the
archbishop hoban high school one holy cross boulevard february 5, 2016 // issue 9
visor
THE BEST OF
BROADWAY MORE ON PAGE Six
Student examines the failures of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. page four
Brother Aristide Biney visits from Ghana to observe educational technology. page five
The Visor spotlights two promising freshman swimmers with big goals. page twelve
two Student arrested in North Korea
T
he vicious enmity between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea-more commonly called North Korea-and the United States of America lies in no state of secrecy. In fact, it is considerably typical for the American people, from the government and politicians to first graders echoing their parents, to denounce anything even remotely related to communism or dictatorship, so it comes to no astonishment that U.S. citizens generally foster such deep hatred for the Far Eastern nation. But such animosity might actually be earned in full by DPRK. North Korea has a somewhat undermined history of prosecuting American citizens who visit or study within the country’s borders. Though most Americans claim to have seen the Korean rivers and mountains with no legal ordeals, “[it is] because the Koreans have no evidence that they're from America,” as stated by an American student in an interview with Voice of America News. While this standpoint is debatable, it does not fail to fuel the uproar in response to University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier’s arrest. On Jan. 2, 2016, Warmbier had been preparing to return to the United States after an educational tour of DPRK, provided by Young Pioneer Tours; a Beijing-based company which worked with approximately ten other students. Moments after arriving at the Pyongyang airport, North Korean law
enforcement gracefully granted themselves custody over the 21-year-old, and after a headcount had been taken and Warmbier had disappeared, Korean officials were reported to have told Young Pioneer Tours that he had been taken to the hospital. Obviously, this had been nothing short of a boldface and capitalized lie, which does nothing to diminish the maximized amount of suspicion from people of all countries about the event. As of now, there is no information provided by Kim Jong-Un or any reliable source within DPRK regarding Warmbier's detainment, other than commission of a “hostile act... which threatened [North Korea’s] unity.” It makes not even a fraction of sense to have first lied about where the student had been taken if this act he had committed was truthfully so threatening. However, since no witnesses have provided any accounts or commentary of the event, and no trustworthy and unbiased networks have dispensed concrete evidence to their accusations against DPRK, it is only fair that no assumptions are made nor conclusions jumped to. For all any average American knows, this student could have been planning a holocaust or carrying a weapon—nothing can be said without any fact to support it. Until North Korea releases an official statement regarding Warmbier, the United States has no right to take any action.
Letter to the editor To the editor, In response to the recent Visor issue, I must say I am completely astounded at the insensitivity from the visor staff as they were writing this article. A severe epidemic just became numbers and statistics on a page; losing the true essence of what we should be teaching about. Lets first start with the cover, an image that has been burned into my head as it is for many people who have experienced being around an addict. A syringe and spoon in this case isn’t just those two objects; they represent destruction, pain, and hopelessness. Now on to the header picture, an outline of a body with a band and needle in hand, again another senseless picture to anyone that hasn’t dealt with this disease. These two images do
not show what it is like to see these things first hand, the pain you feel inside the pain you can't put into words but most of all the pain of not being able to help the user. I'm a living statistic of this epidemic, I'm 95% more likely to become a user or an addict of some sort and it honestly sickens me that people at this school take the drug epidemic so light heartedly. It's not just a poor man's problem and that's how the visor portrayed it to be. It can happen to anyone, so please next time an article is printed take into account the people that might actually have had to deal with this. Help isn't found with blank statistics, it's found through compassion, patience and a better understanding. jhfgjm
What students think “Although the pictures might have been seen as insensitive, I believe the pictures in the Visor were just meant to portray what happens when someone uses heroin. Just because the writers did not physically deal with a user of heroin, it does not make them insensitive to the people who have used.”
-Jess Sheldon ’19
Billie Lockhart ’16
“I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion about this article written in the Visor. But the Visor article gave me informative information about the usage of heroin and the problem it is becoming. The information presented allowed me to know to never consider doing heroin as a way to resolve problems.”
-Jessie Bender ’16
editorial
the
visor
archbishop hoban high school mailing address: one holy cross blvd. akron, ohio 44316 online: www.issuu.com/thevisor email: visor@hoban.org
awards
CSPA Gold Medalist NSPA First Class Award Quill & Scroll Int’l First Place OSMA First Place The Visor subsribes to the ASNE/ MCT Campus news service and to the APStylebook.com Signed letters for publication are welcome. Mailbox is in the main ofifice. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus of the editorial board. Signed opinion represents the views of the writer only.
staff editors-in-chief marilyn icsman joseph santucci managing editor julie ciotola opinion editor gabriella wittbrod news editor julia susany features editor brian rozumny sports editor kara marshall webmaster joseph brennan staff reporters mara bahmer, madeline grosklos, lucas lauterjung, shamael muhammad, andrew ross, angelina sapp, elizabeth stitzel, bridget wiedt, victoria woodburn, kameryn zingale adviser katharina cerny
three opinion Service is important in all parts of the world
S
everal weeks ago, I spent seven days with 17 other Hoban students and over 50 medical professionals in Nuevo Paraiso, Honduras. Throughout the week we set up five brigades and brought health care and a pharmacy to nearly three thousand impoverished Hondurans. Despite all of the service performed, I was afterwards questioned by a friend on the necessity of the trip. “Why travel to a third world country when there are homeless and poor people suffering in America?” they asked. It is easy to criticize a mission trip nearly two thousand miles away when so many are struggling so close to home. However, this question exposes the negative qualities of the American mindset. Whether they are two miles away or two thousand, people are people, and service is service. The posed question suggests that Americans deserve help where foreigners do not. It sets those in the United States on a pedestal, above those in other countries. The nature of this mindset baffles me because the reality is that, while there are millions of Americans working to better the lives of their less fortunate countrymen, there are very few Hondurans trying to provide for their country’s impoverished. This is not because Hondurans are heartless or
selfish, rather, on average they barely have enough money to support their own families, nonetheless their neighbors. Honduras has a 65.2 percent poverty rate while the poverty rate of the United States is 14.8 percent, according to The World Bank. The numbers make it clear why third world countries need aid from outside sources, but there is an aspect of mission trips that benefits the missionaries as well. To say that I applied for the Honduras immersion solely to serve others would be a lie. I wanted to travel, become more cultured and make memories that I would never forget. I undoubtedly learned lessons that could not have been taught in the United States, and I was able to see the world through an entirely new lens. Not only did I help the Hondurans that I treated, but in turn they helped me. At the orphanage where we stayed, the two cultures coalesced and race became practically indistinguishable within our new community. I gained more than I gave, and I hope to use my experiences to inspire others. “We all have the same heart and the same brain. We are all brothers,” said Luiz Diaz, one of the Honduran translators. Diaz’s countrymen welcomed us with a similar sense of fraternity and graciousness. Their love and respect motivated me
Look at me I’m
Maddie g
by madeline grosklos to serve them as family and taught me that regardless of where we live or the background we are from, accepting one another is they key to peace and true service. The last component of the trip that could not have happened close to home is the bonding I experienced with my fellow Hoban classmates. Immersed in a completely different culture, surrounded by another language, and void of all technology, I was able to genuinely get to know people for who they are. Face to face conversations without the constant distractions from outside sources are rare and my experience with my peers on the trip makes me wish that phones and social media could slow down and give true relationships a chance to form.
Oscar nominations cause allegations of racism
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hen the Oscar nominations were announced on Jan. 14, I was pleased to find that many movies that I enjoyed and thought had covered important and relevant topics, such as Brooklyn, Room and The Martian, had been nominated for various awards. However, soon after the nominations had been made public, controversy arose. Many people began to complain that the Oscar nominations were not diverse enough, put simply, they were “too white”. Some actors, such as Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith, even announced that they would not attend the Oscars because of their failure to recognize minorities in their nominations. “Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power. And we are a dignified people, and we are powerful," said Smith. "So let's let the Academy do them, with all grace and love. And let's do us, differently." Though many people like Smith and Lee are pointing the finger at the Oscar’s voting staff, I feel that the problem may lie with movie producers. In 2015, few projects were taken on by producers that involved minorities, the exceptions being Concussion, Straight Outta Compton, and Creed, two of which received Oscar nominations (Straight Outta Compton and Creed).
There has been a lack of diverse films ever since 2014, when the movie 12 Years a Slave won several Oscar awards and Lupita Nyong’o won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. So naturally, in 2015 and 2016 the Oscars had a scarce amount of minority actors and movies to choose from. People would like to blame the Oscar’s staff for the Oscar’s lack of diversity, when in reality there just were not many diverse movies to choose from. Spike Lee, one of the actors boycotting the Oscars, has also expressed this viewpoint. He says the "real battle" over the lack of diversity in recent movies is not in the Oscars but in "the executive offices of the Hollywood studios and TV and cable networks," where producers decide which projects get made and which don't. The movies that were chosen as Oscar nominations this year were definitely Oscar worthy. They encompassed important issues, such as the struggles faced by kidnapping victims, as portrayed in Room, and the challenges of immigration, as depicted in Brooklyn. So it seems petty to argue that the Oscars are ‘discriminatory’ or ‘corrupt’. They nominated movies that they felt deserved an award, and did not go out of their way to avoid nominating movies involving minorities. The accusations that the Oscars are facing
mara MAdness by mara bahmer have lead Oscars president Cheryl Boone Isaacs to announce a review of current staff recruitment efforts. Though this seems to be what the scrutinizing public wants, I do not believe that this is the solution to the problem. New Oscar staff recruits will not significantly change the results of the nomination process, because the voters still have the same limited selection of movies to choose from. In order for diversity to become prominent in films, it is important not to critique the Oscars for not choosing diverse films, as this is not the most relevant issue at hand. Instead, we should encourage diverse films to be made in the first place, and point out the lack of diversity in the past year’s movies. If we increase the demand for movies involving minorities, producers will take on these projects, increasing the pool of movies that the Oscar’s voters can choose from.
four
opinion
WHAT’S HINDERING
Hillary? What looked like an easy win for Clinton has turned into a dangerously close race for the nomination
by julia susany
A
s the primary elections draw ever closer, one candidate in particular should be wary. Former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, formerly considered to be the shoe-in for the democratic candidacy has been recently challenged by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. This campaign should have been a breeze for Hillary, but after months of a constant barrage of criticism over the Benghazi attack and her email scandal, self-professed socialist Sanders was able to swoop in and snatch a whopping 43.9 percent in the polls, enough of a following, especially among younger voters, to make him extremely dangerous. Even the Western Illinois University, which has accurately predicted the the winner of each presidential election every four years, has proclaimed we should all be prepared to watch Sanders be sworn in as the next president of the United States. So how did it come to the point where someone once considered to be the perfect candidate, is in danger of being overtaken by the socialist storming the nation? Clinton has an amazing resume, and is one of the most qualified candidates running, but American voters clearly do not care about experience. The effective snubbing of the likes of former Governor Jeb Bush in favor of businessman Donald Trump and briefly, neurosurgeon Ben Carson, has illustrated this quite nicely. Many people are searching for an outsider, someone who they believe
won't walk into the White House and bend to the will of their sponsors or the other party. Though Clinton proved herself to be resilient through the 11 hour Benghazi hearings where she remained solid, voters remain divided. This election should have been the perfect storm for Clinton. There was no young, hip candidate to overtake her like Obama did in 2008, her opponents were largely unknown and she was practically guaranteed the female vote. It was a surprise to everyone when 74 year old Sanders monopolized the support of the millennials. Clinton’s attempts to garner their support have largely seemed to backfire, resulting in her seeming out of touch and like a coolly professional robot. Sanders’ unrelenting passion has struck a chord with those who feel disenfranchised. His calls for free college education to be available to all and a $15 minimum wage overshadow Clinton’s more moderate goals, such as a $12 minimum wage. Clinton’s ineffective campaign, although backed by several notable endorsements, such as the New York Times, has failed to garner the support that would secure her the presidency. If Clinton and her team thought she would be able to breeze through the primaries and save all her firepower for the general election, they gravely miscalculated. Even her campaign slogan “Hillary for America” feels awkward and presumptuous. Compared to Sanders’ “A Political Revolution is Coming” her image further floats towards
an arrogant insider and practically beatifies Sanders, the savior of America. Sanders’ slogan is an invitation to join in something bigger than one person, Clinton’s attempts to paint her as The Leader We Need, but instead conveys only arrogance. Both the Clinton and Sanders campaigns agreed to more debates before the primaries, but it is yet to be seen if these will help or harm Clinton. Past debates have seen very little movement on her part, and one of her most memorable moments was when she thanked Sanders for dismissing a question about her email scandal. While the debates have done Clinton no harm, they are certainly doing her no favors, and with the Iowa Caucuses rapidly approaching, it is imperative for her campaign that she shore up. The results of the Iowa caucuses show Clinton pulling away with 49.9 percent of the vote, sliding ahead of Sanders by a mere 0.6% lead. Clinton received 22 of the delegates to Sanders’s 21, gap too narrow for the Clinton campaign to rest easy. The top three republican frontrunners in Iowa maintain a 14 percent gap between candidates three and four, and frontrunner Cruz snatched a 4 percent lead off of second place Trump. The race to the White House will be a close call, and the Clinton campaign’s insistence that they always knew that the race would be close until the end may turn out to have been prophetic.
news five Iowa caucuses turn several suprising results by marilyn icsman and julia susany
T
he Iowa caucuses, which often act as a telling sign for the future of candidates’ presidential campaigns, were held in Des Moines on Monday, Feb. 1. Republican Ted Cruz bested Donald Trump, with Marco Rubio finishing third. On the Democrat side, Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders by a hair, in the closest race in Democratic Iowa caucus history. Cruz came in with 27.6 percent of the vote. Trump managed 24.3 percent, with Rubio not far behind, having won 23.1 percent. The rest of the Republicans trailed behind, and Mike Huckabee and Chris Christie announced the end of their campaigns after the caucus. Many confident Trump supporters had their hopes dashed on Monday, when they hoped for an easy win. It was thought that a wave of new voters would come out to benefit Trump’s campaign. While a record 186,000 Republicans caucused--a 65,000 jump from four years ago--the increased numbers did not lead to a victory for Trump. However, Cruz secured first place
with the help of a large population of evangelicals in Iowa. He also had the support of large numbers of volunteers, who called themselves “Camp Cruz.” Some have suggested that Trump’s lack of conventional campaign methods contributed to his defeat. While Cruz and Rubio spent days in the state, visiting events and making speeches, as well as running TV ads, Trump took a gamble. He only very recently began airing ads, and he spurned the latest Republican debate, a move practically unheard of in campaigns. Though Trump’s second place finish is being viewed as a failure for the man who has led national polls for months, Rubio’s spot in third is a major win for his campaign. Some have speculated that his more moderate policies, coupled with a strong showing in the caucus, makes him a strong candidate for the Republican nomination. “The caucuses were an exciting start to the election season,” said senior Josh Sukie. “It did not turn out exactly how I wanted it to, but
the Iowa results have not recently reflected the nominee results. It will be interesting to see how the following states compare to Iowa.” Clinton and Sanders were deadlocked for most of Monday night. Martin O’Malley lagged far behind with less than a point, and he announced his campaign suspension afterward. Clinton and Sanders finished neckand-neck with just a 0.3 percent difference. While Sanders rallied the the young vote and those who identify as very liberal, Clinton maintained the support of moderates and voters over the age of 45. Fortunately for Clinton, 60 percent of people in attendance were part of this demographic. This secured her the win, though it may be a sign of trouble in other states. “I couldn’t be more proud of Bernie Sanders. He came out of nowhere, really solidifying that he is a candidate to take seriously,” said senior Austin Hawk. “And personally I think Martin O’Malley, no matter who the democratic nominee is, just landed himself as the VP for the ticket.”
Ghanaian brother visits to observe technology by marilyn icsman
H
oly Cross Brother Aristide Biney, who is visiting from Ghana, arrived on Jan. 18 to observe educational technology here at Hoban. He will serve as the technology director for the new Saint Brother André High School in Kasoa, Ghana. Originally from Cape Coast, Ghana, Biney first joined the Holy Cross brothers in 2005. He officially became a brother in 2008. When asked about why he decided to become a brother, he simply responded, “Ask God.” Biney first felt called to the brotherhood in high school, after a Holy Cross brother visited and sang for students. He said the words and melody of a song that proclaimed, “How lovely are the feet of the one who brings good news,” touched him and made him approach the brother afterward. “It's what the Lord wants me to do,” Biney said. “I've never regretted becoming a brother, because I've seen the positive impact that my service and teaching can have.” In his time as a Holy Cross Brother, Biney has been involved with youth programs in parishes, working retreats, giving talks on the Rosary and The Virgin Mary and serving as campus minister at St. Augustine’s High School. During his stay at Hoban, Biney’s focus is on technology and educational applications. “We want to see how students use online application programs and integrate similar programs in the school,” Biney said. He has focused on organizational apps
like Canvas, which can be used by students, teachers and parents alike. They hope to integrate more technology not only in the classroom, but into the admission and grading process as well. Additionally, Biney wants to build a website where students
“In Ghana, we say that we educate the character and themind, because if we are getting to someone’s heart, we want it to shine through in their character.” -Brother Aristide Biney and parents can easily access information. “In Ghana, students usually cannot use mobile phones or devices in school because it is seen only as a distraction,” Biney said. Founders of Saint Brother
André High School want to change that by utilizing educational technology. If they succeed, Biney says, they will be the first high school in Ghana to have such resources. “Most students are only able to learn the basics of computers, like Word or Excel,” he said. “We want to take it a step further with more advanced programs” Biney has noticed how deficient Ghana’s tech education is compared to schools like Hoban. “We live in a world of technology,” he said. “We can't not teach them how to utilize it, and we want to educate the students on how to use technology well— beyond the basics.” The new school is set to open this September. It will be a boarding school, like most other high schools in Ghana. In Kasoa, classroom and dormitory facilities are currently under construction. Biney stressed the importance of educating in the Holy Cross tradition. Here, Holy Cross prides itself on educating both the heart and the mind. “In Ghana, we say that we educate the character and the mind, because if we are getting to someone’s heart, we want it to shine through in their character.” Having studied computer science after high school, Biney knows firsthand the importance of the world’s ever-changing technology. He wants this, combined with an education in the faith of Holy Cross, to make an impact on students. “The most important thing to me is to make the love of God burn in the classroom,” he said.
six
ALL ABOUT
centerspread
BROADWAY by lucas lauterjung
N
ew York City is a global destination for many reasons. The Statue of Liberty, among other sightseeing destinations, attracts millions of tourists a year. However, that is a fraction to the number of tourists Broadway pulls to the Big Apple. Broadway is a business that rents out theaters-- most with seating for more than 500--to producers of shows. These shows then entertain the public for as long as ticket sales revenue exceed the cost of rent. With the 2015-16 Broadway season quickly coming to a close, the Visor is highlighting notable shows on Broadway this season and predicting the outcome of the Tony Awards.
NOTABLE SHOWS FROM THE 2015-2016 BROADWAY SEASON
Co l o r P u rple The
S OM E T H I N G
CURIOUS INCIDENT THE
OF THE
design by joseph santucci
Based on the 1982 novel of the same name, this play takes place in southern Georgia in 1930, and tells the story of a group of African American women. The group explores various political issues including their then-low position in American culture.
H A M I LTO N AN AMERICAN MUSICAL
Written by and starring renowned Broadway star Lin Manuel Miranda, this new Broadway musical tells the story of one of America’s founding fathers Alexander Hamilton through lyrical rap music.
2015 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, Christian Borle. Set in 1595, this unique musical features the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who attempt to compete with their playwright colleague William Shakespeare. Doing so, the brothers write the first modern musical.
awakening In its second Broadway run, this beautiful musical follows a group of German teenagers who explore themselves, and, in doing so, encounter emotional suffering. The songs are performed in a modern rock style, but the story is told through the perspective of 1891 Germany.
DOG NIGHT-TiME IN THE
2015 Tony Award for Best Play. This play follows Christopher, a high schooler with Asperger’s Syndrome. An innocent mystery plot gets messy when Christopher uncovers secret family history.
FUN H ME
2015 Tony Award for Best Musical. This groundbreaking musical follows the main character, Alison, through 3 stages of her life. She simultaneously discovers her father’s sexuality as well as her own.
centerspread
seven
WORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW
theater (the·a·ter)
a building or outdoor area in which plays and other dramatic performances are given.
theatre (the·a·tre)
the activity or profession of acting in, producing, directing, or writing plays
TYPES OF NEW YORK THEATER
Seats over 500 people
Seats 100 to 400 people
Seats up to 100 people
Located on Broadway Street or in downtown Manhattan
Located typically in Greenwich Village or the Upper West Side of Manhattan
Located anywhere in Manhattan or New York City
In baseball terms, this is Major League Theatre
In baseball terms, this is Minor League AAA Theatre
In baseball terms, this is Minor League A of Theatre
These shows are considered for Tonys
These shows are not considered for Tonys
These shows are not considered for Tonys
Luke Laut’s Predictions for THE 70th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS June 12, 2016 The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known informally as the Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre.
Best Musical Hamilton
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Best Play
Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof
King Charles III
Best Revival of a Musical Spring Awakening
Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical Lin Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
eight
the
News in brief by marilyn icsman
news Groundhog predicts six more weeks of winter
O
hio’s official groundhog, Buckeye Chuck, was reported to have emerged and seen his shadow on the morning of Feb. 2, Groundhog Day. A popular legend dictates that if a groundhog sees his shadow, winter will last for another month and a half; if he does not, spring will arrive early. Pennsylvania’s famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow at an annual Groundhog Day event. According to the Marion Star, Buckeye Chuck has been Ohio’s official groundhog since 1979. During his time in the role, approximately three fourths of his predictions have proved accurate. “We should trust Buckeye Chuck because he has an awesome name, and he lives in Ohio so he knows if we will have more winter weather,” said senior Vanessa Cea.
academic challenge closes successful season
T
he varsity academic challenge team participated in the regional qualifier tournament on Monday, Feb. 1 at Kent State University. Members of the team were seniors Gabriella Wittbrod, Lauren Cea, Ian Mitchell, Josh Sukie and James Parisi and junior Carson Keenan. The team won four out of five matches. “We were 4-0 until the last round against Green,” Lauren Cea said. “We put up a good fight but ended up losing by one question. It was an exciting match.” In other academic challenge news, Hoban participated in an Academic Challenge TV match on Oct. 18. The event will be shown on NewsChannel 5, WEWS, on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. Seniors Ian Mitchell, James Parisi and Rebecca Weiss represented Hoban in the match.
mock trial succeeds at district tournament
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wo Hoban mock trial teams performed well enough at the district competition to advance to regionals. On Jan. 29, The White Knights won first place among the 20 Summit County teams. The Dark Knights did not place, but they qualified to move on to the next level. “Mock trial is a lot of work but when we get to the competitions and beat other schools it makes it all worth it,” said senior London Hollinger, a member of the Dark Knights. “I was really excited to win an
outstanding witness award for the first time.” Outstanding attorney awards were won by senior Chelsea Wein, juniors Bryce Dzubara and Irene Hamlin, and freshman Rachel Reese. Outstanding witness was awarded to seniors London Hollinger, Emily Clark and Libby Stitzel, junior Lauren Shoemaker, sophomores Devin Simmons, Brandon Bishop and Gracie Bagdon, and freshmen Mike Clark and Jake Thoman. Mock trial focuses on the appellate process. Students are given a fictional
case, and team members act out roles as attorneys or witnesses. Arguments are evaluated by real judges on how well the team applies law to the facts of the case. This year’s case concentrated on Fourth Amendment rights. It involved questions of a person’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures and whether police officers should be allowed to use force if there is a possibility of harm to the public or the officer.
Senior Athlete wins scholar Athlete Award
design by joseph santucci
S
enior Nick Lewis has earned a 2015 Scholar-Athlete Awards from the Northeastern Ohio chapter of the National Football Foundation. Winners are chosen from 235 schools in the area. Lewis will accept the award at the annual Scholar-Athletes award banquet, held at LaCentre in Westlake, OH. As a member of the varsity football team, Lewis has obviously succeeded
athletically this year. “My favorite thing about the season was getting to play with my brothers every day. Winning the state championship was awesome because it proved that all of our hard work paid off.” However, Lewis has also distinguished himself in his academic career. “My counselors gave me a packet to fill out with my grade point average, my ACT score, my service information, my school
awards and my academic awards so that the foundation could review my application along with all of the others in order to find the students who showed the best combination of both academic excellence and athletic achievement,” he said. Next year, Lewis hopes to attend the University of Southern California and study physical therapy. He does not plan to continue playing football.
Hoban celebrates catholic schools week
T
his past week was Catholic schools week, and Hoban celebrated the occasion with a variety of activities. Each day was a different theme for students to dress according to, the Parents Association provided a special snack at lunch each day and the popular Rent A Junior assembly was held Wednesday.
Many students enjoyed the chance to forgo Hoban’s typical uniform and routine for something different. “I really like that we got stuff at lunch, like the snow cones,” said freshman Reese Marino. “I also loved twin day, I think it’s really fun.” Other dress up themes were Dress for Success, Fan Club Day,
Blue and Gold Day and Country Day. The junior class was excited by the Rent A Junior event, which they use to raise money for prom. “My group is the only girls’ group and we performed to ‘It’s raining Men,’” said junior Rachel Croyle. “We were just really excited to perform in front of the school and help out the junior class.”
features
nine
the
Wave s
Student band finds success in recent endeavors by elizabeth stitzel
T
everyone,” said the band. They utilize their different musical preferences when it comes to their unique, collaborative song writing. “There really is no definite process for us when it comes to writing, most of the time one of us will write a riff or chord progression and will all build off of it,” said English.
Bringing these different loves of various types of music gives The Waves a wide spectrumof music, something in the set for everyone -The Waves Along with their collaborative songwriting, the band meets constantly to practice but will continue to practice on their own as well. “We practice at least once a week in my Conrad Cave of wonders,” Conrad
said. “I know we all play at home every day, and personally I practice about three hours at a time.” This practice has led to near perfection, as evidenced by their performance this past Saturday. "We got involved in the High School Rock Off because I had been in the competition with other bands in past years. To get into the competition we had to submit a demo of original music and get accepted by the judges. After that our first performance was judged on originality, musicianship, and performance,” said Merletti. The band had an amazing, loud performance that made the crowd go wild. Everyone was singing along and clapping to the beat, regardless of their familiarity with The Waves. Even after the performance, members of the band were stopped by friends and strangers alike and were congratulated on their fantastic set. They performed two original songs, “Midnight and Play It Again,” as well as two covers of songs- “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet and “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine. The Waves will continue their journey towards success at 9 p.m. on Feb 13 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Tickets are $12 and also include access to the full museum as well as the Rock Off, which begins at 5 p.m. The doors open at 4 p.m. and the show is guaranteed to sell out, so The Waves encourage you to approach them and purchase your tickets as soon as possible. They are incredible to watch; the opportunity to see them is one that should not be missed.
design by joseph santucci
his past weekend, the enthusiastic Hoban boys of the band The Waves-juniors Dominic Merlitti, Mike English, Dylan Radik and senior Jack Conrad-- took the stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to compete for a spot in the final exam portion of the Tri-C High School Rock Off. One of three bands to move on, they remain enthusiastic and excited for the final round of competition at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. According to member Dylan Radik, formation of the band was spontaneous. “Mike and Jack were in a previous garageband and I had been in a band as well. One day I was bassing it up in the band room and Jack came in and laid down a beat. It then became a daily thing for us and sometimes Mike would join in with guitar or vocals. Then as time progressed, word got out of a legendary guitarist who transferred from St. V named Dom Merletti. Jack had us over to jam one day and thus The Waves were born,” said Radik. Radik plays bass, English does vocals and a multitude of other instruments, Merlitti plays guitar, and Conrad is on the drums. The Waves are exclusively no genre, as they each like different kinds of music and let all of them influence their songs and content. Mike enjoys bands like Twenty One Pilots and Cage the Elephant, while Dom prefers ACDC and Led Zeppelin. Jack likes the bands Neck Deep and Hotel Books, and Dylan enjoys listening to Deathklok and Slipknot. “Bringing these different loves of various types of music gives The Waves a wide spectrum of music, something in the set for
ten
features
’s r o s i V Thedeclassified
WINTER Survival
by marilyn icsman and brian rozumny
Guide
If Winter Storm Jonas proved one thing, it’s that the South is incredibly unprepared. Thankfully, because you live up North and now have these tips, you do not have to be! Read the Visor’s official guide to surviving winter below.
#1101 SNOWED-IN NECESSITIES
Whether you are stranded on the interstate in your car or snuggled up in a blanket in the comfor t of your own home, there are two key items you need in order to sur vive being snowed in. The most impor tant item one can have while snowed-in is a lighter. You never know when you are going to need to light a candle, or set fire to your car in a dire circumstance. Next, make sure you have your iPhone (Sorr y, Android users). If stranded somewhere, a call to 911 may prove futile, as a dispatcher will more than likely not be able to reach you, but while you wait, you can update your friends on your position through tweets, Facebook posts, and by updating your Snapchat stor y (Geofilters galore). If stuck at home, you can brag to your friends who are stranded in the wilderness about all of the Netflix you’re watching while staying warm.
#1102 HOW TO DRIVE
It’s a known fact: Ever yone hates driving in snow. If you get in the left lane, you run the threat of a feisty father in a 2015 Ford F-150 come speeding up behind you. This could cause you to speed up, slide on ice, spin out, and die. However, if you get in the right lane, you will undoubtedly get stuck behind an overcautious soccer mom in a 2007 Dodge Caravan who has decided to drive no faster than 10 miles per hours.
#1103 THE “GROUTFIT” A recent winter trend is what teenage girls have dubbed the “groutfit.” It is simply an all-gray outfit. This way of life has taken over the countr y, and is the per fect outfit to rock whether you’re in the classroom or on your couch. More relevant to the Hoban community is what we like to call the “noutfit,” an all navy outfit. Such explosions of navy blue naturally occur while spor ting Hoban spirit.
design by brian rozumny
#1104 START YOUR JOB SEARCH
It is in fact only winter, but we all know that the hottest summer trend of 2016 will be having a job. Whether you’re lifeguarding at your local pool, packing bags at Acme or babysitting a gaggle of adorable children who could never annoy you, you’re bound to be doing something! The time to apply for jobs is now. Let employers know that you’re eager to take their money. And while you wait to hear back on your employment status, hit the gym! Getting swole while lifting weights or exercising your cardiovascular system will make you prepared for any summer job. And remember, minimum wage is better than nothing.
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sports
Makes a Splash
by kameryn zingale
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his year has been an exciting year of firsts for Hoban athletics. Girls’ soccer and football both won state championships for the first time in Hoban history, and now, Hoban has introduced its first official dive team. The idea for this new team began when juniors Catherine Hillegas and Maggie Lawrence approached Hoban swim coach, Nick Meyer, about their interest in diving. “I decided to join the dive team because I wanted to try something new, and a lot of my friends from gymnastics and pole vault have done it,” Hillegas said, “I thought it would be a good way to meet more people.” Although diving is technically a division of the already existing swim team, certain steps had to be taken to add this new aspect to the team. Special coach Kristin Heller from the Akron Rippers club dive team was enlisted to help train the new divers along with Meyer, who was a diver in college. “I love the mental challenge and physical aspect that diving displays,” Meyer said, “ It is a combination of both grace and power through the air.” These coaches helped the girls improve drastically in two short months since they began practicing. They have worked to educate the team in the skills of diving competitively. “With their help, I have become more confident in my dives,” Hillegas said, “I get great feedback from them.” New practice times had to be added to the swim schedule to accommodate for the dive team. “The difficulty with getting the dive
Dive Team
team started was working out all of the little kinks at the beginning, such as practice times and scheduling meets, because this has never been done before,” said Hillegas. Thankfully, the team had Meyer to troubleshoot these problems. “Meyer was instrumental in providing the logistics for the club that coaches the divers and arranging the facility to participate in,” said Athletic Director Joe Beyer. Because the team is so new, there are
“My favorite part about diving is the feeling I get after attemting a challenging dive, it is so exhilarating and rewarding. -Catherine Hillegas ‘17 only three girls: Hillegas, Lawrence, and junior Brittany Bell. These three girls, who were friends prior to dive team, have grown closer to one another by bonding over diving. “[Lawrence] and [Hillegas] have always been supportive,” said Bell, “If I’m nervous to try a new dive, they will usually help me push through it. I can easily say that we have
become so much closer, and I couldn’t be happier to share this experience with them.” The girls not only enjoy the team camaraderie but also the sport of diving itself. “My favorite part about diving is the feeling I get after attempting a challenging dive,” Hillegas said, “It is so exhilarating and rewarding.” In addition to learning new dives, the team has acquired a renewed appreciation for getting involved with Hoban extracurriculars. “From diving I have learned that I should always try to experience new activities and that being a part of a team really makes me feel like a part of the Hoban community,” said Bell. Fortunately for all those who have worked to implement this new team, Hoban’s dive team has been a success, beating schools such as Western Reserve Academy. “Our success is a surprise,” said Bell. “It was very easy to learn how to dive, and we are actually pretty good considering we are a new team.” Meyer is pleased with the success of the team and hope it continues throughout the rest of this season and expands as the program develops in the future. Currently, Hillegas holds the school record for diving scores. The dive team also adds a new asset to the Hoban community. “Any time you can offer more opportunities for students to learn and show off their skills while broadening their high school experience it is great for the school,” said Beyer. We wish the new Archbishop Hoban dive team luck as they continue to strive for success this season.
s t c a F r u o F 1
Divers create a “Dive Sheet” containing the dives they will be competeing with and each dive’s corresponding difficulty level. Dive categories are straight, tuck, twist, or backwards..
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The three divers compete in turns. Divers perform a total of six dives per meet. Each dive has a various difficulty level. Hoban divers typically perform dives with a 1.4-1.8 difficulty. The divers receive their score, which is tabulated by multiplying the sum of each judge’s score and the difficulty level of the dive. The diver’s scores are then added to the swim and dive team’s total meet score. Not all schools have divers to contribute to their score, putting Hoban at an advantage.
design by lucas lauterjung
Catherine Hillegas, Brittany Bell, and Maggie Lawrence, ‘17 pose at a recent invitational.
ABOUT HOBAN'S DIVE TEAM
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reshman swimmers Michael Heller and Justin Icsman have made an impact after only a short time on the team. The duo regularly contributes first and second place finishes, scoring valuable points for the boys’ team. Both boys expect to advance beyond sectionals to the district meet, which will be held Feb. 22. They also hope to qualify for the state meet, which swimmers can compete in by swimming a top time at districts. Ohio has four Division II districts for swimming, meaning that there are four separate district meets. The first and second place finishers for each event at districts automatically make it to the state meet. The remaining spots in each event are filled by the top 16 at large finishers, based on swimmers’ times throughout all the Ohio districts. Several upperclassmen are happy to have them as new additions to the team. “I think that they have a lot of potential to make it to state and maybe even break a record or two by their senior year,” said team captain Lindsey Wilson. “They are great teammates and good examples for the other freshmen.”
WITH Freshman swimmers
JUSTIN ICSMAN and
MICHAEl heller
Michael Heller ’19 swims butterfly during practice at the University of Akron’s Ocasek Natatorium
How long have you been swimming competitively? Michael Heller: 10 years. Justin Icsman: I have been swimming competitively for 6 years
What is your favorite part about Hoban swim team? MH: The feeling of family within the team/ locker room shenanigans. JI: My favorite part of this team is the camaraderie.
Do you have specific goals for future years? MH: Place top 5 in the state meet for any events. JI: I hope to make it to States by junior year.
What are you hoping for this season?
MH: I want to make it to states in an individual event. JI: I hope to make it in districts in all 4 events, and make states in the 4x100 relay.
Justin Icsman ’19 and Michael Heller ’19 discuss an upcoming meet
Do you enjoy morning practices? Why or why not?
MH: Yes because i can get in some extra practice time before school, plus we get Wally waffle after morning practice sometimes. JI: No, it is not fun to wake up early and swim.
Do you like meets or practice better? Why? MH: Meets, because you get to compete against other schools with different talent levels. JI: I like meets better because practice can be monotonous.
Justin Icsman ’19 approaches the wall, swimming backstroke at the University of Akron.