News
March 2013
Vol 62 Issue 6
the columns
Kelsey Siegler Features Editor
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elly Siegler, mother of St. Agnes Academy junior, Kelsey Siegler, was a Harris County district attorney for over twenty years and now she does private cases on her own time. She is known nationally for her dramatic interpretation of the murder Susan Wright committed when she stabbed her husband nearly 200 times. Siegler brought the actual bed and knife used at the scene into the courtroom to prove how horrific the event was; doing so caused the jury to give Wright 25 years in prison. This performance led to Siegler being featured in People magazine as a “Drama Queen,” who brings a new element into the courtroom. Siegler has been featured on multiple news stations and in the Houston Chronicle for her numerous successful cases. She has yet to lose one. Lifetime produced a film based on the Susan Wright trial where Lisa Edelstein from the series, House, played Siegler. The film was titled, “Blue Eyed Butcher,” and portrayed the situation well; Sara Paxton played Wright. Paxton and Edelstein tweeted at Kelsey Siegler following the premiere of the movie; it was quite exciting. Siegler has been featured on “48 Hours” more than any other prosecutor. Her most recent appearance on the show featured a case she had against a man named Anthony Graves. Siegler was hired to
Solving crime in prime time prosecute Anthony Graves in a retrial to put him back on death row. In the process of her investigation and preparation for the trial, it became apparent to her that Anthony Graves was in fact an innocent man. After spending 18 years on death row for a crime he never committed, Anthony Graves is today a free man and he calls Kelly Siegler one of his “little angels.” Kelly Siegler is a successful female lawyer who gives speeches to women all over the nation to empower them to follow their dreams
GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER / KELSEY SIEGLER Taking Action: Kelly Siegler takes crime to the big screen.
and become better trial lawyers. She spoke to Girls Inc., multiple high schools and community colleges as well as at the law school she graduated from – South Texas College of Law. Siegler was head cheerleader, valedictorian, and in team sports as well as every club imaginable at Tidehaven High School in her hometown, Blessing Texas. Blessing consists of nearly a thousand people and is where Siegler studied hard which gave
her the opportunity of going to her dream college, The University of Texas at Austin. Her mother ran the somewhat famous Blessing Hotel and later the American Legion Restaurant where Siegler grew up waitressing and washing dishes. Her father owns the local barber shop in Blessing and he puts all of her articles all over his walls for the town to see. She is an inspiration to follow your dreams. The producer of “Law and Order”, Dick Wolf, was clearly enthralled by her story and how she fights for justice. He is in the process of creating a new reality show entitled, “Cold Justice,” that will star Kelly Siegler, Yolanda McClary, who is a CSI officer and Johnny Bonds, a former homicide detective on a team that will solve unsolved murders across the nation. Siegler will begin filming in late March and is already deep into her research of finding their first cases. Siegler says, “I am so excited to be starting on this new adventure.” The show will be expected in late summer or early fall on TNT. Kelly Siegler says her greatest joy in life has been raising two wonderful daughters and she strongly believes in the importance of education and following ones’ dreams. If she had to give advice to an aspiring lawyer or adolescent who wants to be successful in general she would say, “Study hard, read as much as possible and NEVER give up.”
Olympian murders girlfriend Isabel Sutter Creative Fiction Columnist
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outh African model and television personality, Reeva Steenkamp was found dead in her boyfriend’s home on February 14, 2013. Cause of death? Gun shot. Prime suspect? Her boyfriend. This headline would not be surprising to the violence-riddled world if not for the identity of the suspect. Her boyfriend, Oscar Pistorius, is the summer Olympics 2012 star and the first double-amputee to participate in the Olympic Games. The blonde beauty was killed as she hid behind the bathroom door in her boyfriend’s house. Pistorius is tangled up in a scandalous court case with prosecutors arguing that he premeditated the slaying. The prosecution claims Pistorius fought vehemently with his girlfriend, Steenkamp. He rose from his bed late at night, grabbed his firearm (a 9 milimeter parabellum) from under his bed, and proceeded to corner Steenkamp in the bathroom. Following this move, prosecution claims, he shot four bullets through the door, three WWW.GOOGLE.COM of which hit Falling idol: Pistorius used to be a star athlete and role Steenkamp. model but now he is regarded with contempt. Pistorius tells
Pope’s resignation shocks Catholic community Isabel Sutter Creative Fiction Columnist
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n February 11, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI, earthly leader of the Roman Catholic Church, announced his resignation. Speaking in the ancient language of the Church, Latin, “Papa Bene” proclaimed his decision at the Apostolic Palace in the Sala del Concistoro. Giovanna Chirri, a reporter who covers news about the Vatican for the Italian agency, Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, broke the shocking story since she was the only person who spoke Latin in the crowd. Pope Benedict XVI lost his title on February 28, 2013 and once more become plain, old Joseph Ratzinger; an intellectual man who loves to pray, read and write books. Benedict cites failing health as his reason
for abdicating the chair of Peter. He is the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415, who stepped down to end the western schism. The western schism, which took place from 1378 to 1417, was a time in church history when two men both claimed to be pope—one in Avignon, France and one in the Vatican. Nations chose sides and each supported a different pope. France and Scotland, among others, favored the Avignon pope while Sweden and England and many more supported the Vatican pope. After the Council of Constance in 1414, the Church decided to have both popes step down (John XXIII in Avignon and Gregory XII, the legitimate pope) and to elect a new pope to guide all Catholics. Hence, the last time a pope stepped down it was much more elaborate than our 2013 experience. No pope has stepped down of his own accord since Celestine V in 1294.
Obviously, most Catholics were well. Our very own dear, loyal, greatly surprised at Benedict’s carrot-loving librarian, Mr. Sutdecision. Many have expressed ter, spent the entire day of the disappointment that Benedict announcement near tears at his did not endure the last years of desk, having realized that we may his papacy like John Paul II did. not have Benedict’s wisdom, guidOthers, however, have been much ance and presence on earth for more understanding of Benedict’s situation. Simcha Fisher, a writer for the National Catholic Register’s website, explains: “He has a deep, abiding love for us. It’s never been otherwise, and I know that his decision to step down comes from his heart, out of love for us.” The St. Agnes Academy community was rocked by Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement, as Shocking!: Pope Benedict officially resigned on Feb. 28.
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a different story. He claims that he and his girlfriend had a quiet evening and went to bed. Before dawn, he awoke to move a fan from the balcony to indoors. After he finished doing this, Pistorius claims he heard a suspicious noise. Being aware of the danger of home intruders and having had his life threatened before, he grabbed his gun from under his bed and shot at the sound he heard. Pistorius says that previous threats on his life and the vulnerability of being without his prosthetics made him scared. While South African courts decide Pistorius’ guilt or innocence, one is left to ponder whether culture’s stress on professional athletes causes breakdowns. The public has seen the downfall of athletes throughout the past few years. Tiger Woods’ scandal, Lance Armstrong’s revelation about his use of performance enhancing drugs and track Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton’s work as a prostitute show how quickly our heroes fall from grace sometimes. However, no downfall has been as great as Pistorius’.
much longer. Sister Jane Meyer prayed aloud for his successor at Tuesday Mass hoping for a good future for the Church. Catholics await the concave of cardinals’ choice about who shall succeed Benedict. For now, they are left to say goodbye to a man loved and respected by many.
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