VISOR
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archbishop hoban high school - issue no. 1- 22 september 2017
Where was hoban This summer? Dr. Joseph Congeni gives back
page eight
Meet Hoban’s newest faculty members
page ten
Freshman Sebastian Lacatus, from Romania, shines on soccer field page eleven
Annual Statement of Visor Editorial Policy
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he Visor is publishe eight times a year as a forum for the expression of student news and opinion. The paper is distributed free of charge to all students, faculty and staff. The Visor does not carry advertising. The Visor strives for accuracy and balance in its coverage, and publishes only legally protected speech. The Visor does not print material that is obscene or libelous, material that constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy, or material likely to be disruptive of the educational process. The Visor consults with school attorneys on matters of potential liability. The Visor welcomes letters, either in response to its editorials and news stories or raising issues of concern to its readers. Letters must not contain errors in fact. Letters must be signed, but a name may be withheld on request of the writer for sufficient reason. When a letter is signed by more than one person, the Visor will print only the name of the Principal writer, with an indication of how many other names were signed. Letters are subject to editing as to length, language and libel. The Visor
mailbox is in the Central Office; its e-mail address is visor@hoban.org. The Visor does not submit to prior review by any member of the administration or board of trustees. The editor-in chief makes decisions on the content of the paper, but may be overruled by a majority vote of the editorial staff. The adviser reviews copy and advises editors and staff members but does not determine the content of the paper or act as a censor on behalf of the administration. Unsigned opinion, labeled “staff editorial,” represents the consensus of the Visor editorial staff and may be construed as the position of the paper. Signed opinion, in regular columns or appropriately labeled commentaries, represents only the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the views of the Visor. Opinions expressed in the Visor are not necessarily the opinions of Archbishop Hoban High School, its board of trustees, administration, faculty, staff or student body. Since the invasion of a student’s privacy is not protected by the First Amendment, the Visor will ordinarily not publish stories concerning
specific disciplinary matters involving particular students. Since school officials have a legal obligation to keep such matters confidential, it is difficult to cover such stories fairly. If a disciplinary policy of the school is questioned, the matter will be raised at a time when the reader is not likely to associate it with an individual infraction or its consequences. The Visor chooses not to take a position which is inconsistent with the teaching of the Catholic church on clear matters of faith or morals, but may take a position contrary to current church discipline or practice. For example, the Visor will not take a position that Jesus did not rise from the dead (contrary to defined faith) or advocate premarital sex (contrary to Catholic moral teaching), but may advocate that priests be allowed to marry (contrary to church discipline and practice). The Visor is a member of, or affiliated with, the Northeastern Ohio Scholastic Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, and the Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society.
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editorial
VISOR
Archbishop Hoban High School mailing address: One Holy Cross Blvd. Akron, Ohio 44316 online: hobanvisor.news Awards CSPA Gold Medalist NSPA First Class Award Quill & Scroll Int’l First Place OSMA First Place
Signed letters for publication are welcome. Mailbox is in the main office. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus of the editorial board. Signed opinion represents the views of the writer only.
Staff Editor-in-Chief Julia Susany Junior Editor Justin Icsman Managing Editor Shamael Muhammad Sports Editor Nicholas Griffith Opinion Editor Athena Markowski
Features Editor The Visor is moving into the 21st century. As newspapers and media outlets Marissa Kastelic around the globe have moved more and more towards digital media, The Visor News Editor is branching out in the form of a brand new website and revamped social media. Sam Cherveny While the classic print copies will still be published, hobanvisor.news (live now) is the place to look for the most up-to-date Hoban, local and global news. The website will be Webmasters updated daily during fourth and fifth period. Some articles will appear only online, but Jared Armsey the paper copy will always be available as a digital download under Student’s Corner. Evan Cihlar The sports section of the Visor has a new look as the Visor Sport’s Center, which has Staff Reporters updated scores for all Hoban varsity games and gameday live streams coming soon. Haley Burns, Brandon Bishop, Tyler Think The Visor is missing an important story? As always, The Visor encouragDillon, Karlie Backer, John Lauterjung, es students to send in letters to discuss issues important to them, and students Ryan Gibson, Eva Klockner, Michael are now welcome to leave feedback on the website using the “Give Feedback” Kratcoski,Hailey Vieltorf, Lily Zaucha page under the Student’s Corner, or to submit a picture of your team or club to be used on the website. Please read the Terms of Use before submitting a photo. Stay connected to The Visor by following @TheHobanVisor on Twitter for updates Adviser and add hobanvisor on Snapchat for live videos of a variety of different Hoban events. T.K. Griffith On behalf of The Visor staff, we thank you for supporting us in our new and old forms. We hope you continue to read The Visor and engage in our new online forms.
opinion
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How the Innovation Center Ruined My Life by lily zaucha
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f you go to Hoban, you know this school is wack and, is, in fact, staying wack this year. It is an especially trying time for those with last names W-Z, anyone taking a science class, or basically anyone trying to function on a normal day. This covers just about everyone, so we can all agree that the closing of the library is a slight inconvenience. By slight inconvenience, I mean, the library closing has actually ruined my life. Since freshman year, my locker has been located in the depths of the upper science wing and getting there is a hike. Not many people understand the poise, discipline, and athletic ability necessary to live in the area past the library. Although we have a super-private bathroom, the upper science wing’s desirability stops at the ridiculous amount of stairs students must climb. Now, I say all of these things with the utmost love and respect to the place that has been my home for the past four years. This area of the school does have its benefits: the aforementioned bathrooms, the quiet place to study, and the above averagely sized lockers- definitely the best feature of the wing. Those babies are huge. You can fit whatever you want in there:
all your books and school necessities, approximately 10+ Starbucks cups, probably a mini-fridge, people, and at one time, a fish (but we won’t talk about that now). This article is not to bash, or even to brag about my endeavors in the science wing. The sole purpose of this is to shed light on the injustice of the library being closed. This is a hindrance to me for obvious reasons. How am I supposed to get to my locker and get to class on time? Well I’m not. I also can’t carry around all my books as to prevent myself from doing too much physical activity, or looking like I’ve never been in high school before. This dilemma also affects everyone who has a class in the science wing (Showers, art classrooms). We’re not all going to run through the halls to get to classes on time, unless, of course, that’s what you’re into. In that case, run all you want and you won’t be plagued by the misfortune of the closed library. Aside from the torrential flow of tardies, let us not forget about the freshman who are going to get lost all over again once the innovation center area re-opens. They can barely navigate the school as is, so opening a new walkway will only cause chaos, stress, and nervousness
for these rookie high schoolers. The path to the science wing will bring a whole new world for all of us to factor into our schedules and there is a ten out of ten chance that the frosh will have a hard time with this. All is okay, my friends, we must look at this in a positive light. Just think of all the calories we’re burning going up and down and up and down the stairs of Hoban. We are now on a perpetual metabolic grind-- in the best shape of our lives. Mushy cookie? Eat it. Maybe this is all a ploy to amp up the physical activity of Hoban students. Well Hoban, you did it. We have all been effectively inconvenienced and forced into monotonous exercise.
Christopher Columbus: A Man Unworthy of a Holiday by sam cherveny
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n 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, landed, and proceeded to terrorize, rape and kill the native people. Yet, despite these major atrocities, the time has come for Americans to once again celebrate the “accomplishments” of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Maybe this year, instead of schools admiring and praising him for “discovering” America and proving that the earth wasn’t flat, Columbus Day could be spent acknowledging and understanding everything wrong with this “holiday.” To begin, let’s agree that everything taught about him in elementary school was a lie. He was not the first person to discover the Americas-- that title likely belongs to the Vikings -nor did he prove the earth was round. In fact, according to Dr. Alan Smale and the rest of the StarChild Team from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the earth has actually been known to be round since the time of the ancient Greeks when Pythagoras first proposed the idea in 500 B.C. And, Columbus actually made four voyages, each one more devastating than the previous. His first trip, made in 1492, landed him not in Asia as he thought, but rather on an island in the Bahamas. After months of scouring for gold and riches and finding nothing, he left 40 men
behind to lead a settlement he created in present-day Haiti, returning to Spain empty handed. After six months in Spain, he voyaged back in 1493 and found both the settlement and crews’ ship destroyed, but, to his excitement, was met with an abundance of enslaved natives. In 1495, he crammed nearly 1,200 of these Taino Indians onto his ships, and sent them back to Spain, where they were paraded naked through the streets and later sold as slaves. Even though he already enslaved people, he and his crew then began hunting Indians for sport. According to diaries and studies, the captured were raped, beaten, tortured and killed. He even began to use their bodies as food for his hunting dogs. On his third voyage in 1498, he once again returned to his settlement, but this time, brutality and harsh conditions were so prevalent that Spain had to send authorities over to bring Columbus back in chains. Even after all of this, Spain’s king granted Columbus another trip to Panama in 1502. Upon hearing news of his landing, Panama natives met his four ships with a brutal attack, destroying two of them. Columbus finally returned back to Spain empty-handed again and died there four years later. However, regardless of his horrific morals, it must be acknowledged that Columbus
did introduce a few good developments into the world. The most noteworthy being the Columbian Exchange, a period of cultural and biological exchanges between the New and Old Worlds which occurred after his first voyage and which shaped the future of America forever. Yet, even though there is a certain importance in acknowledging this achievement, one constructive deed does not cancel out a lifetime of destructive ones. It is ridiculous that America is widely known for freedom and tolerance, yet still chooses to recognize Columbus Day as a public holiday. He was a murderer, rapist and cruel human. He does not deserve a day devoted to him. Instead, we should choose to celebrate and honor all of the natives whose lives and cultures were destroyed by his despicable acts of terror.
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opinion
The ethics of “price gouging”
n times of natural disasters, the price of limited resources in storm-stricken areas is raised, sometimes even drastically. This increase in price, called price gouging, is illegal in most states. Recently, because of events in Texas and Florida with both Hurricane Harvey and Irma, images and stories have surfaced online of ridiculously priced necessities from bottled water to gasoline. Many were outraged, irate at how wrong and immoral this was. This begs the question: is it really wrong? Two Hoban staff members, religion teacher Hank Kappel (left) and economics teacher Jason Dzik (right), recently weighed in on this issue.
by marissa kastelic
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efore I give my response to the question of the morality of price gouging itself, let me stress that I think economic arguments need to be taken seriously. It is not good to simply ignore or evade economic principles when making moral arguments. My intention here is not to fall into that trap, but rather simply to make simple responses to the economic claims that will hopefully lead to more dialogue and deeper consideration of the challenges to economic justice. With that said, I will now give my position.” In my opinion, price gouging is not moral from the Catholic perspective... I see price gouging as morally problematic in two ways. First, those who try to justify the practice on moral grounds can only do so by appealing to system of thought that is contrary to Catholic moral principles. Specifically, one must embrace (or reflexively presume) the utilitarian idea that it is legitimate to commit any act, so long as that act produces a good result for the most number of people possible.” This way of thinking claims that actions do not really matter in and of themselves. Rather their consequences alone are considered important when it comes to making moral decisions. The view adheres to the notion that the ends justify the means, which is contrary to the Catholic principle “do good and avoid evil.” The second problem, morally speaking, is that such significant raising of prices automatically excludes a number of people from the market because there will be some who will not be able to afford it. In times of emergency, therefore, “first come-first serve” limits the number of people from accessing those goods – many of whom may need them more. “Instead of “first come-first serve,” price gouging creates a “best funded, only served” circumstance. In other words, price gouging creates a condition where only those who can afford the price hike will gain access to the goods of the market. Price gouging does not really create a more just distribution of goods. It simply leads to a tradeoff, shifting the situation from one problematic condition to another. The third moral problem that I see in the arguments favoring price gouging is the one which claims that people are always free to not purchase. They can simply walk away if the price is too high. This is tricky, since under normal circumstances we can easily identify with it. If we don’t like the price, we simply don’t buy the item. But this is something that cannot be so easily claimed in emergency circumstances. The fact of an imminent threat (such as a hurricane) creates a force that necessarily limits freedom. The argument in question simply ignores this fact and presumes that all individuals can always exercise freedom, regardless of their circumstances. I would like to question the claim price gouging is good because it will result in a profit incentive, attract more providers of goods/services into the market and bring it to equilibrium. From my understanding of economics, price fluctuations do indeed work this way and do help to keep supply and demand in equilibrium. I understand this and accept it as a “law” of economics. But I struggle with the claim that such can really happen in instances when the market is disrupted. In fact, catastrophic acts of nature can destroy the physical environment of the markets. The idea that more sellers of water, food, generators, etc. will be attracted to the market via the profit incentive is nice. But how can that happen should the roads, homes, and business be flooded and/ or destroyed? How will producers get their products to the market if there is an obliterated structure? If trucks cannot travel on roads that lead only to flooded or destroyed business, then what should happen in the interim to ensure that people have access to the goods they need for survival? I have asked this question of people who are far more knowledgeable of economics than I am, and I have not been given an answer. The market is certainly a necessary structure for such a society. But that cannot be the only structure, since by itself it will not always serve the common good. When that is the case, there should be some cooperative effort to be in solidarity with those who are truly in need, so as to give them their due. Finally, I think I can conclude by stating that our task as students of a Catholic school in the Holy Cross Tradition is to stand for a society where there is “made available to all people everything necessary for leading a truly human life” (Gaudium et Spes 26). Conversations like this are necessary starting points for carrying out that task, as we strive to “increase our competence to see and courage to act.”
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he case for “price gouging” or prices rising on certain highly sought after products before, during, and after an emergency (assuming it’s predictable) is best presented as a “compared to what?” case. Economists study the ways in which supply and demand interact leading to equilibrium prices. If demand for a product suddenly shifts and increases at every price, equilibrium price rises. This rise has two important effects. First, it more efficiently rations the amount of the good purchased by each person. In other words, at higher prices, people are less likely to buy more than they believe they will need. If prices are kept artificially low, no such mechanism exists and stores quickly sell out (see news stories regarding Florida and even Georgia selling out in advance of Irma). Second, the higher prices increase the quantity supplied. Producers of goods now seek to find ways to get them to those areas where prices reflect the heightened demand. Water bottles bound for Ohio may suddenly be diverted to Miami as a result. Prohibitions of price gouging tend to lead to shortages with no mechanism in place to resolve them. Typically shortages are resolved by a higher market price. Once new products arrive, the prices are driven back down by a shift in the supply curve. Higher prices may lead to me paying more than I want. but they are also more likely to ensure the product will still be available when I arrive. By contrast, if prices are kept artificially low, I will encounter new “costs” that are not monetary, like long lines, long drives to other stores, and the anxiety of not knowing whether I will even be able to get what I need. Are those costs really preferable to higher prices, especially considering the perpetual shortage they tend to create? However, what of those who may be priced out the market? Again I bring up “compared to what?” Is a system that benefits those who get to stores the quickest really any better for those with low incomes? Isn’t it quite possible that wealthier people already have the means to get to to stores earlier (or pay people to go for them) and buy more than they need just in case? And if this happens, is there really any economic incentive to move more water to the area, especially considering the marginal cost of doing so is likely higher than it had been previously? If prices are kept low, will store owners still want to brave power lines and floods to open their stores in the days after a disaster rather than staying at home with their families? Is it possible they may hoard water to sell on a black market? Give it away only to friends and family? Spend less time trying to protect and preserve it before the storm since the profit margins aren’t worth it? Of course charity plays an admirable role, but it’s less certain to get the amounts right than market forces. I’m not sure a system of first come is any better for poor Americans, and have some reasons to believe it may be even worse. The only other system to consider is government rationing, but history shows us that such rationing makes it very difficult to get the right goods to the people and places that need them most. Not to mention the difficulties and costs associated with organizing and carrying out such efforts.”
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2017
Summer Wrap Up
by marissa kastelic
OVERPLAYED SONGS
“Despacito - Remix” Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber “Body Like a Back Road” Sam Hunt
HOBAN NEWS
boys volleyball and girls softball finish as state runner-ups students travel to Portugal, Spain, Ghana and Italy Hoban Rollin returns to social media Wilson turns 1!
LOCAL EVENTS
“I’m the One” DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper
Taste of Akron/ Akron Arts Expo
“That’s What I Like” Bruno Mars
Akron Pride
Elevate Akron Yoga Festival Highland Square Porch Rockr
BLOSSOM CONCERTS Chance the Rapper Sam Hunt Dierks Bentley Migos
Festivals at Lock 3 including Italian Festival, Hamburger Festival
ALBUMS
“Luv is Rage 2” Lil Uzi Vert “CTRL” SZA “Lust for Life” Lana Del Rey “Melodrama” Lorde
Joey Hackett “rolls” Into Fame as Online Sensation by michael kratcoski
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t Dowed Field last Friday night, the Hoban student section roared in applause to a sight that only Archbishop Hoban students recognize as the bizarre, yet beloved “Hoban Rollin.” As the student section gazed upon the hill adjacent to the concession stand, “Hoban Rollin” rolled down the hill and did his magic to amaze all who were watching in person and on Instagram Live. When the roll was finished, the student section went wild chanting “Ho-ban Roll-in” with pride for the sophomore. Although most students are familiar with the school celebrity, many faculty and freshmen have no idea who this quirky sensation is. Why does he roll? Does he practice? Who is “Hoban Rollin?” In February, sophomore Joey Hackett became “Hoban Rollin” after creating an instagram account with the alias. The account became the page where Hackett posts his rolling videos. Hackett rolls down the hills of Hoban from the practice fields to the tennis courts, and never fails to capture the at-
tention and enjoyment of the student body. On Friday, he live streamed himself rolling down the hill across from the student section, which was certainly his most popular roll yet. Although this began as a small idea, it has blown up and become something all Hoban students just can’t get enough of. The idea is simple, yet so entertaining and hilarious. He has become a hero of Hoban and often hears people scream “Legend” as he passes through the student section or hallways of Hoban. It’s Joey’s world, and we are all practically living in it. I had a chance to contact the man himself, Hackett, and asked him more about the background of “Hoban Rollin.” “It began really as a joke, my friend John Owen suggested I roll down the hill and it just happened.” John Owen, a sophomore at Hoban, records the videos with their friend Clayton and is edited by Hackett himself. Joey went on about how he actually tries to roll
twice a week, and has thought about rolling outside of Hoban at places such as Boston Mills. Hackett never has any problem with faculty, except for his idea of rolling down the rock tennis court hills being shut down. “One time, Mrs. Agnoni in the Central Office told me to not get hurt, and that’s pretty much all the trouble I’ve had.” Hackett finished the conversation with a hint of something big coming up for the St. Vincent St. Mary Game. Who knows what’s next for the most interesting kid in the school. Hackett has become quite the figure at Hoban, and does not fail to make himself bigger each moment.Video by video, the sophomore is becoming the phenomenon that will forever make Archbishop Hoban roll with laughter. The popularity of “Hoban Rollin” is only within Hoban right now, but could very well spread across all schools in the area. Nothing is quite as simple, yet unique as Hackett and his videos. Until the next video, Hackett will keep rolling on.
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This summer, students from Hoban traveled to four different coun tries on three different trips. These trips included one to Spain and Portugal, one to Italy, and one to Ghana to assist Holy Cross Brothers in building a high school. These trips provided students once-ina-lifetime experiences, and taught students about various world cultures.
centerspread
Where was hoba
Mr. Kraus and Mrs. Eggleston led a gro gal, stopping in Barcelona, Madrid and L to immerse themselves in and explore. F milia, to royal palaces, to local open-air
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ITA “
I met and grew closer to people I had never talked to before and the experience helped me to grow independently while having a lot of fun Devin Simmons
In August, 11 Hoban na. The group was ch time with Holy Cross named after Saint B ban last year and sho fered the chance for
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Mrs. Hahn and Mrs. Salvadori led 28 students on a trip across Italy, visiting 16 cities in 12 days. The sites visited ranged from the scenic beaches of the Amalfi Coast to the historic architecture of Florence and Rome. photos contributed by Emily Day, Gracie Bagdon, Justin Icsman, Micah Kraus, Allison Ritenour, Julia Susany
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an This summer?
oup of 12 Hoban girls on a photography trip to Spain and PortuLisbon. The three cities each offered a unique culture for the group From tourist attractions like the famously unfinished La Sagrada Famarkets in the heart of Barcelona, there was never a dull moment.
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SPAIN
The Picasso exhibit at the Reina Sofia was awe inspiring. Getting a little lost around La Ramblas was an amazing, spontaneous immersion into the Spanish culture. Christina Whitehouse
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students went on a service and cultural immersion trip to Ghahaperoned by Mr. Dzik and Father Mike Ausperk. The group spent brothers in Ghana who have worked hard to establish a school Brother Andre Bessette. Brother Augustus Mensah visited Hoowed students what the school in Ghana would be like and ofHoban students to help serve the school prior to its opening.
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Going to Ghana was the best thing I’ve ever done. The culture and diversity of the people was like nothing I have ever experienced. I miss Ghana every day. Emily Day
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Ghana
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features
Dr. Joseph Congeni: Hoban’s Health Hero by athena markowski s a young boy, Dr. Joseph Congeni always had a passion for sports. When he saw he could mix his love of sports with medicine, he jumped at the opportunity. After serving as a pediatric sports medicine specialist for the past 30 years at Akron Children’s Hospital, Congeni not only jumped, he soared— becoming a local legend in his specialty. A national expert in concussion treatment and research, Congeni has also served as team doctor for many Hoban teams over the years, building relationships with an array of Hoban students and families. “I do find Hoban kids to be particularly engaging and I know them better because of the fact that I cover sporting events and have more of a presence at Hoban than at any other school,” Congeni said when asked about his personal experience in treating the students. After sending all six of his children here, Congeni’s presence at Hoban still looms large today. Working as a football team physician alongside Dr. Kevin Outwater and Dr. Kevin Markowski, Congeni’s charismatic demeanor instills trust with young athletes. “The atmosphere is very conducive to a team approach. I very much enjoyed interacting with the kids here,” he said. “I felt comfortable from the first time I set foot on the campus in 1988.” Congeni estimates seeing 80 patients from Hoban alone last year, and believes that in the past, he’s seen even more. While athletes of all sports see him, the larger team sports, like football, obviously see more injuries. “Because there are more football players than other sports that is probably our biggest sports injury area but different sports have different injury patterns and that is also fun to observe through 30 years of experience,” Congeni said. Many students can attest that Congeni treats each case and sport seriously, taking into account the patient’s overall health and wellness while broadening his knowledge of different activities. “I also really enjoyed getting to work
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with kids from the city or urban areas,” Congeni said in response to the joys of his job. “They seem surprised that I take so much time with them and explain to them what’s going on. That surprises me because I tell them all the time that’s what they deserve as far as medical care,” he said. Congeni is a true professional who loves his patients. One of his cases involves junior swimmer and baseball player Michael Heller. After seeing him, Congeni concluded that both of Heller’s kidneys were on one side of his body, causing abnormally high blood pressure. “Dr. Congeni was very invested in my well being. He is one of the nicest doctors I have ever worked with, and without him I would have no
“I tried to let others
on our sports medicine team know that we have a gift we’ve been given and God asks us to use it in the best way possible to help other people”
idea that I have kidneys issues,” Heller said. The pure desire to care for others and treat every kid as he would his own is one of the many reasons for his popularity. Heller continues to receive treatment from Akron Children’s Hospital, and has Con-
geni to thank for his current health status. Recently, he had the honor of delivering the Commencement speech at Hoban’s 2017 Graduation Ceremony. In front of his youngest child, Dominic, Congeni encouraged the graduates to serve others, and established within them his innate humility. “Those that work to help others in their community and those that lift each other up when they get knocked down and those that foster a family atmosphere find pleasure, joy, and build a meaningful life,” Congeni said. His inspirational speech left the graduates, parents, and staff astonished. Utilizing his own life experience, he condemned the “5 P’s”possession, pride, power and promiscuity that lead to the wrong type of pleasure. Instead, he suggested that those who use their talents to find meaning in life receive authentic pleasure. Congeni’s commencement left the class feeling hopeful for the future, while instilling within them valuable lessons on preparation, selflessness, and right judgement. While many consider Congeni himself a gift to our Hoban family, he views Hoban as a gift to him. “It’s also very important for me and I tried to let others on our sports medicine team know that we have a gift we’ve been given and God asks us to use it in the best way possible to help other people,” he said. Selflessness shines through his work, and he truly believes in treating his patients to the best of his God-given ability. Congeni’s talent is an invaluable asset in our Hoban community, as many of our athletes have him to thank for their health. “There are new things that I see every week and every month and so I need to continue to be a lifelong learner in this field” Congeni said. His hunger for learning and determination should inspire not only his athletic patients, but the whole school as well. Hoban is blessed to have Dr. Joseph Congeni as our personal health hero.
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Meet The
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Teachers
Hoban welcomed several new members of faculty and staff from several different departments, including teaching, counseling, and admissions. We thank each of them for choosing to be a member of the Hoban community and look forward to getting to know them better in the upcoming school year.
Mrs. Sulbaran french
how does it feel to be back at Hoban? “I am so happy to be back at Hoban. It truly is a family! I have been warmly welcomed back! The updates in the building are beautiful and I love the Habitudes that we are adopting.” favorite movie: Dirty Dancing or The Rock with Sean Connery!
Mr. Mueller
drama and choir favorite movie: “I can’t pick just one! Tangled, That Thing You Do, The King’s Speech, and The Dark Knight Rises.” personal info: “I am a professional actor, musician, and private music lesson instructor, the father of a 2-year-old son, and happily married to my college sweetheart!”
Mrs. Perla-Severini english
personal info: “In my spare time I like reading, hiking, cooking, and spending time with my family. I look forward to my first year at Hoban!”
Mr. killius
favorite movie: “I like the Autumn season and Halloween, so my favorite movie is Hocus Pocus.”
science
what does it mean to you to be a member of the Hoban family? “The Hoban family means a lot to me. It really is a wonderful place to be because everyone sees this as a family and you can tell people really care about each other here.”
favorite movie: Dr. Strangelove
also new to our faculty: Mrs. Stieber-Director of Admissions Ms. Massive-Director of Communications Mr. Bing-Assistant Athletic Director Mr. Belvin-Full time IT support Mrs. Doenges-School counselor Ms. Wang-Mandarin Chinese teacher Mrs. Kostko-Math teacher Ms. Stone-Assistant director of admissions Ms. Tuma-Sophomore and Senior English
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news
Innovation Center Nears Completion as September Concludes by karlie backer
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he Hoban Innovation Center, a new space for students to create, communicate and experiment, is on track to be fully functional by Oct. 1, replacing the school library. The newly renovated space trades paperback books for two high-tech learning areas: a Makerspace and a Distance Learning Studio, separated by a walk-through glass corridor. Focussing on science, technology, English, art and math (STEAM), the Makerspace will be occupied with 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters, graphic design software, di-sublimation printers and circuit and coding equipment for students to create and experiment with. Power tools and building materials such as plastic, metal, paint, etc., will be available for students to invent and create prototypes when experimenting with robotics. Senior, Jared Armsey is looking forward to the opening of the Makerspace. “I think the innovation center will not only be beneficial to people in the science department, but it will also be beneficial for all branches of education at Hoban. I’m personally excited, because I want to pursue a career in engineering, so any advantage I can gain in high school is a great privilege and excites me for the future,” said Armsey. This side of the innovation center will create
a hands-on experience that will simulate what students read about in textbooks. It creates a new level of learning that is expected to be utilized by science, art and math classes. The Distance Learning Studio will be for students to test their creativity and critical thinking skills. Students will be able to link with professionals from all around the world in all fields with the technology donated by Cisco Systems Inc. Videoconferencing will be available for students and teachers to speak face-to-face with experts and receive instruction and information. In addition to this, business and entrepreneurial opportunities will be available. This side of the center is especially focussed toward business studies. It is expected to be used by foreign language, science and history classes. Dr. Todd Sweda, one of the center’s biggest advocators, looks forward to the abundance of learning and creating that he believes will take place in the center. He believes that the center will encourage persistence in the students’ efforts. “It’s an opportunity for students to begin testing their creative limits,” said Sweda. Teachers will be able to sign up for time in the innovation center during their classes. After getting to know the materials and
resources in the center, teachers will better be able to design lessons that are centered around the new elements of the center. Hoban is moving in a more modern direction and advancing toward a more handson and interactive learning experience. As for the old library, paperback books will no longer be available to check out, papers are no longer going to be to be printed, and there will no longer be a lounge area for students to kill time or do homework before school, after school, or during lunch. The library was an important place to senior, Emma Izo, and many other students. “I miss the library. It was my place to go to get my work done and relax without a lot of distractions,” said Izo. Foley Commons, as well as a few designated classrooms, will be available before and after school for anyone to do homework or lounge. Students will be able to print in Mr. Tocchi’s room before or after school only. Although the plans have not yet been confirmed, as a possible future project for Hoban, Sweda mentioned updating the cafeteria and turning it into a student union. This would be a place for students to spend time together, catch up on homework, or pass some time before practice.
Influx of Refugees Resettle in Northeast Ohio neighborhoods by brandon bishop
F
ollowing political instability in their home countries, a new wave of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nepal have relocated to Akron to begin their new lives. In the past few years, a stable influx of Bhutanese refugees formerly registered at refugee camps in eastern Nepal have moved to America. The majority of these refugees are Lhotshampa, one of three major ethnic groups in Bhutan. Former King, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, led a series of vicious initiatives to ethnically cleanse Bhutan, expelling a substantial amount of the Lhotshampa population dating back to the 1990’s. After nearly 15 years in exile, the resettlement process of Bhutanese refugees began in 2008. According to a report published by the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, “of the 100,000 Bhutanese refugees who have been resettled abroad in the past 20 years, 85 percent have been resettled in the United States.”. Akron, particularly the North Hill area, has served as a main hub for many. Organizations like the International Institute of Akron, also in the North Hill, and World Relief Akron, on East Market
Street, provide services that help foreign people integrate into American Society. Because of these resources, many immigrants and refugees settle in Akron. “[Refugees] are very positive for the community. We do love this community. … We are helping the community get better,” said Mon Phuyel, a former refugee who now operates the Hill Pub in North Hill. The newest surge of refugees settling in northeast Ohio come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, triggered by events in Rwanda. Rwanda, which neighbors the DRC, began a massive genocide in 1994 between the Hutus and Tutsis, sending the DRC into a downward spiral. Nearly two million Hutus emmigrated into the DRC. Most of these Hutus were militiamen of the overthrown government responsible for the genocide. They quickly allied with Joseph Mobutu, leader of the Congo’s government, and began slaughtering the country’s sizable Tutsi population. Tutsi militias, supported by many African countries, formed and fought against the Hutu regime, initiating “Africa’s First World War.” Although the war officially ended in 2003, the DRC has been left in shambles ever since.
Today, the DRC remains one of the most poverty-stricken nations in the world. The CIA found that in 2012, 63 percent of the Congolese population lived below the poverty line. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants works closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to decide on who comes to the United States. Due to this humanitarian crisis, many Congolese people have sought to begin new lives in other countries. While the official language of the Democratic Republic of Congo is French, most of the people coming to Akron will speak various dialects of Swahili. With help from the International Institute and Akron Public Schools, the North Hill schools have been able to adapt to the refugee influx. “The work done in this cluster to break down natural cultural barriers is phenomenal… It’s created a multicultural environment, whether they’re born here or came here with their parents,” said Liz Walters, the IIA’s community outreach coordinator.
sports
Sebastian “Busyman” Lacatus shares his Romanian identity
eleven
by tyler dillon
I
t’s not often a boy from Romania wears a Hoban jersey. But Sebastian Lacatus, a freshman midfielder, can be seen Tuesday and Saturday nights staring for the Knights’ boys soccer team. Lacatus, however, is not just a soccer player from Romania, but someone whose journey to Hoban traversed a unique path. If you talk with Lacatus, you may sense a hint of an accent. That is because he was born and raised in Galati, Romania. In Romania, Lacatus participated in many activities. Soccer was not one of them. “In Romania, I was on a handball team. I played it for six to seven years and was also the captain of the team. If me and my family had not come to America, I would have played for the Romanian handball national team,” Lacatus said. In addition to handball, Lacatus swam, played the guitar, and took many English classes. “Before I came here I was also doing a lot of English classes. I was doing them just to know another language,” he said. “I never knew I was going to come here.”
When Lacatus was 12, his family was offered the opportunity to come to America. “In the past, my dad was applying for the lottery visa for I don’t know how many years, and didn’t win so he stopped applying,” he said. “After he stopped, my aunt, who lives here in America, was applying for us without us knowing.” On May 9, his birthday, Lacatus got a call from his dad saying that they had won the visa and were able to immigrate to the U.S. “I came here two and a half years ago and when I came here I knew a little bit of English but it was kind of hard for me to talk to people because everyone was talking really fast and sometimes I didn’t know what they were saying,” Lacatus said. “But after a couple months I learned it better and I understood people and they understood me.” Now, a freshman here at Hoban, with only two and a half years of soccer experience, Lacatus starts for the boys soccer team and has already scored two goals. “I know coming from a different country can be dif-
ficult,” Tavi Muresan, the Boys Soccer head coach, also from Romania, said. “I want to help them because when I came here 15 years ago, there were people who helped me.” With the nickname “Busyman” donned on him by teammates, his popularity throughout the freshman class and the school continues to grow as he hopes to carry boys soccer to another NCL title.
Player Profile: Shane Wiedt, Hoban graduate, steps up at Akron by nick griffith
S
hane Wiedt, the Knights very own 2010-13 defenseman is lighting up the college soccer scene. After two all-conference selections at Hoban, along with plenty of accolades with his Cleveland Internationals Club soccer team, Wiedt has gone on to bigger things. The University of Akron Boys soccer team, who are currently ranked sixteenth in the country, is now the destination of this past star. While being able to be on this Akron club is an accomplishment itself, Wiedt has gone to even greater lengths. Shane Wiedt started in thirteen games for the Zips last season and is looking forward to an even bigger role in the 2017 season. “Last season was a lot of fun and a great experience,” said Wiedt, “growing up I would go and watch the games, so now that I am
apart of that team I watched it is pretty cool.” During the previous season, Wiedt was apart of a defense that recorded eleven shoutouts, achieving this against numerous ranked opponents. Along with many remarkable defensive performances, Wiedt also had an improbable defensive goal against the Tulsa Green Wave. This year, the Zips have started off with a (1-2-0) record, but have recently gained momentum by defeating a tough Washington Huskies squad. The team is looking to continue this success throughout the rest of the season as they look to win their sixth straight Mid-American Conference championship. “Through these first few games, I have really seen a pretty big improvement from one season to the next,” said Wiedt, “I have mainly improved on mat-
uration, being a centerback allowed me to see the entire field and demands my leadership, everyday I have to make sure the entire defense is consistent” Expectations are high as the Zips are expected to burst through the competition and have high hopes for a deep playoff run. “At the beginning of the season we are always setting our goal to achieve another MAC championship,” said Wiedt, “not only should we be attaining another, but contend for a championship, when it all boils down we know we are capable to compete with the best teams around, so we should settle for nothing less than winning it all. Wiedt will have the opportunity for a special season, as the schedule concludes, the Knights should see one of our very own leading the best college team in the nation.
sports
twelve
Fantasy football 2017 by john lauterjung
S
ome things are inevitable. The Browns are going to have a losing record, Tom Brady is going to lead the Patriots to the playoffs and approximately 74.7 million people will play fantasy football worldwide. In a survey of 100 Hoban students, 72 play fantasy football. Among those millions of football fanatics are your colleagues and classmates. One fact you may not know is that some of these fantasy footballers are not your friends, but your teachers. Here, The Visor, asks the fantasy football playing teachers of Hoban the hard hitting questions.
Teacher
Mr. Walker
Ms. Sokol
Mr. Bonnet
Mr. Dzik
Who was your first pick?
Jordy Nelson
DeMarco Murray
David Johnson
Jordy Nelson
What is your team named?
Not appropriate
Cleats and Kittens
Touchdowns for Harambe
The Habbitdudes
What’s your league name?
Swagger 23
Hoban Faculty League
Not Appropriate
Hoban Fantasy Football League
“Each person has their own specific punishIs there any ment if they lose, if prize/punishment I lose then I have to for the winner/ shave my head. Winloser? ner gets $200, Second Place gets $100” Who is going to win your league?
Any words on how good/bad your team is this year?
“I Am”
“My team is legit, that’s all you need to know”
“Loser in rent a junior, winner gets money”
“Winner gets money, loser gets a bumper sticker that reads ‘I am the worst fantasy football player ever’”
“Loser gets a toilet bowl trophy”
“I am going to win the league”
“Me of course”
“As the two time champion, I’d be foolish to suggest anyone other than myself”
“Oh, theyre probably not going to be that good. I kinda pick just not good people”
“I’ve never been in the bottom half of a league, that says everything you need to know”
“My team is full of a lot of old guys like me”