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Saint Xavier High School • Louisville, Kentucky AVIER NEWS Vol. LXXXV • No. 5 • May 8, 2014 SAC Election Draws Record Turnout By Gus Young Ryan Baker Sehlinger Bowling or the second year in a row, the SAC Lucas Baker was elected Vice-Pres- Felections received a record turnout ident. “I’m extremely excited to assume from the student body with 73.9 percent my role as Vice President,” Baker said. “I of students voting in this year’s election, can’t wait to put my ideas into action and overwhelming last year’s total of 66 per- make next year the best yet. I’m looking cent. The freshman class had the largest to make improvements around St. X that percentage of voters, with 78.5 percent of will be remembered for years. With the their class making it to the voting booths student body’s help, we can do just that.” that were set up in the Sterne Gym. SAC In an incredible landslide, winning encourages every student to make his 100 percent of all votes, Michael Seh- voice heard and vote in every election. linger will take charge as SAC treasurer. The current junior class president, Daniel Bowling claimed next year’s posi- Patrick Ryan, won the close and incred- tion as secretary. ibly competitive race for SAC President. Sophomore Liam Crooks will fill “I hope to bring a lot of energy to the the seat of junior class president, replac- executive board at SAC,” Ryan said. “My ing Ryan. Winning the support of his fel- main goal as president is for everyone to low classmates and assuming the role of be involved; that’s what I want most of sophomore class president next year will Crooks all.” be Beau Brooks. Brooks Ryken Statue Dedicated Eleven By Ben Gumbel Named Photo by Clay Hoehler statue of Brother Theodore James Ryken C.F.X. has been unveiled Governor’s A on campus. As a part of the 150th Anniversary celebration, the near- ly 18-month process was concluded with a dedication ceremony outside of the Callahan Media Center on Thursday, April 24. Ryken is not only Scholars the founder of the Xaverian Brothers, but he also is the man who brought leven St. X juniors have been the Xaverian Brothers to America, where they would eventually start the selected for the 2014 Kentucky school in 1864. E Governor’s Scholars program de- The initial idea was brought about by St. X President Dr. Perry Sangal- li while planning for the 150th anniversary celebration. At first, the school signed for outstanding high school debated on whether to build a statue of Ryken or a statue of Brother Paul students who are rising seniors. The Van Gerwen C.F.X., founder and first principal of St. Xavier. Ryken was five-week residential summer pro- eventually chosen in order to honor the Xaverian Brothers. gram is typically hosted by three col- Thanks to an anonymous donation, St. X alumnus Matthew Weir (class lege campuses in Kentucky. of 1999) was hired to sculpt the statue. This is his second sculpture to be presented to St. X; he also created the tiger sculpture outside of the football stadium. Two antique urns that previously sat in the entrance to the Driscoll Building were relocated and now stand next to the walkway beside the statue. These urns once stood at the entrance of the old St. X building on Broadway. As Dr. Sangalli said at the ceremony, “These items and the an- tique bench beside the statue recall our past and demonstrate continuity of mission over all these years.” You can find the Ryken statue in the courtyard outside of the Callahan Media Center. It depicts Ryken looking down as he walks the antique brick path, symbolizing the brothers “moving on in faith.” Front Row (from left): Lucas Baker, “Let this beautiful work of art remind us of our heritage and mission and cause us to give thanks every time we pass by,” said Dr. Sangalli at the Alexander Young, Thomas Sullivan; ceremony. “And let us march on as well, creating harmony among those Back Row (from left): Benjamin with whom we collaborate in our classrooms, on our fields and stages, in Farber, Kevin Reilly, Sehr Faltin, our Board conference rooms, and in all that we do outside of the boundar- Michael Sehlinger, Nicholas Yates, ies of Poplar Level Road. Therein, in harmony, small things will continue Patrick Ryan, Michael Rueff, to grow.” John Raque 2 ON CAMPUS May 8, 2014 Fond Farewells Twinning Mr. Richard Ayres By Sam Lukens dentical twins are a rare occurrence, never understood it to be fun or intrigu- By Sam Gray Ibut St. X has quite a few identical twins ing. They have found value in each oth- r. Richard Ayres has been a member of the Saint roaming the halls on a daily basis. These er’s company. MXavier community for 30 years. He took the job brothers can achieve twice as much as an Despite such company, twins often at St. X initially as a French and Latin teacher in 1984. average person. Identical twins may look get frustrated being mixed up by teachers In 1987, he was given the opportunity to teach Chinese alike, but each twin has his own set of and friends. Twins are stereotyped into and has been teaching it ever since. characteristics that set him apart, includ- the realm of “similar.” Twins are pestered Mr. Ayres has taught all levels of Chinese through- ing subtle physical differences. Contrary about being twins, and they are asked out his years at St. X. He also brought the Chinese Na- to popular belief, most twins are com- constant ignorant questions. Senior twins tional Honor Society to St. X. pletely different from each other, apart Max and Matt Jones, as well as the Mars- However, one of Mr. Ayres’ most famous accom- from physical features. Being a twin in- den twins, both deal with these questions plishments is the Chinese trips in the summers. The trip volves having a psychological need to frequently. started in 1987 and has grown to be one of the most develop self identity. Each twin at St. X “If you physically come up to two popular trips St. X offers. The China trip has been offered most years since 1987. “It has his own identities apart from his fel- people that look alike, don’t ask if they helps the kids immerse themselves in the Chinese culture,” Mr. Ayres said. low twin. are twins,” said Matt Jones. Due to the influence of Mr. Ayres, many former students have expanded their “I may be a twin, but I’m one of a The Marsden twins agree: “Everyone studies of Chinese in college. One in particular, Martin Woods, lives in China and is kind,” said senior Matt Jones. bothers you. It’s obvious we’re twins.” a major figure in Chinese television. Being a twin has its advantages and Identical appearance is always no- Another unique trait to Ayres’ class was his incorporation of faith. “You can get disadvantages. Primarily, twins have had ticed in twins, yet twins are not identical into heaven without knowledge of Chinese, but you can’t get into heaven without a each other to interact with since birth. in their personalities. Too often are they knowledge of your faith,” he said. “That’s one of our missions as teachers at St. X.” Sophomores Andrew and Alex Mars- classified with similar personalities just Ayres will be leaving St. X at the conclusion of this year. He will teach Latin and den stressed that as children they always because they are both in the same level of Greek at a school in Cincinnati. played together, and they did not see the classes. Twins are unique. Every person “It was my absolute privilege to work with such wonderful colleagues and the value in playing by yourself. They have is unique, and each twin is no exception. finest young men I’ve ever known,” he said of St. X. “I have nothing but great memo- ries, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciated teaching Chinese to the students. I will miss everyone at St. X. A part of me will always be here.” Summer Service Mrs. Mary T. Clements Opportunities By Matthew Hess By Michael Portaro rs. Mary T. Clements is retiring at the end of this mmediately after finals are over, the in our own state. The trip will be four Mschool year. Coming to St. X in July of 2007, Imain thing on every student’s mind is days, June 22–25. The cost will be $250. she served as Administrative Assistant for Campus relaxing. Everyone deserves some time Crosswalk is another service oppor- Ministry and also assisted the drama department. of rest after school ends. However, after tunity that Campus Ministry is encour- Her activities in Campus Ministry include set- you awaken from hibernation, what will aging students to get involved in. It is a ting up and organizing retreats and keeping track of you do? For many students, summer is a weeklong retreat of service and volun- service hours. She loves how serious people are in good time to get a head start on service teering in Louisville. There will also be the work they do. “I enjoy watching students turn in hours for the next year. St. X has plenty of time to reflect on how service affects you more service hours then they need and watching stu- opportunities for you to get involved and and what you think with groups of other dents come back from retreat completely changed,” have a fun and learning experience.