The Aquilian - November 2016 | Vol 79, No 2

The Aquilian

November 2016 Volume 79, Number 2

Gonzaga College High School Men For Others Since 1821 www.theaquilian.com

19 Eye St, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Six Letters By: Nasir Phillips ‘18 Contributor Six letters. A simple six letter word means nothing to us when it’s repeated endlessly. Six letters can be used to convey our emotions and daily needs. From “I’m hungry” to “It’s jammed.” Six letter words substantiate our everyday vocabulary and circulate throughout our lives.

Though these words seldom have say over our lives, there is an exception that has had an impact on our country and every one of its citizens.

Six letters. Racism. Such a simple word to say, but such a hard word to hear.

Three times over the past two months the Gonzaga

community has gathered together to discuss racism. In these discussions, which have been moderated by Mr. Leary, Mr. Donnellan, and Ms. Murphy, students and staff have discussed this important six letter word, trying to create a more open environment for opinion. While speaking with our student body president, Landen Buckson ‘17, about these discussions, I asked him about his take and he said, “I believe that the conversations are very productive and I hope that they receive a greater attendance in the future.”

Discussions about race play a crucial part in the development of our community

and allow students and staff to speak about their perspectives on current issues such as Colin Kaepernick’s kneel during the national anthem, the occurrences of police brutality in America, and the senseless murder of innocent police officers. Come to the race discussions, for they assist us in breaking down the six letters, give us a chance to show empathy for the feelings of others, and grasp a better understanding of racism.

America, our beautiful nation, the world’s superpower, has struggled consistently against racism. We may have the most superior military, one of the largest

global economies, and an envied judicial system - but as a country we’ve seemed to develop a collective fear of these six letters.

Racism has placed America into what could be described as a domestic recession, casting its citizens into an opinionated struggle.

Though some of our current politicians paint America with an exceptional brush, our country in actuality is suffering from an internal torment. We, as a unified nation, need to address racism as a national issue and understand that, regardless of our backgrounds, we all are challenged by this pressing matter that is engrained in our

Halloween, p. 4

Apopka Service Trip, p.5

Fall Sports, p.6

Meet the ASCs, p.8

country’s history.

When people think of racism, they usually recall segregation, the Jim Crow era, and the Civil Rights period. However, racism isn’t a monolithic concept that applied to one phase of American history, but a deep wound that infects our contemporary communities. It has the character of being both a personal mentality and a systemic issue. Its definition can vary from racial exclusion to police brutality, which many believe has become our Jim Crow. It has seeped into our national government and has corrupted even the best of people. With all its blaContinued on p. 2

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Six Letters Continued from p. 1 tant immoralities, racism demands confrontation today.

Racism has created a cruel polarization in our society. Attacks are made toward those who speak against the “norm,” and because of this racism can become a standard practice. Many American people suffer from some sort of inherent fear of racism, afraid that if they speak about it, they will be alienated by their peers. Though that may happen, we need to face our struggles and become more vocal about our opinions.

Alone, we are afraid, but together we are fearless; organizations such as the Black Lives Matter Movement and Pax Christi have given voice to frustration over racism and audaciously tackled the issue.

If we ever want to rid our nation of this problem, Americans need to accept each other’s differences and tear down the judgmental barrier that separates us.

This may appear as a national change that requires official implementation, but it is actually a communal change that requires a proactive citizenry. Those in power cannot mandate change, but it rather must come from individuals.

I can’t speak about other communities, but I surely can speak about Gonzaga when I say that change begins with us. Our school’s foundation is built on ideals that heavily reflect the Golden Rule; we must first treat each other with gratitude and respect each other’s value. Instead of degrading your peer because of his appearance, compliment him on his style. Instead of going out onto Buchanan Field to enjoy a game of soccer with your friends during Community Period, consider attending one of our race discussions, where you can openly voice your opinion on race matters and educate yourself. As Mr. Leary points out, “The race discussions really bring to light the fact that

Ouija 2 we are all more similar than we are different. As an institution that prides itself on being men/women for others, it is important to engage in dialogue that brings us together to make our community and world a better place.”

So instead of sitting at the same lunch table every day, choose new areas to sit and expand your friend circles. Even if someone has a different opinion from you, give them a chance instead of shutting them out. Too many times I have seen some of my own Gonzaga brethren treat each other with malice and contempt because of differences – and this causes me to question our school’s character.

Yes, racism is a national problem that we all must confront, but acknowledging this simple six letter word within our own community, without fear, can prepare us all for that confrontation.

Poets & Writers By: Kenneth Carter ‘18 Contributor Then and Now for Javon We played in the backyard until it was time to eat.

Running in the house because we knew Nana had fixed us pork chops, mac and cheese, with green beans.

By: Thomas Koenig ‘17 & Will Larroca ‘17 Senior Contributors Will: I guess I’ll start this review. Honestly, we should just call our review panel, “Will and Tom Watch Terrible Horror Films.” This movie was really dumb. I know that’s not very intellectual, but it’s true. Let’s start with the obvious. The director, Mike Flanagan, was an obvious fan of James Wan’s The Conjuring. Well, that, or the money grubbing studios were. Either way, like The Conjuring, the film proudly boasts a haunting taking place in a period setting (the swinging 60s). The movie seems to be going for the record for the most groan inducing period references. There is literally a scene where characters talk about whether America will put a man on the moon.

Get it? It’s the 1960s! It’s funny because it’s in the past! HAHA. While these are deep flaws, the film could have been salvaged if it was actually scary, or at the very least, memorable. Sadly, that was not the case here. Instead of real terror, the audience is treated to cheap jump scares and a bland, predictable series of demonic possessions. It seems like Flanagan thought that he could frighten audiences by simply placing a spooky looking demon in the frame. Finally, there is the matter of the completely incoherent third act, but I’ll

let you get into that…

2/10 Wills.

Thomas: Thanks Will. When it comes to third acts throwing every possible thing you can think of onto the screen - it rarely ever works, and it definitely did not work here.

The vast majority of scares were really not related to anything in the first two acts (mainly a family drama in the 1960s about a single mother and her two daughters trying to get over the loss of their husband/father). While these two acts were on the boring side due to the writing and acting, I had hoped this might pay off in the third act. The messy third act goes into an even messier ending without any emotional pay off. The movie ends up getting weaker and weaker as it goes on.

Also, I’m not sure why this movie exists. I get it, the goal is to sell Ouija boards and just to generally make money, but who would want to buy a Ouija board after seeing a movie where people’s lives are ruined just by using one. The fact that this was most interesting question that the film left me with is probably a bad thing.

3/10 Toms.

Overall Score: 2.5/10 Woms.

More like Origin of A BAD MOVIE? Eh, that’s not very funny, but who cares at this point. The movie was not good.

But that was then and this is now.

I haven’t seen you since Nana’s funeral and I don’t know when I’ll see you again.

I hope you get your life together, I honestly do.

But I’d rather have you in jail than have to bury you.

Each issue The Aquilian plans to feature a work of poetry written by a Gonzaga Student.

The Aquilian

Founded In 1940 Gonzaga College HIgh School 19 Eye Street NW Washington, DC 20001 www.theaquilian.Com Men For Others in the Jesuit Tradition Since 1821

Editors-in-Chief Peter Brown ‘17 Nick Lazaroae ‘17 Editors Dela Adedze ‘17 Griffin Buising ‘17 Charlie Goetzman ‘17 Michael Jerakis ‘17 Matt Gannon ‘18

Phototography Jack Chesen ‘18

Moderator: Dr. Harry Rissetto

On Many Things By: Charlie Goetzman ‘17 Editor Last week I went to Kimball Elementary in Fort Dupont for Reading Partners, only to learn that I wasn’t supposed to be there that day.

I offered to read with the children anyway, but I had gotten stuck in traffic and so was also twenty-five minutes late, so they just told me to get out.

Feeling that my dues to society were not yet paid, and also realizing I needed something to write about for this newspaper, I decided to drive myself to the recently opened National Museum of African American History and Culture, just finished on what was considered the last developable plot of the land on the Mall.

What took so long? We had actually been talking about building something downtown for black Americans three decades before the Holocaust even happened; in 1915, a “colored citizens’ committee” set about planning a monument to the contributions of their emancipated people, but the plans more or less idled in bureaucratic limbo — a series of commissions no one listened to, some drama at the Smithsonian, etc. — until 2003, when President Bush signed the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act. The building’s finally up, and, no matter your thoughts on it, you can’t deny that it is

striking. Approaching it on foot, it looks somewhat like a spaceship — that most persistent epithet in modern architecture.

The effect is debatable.

For one thing, it clearly is not at all attempting to fit in with the rest of the National Mall. This is, I guess, not an original move; the borderline-Brutalist Hirshhorn Museum is the first offender to comes to mind. But is it attractive on its own terms, even if it’s not Neoclassical and grayish-white? The first time I saw it, I considered it disgusting. I’m beginning to come around, though. It’s really not like any building I think I’ve ever seen before — modern but ornate, alien but with discernible roots — and perhaps this gut reaction is characteristic of all truly “new” art; Moby-Dick sold two thousand copies in Melville’s lifetime, we all know what happened to Van Gogh, etc., etc. Perhaps the architecture of the N.M.A.A.H.C. doesn’t quite rise to such dizzying heights, but, after an initial jolt, it can certainly be appreciated on purely aesthetic terms.

Why so much speak of the exterior of the building? you ask. Probably because I never actually got inside. I attempted to just sort of mosey on in, but tickets happen to be sold out until next March.

I did put up a fight with the security guard, but I can’t say I ever really stood a chance. I

heard the Onyx Club has tickets. Maybe I should have just waited a few days and gone with them. Too late. I hear it’s wonderful, though.

Anyway, it was pouring rain when I got rejected at the entrance, but the area was still fairly busy. Most notably, there appeared some sort of social gathering going on on the lawn adjacent the Washington Monument, right across the street. So, of course, I walked over to see what was going on. There was a rock concert-esque stage at the front, and there were a handful of people on it, dressed in a way that appeared half-folk singer and half-Orthodox Jewish rabbi.

They were wearing bejeweled yarmulkes. Teepees flanked the stage, and they were, naturally enough, painted with menorahs and Stars of David. Maybe sixty people were in the crowd.

The only thing that united them was their wonderfully singular way of dancing.

They were sort of swaying back and forth while aimlessly flailing their arms around in the sky; it would perhaps be what someone would look like if he was trying to pray at the Wailing Wall while on hallucinogenic drugs.

A couple minutes in, one of the people on the stage started talking. I couldn’t exactly follow what he was talking about, but he had that sort of Elmer Gantry-type voice one associates with

tent fires. He then inexplicably started playing the violin. He said he was playing “How Great Thou Art.” He was not. He started off on what sounded like something

by Saint-Saëns, but this then somehow blurred into what I took to be a very freewheeling interpretation of the prelude to Tristan und Isolde, the Wagner opera. (Yes: Wagner, the enthusiastic anti-Semite.)

It was actually a very pretty piece(s) of music, save for the Disney-style musical background noise that was blasting through the giant speakers onstage. American Indian imagery appeared on a huge TV screen, dwarfed by the Washington Monument in the background. It was still pouring rain. The whole effect was sublime.

I asked a woman who looked not-on-acid what exactly we were attending. It was a “special day,” she said.

All the First Nations were coming together for the first time for a national day of forgiveness. They were absolving America of its sins — the prejudice, the wars, the genocide. Representatives from all the tribes were there. I told her I may or may not be part Apache, a sort of legend in my family that we assume is not actually true. She said my brothers were in attendance.

Whaddup with the Stars of David and such? The Cherokee are one of the lost tribes of Israel. Yes, of course.

Forget that last bit. “All

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the First Nations” were coming together to forgive a country that is, as those who went on Red Cloud would probably assert, perhaps still unworthy of forgiveness.

Human history is, by virtue of the word “human,” often atrocious, and these people know this. We know this, and must reckon with it. We have a tendency to historicize what it is appalling, what offends on a primordial level, because there is simply little else to do. I am told Emmett Till’s casket lays in the N.M.A.A.H.C. There is — there should be — something deeply unsettling about the image this calls to mind that has nothing to do with the historical ramifications of the event. We speak so often of our nation’s original sin that we forget that people lived as slaves, knew nothing else, knew there was no “out.” We could, of course, go through the litany of sins committed against the American Indians, as well. My new friends at the Mall knew this recital pretty well. But they were making peace with it, impossible as such a thing might seem — especially considering its still-very-present effects.

Coming to terms with the past, and recognizing its ever-persistent residue on the present, is the only way we can hope to further scrub that residue away in the future.

We shall overcome — so long as we remember what exactly we are overcoming.

AP Statistics and the Presidential Election By: Michael Jerakis ‘17 Editor Eye Street’s proximity to the United States Capitol means there can be no escape from the nation’s intense political scene.

Merely growing up within a 20-mile radius of the nation’s capital eventually sucks us into American politics, whether we like it or not.

Gonzaga, therefore, has the unique opportunity to experience and document firsthand the quadrennial partisan plunge into the icy depths of decision that is the presidential election cycle.

Mr. Paul Buckley’s AP statistics classes, just as real pollsters and professional statisticians do

with upcoming elections, attempted to predict and anticipate the results of Gonzaga’s upcoming mock election on November 1st.

The importance of election polls, especially those pertaining to the presidency, cannot be understated.

This decade has brought upon the world profound technological innovation, providing increased access to widespread scientific polling.

Therefore, polling has become an indispensable and incredibly accurate tool used to predict ultimately how an election will turn out.

Simply put, polls “are used to determine what people believe, how they feel about something, or in what way they will act” (crf-usa.

org). Mr. Buckley cannot stress enough to his classes that good, random sampling of a sample group can be used to make an inference about a population, in this case, who the country ends up voting into the Oval Office.

Within the next few weeks, his classes will have worked their way around campus, having asked any number of Gonzaga students and employees to participate in such pre-election polling.

From that data gathered, they would have inferred upon the Gonzaga student body, faculty, and staff, in which presidential direction the school is heading.

From Hollywood recognition in form of Moneyball to the increasing

reliability of political polls, statistical analysis opens up a world of prediction never before experienced by previous generations. The ability to effectively and accurately predict the future is in high demand too, as the field of statistics is growing and expanding like no other.

Scientific polling, therefore, ought to be placed at a premium during this fiercely polarizing election, as it tells the story that makes the unpredictable just the opposite.

Over the past few weeks, we also saw efforts from the students and staff driving a “get out the vote” effort.

With posters stapled and pinned around campus on doors and bulletins, students and faculty alike would have

also likely received emails or messages about AP Statistics pre-election polling.

Going the whole nine yards, voter registration was also made mandatory to visit the Gonzaga polling booths on November 1st, simulating an even closer-to-reality voting experience for all those underage Eagles, myself included.

Something like this only comes around every four years, a period long enough for us to experience only once during our days in high school. I hope no one has let this opportunity slip by unnoticed, simply because it was pretty hard not to!

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Halloween on Eye street

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Kino Border Initiative By: Quinn Aitchison ‘17 Senior Contributor As we walked through the sweltering Mexican heat towards the comedor, a soup kitchen for recently deported immigrants, I couldn’t help but feel a knot in the pit of my stomach as if I was riding a rickety wooden rollercoaster, jolting and creaking as it inched up the initial climb that would soon result in a precipitous drop. How was I going to hold a conversation with a person who had just been deported? A person whose life had just been ruined? Did I even know enough Spanish to communicate with native speakers?

As we approached the door I felt the knot in my stomach grow tighter until finally we entered. The first sounds I heard were loud laughter, and I looked around to see a group of men excitedly having a conversation. As more migrants entered the comedor, we served them dinner and the buzzing atmosphere only grew. I soon realized I needn’t have worried and was struck by how hopeful these people were.

Each day we visited the comedor we met more migrants who had been deported under shocking circumstances. Michael was a young guy in his twenties who performed card tricks

while he told us his story. He had immigrated illegally a few years ago for educational opportunities and soon had a fruitful life in the U.S. and a serious girlfriend. His girlfriend struggled with drugs off and on throughout their relationship, but her problem really emerged when she became pregnant. When he confronted her about it resulting in a physical conflict with her brother, he was deported.

One day we visited a women’s shelter in Mexico and received a better understanding of why migrants put themselves through such treacherous journeys to reach the U.S. One of the women staying at the shelter had lived in Guatemala with her husband and her three sons of age 10, 11, and 15. She left home with her family when they were threatened by a mining company. The company was forcing homeowners out of their houses in areas they wanted to mine by throwing gas canisters into the houses without warning, killing anyone inside. The company was paying off the police to ignore their atrocious actions. While attempt-

ing to illegally enter Mexico, her husband and sons were detained by Mexican authorities, but her family convinced her to continue the journey to the U.S. without them. At this point in telling the story she began crying. The room was dead silent. She soon regained her composure, explaining that she was extremely thankful to the shelter for taking her in when she had nowhere to go and that she planned to seek asylum in the U.S. in a few days.

Another day we visited the site where a young man, José Antonio, had been shot on the Mexican side through the border fence by a U.S.

border patrol agent. The agent claimed that the boy had been throwing rocks at him in the dark of night, and not knowing where the rocks were coming from, he had fired in self-defense.

There were bullet holes from the shooting in the wall of a house at the scene, and below the bullet holes, a small shrine of flowers adorned a picture of the boy’s face. As one of our group members said later that day,“if only everyone could feel those bullet holes like doubting Thomas felt the holes in Jesus’s hands, maybe then they’d understand.”

Apopka Summer Service Trip By: Landen Buckson ‘17 Senior Contributor Apopka Florida is the host and home of many inspirational stories. A young woman named Ellie preached: “Own your story, love your story, share your story.” Everyone we met that week had a unique story that they wanted to share, and we listened carefully and attentively to each and every one of them.

They wanted us to hear their stories, and they were open to sharing with people that they have never met before which was incredible.

Many of our group discussions included a teen group called Sin Fronteras which was established by the Hope CommUnity Center.

These teens, who were our neighbors and friends, shared their stories, some of which were heart-breaking. With God in the room, a certain level of trust could be built quicker than ever and lead to deep conversations.

There were people with unforgettable stories. A young man named Alfredo

mentioned having to grow up very early so he could protect his vulnerable mother as they traveled with other abusive men through the desert to find a better life in the United States.

A young female nursery worker always had to wear a jacket around her waist because she did not want to be looked at by the other workers. She was supposed to go to college, but she was working early to help her father who recently was out of a job because of physical challenges. Her perseverance and ambition was touching as it was motivating.

The Orlando shooting was right before we began our service in Apopka, and it directly impacted members of the Sin Fronteras group. It was a rough time for us all, and we will all remember the vigil that we attended June 16th. The majority of the Sin Fronteras members knew one of the victims, and the sense of unity and support in the wake of that violent act of terror was revealed in several ways during the vigil.

All the people held arms and sung “We Shall Overcome,” in both Spanish and English.

There was crying, and the incident overwhelmed all of us.

Along the pond at which the vigil was located, there were white crosses for each victim along with pictures and their life stories. People signed their names on the crosses in recognition of their relationships with the victims.

Some showed their support by bringing water and snacks even when they were not directly impacted.

One man in particular brought tears to watering eyes. He was an older Hispanic man who was mourning the loss of his son. Someone else tried to help him get up from his kneel in front of the vigil display, because he had no strength. The shooter tore away this man’s strength single-handedly. As the old man walked along the path of crosses, he must have approached his son, because with heartache, he looked at several people facing the cross and said “Ese es mi hijo.” Those words and his

emotions speak to the sad- who, unfortunately, do not ness in all of our hearts that always feel welcome in the night. With God’s presence at land of the free. the vigil, we were unified to show sympathy for a people

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By: Adam Wojciak ‘20 Contributor The Gonzaga Eagles football team has started off their season well, staying over five hundred and winning the Jesuit Gridiron classic against Georgetown Prep. While Gonzaga has put up solid numbers all season, their biggest wins have come against St. Mary’s Ryken and Avalon, winning the two games by a combined total of more than 50 points. Despite their successes this season, Gonzaga has not played perfectly, as it has struggled with losses to teams such as DeMatha and McDonogh. Gonzaga will have a chance to finish off their season against their rival, St. John’s College on November 5 at Paint Branch High School.

Gonzaga on the Gridiron One key player on the Eagles’ roster is Tyree Randolph. The running back has come up big when he has been needed, such as in a game against Viera. In the Eagles’ game against the Florida high school, Randolph ran for 250 yards and scored four touchdowns. Florida Today, a newspaper that wrote an article on the game, summed up Randolph’s performance by saying that Viera had “way too much of Gonzaga running back Tyree Randolph.”

Randolph also played a key role in Gonzaga’s comeback against Georgetown Prep, scoring two of three Gonzaga touchdowns and running for 165 yards, helping Gonzaga to rally back from a 17-point deficit.

The Gonzaga coach, Randy Trivers, has one key

Soccer Wrap-Up By: Jack Martino ‘20 Contributor Each year Coach Scott Waller carefully evaluates and builds Gonzaga’s soccer teams. “It is very tough on the [seven to eight] coaches,” Coach Waller said, “We are constantly reevaluating players and talent.”

But it is not just evaluating and building. During the season, Coach Waller takes the time along with the other varsity coaches to eat lunch together and talk about “strategy. We know who plays where, and it will change during the game.”

During Mr. Waller’s eleven years as head coach, the Eagles have finished in the top three every year with nine finals appearances and five WCAC championships. He also has been named Washington Post All-Met Coach of the Year in 2007.

This year, the varsity team has gone 7-6-2 with a WCAC conference record of 4-2-1, led by 13 seniors, including team captain RJ Moore. “Having that group of guys who genuinely care about the team has pushed everyone forward,” RJ says.

As captain, RJ’s most important role is not just leading the team but making sure that everyone is working towards the same goal.

“My role as a captain is to assure that everyone goes into practices and games focused

and in the same mindset,” RJ says, “as that will allow the team to better work together as a whole” The Eagles’ final regular season game was last Wednesday, beating Ireton 1-0 and securing a home playoff game. Ryan Teuschl scored a penalty kick in the 7th minute for the gamewinning goal and stellar performances by seniors Joey Peterson and Edwin Ramirez cemented the victory.

For RJ and the other seniors, “It’s tough knowing that this is our last high school soccer season and our last chance to win a championship, but I think that has served as motivation for us.

We are looking to … hopefully make a run at the WCAC Championship, which we are definitely capable of doing.”

The Eagles play their first playoff game this week at Long Bridge Park against St. Johns. Come out and support Gonzaga soccer as they battle for the championship!

teaching. “NEF,” which stands for “now, embrace, finish”, it is meant to teach his players three important lessons that apply in life as well as in football. Coach Trivers wants to ensure that his team is not focusing on the last play or the next play, but instead their focus is on nothing but the moment that they are in. He also wants to emphasize the fact that tough times are inevitable, but it is necessary to overcome these situations. His last point of focus, the finish, involves working hard until the end and not giving up early.

While Gonzaga football seems good now, there are certainly some exciting prospects for the future as well. One such prospect is the possibility of lights being installed on Buchanan

field. Gonzaga has received permission to build lights on their field under the condition that they are off by 10 PM. Another exciting thing to look forward to is the WCAC playoffs. The semifinals will be played on November 12 at the higher seeded school’s field. The championship will be played a week from the semifinals on November 19 at the University of Maryland.

The Gonzaga freshman class has also had their fair share of action. There are 10 freshmen rostered on the

varsity team. While not many of them have had much playing time, they are all certainly members of the team.

Other action has occurred for a freshman that has not been good. In a game against Gwynn Park on October 19, Will D’albora, a Gonzaga freshman, suffered a serious leg injury that left him in the hospital. He will certainly remain in our prayers in hopes of a speedy recovery.

Gonzaga football, with all of its ups and downs, is having a very exciting season.

XC Running to the Finish By: Tommy Fisher ‘20 Contributor The Gonzaga Cross Country team (GXC) is doing excellent work this year.

The team ran especially well in the PR Kickoff challenge, the Seahawk Invitational, and the DCXC Invitational, coming in first place overall in all three meets. According to Head Coach John Ausema, the team’s best overall performance to date was the DCXC Invitational, where scores across four different varsity races that were by grade were tallied to give an overall first place team score to Gonzaga. Senior Harry Monroe has been delivered some especially strong performances, impressively finishing most of his races in under 16:00 minutes.

Under the leadership of Coach Ausema, and Assistant Coaches Laguilles, Scott, Eberhardt, Kelly, and Krolman, GXC is hoping to finish out the season strong with wins at the WCAC Championship, DC/MD Private School Championship, and Jesuit Championship meets. They are also looking for a top 10 finish at the Nike SE Regional Championship in Cary, NC, at the end of November, according to Coach Ausema.

Obviously, the GXC team has to do some preparation and training to be as successful as they are. Team Captains Harry Monroe, Will McCann, and Jack Beckham

lead by example and push the team to do its best. Their top runners run 40-50 miles per week, including one long run of 9-10 miles. The team also runs hilly routes at the Arboretum or at Rock Creek Park, and race-paced intervals, like a half mile or a mile, on the mall near the Potomac River.

In addition, GXC prepares for races the day before by doing an easy run around the Capitol. Sometimes, they have a team meal, also, which helps with nutrition as well as promotes team bonding. Finally, on the morning of a race, the team will arrive at the race site early enough to scout out the track and get acquainted with the terrain

and turns, which is important to running a successful race.

Looking ahead to the 2017 season, Coach Ausema forsees a strong squad, anchored by top returning runners including juniors John Colucci (their #2 runner currently), Will Spartin and John Hurley, sophomores David Giannini and Gavin Farley, and freshmen Cullen Capuano and Gavin McElhennon.

Coach Ausema is looking to the rising seniors to provide leadership to the team next year. Overall, it has been a good year so far for GXC, and they are looking to finish this season and go into next season with strength and enthusiasm.

NBA Preview By: Patrick Gallagher ‘18 Contributor WESTERN CONFERENCE Golden State Warriors Projected Record: 71-11 It is an unprecedented time in sports’ history. Never has a team been allowed to assemble with so much talent including: two MVPs, four All Stars, and arguably the best coach in the NBA, Steve Kerr. Growing pains will prevent them from breaking their own single season record, but the Warriors will still dominate the NBA with little resistance. A history of blowing 3-1 leads may come back to haunt them in the finals, however.

Utah Jazz Projected Record: 50-32 The young Jazz will have finally started to show signs of greatness this year with the gifted frontcourt of Gobert and Favors. Dante Exum and Rodney Hood will also have the opportunity to shine as Hayward is sidelined for the first few months of the season.

Oklahoma City Thunder Projected Record: 47-35 2017 will be the year of Westbrook. Without Durant, the versatile guard has the opportunity to average numbers close to a triple double. A young core centered around Steven Adams and Victor Oladipo may take some time San Antonio Spurs to develop, but if the team Projected Record: 63-19 can hold on until free agenAfter a disappointing loss to cy, Blake Griffin could make Oklahoma City in last year’s them into championship conplayoffs, Coach Popovich tenders. and the Spurs will seek vengeance against Durant. If Minnesota Timberwolves Kawhi Leonard can be more Projected Record: 41-41 aggressive, San Antonio Minnesota is the future of may have more of a chance the NBA. Andrew Wiggins, than anyone to upset Golden Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and State. The veteran addition of Karl Anthony-Towns load Pau Gasol paired next to La- the Timberwolves with poMarcus Aldridge could cause tential, and if all goes well, it problems for the undersized is scary to think that this team Warriors. could be as good as the WarLos Angeles Clippers Projected Record: 57-25 This is the most important season in Clippers’ history.

Both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are unrestricted free agents next year and will likely leave if Los Angeles is defeated in the first round.

That being said, Griffin should be regaining his old prowess and can help them fill the power vacuum left by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

If he improves along with the strong play of Paul and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers may have the playoff run they were built to achieve.

riors in a few years. Teams never draft this well-just ask the 76ers. Towns will have a breakout year, which will be similar to Anthony Davis’s performance two years ago.

Houston Rockets Projected Record: 40-42 If only James Harden was on a relevant team. He is one of the most prolific scorers in history and could challenge the Warriors if he played for the Thunder. Sadly, he is stuck in Houston for the time being and has virtually no shot at actual postseason success. Admittedly, Patrick Beverly is a decent partner, and the Rockets should have Portland Trailblazers no problem scoring this seaProjected Record: 54-28 son unless Harden gets inPortland is going to be a sur- jured. prisingly formidable force in the Western Conference.

Their backcourt of CJ McCollum and the always underestimated superstar Stay tuned for the Damien Lillard can light December issue of up the scoreboard, and they The Aquilian to read could embark on a deep playPatrick’s Eastern off run fueled with the talent Conference analysis. of their first class role players such as Evan Turner and Festus Ezeli.

The Aquilian 7

Catching up on Ketchup Cups By: Matt Gannon ‘18 Editor “Dude, I want my ketchup cups back.” I’ve been one of the Class of 2018’s reps to the Student Government for three years now, and, of all the suggestions I get from my classmates, this is the most frequent. The people have spoken: everybody wants ketchup cups. Trust me, the Student Government has heard you. At each of our forty-five weekly meetings since August of 2015, we have discussed this issue.

We get it, people don’t like soggy french fries. Or maybe people just want to drink ketchup. That leaves us with two questions. First, why in the name of Mr. Oryshkevych’s bald head has it taken so long to get them back?

And second, when and how are they going to make their glorious return?

To answer the first question, the problem is threefold. First, SAGE is required to abide by D.C.’s laws regarding plastic. Those laws

mandate that all food services in the District drastically reduce their plastic waste as of last year. That means that SAGE has had to cut down on plastic dishware, i.e. our beloved ketchup cups. Second, SAGE noticed that when ketchup cups were still around, students wasted buckets of ketchup, mustard, and their scrumptious honey mustard. When they were cut from the SAGE package, waste of condiments was reduced, and we ran out of condiments less often. Third, because of the perceived success of reducing plastic material and condiment waste, SAGE has chosen not to reorder ketchup cups despite the SGA’s best efforts to negotiate a fair solution.

Now for what everyone really wants to hear: when and how are our sweet condiment cups coming back to us? Soon. The SGA has continued its years-long fight for ketchup cups into this administration. We have scheduled and held more meetings with SAGE to discuss the issue.

However, we can’t, according to SAGE, do it alone.

SAGE, in the long run, really wants to see students waste less. So, in order to facilitate the process, waste less ketchup. Don’t take seven delicious cups of spa water when you really only want one. Don’t use 120 napkins daily. Do this for us, and SAGE might be more compliant with the student body’s requests. You might ask why the SGA can’t just supply the cups ourselves. We looked into this option, but to do so would violate our contract with SAGE, so we’re stuck in this long process of getting them back.

So, if you just skimmed the entire middle part of this article, here’s the lowdown: We know you want the ketchup cups back (we want them too). We have been working to get them back for a year now. We are close to their glorious return. Waste less and we’ll be even closer.

Godspeed in your ketchup eating.

Philip Glass at the Gallery By: Tripp Harris ‘20 Contributor Philip Glass is an American composer who is widely recognized for creating incredible operas, symphonies, and musical themes for film. I was introduced to his work when asked by my World Cultures teacher, Mr. Pugliese, to reflect on the opera, Akhnaten, about an Egyptian Pharaoh. Our assignment was to observe the connection between the music and Akhenaten’s life. I was surprised that I could actually feel the building of Akhenaten’s city in the opera’s music. It was very compelling to listen to history come to life. My class was given the opportunity to see Mr Glass perform, in person, at the National Gallery of Art. I travelled to the Gallery to see the performance and had no idea what to expect. The line of people waiting to enter the theatre was incredible, it stretched for an eternity. I was beginning to understand the draw and popularity of a composer, who, until a week or two before, I had never known. I saw two classmates in line

and we hoped the theater was big enough for us to get in given the line of people waiting. Once in the theater, we listened to Mr. Glass play three sets of music he composed and speak about his life. Mr Glass had hoped to be a musician since he was five years old. He turned his dream into a reality, and is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century. Mr. Glass shared many stories about the opera, movies, and books and was also very funny and engaging. He told us

that he prefers to perform in museum type settings as he likes the support and partnership museums have always given him. My classmates and I were able to meet him after the performance and we told him we had listened to an act of his opera, Akhnaten. He was very pleased and told us it was one of his favorite compositions. Mr. Glass is a very interesting man, his contribution to American music led him to fame, but he was extremely gracious and kind to us.

Meet the 2016-2017 asc’s

Interviews & Commentary* by: Matt Gannon ‘18

Mr. Haveles What brought you back to Gonzaga? To find out what hair products Mr. Sampugnaro uses (He uses Neutrogena T-gel 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner, my friend. Common knowledge) What did you do while at Gonzaga? Lacrosse. I was a close-minded one-trick-pony Favorite class while at Gonzaga? Hardest teacher? Favorite Class: Chinese 1-4; Hardest Teacher: Mrs. Wei or Sister Carrol Ann What kind of shampoo do you use? Head and Shoulders 2-in-1 Old Spice scent #believeinyoursmelf 3 really awesome cool fun facts: Certified scuba diver and swam with turtles in the Great Barrier Reef - Pet and fed a Kangaroo in Australia - Bit the head off a fish on my Irish Trip (Something’s fishy about this last one) Best joke you’ve ever heard?

The next great crossover movie is Sister Act 3: Old Habits Die Hard featuring Bruce Willis (thanks Mr. Cardozo) (Hey, not your CONVENTional joke) Food you don’t know how to cook but wish you did? Salmon Pumpkins or squash? Squash squad (thank you, Lord) Favorite candy starting with a K? Klondike bar? (Not a candy bar. Sad.) Can you rap any good songs? Pump It by the Black Eyed Peas Compose a short Haiku… I’m an engineer, words are hard (Poetic license should be revoked.) Can you do any magic tricks? Magic is the devil’s work Do you believe the Salem witch trials were a turning point in US history? Obviously If you could only eat either pickles or canned bell peppers for the rest of your life, which would you pick? Bell peppers (Intriguing) Do you think you will be bald by the age of 30? If I go bald, I won’t make it to 30 Favorite Shrek character? Lord Farquad Biggest fish you have ever caught? 15 pound skipjack If you could drink only a condiment for the rest of your life, which would it be? Caesar dressing (Sweet Rutabaga Pie that’s abhorrent.)

Mr. Mcgee What brought you back to Gonzaga? I came back to Gonzaga because I wanted a chance to give something back to the place that gave me so much. What did you do while at Gonzaga?

Crew, Swimming, GDA House Crew, Retreats Funniest teacher memory? New Yorker cartoons with Mrs. Free are always a crowd pleaser Favorite Sage food item? Stuffed peppers... but not really What kind of shampoo do you use? Head and Shoulders (I think... it’s in a white bottle) Best joke you’ve ever heard? This election (Oho! Got ‘em.) Favorite word that rhymes with mayonnaise? Cabriolets Favorite workplace object (i.e. stapler, thumbtack)? White out Pumpkins or squash? Pumpkins… duh (C’mon. Cliche.) Favorite candy starting with a K? Kit-Kat Can you do magic tricks? I once tried to make my homework disappear...

It didn’t work. If you could only eat either pickles or canned bell peppers for the rest of your life, which would you pick? Pickles every time. Peppers are nasty enough as it is. Do you think you will be bald by the age of 30? I hope not. Unless I get too stressed out from all these questions. (My sincere apologies if I cause any premature baldness, Mr. Mcgee) Favorite Shrek character? Three Blind Mice (I SEE how they might be someone’s favorite) Biggest fish you have ever caught? A small one If you could drink only a condiment for the rest of your life, which would it be? Honey mustard… it’s the best of both worlds. Favorite branch of government? Judiciary, because what’s not to like about 8 of our elders judging us? Best Billy Joel song from the 80s? Uptown Girl… obviously (Agreed.)

Mr. Horan What brought you back to Gonzaga? Gonzaga prepared me both academically and spiritually for college. I am happy to give back to my alma mater. What did you do while at Gonzaga? I was a fencer for four years, and I took WZAG for two. I was a leader on Kairos (CXIV) during my senior year. What do you hope to gain from this experience? My hope at the end of this year is to learn if I would like to teach for my career. I majored in Communication, so I am trying to discern if I want to become a teacher, or if I want to work in sports broadcasting. What kind of shampoo do you use? Irish Spring Best joke you’ve ever heard. “Did You hear about the Disappearing Spanish Magician? Uno, Dos, no tres” Favorite word that rhymes with mayonnaise: Blaze (Most creative, Mr. Horan. Most creative.) Food you don’t know how to cook but wish you did: Flan? (What is flan) Favorite workplace object (i.e. stapler, thumbtack) A George Mason Campus Ministry Pen Pumpkins or squash? Pumpkins (Oh please.) Name a good pun about shoes. I have good shoes. They save my sole. Can you rap any good songs? -_- Favorite candy bar starting with a K? Krackel If you could only eat either pickles or canned bell peppers for the rest of your life, which would you pick? Pickles Have you ever broken a bone? Nope. Biggest fish you have ever caught? Do Swedish fish count? If you could drink only a condiment for the rest of your life, which would it be? Maple Syrup Favorite branch of government? The Fourth Branch ( this is a real thing.) (It is. I looked it up) Best Billy Joel song from the 80s? WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE!