Purple Quill January 2020

Page 1

Ten Years Ago

Perfect Game

Killer Inside

Tom Peters asks faculty where they were in the last decade. see Faculty Features - pg. 4

Nick Hunter profiles Bowling team and Timm “300” Reis. see Sports - pg. 8

Jack Langen reviews a recent Netflix docu-series. see Arts & Entertainment - pg. 15

Published by the Students of Elder High School

Volume 88 Number 5

January 31, 2020

Elder prepares for Night for the Fight Annual event raises awareness for childhood cancer Mason Berger ‘20 Co-Editor in Chief

On February 8, students and faculty of

Elder High School will be attending the Night for the Fight, an event held at 5/3 Arena. This event is held as a fundraiser and awareness event inspired by childhood cancer. This event, which is attended by over 1,500 high school students across the city, is a twelve-hour charity event that is filled with several different activities for everyone there to partake in. The total fundraising goal for the event is $325,000, and the Elder faithful that are attending are doing their part in reaching this goal. Each student is required to raise $125 in order to attend this event, which all goes to cancer research for children, and the money goes to help out the families affected by childhood cancer as well. 2020 marks Elder’s fourth year attending this event, which all was started by Mr. Nugent and the lacrosse team in 2017. He was introduced to it through a service group called Magnified Giving, and he decided that this would be beneficial for his lacrosse team. Also, this was during a time where Mr. Nugent was di-

agnosed with cancer himself, so this event came full circle. Initially, the Night for the Fight was supposed to be a team building exercise for the lacrosse team, but this event spread throughout Elder shortly thereafter. Elder grads such as Tyler Durr and Nick Albers were instrumental in sharing this event in the leadership program and getting a different set of guys involved. In regards to the event itself, Mr. Nugent compared it to a “controlled high school party”, where there is music, food, competitions, and other events held within. Also, for anyone who was wondering, most of the people who attend this event are females. That being said, Elder usually has the largest contingent from a male school, and has the most this year with 49 members. While this event has plenty of fun and games that go along with it, it also does a good job of bringing everyone back to the reason why they are there, and that is cancer awareness. Normally, about eight or ten kids and their families come and share their stories about their battle with cancer Everyone at this event is pulling an all-nighter, with the event lasting from 7 p.m. all the way to 7 a.m. of the next day. Five Elder students have been in charge of planning Elder’s side of the event: Michael Bartholomew, Ben Koopman, Will Stautberg, Jacob Steins, and Chase Schaerer. For Ben Koopman, this event was introduced to him through lacrosse as a freshman, and it has interested him

Elder students at the Night for the Fight in 2019. (courtesy of @Elderhs Instagram)

ever since. “This will be my fourth time attending N4TF, and my first time on the leadership team, so I hope I’m able to get a lot more meaning out of this event since I’m so personally connected with it now,” said Koopman. As a leader, he has had more responsibilities than just rasing adequate funds for N4TF, such as setting up food stands, the stage, games, and other locations within the event. Senior Dakota Postel is attending this event for the first time this year, and has gained interest based off of words of those who have attended this event before, “I’ve heard it’s a fun night and at the same time you’re helping out people with your do-

nations.” Dakota also wants to make sure that he really understands and appreciates the real meaning of why he’s there. This event is a great time for high school students and all who are attending, but it is also a very rewarding experience that benefits so many. For Mr. Nugent, this event is his version of “running to the roar”, where all the guys there with him help bring light to the darkness that is faced with cancer. “It really grounds you in a sense of how lucky and blessed we are.” says Mr. Nugent on N4TF. Through this event, Elder and other high schools get to use their blessings in great ways.

Mr. Bill brings in students for The Walk Gus Middendorf ‘21 Staff Writer

The Elder Walk for Others is an historic

Panther tradition that everybody looks forward, but how many students are actually involved in it? We may all donate and participate on the day of the walk, but who’s actually planning and setting up all the details? According to alumni director Mr. Bill, it could be you. At a recent student council meeting, Mr. Bill sat in and talked about his idea for a student-led walk. “It started as student-run, but somewhere along the line, it’s become the staff’s responsibility.” He told student council, “I need some hardworking guys to really make an impact.” Following his speech to the 40 or so members of student council, a number

“I need some hardworking guys to really make an impact.” - Mr. Bill of students signed their name to help Mr. Bill’s vision. One of these students was Junior Jake

Stiens. About the commitment, Stiens remarked, “I’ve known Mr. Bill for a long time, and I’ve always respected the work he puts in at Elder High. I’m always hoping to get involved at Elder, and the Walk sounds like a good thing to help out with.” When asked about what he’ll actually be doing, Stiens replied with a simple “Not a clue, I just wrote my name down.” To understand what these volunteers are actually needed for, I asked Mr. Bill himself the same question. “Primarily, I need guys back in the planning of the walk.” He added, “In the past couple years, we’ve gotten out of touch with the student body, so I definitely would love to get guys back in to plan things like announcements, ways of reaching out to alumni, decision-making, and even possible themes.” I also asked him if he thought the walk could one day become a fully student-led event, and according to Mr. Bill it didn’t seem likely: “When there’s an event with that much money involved, along with just safety concerns, you’re going to need some adult oversight” Regardless, Mr. Bill still appeared

Students on a recent and cold Walk For Others.

optimistic about his new plan. “The walk began as the brainchild of student council, and I want to start giving it back to the students. Even if it’s a bust this year,” he adds, “it will still be a great learning experience that’ll lead to more student involvement.” Personally, I am very excited for Mr. Bill’s plan, and I’ve signed myself up to help out. It seems that Mr. Bill has been wanting do introduce this idea to the student body for a while, and his plan appears to be very well thought out and realistic. Hopefully, there will be a plethora of hardworking students who can help Mr. Bill in his dream. If you’re interested

in assisting him, you can see Mr. Bill in the alumni office downstairs or email him at billbd@elderhs.net.

Inside The Quill

Opinion....................................... 2,3 Faculty Features............................ 4 Student Features.................... 6,7,14 Sports......................................... 8,9 Features............................... 5,10,11 Arts & Entertainment....12,13,14,15 Back Page.................................... 16


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Friday January 31, 2020

Opinion

Cock-a-doodle-Do you know about Roosters? Jack Langen ‘20 Staff Writer

Many were saddened by the recent loss of the Apple-

Where do I park?

bee’s on the corner of Crookshank and Glenway. Every neighborhood needs a nice family joint, and a classic like Applebee’s is hard to replace. However, a new restaurant offers to fill in that void, Roosters. Beneath the Rooster’s logo reads “a fun, casual joint.” The logo itself is a promise of a good time. A chicken wearing sunglasses? Ok, Roosters, you can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? I had to see for myself.

ATMOSPHERE

Henry Mazza ‘21 Staff Writer

You had a rough night last night. Trying to get out of bed was almost useless. You

hit snooze 10 times too many and you are about to be late for school without a parking spot. You finally see the familiar brown brick castle we call Elder in the distance. But, its already 7:45 and you’re asking yourself, “Where the hell do I park?” The parking dynamic that Elder presents its students is complicated to say the least. For all the terrible sophomore drivers who think they can parallel park, it can be especially confusing. And we all know those kids in the homeroom who somehow manage to arrive perfectly at 7:45 and walk in five minutes later. So, when arriving at school, what spots are still open? And at what time are they all filled? I needed to ask an expert on parking timing, so who else would be better to ask then the very timely Holden Nichols. Holden is a very routine based person, so when he breaks his routine, he notices it. In an interview, Holden said, “I arrive to school around 7:20 usually.” And when he was asked when his parking spot on Gilsey is normally taken, he stated, “The cut off line for good spots on Gilsey is about 7:30-7:35.” The road of Gilsey is a tricky one to park on. To get another testimony, Luke Lammers was questioned on his parking habits in the morning since he does not have a parking spot either. He gets to school a little earlier than most, around 7:10 and his favorite spot facing down Gilsey is usually taken up by the time of 7:15. When he was asked what makes him angry about parking in the morning he said, “You know what, I hate it when some fool thinks it’s OK to take up two spots on the street. Like, everyone is trying to find a spot this morning while not freezing their butt off. Just choose one spot when you can fit in it.” Clearly, Luke’s not too happy about the way some hooligans try to park around campus. Finally, though, I needed to hear about where the faint of heart rarely travels, farther down Regina and Academy. For this, Andrew Mueller was assessed. Andrew really doesn’t have a set time when he arrives to school, he’s more of a go with the flow type of guy. When asked about his parking experiences, he stated, “Regina is the opposite of a fine wine, the longer you wait, the more crowded it gets. I mean, if I want to wake up super early and battle traffic half asleep, you can. But I’d rather sleep and park on Academy in peace.” After taking all of these testimonies into account, one thing Holden said struck me at home. When I asked him what could make your experiences better, he said, “I think it would be reasonable for Elder to expand their current south tail parking. I think it would really improve what is already a great facility we call Elder high.” And I think we all have to agree with him here. One way to better the parking Elder offers would be to utilize the plot of land adjacent to the North Wing lot. If this was done, there would be much more convenient parking for teachers and students alike. Hopefully, the future holds better parking for Elder, so at least all upperclassmen can get spots too.

As I first walked into the door, I was surprised to find that the place was packed on a Wednesday night. My eyes were met with the red-hot glow of neon lights. I heard the melodious upbeat tones of casual rock music accompanied by the sounds of college basketball. There If you’re looking for some latewere at least 30 TV’s, each with hockey or basketball night food, Roosters remains open playing. Underneath these TV’s were pictures of various late, even through the work week (credit Google/ john s) local sports legends, like Johnny Bench and Ken Griffey Jr. This place definitely gave a sports-bar kind of vibe. Hung above the bar in the front are signs from the local breweries. UC signs were a dime a dozen. This place makes sure the local team is represented, and you will definitely feel at home there. The oak wood theme was a good fit for this restaurant. The corresponding barn-like/park-bench-like tables make you feel like you’re on a picnic. Put all this together, and you’ve got yourself a great environment.

SERVICE

The service was swell. All of the wait staff seemed quite friendly. My waitress seemed happy to wait on me and checked on me several times, all with a smile. I even left to wash my hands after eating, and by the time I was back my table was spotless. Gotta like that. As a paying customer, I was happy.

FOOD

The menu offers a wide variety of options. It listed about anything you could imagine from chicken fingers and wings to pizzas and subs. This made me a bit skeptical - like maybe it is a master of none. The place seems to pride themselves on their wings, so I put in an order for the honey BBQ wings. When they arrived at my table, I thought they might have been from a turkey - I mean these things were huge. And the sauce… man, that hit the spot. I will say that it wasn’t as tender as I would’ve liked, but they weren’t bad. Even still, I got out of there without breaking the bank. For a moderate price, you’re getting some decent food at some good quantity. In comparison with other local options, I’d say that your Wild Mikes or your Bdubs are a step ahead of the wings here. They’re just staples. That said, I was satisfied with what I saw, and I’d recommend giving it a try and making up your mind for yourself. Overall, Roosters delivers on what it promises to be - a fun, casual joint. I didn’t get five-star food, but I wasn’t expecting to. I still had a good experience. Something tells me this place will stick around.

Bartender waits on customers amid busy night shift (credit Google/ john s).

The Purple Quill

The Purple Quill is published nine times per academic year by the students enrolled in the Journalism class at Elder High School. Content is determined by the staff and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Elder High School’s faculty, administration or student body. Signed editorials and columns reflect the views of the writer. Letters to the editor and guest commentaries are encouraged and must be signed, although anonymity can be granted on a case by case basis. The staff reviews letters to the editor, advertising and guest commentaries and reserves the right to edit and refuse material. Reasons can include length, clarity, libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process at Elder High School or violation of copyright laws.

“Give students the freedom of expression and soon everyone will want it.” Co-Editors in Chief: Mason Berger ‘20, Carmine Domenicone ‘20 Faculty Advisor Mr. Gary Rogers

Faculty Advisor Emeritus Mr. Edward Menkhaus ‘63

Graphics Guru Jack Langen ‘20

Staff Writers Jacob Byrne ‘20 Michael Connolly ‘20 Robert Engelhardt ‘20 Nicholas Hunter ‘20 Lukas Marlman ‘21 Henry Mazza ‘21

Gus Middendorf ‘21 Thomas Peters ‘20 Dakota Postel ‘20 Nicholas Seger ‘20 Jason Thomas ‘20


Friday January 31, 2020

Opinion 3

Invisible flannels

Hot kicks of the generation

Recently, with the cold weather continuing

Shoes are a big part of our world today, especially among teenage guys. Whether its

Henry Mazza ‘21 Staff Writer

Carmine Domenicone ‘20 Co-Editor in Chief

to drop, the need to wear a coat to school has become much more relevant. And while most wake up to a freezing car in the morning, it’s no surprise that more and more students are wearing non-Elder gear around the school. But, lets get this clear: the student handbook states that the only outer garment in uniform is an approved quarter zip with the Elder logo clearly shown. In the last month or two, though, there have been a staggering amount kids trotting through the halls with “illegal” clothes on. The most infamous “illegal” garments have to be the lined flannels. Walking down the halls, you will see at least one or two of these jackets from class to class. But what Ben Eisenmann lives above the law makes these so popular? For one, they are exand out of uniform again. tremely warm. Most of these flannels’ inner layer are lined with an insulating wool to keep the kids warm from the first ten minutes of their car ride to Mr. Bengel’s freeze box. Another reason has to be the discreteness of them. It seems that the plaid flannel combination acts like a camouflage inside the gates here at Elder. Hardly do you see students even try to hide the fact that they are out of uniform: from the main hall to the nosebleeds of Mr. Bell’s room. And finally, probably the main reason, these jackets are in style. You’d be on Mars if you didn’t go out Saturday night and see at least five of these puppies. So, with its mix of style, warmth and low profile, the flannel jacket surely will show up in schools. Some teachers, on the other hand, feel differently about these jackets. For example, one day I had a flannel jacket on during a lunch period. One, because it was nineteen degrees outside and two, because our cafeteria is an icebox 365 days of the year. While I was minding my own business eating a sandwich, Mr. Kriemer decided to give me a piece of his mind regarding my “outer garment.” In the middle of February, Mr. Kriemer made me peel my warm jacket off to expose the little amount of heat left in my body. Even though I was able to put it back on during my next period in Mr. Bengel’s room, it still made me question why these jackets are so hated among teachers. Thank goodness I was not the only student that felt this way. We all know the kids who wear the flannel jackets every day and don’t give a darn what the system says to do. In the Junior class, they are Ben Eisenmann and Chris Pohlman. I asked Ben how he felt on the situation as a whole. He said, “Most students don’t have more than two Elder quarter zips and they might not always be clean.” I think we have to agree with Ben here. Most of Elder’s quarter zips are neither warm or look good, so it is reasonable to see kids with the all ‘round perfect jacket: the flannel. Ben continued to say, “Not only do flannels not distract other people around you, but some classes get colder than others. And we walk outside to get some classes.” Turns out, I am not the only one who has had a run in with the wise Mr. Kriemer. Chris Pohlman has had a few encounters with the law regarding his dress code. Chris says, “When I wear it at lunch, Kriemer tells me to take it off…” All this talk about flannels begs the question: should they be legalized? The jackets are very warm and would make the students happy. But, the problem is, there is no uniform aspect to it. There are so many different types of these jackets that Elder could not attain the uniform look they want from their students.

athletic or casual, shoes always seem to be a hot topic of conversation. In our generation, there has been a few popular sneakers that have proven to be big hits in the market. These are just my opinions and I’m sure I have left out a few, but I think these are somewhat accurate.

Chris Pohlman thinks he’s cool wearing his flannel and glasses.

Adidas NMD

This shoe first released in the winter of 2015 and hasn’t looked back since. Not going to lie, these shoes are pretty slick, and they keep coming out with new designs and colorways. These are probably one if not the most prominent kicks worn by students at Elder. Senior Willard Cluxton told me he has three different pairs of NMD’s currently. Every month Willard seems to be wearing a new pair.

Vans

Vans have always been out there, but I’d say just a few years ago was when these things really took off. After the release of the “Damn Daniel” video on social media, everyone hopped on the white Vans train. Vans are mostly known for being skate shoes, but it seems as if they are more of a casual shoe these days. Senior Colton Sandhas is a huge fan of the plain white Vans, he probably has over three pairs as well. They are a very basic shoe at best, but you can pretty much wear them with anything which makes them so versatile.

Timberland Boots

“Timbs” as they are known, have been one of the biggest moves for a while now. Not just are they work boots or shoes that you can wear out in the snow, but they have become quite a fashion statement. The most iconic duo might just be the pair of blue jeans and timbs… just ask senior Dakota Postel. A version of the low-cut “Timbs” has also made a move into the market recently. Senior Joseph Catania reps his low-cuts almost every purple Friday. Although the feet do get a little toasty in these high powered boots, you can’t beat the comfort.

Jordan Retro 11’s

The Jordan 11’s were first released during the 1995-1996 season as sported by Michael himself. In 2000, however, they made a return for the retro edition. In my opinion, these are the coolest looking shoes ever created…it’s not even debatable. As you would expect, they aren’t cheap. The 11’s average at a selling price of about $180-$200 and run upwards to $300. However, you can buy fake Retro 11’s on the famous fake jersey website, AliExpress. You can get a pair for around $50 which is a huge relief to your savings in my opinion.

New Balance 574

As mentioned in my previous “The New Balance Effect” article written last year, these shoes are the real deal. Easily one of the most comfortable and relaxing shoes I have ever purchased in my life. Along with the Adidas NMD’s, these are probably the most common gym shoes worn by students here at Elder. They also have come out with a sport version of the shoe. Overall, a really solid shoe and a very reasonable price as well.

Nike Roshe

Hot take, but these were the most overrated shoes ever to be worn. These were a big hit in the eighth grade, but honestly, they weren’t that cool. They were thin and flimsy and overall were just not as well constructed as they were made out to be. I know I just threw a lot of shade at the shoe, but it’s the truth. As I said before, I probably left out a few but I think this is a fair list. We will see what the future brings for the world of shoes… stay classy my friends.


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Faculty Features

Friday January 31, 2020

Faculty reflects on past decade Thomas Peters ‘20 Staff Writer

As we look forward to a new decade of

success and growth in the 2020’s, many like to look back and see how much they’ve changed in the past ten years, and reflect upon how they got to the place they are today. The Elder community is no exception. In the past decade, many changes have taken place on the corner of Vincent and Regina. Even the street names themselves have changed, as the intersection near Elder’s entrance is now also adorned as Mark Klusman Way. In addition to a new street sign, the Panther Athletic Complex has given Elder a brand-new physical appearance, as well as a five-star training facility. Change at Elder in the past decade, however, has not been entirely physical. Many faces in the faculty have done an outstanding job at replacing those who have gone in the past ten years. As the Panther community pounces into the new decade, I sat down with a few of the now familiar faces many of us have come to know within the past ten years, as well as a few faculty members who have played key roles in the Elder community before 2010. Ms. Jordan Schad, ten years ago, was in her first few years working at Elder, teaching chorus and glee club. To this day, Ms. Schad still loves teaching music, as well as getting to know her students and their interests. She describes her excitement: “I like to keep up with students, to know their interests, which have definitely

changed since my first years of teaching. I enjoy hearing about what music they like, what they do in their free time, and where they work.” Anyone who participated in any type of music class knows that Ms. Schad speaks the truth. She is always getting to know students and what they care about. She likes to know students on a personal level while also being able to teach them something professionally. “In the past decade, I definitely feel more comfortable teaching than I did. I know what does and doesn’t work well, and have a better idea of how to get the best experience for everyone,” said Ms. Schad, when asked about how she has grown personally in the past ten years. When I asked her of her plans for the coming ten years, she responded saying, “I want to stay right here. People always ask me if it bothers me teaching all boys, but it really doesn’t. I love teaching music, especially here at Elder, and I hope to stay for the next decade.” Some teachers, however, are newer to the Elder family, but no less appreciated. Dr. Matt Wahlert, now an elected Colerain Trustee, is in his second year of teaching at Elder. Ten years ago, Wahlert was teaching at St. Henry in Kentucky. Dr. Wahlert did a great job at replacing Elder legend Mr. Spencer, and has become a beloved member of the faculty despite only being here for eighteen months. When I asked Dr. Wahlert how he has changed in the past ten years, he said. “I am a lot more interested in politics and community service, and I have changed my family goals.” However, Wahlert explained, he will not be running for President in the next decade, much to the dismay of the student body. Wahlert described being content where he is: “I’ve got my hands

full in Colerain township; I realize that I can make the biggest difference in local politics and anything else would require me to stop teaching and I just don’t wanna think about that. I plan to still be sitting in this chair in the next decade, and I’m happy with where I am now.” Although some are upset that he isn’t planning to climb the political ladder, nobody is complaining about Dr. Wahlert planning to stay here at Elder. New to Elder’s business department. Ms. Mindy Roy is also finishing up her second year of teaching. Before Elder, Ms. Roy taught in rural Kentucky, and was the only business teacher in the whole county, she says. She taught business, marketing, stats, and economics classes, and continues to teach business and personal finance classes at Elder. When I asked Ms. Roy how she has changed within the past ten years, she had lots to say. “I really became an adult in the 2010’s. I have a house, got married, and I feel much more experienced and knowledgeable. Each year I seem to enjoy what I do more,” she said. Ms. Roy’s career, however, is not over. “I plan to get a CPA (certified public accountant) license and continue to teach here at

Elder. I like it here and plan on staying.” Both Dr. Wahlert and Ms. Roy continued to teach at Elder after teaching at different schools. Some teachers, however, haven’t been teaching for their entire careers. Mr. Gary Rogers, our esteemed moderator of The Purple Quill and teacher of design and computer science, had quite the decade. Mr. Rogers described the winding path that ended here at Elder in great detail. After losing his job with an exhibit group after 27 years, in which he did lots of design work to market products at trade shows, Rogers went to work with an environmental designer and worked on projects for Great American Ball Park and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, producing graphics for the interiors of suites and offices. Then, still early in the decade, Rogers went to work at the nearby Covedale Theater, building sets for plays. In the winter of 2011, he became a long-term substitute at Elder. At the time, he was still busy raising kids; however, now Mr. Rogers comes home to an empty nest, except for the occasional grandchild. However, Mr. Rogers says: “Becoming a teacher has helped me adopt the Elder students as my new family, and I get to help them on their


Friday January 31, 2020 own track, similar to helping my own kids.” Mr. Rogers said that in the next ten years, he wants to still be teaching at Elder. He is very interested in where technology will lead the next decade, and said that maybe he’ll be teaching in his pajamas from home before 2030. Even if he isn’t teaching, Gary plans to stay involved at Elder, continuing his reputable career in the visual and literary arts. Obviously, Elder has changed in many ways within the past decade. Technology has exploded in school, and the school building is acquiring new facilities as well as new faces that many students would be unable to get through their days without. As Elder looks forward to the next decade, no one knows what changes will occur. Maybe new buildings will be added, maybe school will function a different way in ten years, and maybe the faculty will contain a few new faces that future students have come to know and love. Regardless, the future, in the hands of the irreplaceable faculty and staff, is looking bright for Elder High School.

Features 5

The Cowboy speaks at stag Mason Berger ‘20 Co-Editor in Chief

On January 14, Elder hosted its 44

th

annual alumni sports stag, and this year’s guest speaker was former MLB pitcher and current Reds’ broadcaster, Jeff Brantley. Brantley played fourteen seasons in the MLB pitching for the Reds, Giants, Phillies, Cardinals, and Rangers in that span. He was an all-star with the Giants in 1990, and led the MLB in saves in 1996 with the Reds. This year will be Brantley’s fourteenth year in the broadcasting booth for the Reds after joining the club in 2006. He has been Marty Brennaman’s right hand man for quite some time, and will be new broadcaster Tommy Thrall’s partner for the future. As for the stag, it worked out perfectly time-wise for Brantley, so he was all for coming to Elder because he had time to do so. His responsibilities shift when he goes back home to Mississippi after the season: “When the season’s over and when I go back to Mississippi, I’m dad. I’m not the baseball player, the broadcaster, or anything else. I’m driving carpools.” “This fell into great place with Joe Lind, and I’m glad to be here,” said Brantley on the opportunity to speak at the stag. He also commented on the campus, especially the Panther Fitness Center, saying, “I’ve gotten a chance to walk around the school and check everything out, how ‘bout your weight room? That is big league.” In regards to his playing career, Brantley talked about some of his personal achievements, such as a school record

Elder Stag guest Jeff Brantley explains that pitching is the key to winning in the major leagues. (videographer: JAck Langen)

18-win season as a pitcher at Mississippi State during his senior year. “I won 18 games only lost two that year. Just so happened that I lost them to Alabama and Auburn which is where I grew up because I’m an Alabama boy,” said Brantley on his historic season as a Bulldog. “Probably as much as anything else, it’s everywhere I’ve ever been, I’ve won. I think there’s something to be said about that,” said Brantley on his playing career. Brantley took this winning mindset and attitude throughout his whole career and said, “Why do you play if you’re not playing to win? That’s how I look at it.” For broadcasting, Brantley was always fascinated by the voices on the radio. The Reds’ broadcasts were a part of his life at an early age, as Brantley said, “I grew up listening to Marty and Joe. My

dad and I used to sit in the driveway and listen to the games on 700, but you had to sit in the car in order to hold the station.” Listening to baseball broadcasters as well as other sports really interested him: “That’s really what attracted me to the game more than anything else.” The Reds have made their fair share of roster moves in the offseason leading up to the 2020 campaign, such as adding players like Mike Moustakas and Shogo Akiyama. Brantley described this as the Reds putting themselves in a good spot. “In order to win at the big league level, the number one thing you have to have is pitching.” He talked about the importance of the Reds developing their own pitchers instead of seeking out top of the line pitchers via free agency. Due to Cincinnati being a small market franchise in the MLB, Brantley stressed the importance of developing arms within the organization, “If you can’t develop that pitching, you’re not going to make it. And the Reds have made a decision to go in that direction, and I think that is why this club will win.” For the recent acquisitions in free agency for the club, Brantley views this as the Reds trying to put an aggressive lineup on the field at all times. “I think you still have to give your young guys an opportunity to pass or fail with guys like Senzel, with guys like Jesse Winker,” said Brantley. “Who does what Aquino did at the end of the year last year, that dude’s scary. But you want the guy to be able to do it on a consistent basis.” For Co-Editor Carmine and I, interviewing Jeff Brantley was a pleasure, and we really enjoyed talking with him about himself, the Reds, and even a little bit of Elder. Here’s to the Reds winning the pennant in 2020.


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Friday January 31, 2020

Student Features

Elder artists recognized; move on to Nationals Jason Thomas ‘20 Staff Writer

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

offers a unique opportunity across the nation to recognize elementary and high school artists, designers, and authors for their creative works. The awards have been celebrating and giving opportunity to young creatives since 1923. Over the past 97 years, many notable artists have received awards through Scholastics such as Andy Warhol, Richard Avedon, and Sylvia Plath. The founder of the awards, Maurice R. Robinson, described the awards as “…to give those high school students who demonstrate superior talent and achievement in things of the spirit and of the mind at least a fraction of the honors and rewards accorded to their athletic classmates for demonstrating their bodily skills.” Across the nation, schools are divided into regions. From here, works are submitted and either win a Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention. Gold Key winners from each region then have their work nationally judged to receive a multitude of National Medals. National Medalists are then invited to an award ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This year at regionals, sixteen Elder students won awards including Simon Feist’s portfolio receiving a Silver Key, and my mixed media piece Midnight Lights receiving an American Visions Nomination, an award only received by five artists and writers in the region. Gold Key recipients who will have their work be judged at the national level include Finnian Brooke, Thomas Jung, Quentin McFarren, Ethan Plagge, Brian Ridner, and yours truly. I interviewed some of my fellow art students about the awards and got some of their opinions, thoughts, and feelings about their works being selected. Junior Finnian Brooke said, “I got two honorable mentions and a gold key and I was disappointed because I got a gold key for the thing I wasn’t proud of, but I worked really hard on the pieces I only got honorable mentions on. When you’re younger it seems easier to win awards.” Quentin McFarren said, “The piece I entered was a joke and it won gold key. The other piece I entered in I was actually proud of and it didn’t even win an honorable mention.” When I asked TJ about the awards, he simply responded, “They don’t understand how to pick work.” Despite me honestly agreeing with TJ’s statement, I still think that the Elder Art Department has a lot to be proud of in regards to the number of students receiving regional,

and possibly national recognition for their hard work and dedication both in and outside of the art room.

“Untitled” by Finn Brooke

“Upend” by Ethan Plagge

“Magazine Collage” by Anthony Lay “Me” by Simon Feist

“Midnight Lights” by Jason Thomas


Friday January 31, 2020

Student Features 7

Catching up with Kraft Robby Engelhardt ‘20 Staff Writer

If you have ever been to an Elder golf

match, you have probably seen a very talented, short senior named Lucas Kraft. Kraft was a two-year varsity golfer for the Panthers and recently committed to Thomas More University to further his academic and athletic career. Just a few days ago, I sat down with Kraft to catch up on golf, his commitment and senior year. First, I asked him about their season that recently wrapped up in the Fall. He said, “Yeah, it wasn’t as good as we wanted it to be, but we still were successful and had fun along the way. Quads against Moeller and St. X were a lot of fun because of the high level of competition.” While the Panthers did not finish were they had hoped, it was still a successful year and there was a lot to be proud of. According to Kraft, one of those things to be proud of was the play of a few younger players in their program. “There are definitely some guys to look out for. Guys like Victor Caliguri and Luke Lammers are both guys that played awesome this year and should be even more successful next year.” Both Caliguri and Lammers were awarded second-team all-GCL this past

Guys like Victor Caliguri and Luke Lammers are both guys that played awesome this year and should be even more successful next year.

season and will look to further improve in years to come. On the flip side, Kraft and I talked about his favorite memories from his time as an Elder golfer. “Definitely our annual Tennessee father and son trip is up there on my list. Basically, the golfers bring our dads for a long weekend in Tennessee and golf all weekend,” said Kraft. During their trip, they play 18 holes on the first day, 27 on the second and 18 on the last day. Kraft told me that these trips build life-long memories and friendships that are unique to the Elder golf program. Shifting gears from the past to the future, Kraft has signed to play collegiate level golf at Thomas More next year. Knowing Kraft since grade school, I know this has always been his dream (to play golf in college) and to see him fulfilling it has been awesome to witness. When I asked him why he chose Thomas More, he said, “The coaches and campus made it feel like home which is huge for me. I consider it to be my best opportunity to have fun both in school and golf.” Shifting gears from golf to school, I asked him how his senior year has been thus far. “It goes fast man, it really does. I’m sure you can back me up when I say that it

goes by too fast,” said Kraft. He told me this year has been the most fun he has ever had in school. Whether it be from golfing with his buddies or being there every step of the way for the state run in football, he said it has been a blast through it all. I think we can all agree, especially seniors, saying that it goes by too fast. Kraft is known by many different nicknames at Elder whether it be “Shaft”, “4’11” or “Nut Company” and this is something that he loves. No matter what you call him, Lucas remains one of the funniest and most friendly guys roaming the halls of Elder.

Senior golfers Anthony Spinney and Gabe Stowe relax with teammate Lucas Kraft.


8

Friday January 31, 2020

Sports

Bowling mid-season recap with Ethan Boyers Nicholas Hunter ‘20 Staff Writer

There is a team of legendary heroes

at Elder. You may see them at a round table at lunch, or possibly marching into the bathroom together like a platoon of soldiers marching into battle. However,

Timm Reis captured the fifth perfect game in Elder history.

their battle is not the football field or the basketball court, but the bowling alley. Often overlooked as one of the best sports programs at Elder, the bowling team has fired off to a devastating 10-0 start against league competition at the time of writing, and have a quad approaching to try to increase that record. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Ethan Boyers ‘20 from the team, and find out just what makes a great teammate and an Elder Bowler tick. When asked what qualities make up a great bowler Ethan said, “A great bowler needs to be a team player, a leader when need be, must have a positive attitude, good sportsmanship, determination, heart, guts, and must be FOCUSED, RESILIANT, AND WELL-VERSED”. He really emphasized those last three a good amount, and it is understandable why considering how much focus a bowler must have to deal with nerves. To follow up on that idea of focus, I also asked Ethan about what he thought of teammate Timm Ries bowling a perfect game of 300. He is only the fifth player in Elder’s history to do so, and the quality of being a team player was evident within Boyer’s response. To quote Ethan, the team is “all very proud and happy for him and it is a very impressive accomplishment”. He also

CYO Late-season interviews Dakota Postel ‘20 Staff Writer

As the 2019-20 CYO basketball season

enters the home stretch of the regular season, I decided to interview three senior all stars of the league. Heading into Week 9, in the Senior league, the St. James Panthers are on top at 8-0, but the Vipers from Victory and St. Bernard are right behind them at 7-1. I went ahead and interviewed Joseph Catania from Victory, Joe Weber from St. Jude, and lastly Paul Moore from St. Antoninus. These three athletes gave me the scoop on their team and the way they have performed lately. First person on the list is the Viper Joseph Catania. Joseph has been playing CYO for Victory all of high school, and has been a serious threat from the perimeter, and in the paint, over the years. I first asked Joseph how he felt about the Vipers being able to win out these next two games, and finish the regular season with only one loss. He responded with, “Absolutely, we play Visitation and St. James our last two games of the season, and I have no doubt we will win out, and take that energy to the tournament.” I also asked Joseph how he felt about St. James, and if they worried him at all, due to their undefeated record and large amount of points put up against opponents. Joseph answered, “I could care less about those kids from White Oak. Mainly consisting of LaSalle kids, they are used to playing at the DII level, so they are not of any concern to mine. I have zero respect for them, and I will show it in the last game of the season.” I expect the same thing as well, the St. James Panthers have not had any tough

It really depends on our competition – one day we’ll shoot lights out, then the next we can’t make a basket to save our lives.

competition yet this year, so I believe the showdown between the Vipers and Panthers will be interesting. Last question I asked Joseph was about was if there were any stand out players on the squad this year. Here was his comment on that, “Zach, Fro, Carter, and myself have been the big four this season. We have started every game this year, and have given us a strong start. Royer and JRob are pretty good, when they show up. We have a few liabilities on the team *cough cough* Ridout and Spinney, but we are still pretty darn good.” Well there’s the inside news on the Victory Vipers people, they have quite a

Catania

Varsity Bowling won the LaSalle Baker Bash with an average of 221.

acknowledged Timm’s ability to focus and said that the “ability to control emotions allowed him to close out the game”. This accomplishment is only one example of the countless impressive moments the bowling team has experienced this season, and with the talent on the team they have hopes to go all the way. Ethan says that team chemistry is the main factor in their success which any student on Elder’s campus can attest to. They have become a community of their own and have really bonded during their time at Elder. Before ending the interview, I had to ask Ethan what their season’s goals were considering their success. He sounded confident and said, “We want to take strong line up and it will be interesting to see how they finish the season, and what they do in the playoffs. The next person I interviewed was Joe Weber, whom is seen to be the leader of the Bulldog squad. The preseason rankings had the Bulldogs at #2, and they are currently 3-4 right now, so I asked Joe what was going on with the team. Joe told me, “We have been struggling to get our key guys to each game. We have been playing with 6 or 7 players each game.” Within the lineup, the Bulldogs have some “beefy” men, and I decided to ask Weber if there was anyone on the team who was real shocker on the squad this year. He said, “I would say no one has went off that we were not expecting, but Mason Berger has been worse than expected. Berger had high expectations for himself, and also from his teammates heading into the season. He even said, and I quote, “Me and Brady Buller are the best power forwards in the league.” So I asked Joe what he thought about that comment, and he was not agreeable with Mason’s comment. “I would say Brady Buller has held up his end of the bargain, but Mason is terrible.” There still is time for the Bulldogs to have somewhat of a strong end of the season, but it would mean Mason Berger will have to really step up his game. Lastly and certainly not least, Paul Moore, of the St. A Jaguars, gave me a few words about his team, who is currently 4-3 in the standings. According to some of Moore’s fellow teammates, before the victory against St Bernard this past week, Paul had come to three games, which they lost, and the other three that he didn’t show up to the Jags came out on top. So, I asked Paul how he felt about that, and he said, “When I was there we beat the undefeated St. Bernard. I have been distracted with times of games and vacation, so I have not been able to make it to many games. It really depends on our competition – one day we’ll shoot lights out, then the next we can’t make a basket

the season as far as it can possibly go, and then some. I know, our coaches know, and the rest of the team know that we have the talent to win sectionals, districts, state, and even win nationals over the summer”. After listening to his confidence, it was hard to disagree. Last year’s Elder team finished fifth at nationals and have only improved this season proving they still have the desire necessary to win it all. The bowling team has their senior night January 30th at Western Bowl at 7. Being so close to home, hopefully some Panthers can get out and cheer on seniors like Ethan and the rest of the team.

Moore

to save our lives.” Moore is quite the shooter from the perimeter, and with players like Carmine Domenicone, who just recently joined the team, the Jags still have a pretty good shot at making a playoff run. I asked Paul about a potential playoff run, and he told me, “Yes I do believe we will win these last couple of games, and make a run to hopefully get to Toledo.” High hopes from the Jaguar Paul Moore I will say, but will that be enough to get them where they need to go? Paul, Joseph, and Joe are all great leaders of their teams, and it will be interesting to see where they lead their squads. I believe the Vipers have a very good shot of winning the playoffs, and making a run in Toledo, but you never know. Teams like the Bulldogs and Jaguars live for being the underdogs, and have just as much as a chance to sneak their way into the run to Toledo.


Friday January 31, 2020

Sports 9

Reds hit grand slam Off season moves show commitment to winning Michael Connolly ‘20 Staff Writer

After another abysmal year, the Reds are

finally generating excitement back into the city of Cincinnati. The Reds ended last year at 75-87, dashing the dreams of a countless number of fans. While 75 wins was the most in a season since 2014, it was still less than they were predicted at 86 wins. The city was left short once again, and they did not get any relief after the Bengals 2-14 season. If there has been any bright spot for the city of Cincinnati, it would have to be the offseason the Reds have been putting together. 2018 graduate Eric Aufderbeck, who now is an intern for the Reds, said this about the place the team is currently in, “I think the Reds are very prepared to make a big jump in wins this year.” Aufderbeck also brought up how the reds are supposed to make a 10-win jump compared to last year, bringing excitement and large expectations to the team during the offseason. Regardless of the small market teams the Reds are, they’ve been making big market moves. With the acquisition of second basement Mike Moustakas, starting pitcher Wade Miley, and international outfielder Shogo Akiyama the Reds are primed for a big 2020. Moustakas and Akiyama are much needed pieces for the Reds, as they will fill vital roles in both the lineup and out in the field. While Moustakas only mustered a .254 batting average last year with the Brewers, he also clubbed 35 homeruns. This will go a long way to helping out Eugenio Suarez with the offense. Akiyama, while 31 years old, batted .303 in a Japanese league last year, and will likely fill the needed role of a leadoff batter for the Redlegs. While the Reds have new faces, seasoned bat boy Gabe Stowe believes the new kids on the block will have no trouble fitting in. “I don’t think having new players in the clubhouse will be a problem, it’s something the players deal with every offseason. Like last offseason with Puig.”

Regardless of what they have already done, the Reds still have the opportunity to get more done for the season, and to prepare for the gauntlet that is to come their way. “I think if they make one more move for like an Ozuna or a Castellanos type player they could be clear division favorites,” says Aufderbeck. The Reds were actively seeking shortstop Francisco Lindor, until he signed a one-year deal back with the Indians. If the Reds can land the Dodger’s Corey Seager, or possibly another explosive shortstop, is a question that cannot fully be answered yet. The question that looms for the Reds, is the same question that continually arises within the fanbase. Can the Reds turn this offseason success into an on the field product that results in wins? While people are optimistic, the questions will constantly loom in the back of people’s minds. One of the biggest Reds fans in the school, Kevin Heckman, had something interesting to say regarding the Reds’ potential season. “I believe the Reds pitching will be just as good, if not better, then last year. I know for a fact the hitting will be better and more explosive.” he said. One thing is clear, the Reds’ pitching staff did not suffer with all of the offensive signings this year. Miley brings a seasoned mindset and is willing to do whatever it takes for a team to win. With the revamped starting rotation, hopefully the bullpen will be used less frequently and can come into games more refreshed. The Reds have now become relevant within the MLB, and that brings a lot of added pressure to the team. However, Stowe says, “Veterans like Joey and Moustakas have playoff experience, which will help the younger players get settled in.” All of Cincinnati should be excited for the beginning of a new decade of Reds’ baseball, but Kevin Heckman sums up the 2020 expectations the best. “The Reds will win the Pennant.” New Reds signee Shogo Akiyama (below) shows off his Ichiro-like left handed swing. (courtesy of CBS Sports)

Who is taking home the Lombardi Trophy this year? Dakota Postel ‘20 Staff Writer

As February 2nd nears, the question that

everyone is asking is simply this – who’s winning Super Bowl LIV? People have already began putting their money on the last four teams left in the playoffs, which consist of the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and lastly the Tennessee Titans. All these teams have unbelievable standout players on both sides of the ball, and it will be very interesting to see who will be playing in Miami on Super Bowl Sunday. I decided to go ahead and interview a few classmates and a teacher to get their biddings on the next Super Bowl champs. I interviewed Kevin Heckman, Matthew Meade, and Mr. Mohs, who are all in my math class, and their answers are just as I expected. You see everyday in math class, the first fifteen minutes is spent between the argument of Kevin vs Matthew, Gunslinger Patrick Mahomes after another victory. (ftw.usatoday.com)

The legendary Jimmy G getting the crowd up. (nytimes.com)

or Kevin vs Coach Mohs. These three men live for sports arguments, and they have solid facts to back it up. So obviously I received three different answers from each of them. The first person I interviewed was Kevin, and I knew what his answer was going to be before I asked him the question. Kevin is a die-hard Packers fan, and has been ever since I’ve known him. He goes on and on about how Aaron Rodgers is the GOAT, and that Brady is not nearly as good. So, when I asked Kevin who was going to be taking the Lombardi Trophy home this year, here’s what he gave me, “The Packers will win the Super Bowl because, as of right now, Aaron Rodgers is the best QB left in the playoffs. When they prove everyone wrong and beat the 49ers, everyone will see Aaron’s still got it. #runthetable”

“The Packers will win the Super Bowl because, as of right now, Aaron Rodgers is the best QB left in the playoffs.” -Kevin Heckman

Well there you have it folks. Kevin believes that, with Aaron Rogers leading the charge, no one is going to be able to stop the Green Bay Packers. It will be interesting to see where “Discount Double Check” takes this team the remainder of their season. After I interviewed Kevin, I went to his arch nemesis Matthew Meade to see his take on who will win Super Bowl LIV. Matthew loves to battle in arguments about any sports topic with Kevin, so I was not surprised of his answer. “Alright I got the Titans beating the 49ers, 24-40. The Titans defense is ranked in the top five in the league and is amazing against the run. The Titans are the hottest team in the league with a 9-3 record since Tannehill, Ryan Tannehill, became the starting QB. The Titans have the best red zone offense in the NFL since Tannehill became the starter and Derrick Henry…there’s no explanation needed there.” As Matthew hinted to, Derrick Henry, the Titans running back who is 6’-3” and 238 lbs, is a scary man and someone who strikes fear into defensive players throughout the league. The Titans are a powerhouse of a team, and I expect nothing but a great performance from them for the rest of the remaining games they play. I saved the best interview for last, and that would be the great Mr. Mohs. Mr., or Coach, Mohs loves to jump into the daily sport arguments that always occur for the first part of class. Coach and Kevin seem to butt heads about any topic of any sport, and most of the time it is simply because Kevin is trying to waste time. When I asked Coach Mohs who he thought would be coming out on top as champions, his answer, of course, was different from Kevin and Matthews. “I think the 49ers have a good shot at taking the title. Jimmy G is one hell of a quarterback, and after seeing what they did to the Vikings, I think they are in good shape to finish the season strong.” Well there it is people, the predictions of these three intelligent “sports guys” are in, and it will be really interesting to see who is going to win Super Bowl LIV. All the remaining teams have great odds on finishing the season successful in Miami, but I guess we will have to just wait and see who will be crowned the NFL Champions of 2020.


10

Features

Friday January 31, 2020

The 700 shovelers of Lambeau Field Lukas Marlman ‘21 Staff Writer

On January 9 , the Packers organization th

sent out a message to fans and anyone who wanted to help shovel out the community’s Lambeau Field. The Packers asked everyone who wanted to help to report to the Fleet Farm Gate on Lambeau Field’s west side, with temporary parking available in Lot 6. It also stated that vehicles must be removed from Lot 6 when shoveling is complete. However, to speed up the process of getting everyone who comes out into and onto the field, the Packers specified that, “all shovelers entering must use walkthrough metal detectors when they enter the building. To allow for a more efficient entry process, no bags, backpacks or purses will be allowed inside.” Each shoveler had to be at least 18 years old for liability reasons. Shovelers were also asked to be there at 6 a.m. to get a head start on the day, and since the Packers didn’t know how many people were going to show they wanted to make sure they had enough time to use a plan B if necessary. However, to appeal to fans and people trying to help the Packers offered to pay each person $12 per hour, with the payment being made immediately upon completion of their work. Furthermore, the Packers said that they would supply shovels for each person, to try and make it a lot easier for those who came out to help. The Packers asked for this help because 8 to 10 inches of snowfall was

expected on Saturday night going into Sunday morning of the 11th and 12th of January, 2020. As most of you know if you are football fan the Packers played the Seahawks in a playoff game on the 12th (which the Packers won 28 to 23). Hence why the Packers were in dire need of help shoveling the snow that was predicted to fall on the 11th and 12th. However, the forecast updated and was calling for a lower snowfall amounts. But Lambeau Field would still need helpers for removing snow and spreading ice melt on Sunday morning, Jan. 12 according to the website. Instead of asking of 700 people to come out help shovel the Packers changed that number to 350, but they wouldn’t turn down help if there ended up being more than 350 people. “We couldn’t do it without them. That’s one thing we stress with our staff, to make sure we thank everyone for coming. We need them and we couldn’t do it without them,” said Ted Eisenreich.

Actually there were only 350 shovelers needed to clear Lambeau’s stands before January’s playoff game. (greenbaypackersgazette.com)


Friday January 31, 2020

Features 11

New virus causes global concern

Another warm winter in Cincinnati Michael Connolly ‘20 Staff Writer

Nicholas Hunter ‘20 Staff Writer

One of the longest running jokes

It’s hand washing season, and not be-

cause of the flu. A new virus has been identified by public health officials in recent news due to an outbreak in China. This virus is called a coronavirus. A coronavirus is a virus which is spread through animal to human contact as well as human to human contact. The virus currently has infected over 630 people in China and has spread to Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, and the United States in a very short period of time. Seventeen people have been reported to have been killed by the virus already. It is for this reason that the World Health Organization has begun emergency procedures in order to prevent further spread of the virus. Doctors have pinpointed Wuhan, China as the source of the virus and theorize the virus spread from a seafood and animal market to humans in the area. As of now the disease produces symptoms similar to that of the flu, common cold, and pneumonia. There have been cases of coronaviruses before, such as the 2003 SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory System) Virus, which resulted in around 8,000 cases and left 774 people dead. Despite there being other types of coronaviruses, this virus in particular is an unknown strain; meaning that doctors do not currently have a cure for the virus. It is estimated that a cure will take upwards of three months to complete. While the virus is mysterious and proven to be violent, the World Health Organization has taken steps to prevent its spread. After identifying Wuhan, China as the pinnacle of the virus, the entire city of Wuhan as well as two neighboring cities have been put on complete quarantine.

Other significant areas in China have also closed or begun to screen for the virus to stop its spread during the Chinese New Year. Nearly 11 million people have been quarantined in China after the shutdown of travel within the city of Wuhan. With it being such a popular travel period for the Chinese, all flights arriving from China are screened for the virus in order to prevent the spread to different countries, and even in the cases where they have been spread to new countries, these cases are quickly traced and quarantined. For example, the case in Seattle, Washington is in treatment right now and officials tracking down all people the man could have possibly come into contact with since arriving in the United States. This includes people on his flight, family, and coworkers. So, what does this mean for the Elder community? Well, it is safe to say that increasing health precautions would be beneficial. Even if the virus has not yet come close to Cincinnati, you never know what new strains are capable of or who has traveled where. Wash your hands more than normal, avoid contact with your nose or mouth with unwashed hands, avoid contact with sick people as much as people, and try to avoid bodily fluids such as sweat: it helps not to be a wrestler. The chances of you contracting the virus are unlikely, but never zero. Follow the important steps health officials are instructing the public to do. Be clean and careful Elder! People in Wuhan,China protecting themselves from the coronavirus. (businessinsider. com)

revolving around the state of Ohio is the variability in the temperature. Most people say the state of Ohio can pack all four seasons into a single week, possibly even into a day. Recently for the people of Cincinnati, this joke has become a reality to start off their new year, as recently the weather can’t decide what it wants to do. Within the month of January, the people of Cincinnati have seen temperatures ranging from the high 60’s, to lows in the teens. January 11 set a record for the highest temperature recorded for January at 68 degrees. While this has been record setting in the high-end department, most mornings students will wake up and have the temperature be only in the teens. This leads to mass confusion, something that student William Doepker touched upon.

to it considering we also had no snow in December.” This is an unusual aspect to some, but for many the reality of winter has begun to falter. Long said that the only thing that bothers him now is all of the rain in January. Long states: “The only time it seems that something is coming down is when its’ warm. It almost seems like mother nature has started to hate us.” The city has had just around 3.3 inches of rainfall in the month of January so far. The snowfall total, as you guessed it, is a whooping zero inches and the forecasts for the rest of the month does not such anything more promising. Just last year, Cheviot was hit with over nine inches of snow within the month of January. This is a drastic change compared to this year, but some people still are not fully convinced.

Scenes like this have been few and far between in the recent winters of Cincinnati. Will we survive the rest of this year’s season without a big snow? (cincinnati.com)

“I never know what to wear when I wake up in the morning, if I go outside with a jacket and pants on usually by the time I go home I’m sweating because it’s so hot.” In reality, one of the most shocking truths this year is the lack of snow. Usually by this time, Elder grants the students some two-hour delays and possibly some snow days mixed in. The script has been rewritten for this year, as the students at Elder have not even been allotted a single two-hour delay. While most of the students have been initially angry at the fact that snow has not come, some students, like senior Justin Long, do not really see the big deal. “I don’t really see the big deal with having no snow days, I’m almost used

“I have just never been able to wrap my head around the ideas of climate change. I feel like people dramatize the situation that we are currently in,” said senior Nathan Ficker. While people may be dramatizing the situation, there still has to be something significant in this change of weather pattern. While it may not be distinctly related to humans, there should be at least a constant cycle of snow in this area of the Midwest. While the snow rates have fallen, the temperature changes have only risen. One thing is for sure, if this winter has any foreshadowing for how this summer will go, then we better prepare for a warm one.


12

Arts & Entertainment

Friday January 31, 2020

The 2010’s Best Hip-hop Album – To Pimp a Butterfly Jason Thomas ‘20 Staff Writer

There are two types of hip-hop heads in

the world; those who think that Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy deserves the title of best album of the previous decade, and those who think that Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly deserves the title. While both classics prove to have had a huge impact on both music and American culture in general, I think that Kendrick deserves the title for numerous reasons. Prior to To Pimp a Butterfly¸

Kendrick showed his potential and rapping skills on his 2011 project Sec-

tion.80, and especially on his 2012 project good kid, m.A.A.d city. The narrative Kendrick portrayed of his own come up in Compton was well received, and left fans wanting more. The lead single for Kenrick’s next album i was released September 2014. The single featured a more pop influenced and radio friendly instrumental, leading fans to think that Kendrick’s next album would feature similar sounds to his last project. Fans and critics were surprised on March 15, 2015, when Kendrick released a project filled with jazz, funk, and soul inspired instrumentals. The lead single was replaced with audio from a live performance of i, which also included an additional acapella verse by Kendrick. What truly makes To Pimp a Butterfly a stand out is its honestly portrayed themes, and its elaborate instrumentals. Throughout the album, Kendrick uses his lyrical skills to tackle numerous subjects such as the facade of the American dream, sexuality, social justice, religion, racism, self-love, gang violence, and survivors’

guilt. Kendrick wastes no time as he makes apparent the realities and struggles of the African American community on his first track, Wesley’s Theory. His next track For Free? continues with this theme, and uses humor to comment upon the American Dream. At the end of the third track King Kunta, Kendrick states the first line of a poem that he continues to build upon throughout the album. With each track, he gradually recites the poem a few lines at a time. The poem serves to frame the various topics of the album until the last track where it is recited in its entirety as a preface to an interview that ends the album. From this point, Kendrick uses the poem to usher in other topics. The song These Walls discusses the unfortunate reality of other artists and famous people abusing their fame to use others for pleasure. The second half of u features emotion filled vocals by Kenrick that allow him to surface his survivors guilt of leaving his home town of Compton, California to pursue his music career. For Sale? – Interlude features Kendrick playing the character of Lucy, a symbol of both the devil (Lucifer),

Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy performance

and the American Dream for famous people. In How Much A Dollar Cost, Kendrick plays the role of both himself and a panhandler to express how the homeless, like any person, have inherent value. In the track, Kendrick writes “He looked at me and said, “Your potential is bittersweet” I looked at him and said, “Every nickel is mines to keep” He looked at me and said, “Know the truth, it’ll set you free” You’re lookin’ at the Messiah, the son of Jehovah, the higher power The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit, the nerve Of Nazareth, and I’ll tell you just how much a dollar cost The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss, I am God.” Kendrick uses the tracks Complexion and The Blacker the Berry to make statements on racism and the treatment of African Americans in modern America. Kendrick concludes the poem in the final track Mortal Man which includes an impactful ending that explains the title of the album. A soulful blend of jazz, funk, and elegant instrumentation, the production of To Pimp a Butterfly complements Kendrick’s lyrical content and strengthens the emotions behind his delivery. Some of my favorite instrumentals include Momma, You Ain’t Gotta Lie, These Walls, For Sale? – Interlude, and the intense boom bap sounds on The Blacker the Berry. The transitions between tracks are also beautifully crafted, allowing each track to flow directly into the next, creating a unified listening experience. While Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is better known for its more notable features such as Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Jay Z, Bon Iver, and Rihanna, Kendrick brought in some lesser known names for features

that helped with the unique production, as well as lyrical and vocal content. From the angelic vocals of Anna Wise to the masterful bass playing of Thundercat, the unique features complete Kendrick’s album. My personal favorite comes from Rapsody on Complexion. In no way am I denying the cultural impact of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Kanye’s 2010 masterpiece still deserves the praise it gets for creating a new standard for maximalist and collaborative hip-hop. However, the social impact and themes present in To Pimp a Butterfly not only set a new standard for hip-hop, but also showed how the genre can be used to surface and comment upon deeper social issues. The album also won the Danish Music Award for International Album of the year in 2015, and a Grammy for the best rap album in 2016. Since his 2015 magnum opus, Kendrick has shown no signs of stopping. His 2017 release Damn won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, and his production and rapping efforts were essential in the creation of the soundtrack to the 2018 superhero film Black Panther.


Friday January 31, 2020

Arts & Entertainment 13

Dark Waters dazzles in theaters Robby Engelhardt ‘20 Staff Writer

Perhaps one of the most snubbed Oscar

winning award movies is Dark Waters. I was utterly shocked that this phenomenal film did not at least get nominated for an Oscar. Despite the snub, this is still one of my favorite movies that I have seen lately. Todd Haynes does a great job of portraying the shocking scandal between DuPont and attorney, Rob Bilott. The movie starts out with a rural farmer, Wilbur Tennant, visiting the office of Taft Law in Cincinnati to complain about toxic landfill that is on his property in Parkersburg, West Virginia. At first, attorney, Rob Bilott, does not take this claim seriously until he visits the farm. He witnesses the death and demolition brought by this toxic runoff that is produced by the product, Teflon. Teflon was previously produced by world-renown chemical company, DuPont, who had heard these claims and immediately denied any relation to them. Therefore, Bilott begins researching and studying the case to try and take down the obvious corruption from DuPont. Bilott thought the farmer was crazy at first but later found proof that DuPont know-

ingly put this toxic chemical in runoff from factories in Parkersburg. Bilott came to realize that it wasn’t just the Tennant’s that were being affected by the scandal but all of Parkersburg was being poisoned. Bilott is put under heavy stress during the case which causes even more issues in the fight against DuPont. Rob puts both his family and the Tennant family’s lives in danger when he embarks on this fight which makes for undeniable suspense. The overall production part of the film kept my interest for the duration. It was filmed in Cincinnati which made it even more fun to watch; it was different seeing places on the screen in which I had been before and knowing where some scenes take place. For instance, there was a church scene that took place at IHM grade school where I have been before. My attention was even more focused than if it would have been shot some place else. Also, it was unique that this movie is based on a true story. In fact, Rob Bilott and his family still live in Cincinnati and Rob still works downtown. Todd Haynes could not have had a better cast for this production. For starters, Mark Ruffalo was brilliant as Rob Bilott

Clone Wars Season 7 Nicholas Seger ‘20 Staff Writer

With the conclusion of the Skywalker

saga, fans everywhere are looking for something to satisfy their need for Star Wars. The first season of The Mandalorian just ended, and it was phenomenal. However, season two does not come out for several months. If you are a devout fan like myself, this is simply too long of a wait. Luckily, the fan favorite Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be returning in early February after a six-year hiatus. On February 17th, the first episode of season seven will premiere on Disney+. Along with the first six seasons, the show is still being directed by Dave Filoni. He was taught about the Star Wars storyline directly from George Lucas himself (the creator of the entire Star Wars universe), so he knows all there is to know about the history behind the films and shows. Filoni is an experienced and successful film writer who worked on Avatar: The Last Airbender and currently is one of the directors and producers for The Mandalorian. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an animated series that portrays the many battles between the Republic and the

Separatists in between Episode II (Attack of the Clones) and Episode III (Revenge of the Sith). Popular movie characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Senator Amidala, and Lord Sidious are in this show. Also, some new characters, such as Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex, are introduced through the Clone Wars series. The show even brought back fan favorite Darth Maul. Previous to the show, he was believed to have been killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi during Episode I (The Phantom Menace). The cast list reveals that Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Dee Bradley Baker (Captain Rex), and Tom Kane (Yoda) will all be returning for season seven. Matthew Wood (General Grievous), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), and Sam Witwer (Darth Maul) are all actors who have not confirmed their return. The show first aired in 2008 but was cancelled in 2013. There are many rumors as to why the show was cancelled, but one of the most believed rumors says it was becoming too graphic for Cartoon Network (the previous streamer of the show). Whatever the reason, the cancellation was

and his wife, Sarah Barlage, was depicted by Anne Hathaway. The two main actors in this power couple are Oscar Award winning stars in their own right and shined in this movie too. A large part of the film was spent on them and their relationship along with their kids throughout the case. Tom Robbins and Bill Camp also shined in this production in their roles. Tim Robbins played Tom Terp who was Rob’s boss at Taft Law in Cincinnati. Robbins did a great job as Terp, who was sometimes very critical with Bilott during the case. Wilbur Tennant was played by Bill Camp in the movie. His character was one of the most moving and impactful in

abrupt and left many questions unanswered. Several episodes were released in 2014 in attempts to close off the show. They called the episodes “The Lost Missions” and classified them as season six. However, fans were very unsatisfied with this because many questions were left unanswered. Since this release, countless Clone Wars fanatics have tried to get this show back on the air by showing their unwavering support. An entire movement was even started to revive it. In response to this support and several other factors, a seventh season was finally announced in 2018 at a Star Wars Comic-Con. The new season will lead right up to Order 66 which is shown in the Episode III (Revenge of the Sith). This will be the last season, and it will finally close up the series that premiered twelve years ago. The new season will consist of twelve total episodes each released a week

Rob Bilott (Mark Ruffalo) in court for the trial vs. DuPont. (theatlantic.com)

my opinion. He was the one who sparked the investigation. Camp did a wonderful job acting as a kind of hillbilly farmer from West Virginia. In all, the film was definitely worth my $6 ticket. It is not just a drama but also very informative about big business in America which is something that I really liked. The combination of the cast and it being filmed in Cincinnati was definitely a draw for me to see the movie and was one of the cooler parts about the production. I don’t know who votes on the Oscars but whoever is, definitely has not seen Dark Waters.

Jedi Masters Skywalker, Kenobi and Yoda strike battle positions. (image from denofgeeks)

after the other. Being a fan of Star Wars: The Clone Wars for a long time, I am thrilled for the return of the show. I am eager to see how director Filoni builds up to the infamous Order 66 and how some of my favorite characters turn out. I think Disney has done a great job keeping Star Wars alive. In the future I hope to see Disney continuing to add on to the Star Wars series through shows like The Clone Wars, Rebels, Resistance, and The Mandalorian and hopefully some more movies.


14

Arts & Entertainment/Student Features

Friday January 31, 2020

Marriage Story offers heartbreaking look into divorce Thomas Peters ‘20 Staff Writer

In the United States, a divorce occurs

about every thirty-six seconds. Nearly all U.S. citizens have some experience with divorce, whether it be their own parents, themselves, or friend before the age of 30. On December 6th, Netflix released an original film that explores the extremely sore subject of marriage fallout and divorce. Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story has been deemed one of the best films of the decade, mostly due to its raw, heartbreaking story and phenomenal acting. Marriage Story is an absolute must-see movie of the decade, and as Oscar season comes around, it appears that the film may take home more than a few awards, being nominated in six different categories, including Best Actor, Actress, and Picture among others. In Marriage Story, Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson deliver two of the best performances of their already impressive careers, playing the lead roles as a couple going through a tragic divorce. Marriage Story opens in a couple’s therapy session, as Charlie (Driver) and Nicole Barber (Johansson) each write of what they enjoy about their spouse. The descriptions they give of each other gets the audience invested in each character, and provides a solid background detailing the marriage before things began to fall apart. However, after Nicole refuses to read what she has written, the session ends

abruptly. Charlie and Nicole both work in the New York theater industry, ironically. (Charlie as a director and Nicole as an actress) Disagreements within the workplace are one of the main reasons Nicole decides travel away from Charlie in the first place. Nicole, with their son Henry, travels to Los Angeles in order to audition for a role that would keep her employed in L.A., where her mother lives. Charlie, however, is unaware of her plans to stay, and upon his arrival, is shocked when Nicole gives him papers filing for a divorce. Charlie was under the impression that he and Nicole would work out their differences on their own over time, without the help of lawyers. Nicole has other intentions, as Charlie soon learns. Nicole places Charlie in a very tough situation in which he must continue to work in NYC and simultaneously consult with a lawyer and maintain a relationship with his son in L.A. This leads to the couple splitting their time and their son across the country, resulting in crippling stress on both sides and an emotionally charged relationship. As Charlie and Nicole try to work things out, their relationship becomes increasingly hostile, and extremely heartbreaking. Eventually, however, they do reach an agreement, which may or may not leave you satisfied. The production of this movie was great. Director Baumbach’s writing drains every drop of talent out of the cast. The movie also tackles a very serious topic,

Postel chooses military path Carmine Domenicone ‘20 Co-Editor in Chief

Last year, from the class of 2019, Elder

sent six panthers off to pursue military careers. This years’ class has a few courageous young men that plan to do the same. One specifically that I will be featuring this month is senior Dakota Postel. His love for the military dates all the way back to his glory days. “For anyone who knows me personally, I have had an obsession with the military for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching Top Gun as a kid and I just knew the first time I watched it that that’s what I wanted to do,” Postel told. While most young kids’ dreams go astray once they start to grow up, his remained the same. “I’ve stuck with that goal and passion my entire life. I’ve had plenty of family members serve in the military, and I’ve heard from them that it’s the best decision they have ever made,” he explained. Postel is keeping his options open as

he is looking at three schools in particular: The Naval Academy, Miami (ROTC), and Minnesota (ROTC). He told me his number one option is the Naval Academy as that’s always been his dream school. As many of you know, acceptance into the Naval Academy is quite a prestigious honor and deserves a lot of recognition. Thankfully, Postel did receive his nomination by Congressman Chabot and is currently waiting on his official acceptance to the Academy. He elaborated on the lengthy application process saying: “It was a stressful process. A lot of paper work and writing essays, but it was all worth it in the end. The interview was probably the easiest part for me personally, because the members of Chabot’s office were really laid back and easy to talk to. I walked out of there that day knowing that I nailed it.” I was curious to see what field of duty he is interested in pursuing after his time in school and service. He told me that after his active duty of 15-20 years, he

Charlie and Nicole’s careers split their marriage between Los Angeles and New York City.

and although I have not experienced divorce in my own life, I am positive that those who have would find this movie both relatable and accurate, as well as hopeful. Although the story itself is relatively simple, it is both effective and powerful. The lead characters, Charlie and Nicole, portrayed by Adam Driver and Scarlet Johansson, are absolutely wonderful. Driver, arguably one of the best actors of his generation, seems to have no limit in the scope of characters that he can represent. Driver has been seen in comedies, romances, and serious films alike, as well as his notable role as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Johansson, however, acts mostly in action movies, such as her Marvel role as Black Widow or the lead of 2014’s Lucy. Johansson, despite acting in a movie that is relatively laid back to her other work, delivers throughout the film’s entirely. Both actors overwhelm the audience in their scenes of dialogue. Driver and Johansson were perfect choices for the roles of Charlie and Nicole; each character is compelling, and the story tears the audience apart between hopes to switch over to the reserves and become an airline pilot. He finished saying, “I hope that the military takes me all over the world, but when I switch to the reserves, I hope to move back to Cincinnati and start a family.” Elder grad and long-time friend of Postel, Gunnar Wall is a freshman at the Naval Academy this year and told me he’s excited to potentially have another Elder brother will him on campus next fall. Despite all the excitement that awaits this endeavor, Postel doesn’t plan on leaving behind all that Elder has taught him over the past four years. “Elder has taught me the true meaning of hard work. Coming in as a “decent” student, I didn’t really put all my effort into school and it showed in my report card. If I wanted to have a chance of getting into Annapolis, I had to work harder in school. I started to really focus on my grades and put a whole lot more effort into my school work and it really paid off. Elder has also taught me the true meaning of brotherhood, especially on the football field. The best memories for me in high school came on that field, in tough times,

the two leads, asking us to take sides in their tragic separation. A few supporting actors also stand out. Most notably, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta (for Charlie) and Laura Dern (for Nicole), do excellent jobs as the lawyers of the parting couple, representing the two to their best effort in the court of law. The cinematography in this film is also very well done. The camera angles, raw audio, and lighting help to demonstrate the emotion of many scenes. Also, the movie’s soundtrack is very fitting, providing appropriate music for transition scenes and those without dialogue. Overall, Marriage Story is undeniably one of the best movies that I’ve seen this decade. The film did a great job in showing the complexities of divorce and how even the smallest of differences can eventually lead to the total fallout of a relationship, and pit the two parties against each other, often tearing their children or respective families apart in the process. This movie would definitely resonate with those who have experienced divorce in their own lives, and could maybe even help people struggling with it better understand their own situation and handle it better in the future as a result. Marriage Story is a definite must-watch, and don’t be surprised to see it take home a few Oscars February 9th.

Postel with Congressman Chabot on January 23.

surrounded by my brothers. I feel that this will really help me in the military because the guys to my left and right are all I got,” said Postel. In February or March, he expects to find out if he gets excepted. He’s a great friend and brother to all of us and we hope for the best in the next couple of months.


Friday January 31, 2020

Arts & Entertainment 15

1917 jumps Star Wars with $37 million debut Lukas Marlman ‘21 Staff Writer

This movie was released on December 4,

2019 in the United Kingdom and December 25th, 2019 in the United States. It only took 17 days to reach number one in the box office (US), 1917 has surpassed the three-week reign of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which brought in $15 million, according to studio estimates as of this writing. As of Tuesday, 1/14/20, 1917 is still on top. 1917 is about two young British soldiers during the First World War are given an impossible mission: Deliver a message deep in enemy territory that will stop 1,600 men, and one of the soldiers’ brothers, from walking straight into a deadly trap. 1917 is classified as a World War I drama and according to cinemablend.com “In the last few months, 1917 has become a favorite in the on-going awards season, with an eye on becoming the second Sam Mendes film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.” Just before the end of the 2019 year the studio (Universal Pictures) released the movie in just a handful of theaters, allowing it to qualify as a 2019 released movie. 1917 was shot and edited to appear as if the whole movie shot in a single take, which gives the movie a great shot at receiving major awards. For example, 1917 triumphed at the Golden Globes and has done better then other dramas including The Irishman and Marriage Story. Many movie critics and other people expected a good weekend for the film, but it shot past those expectations very quickly. Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for Comscore said, “This is the blueprint for how to perfectly execute the platform release for a potential Oscar

nominee and Oscar winner.” Directing 1917 was Sam Mendes, who is an English film and theatre director who was known for his innovative treatments of classic stage productions as well as for his thought-provoking films. Sam has also directed American Beauty (1999), which earned him the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Director, the crime film Road to Perdition (2002), the James Bond films Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015), and 1917 (2019), which earned him his second Golden Globe Award for Best Director. Sam Mendes said, “I hope this means that people will turn up and see this on the big screen, the way it was intended,” Mendes said at the Globes ceremony.” “It’s the not like the kids were clamoring for a World War I trench drama,” Dergarabedian said. “A film like this could have easily slipped off the radar.” According to cinemablend.com. “Now, it’s got a collection of Oscar nominations in major categories and a serious shot at winning most of them. It’s a film that has a lot of people talking, but the biggest thing that’s being talked about is the way the movie has been filmed.” The way that 1917 was shot makes the audience feel as if they are in the screen and since they don’t see any cuts it makes them feel like it was a long continuous take. However, according to people who have watched the movie and according to cinemablend.com, “If you’ve seen 1917, then you know that’s not quite true, the movie isn’t one shot, but it’s actually two.” So, if you have a good eye while watching 1917 you just might be able to see the cut. All in all, the movie 1917 is by far a great movie and the potential that it has is unbelievable. I wouldn’t be surprised if 1917 skyrockets and wins many awards. Promotional poster for the movie 1917, that surpassed the recent Star Wars release at the box office. (from Forbes.com)

Killer Insidea must see (no spoilers) Jack Langen ‘20 Staff Writer

The NETFLIX docu-series that details the dark double life of Aaron Hernandez. (from NBC.com)

athlete-turned convict. Rumors. Real-life characters. Lies. Theories. An ever-changing plot. Yes, Netflix’s Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez will keep you on the edge of your seat. The memory of the Aaron Hernandez case is fresh in many people’s mind. Much speculation has formed surrounding the case, as many people are caught in the vice of its intrigue. However, this threepart docu-series seems to provide closure to an idea running rampant through the minds of many. For those of you who aren’t familiar with what I’m talking about, Aaron Hernandez was a star tight end for the Patriots from 2010-2012. In the 2013 offseason, he was released by the Patriots when he became the primary suspect in the murder case of Odin Lloyd. Imaginably, because Lloyd was dating Hernandez’s fiancée’s sister at the time, and the allegations created friction within the family. The series explains the effect on both families in captivating

In respect to this backstory, which is woven throughout the duration of the whole story, this really gives more of a short biography of Hernandez’s life, even before the allegations. Having this backstory of his childhood and upbringing built his personality. For instance, he was a very fun person to be around but he also had a rough upbringing with the death of his father and the influence of shady characters. This gives consideration to the origins of his double-life mystique. In my opinion this was the most interesting part to me - seeing the development of his character as shaped by the different perspectives of multiple people. From childhood friends of Hernandez to those who were close to Odin Lloyd, the stories of both sides were told. This created multiple stories throughout the documentary. It is hard to say what the most interesting part of this was, but there are many things to latch onto to keep the viewer’s interest. My final thought on this series is that I highly recommend it. When handling the controversial and sensitive topic of a man who was a convicted murderer and has since passed, it is important to give respect to the families of both the victim and guilty, to the convicted party who is no longer around to defend himself, and, in general, to the truth. I did not at all get the sense that the subject matter was at all cheaply approached, nor did I get the sense that this was a money grab. This was just captivating work. In allowing the story to be told over the course of about three and a half hours, the proper respect was given. This also allowed for a better telling of the story. The documentary was also helped by the decision to divide it into three logical chunks. This allows viewers to pick it up later if they don’t want to finish it in all one go. That said, the quality of this series makes it worthy of binge-watching.

True crime. Human interest. An NFL

In the 2013 offseason, he was released by the Patriots when he became the primary suspect in the murder case of Odin Lloyd. detail as well as the effect and surprise among his close friends. The interest created is certainly due in heavy part to the back story provided to the life of Hernandez. This was done with good interviews from childhood friends and people who knew Hernandez throughout his life. For instance, I always heard that Hernandez grew up in a rough neighborhood, but it turns out that he lived in a very typical neighborhood with a fairly good early high school experience. That was the most surprising to me.


16 Jake Byrne ‘20 Staff Writer

Everyone has heard the rumors around

Elder regarding the existence of a secret tunnel that connects Elder and Seton. When I first heard talk about the tunnel, I was skeptical of its existence. I mean, am I really supposed to believe that there’s a hidden underground tunnel linking Elder and Seton that nobody has proof of? Not a chance. However, I couldn’t quite contain my curiosity, so I embarked on a long and arduous journey to find out whether or not the tunnel actually exists. Since no student, to my knowledge, would be capable of directing me to the tunnel, I searched for help among the faculty and eventually received the assistance I so desperately needed. However, this help would only be granted to me under one condition: I would not be allowed to disclose the tunnel’s location. I agreed and was subsequently led to the opening of a long, well-lit tunnel that pointed directly towards Seton (!!!). In all seriousness, never in a million years would I have been able to guess the location of this tunnel. Following my initial astonishment, I was able to snap a few pictures as proof of the tunnel’s existence and was even able to spend a little bit of time in it. Later,

Back Page I sat down with Mr. Bill to learn about some of his personal experiences with the tunnel. Mr. Bill informed me of a wild event that occurred during his first year at Elder in 2012. While exploring the tunnel on his own, Mr. Bill stumbled upon a student from 1973 who got lost while digging the tunnel. Mr. Bill said the student was “so appreciative for being found that he annually makes a sizable donation to [Elder’s] yearly fund”. Quite a heartwarming story of compassion and perseverance that also puts the complexity and size of the tunnel into perspective. It is reasonable to assume that the tunnel was completed in the early 1970’s, but the tunnel was never put to use and students from either school were never given access to it. Mr. Bill says the tunnel’s forty-five-year vacancy is due to the “women at Seton not pulling their weight”, but he has been assured by his mother and his sister, Seton classes of ’68 and ’92 respectively, that “progress is still being made” towards putting the tunnel to use. Whether or not the tunnel will ever be put to use is unknown, but it would be quite useful for students of both schools. Now that Seton and Elder follow the same schedule (most of the time at least) and

Friday January 31, 2020

Secret tunnel that connects Elder and Seton students from Elder take classes at Seton and vice versa, the tunnel would serve as a warm alternative to walking outside to get from one school to the other during the cold, wintry months. I hope this article serves as a step forward in solving the mystery of the tunnel connecting Seton and Elder; however, in reality, this article hardly puts an end to

What more proof of a tunnel do you need?

the curiosity surrounding the tunnel. Yes, the tunnel exists, but this realization poses a lot more questions than it answers. Why were students never granted access? Why has Elder tried to keep the tunnel a secret? Is something else being hidden inside the tunnel? So many questions, so few answers.

Sickness affects seniors

Is Personal Finance worth it?

Every year as the second semester rolls

Have you taken Personal Finance yet?

Nicholas Seger’20 Staff Writer

around, seniors everywhere begin to act in a very unusual way. They seem to stray from their work ethic, becoming lazy and drowsy. These strange actions have even been classified as a sickness. The name given to this horrendous sickness is Senioritis. Although no one knows the cause of it, there are some notable symptoms. The first is symptom is a lack of motivation. When affected, seniors seem to have no concern for their school work and responsibilities. It is almost like they have “checked out” for the remaining semester of school. They can find almost no way to get themselves to sit down and try on their homework. The second symptom of this sickness is extreme fatigue. The normal eight hours of sleep per day for a person goes up to about fourteen for those suffering with senioritis. At almost any point throughout the day, a senioritis victim can be seen sleeping, especially during school. However, school is not the only place these seniors enjoy resting their eyes. After school a number of victims take a nap rather than doing homework. Let me tell you, this nap can be lethal if you do not set an alarm. I have personally given into the sickness and participated in this nap several times. I have even woken up at two or three in the morning from an after-school nap. At this point, there seems to be no point in even attempting homework, so why attempt it? This is not a good mentality to have, and I strongly advise against it. The third and last symptom of senioritis is poor attendance and involvement. A typical senior suffering from this sickness skips school at least three times a month, sometimes even once every week. This results in the student falling further behind in school work and he or she caring less about responsibilities. Also, involvement goes down drastically from affected students. Coming into Elder, everybody stresses the importance of getting involved with everything you can. It helps students to meet new people and figure out what they are interested in. Senioritis victims seem to forget all of this advice, and they coast through their remaining time at Elder.

Sleeping in class is just one symptom of senioritis

They seem to forget about all of the clubs and organizations they previously made commitments to. I got the chance to catch up with senior Gabe Stowe and get his opinions on the widespread sickness. When asked if senioritis has affected him, Stowe replied, “Without a doubt. I actually haven’t opened my backpack at home in over two months.” Personally, I am impressed by this statement. Not opening your backpack at home in over two months is more of an accomplishment rather than a flaw. Stowe also said that he frequently sleeps during class. I have witnessed this as he is in several of the same classes as myself. When Stowe is not taking a nap during class, he can be seen watching Netflix with earbuds in. This kid is fully infected with senioritis and has been for a while now. Last. I asked him why so many students tend to suffer from this sickness as the school year progresses. Stowe replied, “Students already know what they are doing after high school towards the end of the year. College acceptances have been announced, so the second semester does not mean too much to students.” I believe he brings up some very good points, and I can see why senioritis is so rampant. Personally, I fear that I am becoming a senioritis victim. It is difficult to stay strong in these last two quarters of school, but I am trying my best. I wish good luck to the small group of students who are sticking to their work ethic and finishing high school the same way they came in. I envy your commitment and dedication. To my fellow senioritis victims, we have a little less than two quarters left of our high school career. Let’s try to get it together and go hard for the little time remaining.

Gus Middendorf ‘21 Staff Writer

Will you? If you don’t plan on ever taking this class, maybe reconsider, as it might save you a lot of money. Many people, including myself before writing this article, believed that this money-managing class was useful only to future business or accounting majors. But in reality, it’s one of Elder’s most useful classes. Following Dave Ramsey’s successful Financial Peace Plan, the class seeks to “help students build a foundation of personal finance skills for success in their personal lives and for the business world,” as Elder’s course description describes it. Students do things like learn how to manage their savings, invest in stocks, pay off their debts, and much more. Senior Michael Bartholomew, who took the class last year with Mr. Schoenfeld, described Personal Finance as “incredibly and undoubtedly worth it.” Michael plans on possibly studying to become a physical therapist or trainer, and said that “Personal Finance is still important. No matter what I go into I’ll need to be able to manage my income and bills and just know how to keep myself out of debt. It’s also not really a particularly difficult class, especially considering the life skills you gain.” When asked about what he thought was the most useful thing he learned, Michael said, “Probably investing. I had no idea about how to even begin and now I have actual experience in making good investments.” What Michael is referring to is the much loved NKU Portfolio Challenge, where students travel to Northern Kentucky University and compete in a simulated stock market to win the most off their fictional investments. “It’s a lot of fun,” says Jack Roth, winner of one of last year’s trips. “Its one of my favorite field trips. You get to go down to NKU, play

I had no idea about how to even begin and now I have actual experience in making good investments.

Dave Ramsey, the innovative entrepreneur on whom the class is based. (CNBC.com)

the stock game, and win prizes.” Roth, after winning his class’s game, was awarded a t-shirt and a $50 LaRosa’s gift card. Despite its obvious advantages, Personal Finance is still not a required class; however, it might be soon. In North Carolina, lawmakers are considering adding the class to its list of graduation requirements, kicking out a government class to do so. A North Carolina teacher, Mariah Morris, told a local news department, “They want to know about credit and debit, taxes, what W-4 forms are, W-2, how to budget, how to get grants for college, what fraud is, 401Ks, interest levels, how to get a mortgage [and] how to do business forms.” Even though Personal Finance is so important for young students, perhaps abandoning Government would be too hasty. Enough Panthers take Personal Finance on their own without it being a required class, and I can’t see many students taking a government elective, even though it’s an important class. Nevertheless, if you have not taken this incredibly useful elective, please do. When you graduate, you’ll be wishing you would have the wealth of useful knowledge that your fellow classmates possess. Also, along the way of learning these skills, you might win a pizza or two.


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