The Cistercian Informer Volume 52 | Issue 2 | October 2020 www.CistercianInformer.com In This Issue Meet Mr. West

Ayden Kowalski, ‘21, who is our avid interviewer.

This year, two new science teach- ers joined Cistercian. One is Mr. West, who teaches junior and senior IN NEWS: New Oscars Guidelines chemistry. TheInformer caught up Photo From Creative CommonsPhoto Creative From Fixing racial bias in film with him to learn a little bit about one of the newest members of the Hawks’ nest.

How did you find your way to Cis- tercian?

So, this is actually kind of funny. In grad school, I was working for a Dr. Kroll who turns out to be the husband of Dr. Kroll here. And it IN EDITORIALS: Is Democracy in Photo From Creative CommonsPhoto Creative From was just about when the pandemic Danger? hit and everything kind of changed. name in for this year because I’ve Photo By Exodus What will the upcoming election lead to? We went to online school; we had always loved teaching more than re- So, and it goes to a little bit earlier a couple of weeks there where we search when it came to grad school, than grad school as well, because in didn’t really know what we were do- per se. And after that, a few inter- grad school I was a TA, mostly for ing. Around that time, I got an email views and I got the call from Father Gen Chem at first and then later for from Dr. Kroll letting me know Paul saying, “Hey, welcome aboard. P Chem, but I was constantly in the of a couple of openings at private We’d love to have you.” Pretty happy position of ‘I’ve got these students schools in the area, this being one of to be here, I must say. who I relate a lot to having just been Photo By Exodus By Photo them, and I had heard of Cistercian in their position, and they need to before because he had mentioned to How does your experience in understand these concepts to get the us that, ‘Oh, yes. My wife is head of graduate school inform the style of grade, get the credit, and move on.’ IN NEST: The Senior Compound science at an all boys’ private school your teaching? And so, my task was always to not A brief history of the world, leading up to out in Irving.’ And seeing that, I this moment just administer the labs, but do my thought, let me go ahead and put my Continued on Page 2 The Need for a Third Party

force voters to do more research on Coby Scrudder, ‘21. candidates and to understand their STAFF policies, not just know which party Last month’s issue may have they belong to. With multiple par- Photo From Creative CommonsPhoto Creative From IN SPORTS: Americans Abroad WRITERS Making our mark on the international left you feeling like our system is ties, this could mean that someone Saish Satyal, Ayden Kowalski, Ethan scene flawed beyond repair. However, could vote for every political party Ramchandani, Maxwell Vaughan, there are many concrete steps that based off of the candidates that they Tarun Senthil-Kumar can be taken to save our democra- like, and that is how a representative cy. I think that there are five major democracy should function. SECTION EDITORS steps that could be taken to achieve 2. Redo Campaign Laws - Nest: Saish Satyal this goal, with some being easier to Right now, with the way that laws News: Ethan Ramchandani accomplish than others. are set up, it is harder to finance Arts: Mateo Ramirez 1. Remove political parties an independent than a main-par- Sports: Chase Frutos and the party-line vote from bal- ty candidate. So called “sore-loser Middle School: Mateo Ramirez lots - Currently, on the ballot, each laws” prevent qualified candidates Editorials: Mateo Ramirez Photo From Creative CommonsPhoto Creative From IN MIDDLE SCHOOL: Distance candidate has what political party from running as independents or Learning they represent next to their name. third-party candidates if they lose PRODUCTION One student’s views on its pros and cons This allows a voter who knows noth- in a primary. These laws allow for Layout: Mateo Ramirez ing about each candidate to walk in the minority of voters that vote in Digital: Ayden Kowalski and vote solely based off of the “D” a primary to stop a candidate who Pictures: Tarun Senthil-Kumar or “R” next to the candidate’s name. may have had large voter appeal Faculty Sponsors: Mr. Laurange, They don’t even have to fill in every across party lines. In addition to Br. Matthew bubble—they can bubble in just one these hurdles, third-party candi- bubble and therefore vote party-line dates also face the problem of not EDITOR-IN-CHIEF down the entire ballot. This system having as strong of a backing as Alex Smith reinforces the idea that it is the par- Republicans and Democrats. Both ty, not the candidate that matters. It parties have their own think tanks OTHER CONTRIBUTORS allows voters to not have to do any Photo From Creative CommonsPhoto Creative From IN ARTS: Cistercian BraveArtists and data analytics firms that only Santiago Ramirez, Emmanuel Barajas, A showcase of Senior writing! research, and simply vote with their work for them, which disadvantages Dominic Andrews, Beto De Los Santos, party. If we got rid of this, it would Continued on Page 3 Jakob Quarles, Josef Novinski Page 2 Nest The Informer Meet Mr. West (Cont’d) best using just a board and a marker afterwards. They’re like, “What was mental particles. Like at the very And then one thing I’ve heard is to help them understand whatever this about?” And in trying to work bottom, when you start looking into that you’ve described yourself as a it was in their lecture that perhaps out how to best present it to them, I what they call the standard model gamer in class. they were missing. was working out more optimal ways of particle physics, we start to find to give people the concepts such that that all reality, as we can perceive it Yeah. I haven’t described myself as But all this goes back to even fur- they can be understood because I anyway, is only composed of some that. My seniors have assigned that ther, when I was an undergrad. I, really think chemistry doesn’t have 13, 14 different particles that can be label to me. all the way back to Gen Chem, I to be complex, but a lot of the ways plugged into specific classes. And was constantly helping students it’s taught makes it needlessly so. it’s merely the arrangement and Oh. around me understand the concepts combination that gives rise to all the that we had covered in lecture. So, I guess just through all this experi- complexity we see at the level of our I suppose it’s not wrong. I do play it wasn’t really something I set out ence I’ve managed to find a pretty own life or the level of galaxies and video [games]. to do. Study groups just started to good balance between being techni- stars and whatnot. form. They were always asking me cal enough for the material to mat- Do you have any favorite franchis- to, “Hey, would you come in and ter, but understandable enough and Seeing all this chaos emerge from es or individual games? work some problems with us?” And relatable to the real world enough order and the order that forms from it would end up being me with a that people can understand it. that chaos was very interesting to So, I would say favorite individual group of five or six and I’m work- me. And then I stuck with it just game’s… shoot, so in terms of stuff ing on a little pocket whiteboard or What drew you to chemistry itself? really for an aptitude. It came down that I actually play regularly, I’ve some such. So, in a way, I’ve kind of to it, I was going to college. I had always been really big into fighting been training for this. I guess I was always good at it in to pick something and [if I had games. I have to say my favorite out school. There was just something chosen] a music degree, as much as of all of those is one called Street A lot of what I do in lecture is really very neat about the idea that from I would have loved to do it, my par- Fighter III: 3rd Strike from 1999. that same style of ‘I have a grasp these very basic pieces, all the ele- ents wouldn’t have been happy with It’s really old, but generally, [I play] of this concept and you all would ments you find on a periodic table, that. They said, “How are you going fighting games,Street Fighter, Tek- like to, so let me see if I can find a we get biological life forms, we get to make money with that?” Yeah. ken. I’m trying to remember what way to make this make sense.’ And all sorts of minerals and organic I’m not that good. else I really play, more obscure stuff. this has helped me refine methods, compounds that all have such wildly But if we’re talking best of all time, ways of presenting concepts that different properties. I just found the What instrument did you play? that’s a different question. people tend to get more than others. whole thing really fascinating. It’s helped me weed out bad teach- Guitar. Still play it to this day. It’s We’ll leave it up to the readers to ing that I received, that left a lot of And physics is neat too because it’s fun. I think there’s a lot of value in find this answer. people confused. So, we would get even more fundamental to me. It’s having hobbies like that, that are not something in lecture that would like going even simpler and seeing only creative, but also push you in This interview was edited for length leave people behind, so to speak. the beauty and complexity that can some kind of technical way. and clarity. And then we’d be in the study group emerge from much more funda- The Senior Compound Following in the class’s naturally decreed mass along with a multi-thousand-dollar the footsteps of migration. So, left without a home, Microsoft Surface Hub to serve as a their predeces- the class of 2021 wandered around replacement for a projector, though sors, it became a campus in search of a new class- the teachers have yet to extensively tradition for the room space. use this elegant and expensive piece rising senior class And search they did, far and of technology. Also, Fr. Lawrence of Cistercian Pre- wide, until they found it: the library, has moved into his new den, known paratory School home of the occasional middle formerly as Mr. Graham’s old office. in Irving, Texas, school reader and the frequent high And of course, the ping pong table to invade and schooler trying to write an entire es- is now found at the entrance of the expel the grad- say for Mr. Saliga during ten-minute library. Photo By Fr. Lawrence uating senior class from the senior break. It became the Promised Land Now, many have asked about Emmanuel Barajas, ‘21, who chroni- hallway. So, in the year 2020, it was for Senior-kind. Under the shrewd entering to behold the majesty and cles these historical events. time for the senior class of 2021 to leadership of their beloved Form grandeur of the Senior Compound. follow the path laid out by its forefa- Master, Fr. Lawrence, and our val- I will say only what I have been told. Europe, c. 400 AD, saw thers: to leave the classrooms inhab- iant student body president, Michael Admittance into the Senior Com- vast hordes of migrating Germanic ited by Forms I through VII with Wilson, Form VIII triumphantly pound is restricted to an elite group people, our ancestors, invade and their charming little cubbies, nos- conquered the library, and officially of people. The only requirement for sack the Western Romans. Next, the talgic hallways, and oddly slanted dubbed it the Senior Compound. students to enter is as follows: be a Britons, c. 900 AD, were invaded by roofs, and migrate down the stairs, Work had to be done to senior. Vikings hailing from Scandinavia. as is ancient custom, to the senior make this place a home. First, the The senior class has adapted Then, the Native Americans, c. 1600 classrooms to carry out the expul- Library was divided into two sec- well to its new habitat. Although AD, were invaded by the English, sion. tions. One became the Library’s they do not have conventional class- the very descendants of the convo- However, something hap- Classroom—not to be confused rooms or any room to store their luted mix of Vikings and Britons. pened then that the fates did not with the Library Classroom—and books, and the seats in the library Finally, in Irving, c. 1970, the rising intend. The class of 2021 was dis- the other became a comfortable classroom are inexplicably far more senior class invaded the senior hall- allowed this privilege by the most lounge area used for intense gaming. uncomfortable than the typical way for the first time, expelling its aggravating reason imaginable: The Library’s Classroom has twen- Cistercian desk, the senior class is former residents, the class of ’70. COVID-19. The virus prevented ty-three desks and four white boards happy with its new residence. Page 3 Editorials The Informer The Need for a Third Party (Cont’d) third parties even more. Even if they date, they win the election. In a tight sense. Two can- could somehow get funding, their three-way race, this could mean that didates could be chances of winning are very small the winner gets 34% of the vote and only a few votes because of their lack of resources. wins. This system does not care that apart, and yet 3. No Party Primaries - One 66% of voters don’t want that candi- one of them gets of the greatest fears of an elected date, but only that they got the most all the votes and official is the possibility of getting votes. An alternative to this is rank the other gets “primaried” (having someone who based voting. This is a hard concept none. This is not also belongs to their party run to grasp, so let me make an example. how a democra- against them in an election). This Let’s say that three candidates, A, cy should work. fear keeps them in line with the par- B, and C, are running against each While there are ty because often it is only the stron- other for Senate. When you vote, arguments to gest supporters of the party who run you mark that A is your first choice, be made for the in party primaries against politicians B is your second, C is your third. If existence of the straying from the party line. This the first results come out and any electoral college, Photo From Creative Commons problem gets even worse when you candidate has more than 50% of the the winner-takes-all system only consider how closed primaries kill first votes, then they win. However, exists to stifle third-party candidates we can do is educate ourselves on off any hope of a moderate winning, if no candidate has 50%, then the and make it harder for them to ac- why we need third parties and what since people from the other polit- candidate with the lowest first place tually make an impact. It is a system we want to see in American politics. ical party who might vote for him votes is eliminated. What happens to designed not for the good of the While it may seem like it is impos- in the general election cannot do so all the people that voted for them? American People, but for the good sible to change an entire system in the closed primary election. One Their vote goes to the second per- of the Political Diarchy of America. that is built to work against us, it solution to this problem is having son on their ballot. This continues I believe that a much better system has been done before. If you would an open primary. What this would until one candidate has more than would be to portion the electoral like to learn more about this issue, mean is that all of the candidates, 50% of the vote and they win the votes by the percentage of votes that I highly recommend the book The regardless of political party, run election. This system helps to get rid each candidate got in that state. If a Politics Industry by Katherine Gehl against each other in the primary, of the feeling that you are “wasting candidate gets 40% of the voters in and Michael Porter. It goes much and the top five then make it to a vote” if you vote for a third party. a state, they should get 40% of the more in depth than I could in this the general election. In the current While this system would mark a electoral votes. Otherwise the votes article, and is exceptional. As Win- two-party system, this would allow huge change in the electoral sys- of that 40% do not matter at all and ston Churchill is often attributed as for competition inside each party tem, it would help pave the way for it is a tyranny of the majority. Thus, saying, “Americans can always be and it would also allow for moderate third-party candidates. this would increase the viability of trusted to do the right thing, once candidates to shine. This system, 5. No Winner-Takes-All third parties in America as they all other possibilities have been paired with the rank-based voting System - In 1992, Ross Perot won could see actual results in the elec- exhausted.” We have exhausted the system, would drastically change the votes of 19 million Americans. toral college. two party system and have seen that how elections work, and would But he won 0 electoral votes. This Going into this election, it is a failure and I have hope that we allow for greater, healthier competi- is because of the winner-takes-all many would say that your vote for will reform our system to make for a tion in them. systems that most states use in their a third party candidate does not better and stronger America. 4. Ranked-Based Voting - presidential race. This means that matter. Yet if you are voting, I would The current US voting system right if a candidate gets just one more recommend that you vote for the *The views expressed within this now is plurality voting. What this vote in a state than another, they candidate who fits with your beliefs, article are those of the author and not means is that if a candidate gets win every single electoral vote in and not just settle for a main party necessarily those of Cistercian or The more votes than any other candi- that state. This makes absolutely no candidate. If you can’t vote, all that Cistercian Informer.* Is Democracy In Danger? November 3rd. To make matters is not nearly enough to swing an effect due to the rise of the Populist Saish Satyal, ‘21. worse, the political discourse in this election, even at state levels. movement and the passing of the country hasn’t exactly been peaceful Around the time of Trump’s 17th Amendment, legally, the state The 2020 Presidential elec- or loving. No matter what candidate statement, The Atlantic leaked a legislatures can still choose their tion is being held in less than 30 wins, a large portion of our country story with the headline “The Elec- Electors. This statement will sound days, and in a year where nothing will likely fly into a rage. On Sep- tion That Could Break America”, extremely partisan, and that’s can be for certain, I am sure of one tember 23rd, President Trump written by Barton Gellman. In it, he because it is; we have continuously thing: it is going to be an absolute refused to commit to a peaceful casually reveals a terrifying contin- seen GOP Senators abandon their disaster. The United States is not transition of power on the basis that gency plan that Trump’s election morals and fall in line with the prepared to hold a proper election there would be widespread voter team has been cooking up. On that Trump administration out of fear of in these circumstances; our polling fraud in the USA. In his own words, same basis of widespread mail-in reprisal. Their lowest moments have places are woefully understaffed, our “We want to have -- get rid of the voter fraud, the President could ask undoubtedly been in their complici- mailing system is slow and crippled ballots and we’ll have a very peace- the Republican-held state legisla- ty and their silence, such as their (in more ways than one), our local ful -- there won’t be a transfer tures in key states to name their refusing to criticize their president election clerks don’t have the re- frankly, there’ll be a continuation. states’ electors for Trump, even if the on his mishandling of the pandemic sources to manage the influx of The ballots are out of control.” We state actually goes for Biden. As per or allowing him to make egregious ballots, our voters are either too must make one thing clear before we the Constitution, the highest law in statements with no refutation (like scared to leave their houses or don’t proceed: the ballots are not out of the land, the President is decided by labeling NYC as an anarchist juris- trust our voting systems, and, at the control. The Brennan Center for the Electors, not the people. Origi- diction). The point being, it should end of it all, we won’t know who the Justice, using data from 3 separate nally, the Electors were chosen by come as a shock to no one if a next President of the United States elections, has calculated the rate of the members of state legislatures; blatant power grab such as that one will be until a week (or more) after voter fraud at around 0.0027%. That while that practice is no longer in Continued on Page 4 Page 4 Editorials The Informer Is Democracy In Danger? (Cont’d) is met with silence. for a disaster and it seems that a Gellman’s article details disturbingly large portion of states various constitutional crises that aren’t doing anything about it. could happen as a result of delayed Now, if we look at the Presi- election results and a president who dent’s political strategy amidst all of has no regard for convention or this, we see that he’s been continuing tradition. I will not go into detail to undermine Republican faith in about those crises, but I can say this: mail-in voting all this time. If those crises will be met with some Democrats want to count every form of physical violence on the ballot, they’re going to have to take streets. The longer that the results the time to do so. The American are delayed or disputed, the angrier people are used to getting their the American people will get. results on Election Night. This year’s Democrats want everyone’s vote to process will become Election Week, be tallied (perhaps not a terrible whether we like it or not. The longer thing to want?), but that will take a that time goes on without an unde- long time. Due to a shortage of clared winner, the longer conspiracy funding and staff (in part because of theories will begin to take root. As the pandemic), polling places are we know, the President is excellent being shut down. Not only does this at stoking fear and distrust among grounds for throwing away a ballot. Photo From Wikimedia Commons result in longer lines in person, but his supporters; they already don’t A recent ruling is set to discount have, hopefully, U.S. attorneys” to also mean that mail-in ballots are trust the mail-in voting process, and 100,000 votes in Pennsylvania on watch for voter fraud at the polls. going to take EVEN longer to tally. you can be sure that the majority of those grounds. Trump won that Just a quick heads up, we have a This election will have the highest mail-in ballots are going to be blue. state by 44,000 votes. This would not name for this: it’s called voter amount of mail-in ballots ever, and This phenomenon is called the “blue be a problem with in-person voting intimidation. most people will be using the USPS shift” but it hasn’t ever been enough because there are usually poll Things are going to get bad. for those ballots, an organization to change the tide of a presidential workers to help in the process, but This article hasn’t even begun to that hasn’t been able to meet its time election (though with so many that won’t be as common this year. delve into the constitutional crises goals for the past 5 years. So, what mail-in ballots this year, that could Apart from those ballots being and deadlines that ensue when you we’re going to be seeing is an under- change).In typical elections, Demo- thrown out, it should also be noted have an inane system such as the funded and understaffed USPS crats tend to vote more by mail, and that Republicans are currently Electoral College. We’ve only barely delivering ballots to understaffed they will do so in even greater fighting in courts to stop common touched on the violence that will polling places which, in many states, numbers in November. What will be sense measures like “sending out ensue if the “blue shift” turns a won’t be allowed to even BEGIN a commanding lead for Republicans ballots to every registered voter” or previously red state into a blue one. counting these paper ballots until on Election Night will undoubtedly “allowing clerks to begin counting That shift happened in the 2018 November 3rd. Even in normal shrink (or in some cases, flip) such ballots before Election Day.” Arizona Senatorial election, and circumstances, the process of count- that a red state or county will turn We haven’t even gotten to thus it can happen again. If you ing the mail-in ballots takes weeks. blue after all the votes are tallied. mention the fact that polling places want to help in some way, be 16 and With such a large influx of ballots That’s not a conspiracy, that’s how may try to use newer machines this register to be a student poll worker. and such a shortage of workers, this counting works. However, for a man year. In Georgia, a machine melt- If you can’t due to age restrictions or process will take even longer. We who claimed that 3 million illegal down combined with a systematic due to the reality of the pandemic, also cannot forget the changes being immigrants voted for Hillary Clin- shutting down of polling stations then all you can do is brace for made to the USPS by our Postmas- ton in 2016, that won’t matter. If Joe forced people who arrived fairly impact. ter General, Louis Dejoy. Multiple Biden wins due to a late, massive early to wait until 2AM to cast their large mail-sorting machines have mail-in voting surge, violence is ballot. In the Iowa Caucus, machine *The views expressed within this been dismantled and will not be put extremely likely to erupt across our meltdowns led to a winner never article are those of the author and not back together, making the process of nation. What better time for a leader officially being announced in the necessarily those of Cistercian or The counting ballots all the more slow. It to grab the reins, send federal agents Democratic Primaries. We also Cistercian Informer.* should also be noted that, in many to cities, and reinstitute “LAW AND haven’t been able to mention that a states, ballots must arrive by Elec- ORDER” into Democrat-run cities? ruling banning the RNC from hiring We understand that not everyone tion Day as well; a ballot that was Democrats will also have “poll watchers” from the 1980’s may agree with the views expressed mailed well before November 3rd, their fair share of problems with the expired in 2018. The RNC had to be by the author, and that the article but happens to arrive after will be voting process; mail-in voting is a banned from doing so because in may provoke strong feelings and discounted. Rather than change the complicated process and it seems 1980, they took armed volunteers opinions regarding the upcoming rule to “ballots must be mailed by that Republican legislators across (often sheriffs and off duty police- election. However, we kindly ask that Election Day in order to be count- the nation are making it harder for men) and had them patrol the polls all readers respect the author’s right ed,” it seems multiple states would mail-in ballots to be counted. In and identify anyone that looked to convey his views and opinions on rather just sit on their hands and let Pennsylvania, your ballot can be dis- suspicious. It should come as a the matter, which is at the heart of their current rules stand, right as the counted if you don’t put it in an shock to no one that the “suspi- any newspaper. chronically-late USPS is getting its unmarked secrecy envelope, which cious” people were the ones who funding cut, its resources disman- you then put inside of a marked happened to be born with melanin. tled, and its upper management outer envelope. If a voter’s signature Given that the ruling expired in reorganized, along with its workers is partially incomplete or they 2018 (and no one thought to renew being put out of action due to health switch things up and sign at the it), the RNC has recruited over issues. This means that hundreds of wrong place, their ballot is immedi- 50,000 volunteers for 15 hotly thousands of potential voters will be ately discounted. If a ballot is even contested states to watch the polls disenfranchised because they did postmarked wrong, it will not be for suspicious behavior. As our own everything right and something out counted. It does not matter if the President said, “We’re going to have of their control caused their ballot to worker understands what they mean sheriffs and we’re going to have law be late. These are breeding grounds or if it is a small mistake; those are enforcement and we’re going to Page 5 News The Informer New Oscars Guidelines

product, but provide opportunities interviewing ex- Ethan Ramchandani, ‘21, who hopes to minorities. Most criticisms target ecutives working they will have a positive effect. standards A and B. on the films. This Opponents to these changes idea is largely worry that the Academy is over- modeled after a Recently, the Academy of stepping its bounds and using the concept the Brit- Motion Picture Arts and Sciences prospect of a Best Picture award ish Film Institute introduced a new set of criteria to control filmmakers’ decisions. introduced and determining eligibility for the Best More reluctant proponents of these carried out in Picture category. These standards changes worry that they will encour- 2019. Unfortu- intend to promote inclusivity on age tokenism (the practice of doing nately, a report Photo From Creative Commons the silver screen, and it comes as no something only to avoid criticism) from Clive Nwonka, a fellow in film color just to have them exist in the surprise that they have divided the to meet a quota instead of involving studies at the London School of Eco- background of the plot, while white industry. However, what are these authentic representation. There are nomics, showed that the standards actors take the reins of the story. rules that have so many decrying the some common misconceptions, did little to aid the representation of ThoughStar Wars is just one exam- Oscars? however. Some worry that several ethnic minorities. Notably, ethnic ple, it remains a problem that needs Beginning with the 96th past nominees like 1917 and The representation on screen was out- to be addressed. Oscars, in 2024, films must satisfy Irishman would not qualify un- performing representation behind There are still a few years left one of 4 sets of rules: A, B, C, and der these guidelines, but there is a the scenes. More films were falling before these standards take effect. D. The lengthy lists of criteria and way actually a way for them to stay under standards A and B than C and Time will tell how they impact racial explanations can be found on the eligible without changing anything D. equity in film. Hopefully, directors Oscars’ official website, what follows on-screen. This can be done under Whether or not these stan- will take this opportunity to further are just paraphrases. Standard A re- standards C and D. dards work in favor or against racial authentic representation and show- quires film creators to consider their Standards C and D, which equality, tokenism is rampant in case their creativity while doing so. cast’s ethnic makeup and the agency are not seen on screen, involve films film. An example of this idea is characters from underrepresented meeting standards for paid appren- Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. groups have in the movie. Standard ticeship, internship opportunities, Many argue he had very little agency B concerns the crew: underrep- and work opportunities in the film’s in the film, and his plot significance resented persons must either fill marketing, distribution, and pub- only diminished as the movies went two or more executive positions or licity teams for underrepresented on. For many this exemplifies the compose at least a third of the gen- groups. These will be enforced problem in film as a whole: exec- eral crew. Standards C and D, while through random spot-checking and utives will write in a character of important, influence less of the final Joe Biden’s Plan

The most nity. ble is his plan for the federal mini- pressing thing Another major theme of Joe mum wage. His plan would raise the for most Ameri- Biden’s plan is re-growing the econ- federal minimum wage from $7.25 cans right now is omy. The American middle class, an hour to $15 an hour. With Biden’s Covid-19. Biden’s Biden claims, is collapsing. While endorsement, this higher minimum plan is to use the the upper class has reached its pre- wage will become a staple for Dem- federal govern- 2008 recession levels, the middle ocratic economic policies. ment to face the class has struggled to get close. To Education also plays a big threat head-on. quote Biden, “it’s not sufficient to role in Joe Biden’s campaign. For Biden plans on build back, we have to build back K-12, Biden wants to triple the Photo From Creative Commons making testing better.” For him, this means re-in- money that the federal government for the virus free, eliminating cost vesting into America and building spends on lower-income schools, barriers for treatment, helping de- up American businesses. Doing and also use it to raise teachers’ pay. Dominic Andrews, ‘21, who details velop the vaccine, and making sure this involves increasing federal He also plans on making advanced out the former VP’s policies. that there are enough supplies and spending by up to $400 billion on courses like AP classes available personnel to effectively deal with US products, materials and ser- to all students. For college, Biden The United States is entering the virus. On the economic side, vices to ensure that these things are wants to invest more into communi- one of the most tumultuous presi- he would ensure paid leave for all made in America. This also means ty colleges to better prepare students dential elections in its history. For those affected by the pandemic and cutting tax benefits to companies for life after school. The cornerstone many, the United States is at a cross- provide all necessary help for small that reduce domestic jobs in favor is providing two years of communi- roads, with the fate of the nation at businesses, families, and workers. of overseas jobs. On top of that ty college tuition-free for students. stake. With this election being more Biden also pledges to allow the sci- his goal is to provide incentives Joe Biden wants to restore about electability than policy, taking entific community to guide policy to to reinvigorate small businesses, and invigorate the United States. a look at the policies of the candi- fight the virus effectively and ensure and he wants to invest $300 billion The means for that is using the dates will provide a truer foundation that, next time a pandemic hits the to research new technologies like force of the federal government to on which we can form our opinions. United States, we will be better pre- electric vehicles, 5G networks, and meet the needs of everybody. In an Ironically, former Vice President Joe pared. It is, in short, spending what- AI. To help pay for this he would election where Joe Biden is known Biden’s policies are rather unknown, ever it takes to meet the needs of the raise the corporate tax rate to 28%. as not being Donald Trump it may as he is mostly known for not being country and saving as many lives as As for climate change, he is propos- come as a surprise to many that he President Trump. While this is obvi- possible. This plan is very critical of ing $2 trillion dollars to combat it has such a broad and vigorous plan ously appealing to many, Joe Biden President Trump’s slow action and and plans to have the energy sector for the future of America. has also laid out a very broad, and skepticism of the scientific commu- emissions free by 2035. Most nota- vigorous agenda. Page 6 Sports The Informer Americans Abroad

moved from NYCFC academy to Liverpool. He’s Maxwell Vaughan, ‘21, who sees a Borussia Dortmund as a 16-year-old still only 21 years glorious future. last year. Just recently, he scored his old, and has time first ever Bundesliga goal and now to develop. If he should play a more prominent role can stay away The United States Na- in the team.To put this into perspec- from injuries, he tional Team has stumbled upon tive, this is a teenager who should be might be the best a “golden generation” of players worrying about a math test like the American to ever that might just be better than the rest of us. Instead, he’s scoring goals touch a soccer Dempsey-Donovan-Bradley era against some of the best competition ball. of the late 2000s and early 2010s. in the world. Sticking Photo From Wikimedia Commons Within the last couple months, Ajax right back Sergino Dest with the Premier League, USMNT Beasley made it with PSV Eind- young Americans have been accom- is another example of Americans shot-stopper Zack Steffen made his hoven in 2005. plishing things in Europe that very finding success in Europe. In the first start for Manchester City in the In other, smaller news, few Americans have done before. It 2019-20 season, he was a mainstay EFL Cup. He spent last season on left-back Antonee Robinson has is only fitting that I share some of in the Ajax starting 11, but with Bar- loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf, but now transferred from Championship the recent success of our nation’s top celona letting Nelson Semedo leave, he is back in England. Although side Wigan Athletic to the newly players. Dest is a likely candidate to replace he is supposed to be the backup to promoted Fulham. Chris Richards, Dallas-native and FC Dallas him. He’s also been linked with oth- Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson, there another product of the FC Dallas Academy product Weston McKinnie er European giants like Bayern Mu- is a possibility that Steffen gets more Academy, has made multiple ap- just moved from Schalke to Juventus nich. He’s still only 19 years old! Of minutes throughout the season, pearances for Bayern Munich’s first and is now playing alongside Cris- course, I could not mention Amer- especially considering the fact that team in summer friendlies. The 20 tiano Ronaldo. Despite only being ican success in Europe without men- Manchester City’s defense and goal- year old center back will probably in Turin for a couple weeks, he has tioning American soccer’s superstar, keeping looked shaky in their 5-2 not get much time with the first impressed the coaches enough to Christian Pulisic. Since the Premier loss to Leicester City. team this year, but with David Alaba earn a start in their first two Series League’s restart, he has proved to be In the Champions League, and Jerome Boateng on the tail ends A matches. Recently, 19-year-old one of the most dangerous attackers RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams became of their careers, Richards could be a Konrad de la Fuente just became in the league, netting three goals in the first American to score a goal replacement for either of them. the first American to play for the his first five games back. He even at its quarterfinals. Consequently, All in all, it is a very exciting Barcelona first team (he has spent proved he could perform against the he also became the first American time for US soccer. This is the most the last two seasons with Barcelona’s best of the best, as he scored a goal to appear in the semi-finals of the promising group of young players B team). Gio Reyna, son of former and grabbed a flashy assist against Champions League since Demarcus national team star Claudio Reyna, this nation has every seen. Fixing The NY Knicks

has had 12 head not show it, the Knicks have many 2020 offseason, they should target coaches, 10 promising young players on their Serge Ibaka and Lauri Markkanen. fifty-loss sea- roster. However, their unstable In addition, the Knicks should re- sons, 7 last place rotation has denied some of these sign Taj Gibson, Maurice Harkless, finishes, and only players enough minutes to develop. and Reggie Bullock to small deals. 1 division title. The young talented Knicks play- These five simple moves could make The culture of the ers include RJ Barrett, Mitchell the Knicks contenders to make the organization has Robinson, Kevin Knox, and Frank playoffs in the East. In the 2021 been pathetic, Ntilikina, while the young players offseason, they should target Jrue especially Dolan’s they should offload for assets are Holiday, a defensive guard with Photo From Wikimedia Commons disgraceful treat- Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Dennis veteran leadership, via free agen- ment of team legends and fans such Smith Jr., and Elfrid Payton. New cy. These moves would leave them as Charles Oakley and Spike Lee. York is slotted at the eighth pick in with a starting five of Ball, Holiday, Tarun Senthil-Kumar, ‘23, who lists a If New York truly wants to rebuild, this year’s draft. Undoubtedly, they Barrett, Markkanen, and Robinson plethora of options. then they must free themselves from should trade up and draft genera- and a bench of Ntilikina, Bullock, the proverbial black cat that is James tional prospect LaMelo Ball, a 6’8’’ Harkless, Gibson, and Ibaka at the This past summer, the Dolan. point guard who possesses the entire beginning of the 2021 season. Knicks were finally supposed to The second step the Knicks offensive package as well as the tools The fifth and final step of reach the Promised Land, but they need to take is to find a new Head to become a great defender. the Knicks’ rebuild is to re-estab- failed miserably. The Knicks have Coach. They did just that two The fourth step of the lish their brand. The Knicks need been the laughingstock of the NBA months ago with the hiring of Tom Knicks’ rebuild is to complete the to swallow their pride to fix their for the past twenty years. After Thibodeau. Thibodeau is the per- roster with more firepower and shattered image. With this proposed seasons of overpaying for aging stars fect man for the job as his coaching veteran presence. Contrary to pop- young core, Madison Square Gar- and missing on draft picks, there is style, a no-nonsense and team-first ular opinion, New York does not den would sell out every game for still hope for the Knicks to become attitude, is the embodiment of the need to trade for Devin Booker or the next ten years. Furthermore, the title contenders again. 70’s and 90’s Knicks. The hiring of sign Giannis Antetokounmpo. The allure of playing under the bright The first and most critical Thibodeau was great, but his success Knicks have a recent history of trad- lights and organ notes in front of step of the Knicks’ rebuild is to is contingent on the roster at his ing their stars to clear cap space for countless celebrities every night force James Dolan to sell the team. disposal. future free agents that do not end up would attract free agents again. All Though possibly one of the worst The third step of the Knicks’ coming (Porzingis). Although New in all, the Knicks have the potential owners of a professional franchise rebuild is to develop their young York is a “big market” they can still to become a powerhouse basketball ever, Dolan has owned the Knicks talent. Though their record may prioritize homegrown talent. In the franchise once again. since 1999. Since then, New York Page 7 Sports The Informer The English Premier League

City looked second-best to Klopp’s Santiago Ramirez & Jakob Quarles, Liverpool. Defensive issues and ‘22, who are excited to see what’s next. injuries proved too difficult to over- come as City lost multiple games to lower-table clubs like Norwich City. The 2019-20 Premier League They were out of the race for the ti- season was one of the most excit- tle by the start of 2020. Despite that, ing campaigns in recent memory. City remained in contention for two We will review the Premier League prestigious cup competitions, the seasons of the top four teams. FA Cup and Champions League. Let’s start off with the cham- However they disappointingly lost pions, Liverpool. Liverpool had an in both. Despite a relatively under- incredible year where they were by whelming season for City, their side far the best team in the league, end- is nearly weakness free on paper. ing with 99 points and beating out Regardless of that, Pep has the second place team by 18 points. started the year strong by already They were outstanding all year, and completing sales for Dutch cen- left the rest of the league far behind ter back Nathan Ake and Spanish as they dominated in attack with youngster Ferran Torres. They also a consistently strong defense. On targeted six time Ballon d’Or winner the addition of Fernandes, and they Photo From Wikimedia Commons the surface, they have nothing to Lionel Messi, but were unable to signed Dutch midfielder Donny Van main reason for their inability to fix. The Reds have an elite attacking land the Argentinian legend. This de Beek, a top young talent. Al- get beyond that spot. Despite that, trio, the best back line and keeper aggressive transfer strategy is noth- though it seems Manchester United challengers Manchester United and in the league, great midfielders, and ing new from Guardiola, who has will not sign young superstar Jadon Leicester City provided competition a world class manager in Jurgen drawn criticism for spending too Sancho this summer, there should for the heavily coveted fourth place. Klopp. What more could they want? much money with lack of results, be high expectations going into next The race came down to the wire, However, this team lacks but City should still be considered year. Fans will be hoping they add a with Chelsea clinching fourth place depth, especially on the offensive. co-favorites to win the Premier few more pieces to the squad before with a home win on the last day of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane League next season along with Liv- the window closes in order to keep the season. Despite this relatively are a dream pair of wingers, but erpool. up their good form. successful season, there are many after them, there really aren’t any In third place came Man- Chelsea FC entered the areas to improve the Chelsea squad. options. Dejan Lovren is gone, so chester United, who had one of their Premier League campaign with a tall The team is defensively weak as a they could use another center back wildest seasons in recent memory. order ahead of them. Having fin- result of poor positioning, care- for the team, as only three remain. Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side started ished the previous season in 3rd, the less mistakes, and perhaps most of Currently, Thiago is still at Bayern, off horribly, with key players getting Blues sold club legend Eden Hazard all very disappointing play from but if Liverpool can acquire him, he injured early and the Red Devils to Real Madrid over the summer, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, would be their best midfielder. Liv- sitting in 14th place in October. and was unable to replace him due who (only one year before) had erpool proved their quality all year, Ole, however, continued to train to a transfer ban placed on them by been bought as the most expensive but Thiago is on a different level his squad and picked up a few key FIFA. This transfer ban seriously goalkeeper ever. The club is already than their current midfielders. Cap- draws and wins as 2020 came to lowered fan expectations for them, planning a replacement for Kepa, tain Jordan Henderson had a great a close and the transfer window especially entering the season under having bought French goalkeeper year, but to everyone’s surprise, he approached. United lacked creativ- a new manager Frank Lampard, Edouard Mendy. Frank Lampard won player of the year. Henderson ity, and star midfielder Paul Pogba who had started his coaching career has already bolstered his attack was not the best performer on their wanted to leave. In the January only one year earlier. American star heavily in this transfer window, add- team, let alone the entire league. transfer window, Manchester Unit- Christian Pulisic began his first year ing winger Hakim Ziyech, German Regardless, Liverpool will still be ed solved their creativity problem in the Premier League after mak- striker Timo Werner, and 21-year looked at as the team to beat. They and bought Portueguese midfielder ing the move from German club old midfield superstar Kai Havertz. have only signed Kostas Tsimikas Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP. Borussia Dortmund. Expectations This huge spending spree has come for depth at left-back so far, and they Fernandes instantly turned Man- for his debut Chelsea season were as a pleasant surprise to most fans, could use reinforcements given the chester United around, becoming massive. Many media outlets have who look forward to the bright depth of Manchester City and Chel- one of the best number ten’s in the a tendency to focus on him closely future that lies ahead for Chelsea. sea. Coupled with the fact that they league and the hero of United fans because of his status as one of the With all these improvements to the are competing on multiple fronts, everywhere. Anthony Martial and only American players to reach such squad, they should definitely con- Liverpool will not be considered the Mason Greenwood added goals in success in Europe. Chelsea got off to tend for the Premier League title clear favorites for the title this year, Marcus Rashford’s absence, and a slow start, failing to win consecu- next year and many years to come. but the Reds’ faithful should have Manchester United entered conten- tive matches until 8 games into the high expectations for the upcoming tion for the top 4. season. During this time, Christian season. Notable problems were team Pulisic struggled to get consistent Second-place Manchester depth and Goalkeeper David De minutes, and many pundits wrote City will certainly be unsatisfied Gea, who had a disappointing year him off as a bust, but he bounced with their performance in the Pre- in goal. United’s defense was great back in a brilliant performance at mier League this season. Two-time all year, with the key additions of Burnley, scoring a hattrick in the reigning champions, the Sky Blues new captain Harry Maguire and convincing win. This display gave entered the year with sky high ex- right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The Lampard faith in his abilities, and he pectations. Manager Pep Guardiola Red Devils defeated Leicester City remained a starter until an injury in reinforced his squad with the pur- on the final matchday to secure January. chase of defensive midfielder Rodri third place and a Champions League Chelsea held a strong posi- and left-back Joao Cancelo. Addi- berth for the upcoming season, tion in fourth place for nearly the tionally, superstar Kevin De Bruyne finishing the campaign strongly. whole year, with inconsistency the is returning from injury. However, Paul Pogba has chosen to stay given Page 8 Middle School The Informer Distance Learning

ments down throughout the day. even worse when Josef Novinksi, ‘28, who has reflected This leads to much less forgotten a teacher is writ- on its pros and cons. homework, and I think this system ing on the board should be worked into the normal and all the words school system due to how conve- appear at once Hi, my name is Josef nient it is. several minutes Novinski. Despite a lot of students Though there are many late. When a returning to school, some are still at upsides to studying online, there are teacher tries to home for various reasons. There are also many problems ranging from spur on an active definitely many benefits to study- slight inconveniences to potential class discussion, ing online rather than coming to day-ruiners. Initially, teachers talked many on-campus Photo From Wikimedia Commons school, though there are also many about turning in assignments phys- classmates, devoid of microphones, and understand a question, but downsides. I will cover these issues ically, such as notebooks. This con- are inaudible to distance learners. there are still quite a few problems eventually, but let’s start off with the cerned me because I did not know This is specifically worsened when such as the static-image presenta- positives. how to do so without being there. It a student asks a question and the tion and a lack of communication. Everyone hates waking up ended up not being a problem, but teacher asks another student to I think it would be really helpful if to an alarm clock, getting out of it was certainly a stressful start to answer it. Though these other issues the school made some sort of sanc- their pajamas, eating breakfast, and the year. Teachers have also gotten can be somewhat remedied, not tioned group chat for each Form. contemplating the horrors to come better about checking in on the seeing friends is difficult. There are Not only would it be helpful just as during the morning car ride. An on- online students, but at the beginning ways to communicate with people a general form of communication, line student does not have to worry of on-campus school, I simply heard without being at school of course, but also for homework, quizzes, etc. about this, and that’s pretty amazing. the lecture (and sometimes even not but it usually doesn’t work as well. It would also be a nice way to stay in I appreciate the ability to keep my all of it) while being too scared to What has the school done touch cozy pants on and make a fancier speak up. Speaking of online pre- to help these problems? For one, It is definitely important to lunch than I can normally bring to sentations, a lot of the teachers have no one expects us to turn anything focus on social distancing and safety school from the comfort of my own given online students a single static in physically, and the teachers have protocols, but it’s also important kitchen. Instead of sitting in a long image to look at while giving a lec- gotten a lot better about putting all to focus on the people who are the car ride talking to my parents about ture to the present students, which the assignments on Teams. They’ve most socially-distanced. I’m con- what tests I have to take, I can run makes it hard to stay engaged and also put quiz reminders on Teams fident that we can rise to the chal- around my backyard and distract take notes. Even when the cameras which is very helpful. They’ve also lenge that 2020 has unfairly given myself with time to spare. With the are on, sometimes Teams lags and gotten better about asking online us. addition of Teams, I have the added we still get a static image, which is people if we have all the notes down benefit of not having to take assign- Garbage Guru

so bad” before DA’s case, this Deputy Sheriff has to high-speed chase respond, “A goat ate the paperwork.” I don’t know how this man If that’s not a fireable offense, then I was able to restrain himself from I’m not saying don’t know what is. jumping over the counter and I’d get into a high throwing a fit. When I hear someone speed chase with Billion-dollar company Lululemon advocate for the ordering of “Bone- a police officer, under fire for promoting ‘resist less Chicken Wings,” my heart dies. though I under- capitalism’ event Those are not chicken wings, they stand her reason- are merely glorified chicken nuggets ing. Sometimes, I have to say, the sentiment for people that don’t have the nec- Photo From Creative Commons when Mother Na- isn’t entirely terrible. Of course, I essary skills required to eat chicken ture calls, you can’t tell her you’ll get have NO idea what “resist capital- off of a bone. Normally, I dislike the It’s been a long month. News time! back to her. Of course, in actuality, ism” means, because that can range attitude that members of older gen- this story is far more complex. The from “ethical consumption” to erations often take when they say German soccer team thrashed woman, who was driving with an “government limitations on corpo- things like “Back in my day, things 37-0 after socially distancing from expired license, had warrants out for rations” to “violent overthrow of the were far tougher,” but when it comes opponent her arrest in that county. In addition current economic system.” Not to to pre-sauced chicken nuggets, I to these charges, illegal substances mention, Lululemon is a capitalist couldn’t agree more. Rather than Who knew that fielding only were found in her vehicle. All things corporation that sells $80 leggings. being classified with that hideously 7 players as a coronavirus precau- considered, I still think this was the By the way, their terrifying price incorrect name, I think it should be tion would end badly? I really want best excuse to give to the police. tags aren’t due to them paying their known as “Baby Food” on the menu to know what the punishment for workers and not polluting the envi- of every establishment from now the losing team was after the game. Goat jumps inside Douglas Coun- ronment. No, they’re just as focused on. The current name gives far too I’m sure they had to run an absurd ty Deputy Sheriff’s vehicle, eats on cost-cutting as the other com- much pride to those who eat little amount of laps around their field, paperwork panies. Do they want us to boycott chunks of fried chicken. The first perhaps one for each point that was them? How do I resist capitalism thing that our next president should scored on them. Even if their goalie Imagine this Deputy Sher- and why is Lululemon telling me do is sign an executive order forcing had shown some level of compe- iff returning to his captain’s office, how to do this? the name off of restaurant menus. tency, this team rarely moved the completely heartbroken and emp- Constitutionality does not matter, as ball into their opponents’ side of the ty-handed. Asked where the paper- Lincoln man pleads City Council I’m sure the SCOTUS feels strongly field throughout the entire game. work is for the conviction of the to stop the use of the term “Bone- enough about this to rule in favor of murderer, which is crucial for the less Chicken Wings” my case. Woman told officer “I have to poop Page 9 Arts The Informer Cistercian BraveArtists “The Pen”

Ayden Kowalski, ‘21.

When I pick you up off your smooth, chestnut-colored bed, Yes, I feel, with this little vial of ink, that I am transcendent,

And grasp you within my two fingers, That I belong not on this earth but on the spheres above,

Alternating between holding you up to my lips On the skies beyond ours where the clouds turn to faraway candles and the blues fade to black, And plunging you into the ocean, Yes, there, that is where I shall live, When I order you to dive into that uncharted infinity below, Beyond these mortal coils and outrages that encircle me now, Force you to run for me within that great white snowfield, Beyond the pains of life, the pains of leaving it, of having it When I make you trace upon the seabed or frozen grasses slip out of your hands like a serpent

My exact commandments so that the very earth may know my And having to wrestle it to the ground in some vain attempt mind, to control it for just a little while longer.

Then I feel like I am truly a son of God. Like a bluebird I will be free, like a comet I shall streak across eternity, like a sailboat I shall ride

Her waves until She calls me back to my shore, where the I feel as if it were I who lay upon my back tracing the divine Fishermen wait. countenance upon the ceiling,

As if it were I who was imbued with the spark from the Cre- ator to shine like Him, I let go of you for an instant,

To shimmer like Her, to reveal Her to the entire world, Just an instant,

To proclaim to the universe what Her, what His chosen people And then I am no longer a Michelangelo, can accomplish. But a man, a boy, sitting in a lonely room, I think then that She may choose me as an ambassador for Her people, Watching girls come and go

That I should set off in a golden chariot from this Canaan to Whom I am scared to talk to. sweep the entire arm of Sagittarius, I leave my body, seeing my vision fade before me; That I should dance among the stars in strange and foreign lands, I try to run and catch it, but just as I see my hand extend,

Telling women made of light of the beauties beneath our Just as I see my fingers stretch out to reach that fleeing flash of oceans and the fire signs of God in our skies, light,

Playing pieces of Mozart and reciting in somewhat slippery It vanishes, and I am left alone. English some words of Kanye West.

Page 10 Arts The Informer Cistercian BraveArtists Short Story: “Untitled”

Ethan Ramchadani, ‘21.

The doors flew open with a bang as a hurried prince barreled tions. One among you has a question that can change the fate of down the hallway. He paused at the entrance and a deep breath this kingdom.” Everyone murmured excitedly. The psychic lifted a punctuated his frenzy before he approached his father’s bed. finger and pointed at the hooded figure that was Hiro. “You, come Bordering the room were the royal guard and servants whispering inside, we shall speak in peace there.” amongst themselves as the prince knelt to the right of the bed. “Father-” he began but the grizzled monarch raised his hand to Long strands of beads hung from the top of the doorframe, cut him off. veiling the room inside. The room itself was dimly lit and barely furnished. Two oversized stools served as chairs with a generic “My son, Hiro… a king,” the king remarked, “I can’t begin to tell crystal ball between them. “Pay no attention to that. It isn’t real, you how proud I am.” He ended the sentence with a fit of coughs. but the people will believe anything they’re told if you stare at a A nurse poured a ladle of red colored liquid down his throat. glass ball for a minute,” the psychic said when he noticed Hiro’s Tears began to well in Hiro’s eyes as the king’s eyes began to glaze attention swayed towards the glorified ornament. “So what do you and he slipped out of consciousness. In an attempt to look strong, wish to know?” Hiro wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up. He began to hear the whispers of the crowd around him more clearly. “What happened to my mom?” Hiro responded.

The garden that his father had commissioned was surprisingly “Here.” The psychic handed Hiro an engraved coin. “This should tranquil, despite the lively birds. Hiro ambled through the garden, help.” The engraving looked familiar to Hiro. He had seen it as his thoughts like a muddy puddle. He could barely appreciate the part of a mural many times while touring the castle. Filled with beauty of the flowers his mother once planted. His gaze swayed to- excitement, Hiro didn’t even bother with his disguise and sprint- wards a small, circular patio in the middle of the garden where he ed back to the castle. He surprised some passersby as he ran. He and his mother spent their last few moments together. His mind stopped for no one as he entered the castle and desperately tried played a scene which he had tried so hard to forget. to remember where he had seen the engraving before. He showed it to the servants around the castle until he finally got a solid lead. A younger Hiro leaned on the shoulder of a properly dressed wom- an. Her blonde hair and blue eyes shined in the sunlight. “Mama, The wall was a mural depicting the blessing of the first king of his how come dad is king?” family line. A priest held out his hand towards Hiro’s kneeling ancestor. The priest’s other hand held a prayer book which he held “The royal family has been unrivaled for years,” she replied. At that close to his side. Around the two figures was a gathering of people time Hiro didn’t completely understand the meaning of her words. made up of knights, common people, and servants. The backdrop He brought attention to the fact that her answer didn’t clear up his was of a church with stained glass windows. Suddenly, a feature of question but she only gazed at the sky mumbling to herself. It was one of the designs on the priest’s robe popped out at Hiro. A small clear that his mother was not going to give him a straight answer. section of it was grooved in the same pattern as the engraved coin. His mother continued to be lost in thought while Hiro drifted off to sleep. When he awoke, his mother was gone, the last time his mother A low rumbling noise followed the wall as Hiro pushed it, reveal- would ever be seen. ing a dark staircase. He slowly descended being careful not to trip. The steps never seemed to end. As he progressed, he could hear a Hiro blinked back to life after drifting off from the surfaced -mem few second of screams of agony at random intervals. Finally light ory but was suddenly plunged into thought yet again when he re- creeped into his view. The room was a long hallway lined with alized the excuse his father gave him for the disappearance. “Your cells. Almost all of them were filled with a body or someone close mother is an angel. She returned to God.” Pondering it now, Hiro’s to becoming a body. Visibly afraid, Hiro ambled down the hall- heart dropped at the notion that he was so naïve to have believed way. “Help meeeeeeee,” one of the prisoners held his hand out of the pathetic story at any age. He scolded himself for not asking his his cell to try to stop Hiro. The prisoner struggled to hold himself father what really happened to his mother before his passing. up on the bars on the door.

The next day the prince left the castle for an excursion to the “Wh-who are you?” Hiro asked anxiously as the prisoner contin- village. He donned a disguise to avoid any unnecessary attention. ued to stumble around his cell. Dozens of people were bustling in the market streets as Hiro tried to weave his way through the crowd. News of the king’s death had “I’m just a squire. My loyalty lay with a rival king,” he steadied spread like wildfire, and general street chatter seemed to focus on himself and Hiro got a better look at him. “Look at what they’ve that topic. He tried not to pay attention to it but his thoughts only done to me. I pose no threat, let me go please.” It was evident that went from bad to worse as the only other thing he could think the prisoner was eager to leave and was reduced to begging for his about was his other dead parent. The kingdom psychic’s stall was freedom. His body was lined with precise cuts at specific veins on surrounded by a mass mob. It seems everyone was filled with his torso, arms, and legs. His clothes were tattered. doubt about the future of the kingdom after the monarch’s death. Hiro found his way through the crowd to the front where a gypsy A younger Hiro wielding a play sword whacked a ragdoll dummy, was trying desperately to keep the kingdom’s people at bay. his father supervising in the background. “This may be the last time I can be able to train with you,” his father said. “I will have kingly “People,” the psychic said, “I can only answer one of your ques- duties to deal with as your grandfather is winding down.” Hiro paid Page 11 Arts The Informer Cistercian BraveArtists Short Story: “Untitled” (Cont’d)

little mind to his father’s words. “I want you to listen to me very “Oh trust me, I know everything,” the psychic said, winking. “You closely,” his father said, taking up a stern voice. He took the wood- should’ve cherished your ignorance while you could, but then en sword from Hiro’s hands.“This. This is not a toy. Never use this again, if you never knew, you’d be living a lie.” on an unarmed opponent and only use it for self defense. Do you understand?” Hiro gave a shy nod. “Good,” Hiro’s father said, as he All of this was overstimulating for Hiro. The rage he was begin- walked away with the sword in hand. ning to harbor from discovering this place was beginning to show and the psychic was doing nothing to help. It all became too much Appalled by the inhumane conditions the squire was subjected for Hiro and he lashed out. He grabbed the psychic by his neck to, Hiro backed away and continued to walk further down the with one hand and gritted his teeth. “You think this is funny?” he hallway. At this point he picked up his pace from a walk to a jog. said. Again, he was stopped by one of the prisoners. “Sir! Sir, please. Help me. I was nothing more than a peasant. All I did was steal “This must be such a hard time for you,” the psychic said sarcasti- bread. Let me out. Let me out please,” he began to sob. cally. The psychic could see the physical anger in Hiro’s eyes. “Let’s strike a deal, shall we?” the psychic offered. “Who put you here?” Hiro asked, ignoring his previous pleas. “What do you want?” Hiro demanded, with flecks of spit shower- “Some scary looking guards. Different than anything I’ve seen,” ing the psychic’s face. the thief replied. “Your father was sick and twisted and now you know that’s who he A young Hiro sat on his mother’s lap in the throne room. A young truly was. I can’t change history, but I can change your perception man in dirty clothes knelt before the king. He was flanked on both of him. He can return to being the role model you admired for sides by guards. “For your crimes of theft and deceit,” the king began. your entire life. All it will cost you is the throne. What say you?” The thief was visibly anxious. He was clearly not looking forward to he said, conjuring a contract out of thin air. He handed Hiro a his punishment. “You are royally pardoned,” the king continued. This feather pen. Hiro took a final glance at his mother, who continued came as a surprise to everyone in the room, but no one was more to implore Hiro to not sign the contract, but ignored her. A mil- relieved than the thief himself. The king turned towards Hiro and lion thoughts were rushing through his head. Having the throne shot him a wink. paled in comparison to having his role model back.

“None of this makes sense,” Hiro mumbled to himself. Did his fa- ther know about this? Did his father commission this? A common epithet that usually went with the king’s name was “the merciful.” Teisho the Merciful was his father’s name. There was no way any of this could be his doing. There was still plenty of ground left in the hallway and Hiro continued onwards, bracing himself for Hiro signed. further horrors.

No matter how much Hiro braced himself, he couldn’t prepare himself for the final blow. In the furthest reach of the dungeon he found corpses. Not literal corpses, but people who were presumed dead for over a decade. In the eyes of the general public these people were as good as dead. A few of these people were easily recognizable and they were all political rivals. Rivals to the throne were few and far between and they always lost. They either lost all support through some exposed scandal or died from disease. It was evident from most of them being here that none of that was true.

His mother’s words struck him like a plague. It’s not a wonder that his family was unrivalled for years, everyone who wanted to try against the royal family was imprisoned here. “Hiro? Hiro, is that you?” a familiar voice called out to him. His vision swept over the dogpile of prisoners in the small cell until his gaze fell upon an old woman in the back. “Hiro! Son!” the woman came up to the barred door. Suddenly, everything clicked. His mother had found this place. His mother was thrown into this place.

He heard a chuckle from inside the darkness and the psychic We highly encourage submitting your own art piece, regardless emerged. “Your father wouldn’t have wanted you to find this,” he of medium, to be displayed in The Cistercian Informer for all said, continuing to laugh. to see. After all, it is a great way to share your hard work and talent with the entire school. Please contact Alex Smith, ‘21, or “You knew about this?” Hiro asked angrily. Mr. Laurange if you are interested!

Page 12 Arts The Informer

Each year, the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts hosts the Poetry Out Loud competition for high schoolers across the United States.

This dynamic recitation competiton gives students the opportunity to master public-speaking skills, learn about literary history, and even win prizes at the lo- cal, state, and national level, with the potential to earn up to $20,000 in scholar- ship money! If you are interested in participating in this event, please go to www.tinyurl.com/PoetryOutLoudCompetition to learn more about this amazing opportunity. You will be redirected to Cister- cian’s dedicated Poetry Out Loud Microsoft Team, which will have all the infor- mation you need to know.

Please contact Mr. Laurange if you have any questions!

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