Visor Issue #8 by Archbishop Hoban Visor

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page five Extravaganza, held on April 27, to have record high attendance.

page p a eight Ca of “Into the Cast Wo Woods” takes audience through the classic fairy thr tale tales.

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Two bombs shock Boston Marathon runners as well as the rest of the country.

archbishop hoban high school  Issue 8  April 26, 2013

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What are you reading?

Members of the Hoban community share their favorite books and why they love them.

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Cover by Danielle LaRose

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editorial

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BYOD provides avenue for distraction

his year, Hoban implemented the “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) initiative which enabled students to bring in and register their mobile devices including cell phones, iPads and eReaders. The purpose of this initiative was to test the school’s plan to provide all students with their own iPads for use in school next year which will make Hoban a part of the growing community of schools possessing a “one-to-one” program. The idea behind a “one-to-one” program is to enable the increased use of technology in the classroom for educational purposes. Hopefully, this testing phase has shown that the use of the “one-to-one” system must take on stricter regulations in order for it to be a benefit to student’s education rather than a distraction that takes away from classroom lear ning. Despite the fact that not all classes are utilizing the devices daily, many students still have their devices out during classes, using the BYOD initiative as an excuse to use the network for non-class related

activities. The program has become a free way for students to text, play games and surf the web instead of paying attention during their classes. The device has now become the way to carr y out all inclass work, as students feel they need their device’s assistance even to help them discuss their opinion with a group. The BYOD program should not be viewed by students as an excuse to use their devices inappropriately. Taking advantage of this technology initiative only hinders its success and students must realize and accept their responsibility. The use of technology in class has plenty of potential for increased par ticipation from students as well as the cr eation of a mor e moder n and well-rounded educational experience; however, these benefits can only be acquired if cur riculums are updated and improved in order to make room for the new technology and allow for a more interactive experience between the students, teachers and devices. 

Letter to the editor:

he new Hoban ‘H’ does not and will not set Hoban apart from other schools. Hoban’s uniqueness is not embodied in a single letter. If this letter is how the school chooses to demonstrate its uniqueness, that is a sad commentary, and a slap in the face to the truly creative, innovative members of this school community. We have so many other great things to showcase. Why put so much time, ef for t and money behind something so inconsequential as a letter? Many people af filiated with Hoban, stretching from students to alumni, have recently been puzzled by a common questionWhy the new Hoban ‘H?’ Was it necessary to waste two years doodling the same letter on scraps of paper when that time could have been used to solve real problems, such as this dress code dilemma that no one can seem to tackle? And even being given two years time, how is it that the masterminds behind the scenes resorted to creating a sub-par variation of already existing designs such as the logos of the Green Bay Packers, the San Francisco 49ers and the logo of one of the few Holy Cross schools in Ohio- St. Edward's? I managed to get a hold of some powerpoint slides that contained info about the new ‘H,’ and one of the reasons given for creating

it was to separate Hoban from other local high schools and make us unique. I was not aware that using a logo based on that of another school's (which is incidentally a little under an hour away) will make us unique and creative. Great work, “hired professionals.” Another issue many innocent community members have is that students and teachers were not given the option to vote or critique the design before it was ﬁnalized. If it is going to be forcibly embroidered onto every clothing item Hoban sells, why were we not asked our opinions ﬁrst? By failing to do so, students are refusing to buy and wear tacky, embarrassing shir ts, jackets and other merchandise with this logo on them. I presume this is not the outcome these creative designers had envisioned. If Hoban really wants to live up to its "True to You" slogan, it should consider the opinions of its student body, faculty and community. Every conversation I have had with students, Hoban parents, alumni or teachers about this brilliant new marketing decision has been a negative one. It is sad when all of these people, adults and teens, can together say they dislike the new ‘H.' I personally agree, and think it was a useless and unnecessary change.  Joe Clark ‘13

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visor ARCHBISHOP HOBAN HIGH SCHOOL Mailing Address: One Holy Cross Blvd. Akron, OH 44305 Online: www.hobanvisor.com E-mail: visor@hoban.org AWARDS •CSPA Gold Medalist •NSPA First Class Award •Quill & Scroll Int'l First Place •OSMA First Place

The Visor subscribes to the ASNE/MCT Campus news service and to APStylebook.com. 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 Kaitlyn Stepanek Managing Editor Daniel Lloyd Features Editor Anna Baumhoer News Editors Allison Griffith and James Axson Sports Editors Jack Srail and Benjamin Easton Copy Editor Emily Dunn Photo Editor Hannah Caprez Website Editor Kyle Knapp Staff Reporters Timothy Brennan, Sarah Carmon, Danielle LaRose, Theodore Lesiak, Rachel Mealy, Jonathan Sapp. Adviser Natalie Meyer

opinion

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Assigned seats prove inefficient in classroom setting

t the beginning of the school year, many teachers randomize their seating chart for their students. Later, typically at the commencement of each quarter, they yet again assign the students to new desks. However, all too often these new arrangements purposefully separate friends from one another, placing the teens on opposite sides of the room in an attempt to prevent them from chatting with one another. Though the teachers may believe the separation promotes education, they fail to realize that it frequently detracts from it. Though the purpose of class is to provide the students with an education, the discussion of irrelevant topics between students remains inevitable. Thus, attempting to entirely extinguish this social interaction is foolish. Separating friends only irritates us, for many do not rationalize it as for the betterment of our academics. Instead, we often view it as our teacher striving to eliminate entertainment from the classroom. In addition, the teachers cause many to begin to resent going to that class in the process. This lack of enthusiasm actually translates into a subpar education. Rather than pay attention in class, some students start to doodle. On countless occasions, I have witnessed kids draw

random pictures, ranging from simple stars to elaborate battle scenes instead of taking notes during a dry lecture. If students choose not to exhibit their artistic prowess, they often instead opt to nap. Another alternative some students select is to simply text their friends in order to remain in constant contact. However, if friends remained capable of occasionally whispering comments to one another, they may actually listen more closely and participate. Nonetheless, too often this is not the case, and, unfortunately, teachers consistently fail to consider these factors prior to isolating students from their friends. Typically, this isolation entails being surrounded by students with whom one has built no prior relationship. Thus, he or she may not feel comfortable with asking them for clariﬁcation on topics being discussed in class. For timid kids who never raise their hand in class, this may prove detrimental, for understanding the idea becomes impossible. This only becomes worse, especially in classes such as science or math, where one idea serves as the foundation for the next. Therefore, while outspoken kids are comfortable with inquiring both the teacher and anyone around them for clariﬁcation, those who are not begin to struggle, rapidly falling behind.

by tim brennan

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Therefore, teachers should provide their students with the opportunity to sit wherever they choose, or, at the very least, allow us to choose one peer to reside beside. It should then be left to us to prove that we remain capable of learning in our chosen atmosphere. For obvious reasons, allowing all students to always select their own seats will never work. Some students will completely tune out their class if they are able to gossip with their friends, and if this is the case, then the teacher has no choice but to separate them. However, immediate randomization or purposeful separation on principle should never be a teacher’s preferred method. Teachers should tr y to harness constant student interaction rather than strive to eliminate it. 

London experience changes student world perspective

ver spring break, I ventured over the Atlantic to the beautiful city of London, England. Immediately, I sensed an energy that was unmatched by my quaint life in Akron. The people were friendly, the city was clean and everyone smiled, a lot. It was a fairly strange experience to enter a foreign country and be greeted so warmly, especially considering I am American. I expected to ﬁnd the stereotypical British society to be tea sipping, crumpet munching, queen adoring people with awful teeth. What I discovered was a genuine surprise. Not only were the British peoples’ teeth nearly as pristine as a typical American’s, but they demonstrated a vast cultural identity that spreads far beyond the British Isles. From Indian to Southern American to South African, the British society was diverse and embraced so many cultures. They were truly international. Meanwhile I stood there, blatantly American, and sticking out like a sore thumb. I realized that as an American I can identify myself as being patriotic and closed minded to other cultures. Yet the British, even with their magniﬁcent history, seemed to choose to represent many cultures rather than merely their own. The city of London itself was like a trophy case that showed off all the great achievements of the nation. However,

London’s characteristics also showed how international the city was. While part of London’s diversity can be attributed to Great Britain’s imperial era, when the empire controlled a fourth of the world, the people and the city represented far beyond their previous imperial holdings. As I stood there amid the rushing trafﬁc in one the greatest cities in the world I realized the difference between Americans and British. The British are not preoccupied with themselves. It seems that the American society is consumed with itself. In my opinion, a typical American lacks the capability to see from other people’s perspectives and therefore is very limited in their exposure to the world. British see from their own eyes but also expose themselves to more worldly viewpoints. But why does it matter? First, America is the only superpower in the world, yet many Americans know very little about the world they live and thrive in. Secondly, having been fortunate enough to be exposed to some of the world outside of the US, I have realized how beautiful this planet and its people truly are. For example, prior to being able to visit various parts of Europe I held the typical American stereotype of Muslims. I believed they were all terrorists and all enemies of America. Yet today I am ashamed of ever holding that view. In an

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city by jonathan sapp open minded Europe and speciﬁcally London, I began to see the culture of Muslim people in a way I had never been able to see in the US. I found their culture to be vivid, hospitable and beautiful. The people of London and of Europe in general accepted their culture as much as their own, and I saw how multiple cultures and different people lived in harmony together. This was a perspective I would have never gained in the US. My point is that I believe as Americans we are inclined to be strictly American. We rarely embrace different cultures, but rather ask them to conform to the "American way." So as an American in London, my eyes opened clearly and I began to see what the world looked like based on a human perspective rather than an American's. 

news

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Holocaust survivor shares experiences at Kent State by rachel mealy

n the evening of Thu., April 11, around 5,100 people filled Kent State University’s MAC Center to hear a speech by 84-yearold, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel. Among the thousands in attendance was a group of Hoban students and teachers from Art department chair Micah Kraus’ Printmaking class, Art teacher Jill Fortman’s Drawing and Fine Arts 10 classes and Book Club, moderated by History teacher Rob Yanko and Librarian Tina Braman. Each of the groups had been studying the Holocaust in various capacities throughout the year and eagerly anticipated this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear a Holocaust survivor tell his story in person. The date of the speech, April 11, held a special significance for Elie Wiesel for a few reasons. To begin with, Wiesel first visited Kent State University exactly twenty-four years earlier to share his Holocaust experience and deliver his message of hope and peace. Also on this same date, in 1945, Wiesel and 21,000 prisoners were liberated from the Buchenwald concentration camp by American soldiers. Despite the incredible story of his survival, and his success

as an award-winning author, a teacher at Boston University and a world-renowned advocate for human rights, Wiesel was a soft-spoken and humble man. His speech did not include many descriptions from his time in the concentration camps, but was largely focused on themes of hope and social justice. He reported that his experience has not caused him to lose faith in humanity or religion and explained that “even in suffering, you must have hope...one cannot live one’s life without hope.” Wiesel encouraged listeners to remember universal crimes against humanity because “the moment we stop remembering, we stop being.” Wiesel also challenged the audience to be promoters of social justice and stated that “whoever listens to a witness becomes a witness.” During the first semester, several ar t classes continued an annual tradition in the art department and remembered this terrible tragedy during World War II by commemorating the victims and survivors with Holocaust-themed art. “The students were able to combine Holy Cross values with ideas of social justice in their artwork,” art teacher Jill Fortman said. According to Fortman, this practice was begun by a past Hoban art teacher, Margot Eiseman,

who was Jewish herself. Sadly, Eiseman lost her battle with cancer in September 2011, but the legacy she left still continues on. This year, over twenty Hoban students entered work in the 25th Anniversary City of Akron Holocaust Art and Writing Contest, with seven receiving recognition and awards for their entries. “Our hope was to work with the City of Akron to raise awareness about social tolerance on a universal level, since the topic still resonates with modern situations teens are faced with today,” Fortman said. In March, the members of Book Club also read “Night,” Elie Wiesel’s account of his personal experience in the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz, Buna and Buchenwald and held a discussion on March 20 to discuss the touching subjects it contained. Despite its fairly short length, the book’s volume is found in the disturbing memories recalled from such a horriﬁc time in history. “I read ‘Night’ when I was in high school,” Book Club moderator and librarian Tina Braman said. “When I became an English teacher I incorporated the book into my curriculum because I felt it delivered a timeless message that needed to be taught.” 

Hoban’s Record Breaking News 73,000 views strong, the Hoban Lip Dub remains a topic of excitement in the school and beyond. Top left: Tommy Bulgrin represents the Hoban knight as the school awaits Mario’s arrival on the roof. Top right: Religion teacher Nathan Stroempl shows off his student-drawn tattoos and lets out his inner rock star for a guitar solo. Bottom left: Members of the girls’ lacrosse team anxiously await the filming of the final scene. Bottom right: Hoban students fill the parking lot to celebrate a long-awaited and successful Lip Dub experience.

news

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New iconic “H” unveiled to the Hoban Community by trey lesiak

layof f r uns are great. State championships are even better. Individual player achievements and more all help the reputation and notoriety of Hoban athletics. However, the school believed it needed to revolutionize and evolve the look and uniqueness of its 25 spor ts teams, which set the process for creating the new Hoban logo in motion. Last week the administration and athletic depar tment of ficially unveiled the new Hoban logo by handing out free t-shirts to every student. The white H, morphed into what resembles the visor of the knight’s head, with a background of navy blue and bordered by a thin, gold oval shape became the ﬁnal decision made by the school earlier in 2013. However, the process in developing the new logo turned out to be a difﬁcult and extensive one in order to get everything right. Beginning in 2011, both the Athletic Department and the Administration decided to allow students, teachers and spor ts apparel companies to brainstorm new ideas for the next Hoban logo. Originally, Athletic Director Mr. Mike DelMedico wanted to incorporate the script H that the baseball teams had been wearing for years on their hats. “It was my favorite choice to begin with.” DelMedico said, “However I was told by apparel producers that it would be too hard to mass-produce.” So, it was back to the drawing board and multiple ideas

Freshmen stop to show off their new Hoban “H” T-shirts during their lunch period. were created, attempting to incorporate well-known Hoban images into an H form. The next choice was the new True to You dome image, that was revealed the past year, becoming one side of an elongated and slanted H. When that did not work, the process was moved further into possibly transforming the Holy Cross anchors into a noticeable H surrounded by a border of blue and gold; however, that was unsuccessful as well. Once a primary decision was made, the school tested it through selected student sur veys and merchandise, making sure ever ything, especially the colors, were

perfect. “Our colors are very important to the recognition of the school.” DelMedico also stated, “It needed to be the right shade of navy and deﬁnitely the correct gold.” Some merchandise were shown to have a faded yellow instead of the bright gold at times which consequently slowed the process down. However, when corrections were made, the new logo was ﬁnally ready to go. Despite numerous setbacks along the road to this iconic symbol, the logo made its debut in the Hoban halls with a video announcement and school-wide shirts on Monday, April 15. 

Record high attendance set for annual Extravaganza

by jonathan sapp

oban’s 28th annual Extravaganza Dinner and Auction will occur this Saturday in the Barry Gymnasium. This year the theme for Extravaganza is “Safari Knights,” in which the attendees will enjoy the incredible decorations that will mirror the African plains and have the oppor tunity to suppor t Hoban by par ticipating in both live and silent auctions. The auction prizes will range from Hoban attire to winning a vacation. This year tickets have completely sold out for the event and over 490 people plan on attending, the largest amount of attendees on record. In addition, Hoban has set a record number of sponsorships for Extravaganza which has raised $140,000 before any bids have even been placed. Last year Extravaganza raised over $262,000, which went towards installing

wifi throughout the school and creating the Hoban network for the iPads. In previous years, the money raised was used to purchase buses and provide various improvements throughout the school. This year the goal is to raise enough funds to resurface the track and install a new turf on the field that will bear the new Hoban “H.” Unfortunately planning for the event has been a difficult task due to the loss of Margaret “Peg” Schobert, who passed away on April 2. As one of the co-chairs of Extravaganza, she dedicated a great deal of time and effort towards the event, helping to create the masterpiece. She will be greatly missed as a major contributor to Extravaganza and as a role model for her dedication and genuine kindness to others in the Hoban community. Currently behind the extraordinar y

operation is Mrs. Stripe, the co-chair of Extravaganza. From decorations to donations, she is in charge of coordinating and executing ever ything involved in the night. When asked to summarize the workload of the preparation, she exclaimed, “with the help of adult and student volunteers, it takes many hours of hard work over the course of many months.” Students also play a pivotal role in the event by volunteering for various positions throughout the night such as valeting, ser ving meals and modeling the objects being bidded on. The amount of work put into the event by the Hoban community not only reveals the importance of this fundraiser but also sheds light on the commitment of those who are involved. This year’s Extravaganza is shaping up to be a major success.. 

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What Hoban Students are Reading: Out of all the books I’ve ever read, my favorite was “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse. It’s short, probably only 100 pages long, and it’s a story about an Indian man named Siddhartha who leaves home in search of the “ultimate truth.” He travels all over the countryside, becoming a monk, a businessman, a prince, and a beggar, trying to figure out the best way to live his life so that he can understand his purpose. The story was short and easy to read, but the most important part of this book for me was its message on the meaning of life and on our connections in the world. - Maddie Beban

‘14

"The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight" by Jennifer E. Smith.

**books suck. - Hannah Caprez*****

Seventeen-year-old Hadley is ready to embark on an adventure. The only problem is, she never really wanted to go anywhere to begin with, and certainly not to London. Her father is getting married for the second time, and as much as she knows she should be there, she has no desire wear a happy face and pretend that she is pleased. When she misses the first flight, she finds herself in an airport by herself... until she meets Oliver. After countless conversations, they board the plane and continue the journey to London together. When they arrive, however, they must part ways. Can love truly conquer all to bring them back together? This book is realistic and extremely entertaining. It might even make you consider your opinion on love at first sight.

- Kayla Horning ‘14

“The Hunger Pains” by The Harvard Lampoon "The Hunger Pains" by The Harvard Lampoon is a great read that will set your sides in stitches! Written by a team of Harvard satirists, the novel is a parody of Suzanne Collins's bestselling series, "The Hunger Games." If you enjoy "The Hunger Games" and humor, this book is a good recommendation for you. The book is a very quick read, but an extremely entertaining one. Other parody novels from The Harvard Lampoon are "Nightlight" (a "Twilight" parody) and "Bored of the Rings" (a "Lord of the Rings" parody).

- Copy Editor Emily Dunn ‘15

HOBAN

“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green Witty and captivating, “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green delves into the inevitability of death and suffering without leaving its readers without hope. The comedic relief throughout serves as a counterweight to the heady and emotional story of two cancer patients struggling with the concept of oblivion.

- Editor in Chief Katie Stepanek ‘13

READS

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Hoban Students’ favorite books read for school:

"The Catcher in the Rye" because T.K. taught it to us.

- Tim Delaney '13

“Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad I loved it because it provided a glimpse into my soul. It showed me the darkness that all men are capable of as well as the restraint that can repress the darkness and evil desires and help me to become a stronger person capable of withstanding powerful and horrific influences. It has enlarged my mind.

- Tony Burns ‘13

POpular picks in the LIbrary: John Green books like “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Papertowns” “The Beautiful Creatures” series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

"The Great Gatsby" because I saw the trailer for the new movie and now it's cool.

- Drew Lakos '13

“Infernal Devices” series by Cassandra Clare

- Mrs. Braman

Graphics and Layout by Danielle LaRose

While studying certain novels is a requirement in Hoban English classes, many students enjoy reading outside of the classroom, as well. From comical parodies and classics, to love stories and popular book series, several students share their favorite recent reads from both inside and outside of school. Whether you consider yourself a literary type or not, check out these titles to see if any interest you as your next novel of choice. 

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Evolution of the bangla-T-shirt by allie griffith

2008

2009

2010

features

anglabash is an annual Hoban event that raises money and support for our fellow Holy Cross students in Bangladesh. A celebration of our core Holy Cross values of inclusiveness, family, hope and option for the poor, Banglabash is intended to encourage the Hoban community to reach out and make a difference. Besides the infamous student vs. faculty Banglaball game and the plethora of BanglaBeards in the halls, one of the most anticipated aspects of Banlgabash is the Bangla-T-shirt.

2011

Each year, students in Mr. Kraus’s Printmaking class create original graphic designs to be voted on by Student Council as the winning design to be featured on the Bangla-T-shirt. By purchasing this T-shirt for $25, students are able to wear it on every Friday during Banglabash. The Bangla-T-shirt usually has a very vibrant and unique design that strays from the traditional color scheme of Hoban T-shirts. Here is a look at the evolution of Bangla-T-shirts designed by our very own Hoban students. 

2013

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classic tales with a modern twist

Into the Woods by danielle larose

nd they all lived happily ever after”... or so one thought. Since the original writing of the Grimm fairy tales, nearly every classic stor y has concluded with this formulaic ending, letting us know that the villains were slayed, the prince got the girl and that all was right in the kingdom. But, there’s a continuation in the stor y that many have not touched upon -- until now. On April 18- 22, Hoban’s “

performance of the Stephen Sondheim musical “Into the Woods” did just that, offering a new, alternate perspective on the stories and characters known and beloved by millions.

With an “all-star” cast that consisted of, among others, Cinderella and her Prince, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, the allure to see their "ever afters" is obvious. Beginning with their origins, “Into the Woods” highlights how the characters dreams lead to their demise. As the play progresses, it transitions into a precautionar y tale, war ning its sur veyors to be careful what they wish for. "Unlike the real Cinderella, once I finally found my prince, whom I'd been looking for and who I thought would fulﬁll my dreams, he fulﬁlls none," sophomore Elena Gutbrod, who played Cinderella, said. Referring to her prince charming’s infidelity, Gutbrod highlights one of the plays main mishaps. Played by Senior James Monsour, Cinderella’s prince interrupts their famously fabled courtship to have a minor, but nonetheless harmful, affair with the Baker’s Wife, played by junior Gabby

Mammone. Rapunzel, played by sophomore Michaella Waickman, encounters the same betrayal with her own prince, among many other unfortunate occurrences (banishment, insanity, etc.). “My prince leaves me for another princess..my character doesn’t really have a happy ending,” Waikman said. As disappointing as this outcome may sound, “Into the Woods’s” glimpse into the clarity of hindsight helps modify these childhood characters whose lives are so frequently emulated by women with relatable, and now common, issues. With these came other, miniature debacles about growing up and accepting responsibility, as well as that of wish fulﬁllment and its consequences, that were interspersed throughout the play within the subplots of the remaining cast members. Though the integration of these realities questions the infallible happiness these stories were originally written with, it gives the audience ways to live and learn, rather than to live “happily ever after.”



features

Bubble Gum... unwrapped

tear here for excess gum storage!

by tim brennan and hannah caprez

VOICES IN THE CROWD What are your pet peeves about gum chewing? “People stick it in everything, like relax there’s probably a trashcan like two feet away.”

-Lucia Congeni ‘14

-Nick Kaiser ‘16

“Sometimes people have drool leaking down their chin because they keep their mouths open. Come on guys!”

“Some people chew loudly with their mouth open. It sounds like cows eating grass!”

-Nate Horning ‘14 “I hate when someone is blowing a bubble and it bursts, sticking all over their face.”

-Michaella Waikman ‘15

A recent survey conducted at Hoban revealed Five to be the students’ favorite brand, followed by Stride and Extra. However, regardless of both the brand and the flavor, chewing gum–though an almost priceless commodity of students–within the educational sphere often remains frowned upon.

inland: the home of the most ancient piece of chewing gum ever discovered, dating back at least five thousand years. It is believed that, similar to gum today, it existed with exceptionally simplistic flavors of tree bark and was used as a simple mouth freshener. However, contemporary gum is manufactured by multiple large corporations, each striving to expand their brands in order to encompass a wider spectrum of flavors. Today, these range anywhere from spearmint to ordinary bubble to apple pie. Fighting this discrimination nationwide, gum has still failed to attain widespread acceptance in schools, with Hoban being no exception. Often, the only place gum may be found in a classroom is after the word “no” in the teacher’s set of class rules. However, recent studies regarding gum reveal a shift in understanding the impact it has on students. In a recent investigation conducted by St. Lawrence University, eighty students chewed gum, and eighty students did not, while simultaneously executing a series of cognitive tasks. The results revealed that the gum-chewers considerably outperformed their gum-less peers. Similarly, a study conducted by researchers at Baylor College revealed that students who chomped on gum while completing schoolwork received elevated scores. Researchers suggest that the influx occurs because the students who chew the gum are more attentive, resulting in an increase in concentration and a decrease in drowsiness.

“Chewing gum is an easy tool students can use for a potential academic edge,” Craig Johnson Ph.D., said. Justiﬁably, some teachers argue that maintaining spotless underbellies of desks remains an impossible task should gum be allowed entrance into their rooms. However, they fail to acknowledge that the substance may later be removed from their temporary residency beneath desks, but a poor test score may never be expunged from their record. Thus, this begs the question, why do any teachers insist on obstructing students from utilizing that which both improves the performance of some students?

features

ten

Two Bombs SHA KE

Boston Marathon And Change Lives Forever

by ben easton

Nearly two weeks ago on Monday, on April 15, three people were killed and well over 100 were injured when two bombs exploded near the finish of the annual Boston Marathon. What started out as a celebrated and joyous event for endurance runners from around the world ended in one of deep anguish and tragedy moments before the final runners could cross the finish line. Just moments after the bombs were detonated, chaos broke out on the streets of Boston. Fearing another explosion, both contestants in the race and spectators darted for cover behind buildings as the shouts of joy for runners only minutes ago quickly turned to screams of agony. Yet, in the midst of this distress, the medical personnel of the Boston Athletic Association and the volunteers present at the site reacted quickly after the two blasts occured, doing all they could to mend the injuries and provide safety for all those who were affected by the bombs. Hoban senior Justin Spear, along with his family, was present at the race. After rooting on his older brother, Ryan, a graduate of Hoban in the class of 2010 and contestant in the marathon, Justin, Ryan and their parents were relaxing in a restaurant down the road at the time of the explosions. Justin stated that intially, he was confused after the blasts went off. “We were about 5 blocks away, and within 30 seconds we heard police cars driving towards the scene. I could see panic in the people’s eyes as they rushed past the window of our restaurant. I could tell some-

thing was definitely wrong,” Spear said. The tragic news spread in a heartbeat throughout the world. Just hours after the incident, President Obama addressed the nation in a televised response. “We will find who did this, and we will find out why they did this,” the president said. “Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice.” Progress on identifying the suspects came last Thursday, April 18, when the FBI released two photos of potential suspects. As reported by NBC news, the case then took a drastic turn later that night when the two suspected men were found by authorities after robbing a local 7-Eleven and high-jacking a car at gunpoint. In a subsequent car chase and shoot off with the authorities on Friday morning, one of the suspects was killed while the other managed to flee from the scene. After the violent shoot out, the authorities identified the suspects as brothers of the surname Tsarnaev. The deceased suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, and his brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev,19, were both of Chechen ethnicity. Yet, while both suspects came from a distant East Asian country south of Russia, they had each been living in the United States for nearly a decade. Hours after escaping, the second suspect made a very serious threat directed towards the Massachusetts authorities involved in the shoot-out. “I will kill all you as you killed my brother,” Dzhokhar Tsarnaev announced over the radio. Yet, despite his threatening message, late on Friday night, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

too was cornered and caught by authorities in Watertown, Massachusetts. After the Boston Police Department announced that the suspect was in custody, the citizens of Boston and Watertown rejoiced in knowing that the threat of terror was finally gone. According to US News, while congratulating law enforcement officials on the arrest of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham also emphasized that the Tsarnaev case will not by any means be dealt with lightly or in a conventional manner. “The perpetrators of these acts were not common criminals attempting to profit from a criminal enterprise, but terroists trying to injure, maim and kill innocent Americans,” the senators remarked. “Under the Law of War we can hold this suspect as a potential enemy combatant not entitled to Miranda warnings or the appointment of counsel.” In a statement released to the press, the Boston Athletic Association expressed its deepest sympathies for all those affected by the race and recent events of last week. Surely, the weeks and months ahead will be difficult, and while this is a very trying time for those working to regain their strength to move past last week’s events, the Boston Athletic Association has emphatically stated that they will not allow their tradition to be brought down. In efforts to face up to this year’s catastrophe with resilience and to honor all those affected, the B.A.A has asserted that they plan to host next year’s Boston Marathon in the spring of 2014. 

Source: CNN News

Graphics and Layout by Sarah Carmon

23,000 2Bombs 1Police Officer Dead Runners 500,000 6Hospitals 4Days Spectators 3Lives Lost 141Injured 2suspects

sports

eleven

Volleyball team looks to gain momentum in coming games

by ben easton

state tournament,” coach Mihelic said. As a relatively young team, starting three juniors and a sophomore in addition to two seniors, the boys ar e highly optimistic about upcoming years. Aside from more time to build team chemistr y and develop individual skills, having a young team is ver y beneficial for the boys because the younger players are getting plenty of varsity experience which will surely pay of f in the seasons to come. “We plan on being one of the best teams in the state this year and next year,” junior starter Cortland Hatch confidently remarked, “Because we’re a young team, we have plenty of room to grow and build off of each other for next season.” Upcoming games for the boys include an away match at St. Edwards on April 30 and a rematch against Walsh Jesuit on May 2 in Barr y Gymnasium. After a loss earlier in the season to Walsh on April 4, the boys are eager to capitalize on a chance to reclaim a victor y from the warriors next week in the Cancer-Free Kids game  Tommy Leslein jumps to serve in a game against St. Ignatius.

Photo courtesy of Molly Leslein

he boys’ volleyball team, with a current record of 7-4, are one of the notable groups to watch throughout this spring spor ts season. W ith team leaders including senior outside hitters Tony Bur ns and W ill Lawrence along with junior middle hitter Cor tland Hatch, the boys’ team is a force to be reckoned with. Boasting season victories against Br unswick, Hilliard Davidson, Beaver Creek and Kent Roosevelt, the boys continue to defend their reputation in the Ohio High School Boys Volleyball Association (OHSBVA). Led by head coach Matt Mihelic, the boys’ volleyball program has made several trips to the finals in previous state tour naments, taking home the championship in both 2008 and 2010. As r unner-ups in the 2011 finals, the boys are hungr y for another chance a t t h e c h a m p i o n s h i p t h i s y e a r. “This year we need to refine individual skill sets and work on putting them together as a team. If we can do that, I feel like we’ll have a good shot this year in the

The Hoban Pop Culture Grid Athletes Rodrigo Pereira Junior, Boy’s Lacrosse

What is the What is most useless your guilty expensive pleasure? thing you own?

Eating too many grilled cheeses

Dom Hinton Taco bell Sophomore, Baseball

Kate Boylan

Molly Hastings Freshman, Girls track

Tony Guerriero Senior, Baseball

Netflix

Resse’s peanut butter cups The cowboy calendar in my locker

A switch blade

What is the most annoying TV commercial?

The Life Alert commercials

All of them. Except for the ones with the AT&T commercials with the little kids

One thing you look forward to the most about summer

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

Gettin’ my tan on

Eat my Coca Puffs

Playing baseball all day everyday with my buds

Go back to sleep

The piano in my dinning room

A live bunny

Harry Potter wand

An egg made of chap stick

All of the Flo commercials

Not having Physics class

One flip flop. Not two, but one.

JG Wentworth commercials

Spending time with friends

Think to myself, “Why am I up?”

A box of Capri Sun

The Ganley man

Nights with my friends at counry concerts and parties

Turn off the alarm and go back to sleep

A Bedazzler

An electric razor

Hit snooze Compiled by Sarah Carmon

Junior, Softball

My cross bow

What is the strangest thing you got in your Easter basket?

sports

twelve

Sliding through

the season one base at a time

Pre-season trip leads to success boys baseball by hannah caprez

hile most teams prepare for their seasons by hitting the weight room and spending hours on the ﬁeld, this year Hoban’s baseball team took their talents to the beach- Myrtle Beach to be exact. While in South Carolina, the team went 2-2 against four very formidable teams. Opponents included Bishop McNamara, a Holy Cross School from Washington D.C., and a team from the largest high school in the country. “Going to Myrtle Beach was a great experience for us as a team,” senior Sean Trexler said. “we had some of our toughest competition of the season and helped us to bind together as a whole program.” As this season begins, the team is look-

ing forward to what looks to be another successful season. “Our goals for this season are to beat St.V-M and Walsh, win the NCL title and of course to play in and win the state championship,” senior pitcher Drew Lakos said. The team will also be sporting a new look this year while out on the diamond. Keep an eye out for their new hats and uniforms emblazoned with the new school logo. The team currently has a record of 7-5 which includes big wins over Lake Catholic, Holy Name, and Walsh Jesuit. The knights took on the Warriors in back to back games on April 16th and 17th. They split the pair and scored a total of seven runs. The Monday game featured very well placed hits

by seniors, Aaron Cain and Sean Trexler, many great saves by sophomore Jordan Burns, and impressive and strategically pitched innings by senior, Drew Lakos. A major catalyst for the team this year is senior Aaron Cain, who went 6/7 batting in the team’s latest double header and scored three runs in their win over Walsh Jesuit. Two rising stars include underclassmen Jordan Burns and Drew Kline. Burns plays ﬁrst base, while Kline is a pitcher. Kline, a freshman, pitched his best game of the season on April 5 for the freshman team against Walsh Jesuit. He struck out 13 of 15 batters in just ﬁve innings.

girls softball Knights return with high expectations

fter a Cinderella story run to the regional finals last spring the girls varsity softball team is looking to match their previous years success in the 2013 season. Last year the lady knights made an improbable advance through the playoffs after a regular season that landed them in an elimination game against the top seeded Manchester in the second round of districts. After a shocking win of 5-3 the team then went on to play the number 4 seeded Fairless in the semifinals. An incredibly tight game throughout ended in a 1-0 victory and advanced them to the district finals against number 2 seeded Springfield where

by trey lesiak

they refused to lose and defeated their opponent 4-1. Not done yet the lady knights next faced off against the 2012 NCL champions Lake Catholic in the regional semis where they won in another close knit game of 2-1. “We were like the Cinderella team that just kept going.” junior and co captain Kate Boylan said, “No one expected us to win and it was amazing to see us work so great as a team”. Their Cinderella story unfortunately came to an end against Poland Seminary in their next game however as they ﬁnished regional runner-ups. Three returning seniors, co captain Natalie Bender, Johanna Nicodemus and

Doryian Smith lead the 2013 lady knights this season as they set their eyes on the NCL title for the last time in their high school career. Coach Bob Mosher, who is only in his second year as head coach is also returning with high hopes and expectations for his team. “We’re working towards winning the NCL this year”, Mosher said, “Our biggest challenge is deﬁnitely the difﬁcult teams in the league, especially Walsh”. After splitting the series with the warriors the season is now in full swing as the depth of their schedule approaches and the girls look towards the playoffs in May. Graphics and Layout by Sarah Carmon