Catholic Memorial Newspaper January Edition

A Knight How We Adapted to Headed the Pandemic West By: Graham Horowitz ‘25 Most people can agree that we are living in a very An Interview by Austin McCarthy ‘23 interesting time. 2020 was filled with many unex- pected and unprecedented changes that challenged Although there weren’t games this past fall, there our staff and students. As the year comes to a close, was still some excitement coming from the foot- some teachers and students were asked to reflect on ball program as senior linebacker Will Stockwell those challenges and how CM responded. As mid- announced his commitment to play football at dle school English teacher Mrs. Eberly said, “I’m Stanford University. Stanford is one of the nation’s shocked we’re still here at Christmas.” biggest academic and athletic powerhouses. They play football in the Pac-12 conference, which is one Although I think many others are surprised to still of the power five conferences. Stanford was once be in school, we would not have made it this far if the home of current NFL superstars such as Richard not for the amount of time that teachers and ad- Sherman and Christian McCaffrey. In terms of ac- ministrators spent this summer working to prepare ademics, Stanford is considered by many to be the for the school year. Mr. Palm said that, “teachers most prestigious school in the country. It has about worked 60 to 80 to 100 hours throughout the sum- a 4% acceptance rate, which is lower than schools mer.” They had to redo their curriculum, prioritize such as Harvard, Yale, and the U.S. Service Acad- teaching objectives, and implement safety proce- emies. Stockwell is one of three division 1 football dures in their classrooms. Administrators had to commits in CM’s class of 2021 along with Owen think creatively to figure out the logistics of how to McGowan (Boston College) and Quincy Eutsay get everyone into school safely during this pandem- (Brown University). These players are inspirations ic. As a result of the new hybrid learning, teachers for myself and other underclassmen on the football have created new approaches to engage students. For team. The fact that three football players going to A New Hope: The example, Mrs. Eberly is incorporating a new strategy play at some of the nation’s top schools come from called, “Grammar Games,” where students help each Catholic Memorial, the smallest division 1 high Rise of the Vaccine other practice grammar skills. These techniques school in Massachusetts, really proves that. I was have worked. James Larranaga, an 8th grade student grateful to have a chance to interview Stockwell. By Garret Smith ‘22 said, “School started off pretty hard just getting in Continues on Page 3 Coronavirus was discovered to be rapid- the groove, but now it’s great.” 45 Plays For 45 Presidentsly spreading in China back in December 2019, initially appearing to be an isolated Overall, there have many positives to this year’s By Aidan Healy ‘22 event. This was soon proven wrong as cases hybrid model. As principal Mr. Palm said, “Instead As an American citizen, I firmly believe that an ed- began popping up across the United States of just saying I want it to go back to normal, I think ucated citizenry is the cornerstone of our Republic. and Europe. By early to mid-march, after there were some good things. That’s the question. As a student actor, I firmly believe that sketch com- the CM Freshman/Sophomore semiformal, How are you going to carry forward those good edy is one of the greatest from’s of human entertain- schools began to “temporarily” close, but things from this not very good experience.” Lots of ment. In my totally non - biased opinion, Catholic that also did not seem to be what ended people enjoy the hybrid approach. Kazuki Goode Memorial’s production of 45 Plays for 45 President’s up happening. Two weeks turned into two said, “One unexpected positive that has resulted was an epitome of both these convictions. months. Two months turned into perpetual from hybrid learning is how I am able to get outside Following the Spring release of Little Shop distancing to prevent a further rise in the more than last year, whether it is going to school, or of Horrors, the CM Drama Department once again case numbers. While many claimed that the sports.” Others have agreed that this year has been proved that it could adapted to the challenges pre- social distancing and government shutting less stressful when compared to a normal school sented by the Coronavirus. 45 Plays for 45 Presi- cities down were very effective in contain- year. dents - a series of skits recapping the chronological ing the spread, many argued that measures history of each United State’s sovereign - is an ardu- taken were not appropriate and did more Continues on Page 5 ous show in regular times. However, the limitations harm than good. Should the government imposed by the necessary COVID - 19 safety pre- be allowed to intervene in the lives of the cautions - such as performance masks, rehearsing in people for safety? Or should it be the individ- seperate groups, shortened rehearsals, and limited ual choice? This question seemed to be the costumes - made the Fall performance even more debate, but now with the vaccine, there is a improbable. large sentiment that seems to be skeptical of First and foremost, the unsung heroes of the “rushed” inoculation. By understanding the show (per usual) were the members of the stage the pros and cons of the vaccine and how it crew. Spearheaded by stage manager Tim Chevrette works, hopefully, people can have a better and tech guru Siro Jansen - Sanchez, the stage crew perspective on the climate we are in. played a pivotal role in a completely tech - reliant show. 45 Plays relies on an ambient narrative slide Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines have Continues on Page 7 Continues on Page 8 Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 1 Table of Contents Sports 3 Life Around CM 5 Outside CM 8 Politics 9 Faculty Corner 10 From the Editors 13

Editors Editor in Chief: John Marcucci ‘22 Managing Editor: Aidan Healy ‘22 CM Life Editor: Ryan Horrigan ‘21 Sports Editor: Brendan Galvin ‘22 Politics Editor: Joseph Cutting ‘23

- Guiseppe Presti ‘21

Staff Writers Nick Olwell ‘21 Sean Fay ‘22 Garret Smith ‘22 Jackson Lake ‘22 Jack Hood ‘22 Austin McCarthy ‘23 Aidan Dever ‘23 John Garvey ‘23 Sam Cahill Farella ‘23 Will Cummings ‘23 Alex Pappas ‘24 Matt Salafia ‘24 Christopher Boensel ‘24 - Matt Rotchford ‘21 T.J. Elrod ‘24 Eric Su ‘25 Graham Horowitz ‘25 Andrew McCarthy ‘25 Andrew Schwerdt ‘26 Connor Clifford ‘26 Seamus Henry ‘26 Liam Romano ‘26

- Michael Magee ‘21

- Mick Crowley ‘21 Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 2 Sports A Knight Headed West By: Austin McCarthy ‘23 Continued from Front Page CM who have help me during the trek to California.” Q: Which played more of a role in the last six years. However, through your choice of Stanford over other this process Coach John DiBiaso has Q: In 2020, there were 32 Pac-12 schools; academics or athletics? been invaluable. When Coach DiB- players selected in the NFL Draft, in- iaso arrived at CM, he gave me the cluding three first round picks. How A: “While I was exploring my colle- opportunity to compete for a starting do you feel about playing against giate options during my recruitment position on the team. Coach DiBia- such high-level competition? process, one of the key factors that so’s efforts to develop me as a player propelled me to officially commit to and person has prepared me to play A: Another huge reason why I chose Stanford was the prestigious quality football at Stanford University.” Stanford was the level of competition of an education that I would receive that I will play against in the Pac- at the university. I had to determine 12. It is thrilling to realize that I will which school would develop me be competing against and playing to be the best student athlete that I Q: How do you feel about going with fellow athletes that have a great could possibly be. I was searching to college on the other side of the chance of advancing to the NFL. It for a place that would position me country? is also a motivating opportunity to to succeed in the career field of my see if I have what it takes to play at choice, a place that would benefit me A: “I feel excited and nervous about the level. Finally, the main reason for the next forty years of my life, going to a college that is on the other why I wanted to play against the best and Stanford was the obvious choice side of the country. There are many is because I want to improve as a to achieve that dream.” unknowns when moving to a new lo-football player. Iron sharpens iron, cation that you’re not accustomed to. and I expect through all the hard With that being said, I look forward work and determination at my time to exploring, learning, and meeting at Stanford, anything is possible! You Q: Which coaches, teachers and staff new people on my journey to the just got to believe! members would you say helped you west coast. It will be an eye-opening the most in getting where you are experience that is worth the risk. I today? expect to grow as a student athlete tremendously at my time at Stanford, A: “There have been many people at and I cannot wait to embark on my The Cross Country Season By: Garret Smith ‘22

Cross country, heading into their third month of the 2020 season, are not ready to see fall sports come to an end, like many other CM teams. With a rocky start, as Catholic Memorial adjusted to conducting an in-person learning experience, the cross-country team adapted to the chang- es. It’s really amazing to see the team immersed in so many aspects of school life, even with the pandemic, and be able to balance everything. An intense course load, topped with a multitude of extra curriculars, and the team still finds a way Middle school runners to run during the week and weekend on their own time. The participating in the devotion is evident from the Tuesday meets where all of Red Welles Crowther Run comes into school at 2:45 to join up with the Silver group and drive with the team on the bus. Some days they don’t get Soccer During the Pandemic back to school until six with the lengthened meet times as a result of having each school run by themselves and compar- By Jackson Lake ‘22 ing the times. On Tuesday October 6th, the varsity soccer team kicked off its season with a home game The Wells Crowther Red Bandana Run went virtual this year against BC High. Although the Catholic Conference was able to put together an abbreviated and many CM runners were able to volunteer to run the 5k 10-game season ending with playoffs, this season looked very different due to the coronavi- on their own with the school covering each entrance dona- rus pandemic. tion. Students that signed up ran and recorded their time, posing with a photo to show they had completed the race. Every player was required to wear masks during the entire game. The games were also divid- They’ve had a few planned races cancel due to the competing ed into 4 twenty-minute quarters, instead of the usual forty-minute halves. The MIAA also school shutting down from Covid-19, but CM still stands introduced some new rules in an attempt to limit physical contact between players, and to strong. A lot of obstacles have been thrown in the path of limit contact between players’ hands and the ball. When the ball went of bounds, instead every sport like new regulations, mask mandates, COVID of the usual throw-in, players now had to kick the ball in on the ground. Also, goal kicks safety policies, but this just demonstrates the resiliency of and punts could not go past the half-way line. New COVID fouls were implemented, where Knights. Each team, including cross country, has made nu- players were not allowed to use their arms to push opposing players. If this occurred, the merous sacrifices so that they can keep coming back to play team of the player that was fouled had an indirect free kick. and have fun with their friends. As we end our first quarter and wrap up the final games and races of the season, we The varsity team is led by head coach John Finn, and assistant coach Peter Hill. The team is cherish the time we had on the field. Whether we are able to comprised of 15 seniors, 8 juniors, and 4 sophomores. When asked about the team this year, hold out against the virus or are forced to leave campus for a Coach Finn said, “The group of players this year have worked very hard. They come to prac- period of time, we will still be able to say “we got something.” tice ready to learn and develop their game. We have some great senior leadership in Matt We were able to compete and practice in unimaginable cir- Floyd, Matt Rotchford and Ronan Greene. They have carried the torch of great CM captains cumstances, but we did it and that is what matters. Our fight and are showing an example for the underclassmen. We have a great bunch of juniors and isn’t over and we’ll keep fighting until we’re forced indoors. sophomores on the team and they work hard every day.” Continues on Page 4 Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 3 Sports Soccer During the Pandemic By Jackson Lake ‘22 Continued from the Front Page

When asked about the best and the worst parts of the season so far, Coach Finn replied, “The best part of the season so far has been the competition and being able to have games. My least favorite part is the lack of flow and speed of the game, as the whistle squeaks every 2-3 minutes with the new rules.”

The competition this year was stiff. Four of the five teams the Knights have played so far made it to the final eight in the MIAA Division 1 tournament last year. This season has been especially difficult because of the lack of a preseason, the rule changes due to the coronavirus pandemic, and an extremely competitive division. Yet Coach Finn is thankful for the op- portunity. “I am very appreciative that we got to have a season in the first place with the current pandemic here in the US and Massachusetts.” Covid’s Impact on Sports Eventually, the team was knocked out in the first round of By Brendan Galvin ‘22 the playoffs by St. John’s Shrewsbury, who went on to win the league tournament. However, the team will look to build upon Michael Bane lined up to start the final race of the season. He looked to his left and his its success this year into a new season next year. right. He realized this last race of the fall cross country season was unlike any previous race. Due to the pandemic, runners were only allowed to run with competitors from their own school. On the day of the race, each school arrived at the course, ran the course, and left before the next team arrived. Bane, a junior at CM, says “Without competition in person, a runner does not have great motivation to run faster. There is no one to beat, just your invisible personal best time.”

In the final race, Michael finished in second place for CM runners, but he was never able to find out how he fared in comparison to the other schools who ran the course.

Of all the sports, golf was the least affected due to pandemic restrictions. After all, the game is already fairly distanced already with golfers spread out through a wide course. However, this golf season, their competitors were limited only to teams inside the Catholic Confer- ence, similar to other sports. Also, like both cross country and soccer, golfers were still required to wear masks on the course.

Junior soccer player Nick Reginato said that due to social distancing guidelines, the varsity team was not able to build as much chemistry as in recent years. He commented that bus rides to other schools is a place where teams build community. Nick added, “Most people who play sports at CM know that bus rides to schools build team chemistry and communi- t y.”

Soccer faced a few rules changes that made adjusting to the new game difficult for players. According to Reginato, some changes were that when the ball went out of bounds, players had to kick it in back in bounds instead of throwing it. Also, for goal kicks and punts, the ball could not go past half field. This “made it hard to transition into the opposing teams’ half,” added Nick. Senior soccer player Ronan Greene said that new rules that prohibited heading the ball or sliding meant that players had to learn how to redirect the ball with their chest or shoulders. Varsity soccer finished in 5th place in the Catholic Conference, eventually being knocked out by St. John’s Shrewsbury, who ultimately won the league tournament. According to Greene, normally, the team would participate in the Division 2 Tournament and play only a handful of Catholic Conference games. However, this year the team could play only conference opponents and the schedule was reduced to about half of the usual number of games.

Varsity teams were able to practice every day, but for JV, Freshman, and Middle School teams, players could only practice on their in-person learning days. It seems as if the big- gest barrier COVID-19 brought to the fall sports season was not rule changes or invisible competition at meets, but the difficulty of creating a level of chemistry and camaraderie among teammates. From the long bus rides to Danvers or Morrissey Boulevard, to compet- ing in races together, sports can bring teams together in a way unlike any other activity. The spirit of competition pushes us as individuals, but also as a team. Unfortunately, the pan- demic made that a lot more difficult to do in 2020’s fall season.

Yet, despite it all, the spirit of CM’s brotherhood and sports programs remain strong. De- spite rule changes, lack of competitors, a harder schedule, every CM athlete agrees that a changed season is better than no season at all. This fall season still allowed for CM students to compete alongside their brothers, even if a few more feet apart than usual. CM now looks forward to the winter to see what challenges we can overcome together. Roll Knights!

Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 4 Life Around CM How We Adapted to the Pandemic By Graham Horowitz ‘25 Continued from the Front Page

However, there are still many things people do miss about the normal school year. Mr. Palm says from an administrative perspective there has been a lot of time spent on protocols and policies that don’t impact teaching, learning or the overall student experience. “That’s the thing that I miss most is having the things that I’m doing hav- ing an actual impact and not doing this because I have to do this for COVID.”

Many people have put in hours of work to make this school year possible. The key to the success of this year has been the commitment from teachers, administrators and students. Mr. Palm thinks, “Its everything we talk about in the middle school, … it’s relationship and partnership. It’s those 2 things. It’s being in respectful relationships.” Only when work together as a community can we confront and overcome challeng- es.

As we transition to this new year, we should keep in mind all the work that went into this process and the positives that have come from being in the middle school, in the middle of a pandemic. This Yolk’s No Joke By Andrew Schwerdt ‘26

Diffusion and osmosis: Mrs. McGauley told our science class that these two processes are some of the most critical topics in science this year. After learning the basics about diffusion and osmosis, she told us that we were going to have to do a project using these concepts. This project was to show what would happen to an egg when it goes through the process of osmosis, or the movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low con- centration over a selectively permeable membrane.

Now it was time to start the project! First, we gathered our materials; we needed an egg, a cup, a ruler, a piece of string, food dye, vinegar, water, and a piece of paper. After we got our materials, we put the egg in a cup and let it sit in vin- egar. As soon as the egg was submerged in the vinegar, we Coming Together During Movember could quickly see that the vinegar was starting to rip off the By Alex Pappas ‘24 shell. A few days later, we took the egg out of the vinegar, This past November, we at CM had excellent participation in Men’s Health Month, washed it down or decanted it, wrote down any observations or Movember for short. For a short refresher, Movember is when we take the whole we had, and measured the circumference with the piece month of November to raise awareness for men’s health issues. At CM, we specifical- of string. We ended up repeating these steps with several ly focused on mental health of men and young boys, but Movember can include all different formulas such as water, water with a food dye, and types of other men’s issues, such as pancreatic cancer and heart disease. The commu- no liquid at all. nity successfully raised over $1,000 for the Movember cause, with over 100 students and faculty participating. Peer Ministers ran many activities to spread information Once we had gathered all of our data from the experiment, around campus and raise awareness about men’s health. One notable event were it was time to present. During the last two in person classes open forums on December 2nd and 9th, where students could come forward and before break, we took all the data and tried to fit it onto a discuss men’s heath, as well as their own personal health. There were very successful poster board. It felt like we were making our very own jig- trivia competitions throughout the month, with a big turnout and lots of prizes, such saw puzzle with our data. After finishing the poster, we had as Chick-fil-a and Dunkin Donuts gift cards. One of biggest highlights of CM in completed our lab on osmosis. In conclusion, this lab was a Movember was Mr. Callahan bravely stepping forward to talk about his battle with very engrossing and intriguing experiment. depression and mental health. He created a great image of taking down the wall on men’s mental health stigma, and encouraged the student body speaking out. All in all, CM had a great month of Movember thanks to the overwhelming support of the community of brotherhood. 8th Graders Begin NHD Process By Andrew McCarthy ‘25 This year in Mrs. Flynn’s social studies class, we are exploring history through NHD. NHD, or National History Day, is a nationwide competition where students create papers, projects and other types of presentations relating to the years NHD theme. This year’s theme is Communication in History. This intentionally broad topic allows students to cover anything from political cartoons to carrier pigeons. In class, we have just completed the essay portion of the project, but much more is yet to come. After Christmas break, we are hitting the ground running, and creat- ing all kinds of fun projects. I do not know what happening in the future for NHD, but I do know that 8th Grade Social Studies students are about to be jam-packed with work.

Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 5 Speech and Debate Continue to Dominate Online By Nick Olwell ‘21 Returning to the speech and debate field this year, like every- thing else from 2020, was anything but normal. Instead of walk- ing through crowded Natick High hallways greeting friends from other schools, competitors are walking down CM’s all to famil- iar hallways, seeing the faces of only teammates. Competitions where you would see hundreds of teenagers in suits, turn into Saturday’s where you see maybe 30. Standing in front of six or more audience members in a classroom, turned into performing to a computer screen. Standing on stage and receiving a tro- phy, turned into a zoom webinar and mailed out award medals. With such hectic changes, it would be easy to brush off a lack of success in unfamiliar circumstances. The team was anything but unprepared, however.

With the Catholic Memorial Speech and Debate team having competed in seven contests since September (five of which are Remote Learning local and in MA), they seem to be in a strong position to contest By Connor Clifford ‘26 for another state title. That state championship, however, is still months away and a lot can change. “We just have to focus on Remote learning has been tough for the 7th grade due to the necessary schedule right now, can’t be worried about future contests, just succeeding changes. Another way this has affected the 7th grade, is when we would have in the moment”, said senior captain Nick Olwell. Still, it’s hard Monday holidays, and the online work was due the next day, and there would be not to be pleased with where the team stands. Just five months no time to procrastinate. However, most of the 7th grade has put up with the time ago, finding new kids for the program was hard and recruitment management. With the help of some great teachers in the middle school, we have was low. Virtual performances aren’t exactly the most attractive learned how to adapt to the circumstances and manage our time better. The middle thing to show incoming freshmen. Yet, the crew kept at it and schoolers also had to contend with some unavoidable weather that had nothing to gained a great competitive force. Now, the team has found their do with the pandemic. The Thursday before vacation, heavy snow came down, voice and continues to impress every weekend. and knocked out the power for some kids, creating a difficult challenge for them because they were not able to learn the material that was being taught in the class. “I’m very proud of the ways the boys, especially juniors and However, the teachers completely understood these difficulties and worked closely sophomores have stepped up and taken their performances to with students as soon as the power was back up. One positive thing about the re- the next level”, said senior captain Ben Kimball. Among the high mote learning is that everybody is safe and does not have a high risk of catching the risers this year, have been juniors Aiden Healey, Gerald Sewack, virus while they are at their desk/table at their house. Another positive about the and James Julian; sophomores Johnny Cardarelli and William remote learning is that you have enough time to complete the homework that your Masferrer; and even freshman Pat Blomberg. “It’s fantastic to see teachers gave you the day before. Furthermore, if you unfortunately do catch the a new kid like that [Blomberg] come in and hit the ground run- coronavirus, remote learning provides a way to keep up with the rest of the class. ning. The success shows we’re in a good place for years to come” Remote learning provides another tool in our toolbelt to deal with various chal- said one of the three senior captain’s Luke Esposito. The team lenges thrown at us by an unpredictable world. Fortunately, the CM community is remains confident of the future and is excited to start competing ready to tackle any challenge! again in 2021. Bridges of Spaghetti By Eric Su ‘25

Eighth graders at Catholic Memorial have been working on a spaghetti masterpiece. These future engineers were been tasked with creating a bridge. The goal is for the bridge to hold at least 4.5 kilograms. Each student gets only two boxes of spaghetti and a bottle of glue and must create a bridge at least 40 centimeters in length with a width of at least 6 centimeters. Additionally, the bridges must weigh no more than 500 grams and have a height of no more than 25 centimeters. In order to create a bridge which holds 4.5 kilograms, trusses shaped like trian- gles were made, as triangles are the strongest shape. Instead of gluing together one spaghetti at a time, students tried to glue them together to form a “circular” ball, adding strength to the truss. Then, students put a truss above the bridge to connect the trusses on the sides in or- der to add stability. An additional challenge was the string tied in the middle of the bridge. Thus, students had to find a way to support the middle of the bridge to prevent it from collapsing. Some solutions that students found included layers to the truss, as well as making a truss at the top of the bridge to connect the two trusses. This helped with sta- bility and stiffened the bridges. On test day, the bridges were made to try and sustain 4.5 kilograms or roughly 10 pounds. The bridges were also measured for the right dimensions and the use of correct materi- als. Most bridges did not survive against the weight.

In conclusion, sustaining 4.5 kilograms on one’s spaghetti bridge may seem like a daunting task. However, if one makes the right decisions, and learns from his failures, it possible to create a lasting bridges out of brittle spaghetti. This project was certainly a challenge for me and my classmates, but it was also a lot of fun and a great learning opportunity.

Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 6 CMMUN 2020 By John Marcucci ‘22

On November 14th, CM hosted its ninth annual Model UN Conference, including about 140 delegates from 12 different schools. This time, instead of trav- elling long distances to gather on campus, delegates simply sat down and logged onto Zoom. As a com- mittee chair and one of three co – Secretary Generals, along with Aidan Healy and Jack Hood, I can tell you that it was certainly an adjustment from the previous year. Yet, with the guidance of our moderators, Mr. Vincent Bradley and Mr. Thomas Jordan, and the help of our partners at Ursuline Academy, the confer- A Review of 45 Plays For 45 Presidents ence was a complete success. Aidan Healy ‘22 I ran the Andrew Johnson Impeachment Commit- Continues from the Front Page tee, a historical committee where the delegates took - show, constant musical transitions, and astound precision lighting. Using the features of the on the role of key senators in the Impeachment trial new Performance Studio, the stage crew produced the greatest technological production at of President Andrew Johnson in 1867. For several Baker Street to date. Speaking as an actor, I couldn’t imagine a greater high school production hours, delegates in the various political factions of team to make the words of a script come to life. the 1860s debated, eventually holding a vote to find Additionally, despite facing difficult circumstances, the actors of 45 Plays created an Andrew Johnson not guilty of impeachment. The del- immersive interpretation of our nation’s leaders. The range of this show was truly astounding, egates’ deep knowledge of the historical background as each individual sketch had a completely different pace, tone, chronological theme, equip- and their eloquence impressed me. ment, and more. For an actor, understanding one character is usually a challenge; immersing yourself in many complex leaders over three centuries is extremely difficult. Just as impressive as the delegates, were the various The show was full of amazing actors in well-written roles, but I just want to highlight a CM students that kept the conference running. A few.Senior Giuseppe Presti nailed Bill Clinton’s Southern drawl in a sketch that included Mrs. committee chair and co – Secretary General, Aidan Rich. Sean Fay shined as Ronald Reagan while Mrs. Riley acted the part of Nancy Reagan. Healy ‘22, said, “I am really proud of all the students Connor Graham captured Bush Jr. in two sketches. John Marcucci as Martin van Buren and who participated in Model UN. From the middle Aidan Healy as Andrew Jackson enterained the audience with a comedic back and forth. In schoolers helping with the conference to the under- another sketch, Aidan Healy captivated the audience as FDR, while Mrs. Messigner flawless- classmen assuming leadership positions for the first ly pulled off Eleanor Roosevelt. Jack Hood, in his acting debut, perfected the role of General time, they all made a seamless virtual transition. Grant, alongside Mrs. Flynn as Julia Grant. Freshman Christopher Boensel showed great From communication to execution, the brotherhood promise in the role of Thomas Jefferson. was apparent, and our conference rocked as a result.” At times, 45 Plays for 45 Presidents required humor, levity, and immense speed. While, Moderators from other schools were certainly im- on a twist of a dime, a dramatic, prolonged, emotional sketch would follow. From a theatrical pressed by the smoothness of the conference. Mrs. perspective, traveling throughout the chronological bounds of the United States, in a mere two Greeley, a moderator from Masconomet said, “I was hours, wasn’t easy. The technological complexity, sketch diversity, and historical understanding very impressed by everything I saw, and especially necessary to perform this show made 45 Plays the most multiplex and advantageous CM show how smooth/natural it all seemed. … it didn’t feel to date - notwithstanding COVID - 19. Although, as students, we worked tirelessly to bring 45 that different from a regular in-person conference Plays to life, we could’t have done it without help. after all” On that note, just as with any CM theatre production, an immense volume of gratitude is due. As a seasoned CM actor, I have realized every show has one constant: The persistent, Delegates from other schools were similarly im- daily efforts, work, instruction, and vital leadership of director Dr. Corso, assistant director pressed. One delegate said, “I found the experience Mr. Healy, and technical director Br. Phelps. Without the support, guidance, execution, and to be great, the chair did very well although he was advocacy of our faculty leaders, CM shows would be impossible and we would not be able to on his own for my committee.” Another delegate do what we love. Thank you. echoed that sentiment saying, “The conference went Additionally, a bevy of faculty contributions and cameons were vital to the success of very well! My chair, even though it was his first time, 45 Plays for 45 Presidents. On behalf of all CM thespians, I would like to thank the CM Histo- did amazingly.” The praise was gratifying for all the ry Department’s scholarly assistance and in - class promotion of our show, especially depart- chairs, who put a lot of effort into creating their re- ment chair Mr. Bradley. I also send a great deal of gratitude to Mrs. Eberly, Mrs. Porter, Mrs. spective committees. But, equally deserving of praise, Concannon, Mr. Catano, Mr. Meagher, Dr. Cave, and Br. Cavet for contributing to one of the although their work was behind the scenes were Mr. most introspective, emotional, and poignant sketches of our show: Personal reflections on the Bradley and Mr. Jordan. Aidan Healy said, “Their assanitation of JFK. Furthemore, in light of COVID - 19 we were not able to perform with girls guidance and advice were critical to the function- from our sister schools. In lieu of this, I would like to extend a special thanks to Mrs. Messen- ing of this conference. I don’t know if we could have ger, Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Flynn, and Mrs Rich who joined our troupe to fulfill these roles. The show pulled it off without them.” would certainly have been impossible without them. Finally, I would like to thank all of you for supporting our program. Naturally, a Zoom Now that our conference has been successfully show is not nearly as enticing as a regular performance in the Ronnie. Our program relies on completed, Catholic Memorial members of Model the patronage and support of the CM community, and we are always thankful for your unwav- UN look to attend other conferences as delegates. ering support. For any CM students looking to join Model UN, feel free to stop by Room 8 and talk to our moderator Mr. Bradley.

Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 7 Outside CM Rose’s Bounty By Seamus Henry ‘25 Did you know 27.4% of people in Roxbury are struggling with hunger? In fact, many West Roxbury residents struggle with hunger. One way you can help with this struggle so many people near us have is volunteering at Rose’s Bounty. Rose’s Bounty is a food pantry in West Roxbury, one of the few organizations that allows teen volunteers.

After interviewing the Executive director, Dara, I learned that Rose’s Boun- ty has many programs serving veterans, kids and families in need. When she told me the numbers, I was shocked, not just by how many people they help, but by thinking about how many people need help just outside our front door. According to Dara they serve around 785 people and families weekly. What makes the packages they serve so special is that they are handmade. I done volunteer work there, and they really are hand prepared. You add all the ingredients and food into a bag, and then the bags get handed out later. The time of Covid-19 has affected hunger everywhere, A New Hope: The Rise of the Vaccine making Rose’s Bounty even busier. They need more volunteers. When you By Garret Smith ‘22 volunteer at Rose’s Bounty you do many things like unload trucks, package bags, and hand out the bags. Every Thursday Rose’s Bounty gets 9,000 to Continued from the Front Page 11,000 pounds of food. They cannot manage that alone. Help is wanted and needed. Dara is worried that they could lose volunteers. Dara said “we love -have been approved by the FDA and many other epidemiological when kids come and help.” So why not come and help? Unloading boxes organizations in the United States as safe for mass inoculation. Many and trucks are great ways to help Rose’s Bounty. Another way to help is factors went into the approval process and it was held to the highest donating food. Scouts, people and schools all donate to Rose’s Bounty. Why standard and although the use of these types of vaccines are new, it has would we not? After I volunteered at Rose’s Bounty I just wanted to go been very well researched for decades and is very understood. Also, back. Everyone there had such a kind and helping attitude, even the teens. it is not possible to get COVID-19 from this vaccine because they do I plan to keep going and volunteering for Rose’s Bounty. They need help as not contain a live virus. Most vaccines usually are weakened viruses much as any other food pantry. Helping with Rose’s Bounty is helping fight or pieces of them to prompt the immune system to begin to generate hunger. antigens. The mRNA is placed within a capsule that protects it against the proteins looking to destroy the foreign matter, so it can make it to If you want to help battle hunger, volunteer at Rose’s Bounty or any food the cells to “instruct” them how to make spike proteins. The spike pro- pantry. Our area is insecure when it comes to having food. I hope this ar- teins trigger an immune response specific to SARS-CoV-2, and it never ticle finds you volunteering to fight hunger. If you want to volunteer, there enters the nucleus or has any effect on the DNA of the cell (CDC). email is below. Overall, this development is a vital breakthrough with mRNA vaccines possessing faster manufacturing times and high efficacy. With such [email protected] a contagious virus-like COVID-19, scientists need these qualities to reach the threshold that will stop the virus in its tracks. A Fresh Look at the History of the Both vaccines are currently being produced in mass to be distributed Supreme Court and they are nearly identical in how they work. Both have been tested By John Marcucci ‘22 during their phase 3 trials to be nearly 95% effective. Dr. Paul Offit With the controversy surrounding President Trump’s decision to fill explained “Even though they’re both messenger RNA vaccines, they’re Justice Ginsburg seat before the election and the subsequent nomination different messenger RNA molecules, they have different so-called and confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, I thought it was an opportune lipid delivery systems, meaning the sort of fatty droplet in which the time to take a look at the history of our highest court. In Article 3 of the messenger RNA is located. That’s why they have different storage and Constitution, it declares, “The judicial Power of the United States, shall handling characteristics”. So, there are some deviations between the be vested in one supreme Court.” Just below, in section II, it clarifies, exact makeup of each of the top companies, the Moderna can be safely “The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, aris- stored in normal freezer temperatures, while Pfizer requires minus-75 ing under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties degrees Celsius, maintained by the “cold chain” in ultra-freezers (Lev- made, or which shall be made, under their Authority.” Other than that, enson, Howard). Moderna will likely be the more adaptable vaccine the Constitution doesn’t say all that much about the extent or the specif- which can be distributed more hassle-free because of the cheaper ics of judicial power. It was left up to Justice John Marshall to carve out transportation price and easy storing. By late spring to early summer an effective role for the Court. 2021, the United States can expect a significant amount of the popu- lation vaccinated, hopefully reaching that 70-75% threshold scientists In the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Supreme Court was created with 6 predict will slow the spread of the coronavirus. total justices and John Jay serving as Chief Justice. But its first big test came in 1803 with Marbury v. Madison. In his final days in office, Pres- The debate over whether the vaccine should be mandatory and regulat- ident John Adams installed a bunch of new judges in order to act as a ed by the government is beginning to die down in the United States as check on the Democratic – Republican majority in power. However, not more and more physicians, hospital staff, and political leaders get the all of the commissions were delivered by the time that Thomas Jefferson first batches. As people see the low reports of any side effects shown, assumed power, and the new secretary of state, James Madison, refused their hope and trust in the vaccine hopefully also go up. In the past to deliver the remaining commissions. One such judge, William Mar- few months, hesitation over getting the vaccine has decreased by a sig- bury, used the Judiciary Act of 1789 to sue Madison to force him to give nificant margin, saying that they will likely get the coronavirus vaccine. him his commission. Adding to the complications was that Jefferson and Many who are skeptical also fear that they will be barred from going to the Democratic - Republicans were considering abolishing or completely certain places and the government will try to control them. The best changing the judiciary. However, Marshall threaded the needle by saying way to decide on whether you should get the coronavirus vaccine or that Marbury ought to have received his commission from Madison not is by simply looking at the data. The data shows the vaccine is safe under the Judiciary Act of 1789, but that the provision that allowed Mar- and effective and will hopefully break us out of this scourge. bury to sue Madison directly in the Supreme Court violated Article III, Section II of the Constitution and was therefore unconstitutional. This Continues on Page 9 Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 8 Politics A Fresh Look at the History of the Supreme Court By John Marcucci ‘22

Continued from Page 8 -assertion that that provision of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was uncon- stitutional established the principle of judicial review, an important step for the court.

As America matured as a nation, so did the judicial system. As the United States added Circuit courts, they also added Justices, peaking at 10 in 1863, then dropping back to 7 in 1866, before settling per- manently at 9 thanks to Senator Lyman Trumbull. The legacy of the Court during the Civil War and the antebellum period is complex and perhaps one of the darker periods of the court. Understandably, considering the lifetime appointments, the Court was a conservative institution, and was dominated by Southerners thanks to a string of Southern Presidents. In 1857, in the landmark Dred Scott v. Sanford decision, Chief Justice Robert Taney, a Southerner wrote a majority opinion that declared that blacks could not become citizens and that the Missouri Compromise was null and void. Although he hoped to settle the slavery question, Taney fanned the flames for Civil War with the North reacting angrily to what they saw as an attempt by the Why Were the Polls So Wrong? Southerners to extend slavery using the Supreme Court. Northerners By Joe Cutting ‘23 like Lincoln refused to accept this and when the Civil War amend- ments were passed, the decision was effectively null and void. During The 2020 election has come and gone, but many questions still linger the war, Lincoln countered Taney’s attempts to curb his emergency about the election. Many of these questions revolve around polls from powers by packing the court with an extra pro – Union justice in 1863. before the election. While most polls were correct with the eventual presidential winner, congressional seats were another story. CNN polls This would not be the last court – packing attempt upon a conser- from October suggested that Democrats would pick up a net gain of ten vative court. In 1937, flushed from a massive reelection victory, Presi- to twenty seats in the House of Representatives, and six seats in the senate. dent Franklin Roosevelt attempted to reshape the court by introducing This would allow Democrats to control both chambers of Congress. A feat a bill that would allow him to add up to 6 new justices, one for every that they had not done since 2008. However, Congressional elections were justice over 70. The resulting storm of public opinion against Roos- not as favorable for Democrats as projected. In fact, in the House, Repub- evelt was unprecedented, especially considering his massive victory licans picked up a net gain of 10 seats in the house. Unless both Georgia just a few months earlier. Roosevelt had clearly miscalculated the special elections go for democrats, republicans will retain the Senate. American people’s support for an independent judiciary. He quickly Which leads to the question as to why the polls were so wrong? There is backed off, re-affirming the power of the judicial branch. one main reason as to why the polls were so wrong. A lack of responses. The Supreme Court again became the center of political attention According to The New York Post, in 1997, about 1/3 of Americans were with the selection of Earl Warren to replace Fred Vinson as Chief willing to respond to poll surveys. Last year, the number was down to Justice of the Supreme Court. Under the Warren Court, America took just six percent of Americans. Due to this fact, there are just not enough many key steps forward as a nation as their decisions targeted dis- Americans everywhere who are willing to be polled. Rural and work- crimination, segregation, and rampant election fraud across the U.S. ing-class voters are far more unwilling to respond to a poll. According to In 1954, in the Brown v. The Board of Education, the Warren Court the Associated Press, rural towns with under 10,000 people voted heavily ruled that segregation was unconstitutional, kicking off a Civil Rights for Trump in 2016. With rural areas being underrepresented in polls and movement that would give African – Americans much greater rights much of the rural population supporting Trump, it makes sense that the and end the control of Jim Crow in the South. This court was also in- polls leaned heavily towards Biden and other democrats. While fixing this strumental in establishing the one man, one vote principles by ending issue is quite difficult, the best way to come up with an accurate poll in the Continued on Page 12 future is to combat this problem and poll more in rural areas. MBTA Cuts Mostly Don’t Affect CM Students By Sean Fay ‘22 Amid ongoing debate and discussion, the Fiscal and Man- agement Control Board and MBTA staff came to the con- clusion to suspend 20 various bussing routes and eliminat- ing weekend commuter rail service on seven of the twelve lines. The Blue Line will also experience service limits, with less trains going forward, despite surprisingly high ridership throughout the pandemic. However, these cuts are only down 5% as opposed to the service cuts of 20% on the Red, Orange, and Green Line. The Commuter Rail will continue to run on weekends on the Worcester, Providence, Newburyport/Rockport, Middleboro, and Fairmount Lines. These lines could not be limited because they still account for over two thirds of the of the Commuter Rail weekend usage. All bus service after midnight will be ended, and all bus cuts will affect approximately 3,445 riders. This move is projected to save 38 million dollars which are planned to be devoted towards the city’s COVID-19 vaccination distribu- tion and testing. Right is a list of all bus services that will be suspended with this action: Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 9 Faculty Corner Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Clark Interview by Ryan Horrigan ‘21

Have you ever wondered what really goes on inside the head of a CM Teacher Book Recommendations teacher? What the engines that make the school run are like behind By: Aidan Healy ‘22 the scenes? Well, welcome to the first edition of CM Teacher Spotlight, where we try to answer those very questions. Our first ever edition Faculty Feature - The Good Reads covers Mr. Clark, Commander-in-Chief of the Latin program. Here is a lightly modified transcript of my interview with him: As a Junior, I have had ample experience with CM Faculty. Dynamic in na- ture, CM teachers have provided a breadth of wisdom and knowledge to my Q: Can you give me the basics of little Mr. Clark’s Life? classmates and me. Specifically, the guidance of CM teachers is always most potent in the realm of academia. Below, please find selected recommenda- A: Well, I was born in New York State, and then moved to Connecticut tions of must - reads by everyone’s favorite CM teachers. when I was four or so. I have a younger sister and an older sister. I really value being in the middle of them- I’m very close to both. I actually went Dr. Corso - Theology to a high school pretty similar to CM, it was a smallish all-boys Catholic high school. It will come as a surprise to no one that my top choice is J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. All of Tolkien is amazing, but LOTR is his masterpiece. It is Q: So, when did you first get into Latin? Was it at that high school, or filled with Christian themes and is must read for any Knight. later on in college?

For non-fiction Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People A: I actually did Spanish from first grade all the way through high is a must read. Perhaps second only to the Bible, this book has been the big- school, but I had always really loved the Greek myths, the epics, the Iliad, gest influence on my life. Any CM student who strives for excellence should all the Greek and Roman stories and plays, so I started Greek my first read this. There is a “For teenagers...” version written by Covey’s son, but I year of college, and then Latin my second year. believe our young men can handle the primary text. Q: Moving on to your alma mater, Holy Cross. Why did you end up becoming a Crusader? Mr. Champagńe - Mathematics A: Holy Cross has an incredible campus feel. It’s welcoming, it’s beautiful, it’s the right size in that there’s plenty of space yet it still has an intimate Catcher in the Rye: This is my favorite book. It details a young man’s journey feel where you don’t need to be shuttled around everywhere. They also with mental illness and how one can overcome such obstacles by seeking out had one of the best classics programs in the country, the rowing team help from those who love him. was great, it was a good distance from home, so everything really just lined up. A Tale of Two Cities: I love this story. It talks about how trauma can affect someone and their family forever, and how sacrifice is the greatest show of Q: When did you first know you wanted to be a teacher? What first at- Love. tracted you to it?

Odyssey: One of the original Epic stories, this tells about a man’s twenty-year A: I really threw myself headfirst into Greek and Latin in college, and long journey to get back home and deals with some of my favorite themes: that is a bit of a narrow field if you want to continue with it. It trains you redemption and free will. for plenty of different skills, but if you want to continue to read in Greek and Latin, the options are a bit limited. So, I really enjoyed the fact that Mr. Bradley - History the Holy Cross classics classes are, similar to CM, mixed grade levels. I was eventually with students who were younger than me, and we would Edmund Morris, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt has always been work together. That was when I really first got enjoyment out of helping a hero of mine since I visited Sagamore Hill as a 3rd grader on a field trip. others understand and get into classics. This Pulitzer Prize-winning book represents the gold standard in presidential biography. Morris captured Theodore Roosevelt in all his exuberance as a Q: What do you think is the best part of CM so far? botanist, young historian, New York politician, cowboy, police commissioner of New York City, war hero of the Spanish-American War, and vice president. A: As emotional as it sounds, I really do have to say the students. They While previous writers treated TR’s widely varied career and ascendence to bring so much enthusiasm, so much spark, fresh perspective on texts the presidency as coincidence, Morris argued that TR’s drive and ambition that I’ve read plenty of times. Something that I’ve looked at time and made him an inevitable president. Morris’ book landed him the position of time again and decided “Oh, it must say this, or it must be about this,” official biographer of Ronald Reagan (with less success). But eventually Mor- you guys have really insightful comments to make on it, and I’ve loved ris returned to his life’s work as TR’s best biographer, concluding with a final being welcomed into the community so much even though I’m still rela- volume titled with the greeting he preferred: Colonel Roosevelt. I utilize the tively new. I’ve always felt from the first day really welcome, really part of content in this book in AP US History and Presidents in Conflict. the community.

Rick Bragg, All over but the Shoutin’. Rick Bragg wrote for the New York Q: The main takeaway from your classes is obviously learning how to Continued on Next Page Continued on the Page 12 Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 10 Teacher Book Reccommendations By: Aidan Healy ‘22 Continued From Previous Page Pulitzer Prize; he is as pure writer as I know. As a young teacher, I read Bragg’s book after a relative gave it to me for Christmas. Bragg grew up in a poor family in Alabama with a violent and abusive father and a loving mother, who encouraged him to transcend his upbringing. He writes honestly and in an evocative manner about the pride, shame, and prejudice of growing up white in the South, but in many ways the book is an ode to his mother. I have been thinking of this book during the pandemic because I have been thinking of my own mother, the role of my wife with our two sons, and the mothers of the boys I teach. There is something powerful about the impact of mothers, and I encourage students to thank their moms for everything they do. I would love some day to teach a class on the depiction of mothers in memoirs and I would include Bragg’s book, as well as Russell Baker’s Growing Up, and Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes.

Evan Thomas,Robert Kennedy: His Life. I really loved Evan Thomas’ look at Robert Kennedy, the third Kennedy brother to die serving his coun- try. As a journalist, Thomas writes in an accessible style that is easy to read and well-crafted. As a skeptic, Thomas is realistic and critical of Bobby Kennedy, avoiding the hagiography of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. At the same time, the Bobby Kennedy that emerges is one of possibility and change. I developed an interest in Kennedy’s campaign in 1968 and I still hold something of an idealistic view of Kennedy as a politician who perhaps had the ability to offer our country a different kind of politics. Kennedy demonstrated a multi-racial appeal. While his assassination stole that path for our country, I think it is worthy revisiting his life and capacity to change and grow in the face of new circumstances. I certainly use some of this book in teaching American history.

Mr. Clark - Latin

The Iliad, Homer

The Iliad is, without a doubt, the seminal work of Western literature. If it were the only work of Western literature, we would not be worse off by any means. Carefully crafted for centuries by oral poets, every line of this astounding epic is skillfully composed and backs a powerful punch. From the bloody, brutal battle scenes of heroes hacking each other down on the plains of Troy, to the tender, familial scenes of Achilles being comforted by his mother as he gazes out over the ocean, to the series of lively funeral games held by the Greeks for their fallen brother-in-arms, the beauty of this tale is unrivaled. I recommend an edition with a good index of names in the back, to help with the lesser-known characters and places. It is a daunting endeavor, but a life-changing one.

El Aleph, Jorge Luis Borges

El Aleph is a masterful showcase of Borges’ short story writing. He combines history and mythology, the ancient and the modern, philosophy and religion, the familiar and the unknown. Each story takes the reader down a dark, twisting maze, only to leave them with more questions to pon- der at the end. They are stories that are meant to be returned to again and again, allowing one to continually wrestle with their meaning. Borges himself was a preeminent writer, thinker, and scholar, and should be on every reader’s bookshelf. In Spanish, he can be challenging at times but immensely rewarding, so read it with a dictionary app open. His works are also widely available in English, with many of his best short stories from this and other collections under the fitting title of Labyrinths.

King Solomon’s Mines, H. R. Haggard

This novel is the genesis of the “lost world” genre, and is a delightfully fun read. It follows three adventurers, with Allan Quartermain as their leader, on an expedition deep into Africa. On their journey, they stumble upon a civilization that is untouched by the outside world, and quickly find themselves backing the rightful heir of this kingdom in his quest to regain the throne. While not without its flaws, King Solomon’s Mines does show a respect for these African indigenous cultures that was rare at the time, and is a compelling reflection on European colonialism. You’ll recognize many of the events and motifs in the book from the subsequent action-adventure tales that looked to it as a model.

Mrs. Messenger - English

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The City of Ember is the first in the Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau. The city itself is dark; there is no natural light, the electricity is failing, food is running low, crops are dwindling, and the city’s leaders are corrupt. The two twelve-year-old main characters, Doon and Lina, discover that there may be a way out of this city and a way to save its inhabitants. It is up to them to discover if it can be done and potentially lead the way for others. This book is post-apocalyptic science fiction and is compelling as readers invest themselves in the plight of Lina and Doon and the challenges they face. It is definitely a good read! The next book in the series, The People of Sparks, continues the story and is also great.

Of course, a HUGE THANK YOU to all the faculty members who were willing to participate. Your time and effort sacrificed for this article is very much appreciated. Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 11 Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Clark Interview by Ryan Horrigan Continued From Page 10 lesson do you most want your students to take away from your classes? In other words, what quality do you want your students to have after your class other than just being good at reading Latin?

A: I think for me, it’s the focus on an interdisciplinary approach. In my classes, we approach things very reading and grammar and litera- ture-based, but we also try to bring in a lot of the culture, a lot of the mythology, to show my students that yes, it’s important to be able to read critically and get a good translation, but if you lack the broader context or don’t understand the history, the culture, the mythology, you’re lost. So, when you’re reading something in Latin or English, the importance on looking at the broader context and doing a deep dive rather than just assuming you know what it says

Q: I could probably write a three-page essay on what the struggles of online learning have been from the student perspective, but what was the Student Book Recommendations hardest part of transitioning online from a teaching perspective? By Matt Salafia ‘24 A: I really missed the little check-ins with you guys. I missed hearing -A Prayer for Owen Meany about who got confirmed, who got their driver’s license, whose family This touching novel by John Irving, follows Owen Meany, a relatively poor, got a puppy, because we had to use the time that we had online so well stunted young boy with an unforgettable voice. His story is told by his best that it kind of smushed out those more silly interactions. That was prob- friend, Johnny Weelright, as they mature into draft-age men in Vietnam-era ably the biggest thing that I missed. Having students hanging out in my New Hampshire. Owen, whose intelligence is unparalleled and faith un- room before or after school, or kids finding me before lunch, those really matched, accidentally kills Johnny’s mother with a stray foul ball during a small check-ins that the online platform doesn’t really allow for. little league baseball game. The book follows their journey thereafter, as they go through middle school, high school, and eventually college. While the Q: From your perspective, what did students struggle the most with book can come off as quite abrasive at times, it never fails to convey how moving online, and the how did you try and help them out? much of an impact faith has on each of our daily lives. A: I think the students really struggled from a lot of fatigue. They weren’t -American Gods moving classes, they weren’t changing classes every half-hour or so, Another classic from Neil Gaiman, American Gods tells the story of Shadow, they didn’t have time to decompress with their friends, their whole day an ex-convict released from prison 3 days after his wife and his best friend was spent in front of a computer in the same chair, so I tried to keep my are killed in a car accident. On his way home to the funeral, he meets up classes as close to the way they ran in person as possible. I set up a lot of with a mysterious man, going only by Mr. Wednesday, who employs him to breakout rooms and channels on Teams where my students could go and be his servant of sorts. Shadow soon finds himself in a civil war between the work in their groups and classmates exactly as we did in person, so that “Old Gods” (or classical mythological figures from around the globe) and the we could still have that sense of CM community. They could get their “New Gods” (or ideas that we worship as a culture today, like the media and work done but also chat, catch up, and enjoy each other’s company as technology). While not the most thinly veiled, its message is an important well. criticism of how we as a people blindly worship ideas that may, in fact, come to destroy us. A Fresh Look at the History of the

-The Martian Supreme Court The Martian, by Andy Weir, follows the struggle of astronaut Mark Watney By John Marcucci ‘22 in 2035 struggling for survival after being left behind by his crew on Mars. Continued from Page 8 Mark, who loses contact with both his team and command in a massive dust rural overrepresentation in state legislatures. The Warren court also clari- storm, is forced to make a temporary 6-person shelter into a more perma- fied the rights of defendants by establishing that defendants had the right nent home for 1 by figuring out how to grow potatoes on the barren Martian to a publicly provided legal counsel in Gideon v. Wainright and the right to hellscape and re-establishing contact with Earth. The book is a testament to know your rights in Miranda v. Arizona, establishing your Miranda rights. the human spirit and how we can trek our way out of even the direst situa- tions with resourcefulness, an iron will, and faith. In 1973, the most controversial Supreme Court case in the modern era was decided in Roe v. Wade. This case protected abortion rights and kicked -Unbroken off a massive controversy between pro – life and pro – choice advocates. Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, tells the awe-inspiring true story of Olym- Much of the desire to shape the Court on both sides of the aisle is centered pic sprinter and veteran Louis Zamperini who endured being held as a POW on the desire to either protect or overturn this decision. After the storm of in 3 Japanese concentration camps after being stranded at sea for 47 days. public attention caused by Roe, the Supreme Court has made less contro- During his time at sea, he was constantly stalked by sharks and was forced to versial, but still important decisions. catch seabirds out of the air to keep from starving. After nearly 50 days, he was captured and took to an internment camp. There, along with many other In Strickland v. Washington in 1984, the Court established that the de- POWs, he endured innumerable human rights violations, though he was sin-fendant must have access to a “reasonably competent” lawyer and a defen- gled out for being an Olympian. Through all this, however, Louis defied all dant can get a re – trial if he can prove that the case probably would have odds through sheer force of will and his steadfast faith in God, going on to been decided differently with a more effective lawyer. Later, Lawrence v. forgive his captors in the latter years of his life and dying peacefully in 2014. Texas (2003) and Oberfell v. Hodges (2015) won great victories for LGBTQ rights. Other rights were also protected in this period, including gun rights -1984 in controversial D.C. v. Heller and 4th Amendment rights in Georgia v. 1984, by George Orwell, takes place in an alternate dystopian timeline and Randolph, a decision that had 2 concurrences and 2 dissenting opinions. follows Winston Smith, a rather ordinary 40-year-old man. He tries to fit into the “Party” as the governing class calls themselves, however he simply In a recent ruling on December 3rd, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that could not. His difficulty fitting in is worsened when a like-minded individu- California’s Covid restrictions on churches violated the 1st Amendment as al, Juila, pushes him to rebel. 1984 is widely regarded as one of the best dys- it unfairly discriminated against houses of worship. This 5-4 ruling high- topian novels, for good reason. It encapsulates the essence of totalitarianism; lighted the importance of the conservative Barrett on the court. As the how a lack of critical thinking and corrupt media mix to bring humans to court prepares to begin yet another session, keep its long history in mind their very worst. While a depressing novel, it is certainly a worthwhile read as you witness the way the court shapes our nation. for anybody. Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 12 From The Editors Dear Readers,

My name is John Marcucci, I am junior at Catholic Memorial and I am the Editor-in-Chief of the Catholic Memorial Newspaper. On behalf of myself, my fellow editors, and all of our writers, we hope you enjoyed our first edition. It took a tremendous effort by many students to construct a newspaper from scratch in the midst of a pandemic. We envision releasing monthly editions of similar style during the rest of this year and for the foreseeable future. Starting a school newspaper has long been a dream of mine, and with the help of my editors and an outstanding team of writers, that dream has come to fruition.

Yet, this is most definitely still a work in progress and in order for this paper to reach its potential, we need input from you. We welcome criticism, comments, questions, and concerns via an email to [email protected] . In order to make the paper better, we need feedback from you, the readers. We hope that this paper will become better with each succeeding edition and grow into something enjoyable, informative and unitive for the Catholic Memorial communi- ty.

To all CM students, we would love it if more of you could join our staff. We can always use more editors, writers, and designers on our team. This does not have to be an overly time – consuming obligation. You can write as little or as much as you want. We will have periodic meetings, but they are not mandatory if you busy with other obligations. Additionally, if you just want to write for a season about your sport or club, that is excellent as well. If you would like to be part of this, send me a Teams message or email me at [email protected].

Furthermore, I am pleased to annouce that the next edition will include a cre- ative writing section. This section will be open to all forms of creative writing and will seek to display some of our fellow students’ hard work. We will be creating a new role of Creative Writing Editor as well as adding a Middle School Editer, open to all middle schoolers and underclassmen. If you are interested in either position, please Teams chat me or send a email to [email protected].

Thanks again for all your support and your readership of the newspaper. Please expect a February edition in roughly a month’s time via various CM channels.

Wishing you all the best,

John Marcucci ‘22

Editor-in-Chief P.S. I hope you enjoyed some of the amazing artwork on this page and Page 2. To submit your art to be featured in the paper, send me an email.

Contact

Editor-in Chief: John Marcucci ‘22 [email protected]

Managing Editor: Aidan Healy ‘22 [email protected]

CM Life Editor: Ryan Horrigan ‘21 [email protected]

Sports Editor: Brendan Galvin ‘22 [email protected]

Politics Editor: Joe Cutting ‘23 [email protected]

Faculty Advisor: Mr. Brian Clark [email protected]

Catholic Memorial Newspaper Page 13