Spectrum DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Volume 83, No. 4.2
April 4, 2020
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Geroge Nunu ‘21 Staff Writer
While the Governor has officially closed school buildings for the 2019-2020 school year, Catholic Central has continued to teach its students through digital classes. Under the leadership of Fr. Fulton, the administration has adapted to the sudden change and worked effortlessly to ensure that the students are still able to finish the year as scheduled. In order to allow students to adapt to this new mode of learning, the administration established a block schedule in which the students attend half of their classes on Monday and Wednesday, and the other half on Tuesday and Thursday. Although students are at home, they are still maintaining a high level of academic prowess. Students are required to mark their attendance each day by 3:00 p.m., complete regularly scheduled assignments, and watch pre-recorded lectures. Teachers have also been highly cooperative with the students in helping them adapt to the new system. Every teacher has office hours
On September 12, 1866, the Evansville Daily Journal printed the phrase, “The show must go on,” for the first time in recorded history. The phrase is said to have originated in circus acts when some dilemma or problem arose, meaning that despite this, it must continue as planned. This same phrase can be applied to the need to move on in tough or dark times, such as what we are living through right now. In times of crisis such as these, it is important to stay strong and try to keep life as normal as possible. In terms of AP tests and standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT, they are adjusting as the situation continues and hope to maintain that sense of normalcy. The AP Board is continuing with this ideology as they plan to maintain course, yet in a new, unconventional way. The traditional in-person, 3-hour AP exam format will be suspended this year, and replaced by a 45-minute online free response exam. Because many students may come
Merucci’s Picks Since we’ve all been asked to stay inside, what better time than this to sit down and watch some movies? I’ve included some of my favorite movies that are available for free on streaming services (with a subscription) and YouTube, as well as on Hoopla and Kanopy, which can be accessed with a library card. I tried to choose movies that differ greatly from one another, varying by popularity, genre, and story. Enjoy.
Pi (1998) - Amazon Prime/Hulu
After I chose this one for family movie night, I wasn’t allowed to choose the movie for a month. I thought it was pretty great, anyway. This is the perfect movie to watch while the world falls apart.
It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012) - YouTube
This animated movie from Don Hertzfeldt packs more emotion into stick figures than anything Disney could ever spend 300 million dollars on. Has the best effect when watched alone.
Blow Out (1981) - Amazon Prime/Hoopla
John Travolta‘s performances are the most unpredictable in the business, but this is his shining moment. This mystery thriller cranks paranoia up to 11 and showcases Brian De Palma (Scarface, Mission: Impossible) in prime directing form.
Logan Lucky (2017) - Amazon Prime/Kanopy
Ocean’s 11 at the racetrack, and absolutely hilarious. What more could you want? Daniel Craig, Adam Driver, and Channing Tatum, I suppose.
You Were Never Really Here (2017) - Amazon Prime
This is my second favorite Joaquin Phoenix performance after Her. It’s difficult to find an action movie as beautiful as this: You Were Never Really Here made me want to snap my fingers in poetic appreciation after the first watch.
There Will Be Blood (2007) - Netflix/Showtime
If you haven’t seen this, it’s a must. Daniel Day-Lewis blesses us with a legendary performance in a ruthless tale of the oil boom in the west. Easily one of the greatest films to come out of the 21st century.
Good Time (2017) - Netflix/Kanopy
#TeamEdward, I call on you to watch this gripping Robert Pattinson thriller filled to the brim with neon stylings and extreme closeups. Nothing like a bank robbery gone very very very very wrong.
They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969) - YouTube
Not gonna put a spin on this one. This might be the most depressing/physically exhausting movie I’ve ever seen. The masterpiece of Sydney Pollack.
A Serious Man (2009) - Netflix
The Coen Brothers have a knack for making hilarious movies, that much is obvious. This comedy, believe it or not, is seen as a modern retelling of the Book of Job.
City of God (2002) - Netflix/Hoopla
I hope you don’t mind subtitles: this Brazilian movie is one of the finest that international cinema has to offer. An illuminating peek into the streets of Rio de Janeiro, City of God is both brutal and beautiful.
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A Message From Fr. Fulton: Enjoy this needed and deserved break meant as a celebration first of all the mysteries of salvation and second of all for our Wrestling Team State Championship and third for what should have been another State Championship in Hockey and what would have been our first State Championship ever for Swimming! Take this time to reach out to your classmates and see how they’re doing.
in case students have questions, and Zoom calls have been established to allow students to interact and get the school atmosphere while at home. The Athletic Department has also established Zoom calls with guest speakers to keep students motivated and engaged in their athletics. CJ Baird ‘17 and John Jakubik ‘10 enlightened the Shamrocks recently with their wisdom. While the Shamrock Nation continues to navigate these unfamiliar waters, students are adapting nicely to the new curriculum. “I think that the school has taken a good approach by still allowing us to learn without causing too much confusion or causing me to feel overwhelmed,” remarked one student from Mrs. Raskey’s Honors class. Students are continuing to work through adversity and develop valuable life skills while at home. Another one of Mrs. Raskey’s discussed the discipline and time management necessary to accomplish daily assignments. Despite these unforeseen circumstances, the Shamrocks continue to overcome and become men of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.
Upcoming Town Halls (via Zoom) Junior Town Hall: Monday, April 6, 5:00 p.m. Sophomore Town Hall: Tuesday, April 7, 5:00 p.m.
Test Companies Scramble Brendan Nordstrom ‘21 Staff Writer
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27225 Wixom Road, Novi, MI, 48374
CC Moves to Online Curriculum
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Freshman Town Hall: Wednesday, April 8, 5:00 p.m.
from low-income households, they will be providing the materials necessary to review and take the test if one is in need. The AP Board is also providing students with free learning resources, including live reviews on weekdays in preparation for the test. This is in order to keep stress levels low and make this as small a burden as possible. They will also be providing two separate days in which to take the test in order to be flexible and accommodating. Another important aspect is that the exam curriculum will be reduced in order to accommodate students who will be unable to return to school. This means that the exam will only cover up to what most students had reached by early March. Most importantly, colleges have agreed to accept any college credits due to earning proficient scores on the exam. While some may be concerned about the possibility of cheating, the questions are designed to avoid this, and systems have been set in place to detect academic dishonesty. A concern for high school juniors may also include the administration of the ACT and SAT. The Spring ACT and SAT have already been
cancelled. A number of colleges and universities have even elected to forego the standardized testing requirement for admission, therefore making it optional. This means, at select universities for this year, students may be admitted without submitting an ACT/SAT score. Case Western and University of California, to name a couple, have already agreed to this policy. This list may be expected to grow as the conditions from the COVID-19 pandemic worsen. However, since all colleges have not conceded to bypass the standardized test requirement, the April ACT has been moved to June. Students registered for the April ACT will be able to reschedule to June free of charge. The SAT is still unsure what they are going to do at this time, but information will become available soon. There are still a lot of uncertainties present at this time. However, the AP Board, ACT, and SAT are working as hard as possible to ensure “the show goes on.”
Esports Team Carries Athletic Torch Maximus Chensse ‘22 Staff Writer This year, a new sport has been brought to Catholic Central. It doesn’t involve any heavy weight training, but still requires the best from its members to achieve victory. It is the Shamrock Esports Team. Coached by recent CC grad Mr. Stephen Juncaj, this new team has been created for those who love to play video games, and who have found a passion in competing. The original idea for the team formed in September of 2019 and took off quickly. “This was an idea brought to life by the administration,” says Juncaj, “and something they feel could be another outlet to students who maybe haven’t found their place at CC yet.” He couldn’t have been more on point. The new club soon acquired its first members and new technology dedicated to the club’s objective: mastering video games and destroying the competition. Even when the dreaded COVID-19 sent all of the players home, they still kept their enthusiasm and dedication towards the team. Members
of the same games organized times to practice together and teach each other. Practices were organized on a daily basis and tournaments were not far off. Sophomore Colin Harris explains, “The good thing about esports is that we can practice from home, and we are going to be working especially hard with some more of this free time.” The team has set up to compete in the Michigan High School Esports Federation, and has already completed its first tournament. After speaking to a few of the members and Coach Juncaj, it is clear that those on this team love what they are doing and love the opportunity that the club provides them with. They can now compete at a higher level, on an official high school esports team. “The beautiful thing about the program is that we are not bound to a certain region,” Coach Juncaj explains. “We have played schools from Washington, Virginia, Arizona, and New Jersey.” The Esports team has opened up a new set of possibilities for those who have joined it, and is a team to keep an eye on during the upcoming Esports seasons.
Mr. Hancock To Family: “Get Haircuts!!” Cole Nogawa ‘22 Staff Writer As thousands of schools across the United States continue to transition to online learning programs, our very own Catholic Central has also found itself facing building closure for the remainder of the school year. To gain some insight as to what comes next (and to cheer ourselves up a bit), we reached out to everybody’s favorite Dean of Students: Mr. Mitch Hancock. When asked about how he has been spending his “coronacation,” Mr. Hancock stated that the majority of his time at home has consisted of “building Lego empires, winning World Series championships in MLB The Show, and watching Netflix series with [his] wife.” On a more serious note, however, the Dean of Students has continued to actively work with students, parents, and teachers alike in order to “keep our Shamrock students engaged and united in faith, optimism, and hope.” Although deeply saddened by his sudden inability to “respond to vape detector alerts, [issue] facial hair detentions, and [yell] at freshman to clean up after themselves during lunch,” the student-less Dean of Students has found himself missing what many of us take for granted,
what makes Catholic Central truly unique. “I miss our morning music on Mondays. I miss the excitement of our assemblies,” Mr. Hancock said. “I miss seeing our seniors walking through the halls. I miss watching our teachers instruct with such passion, energy, and love for their subject!” Not even the lack of patchy facial hair, however, has been able to dispirit Mr. Hancock. “I’ve been extremely impressed with the professionalism, positivity, and hope that our students have displayed,” he proudly stated. “Our guys have stepped up and are forced to communicate more effectively, meet deadlines, and manage their time more efficiently all the while trying to navigate through the chaos that this terrible disease has caused.” When asked about how this experience will change his approach to education, Mr. Hancock said, “This experience has allowed me to digitally communicate with more students than I normally would, which is good.” He concluded, “God has given us all the ability to make this world a better place and demonstrate more love and we’re seeing that now. This experience will make us stronger, more giving, and better men of God.”
2020 Olympics Postponed Nicholas D’Abate ‘21 Staff Writer In just three weeks’ time, COVID-19 has altered the activities and behaviors of mankind in a way that we have never witnessed before. COVID-19 poses a threat so severe that billion-dollar industries and events are shutting down as people around the globe are now mandated to stay in their homes indefinitely. Now, for the first time in its history, the Summer Olympics have been postponed. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, along with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), finally settled on postponing the games on March 30. The opening ceremony is to begin on July 23, 2021, and curtail on August 8, 2021, along with the Paralympics, beginning August 24, 2021 and ending September 5, 2021. Much like the NCAA, as conferences such as the ACC and the Big 12 opted out, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the March Madness tournament, Olympic teams from Canada, Australia, and the United
States all stated that they would not send athletes to this year’s Olympics. The actions of teams within these lucrative operations forced the hand of these leaders, who now are faced to think about what’s best for the people versus financial interest. But this setback could have major economic implications as well. Japan is estimated to incur a loss of roughly 600 billion yen, equivalent to about 5.5 billion U.S. dollars, while worldwide businesses such as big Olympic sponsors like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s will also take a hit. However, their losses may not be as detrimental as those of the airline and bar and restaurant industries in Tokyo especially. According to ESPN and Katsuhiro Miyamoto, a professor of sports economics at Kansai University, the costs could be as high as $4 billion, accounting for the expenses of stadium maintenance, refitting them, paying rentals, penalties, and other expenses. Japan is now likely spending around $12.6 billion to host the 2020 Olympics. The overall impact of the coronavirus may not be fully tangible at the moment; however, in a few years we may be able to fully understand how deeply this pandemic has affected society and the global economy alike.
