INSIDE: True Life: Hygiene at Mitty (see page 4) ServingServing the the Archbishop Archbishop Mitty Mitty Community Community Volume 19 Number 3 February 2010 Behind the Scenes: Faculty Love Love Among the Teachers: Uncovering Campus Couples By Hannah Moeller and Sruthi Ramaswami Staff Writers Love knows no bounds at AMHS. Mitty is almost like a dating service in itself. The teachers here share certain key values and are passionate about educating young people, so it makes sense that Mitty faculty members are compatible on deep and fundamental levels. Many become close friends and for some, these friendships develop into com- mitted relationships. Meet Mr. and Mrs. Scott. These two met when they worked at St. Ignatius in San Francisco and mar- ried before they made the move to Mitty. Mr. Scott is the director of Campus Ministry and Mrs. Scott is a freshman religion teacher. “It’s a wonderful way to meet someone,” said Mr. Scott. Meet Mr. and Mrs. Wesmiller. They met at the teacher orientation in 2006, the beginning of their Faculty couples defi ne “family”for the Mitty community. fi rst year teaching at Mitty. Typically, fi rst year teach- ers dedicate long hours to develop lesson plans and problem. to generally assimilate into their new work environment. He explained, “At times, I have to stay at Like typical new teachers, Mr. Wesmiller, a Religious Stud- school longer for athletics, or for my job at the ies teacher, and Mrs. Wesmiller, a Social Studies teacher, snack shack. Since we have two sons who go to clocked in many after-school hours working together with Mitty, coordinating all four of our schedules can other new teachers and forming a support group of close defi nitely be a challenge.” friends. During Thanksgiving break, they decided to start Mrs. Kroenung, an English teacher, felt dating; they married a few years later. that she and Mr. Kroenung, a Religious Studies Many faculty members said that they enjoy having teacher, fi nd it hard at times to separate work loved ones at work. from their home life. Mr. Wesmiller and Mr. Mrs. Matusich, a Religious Studies teacher, explained, Scott agreed. “Working at Mitty is not just a job. A huge part of working “The challenge is trying to keep distance at Mitty is understanding the Mitty community, and this between home and profession,” said Mr. understanding is something my husband and I share.” Wesmiller. Mr. Lopez, Director of Publications, agreed. He and see FACULTY LOVE, page 16 his wife, Mrs. Lopez of the Foreign Language Deparment, talk about their work experiences together and relate to the Mitty community. According to Mr. Wesmiller, “For teachers, it’s diffi cult Q&A with Campus Insider to date someone who isn’t a teacher. If you’re a teacher, Which Mitty couples have grow in healthy ways. We are community that strongly your job is your life, and you need a companion who can you predicted would marry? supports committed reltionships. understand that.” I predicted Bill and Janelle Do you think faculty relationships are benefi cial He continued, “It’s easy for your spouse to empathize Kroneung. After we hired or healthy for the Mitty community? with you about your work if they’re a teacher at the same Janelle, I told Bill that she was I think the married couples on our faculty are tremen- school. Otherwise, you’d have to do a lot of explaining the woman he would marry. He dous role models for our students who can see the pos- about what it’s like.” He added that he and Mrs. Wesmiller laughed, as I often kid about sibility for healthy relationships in their futures. These things. A couple of months also support each other through the long hours of grading couples on campus live out their relationships and family later he came to my office and papers. The shared vacation time is also a practical benefi t. lives in the sight of a community of young people who confessed “he had never felt this have all the decisions about love and life ahead of them. Mr. Scott said, “The upside of working with your Associate Principal, way before about someone; how spouse is that you get to work with your best friend. You Mr. Robinson did I know?” What can I say? Were there any couples on campus that sur- share so much and can support each other in your work. prised you? Would you say the environment at Mitty is help- You have a common set of friends and you both want to go Well I keep my eyes open so I haven’t really been sur- ful for the development of couples? to the same Mitty events.” prised. Mitty is like a small village: the unity and sense Challenges also come with working alongside a spouse. AMHS emphasizes community, the context in which of family we all experience are great blessings. But, as Mr. Matusich commented that schedule confl icts can be a relationships that have history and deep meaning can with all villages, secrets don’t last long. A New Courtroom Drama: Mock Trial at Mitty By Emily Chu and Olivia Tran contributing their skill and dedica- News Editors tion to the success of the team. On April 13, 2009, renowned critic Preston Palmer was found strangled to death in Junior Praachi Raje, a witness his driveway. Police point toward up-and-coming comedian Jordan Bratton. Is Bratton for the Defense team, said, “Being guilty? It’s up to Mitty’s Mock Trial Team to uncover the truth. in the courtroom is so intense, and Another year has started with the Mock Trial team working diligently for the com- the team has grown to be so close. petitions in February. Since 2005, Mock Trial has sought to introduce students to the Even though it takes up so much machinations of the criminal justice system. Mrs. Anne Nowell has been the teacher- time, when it all comes together moderator and coach of the team since day one: the heartbeat of Mock Trial at Mitty. in the end, it’s defi nitely worth it.” Headed by student attorney, senior Jacque Scharre, and aided by assistant teacher- They also acknowledge how moderator, Ms. Nadine Paulsen, the team has been meeting since August. their experience in Mock Trial ap- While the cases may be fi ctional, they are all based on realistic scenarios: murder, plies in the real world, beyond scripted examinations and fi ctional testimonies. arson, and other grim representations of the world of criminal justice. Students act as “Mock Trial has really helped develop my oratory skills and extemporaneous attorneys, witnesses—including the defendant on trial—court clerk, and bailiff, each see MOCK TRIAL, page 16 OPINIONS Opposing Viewpoints: Internet Censorship THE DANGERS OF FREE SPEECH KEEP THE INTERNET FREE By Lindia Nguyen obscenities that are listed online. By Ritty Zhai anything they think is necessary for others Staff Writer The government has already tried to Staff Writer in the world to know. Therefore internet keep up with the rise of digital technology censorship is unconstitutional. There is a In the average neighborhood, the by enacting several acts to regulate broad- We all know that the Internet can be good reason for this: we should not trust guilty and the innocent coexist. Our nation casting and mediums of communication. a very disturbing and dangerous adult me- anyone, not even the government, to dictate chooses to protect the innocent. This parti- The Communications Act of 1934 had a dium. Unquestionably, there are parts of what information we can and can’t see. tion is also crucial to the public safety of our mission of “regulating interstate and foreign the Internet that we might rather not see: If the government is allowed to regulate citizens and the many innocent children that commerce in communication by wire and explicit websites, hateful screeds, disturb- information, there’s no way to make sure are being introduced to digital technology radio.” This act allowed the government to ingly-spelled Lolcat images. Many argue they won’t just silence the voice of anyone at a sensitive age. censor the most prominent digital media at that people, especially children, should be who dares to challenge them. When the The most dangerous medium of com- that time, which was the radio. protected from these obscenities, and some Internet is censored, we cannot be sure munication today is the Internet, where Then in 1996, the Telecommunica- even say that the government should regu- whether or not important information has information can be tions Act allowed late the Internet to achieve this. been removed simply because some bu- readily exchanged the government to But the question is this: who is actually reaucrat fi nds it disagreeable or a corrupt and created by “I doubt seriously if the regulate television responsible for preventing Internet users politician wants to cover it up. strangers. These writers of our Constitution broadcasters as from viewing material we don’t want to see? If you’re not convinced, take a look strangers might as well. Now, four- In short: we the consumers are. Although at the face of Internet censorship today: well be terrorists and Bill of Rights intended teen years later, the allowing the government to censor the entire China. Ever since its establishment in 2005, or sex offenders, that freedom of speech could government should Internet sounds like an easy fi x, it would be Google China has been censoring many of who have only one have the right to both ineffective and impractical.