St. Charles Preparatory School February 2010

TheThe CarolianCarolian Official Newspaper Publication of St. Charles Preparatory School

QUICK NEWS: No More Winter Wonderlands  The Government Inspector is Alexander Coccia ‘10 fantastic! Without wasting any time, the first snow day of the year came  Wrestling and just as St. Charles students Swimming win returned from a two-week CCL! Christmas break. Rumors began of a harsh winter in  The recent which the maximum of five Supreme Court calamity days would be well decision takes exceeded. Then there was a away your political lull in the weather. Snow voice. storms got bad, but not bad  This just in: enough for school to be can- Texting while celled. This all ended in a fury Driving is not safe. of storms that resulted in a two-day weekend, followed by one day of school, followed by another two-day weekend, two The grotto at St. Charles beautifully covered with snow. days of school, and a four-day Photo courtesy of Steven Turville. weekend. Adding it up, that is three days of school, and eight Ohio schools will be allowed All items in the sale have been days off. It was beautiful, and INSIDE THIS three calamity days in the donated by the St. Charles the students rejoiced. ISSUE: 2010-2011 school year. And community. Last year, St. Currently, St. Charles, along the next year? Zero. The Charles’ donations to the ga- with the other Columbus Obama’s State of the State’s plan is to go to school rage sale led to the raising of 2,3 Catholic Schools have used Union Address more days, and therefore, over $2,000 for humanitarian f o u r s n o w d a y s . increase students’ perform- aid effort in Darfur, Sudan, the The current seniors have The new scoreboards at a n c e a g a i n s t o t h e r location of a genocide. This 4 lucked out when it has come to St. Charles states’ school systems. year, Cardinals for Life hopes snow days. As freshmen, St. Sorry, underclassmen! to raise even more for the The Government Charles cancelled the maxi- 5 victims of the earthquake in Inspector Review mum five days of school to Haiti. Money raised will be snow; as sophomores, six days Cardinals sent through Catholic Relief were off; and as juniors, the Editorials 6-9 for Life Services to provide immediate maximum five were used. Now Garage aid for the victims and to as seniors, they have already Sale contribute to efforts to rebuild Texting and Driving 7 had twenty in four years. For the seniors of St. Charles, it the nation. has been, as Mr. Cavello has Alexander Coccia ‘10 Donations will be collected His Highness: LeBron 9 called it, “Country Club St. Cardinals for Life, Dignity, and this entire week, so please be Charles, where we come to Justice, St. Charles’ pro-life and generous. Join Cardinals for Life on March 6th at St. The Best Albums of school a few days, then take a social justice organization, is 11 All Time few days off.” For the fresh- hosting a garage sale this Charles to contribute to this men, sophomore, and junior Saturday, March 6th, in the cause. classes, however, their luck is Walter Student Commons. about to run out. Page 2 NATIONAL NEWS The Carolian

The 2010 State of the Union Address

Sam Powell ‘11 explained. omy, the commander-in-chief stated On Wednesday, January 27, Presi- Once he had shared the stories he read that jobs need to be the number-one dent Barack Obama gave his State of in some letters, the president began his focal point for legislation in 2010. the Union Address to the members of call on Congress to move away from “The government can create the con- Congress and other “distinguished strict political partisanship. “They are ditions necessary for business to guests” as called for by the Constitu- tired of the partisanship, the shouts expand and to hire more workers,” he tion. With Senate President Biden and the pettiness,” he pointed out. As said. The president suggested that and House Speaker Pelosi sitting he did here and throughout his the government start with creating behind him, President Obama spoke address, President Obama urged mem- auxiliary measures for small busi- about the condition of the nation and bers of the Republican and Democratic nesses by initiating small business outlined his priorities and legislative parties to come together in an effort to tax credits, by taking $30 billion from agenda for the upcoming year. bring reform to the myriad of suffering big banks and giving it to local banks After a few typical opening state- Americans. oriented with small businesses, and ments, the president reminded his In sharing the stories of average citi- by promoting companies that create listeners that other State of the zens who are pushing onward in a man- jobs on American soil, not on foreign Union Addresses have been deliv- ner full of rectitude, industriousness land. Additionally, President Obama ered in some very trying times for the and courage, the president gave his urged Congress to strive to create country. In mentioning the Great verdict on the state of the nation. “It is more jobs related to clean and green Depression, Bloody Sunday, the Viet- with this great decency and hopeful energy. In a general sense, the presi- nam War, and other significant struggle that I have never been more dent said that “we can put Americans calamities in our nation’s history, hopeful about America’s future than I to work today building the infrastruc- President Obama put the current am tonight. Despite our hardships, our ture of tomorrow.” state of America in perspective to our union is strong.” After his discussion of the job market, past. “America prevailed because After an episode of energetic applause, the president brought up the contro- we chose to move forward as one President Obama resumed his talk of versial issue of climate change. He nation, as one people,” he remarked, the actions taken in response to the said, “Even if you doubt the science, “Again we are tested, again we must current recession. Referring to the incentive for clean energy fosters a answer History’s calls.” bank bailouts and the hundreds of bil- leading global economy.” Moreover, The first item of the president’s lions spent in stimulus money, the President Obama advocated for alter- speech was the economy and the president said, “I hated it, you hated it… native forms of energy as a way to tumble it took during the late 2000s. but I promised I wouldn’t do what was increase economic activity and to Acknowledging that it is the most popular, I would do what was neces- instill in our country a sense of energy virulent economic disaster since the sary…. I am not interested in punishing independence. Great Depression, President Obama banks. I’m interested in protecting our Following the topic of climate change, defended the bold actions taken by economy.” Continuing, he said that if education came to the podium. The his administration. “We acted imme- something drastic had not been done to president vehemently supported diately and aggressively,” he said. prevent the “meltdown” of our financial incentives to award schools and He continued, stating that economic system, unemployment would be twice teachers that were successful in fos- experts across the political spectrum as much as it is now. The president tering the greatest level of academic predicted another depression if Con- stated that because of the efforts of his achievement among students. gress and his administration had not administration and Congress, the mar- Emphasizing math and science, Presi- acted in the way they did. Though kets have stabilized, and that most of dent Obama warned that if America is the economic situation is still not the money spent on the banks has to be competitive in the global mar- looking very auspicious, the presi- been recovered through augmented ketplace, her students must have dent stated that he believes “the economic activity. Furthermore, he access to top-notch education. “The worst of the storm has passed.” cited the fact that there have been no best anti-poverty solution around is a The president tried to create a sense income tax increases, and that his world-class education,” he said, “and of sympathy and compassion for administration has passed twenty-five we need to invest in the skills and those still dealing with the ills of the different cuts for 95% of working fami- education of our people.” The presi- economy. “I know the anxieties that lies, in hopes that it would leave them dent additionally expressed his desire are out there right now. These strug- more money to spend. Still giving much to bolster community colleges, and to gles are the reasons that I ran for credit to the government for any recov- offer tax credits for families that send president.” As he often did during ery that has taken place, President their children to school, stating that his election campaign, President Obama said, “Economists on the left “No one should go broke because Obama told the stories of many who and right say this bill has diverted eco- they choose to go to college.” wrote him letters describing their nomic disaster. After two years of Next up was the issue of health care troubles. “For these Americans and recession, the economy is finally grow- reform. The president plainly pro- so many others, change has not ing again.” nounced that “we still need health come fast enough,” he passionately Following his discussion of the econ- State is continued on page 3. St. Charles Preparatory School Page 3

State, cont’d from Page 2 insurance reform…. I will not walk away warned that he will use his vetoing efforts being carried out by his admini- from these [those who could benefit power to stop irresponsible programs, stration and by American citizens in a from reform] Americans.” He also and he called for “earmark reform,” very communal manner. American aid asserted that his administration’s suggesting that all earmark requests be for Haiti, work being done to help approach would decrease the deficit by published online before a vote so that other countries feed themselves, the one-trillion dollars, though he did not taxpayers can see how their money is fight against AIDS, and the exacting provide the details of how that might being spent. In his concluding remarks labors of many working to bring about happen. After once again insisting on on this subject, the president once peace and justice in the world were all bipartisan cooperation and reform, the again criticized partisan politics, saying extolled by the president. Making president applauded his wife’s work on that members of Congress should not references to ideals of the Constitu- promoting healthy food choices and strive to pass legislation just to gain tion, he exclaimed, “America must exercise among kids in an effort to “political points” for themselves, but to always stand on the side of human eliminate childhood obesity. bring about positive change for the dignity and freedom.” President Obama subsequently brought American people. At the end of his address, President up the reality of our gargantuan deficit, The final focus of the address was inter- Obama lauded basic characteristics of saying that starting in 2011, “We are national security, and President Obama the American spirit that make it prepared to freeze government spend- set a goal of bringing an end to the Iraq strong. Using his gift of powerful and ing,” but that “we can’t afford the War. He announced that “we will have eloquent speech, the president freeze until next year, when the econ- all of our combat troops out of Iraq by made an effort to stimulate the omy is stronger. That’s how budgeting the end of this year,” and that “we have strong and steadfast natures of many works.” By eradicating superfluous a responsibility to support them when American people. “The spirit that has programs or ones that do not work, the they come home.” After citing that his sustained this nation for more than president said that he will refuse to administration has made “the largest two centuries lives in you” he insisted. pass the problem of the vast deficit increase in veteran’s benefits in dec- “We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s onto another generation of Americans. ades,” the president established his seize this moment to start anew, to In addition, he articulated that tax cuts goal to secure all of the nuclear mate- carry the dream forward, and to for those making over $250,000 a year, rial in the world so that it “never falls strengthen our union once more.” for oil companies, and for wealthy into the wrong hands.” “Thank you,” the president concluded, mutual fund managers will not con- As he began to wrap up his speech, “God bless you, and God bless The tinue. In the end, President Obama President Obama mentioned various United States of America.”

On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, President Obama made his first State of the Union Address. Photo courtesy of cnn.com. Page 4 ST. CHARLES NEWS The Carolian

SC Speech Club Opens Heated Debate Osaze Udeagbala ‘11 Saint Charles Preparatory has a repu- wanted to do the same the next week. words, there will never be a point at tation for producing young men with Thus, the following week, the club had a which everyone in society can function outstanding intellect. Many students more focused debate. The discussion “on the same page.” Both sides had come from differing backgrounds, centered on the plausibility of true world valid arguments, and there was no differing lifestyles, and possess differ- peace, and the merits and demerits clear winning argument, but all partici- ing opinions on all sorts of topics. associated with such a topic. At the out- pants managed the small victory of new Lately, SC Speech Club has sought to set, peace had to be defined. The club enlightenment. exploit this potential for debate, and defined true peace as “the absence of SC Speech Club allows the participants has come up with some very interest- violence, combined with the search for of these weekly debates to develop the ing discussion. justice, excluding those who are mentally skills of quick, critical thinking, as well As a part of a recent meeting, the club ill or otherwise incapable of doing so.” as learning to counter other perspec- had a mini-forum on interpretation of After determining this definition, discus- tives. Through the improvement of the Bible. For some time, everyone sion began. The affirmative side of the these skills, the students hope to was involved, but eventually the dis- case argued that, over time, by a process improve as researchers and debaters, cussion boiled down to a verbal war of learning from mistakes, society can giving themselves the confidence and between Edgar Ochoa and Travis eventually attain a state of true peace, in competence necessary for successful Nixon. The discussion then touched on the same way that a mountain climber presentations. SC Speech Club meets such topics as abortion and legal eventually reaches the top of a mountain on Mondays in room 302. Anyone who rights before closing the discussion. as long as he continues climbing. The is curious about or interested in partici- Not one person left that meeting with- negative side argued that no matter the pating in this group should contact out a more informed perspective on amount of progress made toward peace, Osaze Udeagbala or Mr. Gibbons. what was discussed. Naturally, every- there will always be a group of people one who attended Speech Club who resist this movement. In other

Scoreboards Mark a New Age in St. Charles Sports

Alexander Coccia ‘10 Just as the Walt Plank Field promoted a new age in St. Charles football — one of the utmost confidence — the new scoreboards in the gymnasium have begun a new age in St. Charles basketball — one of technology. Installed by Daktronics, the scoreboards were the result of an anonymous donation amounting to $25,000. This generosity has meant a great deal to the St. Charles fans, who can now be led i