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archbishop hoban high school - issue no. 2- 16 october 2017
THE DIVIDING POWER OF THE NFL more on page six
What your polo says about you
page five
The Visor’s fall favorites
page nine
Senior captains Q&A page twelve
Gun violence is an epidemic and should be treated as such
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n 1996, 35 Australians died and 23 more were injured in the Port Arthur massacre. It was the deadliest mass shooting in Australian history. This is a phrase that has become familiar to Americans through the years. A person born prior to 2007 would have lived through the four deadliest mass shootings in American history: Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, Pulse Nightclub and now the Las Vegas massacre. In the immediate aftermath of these shootings, the national debate quickly turns to gun control and whether or not it is the correct time to talk about it. Maybe there is no perfect time to talk about guns and how they affect our country, but it does need to be talked about. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution says that, “a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,” a right guaranteed by men who had to revolt against their own government to secure their liberties. These men lived in a radically different world than the world of today. At what point are our rights limited by our responsibilities? If a person can’t walk into a movie theater and shout “fire,” should they not be prevented from walking into that same movie theater and opening fire on the crowd? When this amendment was written, the founding fathers could not conceive of the deadly mass weapons operable today. Should all Americans’ guns be ripped out of their hands and deposited into a nameless government facility? Of course not. Do American citizens have the right to defend themselves? Of course. Do some guns and accessories that are legally available enable mass atrocities? Yes. Does something need to be done to prevent the next Pulse Nightclub, Sandy Hook or Las Vegas? Yes. There are some common sense gun control measures that are broadly agreed upon. The problem nicknamed “the terrorist loophole” allows people suspected by the U.S. Government of being terrorists- including individuals placed on the Terrorist Screening Database- to purchase firearms. If an individual is considered such a high level risk to the United States that they cannot board a plane, they should not be able to purchase firearms. There is currently a bipartisan piece of legislation in the United States House of Representatives aimed at banning bump
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editorial
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Archbishop Hoban High School
stock accessories, which were used by the mailing address: One Holy Cross Las Vegas shooter to turn his semi-automatBlvd. ic weapons into fully automatic weapons. Akron, Ohio 44306 While the legislation is not supported by the online: hobanvisor.news National Rifle Association, there are currently ten Republican representatives standing behind the bill. Speaker of the House Paul Awards Ryan has indicated it is more likely change CSPA Gold Medalist will come first from the Federal Bureau of NSPA First Class Award Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Quill & Scroll Int’l First Place One argument used by some gun rights OSMA First Place advocates is that they need protection from an overreaching or tyrannical government. Signed letters for publication are welcome. Mailbox is in the main According to the United Nations Office on office. Unsigned editorials repreDrugs and Crime, American citizens own sent the consensus of the editorial 42 percent of all civilian guns in the world, board. Signed opinion represents and according to a Harvard-Northeastern the views of the writer only. survey, just three percent of American adults own 50 percent of American guns. And still, the harsh reality is that if the United Staff States government or military decided to atEditor-in-Chief tack United States citizens, there would not Julia Susany be enough guns in the world to stop them. Guns are also not the only factor that Junior Editor contribute to mass violence. The largest Justin Icsman mental health facilities in America are prisons and jails. People who commit these Managing Editor atrocities do not see a gun and immediateShamael Muhammad ly embark on a path of violence; they are deeply troubled individuals whose probSports Editor Nicholas Griffith lems swirl and fester for years before they result in lives lost. Mental health treatment Opinion Editor needs to be more accessible and less taboo. Athena Markowski In a perfect world, every person on Earth could own a gun and no one would ever get Features Editor hurt. Unfortunately, this is not that world. Marissa Kastelic Most politicians are afraid to approach anything that even smells like gun control News Editor legislation for fear of political ramificaSam Cherveny tions or a loss of support from the NRA. However, politicians from both parties Webmasters Jared Armsey need to find a way to uphold the rights Evan Cihlar of their citizens while keeping them safe. Violence and terror can never be fully Staff Reporters stopped. As mentioned earlier, Australia has Haley Burns, Brandon Bishop, Tyler only endured three mass shootings since 1996. Dillon, Karlie Backer, John Lauterjung, While this fares much better than U.S. statisRyan Gibson, Eva Klockner, Michael tics, it is still three too many. As a society, the Kratcoski,Hailey Vieltorf, Lily Zaucha United States has an obligation to promote life and prevent death. Common sense gun control, combined with an open mindedness and increased accessibility to mental health, Adviser T.K. Griffith can start the healing. Why shouldn’t we do everything in our power to end this epidemic?
opinion three Censorship: the key to understanding Chinese society by shamael muhammad
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hirteen-hundred miles physically divide mainland China and North Korea - but the political and psychological aperture between them is far less. Western society has blacklisted North Korea as the single most disastrous excuse for a nation, with an endless slew of negative propaganda and aggressive criticism - yet in this zeal to encompass Kim Jong-Un and the gang in a ring of fascist flames, millions of eyes have been made blind to the reality that they are in good company - especially since China operates in a manner concerningly similar, right around the corner. First and foremost, it should be established with the utmost importance that the problematic nature of any society - be it North Korea, China, or the United States of America - is not the fault of all citizens nor one individual executive. The events that have amounted to the execution of modern Chinese society are rooted in thousands of years defined by oppression, close-mindedness and thirst for power. China has a history of being isolated by choice, which can be considered somewhat inappropriate for such an influential and densely-populated nation. As Americans are rather fond of emphasizing, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is currently under communist rule - and has been for the past 68 years, following the culturally devastating Chinese Civil War. The philosophical protocol of communism differs between each region which claims it, but there seems to be a central theme of corruption and dictatorship that makes it threatening, as per example of North Korea. China, however, does not function under any dictator or authoritarian ruler … at least, not on paper. The PRC actually claims a president, and has since 1954, under constitutional employment. Given, the Chinese constitution was redrafted 28 years later and the system started anew, but the thread of presidents has been considerably consistent since Mao Zedong took office in ‘54 - and a unifying attribute of nearly every Chinese leader since Mao has been a communist allegiance. While their president is not an outright dictator, his powers, both written and assumed, certainly give him that potential. As per the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (1982), the chief of state has the power to promulgate (declare or make effective) laws, appoint and fire the Prime Minister as well as any member of the State Council, grant presidential pardons, declare a state of mass emergency, mobilize the largest armed force in the world at any given time, and issue state honors. But this critical list merely serves as his written abilities - his power extends even further than this with the ability to appoint and
fire foreign ambassadors, sign or reject treaties, and take liberties to define his own executive power through the National People’s Congress (NPC). Many have claimed the president’s position is primarily symbolic, since a lot of his powers are dependent upon agreement and ratification of the NPC - but what this assertion disregards is the fact that the NPC is comprised of the majority party - the Communist Party, to which the president, and the catalyst for his seizure of the position in the first place. This means that the majority of his ideas, actions and policies are already approved by them, if not in part created by them. His power is far more monumental than that to which this plea of checks and balances alludes. Western society (namely the United States) has vested itself with the power to rid the world of Communism, deeming it destructive, oppressive and threatening - and while I personally do not agree with this self-righteous appointment, I genuinely understand the concerns. Chinese society is out of control in several aspects, most of which remain undetected by the average non-Chinese citizen because the country has such a strong position in the world, and its reputation has not been completely demolished like North Korea, despite their cultural and societal similarities. The biggest global concern is censorship. China is nefarious for their strict and meticulous interference with the online identity
of its citizens - to the point where more than 3,000 websites are blocked by the authorities (as per Internet censorship policy, which are legitimate pieces of legislation that are enforced daily). It may seem difficult to censor a society 1.4 billion strong - and it is - but these regulations have enough priority for China to have instituted entire organizations and created jobs where ordinary Chinese citizens sit at computer screens for hours at a time, picking up a list of keywords and blacklisting any webpage on which they find them. A former Mandarin Chinese teacher at Hoban actually held this position, and described it as monotonous and meticulous, but upheld to the highest degree of severity and importance. China seems like a wonderful place at its surface - gorgeous tourist attractions, a rich and incredible culture of tradition and advancement, a unique language and alphabet and a massive entertainment industry are all to its credit. But the reality is far more oppressive and restrictive than this first glance can divulge. Nevertheless, China is not a bad country, and many Chinese individuals rightfully harbor a strong sense of pride for their homeland - but it is important to be made aware of these realities that often are disregarded, in the effort to better understand the culture of one of the world’s most indispensable economic powerhouses.
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opinion
Two Students review Whole foods 365 by brandon bishop and marissa kastelic
fter the long awaited arrival of Akron’s newest supermarket, Whole Foods 365 was opened on Sept. 14, replacing the longstanding Akron hallmark— the West Side Market. The store is the newest addition in the West Market Street Square. Whole Foods sells a colorful variety of healthy foods. In addition to the grocery store, the new building also contains a taqueria, an Asian kitchen and a coffee shop.
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Visor photo by Brandon Bishop
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Brandon ne intriguing aspect of the new Whole Foods is the taqueria. I decided to investigate the quality of this spicy location. A tablet was set up to customize and order meals. At the taqueria, I had the choice of ordering four different Mexican-style items, similar to restaurants like Chipotle and Moe’s. There were over 15 toppings and five sauces from which to choose. I was slightly overwhelmed by the choices on the screen, but overall, I enjoyed the customization of the cuisine. I ordered three tacos with corn tortillas, chicken, black beans and romaine lettuce, topped with avocado crema sauce. The meal took about five minutes to prepare and cost $7. After receiving our food, Marissa and I moved to the outdoor tables to eat. The chicken in my tacos was fully cooked and delicately seasoned. Additionally, the avocado crema sauce scrumptiously complemented the other ingredients. However, the black beans were mildly undercooked, a bit too tactile for my taste. The portion size, slightly bigger than the typical taco serving from Chipotle, was suitable for the price. Overall, my tacos were a solid nine out of ten. In addition to the tacos, I ordered a small medium-roast coffee from Artisan Coffee, which was conveniently located right at the entrance of the store. For $1.75, the coffee was decent. This price is almost identical to other coffee shops, like Nervous Dog, which happens to be located on the same street. As a whole, the newly opened Whole Foods 365 was a nice addition to the plaza. The West Akron area has been fairly lacking in restaurants and casual eating spots, so the bustling new plaza pleases locals like myself.
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Marissa he formal sit down restaurant offered at Whole Foods 365, called Fire Leaf: Asian Kitchen, offers a variety of stir fry and salad options. While providing choices catering to all palates and diets, the restaurant proved to be a letdown. After choosing the vegetarian stir fry option, I proceeded to add a few extra veggies listed as add-ons, and found that each added almost a dollar extra to my meal! Ridiculous for a stir fry originally priced over $9! Also, adding rice or noodles, which are both pictured in advertisements, costs an additional $3 or $4. I ended up paying around $12 total. The pictures advertised (bottom) and the actual portion size vastly differed. Promised a large bowl, I only received a small take out container filled just half way. After eating every last bit, I left hungry, going home to eat a second lunch. Another flaw found not only at Fire Leaf, but also at Taqueria, was the lack of communication between customer and employee. Customers use a tablet to order and pay, so there is zero interaction until the food appears. One flaw, the inability to pay with cash, really bothered me. This, I'm sure, will become a problem for the restaurant and I would not be surprised if the tablets caused more confusion than innovation. Despite these glaring flaws, dang that was some good stir fry! The combination of vegetables and sauces impressed and even encouraged the thought of another trip, although the price and portion size may keep me away. Ultimately, I do not believe it was worth it.
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Supermarket verall, the supermarket aspect of Whole Foods 365 proved charming. Many helpful employees trafficked the floor, ready to assist and inform customers. For being an organic-based company, prices were considerably low, compared to non-organic grocery stores in the area. One downside that may turn off customers is the fact that is it a corporate chain, born from the Amazon buyout. It claims to be local and organic, which Akron is known for loving, yet is really just cookie-cutter. Right down the street lives Mustard Seed Market and Cafe, which is 100% local and organic. The customers, employees and owners at Mustard Seed are Akronites and the store is fully immersed the culture of the town. In regards to other supermarkets, namely Acme Fresh Market and Giant Eagle, this organic and whole foods-based store is a step in the right direction, but is not even close to the authenticity of Mustard Seed.
Visor photo by Brandon Bishop
Visor photo by Brandon Bishop
features
WHAT YOUR polo color says about you
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by ryan gibson Let’s liven things up a bit and talk about the completely wacky decisions we make each and every day. Mommy and Daddy don’t dress us any more- or at least I hope they don’t in your case- but that leaves us with the responsibility to dress ourselves. This can get dangerous as some people don’t know how to coordinate an outfit. We wear a polo almost every day and with how things can be here, I commend you for having a shirt on at all. Here is what the color of your polo says about you:
ORANGE Just because it’s October doesn’t mean you should dress like a pumpkin. The bright orange polo that, for some reason is oh so popular, does just that. I will say, it’s completely acceptable, nay, encouraged, for you to wear your brightest orange polo as we sit in class on the United States national holiday- Halloween.
ELECTric green
What were you thinking? No, like seriously. It’s not everyday that someone jumps out of bed wanting to look like Mike Wazowski, but hey, if that’s your cup of tea, be my guest. Just don’t be surprised when people shake their head and chuckle under their breath as you walk down the hallway.
pink Do you consider yourself a liberal? Do you fight for equality on
all social media streams? Better stop wearing those pink polos then ladies! That’s right, the most sexist polo color, pink, is only available in women’s. Sorry men, you’re left out on this one.
navy/white stripe
If you wake up and feel the need to visit McDonaldland, metaphorically speaking, then don’t hesitate to throw on this Hoban polo. Guaranteed to make you look like the Hamburglar in the hallways. Why stop at the polo, get a McFlurry and a small fry and live your life to the fullest. A favorite of managing editor Shamael Muhammad.
black
It’s not a phase! The “bloutfit,” or completely black outfit was all the rage in the 2016-2017 school year and it’s not going anywhere. Students near and far can look edgy and grungy for a day. Congratulations, you’re the high school equivalent of G-Eazy.
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centerspread
by nick griffith
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eople say when life gives you more than you can stand, kneel. The National Football League’s Player Association has taken this to the next level. Three Sundays ago, the National Football League was left in awe. Owners, coaches and players protested as the National Anthem rung throughout stadiums. Colin Kaepernick, the man who started the turmoil, was, ironically, sitting at home. Kaepernick, currently blackballed by all NFL teams, is serving a “banishment” that most presume has nothing to do with his performance. Kaepernick, with a career quarterback rating of 88.9 on a scale of zero to 153, would hypothetically rank eighteenth against all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Dak Prescott, reigning rookie-of-the-year, would fare no better and also be tied at the 18th spot. In other words, Kaepernick surpasses 14 starting quarterbacks right now, and statistically proves his worth. In his 2013 Super Bowl run, Kaepernick was unbelievable. Being able to run and
Colin Kaepernick: Standing for pass efficiently as a quarterback, he blazed the path for dual-threat quarterbacks. Averaging 266 yards and totaling four touchdowns in the playoff run, he proved effective after only two weeks of prior experience. The business aspect of the NFL has been corrupt for years on end. How can a peaceful protest like Kaepernick’s blind the owners of his historic performance? These protests bring along baggage to any NFL team, becoming the sole reason Kaepernick has yet to find a home this season. In a league full of protesters, Kaepernick, the symbol of kneeling, seems to be the only one affected. NFL rosters are riddled with men who have knelt or even ignored the National Anthem. The apprehension behind Kaepernick is his supposed divisive image, which NFL owners have shied away from. The NFLmakes it inconvenient for any player trying to protest or support a good cause. Until this season, players’ cleats were not permitted to be anything other than the team’s color. Players who broke this rule for purposes that supported veterans
or gave tribute to those who have passed away were still punished by the NFL. Now, the NFL only allows these types of cleats pre-game, any other signs of political views or customized cleats during the game results in repercussions as great as $18,000. These hypocritical NFL policies have permeated some of the league’s top players for years now, but recently viewers have taken notice. The Dallas Cowboys were not able to wear helmet decals honoring those policemen or firefighters who helped in Hurricane Harvey. The NFL, effectively taking away the Cowboys right to support heroes, has overstepped their boundaries. The NFL needs to evolve into a league where players have the right to use their status as a platform, not hide the influence their stardom can bring. With a handful of teams losing their starting quarterbacks, viewers will need to watch and see if any owner will take a stand so Kaepernick can kneel.
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Freedom of speech is important, but football needs to be a place that is free of politics. The anthem should unite us all despite our political beliefs because the flag doesn’t represent the beliefs of any particular group, or even the president. The flag represents the nation that gives us freedom. The same freedom that allows men of all races to earn on average 2 million a year for playing a game.
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- Eva Klockner ‘20
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I’m not necessarily against the movement because I understand it where people like myself are coming from with it because all the African American community wants is equality and movements like this help brings out awareness about it. However, I do believe that some people take it too far and kneel just to be funny, or because “everyone is doing it” and treat it like a joke.
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- Destiny Vaughn ‘18
centerspread
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Rights While Kneeling for a Nation
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NFL players who choose to kneel are not intentionally being unpatriotic or disrespectful. Rather, they are using their platform and status to peacefully protest everything wrong and unjust happening in our nation. By choosing not to stand, the players are recognizing that our country is in desperate need of transformation. Lately, it seems that every day a new tragedy strikes. The players are simply acknowledging that and calling for change. Maybe instead of bashing those who kneel, we should focus on why they even feel the need to.
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- Sam Cherveny ‘19
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I dislike everyone kneeling during the national anthem. I get why they’re kneeling, but I don’t think that kneeling will lead to a solution. What will be gained with kneeling? The only thing that teams are gaining is hatred.
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- John Lauterjung ‘20
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I think that there is a huge misconception on why athletes are taking a knee during the national anthem. They aren’t doing it for praise, attention, or disrespect to the flag or military. Instead, at least I believe, that they are doing this to voice their protest, to share a message that there is racism and inequality in our world and it needs to be destroyed. Therefore, I can’t comprehend why they’re receiving hate; they should be allowed to voice their protest just like it says in the constitution. I truly respect and understand what they’re doing.
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- Max Hawk ‘19
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features
Talented senior artists “capture” Hoban’s attention
by hailey vieltorf
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n the midst of Hoban’s sports craze, many talented artists often go unappreciated and overlooked. Visual art offers a way for people to use their imagination and creativity to express themselves in ways that cannot be done with words. Numerous seniors have excelled in this field and feel a connection to its many variations. These include a wide range of subjects including: drawing, painting, screen printing, photography and video. Many of these talented students receive little-to-no recognition for their outstanding work.
Brittany Williams
Brittany’s love of photography comes from the desire to express and explore new places, along with experiencing new people. She acquires the most inspiration while driving, scanning her surroundings to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. “I’ve been doing it for so long it’s become natural to carry my camera everywhere with me in hopes of capturing something beautiful,” Williams said. The aspiring photographer plans on continuing her artistic caVisor photo by Haley Burns reer in college. She dreams of owning her own photography business in the future.
Bella Troutman
Bella, an AP Art student who also loves photography, summarized her feelings here: “I love being able to capture a moment and having it to remember and see forever,” Troutman said. She plans to use art in her future, perhaps while studying at the University of Akron. Inspiration comes from anything happening around her, and knowing how to capture the experience is an important part of photography, according to the expressive student.
Justin Fela
Visor photo by Haley Burns
Justin, yet another talented senior in the Hoban halls, shows a particular interest in video production. His inspiration comes from an array of emotions, music, or even real life experiences. Fascinated by movies, Justin appreciates the role of the director to successfully convey a story from start to finish. “I love analyzing a movie and figuring out how the director achieved a certain shot,” Fela said. Justin plans on studying digital media at Ohio University.
Angie Lofreso
Angie has come a long way since freshman year, dramatically increasing her art skills through hours of practice and hard work, leading her to be in AP Art classes this year. Home-schooled for many years, she and her brother then chose Hoban. She loves art because it allows her to zone out and let her imagination take over. Angie plans on attending an art school next year and looks forward to her future artistic career.
Visor photo by Haley Burns
Visor photo by Haley Burns
features
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The Visor’s fall favorites by brandon bishop and lily zaucha
horticulture
coffee Nervous Dog (Stow, Akron) Angel Falls (Highland Square) Akron Coffee Roasters (Akron) Compass Coffee (Akron) Artisan (Ellet, West Akron)
Ramseyer Farms (Wooster) Szalay’s (Peninsula) Highland Square Farmers’ Market (Akron)
movies style Sweater SZN Boots ‘n Fun Socks XXXXXXXL Sweatshirts Denim Everything
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Twitches Halloweentown Hocus Pocus It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Casper the Friendly Ghost
flavors Pumpkin Spice Maple Salted Caramel Cinnamon Apple Cider
haunted houses Carnival of Horrors (Cuyahoga Falls) Haunted Schoolhouse and Lab (Akron) Factory of Terror (Canton)
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First American martyr beatified in Oklahoma City
news
by eva klockner
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merican Catholics excitedly gathered to beatify their first martyr on Saturday Sept.23 The now Blessed Fr. Stanley Rother, originally born in Okarche, Oklahoma, and tragically killed in Guatemala took another step on the path to sainthood. In his youth, he lived on his family’s farm and attended the same school until he was ready to join the seminary. There, he struggled greatly with academics, failing several classes and at one point, even failing out of the seminary. Finally, he graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s in Maryland. After being ordained, Fr. Rother answered the call of, St. John XXIII--who at the time was pope-- and joined the mission to the poor country of Guatemala. He worked in the town of Tz’utujil and built strong relationships with the people through his service to the community. “It was very easy for him to be with the people,” said Fr. Pedro Bocal, a personal friend of Rother’s. “ Especially with the children and poor people and anyone who needed anything.” However, tension was rising with the Guatemalan Government. The officials began blaming the Church for the rebellions sweeping the country. The violence in the town grew almost unbearable and people
were being abducted off the streets and killed. Fr. Rother continued to work and serve until his name appeared on a death list, and he was forced to return home to Okarche. Back on his family’s farm, he could not seem to find peace, and as Easter approached, he wished to be back with his people in Guatemala. In a letter to Oklahoma Catholics, he wrote these words that he is famously remembered for: “The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger.” And he didn’t. During Holy Week, Rother returned to his people well aware of the fact that he may never see his family again. And he never did. In the early morning hours of July 28, 1981 three men broke into the rectory and attacked Fr. Rother in his bedroom. He fought, but did not shout for fear of injuring his fellow mission-workers. Shot twice in the head by his assailants, he died instantly. The word of his heroism quickly spread and in October of 2007, the cause for his canonization was opened. He then became a Servant of God, the first step on the path to sainthood. Finally, on Sept. 23, 2017, at the Cox Convention Center, he was beatified, making him “Blessed Stanley Rother.” A crowd of 20,000 people gathered. Not
only was this twice as many people as expected, but the crowd exceeded the maximum capacity of the arena. So many people celebrated the life of a man who gave his life for the people. The beatification was celebrated primarily by Cardinal Angelo Amato, the Prefect of the Congregation of the causes of saints, and was presided by several other priest and bishops from many different cities, states and even countries. With an incredibly diverse crowd, the parts of the Mass were read in English and Spanish, and Choirs from all over the world performed before and during the Liturgy. Finally, the Mass began and a letter, declaring Fr. Rother beatified was read and the huge crowd roared in applause. “If the martyrdom of Blessed Stanley Francis Rother ‘Fills us with sadness,’ it also “gives us the joy of admiring the kindness, generosity and courage of a great man of faith,” Cardinal Angelo Amato said during the homily that followed. Fr. Stanley was just a farm boy from a small town in Oklahoma, but his love, kindness and courage made him known to all of the world as symbol of holiness, shepard and example of a leader. He touched the lives of many, many people and brought many souls closer to Jesus. Now he is one step closer to becoming a Saint.
Sexist comments cost Panthers’ star quarterback by sam cherveny
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fter his sexist and misogynistic remarks last week, Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton is facing not only unwanted media attention and a depletion of fans, but also the loss of sponsorships. The issue began when Newton laughed off a joke that female reporter Jourdan Rodrigue posed concerning the physicality of another Carolina Panthers’ players’ routes. “It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes,” said Newton with a smile. Obviously, this condescending comment offended a variety of people, women especially. Rodrigue later tweeted her response, saying “I don’t think it’s “funny” to be a female and talk about routes. I think it’s my job.” And, according to Rodrigue, she also sought out Newton after his press conference and he still didn’t offer any apology. “She asked the quarterback if he really didn’t think a female could understand routes. Newton said she wasn’t really seeing specific routes when watching the game, she was just seeing if somebody was open,” said Charlotte Observer reporter, Scott Fowler. “She argued
that he didn’t know what she saw nor how hard she had studied football, and that maybe the two of them needed to have a deeper conversation.” After this brief conversation where it seems Newton didn’t offer any form of apology to Rodrigue, the Panthers’ spokesperson, Steven Juston, issued a statement, claiming that he did, in fact, apologize. “I have spoken with Jourdan and Cam and I know they had a conversation where he expressed regret for using those words. We strive as a department to make the environment for media comfortable for everyone covering the team,” said Juston. Even after he received backlash for his remarks, Newton still claimed that he was simply trying to be sarcastic and funny. In fact, according to NFL.com, Newton was “stunned” by the reaction to his comment. “It was a lesson learned for me this whole week,’’ Newton said, via ESPN. com. “My sarcasm trying to give somebody kind of a compliment turned in ways I never would have even imagined.” Along with Rodrigue and countless people
shocked by the quarterback’s words, Newton’s key sponsor, Dannon Yogurt, struggled to understand how Newton could have possibly viewed his response as a compliment rather than an incredibly sexist and degrading insult. In fact, just hours after the interview went viral, Dannon dropped Newton as a spokesperson, costing him a major endorsement. The company issued a full statement, calling his comments “sexist and disparaging to all women.” “It is entirely inconsistent with our commitment to fostering equality and inclusion in every workplace,” Michael Neuwirth, Dannon’s senior director of external communications, said. “It’s simply not okay to belittle anyone based on gender. We have shared our concerns with Cam and will no longer work with him.” Finally, Newton broke his silence on his undeniable sexism, issuing an apology “to women everywhere.” However, it is questionable whether the quarterback is sorry for his words or if he is just sorry that he lost sponsorships that contributed to his $13 million endorsement income.
sports
eleven
Senior Hannah Finley’s future is so bright, she’s going to give away shades by karlie backer
after a shadow day and decided against Kent, the school her sisters attended. Her older sister, Meghan Finley, played for Kent Roosevelt and then collegiately at Mercyhurst University. Hannah hopes to follow in her sister’s footsteps and play at the collegiate level. Currently, the recruiting process is in full gear as she hopes to play at the NCAA Div. II or Div.
“Though we are sad to see the Hoban golf season end, we are looking forward to watching Hannah play with her (yet to be named) team in college.” With this season wrapped up, Finley is more than satisfied with her team’s 8-2 record. “I can’t imagine life without it. It’s a sport everyone loves to hate, but I love to love it, ” Finley said. Photo by Michael Finley
Beginning at the age of eight, Hannah Finley fell in love with golf. Now a senior, she looks forward to her collegiate career as she wraps up her final Hoban golf season. Starting as the number three player on the varsity team her freshman year, Hannah Finley has been a critical asset to the program. Since, she has moved up to the number one spot and claimed the co-captain role. As the recipient of the Knightstrong award and the team MVP award, she is an inspiration and friend to her teammates, especially MacKenna Harding, a sophomore on the team. “She is an amazing leader and cares about everyone,” Harding said. “She is always there for us, is a great listener and is really good at giving advice.” As a junior, Finley was able to advance to Districts, shooting an 80 at The Legends of Massillon, making her whole team proud. She shot a 74, her personal record, the summer before her sophomore year. She enjoys the challenging aspect of the sport and loves the friendships that she has made, many of those friendships stemming from the golf program. “It’s really sad that it’s my last season and I don’t want to leave my girls behind because I love them all so much and I love the program,” Finley said. As a youngster, golf was an activity that her whole family enjoyed together. When choosing a high school, she fell in love with Hoban
III level, preferably out of state. Planning to study international business and Spanish, Hannah Finley hopes to start a non-profit organization to provide glasses and sunglasses around the world to those who do not have access. Finley’s parents, Michael and Patty Finley, have been a great support to her through the years and are excited to see what the future holds. “We have truly enjoyed being a part of her high school golf career and cannot say enough about the support from all the golf families, past and present,” Patty said, on behalf of the family.
Photo by Lisa Thomas
The rise of esports in the United States becomes abundant by jared armsey
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hen the term “sports,” comes to mind, the first thought will most likely be football, basketball, or baseball. Maybe the sight of screaming fans or close-ups of athletes sweating as they try to gain an edge over the opposing team comes to mind. But what if those athletes were wearing headsets, using a mouse and keyboard, controller in one hand, energy drink in the other? Not the typical image, right? What started more than 20 years ago in hotel convention halls, rapidly became a multi billion-dollar industry with crowds at the most popular tournaments that rivaling that of most mainstream sports. As popularity for the new niche, dubbed esports, continues to rise, so does the number of sponsorships from major household companies such as Coke, Nissan, Logitech, and Red Bull. The television network TBS even has its own esports show called ELeague. There, professional teams play competitively in the
popular PC game Counter Strike: Global Offensive for a chance to win a large sum of money. This is all shown live on national television in front of millions of viewers. These are just a few of the thousands of companies who are starting to see the growth and potential in the sport of the future. To put the size of esports into perspective, in market research done by Newzoo, some 205 million people watched or played esports in 2014. That means that if esports fans had their own country, it would be the sixth most populous country in the world. That’s a lot of people! But that number continues to steadily increase year by year as mobile sites such as Twitch.tv continue to promote games both new and old to its more than 55 million users. Sites like Twitch.tv play a major role in the promotion of esports considering their channel can range anywhere from 100 viewers to 1 million people. But it doesn’t just stop at streaming ma-
jor tournaments. Many professional players also stream live on the same site, twitch.tv, when they’re not at a match. They might just practice with their team or interact with their fans while entertaining them at the same time. But you do not have to be a professional player in order to stream your favorite games. It is quite simple and anyone can do it with a few pieces of free software. And if you are fortunate enough to attract a fan base, you can also make money from streaming the games you love. This includes a subscription based system where viewers pay $4.99 for channel-specific benefits, and through donations of any amount through the online payment service PayPal. Although esports will not replace other sports that we have come to know and love, it will undoubtedly continue to grow in popularity until one day it makes it to the top of the list.
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FALL SPORTS CAPTAINS Q&A Mikey burrington boys soccer
How long have you played? “Since I was four.” What was the best thing about playing with Hoban? “Scoring goals and celebrating with my mates.” What is your favorite memory? “Scoring against St. Ed’s with 10 minutes left to win the game.” Do you plan on playing in college? “I plan on playing in college and I might go pro if I feel like it. I’m contacting Barcelona right now so we will see what happens.”
jack skinner boys xc How long have you ran? “I’ve run cross country for all four years at Hoban. My freshman year was my first year ever running cross country.” What was the best thing about running with Hoban? “The great coaching we had, the good friends I made and the memories I’ll have forever.” What is your favorite memory? “The team trips to Cedar Point and all the long bus rides.” Do you plan on running in college? “Not at this time (in college).”
Visor photos by Haley Burns
Dylan Erks boys golf How long have you played? “My dad had a club in my hand at about seven years old. I did not start to play seriously until I was about 14 years old, though.” What is your favorite memory? “Staying in New York for the MidWest classic during my sophomore year. The people on that team made it a lot of fun and we played well that weekend.” Do you plan on playing in college? “I do plan on playing golf in college. I’m still between a few different schools, but I am looking forward to a career in college golf.”
abby mcallister girls xc How long have you ran? “Since 7th grade” What was the best thing about running with Hoban? “The team. They’re basically my family and I swear we’re laughing 24/7 when we’re together” What is your favorite memory? “My junior year, when we ran districts literally two hours before homecoming and made it to regionals. It made going to homecoming after all the more fun!” Do you plan on running in college? “No I do not.”
emily day girls tennis How long have you played? “Since I was 4, so 14 years.” What was the best thing about playing with Hoban? “It brings a team environment to a sport where you don’t normally have a team. Since in tennis you either play singles or doubles you are often by yourself or with one other person, so it’s really nice to have other people cheer you on and to cheer others on.” What is your favorite memory? “All of my sophomore year. That was a really great year personally and for the team.”
liz gilbert girls soccer How long have you played? “Since I was five.” What was the best thing about playing with Hoban? “Going to states two years in a row and being the one who scored the game-winning goal to get a state title that now hangs and will forever be in Barry Gym.” What is your favorite memory? “When Georgia Nagucki and I were the only two who made varsity of the freshman in 2016, and always had to get all the balls and water bottles and would race to see who got the most.” Do you plan on playing in college? “Yes, but I’m not sure where yet.”