DUAL FRONT PAGE EDITION: SOCCER STATE CHAMPS ON PAGE 8 Detroit Catholic Central
Volume 84, No. 2 December 11, 2020 27225 Wixom Road, Novi, MI, 48374
WELCOME HOME
A NEW ENTRY TO OUR KINGDOM Jack Smith ’21 changes have come to entrances of Catholic Central. Anyone who has entered or passed the campus in the past few months has noticed heavy construction stretching from entrance to entrance across the strip of land purchased last year. For the past year, the Advancement Office has been overseeing a complete renovation of both entrances to CC’s campus. “The project was approved last December,” CC President Mr. Turek said, “and it has been completely funded by a donor.” The project was all ready to go last school year and set to be finished by August 1, but then delayed, of course, due to the pandemic. Included in the design are new telephone poles, a large cross at the main entrance, lights to make it all shine in the dark, and an electric sign for different messages and reminders. A large beam spanning the the
Big
Photos by Gomez
entrance reads “Home of the Shamrocks” and the exit message “Mary, Alma Mater, Inspire Us Evermore.” The timing of the pandemic meddled perfectly with the construction plans, leading to lengthy delays. According to Mr. Turek, “Once they actually began working, they really had no problems or setbacks.” This new entrance can be characterized as one of prestige and class, something that strongly represents the school and its mission. “We worked closely with the donor and with the landscaping firm to portray a certain image,” Mr. Turek said. “We feel that the stone and the beams portray a sense of strength and also tradition to our Detroit roots, representing the industry of Detroit similar to the cog wheel in the crest,” Mr. Turek added. “We hope to embody the strength, history, and durability of Catholic Central.” This entrance will further exhibit Catholic Central’s resilience. The stone and beams show our foundation is strong and will not be knocked down. This isn’t just a new entrance into Catholic Central, but a reminder of its past, and a “Gateway to its Future.”
2
The Presidency
December 11, 2020
Biden’s first 100 days the U.S., establish a path to citizenship for the DREAMers, end family separation at the U.S.After perhaps the most divisive and con- Mexico border, solidify the permanence of the tentious presidential election in the history of DACA program, rescind funding for the U.S.the United States, President-elect Joe Biden Mexico border wall, and rescind Trump’s execuhas triumphed over the incumbent, Presi- tive order restricting travel to the U.S. from Muslim dent Donald J. Trump. In doing so, Biden be- countries. Additionally, he has verbally commitcame the first individual in 28 years to defeat a ted to approving legislation restricting the PresiUnited States president running for re-election. dent’s ability to pass measures such as travel bans. Regarding crimiThe President-elect, nal justice, Biden has as politicians before him, declared that he will has built his campaign increase police reform, on promises. As is to be institute a national expected, many of his commission on police early resolutions are dioversight, invest $300 rect retractions and overmillion into commuturnings of legislation nity policing programs passed under the Trump nationwide, pass the administration. These SAFE Justice Act (an resolutions encompass initiative to reduce political issues, such as mandatory sentencing immigration, criminal for nonviolent offenses justice, the environand place greater emment, the economy, and, phasis on rehabilitation of course, Covid-19. and lowering recidiConfronted with vism) as proposed by a split legislature (a Representative Bobby Democratic House and, Scott of Virginia, and most likely, a Repubplace greater emlican Senate), Biden phasis on the Justice may find difficulty President-elect Joe Biden Department’s responsienacting some of his more controversial legislation. Nevertheless, bility to investigate issues of police misconduct. Biden has also announced his intent to rehe has committed to accomplishing a bevy of join the Paris accord, his support of the Colfeats within the first 100 days, including a selege for All Act as proposed by Senator Bernie ries of Covid-related measures, which he claims will be established prior to, or on, day one. Sanders and Representative Pramila Jayapal, As President-elect, Biden has expressed his desire for private, historically Africana strong desire to assemble an unofficial task American colleges to be tuition-free, and his force composed of university professors, epide- resolve to build on the Affordable Care Act, miologists, and even a former Surgeon General. should it outlive Donald Trump’s presidency. As is precedent after elections in which the parHe plans to surround himself with these advity controlling the Executive branch changes, much sors, utilizing their input in order to deem coronavirus measures satisfactory or insufficient. of President-elect Joe Biden’s time and effort will In addition to his promise to form an advisory be invested in undoing and superseding President committee, Biden has publicly stated his plans Donald Trump’s legislation. Although the continto release a vaccine distribution plan, increase ued cycle of retrogression and withdrawal of polithe nation’s supply of personal protective equip- cy from one presidential term to the next may seem ment (PPE) by invoking the Defense Production counterintuitive and a waste of time, perhaps this Act, form a second task force relating specifi- endless turnabout is the true product of democracy. Perhaps, by taking two steps forward cally to racial and ethnic health disparities in relation to Covid-19, and cancel at least $10,000 and one step back every presidential term, we of student loans for every American in order to can remain a stable, moderate nation where diminish the financial strain of the pandemic. freedom and liberty triumph over all else. In regards to immigration, Biden has promised to produce legislation creating a pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants in Cole Nogawa ’22
An unprecedented transition of power Trump has proven he will fight this till the bitter end. For the past four years, President Trump has been a proud, perseverant leader, which has proDesolate grocery store aisles. Oversaturated duced both positive and negative results. This hospitals. A quarter million casualties. Vibrant is the same pride that has led to the attacks and evergreens scorched. Hurricane-ravaged cities. name calling on political opponents, baseless All of these and more are resultant of the claims, and harsh rhetoric over the past four years. beast we refer to as 2020. Knowing the erratic Naturally, as he faces defeat, he refuses to nature of the year, most speculated that the presi- concede. While challenging questionable results dential election wasn’t going to be spared from its is necesarry to ensure fair and equal elections, the wrath. With the high concentration of mail-in and claims made by President Trump lack any substanabsentee ballots, it was evident that Election Day tial evidence. Calling it what it is, this is an attempt would turn into Election Week, if not Election to undermine the democracy of America. America Month. This skepticism was furthered by ambigu- is built on the foundation of giving the power to ous comments made by President Trump during the the people to select the leaders of our nation. By chaotic first debate instigating refusing to accept the selecdistrust in the election results tion of the American people, and failing to confirm whether Trump is aiming to take away he would accept the results. what truly makes America As predicted, the wingreat. This also sets a danner had not been confirmed gerous precedent of mistrust or denied on Election Night in election results, which as key swing states, such as could lead to similar drawn Michigan, Georgia, and Pennout elections in the future. sylvania, could not make It is now up to Repuba definitive call. However, lican leaders to realize that President Trump addressed President-elect Joe Biden the nation in the early hours will be standing at the poof Wednesday, November 4, dium on January 20 as the prematurely calling himself Has President Trump established a 46th President of the United dangerous precedent for future victorious. He held that stance States. Republicans did exelections? as every news network across ceedingly well in Congresthe political spectrum called sional elections as they the election against him, he held it while Joe Biden flipped 12 House seats and will most likely maindeclared victory, and he still holds it to this day. tain control of the Senate. The age of Trump will The Trump campaign’s fight toward overturn- inevitably come to an end and it is imperative ing the election results has been a slippery slope. that they give up this fight and prepare for 2024. While Trump was ahead in the states of Georgia, The peaceful transition of power is a cornerMichigan, and Pennsylvania, he tweeted, “STOP stone of American democracy. It is in the three THE COUNT!” Yet, as the tables turned and the months before a switch of power that many symPresident fell behind in these states, he tweeted, bolic customs take place, such as meeting with “. . . We need every vote counted.” Many baseless the winner of the election and leaving a note on claims of voter fraud — burnt ballots, sharpies, the Oval Office desk, as well as many practical votes from the deceased — were investigated and customs, such as the communication of intelliturned up fruitless. The Trump legal team then took gence on everything from a pandemic to terrorism. matters to court where they have had dozens of lawPresident-elect Biden has been working as suits struck down. Along with this, Trump called hard as possible to prepare for the transition, as for recounts in the states of Georgia, Michigan, he has created a Coronavirus task force and set Wisconsin, and Arizona. Michigan and Arizona out a plan for student debt relief. Despite Sechave certified their results, and the recount in Wis- retary of State Mike Pompeo’s promise of “a consin confirmed Biden’s win. After three recounts, smooth transition,” there is still a lot of uncertainGeorgia has also certified its election results. With ty if that will occur as recounts, court cases, and stirrings of a trip to the Supreme Court, President concession refusals roar on through December. Brendan Nordstrom ’21
U.S. weathers tumultuous election Max Chensse ’22 The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election was a fierce competition between incumbent President Donald Trump (Republican) and contender, former Vice President Joe Biden (Democrat). All of the votes have now been counted and any challenges for recount have been met to-date with denials. The Electoral College votes are 306 for Joe Biden and 232 for Donald Trump. A candidate needs 270 Electoral College votes to win the election. Thus, Joe Biden is now the President-elect of the United States of America. The Covid-19 pandemic complicated the election process. To avoid getting Covid-19, people were required to social-distance, quarantine if exposure was suspected, and state lockdowns and travel restrictions were de rigueur. Voting for an election is usually done in-person at a polling station with mail-in ballots allowed for limited reasons or in states with no-reason absentee voting. For the 2020 U.S. elections, people were encouraged to use mail-in ballots to combat the spread of Covid-19. This caused a de-
lay in the counting, as the process of opening, verifying the identity, and processing the votes became more labor intensive, on top of the increased volume of mail-in ballots compared to other years. Complicating matters further, different states had different rules about when a ballot could be opened, processed, and tallied. Election results dragged on as the volume and work of counting the ballots extended the amount of time usually needed to declare a winner when adding those numbers to in-person tallies. The election process is a linear one where there are deadlines for each step. The popular votes are counted and Certificates of Ascertainment are filed between Election Day (November 3) and December 14. A Safe Harbor deadline, which is the date when any contested elections results will be decided by each state, is on December 8. On December 14 each state’s Electors vote for the candidate who won the popular vote in that state, thus formally submitting the electoral college vote. On December 23 the electoral votes must be submitted to the designated officials, and Congress will count the electoral votes and declare the election results on January 6, 2021. Finally, on
2020 Electoral College
January 20, the President will be inaugurated for his new 4-year term. Growth often comes from challenges. This is true for individuals; the same can be said for the country. Democracy is the foundation of the United States of America and is embedded in the Constitution. The Bill of Rights allows a person to challenge grievances. President Donald Trump is exercising his right to challenge the election results. As controversial as this is, without the ability to challenge, the United States would not be a democracy. Democracies have proven to be the path to fair government for all people. All challenges have to be proven, and counter-challenges are issued. It is only through this that the fairest system possible can be provided. Challenges present a time to reflect and refine the meaning and intent of the law that the people have all agreed to live by. As a republic, it can be argued that the United States has been strengthened by its challenges, as it seeks out and reminds itself of the true meaning of democracy and the strength of the individual.
2020 Popular Vote
81,150,731
51.4%
74,170,241
46.9%
3
Editorials
December 11, 2020
Questioning College Board’s integrity Nick Dewhirst ’21 The College Board, the most prominent testing organization in the world, was originally established as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) over 120 years ago. Much controversy has surrounded the company concerning their “non-for-profit” designation and their business intentions as a monopoly-like corporation. In 2012, David Coleman was appointed as the ninth president of the College Board. In 2013, he was designated one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time. He’s recognized as a significant contributor to the Common Core curriculum, which aims to prepare students for college and their careers by focusing on the most important topics in each core subject. Coleman has focused on expanding college opportunity to low-income and minority students, and, in 2014, he announced a revamp of the SAT. The primary changes included a “no essay” version of the test, the removal of obscure vocabulary, “no penalty” for incorrect answers, and a partnership with Khan Academy to make test preparation resources freely available. However, while there has been recent positive progress made by the College Board, it doesn’t outweigh the negatives spotted and speculated by an expanding group of both students and educators. As the dominant business in the testing industry, the College Board has been highly questioned about their intentions and work behind
the scenes. Of first concern is the cost of exams. The SAT with no additions costs $64.50, and a $29 late fee is added if the scheduling deadline is missed. The Advanced Placement (AP) exams cost $94 each. Most schools require their students to take the exam to receive credit for that class, so it can be a financial burden to low-income students. Because so much weight is placed on these tests (e.g. needing a certain SAT score to be admitted to a desired college or earning a 5 on an AP exam to receive college credit for the course), students’ families can spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on tutors and additional resources to ensure they earn their desired score. Many are advocating for the abolishment of standardized testing, mostly aimed at the College Board, as they feel too much weight is put into the tests compared to high school grades. In 2005, the Writing Director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Les Perelman, conducted a study on graded SAT and AP essays. After closely examining 23 essays, he discovered a strong correlation between the length of the essay and the score awarded. Based on the word count alone, he accurately predicted the scores of other essays, and, in some instances, found that the essays awarded higher scores had more factual inaccuracies than ones given lower scores. He believed preparation for the tests had been teaching students to develop incorrect styles of writing. Instead of aiming for revision and in-depth analysis, the College Board was encouraging students to pro-
duce lengthy, wordy, and formulaic pieces of writing. In March 2006, it was discovered that the College Board had misscored thousands of tests from October 2005. Despite learning about the malfunction in December, the College Board still hadn’t corrected scores four months later. They eventually announced the mistake shortly after the discovery by outsiders and had updated the scores within several days. In August 2018, an SAT administered in the United States had been used in China only ten months earlier, and other cases of reused sections of exams or entire exams have been unearthed in the past couple of years. A myriad of complaints was received about newly designed AP tests during the pandemic. Tests occasionally wouldn’t open for students or wouldn’t submit after pressing the option to do so. This resulted in rescheduling fees for students who had to take makeup exams over the summer. The College Board’s “non-for-profit” designation has been highly questioned. In 2017, the corporation spent $927.8 million on testing development and materials but had a profit of $1.068 billion, leaving an estimated $140 million surplus. Nineteen executives of the company make over $300,000 per year, and in 2009, CEO Gaston Caperton rolled in a paycheck of $1.3 million. Rightfully so, students and educators have become more aware of scandalous activity within the corporation, and questioning of its integrity will likely continue given the current circumstances.
Court-packing violates precedent Logan Welter ’21 One of the biggest issues in the 2020 election was the speculation that, if elected, Joe Biden might pack the Supreme Court. During his four years in office, President Trump has had the opportunity to appoint three new justices to the Supreme Court. This shifted the balance of the court to a six-three majority favoring the conservative perspective. Ever since Trump announced his choice for his third appointment to SCOTUS, Amy Coney Barrett, there has been talk from the Democrats about packing the court. Packing the court is a term used to describe the adding of Justices to the Supreme Court to change the balance in favor of the party that is in power. The Constitution does not specify an exact number of judges for the Supreme Court. Therefore, there is no question that President-elect Biden would be completely within his rights as president to appoint as many judges as he wished. The more pressing question is: Should he? Joe Biden absolutely should not pack the court. Historically, the Supreme Court has been opposed to this action. Such was the case during the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. When
The Supreme Court Building Roosevelt’s New Deal legislations began to get struck down by the Supreme Court, Roosevelt resolved to pack the courts in his favor. The Chief Justice at the time, Charles Evans Hughes, referred to the strategy as an undemocratic power grab. If precedent is to be honored, the same statement would apply to Biden. Another issue with packing the courts is that
adding too many justices will not only dilute the prestige of the position of associate justice, but also create a precedent for future administrations to do the same. If future presidents continued to pack the court anytime it were stacked out of their favor, it would eventually create a miniature Congress. The purpose of any court is to swiftly and fairly decide the outcome of a case based on the facts presented. Congress plays an important role in government; however, one would be hard-pressed to argue that Congress is swift and even harderpressed to argue that it is fair and unbiased. If the court continues to get packed to the extreme of a miniature Congress, arbitration of a case would turn into congressional politics. This would destroy both the celerity and integrity of the court. In short, if Biden were to pack the Supreme Court, it would not only ignore historical precedent established during the Roosevelt administration, but also cripple the court to a point where if a constitutional crisis were to occur, it would take so long for the bloated court to arbitrate, that by the time they finished, there might no longer be a nation to serve.
Eddie Van Halen: the last guitar hero Cole Nogawa ’22 Few musicians can support themselves without a day job. Even fewer can become celebrities by virtue of their musical prowess alone, and only a handful of musicians come to define their instruments in the public eye. Prominent guitar players, those who change guitar playing forever, are often referred to as “guitar heroes.” These greats include Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson, and of course -- Eddie Van Halen. News of Van Halen’s passing in October of 2020 rocked the music world; for many, his was the first celebrity death that seemed significant, the first celebrity death that affected them deeply. But why? What did Eddie Van Halen do that was so special? Why is he, in effect, irreplaceable? Why is he referred to and revered as the last guitar hero? To understand Van Halen’s legacy, we have to start at the beginning. Edward Van Halen, a Dutchman who moved to California as a child, founded the band Van Halen with his brother Alex in 1972. A classically trained pianist, Eddie’s musical ability manifested itself at an early age, culminating in his teaching himself guitar as a teenager. As a result of his unguided exploration of guitar, Van Halen was able to develop a distinctive style that heavily featured a technique known as “tapping.” Tapping, which enables guitarists to play notes spanning large intervals in rapid succession, entails striking a string directly on the fretboard (as opposed to plucking it near the bridge) with a finger of the picking hand. Van Halen would write whole passages around this technique, producing grand, undulating waves of notes to draw listeners in. The most well-known of these passages (and arguably the most famous tapped passages of all time) can be found within such tracks as “Eruption,” “Spanish Fly,” and “Hot for Teacher.” Although he did not invent the technique, as he so claimed, he incontrovertibly popularized it. Eddie Van Halen’s unique style, however, was more than just interesting or clever: it was revolutionary. His solos, upon first listen, are enigmas. Every turn seems to defy musical convention, yet they are all pleasing to the ear. Even more remarkably, his breakneck rambling is accompanied by a myriad of trademark flourishes that astound even the most experienced guitarists. Phrases are joined by noises and effects that compel one to wonder, “Wait, how did he do that?” This confoundment is best exemplified by Van Halen’s short but ingenious solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” The solo opens with a rapidly rising tone, one of Eddie’s signature whammy bar (or tremolo bar) flourishes, before launching into a labyrinthine collage of pinch harmonics, artificial harmonics, and tapping. Shortly after the first round of this tapping, a quick “thwip” sound can be heard. Almost imperceptible, this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it flourish is, upon further inspection, a pick-slide up an un-
wound string, an entirely unnecessary but impressive addition. Unsatisfied with switching between picked and tapped passages at Mach speed, Van Halen added this intermediary pick-slide for the simple reason that he could. Before the age of the internet, fans could not discover secrets such as the aforementioned pick-slide outside of live performances. Therefore, Eddie Van Halen, with his bottomless trick bag, was especially mysterious. Fans would eagerly await Van Halen’s live performances to discover the origins of the bizarre sound effects populating the band’s latest album. Eddie himself, ever the eccentric, was known for contributing to this mystique by turning his back to the audience during key sections of songs -- obscuring his hands, not yet willing to reveal his secrets. The intrigue surrounding Eddie Van Halen’s aptitude undoubtedly contributed to his rise as a guitar hero. The public was enamored with Eddie’s larger-than-life persona. They sought to emulate his playing, to own his gear, and to reproduce his tone. Eddie Van Halen was widely revered, not because he was the most technically skilled guitarist to date, but because he was the last prominent guitarist who was able to retain a sense of mystery. The internet is inundated with virtuosos, but none of them carry the mystifying air that Van Halen did, simply because footage of prodigious playing has become ubiquitous. There will never be another guitarist like Eddie Van Halen. He was the last true guitar hero, the last guitarist capable of shocking and aweing his audience, and his legacy lives on today in the music played by those he inspired.
Eddie Van Halen (1955-2020)
Revolutionary PS5 released Aedan Branigan-Brown ’21 In 1946 Sony was founded, and since then has become one of the kingpins of the home entertainment industry. They furthered their claim to the throne 26 years ago when they released the first PlayStation. Among Sony’s plethora of products, from televisions to cameras and cassettes, the PlayStation 5 is the perfect gift you won’t get for Christmas. They sold out within minutes. The launch caused websites to crash. Even in store they’re a rarity, although Sony has promised restocking the console before the end of the year. Black Friday and Cyber Monday were certainly no help, as any new shipments were snatched off the shelves so quickly you could sneeze and miss it. There remains one beacon of hope for those of you who have gotta have it: eBay. Don’t expect to find it for $500, though. Resellers are starting in the low thousands, although one report claims bidding got up to $32,000. It might be worth it, with all the technology the PlayStation comes packing. The PS5 boasts an abundance of upgrades to its predecessors. Cutting out the technological nonsense only a nerd of incredible proportions could comprehend, there are some impressive feats of the PS5. The PS5 includes a cleaner interface than the PS4, and Sony has made communicating with your friends much easier as there’s the ability to play with your friends who still use the PS4, depending on what games you play. You can play nearly all the games you had on the PS4 and some from the PS3, as they are backwards compatible with the new device. The PS5’s increase in size has been a real head-turner, too. It stands at 15.4 inches tall, which is five inches taller than the original PlayStation 4. It’s also two inches wider. Its dimensions allow for greater graphics and smoother gameplay. Loading times are nearly 19 times faster than the PS4, and the audio is entirely upgraded. The storage size is another upgrade to the PS4, offering 162.7 more GB. The graphics are among the best ever made for a console, allowing for 4K display and 120 frames per second. There’s another graphical improvement to the PS5 which allows for something called ray tracing. This allows for each ray of light and shadow to be rendered realistically. Now you can burn your retinas from staring at the realistic sunlight in the PS5 all day, instead of getting it from the great outdoors. Just what every kid dreams of. The bright lights of the Christmas tree are no match for the PlayStation 5 on Christmas morning.
Jeopardy! host passes Nick Czarnota ’21
Alex Trebek (1940-2020) On November 8, the world lost a television icon when Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek passed away at the age of 80 due to pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and his three children. Trebek was born in Sudbury, Ontario. After college, he began working as a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, but he eventually relocated to the United States and began hosting game shows such as “Reach for the Top” and “Jackpot.” In 1984, Trebek was approached to host a revival of an old game show, Jeopardy!, to which he agreed. Little did he know that the trajectory of his career was about to change. As the host of Jeopardy!, Trebek became a household name and a fixture in many American households. He was a cultural icon, famously parodied by Will Ferrell on “Saturday Night Live.” He also broke the record for the longest serving host of a TV game show with
over 8,200 episodes under his belt. On top of that, he received five Daytime Emmy Awards for his hosting duties. But even with all his accolades, Trebek tried to remain humble. He is quoted as saying, “I’m just enjoying what I’m doing, I’m happy to have a job. I like the show, I like the contestants and it pays well.” In 2018, Trebek announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Following his diagnosis, he received an outpouring of support. A prominent example of this came on an episode of Jeopardy! soon after his cancer announcement when one of the contestants answered “What is: We love you Alex!,” forfeiting his cash prize. This example just shows how beloved this man was, and how there will never again be someone to equal his cultural significance and impact on the television industry.
4
2020
December 11, 2020
Tommy Shea ’21
ous sporting events and social gatherings. Juniors worried about being unable to take vital standardized tests for college applications and freshmen missed out on the full freshman year experience. The hockey and swim teams’ seasons ended on the brink of each of their respective championships and spring athletes never saw a game. For months it felt as if the isolation were permanent, but slowly, we learned to overcome. When restrictions were lifted, the Fr. Elmer Stadium held its first ever graduation ceremony. Faculty and administration spent the summer tirelessly planning our return to school. Even though we may not be able to attend football games, go to danc-
For months it felt as if the isolation were permanent, but slowly we learned to overcome.
es, or go to school all together, we have learned to adapt. New traditions have been formed including the live-streaming of football games, while old traditions such as Boys’ Bowl sign painting have been preserved. With the move to full time online schooling, the delay of the start of winter sports, and the postponement of the conclusion of the football season, we may be tempted to feel pessimistic about our circumstances. However, this isolation is not permanent; sports will resume and we will return to school. We each need to do our part in staying safe, doing our work, and protecting the resilience that has kept our Catholic Central community together throughout this year.
Phobia: A year full of surprises Phobia ’29 Well, this is it, you dolts, the last month of 2020. There’s talk of a vaccine, and time will tell whether it puts us past this mess, or if it’ll turn you all into ghosts like me (it won’t, but one can always hope). Either way, a lot has changed since you all packed in front of a TV to watch a stupid ball drop at the start of this year. I, Phobia, will never understand you fools. For one, Antonio Biggs unfollowed Travis Scott on Instagram, ending his career. The Travvy Patty was removed from the McDonald’s menu shortly after. James Lindenberg, tired of twirling his drum major baton, took up lightsaber dueling. While practicing in the hallway, he accidentally got into a fight with Mr. Griffin, who was wielding his Grammar Hammer. We now know that the power of Grammar is more significant than that of the Jedi. Kyle Malachowski got fired from Chick-Fil-A for trying to sell art pieces
along with meals. It’s okay, though, he became TikTok famous shortly after and is now a LE@D student from the Hype House. Oh yeah, Patrick Culliton got a girlfriend. Even things I actually wanted to happen got canceled, and you know how much I love to see you suffer. The installation of the CC pool got delayed, so now we have to settle for a new entrance. I was genuinely looking forward to improving my backstroke, and the Mercy pool just doesn’t cut it. There are girls there. Sam Dersa got drafted by the Buccaneers, but that didn’t even work out because Tom Brady would’ve been jealous after losing all the attention. The way I see it, if the Lions are going to keep losing, I at least wanted to see them lose to someone I recognize. Some of you are still hanging in there, though. Aidan Laskey, AKA Laskoo, dropped back-to-back #1 albums on Spotify. Will Matta won the Mr. Soccer Award, whatever that means. Dante Williams went an entire week without getting
absolutely roasted by Mr. Gismondi, which is probably the biggest shocker of them all. Because streaming services overtook movie theaters as people realized they prefer microwave popcorn over an over-priced box of Mike and Ikes, the uptick in movie streaming has really benefited some CC students. Dominic Morello got hired by Disney to play Yoda in the next Star Wars trilogy. Clay Moscovic was asked to star in a Quentin Tarantino film based on his breakout performance in last year’s junior skit, which has a reputation for producing the world’s finest actors. A lot has happened since you imbeciles stepped back onto campus. Most of it has me convinced that some of you might not even make it to 2021, but I think a small fraction of you might end up being okay. It’s a good thing, too, because some of you have to be around to remember the only important thing that you’ll learn in this wretched place: I AM PHOBIA.
Spectrum ‘Toons
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c i f r u e lly M E
R.I.P. 2020
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WE WILL TRY TO FORGET YOU
Books we loved in 2020
Andrew Ciarelli ’22 I have been a rather “naughty” boy this semester. This has me worried I might receive coal for Christmas, so please read this diligently before you make that decision. In September, you saw me attempt to leap across the CC crest. From what I’ve seen so far, Catholic Central is a very competitive place! I only wanted to be first in line at Tru Foods to assert my dominance over the slowpokes walking to lunch. You may be upset that I was late to health class a few weeks ago. I can assure you that I’d never purposely miss such a wonderful opportunity for enrichment. I was just exhausted from the mere seven hours of sleep I got the previous night studying for my vocab test. My friends’ Quizlets aren’t going to make themselves! Finally, Mr. Claus, I would like to apologize for that day I went to the bathroom and forgot to tuck in my shirt after wards. I wouldn’t dare repeat such a deliberate act against authority again. If I want to make it into an Ivy League school, I need to stay on the tippy top of my A-game. For such an offense to appear on my transcript would be completely devastating to my college opportunities. If I’m ever caught, I plan to make it up to the administration by attending not only every school event, but every practice and club meeting as well. Have mercy on me, Santa. I can redeem myself! I’ve already asked my teachers to give me midterms over break, so I can hone my study skills for the dreaded sophomore year. If it spares me from the naughty list, I’ll even try to learn the hand cheer. Those dastardly days of naughtiness are no more, for I am a new man (with several chin hairs to prove it). V-bucks no longer matter to me. As I’ve told my trusty Elf on the Shelf many times, the only things I want for Christmas are goodness, discipline, and knowledge.
very, very nice Frosh
Art by: Andrew Memmer ’21
Music adjusting to the pandemic
ds
The second semester of the 2019-2020 school year started out as any other would. Freshmen readjusted to their new schedule as they bustled to classes and upperclassmen returned expecting the status quo. For two months, it was that -- the status quo. February began with an historic DRIVE. Mr. Hancock dressed as Godzilla, Fr. Fulton wagered his hair and beard, and seniors brought back Faculty Family Feud. Not to mention the collective $600,000 raised as a school and the epic competition between freshmen and seniors for the title. The week culminated with a full student body mosh pit following the grand total announcement. The excitement carried into the following weeks as our wrestling team won the team state championship. Then, in March, the first official Covid-19 cases
were confirmed in the area. Then, Friday, March 13, happened. The day started as any other, but as gossip spread, focus was lost, replaced by confusion and speculation. Those in the building that day can recall the eerie feeling as everyone’s attention shifted from academics. Students grew excited at the prospect of an extended spring break; however, many teachers understood the reality of the situation and gave their lectures knowing it may be their last time seeing their students. The next day, it was announced: quarantine. Seniors lost their Senior prom, Hill Auditorium graduation, and all the memories that would’ve been created at vari-
20
The year of perseverance
5
Music
December 11, 2020
Brendan Nordstrom ’21 “And the beat goes on.” This is sung over and over in the chorus of duo Sonny & Cher’s 1968 hit “The Beat Goes On.” This line perfectly underscores the state of the music industry in 2020. No matter how bad it gets, the music will never stop coming. After a relatively slow 2019, 2020 was poised to be one of the best years of music. After some phenomenal album drops through the first three months of the year, it looked like it was going to live up to its potential. However, as is the story with everything this year, the pandemic hit. According to the Nielsen Music/MRC Data midyear report, almost all music listening was severely down in comparison to previous years. The streaming industry took a hit as streaming numbers dropped 7% after the initial wave of the pandemic. Physical album sales took an even bigger hit as sales dropped over 20%. The touring industry, however, has suffered the most. After big music acts such as The Rolling Stones canceled their tours, concertgoers became concerned. Following this was the cancellation of the biggest music festivals such as Rolling Loud, Bonnaroo, and Coachella. With the project-
ed return of concerts to be late 2021-2022, an age of creativity has been ushered in when it comes to live music. Many artists, such as Billie Eilish and Lil Yachty, have started performing virtual concerts for fans to enjoy at their home. Verzuz, an Instagram Live hit battle between two artists hosted by producers Swizz Beats and Timbaland, have helped to increase streaming revenue, as well. NPR has even transformed its beloved “Tiny Desk Concerts” into the “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert” where artists perform live, unplugged music from their home. The most famous of these virtual concerts, however, was when Travis Scott performed in the popular battle royale game “Fortnite.” Outside of pandemic concerns, hip hop has continued to command the charts as Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert, Eminem, and Lil Baby have been a constant presence at the top. However, the R&B-pop blend album After Hours by The Weeknd, K-pop group BTS’s Map of the Soul: 7, and Taylor Swift’s indie folk album Folklore has added variety. One genre that seems to be losing ground, though, is rock as, according to the LA Times, “No album released in 2020 (or in 2019, for that matter) has outperformed greatest-hits collections
by Queen, Elton John, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Journey.” Music in 2020 has paralleled the heightened social justice efforts throughout the year. After protests broke out in May due to the murder of George Floyd, a number of artists found inspiration and have released songs outlining social justice matters. Two of the most notable were trap artist Lil Baby’s “The Bigger Picture” and R&B artist Anderson .Paak’s “Lockdown.” The presidential election has also brought inspiration as Motown legend Stevie Wonder released the song “Can’t Put It In The Hands Of Fate” just a month before the election. After Joe Biden was announced the projected winner, there was an immediate spike in streams for YG’s song “FDT” as it hit #1 on the iTunes Charts. Many artists have utilized 2020 as a year to bounce back from low points in their career. Detroit-native Eminem surprisedropped his album Music to be Murdered By in January, which had a successful sales debut and is widely viewed as his best album since the release of The Marshall Mathers LP 2 in 2012. After Logic released the disappointing Supermarket and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind in 2019, many considered his ca-
reer to be long over. However, his release of No Pressure in July brought him his second highest streaming debut and his highest score on Metacritic, a review site. There has also been the bittersweet success of posthumous albums in 2020 started by Mac Miller’s soul album Circles. The idea of posthumous albums and the morality behind it has been debated for years, yet the Mac Miller estate’s handling of the album should be an example of how to properly release music after an artist has passed. Other notable posthumous albums include Juice WRLD’s Legends Never Die and Pop Smoke’s Shoot For The Stars Aim For the Moon. Overall, 2020 has been a relatively successful year for music and it still has a couple weeks left to impress. Many big names have kept quiet throughout the year despite rumors of them dropping, such as hip hop stars Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, pop star Adele, and R&B recluse Frank Ocean. Throughout the year, music has adapted and conformed to every new challenge and circumstance, whether it be an unconventional way of receiving live music or songs responding to the newest crisis, and further proves that “the beat goes on.”
Nordstrom’s Top Ten 1. Circles- Mac Miller In the perfect example of how posthumous albums are to be handled, Mac Miller strays away from hip hop and ventures into the world of funk, synth pop, and soul. Acting as a companion piece to Miller’s 2018 album Swimming, he completes the concept of “Swimming in Circles.”
6. Alfredo- Freddie Gibbs After releasing two critically acclaimed albums with renowned producer Madlib, hip hop artist Freddie Gibbs set out to prove himself once again in a collaboration with producer The Alchemist (“Alfredo” = Alchemist + Freddie). Following an Italian mafia theme, Freddie brings skilled lyricism, outlining his difficult upbringing and dangerous lifestyle, reminiscent of 90’s hip hop.
2. Nectar- Joji Joji, a Japanese singer-songwriter and ex-YouTube personality, released his sophomore album, a melting pot pulling elements from R&B, pop, neosoul, Lo-fi, and trap. Evoking feelings of love, loneliness, nostalgia, and depression over spacey, atmospheric production makes it perfect for a 3:00 a.m. drive.
7. Savage Mode II- 21 Savage When Morgan Freeman is involved in an album, it is destined to be great. Freeman narrates the sequel to 21 Savage and Metro Boomin’s Savage Mode, released in 2016. After four years of evolution, the rapperproducer combo collaborated as both reached their musical peak in a dark, yet refined masterpiece.
3. Eternal Atake- Lil Uzi Vert It’s been a long road since Eternal Atake was first announced by Lil Uzi Vert in 2018 with two years filled with anything from lawsuits by cult members to breaking free from the shackles of his record deal. The spacethemed trap album finally arrived and proved to be well worth the wait with spacey, colorful production and a balance of depressing, upbeat, and energetic songs. 4. It Is What It Is- Thundercat A virtuoso of the bass, Thundercat is most known for his work with producer Flying Lotus and production work on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. Dedicated to Thundercat’s deceased friend Mac Miller, It Is What It Is brings a jazz-funk fusion that succeeds in illuminating his charismatic personality while tackling uncertainty and death.
5. Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez- Gorillaz The unique British virtual band Gorillaz released their seventh studio album as a collection of singles that combine alternative rock and synthpop. The album is saturated with features, most notably ScHoolboy Q and Elton John, and the upbeat, robotic production transports the listener into a beautiful fever dream.
8. Modus Vivendi- 070 Shake After making waves in 2018 with background vocals on Kanye West’s “Ghost Town” and on Pusha T’s album Daytona, 070 Shake was ready to release her psychedelic-R&B debut album. Modus Vivendi means “way of life” in Latin and is a reflection of Shake’s life as she conveys raw emotion about love and loneliness over atmospheric production in a successful start to her career. 9. Limbo- Aminé Hip hop artist Aminé continues his trend of creating fun, upbeat music, even while taking on serious subjects. In his sophomore album, dedicated to the late Kobe Bryant, Aminé feels as if he is in a state of “limbo” between his carefree days and his mature, adult days. He begins the album with energetic tracks about his childhood and messing around with friends, while finishing the album with slower tracks about settling down, having children, fully appreciating his mother, and facing death. 10. The Slow Rush- Tame Impala It is hard to follow up an album as good as 2015’s Currents, but Psychedelic-disco artist Tame Impala faced the challenge and delivered with The Slow Rush. The album is described by Tame Impala to be about “the passage of time” and succeeds in creating wavy, synth-infused music that makes the listeners lose track of time and feel as if they are floating.
6
The Campus
December 11, 2020
Kairos continues to provide light during the pandemic James Lindenberg ’21 Kairos is a four-day retreat that focuses on building new relationships with one’s self, one’s peers, and God. It is through prayer and talking about our lives that we discover God’s plan for our future and gain a better understanding of the world around us. These discoveries are crucial, especially for young adults, in finding one’s role in society and the lives of others. Catholic Central has held 29 Kairos retreats at the Colombiere Retreat Center in Clarkston, which also serves as a facility for retired priests of the Jesuit order. Due to the current state of the pandemic and the need to minimize interaction between the elderly and the students, a different location was used to embark on our spiritual journey. Over Halloween weekend, Kairos XXX was fortunate enough to utilize the Our Lady of the Fields Retreat Camp in Howell, which is a spacious, sylvan fa-
cility and perfect for the autumn weather. We were able to carry out our normal Kairos traditions and rituals in addition to fun outdoor activities, including bonfires, high-ropes courses, and endless Ga-Ga ball tournaments. The change of scenery breathed new life into this already special journey and made the weekend one to remember. It doesn’t matter where the retreat takes place: the sacred traditions and the structure of the program continues to affect the lives of those who participate. Students who attend Kairos typically describe it as “life-changing.” In most cases, students feel their high school experience is complete having participated in this powerful weekend of self-discovery. The Shamrocks are blessed to have this opportunity to feel God’s presence in their lives. The Lord is asking us to take His hand and trust in this mysterious process, for answering His incomprehensible call is a true testament to our faith.
Robotics adjusts to limitations Dominic Aiello ’23 Like most CC sports, robotics has been limited by the pandemic. The entire competition has had to be changed to be able to follow the health and safety guidelines during this Covid-19 crisis. Under the leadership of coaches Ms. Vingsness and Ms. Carter, the team is doing their best to stick close to the safety guidelines. With the addition of a larger facility (offsite), the team is still able to meet and practice. The warehouse consists of separate areas for the power tools, the computers for programming the robot, and a practice field. “Without this space, we would likely be unable to participate in this year’s competition,” Ms. Vingsness said. With the restrictions, the competitions are completely virtual, so a home field is something that the team needs. The competitions
themselves are going to be very similar to last year’s game, which was canceled before it could even begin. The game pieces will remain the same, but the overall game rules might be completely different. Game pieces are what teams use to gain points. Last year, the main game pieces were small foam balls (power cells), which teams would try to put into three different goals. The goals each gave a team a different amount of points, depending on their difficulty. A ground level goal would be worth one point, and a goal that required shooting the balls into it would be worth two to three points. If FIRST, the global robotics organization, were to change the type of game piece, the team would have to make a completely different robot. FIRST has also adjusted the layout of competitions. What used to be a 3-4 day contest with over
2500 participants has been remade into a series of virtual competitions, skill challenges, and time trials. With the practice field in their new facility, the Shambots will be able to not only improve their skills, but also compete. To stay safe, the robotics team is only allowing a few members at a time to be in-person in their warehouse. However, this does not mean that the others don’t get to be a part of the team. “Students will have lots of opportunities to contribute at a safe distance or remotely through computer programming, game strategy, CAD (computer-aided design), business plans, and other digital challenges,” said Ms. Vingsness. The team’s competition season officially starts in January, but there’s still a lot that needs to be done.
The Pop Culture Grid Who Are They?
Jack Anderson
ESports shows promise in first season Diego Cabello ’22 The foundations that were laid last year for the CC ESports team are paying off. Last year, Steve Juncaj ’18 met and discussed with the CC administration about establishing an ESports team, and they were able to get things off the ground with 10 gaming computers in the school. This year is the team’s first season in the Michigan High School Esports Federation, MiHSEF, playing Rocket League, Valorant, and Overwatch in the fall. They will be playing Super Smash Bros. and League of Legends in the spring. CC’s Rocket League A Team started the year with the goal of a state championship. Their only loss was a neck-and-neck battle with Divine Child, which resulted in a 3-2 defeat in a best of 5. The CC Rocket League team later defeated Divine Child in the “State Champs ES” tournament 4-0 in a best of 7 on November 25. Coming off of that tournament victory, the team
entered the post season with a record of 15-1. CC’s Overwatch Team is solid at 4-3, and the Valorant A Team is at 3-2-2. To get to this point in the season, the team has had to adopt a certain mentality. “We are taking a one-game-at-a-time mentality to take off stress, trying our hardest, and believing we can win no matter who we are playing,” explained Coach Juncaj. The team captains showed great leadership through the entire season. “One thing I learned was the need to delegate certain roles to the captains,” said Coach Juncaj. “I have some of the best leaders in them.” Senior captain Michael Roycht added, “I am responsible to be the shotcaller and to encourage shotcall and participate because we are all playing as a team in the end. We have a lot of great potential with underclassmen.” Unfotunaltely, the Rocket League team lost in the State Finals to Macomb Dakota, finishing the year with a record of 18-2. Indeed, the ESports future is bright.
NBA embraces social justice Drew Laroo ’22
Iguodala’s “Group Economics.” The league even allowed foreign players to wear messages in their native languages as exemplified by Dallas On August 26, 2020, the Milwaukee Bucks made a decision that Mavericks star Luka Dončić’s jersey reading “Enakopravnost,” which was unlike any other in sports history: they decided not to play. The translates to “equality” in Slovenian. Coaches could also be seen on Bucks, who were looking to close out their series against the sidelines sporting badges with the statement the Magic informed the league of their decision to not “Coaches for Racial Justice” written on them. play just hours prior to tipoff. The reason for the boyAnother major impact that the NBA made cott was to protest the death of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, was its strong push to encourage people to regWisconsin, about 40 miles south of Milwaukee, which ister to vote prior to the 2020 election. Playcame at the hands of the Kenosha Police Department. ers’ warm-up shirts had the word “VOTE” It was announced later that the remaining two NBA written on them in all capital letters. In addigames scheduled for that evening would be canceled; tion to that, arena screens featured statements however, the effects of the Bucks’ boycott was felt bethat encouraged people to register. The league yond the NBA bubble in Orlando. Later that day, it was was also able to make a large impact amongst announced that the MLB’s Padres and Mariners had deits own players. During Game 3 of the Finals, cided to boycott their matchup for that night. Eventually, NBPA President Chris Paul star Thunder guard and president of the NBPA Major League Baseball and other professional leagues Chris Paul revealed to broadcaster Mike Breen across the country decided to postpone their games for that night. that over 90% of players in the league had registered to vote and Even before the Bucks’ decision, the NBA had been at the center that 15 of the 30 teams had all players registered, which is substanof the social justice movement following the players’ desire for justice tially higher than the 20% of players who were registered in 2016. for people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The NBA gained a lot Through their massive push to register voters and to proof news coverage following their announcement that players would be mote social justice, the NBA and its players were able to allowed to wear “social justice messages” on the back of their jerseys. make a large impact on the amount of voters in the 2020 Those messages ranged from a simple “Black Lives Matter” to messag- election and also create a better and more equal America. Maverick Luka Dončić sporting a jersey saying “equality” in his naes with more advanced meanings, such as Miami Heat veteran Andre tive language, Slovenian
CC grad Amine pursues Olympic dreams Gordon Jones ’22
Andreas Lanni (Left), Andrew Vassallo (Middle), and Coach Brown tend to the robot.
What is the worst thing about What is the first thing you What is the biggest distraction Who would star in CC’s verbeing stuck at home? would do if elected President? during online school? sion of the Grinch?
Not being able to eat the breakfast sandwiches at CC
Play the new Call of Duty. I have priorities.
Seeing all of my other handsome brothers on camera
Mr. Shaheen. He would love to steal presents from little kids.
While many athletes dream of Olympic glory, few have the talent, ability, and determination to achieve this goal. So when one of our former CC athletes is selected to compete at the International Olympic games, it is very special. Myles Amine ’15 recently announced that he would be competing in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic games and would represent his home country of San Marino. Amine will undoubtedly go down in Detroit Catholic Central Wrestling history as an all-time great, not only capturing back-to-back individual state titles in 2014 & 2015, but also winning team titles in 2013 & 2014. Myles went undefeated in his senior year at 51-0, while being active in the NHS and earning Myles Amine 4-year Gabriel Richard honors. When I asked Myles about how Catholic Central wrestling prepared him for the next level, he praised his coaches first and foremost. “Having a coaching staff that is literally one of the best in the country with multiple All-Americans on staff pretty much sets you up for greatness if you’re willing to buy in,” he said. He also mentioned that the CC work ethic and culture is second to none. Myles is part of a long lineage of UM wres-
tlers. His brother Malik ’14, and cousins Cameron ’19 and Jordan all wrestle or have wrestled at UM as well. His father Mike Amine (wrestled from 1986-89) was a 4-year letter winner and NCAA finalist, along with his uncle Sam (wrestled from 1988-90), who was an NCAA qualifier. When I asked Myles about his favorite memories from his collegiate career he told me about making the NCAA tournament as a 12th seed. He described his freshman year as an “experiment year” as he was still getting used to this level of competition. Myles fondly remembers not only making the quarter-finals due to a hard-fought win in the blood round, but also becoming an All-American, placing 4th at the NCAA tournament. Another fond memory he shared was capturing an oddsdefying win at Iowa’s CarverHawkeye Arena, widely considered one of the most intense atmospheres to wrestle in. Myles described how much fun it was to win there, as well as how passionate the Hawkeye fans were and how much trash they were talking. When asked about the process to become an Olympic representative for San Marino, he had this to say: “I was born with citizenship so the process was relatively easy. I had to talk to the Olympic Federation, and my brother and I
actually had to go over for a ‘try out.’ They realized pretty quickly that we were world class and after that asked us to represent San Marino.” As for how the Olympics affects his college eligibility, Myles indicated that UM is always happy to have Olympic-class wrestlers on their roster and is willing to grant red-shirts and extra eligibility to Olympic athletes. Myles also expressed his trust in the UM coaching staff and denied any possibility of taking his talents elsewhere. “I have the utmost trust in the coaching staff at Michigan,” he said. “UM is home.” After the Tokyo Games he will have one last year of eligibility. Obviously, Covid-19 has affected his Olympic training as well as collegiate training, and he said that UM has taken every possible precaution such as sanitization and daily testing. Currently there’s an overlap between Olympic and collegiate training, but Myles still attends both. Outside of wrestling, Myles enjoys cooking and continues to attend classes just like any other student. “I love cooking my own meals,” he said, “because it’s so much easier to control what I eat and it makes sense so I can control my weight.” Amine’s schedule is full with training every day, lifting 3-4 times a week, and attending classes. Amine in victory formation, representing San Marino For instance, every Wednesday Myles goes to class, then practice, followed by lifting and night classes. We can expect to see Myles and his be competing in the NCAA tournament afbrother Malik wrestle for San Marino some ter January 1 as long as there are no delays. time in early August 2021. Myles will also
Desperate measures to combat invasive species Nick D’Abate ’21
Moe Jaffer
Mrs. Sharkey
7
Sports
December 11, 2020
Not being able to draw por- Cut prices down on Sour Patch Leveling up on Call of Duty traits of my teachers in class Kids
Fr. Fulton because he doesn’t give us enough days off.
I miss being with family and friends. I miss people.
Mr. Shaheen would star as Ned McDodd, the Mayor of Whoville. He’s kind of like the mayor of CC.
I would ensure Snow Days were protected.
Technology
Harming the economy, uprooting native ecosystems and environments, and even fueling extinction in other species, invasive species have a detrimental effect on North American ecosystems. Feral hogs, for instance, pose as one of the greatest threats to the southern United States. Introduced by American colonists, feral hog populations have grown exponentially. So much so, it is estimated that wild pigs can damage $1.5 billion worth of native land and crops annually. With few natural predators, their numbers still spread; however, some people believe there is a way to contain the populations at a steady number. Texans trap hogs with specialized traps and have even found ways to make a living off of these sinister swines. Aerial gunning has become one of the most effective and lucrative methods to cull the numbers of feral swines. In 2011, Texas passed a law allowing tourists to come and hunt feral hogs from helicopters. Now, Texans run guided trips and some make livings off of solely hog hunting. One trip is around $2,500 per person and includes meals, lodging, and firearms. The pilot often flies low to the ground to ensure his two hunters have clear and safe
shots and maneuvers the aircraft like a dog herding sheep. One trip usually lasts around two hours and in that time 40-70 hogs may be expired. Similar to feral hogs, Asian carp were introduced in Arkansas in efforts to reduce aquatic vegetation and sewage in lakes and ponds. When the areas were hit with floods, though, they ventured off and made their way into the Mississippi River. Asian carp, however, are
not one species; in fact, there are four different species of fish that we Americans consider “Asian carp.” These four species of fish include: Silver carp, Bighead carp, Grass carp, and Black carp, collectively holding the title of “America’s most hated fish” for many reasons. First, with any loud disturbance in the water they panic and leap upwards of two meters into the air. Like feral hogs, Asian carp also have few predators, so reducing their numbers is challenging. Asian carp have spread all over the Mississippi River and connecting waters and pose a great threat to the fishing industry of the Great Lakes. The only thing that is restricting them from entering Lake Michigan, and eventually the rest of the Great Lakes, as of now is an underwater electric fence in the Chicago River shipping canal. Asian carp and feral hogs only make up a fraction of the invasive species that inhabit the world. Each species has their own effect on the environment, and many create a great deal of disturbances in the ecosystems in which they inhabit. Invasive species are one of the most negative results of globalization and once they are introduced it is almost impossible to eliminate them completely.
Spectrum
Spectrum Staff
Written and published by the students of Catholic Central since 1936. 27225 Wixom Road Novi, Michigan 48374 Room 101
Congratulations to Fr.
“Teach me goodness, discipline, and knowledge.”
Moderator Mr. Ianni
Dominic Aiello Aedan Branigan-Brown Diego Cabello Will Carstens Max Chensse Andrew Ciarelli
Editors-in-Chief Nick Dewhirst Brendan Nordstrom George Nunu
Staff Writers Nick Czarnota Nick D’Abate Gordon Jones Drew Laroo Jack Leuker James Lindenberg
Artist
Andrew Memmer
Photographer Sam Gomez
Cole Nogawa Tommy Shea Jack Smith Logan Welter Phobia
Fulton on winning the National Catholic High School Principal cash prize from the NCEA. Shoutout
DUAL FRONT PAGE EDITION: NEW CC ENTRANCE ON PAGE 1 Detroit Catholic Central
Volume 84, No. 2 December 11, 2020 27225 Wixom Road, Novi, MI, 48374
STATE CHAMPS
Photo by Mr. Ellis, Oakland Press
Senior Captain Jack Leuker celebrates after sealing the game with a penalty kick.
Team 42 overcomes deficits to win title Despair engulfed us as we limped into the locker room at halftime of our Regional Semifinal game. We trailed De La Salle 0-2, conceding twice in the opening fifteen minutes, as well as having a player receive a red card. Many players on our team, myself included, thought that this would be our last game of the season. As I sat on the bench, I thought about our season to that point, how far we had come, only to fall short now. Months earlier, with no option of doing our regular captain’s practices in person, we started summer training with captain-led Zoom workouts. These Zoom workouts, along with socially distanced performance training at CC, prepared us for a season that looked unlikely to happen. After being forced to cancel our first five matches, we were finally given the green light. We opened the season with a 2-2 tie against the reigning state champions Troy Athens. Building on the momentum from this game, we went undefeated in the regular season, capping it off with a 3-0 victory in the Catholic League championship. In the District Semifinals and Finals we grinded out 2-0 wins against Brighton and North Farmington, earning our fourth consecutive District title. This set us up to once again face off against Catholic League rival De La Salle, whom we had beaten and tied during our two regular season meetings. Everyone on the team knew that this was our biggest test so far. At the beginning of halftime, Coach Pulice slowly followed us into the locker room. Once we had all taken a seat, he began detailing the plan for the second half. As he spoke, newfound belief began to grow in the squad. Our halftime break ended with the team in
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an impassioned frenzy, with everyone shouting words of encouragement to each other, as we set out to attempt the near impossible. Despite the one-man disadvantage, we began applying pressure on the De La Salle back line, scoring our first goal with just twenty minutes remaining. We pushed even harder in search of an equalizer, and with only five minutes left, we leveled the score at two. The momentum in the match had completely shifted, and after the regular time had ended, we decided to push for the winner in overtime. With one minute to go in the first half of overtime, we snatched the goal that would eventually prove to be the game winner. Celebrations broke out immediately following the final whistle, as the result began to sink in. Despite having to still win three games against some of the best teams in the state, there was a belief among the team that if we could overcome something like this, we could overcome anything. The match against De La Salle was far from our last test, however, as we faced a strong Berkeley team in the Regional Finals. We fell behind early again, but this time fought back to level the score before halftime. In the second half we scored twice to secure the win and the third Regional Title in CC Soccer history. Days later, we once again fell behind 0-2 early, this time to Mattawan in the State Semifinal. Rather than dropping our heads, we kept battling and pulled within a goal before the halftime break. There was no doubt among our team that we could do exactly what we had done before. Scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals within five minutes of each other secured our spot in the State Finals.
Our opponent, Traverse City West, finalists last season, had just beaten the reigning champions 4-0 in the semifinals. Nerves were high going into the match, and as a consequence, there weren’t many chances created in the first half. After another passionate speech from Coach Pulice at halftime, however, we set out with more ambition in the second half. Ten minutes in, we won and scored a penalty to take a 1-0 lead. We defended our lead the next twentyfive minutes, but with just five minutes left, a penalty was called against us. They converted from the spot, sending the match into overtime. We had been minutes from a State Title. We could have easily been put off our game by the momentum switch, but our resilience proved too strong. With just seconds remaining in the first half of extra time, we won and scored our second penalty of the match. We defended for our lives in the final ten minutes, and held on to claim our second Soccer State Title ever. On and off the field our team encountered challenges that may have doomed a weaker team. From nearly not being able to play at all, to playing with a mask on, to trailing by two goals in multiple do-or-die games, our squad always did what was necessary to keep the season going. There were so many moments during our season where it would’ve been easier to just give up, but we continued to fight for each other. These challenges ultimately molded us into the family that we are today. I know for a fact that a State Title would not have been possible this year without every single person on the team. Though the odds never seemed in our favor, Team 42 was a team that never knew when it was beaten, the telling trait of a champion.
Our halftime break ended with the team in an impassioned frenzy, with everyone shouting words of encouragement to each other, as we set out to attempt the near impossible.
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Jack Leuker ’21