horrors surely gave the audience laughs, chills, and smiles. It was said that one little girl even ran crying from the room after hearing the monstrous plant. “It was an amazing turn out and I loved every minute of it,” one audience member said at the end of the second showing of Little Shop of Horrors. As one of the cast members in the play, I, Dominic
Salacki, have to say thank you to all who helped out with the production. That includes the rest of the cast, the crew, Mr. Hartsfield, Mrs. Esserwein, Mrs. Stender, our choreographer Emily Jamison, the parents who volunteered, and to all of the audience members who supported us by coming to see our show.
The cast of Little Shop was a very special and diverse group of young adults with students from Mt. St. Joe, Mt. de Sales, Seton Keough, and those who are home schooled.
Mt. St. Joe sophomore Peter Kelly, who played the witty business man Skip Snip, shared a few words, stating “[the play was] a great way to keep in touch socially, [to] boost your self confidence, [and] a fun thing to do after school.”
Home schooled student Elena Gage, who played one of the Doo-Wop girls, Chiffon, told The Quill, “Because I’m homeschooled, [the play is a] better experience to be with my friends and express myself artistically. Being in the play, I can enjoy myself.”
With all the excitement and possible outcomes of opening night trapped in their heads, some of the cast members couldn’t say enough good things about
what they thought of the whole experience of being involved in a Mt. St. Joe play.
MSJ freshman Morgan Brown, who played “the voice not unlike God’s”, stated, “[the rehearsals have] gone pretty fast. It’s the first time I got to start a play in such a dynamic manner and it’s been a delightful experience.” You may have also seen Brown playing Friar John in Mt. St. Joe’s fall drama production of Romeo and Juliet.
Mt. de Sales sophomore Emily O’Brocki, who was cast as a Skid Row wino, commented on the musical saying “it’s pretty good” and “I get to meet new people and discover different genres of music.”
Mt. St. Joe Junior Adam Millott, who was the Audrey II puppet puppeteer, commented about his part, saying, “It was harder than I thought it’d be,” and it was “Awesome!”
Mt. de Sales junior Molly McGrain, who played the female lead of Audrey, told The Quill, “It’s been so fun! The cast is great and the show is hilarious.”
During rehearsals, The Quill sat down with Mr. Hartsfield, English teacher and director of Little Shop:
How is 1) Little Shop of Horrors dif-ferent than any other musical you have directed concerning with the story, setting and theme?
Little Shop of Horrors is a modern musical comedy. It is different in many ways. The music is much more modern and the story in-volves a man-eating plant! The setting is a run-down flower shop on “Skid-Row” that gets a second chance due to the very strange new resident.
How confident are you with the 2) cast and stage crew?
The cast and crew are extremely dedicated and talented. With the help of Mrs. Esserwein, Ms. Stender and Emily Jamison, I am very confident that we will have yet another great production.
Why did you decide on 3) Little Shop of Horrors for this year’s spring musical?
I, along with Ms. Esserwein, de-cided to do Little Shop because we have wanted to do it for a number of years. It is also a very popular show which should attract a lot of people. Plus—it’s just fun!
On April 16, 2010, Mount St. Joe held its first ever Spring Pep Rally. Hosted by senior Patrick Whetle, this was the first time that spring sports were formally recognized by the St. Joe community in the same fashion as our fall sports. The pep rally, which was confirmed almost a week early, unlike the fall pep rally during Spirit Week, was less than well anticipated, and, in general, not highly successful. There were several logistical issues: It was clear that many of the audience members could not hear anything from the speakers, nor did the audience members express much excitement. Many felt that too much time was spent calling up the various sports teams, time that could have been spent with more interesting activities, like games and relays. Most of the excitement came from the viewing of the handball matches and the relay races (pictured above). What was perhaps the comic highlight of the rally was entirely unintended: When the wrestling team and
rugby team went to face off in a tug-of-war, the rope snapped, sending both teams tumbling to the floor. The spring and winter sports recognized during the pep rally were basketball, wrestling, rugby, indoor track, swimming, ice hockey, golf, lacrosse, baseball, and tennis. Members of most of these teams participated in the relay races. With the logistical holdups and lost time, many students felt that the pep rally was uninteresting and unsuccessful.
Since this was the first spring pep rally ever held at St. Joe, the student council was obviously testing new waters, so the outcome wasn’t quite up to par with the longer-standing fall pep-rally. However, should there be more to come in the following school years, hopefully they will be more thoroughly thought-out than this year’s. Ms. Coyne, moderator of student
council, believes “the senior class got MSJ off to a good start with the spring pep rally. She goes on to say, “When I got back to Guidance after the rally, I found about six members of the junior class at a table writing notes about what to repeat and what to change. I was impressed.”
Todd Seay and Kevin Zerhusen race to the finish line!
20 Years of WMSJ Mr. Kabara Takes Us Though Time
page 3
Mr. Tim KabaraQuill Contributor
This year, the WMSJ broadcast club turns twenty, a milestone for any club or organization at Mount Saint Joseph high school. As a current co-moderator of the club and a former “on-air personality,” this anniversary serves as an opportunity to reflect on the past, present, and future of WMSJ.
WMSJ began in 1990 with the arrival of the Whittle Corporation’s televisions and their news network, Channel One, to campus. An agreement was struck that televisions (the end feed for an early fiber optic cable network) would be installed in each homeroom classroom in the school in exchange for students watching a news program (beamed in via satellite) on that network. Someone at St. Joe proposed that this new network path be used to broadcast the school’s announcements as well, and WMSJ, under the wise tutelage of original club moderator (and present co-moderator) Mr.
Roach, came to be.The early years of the club
involved a far more simple operation than the sophisticated broadcast of today. A few microphones, two early analog video cameras, a signal “switcher,” a rudimentary audio board and a power amp were the extent of the technology used. Big
early innovations included a cassette player wired into the board for music, a new board for title effects, and an
audio “booster” amp. Today, the
club processes its show through a veritable maze of boards, amps, filters, and effects, creating a broadcast which is sleek and modern.
The primary function of WMSJ has always been to serve the school by broadcasting the announcements. This continues to be the case, but advancements in technology have lead to changes in the school’s system of media dissemination. The announcements used to be hand-written by teachers, administrators, coaches, and club moderators. After some were announced over the intercom, the
rest would physically travel from the main office to the WMSJ homeroom, and WMSJ was the only source for many announcements on a broadcast day.
Today, the announcements are omnipresent, having been complied digitally and sent out in e-mails by Mrs. Wiedel, Director of Parent Relations. All homeroom teachers receive these announcements vie e-mail, and it is their responsibility to verbalize them to their students. In addition, the announcements are encoded onto flat screen televisions in the cafeteria (which runs them on a continual cycle throughout the day) and
are also available via the school’s website.
Due to this new crowded environment of media saturation, it was clear WMSJ’s role needed to evolve.
WMSJ’s broadcast today is a public service which homeroom teachers can decide to employ to help them as they take care of the various duties that homeroom requires of them. WMSJ is no longer the sole distributor of the announcements, but the club strives to be helpful by providing a quick, clean, and professional reading of the day’s school news.
Although WMSJ’s role has changed, the future for the club looks bright. There are plans being made to offer original pre-recorded content (something that the club has engaged in making at various points in its history) and to begin to package material from the WMSJ’s prodigious video archive into segments to be broadcast online. The most famous of these works, the “Ninja Jeff” series, is currently available on Youtube thanks to the series’ original creators. The club also plans to continue to update and upgrade its hardware and technology in order to provide the highest quality broadcast possible.
For the past twenty years, WMSJ has been informing and entertaining the Mount community. Here’s to twenty more!
Pictures from WMSJ’s past: You may have to turn your head sideways to see these former WMSJ stars.
Is the iPad Really Worth It?2010’s newest device is a unique system but overpriced
page 4
Harrison BachmanQuill Staff Editor
New Club for the Music Lovers The Ardent Audiophiles Club lets students share and discover all different genres
Sung-Min KimQuill Staff Writer
Apple released its newest electronic to the public earlier in April, but is it really worth the price? The iPad is a unique tablet computer that is smaller than a laptop but larger than a cell phone. It will run on the same operating system as the iPhone with the only difference being a much larger screen. It will have Wi-Fi capabilities with the option to get mobile internet with an AT&T plan. A cool new feature the iPad will have is a new application that will let the owner buy books on the iPad and then read them right on the iPad’s screen, similar to Amazon’s device The Kindle. Many people agree that the iPad is a creative new device, but is it worth the money to buy it for the starting price at $499? The turn-off for consumers is that iPad owners will have to pay an approximate $30 a month to get mobile web browsing. With that price it’s a better idea to buy an Apple notebook laptop, which would offer more features and a better operating system. For people who have an iPhone it will be quite easy to figure out if it is worth it because the iPad will be running on the same operating
system. The 9.7 inch screen is an attractive feature that will give the user a better experience scrolling through web pages and typing documents and also allows users a complete view of websites instead of the “mobile version” which the iPhone users get. A useful accessory is a portable keyboard that will make it easier and faster to type. Another downside of the iPad is that it has no camera, which is disappointing to many people. With more web chatting and photography taking place these days, it would only make it right to have a camera on the device. The iPad is also without the cell phone feature, which is a disadvantage from the iPhone. However, an application that will let users connect Bluetooth to it will be offerred. The overall feel is more towards a laptop with less capabilities but with the same applications available on the iPhone. The screen resolution is very bright and crisp, making it easier to view pictures and watch movies on the go. I recommend the iPad for anyone who travels a lot and wants to cut down the size of their current laptop. iPhone users would find the product a disappointment if compared to the iPhone because of the lack of camera and phone. The iPad released over the Spring Break and will probably be tough
to get for the next several months because of its popularity. Apple has started a new generation of products with this new release. Overall, this device is worth it for those who want a good device on the go.
As populated as Mount Saint Joseph High School is, there is a variety of music preferences demonstrated between the students. Some prefer rock, some may boast the uniqueness of indie music, some may listen to rap, some may explore country, and some may not have many boundaries on their musical preferences. Immersing oneself in his own choice of music style may be satisfactory, but there also is a good amount of popular opinion that shows listeners valuing openness towards genres or artists to which he has not yet been exposed. Where do some students get their exposure? Several turn their way to the meetings of MSJ’s Ardent Audiophiles club, led by two teachers from the English department, Mr. Matt Perzinski and Mr. Tim Kabara. The Ardent Audiophiles club meets every other Wednesday. In each meeting, students are to demonstrate a song of their choice to the faculty member in charge and their peers. It is a chance to ring the eardrums of others with one’s
own favorite music while learning about others’ favorites.
Referring to that aspect, one member quipped “Ardent Audiophiles club lets us go beyond Hot 99.5 to a place where music is real and its meaning has value.”
In this club, it seems that
there is no particular choice of music to be played since one of the missions is to open students to hear what the artists outside of one’s comfort zone can offer as listening entertainment.
“Ardent Audiophiles is a club in which you can discover, listen to, and discuss great music, new and old, spanning many different genres,” states a club member well familiar with the club’s
direction. “Even the club moderators, Mr. Kabara and Mr. Perzinski, always have something interesting to share or discuss.” So far many different types of music have been shared – LCD Soundsystem, Led Zeppelin, Twin, Manchester Orchestra, King Crimson, DJ Doc, Them Crooked Vultures, Pixies, Radiohead etc. However, some will agree that there is a need for an expansion of genre range for a possible addition of fun and discussion of the club itself. For the future outlook, many will agree that there would be a great benefit of welcoming the members who have preferences of genres that are not often listened to during club meetings, such as country, international, hip-hop, lounge, etc. But with a good amount of new members coming in after the departure of members from Class of 2009, the club maintains hope in bringing in new members in for the future (such as current Freshmen or Sophomores who would be eager to share their music) and carry its mission through the time. If you are interested in the Ardent Audiophiles club, please contact Sung-Min Kim, Mr. Perzinski, or Mr. Kabara.
Co-moderator: Mr. Perzinski
Looking Back on Academic and Social ChallengesSenior Sung-Min Kim Remembers Classes, Friendships
page 5
Sung-Min KimQuill Staff Writer
All You Gaels: Let’s Go Green!In His Last Article, Senior Encourages Recycling
Jonathan SimsQuill Staff Writer
I may write as an individual, but I hope that what I am saying will have a connection to all of the senior class of 2010. Think about it: we are about to enter into a more independent world of college and are another step away from having others look out for us. We are growing and preparing to dive into the real world. MSJ has been a place for us to report to every morning, where we can engage in intellectual and social endeavors, and then take our experiences and bring them into the real world—it goes from studying in the classroom to hanging out with the friends we made there. Through experiences like junior retreat, senior retreat, and the ongoing interaction of helping, listening, and enjoying each other’s company, Saint Joe solidified the idea of our class as being brothers forever. I feel like the Mount has become more than just a school, but a place where we learn, make brothers for a lifetime, and are guided through the emotional teenage years. Unlike most others, I only spent three years at the Mount. My freshman year was spent in Dulaney High School until I made the decision to transfer away
in the early summer of 2007. At that time, as I lived near Towson, I hadn’t heard much about Mount Saint Joseph. When I did, it was because of my love for baseball—Mark Teixeira and Gavin Floyd being alumni of the school intrigued me. I remember my first visit to Mount Saint Joe: My brother, Sungwon, and I were there, and Mr. Hoffman guided us through the different parts of the campus. I remember feeling the new atmosphere, the new hope, the new fear of the uncertainty of what was going to happen. Three academic years later, I look back and realize that the intimidation and uncertainty were nothing. I was about to begin the three of the most crucial years of my life. In my three years at Saint Joe, I was challenged not only to succeed academically, but also to new function in an unfamiliar learning atmosphere and to establish my presence inside the social ring. Furthermore, I was still struggling to learn the English language. It was not the smoothest road to run, but in the end, as I progressed through personal effort and with help from others, things looked up. I will be going to University of Maryland College Park for college, and I believe that my education at Saint Joe will help me to
face the demands college level courses, and that the interaction I had with people will help me to be more social. Speaking of friendships, I feel lucky to have met and befriended classmates in MSJ, not only from the Class of 2010, but from many of the different graduating classes. Through activities like choir, after-school clubs, and classes that had students from different graduating class, I got to interact with a diverse group of classmates and was able to build bridges of friendship with them. I am very thankful. My hope from now on is that I will keep in touch with them and remind myself of the importance of my time in MSJ, so that the sense of friendship and brotherhood will not fade away. I know I am repeating myself, but I have to say it again: I’m going to miss Saint Joe. I will be reminded of this constantly, which is something to be glad of. Right now, I can’t imagine how it will feel to be an alumnus, walking through the halls that I used to wander around daily and attending events that I used to participate in, like the spring musical. I know it won’t be too long until this is the case, but it’s still hard to wrap my mind around it. It’s been legit.
Nowadays there has been a lot of talk about improving our cities and com-munities through green initiatives that can save the environment and money in the process. Although eighty-three percent of Americans believe that global warming is a serious problem, there is still evidence that people are slow to take the appropri-ate steps of going green. One good way to get started is to figure out what is going to work and what an individual’s priorities, obligations and motivations are. No matter how you decide to start off, it needs to hap-pen very soon!
There is information on the web, commercials and books that can help families, schools and communities keep the environment healthy and clean. At home, people replace their light bulbs with florescent ones, recycle, and unplug cer-tain objects that are not being used while away from the house. Using less water by installing water-saving shower heads and aerators, turning the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth, switching to more ef-ficient appliances, or collecting rainwater for use in the garden are all green friendly. Some people tend to drive less often and instead use carpooling with friends, walk-
ing, biking, and city transportation to save the fuel consumption. If that doesn’t work for you, then go and get a hybrid vehicle. More hybrid vehicles are now being manu-factured by more motor vehicle companies including Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Honda, GM, and many others. There are many other different ways to Go Green and Save Green.
As a school community, we need to become more involved with the going green and keeping our second home, Mount Saint Joseph, a better environment. With the Recycling Club already underway, we have already started to make some progress. You have probably noticed the blue bins in each classroom;
these encourage you to recycle paper. You can do the same with bottles and cans in the bins in the cafeteria. If you have any other suggestions or ideas that can make the Mount go green, you should definitely speak up and go talk to a faculty member. Everyone, somehow, needs to become involved in this idea for going green.
Mike Ukoha, Ben Alston, Donnuelle Durham, and yours truly are
working on a senior project to continue the Mount’s commitment for going green. One idea is to take a careful inventory of what you already have that can be used again and what’s still waiting to be used for the first time, such as extra packs of pencils, notebooks, etc. Another is to get everyone involved with Earth Day. It is the perfect opportunity to continue good deeds for the environment and to try and learn a few new ones. It is up to the American people to make this
change and become more involved with our earth to keep it alive. Even though it may not sound or seem like a lot, a little can definitely go a long way!
The Quill Staff 2009-2010
Editors:
Moses Hubbard, Harrison
Bachman
Staff Writers:
Sung-Min Kim, Jonathan
Sims, Dominic Salacki. Ryan
Mannion, Steward Beckham,
Chase Lawson, Dagm End-
alkachew, Sean Gilmour, Zev
Burrows, Tommy O’Donnell,
Alex Steiner, Parker Mel-
lendick, Michael Lawrence,
Corey Kennedy
Production Staff:
Harrison Bachman, Stew-
ard Beckham, Dagm End-
alkachew, Moses Hubbard
Moderators:
Ms. Richmond, Mr. Bieniek
Is Art Losing its Value?Maybe It Really is Up to You
page 6
Michael LawrenceQuill Staff Writer
The Illusion of LoveExaggerated Actions on Stage Can Make the Audience Understand
Moses HubbardQuill Editor The first thing you’ll notice about the set of Let There Be Love probably won’t be the walls. You’re more likely to look at the wallpaper or the antique record player that sits stage right, or maybe the glass cabinets at the back of the room. The stage is a remarkably realistic cut out of a room, and, sitting in your seat, you feel almost too intimate with the stage, rather like a window-peeper, watching the goings-on of the house from outside, in the blackness. The walls of the room are all out of proportion – though it appears square, the tops of the doors slant upwards and outwards. Instead of staying parallel to the floor, the roof also fans out. It’s as though someone took a cut-out of a square house and fanned it out, the way you might with a cupcake liner. Hundreds, thousands of years ago, the Greeks did the same thing with their temples, like the Parthenon. The Greek temples were meant to be viewed
from the outside, and so they altered the architecture of their temples to create an optical illusion. For people standing far away from the Parthenon, it appeared to consist of perfectly geometric shapes, with equal spacing between columns. When viewed more closely, however, the columns are actually inclined slightly inward, so as to create the appearance of symmetry. Therefore, the disproportionate walls actually make the room look more realistic for someone sitting in the audience, and also allow people in the wings to see the entire room. This is what theatre is all about – illusions, whether they are optical, or emotional - exaggerations that pull the audience in and allow them to better access and understand what is being acted out on the stage. The motions and dialogue of actors tend to be exaggerated, larger than life.
As someone whose been in several plays, I know how unnecessary and uncomfortable it can feel to be the person who waves wildly around, or
jumps up and down or screams at the top of their lungs. These exaggerations, though, are “illusions” necessary to connect with and entertain the audience.
This element of illusion, the bending and stretching of reality needed to translate what was meant to be seen from the stage to the audience, is done nearly impeccably in the play Let There Be Love. In the play, a man in his sixties, originally from Granada, lives a bitter life in London. He struggles constantly with his two daughters about finances, his health, and their respective
obligations. His one wish is to die, but he feels unable to end his life alone, and won’t ask his daughters to help him. One day, though, a polish cleaning lady comes to his home by his daughters’ request. They develop an uncanny bond, and each dramatically alters the others’ life.
Let There Be Love is a tale of isolation, bias, and pain, but ultimately one of redemption. The actors do an excellent job of exaggerating their actions and words to heighten the intensity and honesty of the production. Through these optical and emotional illusions, they achieve the dramatic ideal – a connection, almost to the point intimacy, with the audience.
This production of Let There Be Love was put on at Centerstage. Also coming to Centerstage are Working it Out and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
With the modern ease of accessibility of most forms of art and entertainment, our generation seems to have lost its ability to value art, or place to a “personal price tag” on it. Many people, myself included, have gone as far as to not value art in the slightest. When we pirate music or movies, we treat the art as if it has no worth. Pirating, which may at first seem harmless, has become a universal problem. It is at times like these that Radiohead’s bizarre price proposal for its album In Rainbows - “It’s up to you—No, really . . . it’s up to you. . .” - seems more appropriate than ever. What value, monetarily and in terms of what we are willing to give, does art still have? For music at least, there may be a concrete legal answer to this question. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a single track is worth $750. At least, that’s the amount of money they are willing to fine an someone who doesn’t respect their copyright laws. On February 25, 2010, 22 year old Texan Whitney Harper was fined $27,750 for illegally file sharing 37 songs using Limewire. She claimed
that she had done so unintentionally as a teenager, but the charge still stands. Artists, record companies, manufacturers, and music retailers are thankful for this sudden enforcement of a previously unnecessary law, which could be seen as a turning point for the value our generation places to music. You may be wondering why I’m writing all of this. Is it to scare you into a life without file sharing? Is it in the hope that I alone can save the failing record industry? Neither of those are likely. I do this in the hope that I can remind others of the intrinsic value that music and other forms of art have, and that the most traditional way that we acknowledge this value—payment—is still the best way. Thankfully, the RIAA has taken steps to ensure music keeps its value. We can only hope that others will use the RIAA as an example and continue to support the rights of artists.
I cannot live in lies no more I don’t like to make others cry
Because of my actions I’ve poured out my
heart and soul
And have told my loved ones my dishon-esty
But they tell me to make things right...
And it will take more than just an apol-ogy...
“Standing Tall and Strong”
So many road blocks have been passed
Crowds of people laugh and point fingers
But now I can pick my head up and walk through bold
Remembering what I have been told by the old ones
These huge tones of shackles can be re-leased from my feet
No more letting unfinished business lay at rest
I want to overcome my dilemmas
Let me be different or odd
I will become one with God
Poetry by Jonathan Sims
The 2010 Art ShowA Showing of Incredible Variety and Quality
page 7
Painting by Sung-Won Kim
Ink and Paint Painting Tim Moran
DrawingAnthony Grago
Clay SculptureGiovanni Ramirez-Cruz
PaintingJames Magrogan
Sculpture by Brad Gonce
The Ravens Surprise Many at NFL DraftAfter Trading First-round Pick, Ravens Rebounded with Strong Second Round
page 8
Sean GilmourQuill Staff Writer
Swinging Into ShapeVarsity Baseball Braves Wet Weather
Corey KennedyQuill Staff Writer
Going into the 2010 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens were proudly one of the most firmly established teams in the league. On offense, they have a franchise quarterback, Joe Flacco, a diverse and effective running back corps led by Pro Bowler Ray Rice, a developing offensive line, and a suddenly formidable receiving arsenal upon the acquisition of Anquan Boldin. On defense, the Ravens are still elite with a handful of the league’s premier playmakers, including Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed, and their leader Ray Lewis. The biggest questions the team was expected to answer were in regards to the cornerback position and youth at crucial positions. As the Ravens answered those questions, many surprises abounded.
On defense the cornerbacks were condemned as the primary reason the Ravens faltered towards the end of last season despite having the league’s fifth best pass defense. Furthermore, there was expected to be a plethera of talent available to the Ravens. Aside from locally-born Florida prospect Joe Haden, the Ravens potentially had their choice of several promising players consisting of Boise State’s Kyle Wilson, Alabama’s Kareem
Jackson, Florida State’s Patrick Robinson, and Rutgers’ Devin McCourty. But then again, the Ravens could address several positions on their aging and depleted linemen and linebackers. Two starters from last season, Justin Bannan and Dwan Edwards, left the Ravens and some experts believed the Ravens could pick a lineman, like Penn State’s Jared Odrick and Alabama’s Terrence Cody, in the first round to fill the void. Obviously Ray Lewis can’t play forever, so some thought the Ravens could pick Missouri’s Sean Weatherspoon as a pupil and successor to the fan favorite. Lastly the Ravens could have fueled their pass-rush abilities in a draft class notable for its wealth in that field.
Offense had significantly less possibilities. Drafting a first round quarterback with Flacco beginning to blossom would be scandalous and cost the Ravens a valuable pick and a large sum of money. The running back position and offensive line already had their own young and promising starters too, so a player from one of those positions was quite unlikely to be selected as well. Although the Ravens had made significant improvements to the wide receiver position already in the offseason by resigning Derrick Mason, signing the previously suspended Donte’
Stallworth and acquiring Arizona Cardinals star Anquan Boldin, the majority of football experts still expected them to draft one. The most likely candidate, according to the NFL Draft’s most iconic and recognizable figures, Todd McShay and Mel Kiper, Jr., was Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Demaryius Thomas who was noted for his size and knack for big plays despite a limited role in an obscure offensive scheme. However, Oklahoma State Cowboy Dez Bryant would serve as a best case scenario. Bryant possesses even more size and ability than Thomas, but his presumed immaturity had repelled interest from many teams. If Bryant could slide to the 25th overall selection even with enough talent to be selected in the top 10 picks, he would undoubtedly be wearing purple and black. Intrigue also rose about Oklahoma Sooner Tight End Jermaine Gresham. Incumbent starter Todd Heap is notoriously injury prone but so is Gresham.
Come April 22, when the Ravens went on the clock for their first round pick, they were stuck in a predicament. Many of the best-fitting players, like Weatherspoon, Jackson, Thomas, Gresham, and Bryant, were already selected. So the most obvious
option was to pick one of the remaining cornerbacks and fill a clear need area. But then again Tennessee’s Dan Williams, a premier defensive tackle, had fallen into the Ravens’ lap. His selection would be the best available option and fill a need. But then again again the Ravens could select a more defensive option like Odrick or one of the two upper tier pass-rushers still available, Texas’ Sergio Kindle and TCU’s Jerry Hughes. The Ravens went in a shocking direction: none of the above. The Ravens chose not to select the 25th pick, rather trading it to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos gave up second, third, and fourth round picks to controversially select the polarizing quarterback, Tim Tebow.
Ravens fans sulked and complained for the next day on how they had wasted an opportunity. But in another day the fans would think quite differently. With their first second round pick, the one acquired from the Broncos, the Ravens did indeed draft Sergio Kindle after all and at quite a value. And with their second pick the Ravens struck gold again picking Terrence Cody. That’s two first rounders for the price of one. Then in the third and fourth rounds the Ravens picked two tight ends, Oregon’s Ed Dickson and BYU’s Dennis Pitta. Though they may not be as athletically gifted as Gresham, they can be intricate backups or starters themselves someday.
Ultimately the Ravens’ haul in the ’10 draft was hailed as arguably the best in the league due to the value of talent gained with minimal cost. As capable as these players are though, they all come with the “…but” factors that had caused them to end up in the Ravens’ lap in the first place. Kindle is an extraordinary pass rusher, arguably the best player on college football’s second best team, but has suffered a critical knee injury. Knee injuries have proven to pester even the best of players to their demise. Cody is an absolutely enormous player, in ability and in size, and a centerpiece of college football’s best team, but his size is his Achilles heel, too. “Mount” Cody had inflated up to 370 pounds, fifty pounds over the average weight of an offensive linemen, the heaviest position on the gridiron. Perhaps the Ravens’ savviest pickup was another defensive tackle Arthur Jones. The Syracuse Orangeman was perceived as a first round caliber player, but his own injuries caused him to plummet to the sixth round. Perhaps someday the risks the Ravens took to select this elite group will pay off , but year after year, the NFL Draft never fails to defy expectations.
Well, it’s that time of year again! The baseball season, thought to be ruined due to weather, is finally here. The coaches and players are excited and confident in the 2010 Baseball Season. Mother Nature sent us weather that left us wondering if we were ever going see the MSJ field again. But things have improved greatly since then, the sun is now out now and the bright and exuberant MSJ logo is now visible and ready to be used.
Varsity Baseball Coach and Director of Studies Dave Norton, said with a deep sigh, “Now, we are working out in the school gym every day, when possible.” He goes on to say, “It’s very difficult trying to practice” due to the unexpected blizzard that made history in the Baltimore area.
Coach Norton asserted very confidently that this year’s players are pretty solid. He adds, “We have a great offensive and defensive team.”
“Calvert Hall is the best, but we are one team that can compete,” says proud Coach Norton.
He encourages his players to always play to their full potential and to the best of their ability, but most of all, at the end of the day, to be the best all around, solid person, maintaining high grades along with baseball.
Toward the end of the interview, Coach Norton was asked, “What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?” With laughter before speaking, he proclaimed excitedly, “Getting on the field and playing their hearts out.”
He went on to say, “We have been asked several places and the team has done a superb job serving the community, performing such tasks as the Mount Saint Joseph Phone-a-Thon, completing baseball clinics at a local Fan Fest, and doing a Baseball Clinic for young players.
Lastly, he speaks to all the baseball team members at MSJ, telling them to keep up with their grades, compete to their best ability, and respect the players, coaches, and umpires!
He ends the interview with this quote, “Success on our team depends upon our pitching staff.”
Mr. Norton graduated from Mount Saint Joseph in 1971 and soon
returned to his alma mater to teach. Now over thirty years later, he is an assistant vice principal and the director of studies.
Mount Saint Joseph’s baseball squad is a team of talented guys, who want nothing more but to win a title for our school.
The season for the team is looking pretty challenging with games back to back and tournament after tournament! There are three scrimmages before the official season starts, along with three tournaments that follow. Three players to look out for this season are: Michael Draper- senior, short stop; Patrick Rogers- junior, center field; and Zachary Spahn- senior, pitcher. Coach Norton and the entire team would appreciate support for the varsity baseball team as it looks forward to an exciting and enriching season.
As of the beginning of May, the Gaels’ record is 11-8. For the greatest game ever played...Let’s play ball!
