Roncalli Review 11/2/20 by Roncalli Review

Nov. 2, 2020

REVIEW Volume 20:1

Mole Day

Take a look into the science department’s most exciting yearly tradition--mole day. A favorite of students and teachers alike, the holiday is based on the equally loved unit of measurement. Read all about Roncalli’s mol-sters on page 4.

Coaches Who Teach

New name, new chapter

ILLUSTRATION BY KYLIE PERKINS

Name Change Task Force works to move Roncalli High School into its next 50 years

Check out some of Roncalli’s coaches on page 3. Teachers such as the history department’s Mr. John Hasty also play an important role as coaches in the athletic department.

BY REESE WILEY Staff Writer

lthough the administration has been looking into changing the name ‘Rebels’ for several years now, the recent activism calling for equality for black lives has pushed this concern to center stage. Father Bob Robeson, priest at Holy Name and interim President of Roncalli, was the one to officially take action concerning the nickname. “For the past 20 years, there has been a lot of controversy over the nickname ‘Rebels’ because it is often associated with the confederacy and a sort of justification of slavery,” Robeson said. “Of course, Roncalli students and alumni don’t think of the term ‘Rebel’ in this sense, but outside of our southside Catholic community, many others do.” The change is especially important considering Roncalli’s past use of confederate theming and its direct association with the name. Robeson believes that this change from ‘Rebels’ will contribute to an environment that encompasses both the spirit of Pope John Roncalli and the values of the Catholic faith. “What is exciting is that we have the opportunity to begin a new era and select a nickname that better reflects our Catholic faith, mission,

and the life and ministry of our patron Angelo Roncalli,” Robeson said. While Robeson is leading the charge, a group of Roncalli community members work alongside him to find the right name for Roncalli. This task force’s main goal is to involve the full community in the process. One such member is sophomore Mary Luebkeman. “The task force has been chosen to incorporate different groups from the Roncalli community,” Luebkeman said. “The task force has students, faculty, and alumni all working together to come up with a new name that better reflects our identity as Catholics.” Another of these task force members is Mr. Rick Dias-- an ‘86 grad of Roncalli, father of three alumni, and husband of Jane Dias, who works in the guidance office. Dias’ school spirit continues to live within him, as he still proudly announces that he was on the first Roncalli State-winning team and his graduation year. “86, 86, eighty eighty eighty 86!” Dias always exclaims after introducing that he is an ‘86 graduate. The announcement of the name change was both shocking and upsetting to some, including Dias. “It is no secret for those that

know me that I was totally against changing the name…for us that grew up in the ‘80’s, it is hard to believe that our beloved Rebel name is offensive to anyone,” Dias said. “However, the only thing in life that is constant is change, so change we must, no matter how painful it is.” Even though this change has left some alumni grieving, he suggests that it can push Roncalli in a bigger and brighter direction. “I believe the new name will be the onset of the next great chapter in the life of Roncalli High School,” Dias said. “[This] generation will have the opportunity to be a part of something new for Roncalli, a new beginning and a new identity...this new name can bring about some positive and welcoming change that we all need in a dark world.” The change will be difficult to accept at first for some in the community, however. “There’s so much passion for the school,” Dias said. “Changing this name is going to be a difficult process, and it’s not going to be something that takes one week to do. It’s going to be over a period of time, and even when a name is picked, there’s going to be some healing involved.” Others involved in the name

change task force are a selection of administration members, staff members, alumni, Roncalli parents, and current students. After a survey for name suggestions was sent out to students and community members in September, the task force is now narrowing down name suggestions for another survey to be released to collect information about the top picks. Chair of the social studies department Mrs. Erin Bohn is taking the lead on making sure the new name doesn’t clash with historical references. “The reality of my experiences as a Roncalli Rebel is that none of them happened because of a nickname,” Bohn said. “They happened because of the people who have walked through our halls, sat in our desks, played on our courts, sang in our choirs, and served our neighbors in need, and they will continue to happen for Roncalli students for generations to come.” Bohn adds, “we may not be yelling out the same mascot name at pep rallies and games, [but] the same Roncalli spirit, unchanged and unmatched, will engulf all who are present. You see, it is this spirit that makes our school so incredibly special, and that will not change when our nickname does.”

WWW.RONCALLIMEDIA.COM

Volleyball Dominates Flip to page 8 to see the story about the success of the team which won conference, county and sectionals as well an update on University of Texas commit junior Emma Halter.

news

www.roncallimedia.com

11.2.20

Full-time learning

Three students are interviewed about their hybrid learning experience

BY COLE COTHRON Staff Writer

s the first quarter has come to an end, many are starting to come back to school full time. While these students return, they all had different reasons for coming back to school full-time. “I wasn’t getting much work done,” senior Ryan Green said. “Plus, I was moving houses and needed to be out of the house." Green said there are also some pros and cons to being full time. “I get to see my friends from both ends of the alphabet and I get in-person teaching instead of on some days. The only cons are that I have to get up early everyday, and there is a higher risk of getting COVID.” Green also had thoughts about hybrid learning in comparison to e-learning. “Hybrid learning wasn’t too bad, but I prefer going to school. I liked sleeping in more, but some classes I take like drafting have to be in-person. I did think hybrid was better than e-learning. I liked going to school sometimes [rather than not going at all] and I liked the face-to-face interaction [as opposed to just on the computer.] No one was really prepared for e-learning, which made everything about it hard.” Sophomore Micah Waugh also returned to fulltime class when the option became available. “I was taking too many hard classes,” Waugh said. “Also, I wanted to see my friends.”

PHOTOS BY COLE COTHRON

FULL-TIME SENIORS: Seniors Gianna Romano and Ryan Green were among the first students to return to school for full-time learning.

“I got to see my friends more, but I felt that e-learning was more organized than hybrid learning," Waugh stated when giving her opinion on hybrid learning versus e-learning. Senior Gianna Romano also is taking advantage of the opportunity to go to school full-time. “My classes were too hard to take from home,” Romano said. She had mixed feelings about hybrid learning and compared her experiences to e-learning. “[The pros of hybrid were that] I got to see more of my friends [in comparison with e-learning] and I was less stressed, but I was tired from waking up so early and Google Meets were too slow. However, I think hybrid learning has been very good so far.”

Club comeback

Roncalli clubs return to instill a sense of calm within students BY JEAN-LUC EUZEN Staff Writer

uring times of crisis, people long for a sense of normalcy; Americans turned to comedic television shows such as “Saturday Night Live” after the despair of 9/11, after Hurricane Katrina, New Orlenians turned to music and culture, when a loved one dies, people turn towards each other for support. In the era of COVID-19, normalcy has become a commodity. Through clubs, Roncalli is attempting to grant some much-needed stability to its student body. This year, the school is altering some aspects of clubs in order to make them possible to have. We’re keeping them all on campus,” Assistant Principal for Student Life Mr. Kevin Banich said. “We’re also going to do as many of [the clubs] outside as we can.” Another way that the school is trying to ensure student safety at club gatherings is by limiting the number of students within a club. “There’s no cap for the clubs but for each individual meeting there will be a limit to students in order to accommodate social distancing,” Banich said. A prime example of a club adapting under the circumstances presented by COVID-19 is the Four Paws Club. “[Typically] we would travel to a local animal shelter and work for two hours,” Four Paws club moderator and English teacher

PHOTO BY THOMAS SHERIDAN

FRISBEE FANATICS: Junior Braeden Cooper beams across the field, hoping to receive a pass from senior Lucy Houser. Ultimate Frisbee Club was the first club to meet during the 2020-2021 school year.

Mr. Anthony Walters said. “This year, we will be staying at school and making products and toys to donate to an animal shelter.” And thus, although the members of the Four Paws club will not be able to visit the shelter, their furry four-legged friends will still be able to experience the utter and complete bliss of a homemade chew toy. Not only is the return of clubs a source of joy for man’s best friend, but homosapiens themselves are also eagerly awaiting the reemergence of club life. “This year, I hope to see the return of the Speech Team, as well as the Art Club and Cooking Club,” junior and speaking enthusiast Amanda Wolf said. “Club extra-

curriculars provide a gratifying outlet for socializing, service, and sheer, simple fun.” Similarly to other clubs, the Speech Team is also adapting in order to meet safety procedures. “The Speech Team may be going virtual this year, though I'm not sure what that will look like,” Wolf said. “There's no doubt our ever-assiduous coaches will keep correspondence with us and guide our adaptation to the new structure as the season progresses.” As Roncalli continues its school year and tries to establish a new normal, clubs will remain an anchor point to the seemingly distant but relished pre-COVID world. To join one of the many clubs at Roncalli, contact Mr. Banich or the teacher who runs the club.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSH WORMANN

Count the votes BY JEAN-LUC EUZEN Staff Writer

s the 2020 election is finally here, the pressure to vote has grown substantially. Numerous television adds and social media campaigns have appeared to encourage citizens to vote. Luckily, here at Roncalli, one man is here to help eligible voters make their voice heard, and that man is Mr. Pat Crosley. Crosley took a caravan of Roncalli seniors as well as staff during week of October 26 to vote early as a group. “Fewer people vote in the age range from 18 to 25, and I want to get young people in the habit of voting,” Crosley said. Because part of the school population lives in Johnson County, and another part of the population lives in Marion County, and because a person most vote in correspondence with the county they live in, Crosley took two different groups to vote. With this election being a such a contested one, the polls are bound to crowded, making early voting seem like an increasingly appealing option. “[With early voting,] you can do it whenever you want,” said Crosley. “You can skip the line on election day.” As concerns with COVID-19 continue to rise, skipping the line might be a very attractive prospect to some people. However one chooses to vote this election year, the important thing to do is to make your voice heard. “Voting is the most important civic duty we have,” said Crosley. “It’s important to make your voice heard in any election.” Early voting is open through Tuesday, October 6 to Monday, November 2. In order to vote, one needs to be registered and have an ID such as a driver’s license or an Indiana-issued photo ID card. First time voters need to demonstrate proof that they live in the state which a state driver’s license can also cover. Election day is on Tuesday, November 3rd.

WWW.RONCALLIMEDIA.COM

FEATURES

www.roncallimedia.com

11.2.20

Fall one-acts in the making The cast and crew begin practices for the upcoming one-act plays this November BY KYLIE PERKINS Staff Writer

he theatre program has begun working toward the one-act plays scheduled to be performed November 11th through the 14th. Director of Theatre Mr. Phillip Anderson gives a breakdown on what changes were made to make these plays possible. “The biggest change that we made was switching the musical and the play,” Anderson said. Knowing that the musical tends to attract more people, having the play in the fall instead will ensure that the cast, crew, and audience can safely enjoy these performances. Anderson is going to “break things up a little bit” due to current requirements by Marion County and the state of Indiana. “We will keep family groups separated as much as possible and keep the actors farther apart as well,” Anderson said. Though protocols will most likely remain the same for the next few months, the future is uncertain. Anderson provides his insight on how they will adjust if things go south. “We’re taking it week by week,” Anderson said. “And if something like [the show being canceled] happens, these shows could be done virtually.” Sophomore Amelia Warner, performing in two of the three plays, talks about her experience with practices so far. “The [casts] are very small, which makes them very close,” Warner said. “Some scenes only involve a few people, so we can work off of each other.” Though she is bonding well with the casts, Warner also

GRAPHIC BY KYLIE PERKINS

COMING SOON: One-Acts “All In Disguise”, “Charley’s Aunt”, and “The Pitch” will all be performed this November, starting on the 11th at 7:00 p.m. Shows have been shortened and tweaked to give the audience a lot of action in under half an hour.

describes practice as “nerve-wracking” with multiple roles and fast-moving rehearsals. “This is the first month and we’re already running

through the show,” Warner said. “And we have to be off book by October 7th.” Despite this stress with a quick-paced schedule, Warner expresses excitement for what these plays have in store for her. “I'm trying to be the next Zach Mayer,” Warner said. “Like him, I got freshman of the year and now I have the lead in the play. I’m hoping that the 'All in Disguise' cast brings out their inner showman because it's big, fun, and you need to see it.” As the cast begins its run-through of the plays, the tech crew deals with last year’s early conclusion. Tech Director Senior Lindsey Benson describes what their tasks are this year. “The only difference so far is that we had set strike for our first few techs instead of last year the week after the play,” Benson said. “The workload, at least right now, is the same.” Cleaning up last year’s mess, this year’s smaller tech crew helps students social distance much easier. Despite this minor set back, Benson is enjoying her role as director. “The practices are going great! Right now we have one tech day per week,” Benson said. “I have the job of tech director this year, and so far it's really fun!” Roncalli’s cast and crew will continue to work towards the one-acts in November despite the current pandemic and all regulations put in place.

On the field; in the classroom Teachers' dedication to RHS’s athletic department is what makes this school thrive BY BEN BAILEY Staff Writer

eachers do a lot of different activities within the school. Most of the teachers are involved with clubs and sports. Their dedication to the school is what makes this school thrive. Not only do teachers help students gain knowledge and life-long memories, some also help students learn how better to play the sport they love. Boys’ track coach and English teacher Mr. Frank Litz is one of those teachers. “I think being an in-building coach has huge benefits with recruiting so even though I am old I’ve always had younger teachers being able to draw students to the team,” Litz said.

students, our athletes, and my family at home,” Hasty said. Hasty, like most of the other teachers that coach, also played the sports he coaches. He was a football and basketball player here at RHS and then after high school he played college football at Marian where he won a national championship. He is entering his sixth year coaching and is a part of the freshman football coaching staff. All in All Teachers want to help their students be the best they can, these three teachers and more help them on and off the field with that.

PHOTO BY JOHN SMITH

SENIOR NIGHT: Mrs. Kitchens preparing for cross country senior night 2020. The team took home a win this meet against Calvary Christian.

PHOTO BY JOHN SMITH

SPRINT THE FINISH: Track coach Frank Litz watches his athletes prepare for an indoor track and field meet.

He has been involved with sports for most of his time at the school. He first coached freshman girls’ and boys’ basketball but now is coaching track and field. Litz enjoys his time as the coach and wishes to help other sports out so they can all improve and get better with their speed and athleticism.

Another staff member who also coaches is math teacher Mrs. Cathy Kitchens. She took over as head girls’ cross country coach this season. “Coaching is relaxing after a long day of grading and teaching,” Kitchens said. Kitchens has been involved with the team for four years and this is her first year being the head coach. She attended RHS and ran from 1997 to 2001, which is the year she graduated. She was also a member of the 1998 team that went to semi-state. One of the biggest obstacles for teachers who also coach is finding time to do it all. Social studies teacher Mr. John Hasty coaches two sports and has a young family in addition to his teaching duties. “I am constantly working on how I balance my time and energy to be sure I show up the best version I can be to our

WWW.RONCALLIMEDIA.COM

PHOTO BY JOHN SMITH

PRE-GAME: Mr. Hasty preparing the varsity football team for their game against Indian Creek. Hasty has been with the team for six years as the freshman assistant coach.

news

www.roncallimedia.com

Chemical commemorations

11.2.20

Make way for Mole Day because many say it pays to survey the great display (of moles) BY RONAN EUZEN Staff Writer very year on October 23, the chemistry classes celebrate the holiday known as Mole Day, which is the scientific holiday that celebrates the unit of measurement known as the mole. Despite the current coronavirus situation, mole day celebrations will not yield to the pandemic, and excitement is building as the chemistry party grows near. “Mole Day is like my Christmas morning,” chemistry teacher Mrs. Sarah Rose said. “It’s a very exciting day in chemistry class.” On Mole Day, students build a felt model of a mole and are able to decorate their moles, usually as a character or famous person. Students are also encouraged to incorporate a mole-related pun into their projects. Furthermore, the idea of Mole Day did not originate at Roncalli, and it is actually a rather popular holiday all across the nation. “I started celebrating Mole Day when I was in high school, so I did not come up with the idea,” chemistry teacher Mr. Ben North said. “I can thank good ol’ Mr. Brown for that.” As Mole Day grows on the horizon, some chemistry students are already planning out their methods of preparation for the big day. Some students, such as junior Jack Rittenhouse, are planning to complete the same method as last year to produce their moles. “One fun tale related to Mole Day was when I and the boys went to Joanne’s Fabric Emporium in order to purchase materials to create moles,” Rittenhouse said. “We spent over 50% of an hour perusing the aisles in search of a perfect textile in order to fabricate our ‘Kung Fu Molesters’ (pronounced ‘mōlsterz’).” For new chemistry students who have never created a

PHOTO BY RONAN EUZEN

HOLY MOLE, BATMAN: This pictured mole project is a play on the household arts and crafts brand of CrayolaTM. The moles themselves are the numerous “crayons” inside the box.

mole before, there are some handy tips that can be followed to ensure that a prize-winning mole is made. “Don’t give away your idea,” North said. “There are thieves everywhere.” Rittenhouse, a prize-winning mole maker himself, also had some recommendations.

“If you're looking to win, create a large, themed group of moles,” Rittenhouse said. “I made the moles Lord Shen, Po, Crane, and Molester Oogway with the boys. They are inspired by the dynamic triad of films known as the ‘Kung Fu Panda’ trilogy, starring Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, and Seth Rogen, in which a strapping young panda named Po dreams of becoming the Dragon Warrior and living in the Jade Palace, whilst training with the most ferocious group of kung fu warriors to ever live, the Furious Five.” However, students’ moles need not be the best looking moles for Mole Day to be a success. Upon the creation of a mole, students are guaranteed some of the most elusive items ever discovered in a classroom, known as bonus points. “My advice is always that the students make [the moles] themselves,” Rose said. “It’s a lot more meaningful even if it doesn’t look as great.” Upon the arrival of Mole Day, students can look forward to various celebrations in chemistry class. “[Students] come up and present their mole to the class and we take a vote on the most creative or nicely made mole,” Rose said. “Then we have some mole day celebration snacks while we sing some celebration songs.” If students choose to enter their moles into the “Best Mole” competition, they must be sure that their moles are dressed to impress. “You have to think about all of the possible inspiration from which you could draw your influence,” Rittenhouse said. “Select the one which you know would knock the socks off of Mr. Benjamin North.” Despite the current pandemic, Mole Day will continue in 2020 and bring on a new generation of majestic moles.

Scenes from spirit week Students and staff enjoy the week of Homecoming by dressing up in style

PHOTO BY REESE WILEY

PHOTO BY GRACE VAVRA

HOMECOMING WEEK: 1. Seniors Luke Oller, Jessica Minor, Conner Wray, Grace Suiaung, and Nick Houtz pose during lunch on Wild Wednesday 2. Sophomores Micah Waugh, Nora Jordan, Isabel Spencer, Gabby Stimac, Rory Beikes, Sofia Lopez, Bryce Lowery, Andrew Gallagher pose in the cafeteria for Wild Wednesday

PHOTO BY GRACE VAVRA

PHOTO BY REESE WILEY

3. Juniors Lucy Roesener and McKenna Spearing show off their smiles during lunch 4. Freshman Emma Fegan and Claire Schneider 5. Director of Campus Ministry Mr. Jeff Traylor poses with his larger-than-life cowboy hat.

WWW.RONCALLIMEDIA.COM

features

www.roncallimedia.com

11.2.20

Fresh passion for language Three new world language teachers help fill open positions following a wave of recent departures BY JOHN “LIAM” MOORE Editor of Alternative Media onsidering the massive amount of teachers from the world language department who have left Roncalli in the past few years and the general shortage in the state, the school is truly blessed to have found such excellent hires--three of whom are new this year. Ms. Alison Barratt is a new ENL and French 1 teacher with a Bachelor’s degree from University of Alabama and a Master’s from DePaul University. Before teaching, she actually worked in the fashion industry, but has always had a passion for French and teaching language. “Learning and teaching language helps me grow my knowledge of the endless amounts of cultures out there- especially in a time that travel is limited,” Barratt said. Now, after returning to school to pursue her passion, truly discovering it through a program in which she taught French in rural Alabama middle schools, she’s chosen to come join the Roncalli community. “From the moment I received an answer to my application, I could feel that Roncalli was the right fit for me,”

Maggie Casper, stepping in to teach Spanish 1 and 3. Casper, a graduate of St. Olaf College, also loves teaching language. “I love being able to talk about different content in another language. This is just not a Spanish class; you’re learning history, religion, science, everything--that’s great,” Casper said. She’s always had a Catholic education herself, and took the job to come back to that environment. “I started off teaching last year in a public school and found myself missing having that Catholic education environment that I didn’t realize I would miss,” Casper said. Spanish teachers are especially in short supply in Indiana and the school, so it’s great that she decided to choose Roncalli. The new additions to the World Language department are all very qualified and are happy to be able to spread their passion for language to students in their new community-- one that’s glad to have them. PHOTO SUBMITTED

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: While studying Spanish at St. Olaf College, Ms. Maggie Casper played for their softball team, the St. Olaf Lions.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

AROUND THE WORLD: Ms. Barratt sits in a cafe in Medellin, Columbia with a fresh squeezed glass of strawberry juice. Much of her family actually lives in the city.

Barratt said. “Everyone, faculty and students, at Roncalli have the utmost respect for one another.” Ms. Enea Chastain, a graduate of Indiana University, has joined the French department as well, teaching French 1 and 2. She’s traveled through and lived in parts of Europe and the Middle East, even working as a farmhand in Italy, and she carries a similar passion for world languages. “What’s most exciting to me about world languages is not only that they broaden my ambitions to a global scope, but that they open passageways of communication between myself and other peoples,” Chastain said. Now she can share her knowledge and experiences with the Roncalli community, and she’s happy to be here. “I chose to come to Roncalli because I was excited to be a part of the close-knit community, as I only ever attended large schools growing up,” Chastain said. “I also really appreciate the extent to which I can lead my classroom and create my own materials as a 1st year teacher, all with the help and guidance of more experienced teachers and faculty members.” The Spanish department is bolstered this year by Ms.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

THE WONDERS OF WYOMING: New Spanish teacher Ms. Chastain stands in front of some beautiful Wyoming scenery. She is an extremely avid traveler and has visited places all over the world.

Health beyond the face mask

To better prioritize mental health, Roncalli recently implemented self-care advice focused on student well-being

BY REESE WILEY Staff Writer uring this pandemic period, some might find that they’ve had to change their entire routine around. Whether you’re in school, at home, or hybrid, students have been feeling the effects of the beginning of school during COVID-19. Tackling grades, a social (distant) life, after-school activities, and taking care of yourself can be hard! Everyone is adjusting to these unprecedented times. When it comes to balancing life right now, we need to stop and understand what’s most important. I’ll save you the trouble... you are the most important thing on that list, so take some time to yourself. Whether you take some time out of your day or just simply treat yourself, the Roncalli community should start being better about intentionally practicing self care. Roncalli social worker, Mrs. Diana Buxton, says that “[self care is] different for everyone, you have to find what’s best for you.” Sometimes self care looks like treating yourself to Chick-Fil-A on a Tuesday morning (for free chicken minis, of course), and other times it looks like taking a night to

relax. Buxton wants students to know that “it doesn’t have to be a big time commitment, but [it is important to get] some kind of relaxation and exercise in.” One aspect of self care that’s regularly overlooked is taking care of yourself through faith. Buxton suggests to “make God and prayer a routine.” Whether it’s scripture, listening to K-LOVE in the car, attending mass, or simply taking time to pray once a day, try to take a period out of your day to focus on God and your faith journey. There’s even a subscription service called StudentDevos that will email you a scripture passage and reflection that’s tailored to students in high school. Therefore, you’ll never forget to take time for this self care step. So, what are you going to do? Let’s talk about some ideas for your personalized self-care. You could take your dog for a walk to take a break from homework. If you don’t have a pet, you could sit outside while doing homework or watching a TV show. Whatever steps you choose to take, just make sure you’re taking a chance to breathe and focus on yourself.

GUIDANCE TO SELF CARE: COVID EDITION STEP 1: MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING ENOUGH REST. STEP 2: MAKE A POINT TO FUEL YOUR BODY WITH HEALTHY FOODS. STEP 3: DRINK YOUR WATER! STEP 4: BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT ACTIVITY (BOTH REST AND EXERCISE) GRAPHIC BY REESE WILEY

JUST DO IT: Here are some steps provided by Roncalli’s own social worker, Diana Buxton. Step up, and take some time to unwind. You deserve it!

WWW.RONCALLIMEDIA.COM

FEATURES

www.roncallimedia.com

Roncalli Media Staff Connor Mahoney Grace Vavra Josh Wormann John "Liam" Moore Julie Albertson

Co- Editor Co-Editor Co-Editor Editor of Alternative Media Adviser

Staff Writers Sophie Albertson Ben Bailey Cole Cothron Jean-Luc Euzen Ronan Euzen

Nathaniel Harbers Sam Peeples Kylie Perkins Jack Stonecipher Nolan White Reese Wiley

11.2.20

Staff Editorial

ith the current push for racial justice in today’s America, it has been made very clear that racism, in whatever form it takes, has no place in a modern society. For Roncalli, this wave of change includes a necessary reform--the name “Rebels” will be replaced. School leaders have actually been discussing this change for several years--and for good reason--but widespread social justice reforms and a greater attention to racial issues pushed the issue to the forefront of the community. The school’s nickname has always been a point of contention, even before the recent civil rights reform movement, because not only does the term ‘Rebel’ connote the American Confederacy, but Roncalli, in the past, used Confederate theming and directly associated the name with it. No matter how the name is explained to refer to Saint John XXIII, it will always retain its connection with a political and military group that plunged the United States into the bloodiest war of its history over the right to enslave human beings for profit. When the Confederate theming was removed from the school, the name remained, and now, administrators are taking steps to remove the final remnants of Roncalli’s past racist culture. As a newspaper staff, we agree that it is a good and long needed change for the whole community, but at the same time it is understandably difficult for some to let go of such a long-standing piece of tradition. However, while the nickname was not chosen with the intent of excluding or making people feel unwelcome, the reality is that it certainly does not reflect the values of the Catholic faith or our desire to embrace a diverse world and school community. In order for Roncalli to move forward into the future, we must first look to our past and account for our mistakes, no matter the level of irritation or inconvenience that accompanies a change such as this.

2020-21 Editorial Policy We accept submissions from all faculty, staff and students, which can be emailed to jalbertson@ roncalli.org or delivered to Room 109. Please keep these letters short, roughly 200-300 words. They will be accepted under the circumstances that they are signed and noted to which article it is in response. Letters that contain misinformation or are meant to libel another will not be published. The decision to publish any content will be decided by the editorial board. We also accept photographs and articles written by students, teachers and staff members.

PHOTO BY CONNOR MAHONEY

STUDENTS IN ACTION: Student council presidents Ryan Papandria, Mary Luebkeman, Reese Wiley, and Lily Vaught preparing to film a video discussing the name change. They are hoping to announce their choice for the new mascot by the end of the year.

Embracing change in a diverse world Roncalli faculty and students should continue to work towards a more inclusive learning environment for all

BY SOPHIE ALBERTSON Staff Writer

n early summer, tragedies and events of racial injustice were highlighted in the media and began to fuel a worldwide discussion about systemic racism. While many students have become more aware of these injustices more recently, Roncalli has made its mission to become a more welcoming and inclusive school for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) students for the past few years. While it may be as small as changing a book read in World Literature, it can also be as impactful as changing the school’s mascot. It is critical that people begin to educate themselves about what is happening in the nation and take what’s learned to heart. Listening to the experiences of non-white people is vital to helping BIPOC students feel not only welcomed, but included and valued. Combating racism can begin with what we are taught in school. The faculty and staff have also made it their mission to educate themselves so they can then educate their students according to Mr. Kevin Banich, assistant principal for student life. “The school has sent a number of faculty and staff members to an Undoing Racism Conference, every faculty member attended an "Implicit Bias Workshop" two years ago, and every teacher is responsible for a yearly reflection for what they read, watched, saw, and participated in that helps them be more aware or educated in diversity issues,” Banich said. While teachers play a big role in the goal to end systemic

racism, students are responsible for learning too. Working to be anti-racist, calling out friends and classmates, and educating ourselves on a topic those of us who are white will never have to face can drastically change the experience of BIPOC students. First hand, junior Deshawndé Davis recalls his experience so far as a BIPOC student. “As a mixed race African American living in the United States, I’m well aware of how people view the black American story and race in general. I don’t want future mixedrace black and white kids to hate their blackness as I did growing up,” Davis said. Davis and his fellow classmates, along with administrators, are working to create a better environment for diversity to flourish. Whether it's finding speakers to give personal testimony, getting new maps that aren't eurocentric, or implementing BIPOC voices into literature, the change he hopes for will be great. Another place to diversify in a big way is the way Jesus as well as many saints and heroes of the church are depicted in artwork. It’s common to see depictions of Jesus, Mary, and the Apostles displayed as Caucasian which is inaccurate entirely. Seeking out artwork more representative of their middle eastern ethnicity would be welcome. Working to teach more about BIPOC saints and what they have done for the church is also a priority according to Mr. Jeff Traylor, director of campus ministry. “I think as a Catholic School, it is always important to look to our faith and the Church for guidance on any issue. In this case, we get to look not only to the clear stance our

Church, and the USCCB have taken on racial justice, but also to the lives of the saints and how they can influence us,” Traylor said. Being able to spread the message of racial equality to the community through the lens of our Mission as a church helps people to see the need for justice in a way that they may not through mainstream media and the secular world according to Traylor. “Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have in the world to bring people together behind the Message of Christ,” Traylor said. As a community, we all have different views and opinions, but we must not let these be the cause of others being hurt or put down. We must come together and recognize that people we love are hurting and that we can be the start of change, for everyone. Banich acknowledges that regardless of the types of changes that have come and will continue to come to the Roncalli community, there will be some level of discomfort and frustration. "Whether it's about the change from tradition or questions about the future, there will always be people onboard and those who speak out against these positive steps forward,” Banich said. "It is our hope that along the way, that we can provide positive dialogue, clear communication, effective education, and high expectations for the changes and decisions for the Roncalli community."

WWW.RONCALLIMEDIA.COM

FEATURES

www.roncallimedia.com

11.2.20

Is NBA 2K21 even worth it?

Digging into the abusive relationship sports gamers have with the developer 2K Sports BY JOSHUA WORMANN Co-Editor ach year, 2K Sports releases a new installment of their NBA simulation video game series with updated rosters and modified features. On September 4, 2K released NBA 2K21, but over its first month, the game has generally garnered negative attention from its fans and critics. To start, 2K21's developers unveiled a new game mechanic--pro stick shooting--based on players aiming with the right stick. This component of the game was supposed to give a bonus to advanced gamers and establish a skill gap between stick shooters and plebeians who used the square (on PS4) or X (on XBox One) button to shoot. However, this mechanic put button shooters at an extreme disadvantage. Instead of giving a boost to stick shooters for mastering the aiming technique, developers half-baked the mechanic to make stick shooters make a normal percentage of shots while button shooters couldn't buy a bucket, even if it was as big as a hula hoop. The community quickly noticed this flaw after players frequently shot below 30% from the field in games. Because of this, for the first couple weeks or so, 2K21 looked more like a 7th grade CYO basketball simulation game than an NBA simulation video game. Fortunately, they remedied this situation by buffing button shooting, but now developers have made stick shooting so precise that most have foregone the trouble of even trying to shoot with the stick. The developers also unveiled multiple exciting additions to MyTeam, the creative, often unrealistic card-collecting and team-building mode. Among the new aspects of the mode include seasons and Limited, a weekend league where players can earn one ring every week that contributes to earning top tier players. During seasons, which last around 45 days, players can earn experience through different tasks that lead towards getting solid rewards and grand prizes. For example, the first season included a Pink Diamond Stephen Curry after earning 150k experience, luring Curry super fans and cheesers to grind for the card.

SCREENSHOT BY JOSHUA WORMANN

BUILDING A DREAM TEAM: NBA 2K’s annual MyTeam mode allows players to reimagine the NBA as a whole, forming teams around some of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball. 2K’s developers have once again expanded MyTeam to be one of the most creative dynasty building modes in sports gaming history.

players, many people in the community feel that this is wrong and contributes to bad spending habits in young gamers, with some YouTube creators such as DBG even including disclosures in pack openings against underage gambling. Overall, although I enjoy playing this game, I would not suggest buying it. Many aspects of this game are entertaining on current systems, but are not honed enough to make NBA 2K21 worth $60 on current gen systems. Hopefully, 2K developers are able to fix the problems with the release of 2K21 in November.

However, 2K Sports has a major flaw in this system relating to microtransactions. The NBA 2K community has frequently criticized the company for giving players that buy packs with real money an upper hand in MyTeam. This criticism has only grown louder this year, with game designers giving gamers more experience in seasons for completing tasks with rare cards from expensive in-game packs. Because the packs have low chances of containing desired cards for completing these tasks, many MyTeam players will not use the mode’s in game currency to buy them. Instead, players will contribute to the problem by using real money on packs in hopes of gaining the desired cards to complete the challenges. With 2K’s large audience, mainly targeted at younger

The music of a community

Taking a deeper look into what music and artists Roncalli students enjoy most BY SAM PEEPLES Staff Writer ith every type of music being so accessible to all through different outlets, it can be somewhat overwhelming to have every song at the push of a button. From music produced by Beethoven over 200 years ago to the world's most recent artists, each person has the ability to listen to what they enjoy most. These different songs can be interpreted in so many different ways by each individual person. While all of these interpretations may be different, people are still able to share that specific song in common. Due to the overwhelming amount of choices people have when deciding what to listen to, The Newspaper Staff, in conjunction with the Yearbook Staff, recently sent out a survey to all Roncalli students to gauge the students favorite types of music, artists, and genres. This allows the community to see similarities of music taste throughout different grade levels, personalities, and overall people. However, due to the wide diversity of modern music and the Roncalli community, the results show a very well-balanced rather than a uniform music taste. The love of music often brings the community together, because despite the differences everyone faces, enjoying music is something that each person can relate to. With all of the information collected, the top ten artists at Roncalli were determined and can be found to the left, along with the school’s favorite music genres and eras.

Most listened to artists Harry Styles Juice WRLD One Direction The Beatles Post Malone Thomas Rhett Lil Uzi Vert Cavetown Taylor Swift Morgan Wallen

Country 18.9%

Rock 22.4%

Favorite Music Genre

Other 7.5%

Rap 17.9%

Indie 7.5% All 8.5%

Hip-Hop 17.4%

Pop Music 28.1%

60's-70's 8.5%

Favorite Music Era

80's-90's 20.6%

Early 2000's 38.2%

Before 1960 4.5%

GRAPHIC BY SAM PEEPLES

WWW.RONCALLIMEDIA.COM

sports

www.roncallimedia.com

11.2.20

Four-time champs

BY CONNOR MAHONEY Co-Editor n October 1, 2020, Roncalli tennis defeated rival Franklin Central to retain the sectional trophy. The team won 3-2 with singles winners including senior Tyler Schofield and junior Ty Ransburg. Additionally, seniors Cole Elzea and Josh Wormann were victorious at the doubles position rounding off a sectional final team win. Elzea and Wormann competed in the final deciding match determining the winner of the trophy. “It was one of the first times I have come up clutch in tennis,” Wormann said. “Me and Cole went Sicko Mode.” After this win, the team was finally able to claim the hardware completing the comeback. “I knew we had nothing to lose and came out aggressive in the second set, and we took command and finished hard,” Wormann said. Continuing to fight, the team went on to compete in a thrilling 3-2 loss in regionals against Perry Meridian. The boys’ tennis team completed its season winning against various schools such as Franklin Central, Southport, and Heritage Christian.

O PHOTO BY JOHN SMITH

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The Roncalli girls' varsity volleyball team wins the sectional championship against Perry Meridian. The varsity team completed the regular season with a strong 19-8 record.

Volleyball dominates Roncalli volleyball team claims a county, conference, and sectional title

BY NATHANIEL HARBERS Staff Writer

inning has been a common theme for the girls’ volleyball team this season with multiple championships won. The team claimed its first trophy of the season after defeating Heritage Christian in five sets in a comeback win to claim the Circle City Conference title. Top performances were produced by junior Emma Halter with 37 digs and senior Miranda Wilson with 16 kills. The team also came out on top in the Marion County Tournament, beating Brebeuf to take the title in four sets. Junior Olivia Murphy had 16 kills and Halter contributed 28 digs. This was the second time the team defeated Brebeuf this season in four sets. “Having played them, we knew what we were up against and we had the confidence that we could do it again; the Rebels worked together and as a team, they were fluid and got the job done,” said coach Christina Erazmus. Additionally, the team claimed its fourth sectional title with a victory over Perry Meridian in three straight sets in

the final match. Junior Alivia Hill had 5 kills with Murphy having 15 kills. Halter, the libero for the team since her freshman year in 2018, received an offer from D1 powerhouse The University of Texas earlier this fall. With several young players on this year’s team, Halter had to step up and take on a leadership role this season. “Emma's play goes beyond her unmatched talent; she leads by example through her hustle, vocal presence, and intensity,” Erazmus said. “She helps guide her teammates on the court with her impeccable court awareness and she pushes them to be their best. Emma wants to win and her energy, spirit, and love for the game is contagious.” In addition to having a successful season, Halter completed one of the more difficult accomplishments in a high school career as a junior by achieving 2,000 digs over the past three seasons.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

TAKING HOME THE TROPHY: The boys' tennis team celebrates its 2020 sectional title. This is the team's fourth title in the last four years.

Playing in their final seasons Senior athletes reflect on accomplishments, lessons, and motivators as their senior seasons come to an end BY CONNOR MAHONEY Co-Editor

laying in his final year, senior Ryan Papandria, a two-year varsity starter, competes in his final season of the Roncalli football team as a player. Therefore, Papandria and the football team have set goals this season such as win the coveted state championship and grow stronger together. Additionally, Papandria strides into every practice and game pumped and excited for any challenge the team might face. These challenges have become bigger due to COVID-19. “Every game could be the last and could be one last game we get to play,” Papandria said. Throughout his past four seasons, Papandria has received support from his family and friends every game especially from his dad. “My dad is my biggest inspiration; he shows up to every single game,” Papandria said. “He will even get mad if he can’t make it.” Besides learning on the field, Papandria has received life lessons through competing in Roncalli football. The practice and game field have both served as vital parts in his growth.

PHOTO BY JOHN SMITH

STRIDING TO THE FINISH: Senior Matthew Croddy competes in a race on senior night. Croddy finished 1st along with junior Jean-Luc Euzen.

“Adversity strikes at any time. What matters is handling that adversity in any situation in life and football,” Papandria said. Similarly, senior Miranda Wilson has battled on the girls’ volleyball team for the

past four years. Most athletes wait four years for the opportunity to be honored during senior night. “I felt like the center of attention, but I was very thankful and it made me realize

WWW.RONCALLIMEDIA.COM

that I had a lot of support from friends and family,” Wilson said. “Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today.” In addition to these memories, Wilson said competing in athletics has also benefited her in other ways. “Instead of backing down from them [obstacles], use them as an opportunity to make yourself into a stronger person,” Wilson said. Likewise, senior cross country runner Matthew Croddy competed in his final year for this sport. Throughout his four years he has learned about hard work and dedication. “My main goal was to be an effective leader for the team and to push my teammates to be the best runner they can be,” Croddy said. Additionally, Croddy has learned about becoming a better leader to get the best out of his teammates. “I have learned the values of leadership, respect, and trust and how I need to live them out in both a team setting during the season and also outside of the team,” Croddy said.