Look What`s Inside - Bishop O`Connell High School

The Visor
Bishop O’Connell High School
Volume 53 Issue 3
O’Connell Celebrates Pro-Life Week
Elizabeth Bloom
Staff Writer
With renewed vigor and energy, O’Connell celebrated the week of
January 3 as Pro-Life Awareness Week.
Throughout the week, the Pro-Life
club was involved in several activities.
One of the major displays in the
school that week was the 480 multi-colored paper crosses that were displayed
in the main hallway. Each cross represented 2 children aborted, so together
the crosses totaled the 960 lives lost
each school day, or about seven hours.
Posters were also put up around
the school with various facts on them,
such as “One-third of our generation
has been killed by abortion” and “Less
than 1% of abortions are done because of rape, incest, or to protect the
mother’s life.” In addition, a special
prayer was said each morning during the morning announcements in
honor of Pro-Life Awareness Week.
As Pro-Life Awareness Week
came to an end, speaker Chris Stefanick
visited O’Connell for the second time
in two years, to speak to the students
at the annual Pro-Life Assembly. Chris
speaks to teens, young adults, and parent
groups all across the country and has also
worked in youth ministry in the East LA
area, Wisconsin, and currently in Denver.
Although he is married and is a proud fa-
ther of five children, Chris still lives out
his life in ministry, speaking and writing
about what it is that has made his life
so full that his “ joy may be complete.”
The Pro-Life Assembly kicked
off with some instrumental guitar solos
from Chris as well as a game of “Sing
It,” in which students were picked
to go up on stage and sing the lyrics
to a well-known song. As usual, the
junior-senior rivalry was still present
and although four contestants were
called up on stage, the competition
came down to junior Jackie Beaver and
senior Richard Nary, who both received
loud applause for their performances.
“After six years of private singing lessons and countless performances in
front of thousands of people, I knew when
I was chosen that my time to shine had
finally come,” said junior Jackie Beaver.
After getting the entire auditorium involved, Chris proceeded to
use both images and interactive humor
to relate to the students and to convey
his message about the real God and the
power that God holds. Chris told many
inspirational stories, including one about
his own wife and how she changed her
life from having an alcohol and drug
problem to living a healthy, faith-filled
life. The assembly moved everyone to
think about their own lives and prepare
for the March for Life later in January.
An officer in the pro-life club,
Peter St. George, summed up the assembly, saying, “ He ended Pro-Life
Awareness Week perfectly by focusing
on God’s love for every human being
and the value that this love gives us intrinsically. That was the message of the
week: all humans deserve the right to life
because out of love God created them.”
‘Fr. Luis has been an Outstanding Educator’
Gabe Salas
Staff Writer
On the morning of February 4, the
students of Bishop O’Connell entered
the auditorium to hear O’Connell
alumni, Katie Yohe, speak about her
time spent teaching in Ghana. Students
and faculty alike received more news
than they had originally expected.
Dr. Vorbach made his way to the
podium, and you could immediately
sense the emotion in his voice.
After initial gasps and whispers
from the unexpected news, tears began
to flow, signifying just how much
the man, who had given so much of
his time to our school, meant to the
O’Connell community. It says a lot
when the death of a teacher can cause a
student to grieve, but it says even more
when the death of a teacher causes an
entire campus to mourn. The goal of
the students, mainly the seniors, no
longer became getting through the
school day so that they could enjoy
their Friday night; it became a time for
honoring Father Luis and remembering
him, and all of the joy that he
brought to the students of O’Connell.
Father Luis, or Luis Valdivieso,
was born in and raised in Cuba. After
moving to the United States, he became
chaplain to the Christian Brothers, who
lived and worked at the school, teaching
Look What’s Inside:
Sporting the New Skort
Page 3
See Valentine’s Day Messages
Pages 6-7
Remembering Fr. Luis
Page 12
religion and history. Fr. Luis once said,
“In my wildest dreams, I never imagined
myself as a teacher. But from the
moment it happened, I fell in love with
the profession.” This quote reflected
Father Luis’ love and committment
each day he taught at O’Connell.
His love of teaching and warm and
friendly smile filled his classroom and
students with delight. He will always
be remembered for being the jolliest
person that the students of O’Connell
encountered during the school day.
“I can’t remember a single day where
he wasn’t smiling or laughing; he was
just always so happy,” senior Brendon
Sheiry said, echoing the opinions of all
the students and teachers who had the
privilege of knowing Father Luis.
“His very presence made us smile.
For 25 years I had the fortune of
spending the first hour of my day with
him and my day always began with a
laugh,” Mr. Sullivan said, reminiscing
over the time he spent with Father Luis
that covered more than two decades.
On Tuesday February 8, a funeral
mass was held at St. Anthony’s
in Falls Church. Over 90 seniors
attended the service that featured a
very emotional eulogy delivered by
Mr. Sullivan. The speech brought
tears and laughter to the many in the
church, and it was apparent that while
the Bishop O’Connell community
was mourning their loss, they were
celebrating the fact that a member of
their family was now in heaven, looking
down upon them. All of the faculty,
staff, coaches and students who knew
Father Luis will miss him; but his never
ending joy will always be with them
because he left this school a better place.
Visor February 2011
Editorials
NOW That’s What I Call a Childhood:
The Nineties
Alejandra Buitrago
Editor- In-Chief
Remember waking up in the
morning to see Face greet you with a smile
on Nick Jr.? How about watching Arthur,
Zoom, Dragon Tales, and the Big Comfy
Couch on PBS Kids? Remember Out of
the Box, Rolie Polie Olie, Chip and Dale
Rescue Rangers, and PB&J Otter? Do
you miss the Noodle Dance? I know I do.
Growing up in the nineties was
a simpler time than now. When we were
growing up, Happy Meal toys were a veritable
wonder; little girls wanted Tomagachi
Connections, Furby’s, My Little Pony
dolls, and Barbie Dolls were the ultimate
present a girl could receive. Boys and girls
played with Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards
during recess and it was almost impossible
to see a kid without a Nintendo 64.
These days, Silly Bands are
the new Pokémon cards and instead of
idolizing Disney princesses, Hannah
Montana and iCarly backpacks are seen
in elementary schools everywhere. It
seems that in this newer technological
age, preteens are updating their Facebook
statuses from their iTouches more than
they are going out to play in the cul-de-sac.
And let’s not forget Bieber
Fever, the pandemic causing masses
of crazed tweens to nearly foam at the
mouth to meet the Canadian pop star
(who has just release his 3D concert
movie.) Back in my day, Britney Spears,
*NSYNC, and the Backstreet Boys were
the musicians you had in your Hit Clips.
Today
iCarly
dominates
Nickelodeon, but in the nineties, Kenan
and Kel, The Amanda Show, and All That
were “all that.” Disney Channel original
movies were the highlight of every month;
from Halloweentown to The Luck of the
Irish, Smart House, and Motocrossed ,
these movies defined our childhood. Lizzie
McGuire, Even Stevens, and Boy Meets
World taught us valuable lessons along with
many laughs. Somehow, kids’ television
these days is full of canned laugh tracks and
obnoxious “stars” that are using their shows
as means of marketing their music careers,
instead of making worthwhile television.
I think the Full House theme
song said it best, “Whatever happened to
predictability? The milkman, the paperboy,
evening TV? You miss your old familiar
friends waiting just around the bend…” I
feel that this generation has lost sense of
what a childhood should be: a time to have
play dates and grilled cheeses instead of
dwelling on social networking and Jersey
Shore. Maybe it’s time that kids put down
their iPads and play some Red Rover.
Egypt: Fighting for Peace
In Egypt, the aspiration to
protest peacefully has transformed into a
bloody confrontation between radical progovernment and anti-government rioters.
The start of the protests commenced from
a Facebook event calling all oppositionists
to rally. On January 25th, 2011, thousands
of Egyptian anti-government protestors
demonstrated throughout the metropolitan
cities of Cairo, Alexandria, and Suez.
The people involved in the protest
demonstrated against Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak’s failure to address the
people’s grievances. The crowds of
protestors included impoverished people
from the lower class, criticizing the
high food prices, young adults desiring
a western democracy, and pro-Islamic
groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood
fighting for an Islamic regime run by
Sharia Law. The rest of the world fears
that the Egyptian presidency will evolve
into an even more suppressive regime.
World leaders and moderate,
prominent figures have denounced the
ongoing violence. Radical outbursts
from opposing and supporting sides have
included gun shots, Molotov cocktails,
and face-to-face combat. The Obama
Administration called for non-violence
among the Egyptian people amidst Egyptian
President Mubarak’s transition out of office.
President Obama remarked,
“Those protesting in the streets have
a responsibility to express themselves
peacefully,” in response to the violence
promoted by anti-government protesters.
Aggressive activists have thrown stones at
the government’s police force, started fires
on public and government buildings such
as the National Democratic Party building
and the Arcadia Shopping Mall, and stolen
from various local businesses. Due to the
total disappearance of the police force, the
Egyptian government released the Egyptian
military to defend its citizens. Egyptian men
wishing to protect their homes and stores
have stood beside the militia in order to
defend themselves and their families. There
has been a significant number of attacks on
private homes in Qattamaya and Cairo, as
well as destruction of historic heirlooms.
Some extremism has raged
among the Pro-Mubarak supporters as
well. On Wednesday February 3rd, a
band of Bedouins marched on horses and
camels with whips in their hands. Among
the rioters, journalists, and citizens who
were harmed from the Bedouins’ violence
was CCN news reporter Anderson Cooper.
Although no one was seriously injured,
Anderson Cooper and his crew reported
that they received blows on the head from
these desert men. The Bedouins confessed
after being captured by the Egyptian army
that they were paid 50 Egyptian Pounds, the
equivalent of 10 US dollars, by an Egyptian
government representative to attack the city.
Moderate Egyptians supporting
and defying Egyptian President Mubarak
stand out from these violent groups. The
peaceful anti-government demonstrators
vow to protest until President Mubarak
leaves the country. These protestors
condemn the government for its corruption
and the president’s oppressive rule. The
Egyptians not seeking a radical change
in the government respect Mubarak for
avoiding a war during the years of his
rule and maintaining the peace treaty with
Israel. Among both sides, the reasonable
Egyptian citizens agree that the violence
Page 2
The Visor
Bishop O’Connell High School
6600 Little Falls Road
Arlington, VA
Published monthly, the student
newspaper of Bishop Denis J. O’Connell
High School is a public forum with
its student editorial board making all
decisions about its content, under the
guidance of its faculty advisor.
Opinions in the paper are not
necessarily those of the staff, nor should
any opinion expressed in this public
forum be construed as the opinion or
the policy of Bishop O’Connell High
School, unless so attributed.
Editors-In-Chief
Cait Patterson
Alejandra Buitrago
Front Page
Sports
Kelly Kundinger
Nick Kent
Emma Delmontagne Maddie Young
Editorials
Ana-Maria Hecton
Campus News
Natalie Eichner
Health
Cait Patterson
Spreads
Diksha Bhatia
Brittany Davey
Entertainment
Leela Gupta
Style
Megan Brosnan
Maria Buitrago
Outside News
Imani Hamami
Copy Editor
Erin Buckley
Staff Writers
Joe Bender, Elizabeth Bloom, Christina
Chiames, Dina Hamami, Jackie Hughes,
Patrick Morris, Audra Nakas, Scott
Rapuano, Gabe Salas, Marilyn Savich,
Samantha Sison, Sam Snead, Sydney
Speetjens, Natasha Warcholak
Faculty Moderator
Dan Culler
should end. So far, more than a hundred
lives have been lost and about 1,200
people have been injured as of February
5th. Gandhi had a point when he said,
“an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
makes the world blind and toothless.”
AdVisor: Mr. Mothes Knows the Most-est!
The AdVisor is The Visor’s editorial space reserved for teachers to communicate to students their life lessons
and experiences. In this Valentine’s Day issue, we asked Mr. Mothes to tell us about his senior marriage project.
For three years now, Mr. Mothes has
assigned his superior seniors a ‘marriage
project.’ Most seniors look forward to
this project, not just because they carry
around a stuffed animal all day, but they
also learn a lot about themselves and
the kind of partner they are looking for.
The AdVisor recently talked with Mr.
Mothes about this project, and we got to
know a lot about the reasoning behind the
marriage madness.
AV: What is the ‘marriage project’ and its
objectives?
Mr. Mothes: The family project takes
students through a simulation of the
situations people go through when they
learn more about themselves, discern
who they are compatible with, and then
commit to be with that person for the rest
of their lives. This includes the highs and
lows of relationships and raising children
with a focus on communication and
community building within the family.
Students will: examine themselves, pair
with a partner, create projects that exhibit
the development of their relationship,
analyze what it means to be a loving and
committed partner, and evaluate some of
the realities of having children
AV: What led you to create this
assignment?
Mr. Mothes: A large emphasis of our
entire year in this class is to build
community and experience the relational
nature of God as expressed in the Trinity.
I believe that the family is a representative
unit of what it can mean to be in real
solidarity with others. The project also
allows Seniors to apply the philosophical/
theological principles they learned first
semester to real life situations that are
familiar. On a personal note, the project
allows me to share all that I have
learned about my own faith through
the experience of being married to
an amazing partner and raising two
fantastic boys.
AV: What are some of the outcomes of the
project?
Mr. Mothes: The desired outcome is
to have students learn more about who
they are and how they share themselves
with others in a joyful and experiential
way. They will create scrap books,
give presentations, take part in marriage
ceremonies all for the purpose of
developing team work skills and learning
life lessons that show an expression of
their faith.
AV: Have any of the “married couples”
ever gone on to get married after this
project?
Mr. Mothes: I haven’t been doing the
project long enough for that to happen, but
I do know that relationships have formed
out of the project and other pre-existing
relationships have become stronger.
AV: As a married adult, what advice
would you give to a high schooler?
Mr. Mothes: I would suggest that people
really get to know a person before they
get married; to develop a strong friendship
with that person and to focus on honesty
in the relationship (about likes and
dislikes, your faith, emotions, etc.) I
would also suggest to continue to nurture
yourself and learn about who you are
since you can only give what you have.
That means to love someone else, it is
important to be able to love yourself.
AV: What have you learned from this
project?
Mr. Mothes: I have learned about the
diversity of ways people express their
love for one another. I have also learned
how it is so important to connect to
students through learning together about
the important things in life. Lastly, I have
learned how supportive my family is
that I do this project. Each year, for one
class, my wife and kids come in to school
with me. My wife reads from a pop-up
book she made for me about how our
relationship grew and I play with my kids
in the back. It is a fantastic day I look
forward to each year.
AV: What is the Serenity Prayer?
Mr. Mothes: We use the Serenity Prayer
a lot in class - especially during this
project, it goes: God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change, the
courage to change the things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference.
In relationships: God grant me the peace
of mind and heart to accept that I cannot
change other people’s minds or make
others love me, I can have the courage to
change how I look at relationships and
how I love myself, and the wisdom to
know the difference, which cuts out a lot
of drama.
AV: What are your thoughts about
Valentine’s Day?
Mr. Mothes: I have mixed feelings. I
think it is great to focus on love for a
day in a special way yet I also think that
many people over-dramatize it and make
themselves feel bad because they are not
in a relationship, or are not happy in the
one they are in. So I think that if people
stay positive on Valentine’s Day, its a
great thing - the key is staying positive.
Visor February 2011
Campus News
Page 3
Sporting the New Skort
Audra Nakas
Staff Writer
the current wool-polyester blend with
cotton-polyester. The shorts are much
softer but will not be visible from the
Come next school year, lady side as they are now, and one side of the
Knights will have the option of wearing skort will have a pocket. Furthermore,
a redesigned uniform skort. The the fit of the new skort is supposed to be
change comes in response to numerous more suitable to young women’s bodies. complaints during the all-girls assembly Though most students have not seen
in October about the skorts’ style and or heard about the change, certain features
poor fit. Ms. Cunningham, Assistant of the new skort are attracting attention.
Administrator of Student Life, has directed “I don’t mind the skorts we
the search for a more suitable skort at have now, but the pocket is a definite
the urging of the school administration. improvement that I’m looking forward
“Mrs. Prebble has been very responsive to,” shared sophomore Christy Pennington.
to girls’ concerns about fit and While Bishop O’Connell’s
comfort,” explained Ms. Cunningham. official uniform provider Flynn & O’Hara
After looking at several options is still finalizing a design specifically for
and receiving feedback from students, the the school, Cunningham said that the
school has decided on a khaki skort that new skorts should be considerably less
looks similar to the current one but has expensive. Students will still be able
some new features. The fabric is stiffer to wear the skorts they have now, but
The new skort will be similar to the one shown on the right, but students
(similar to the fabric used in skorts before whichever they choose, the skorts must be
will still be able to wear the current one, shown on the left. The skorts
the 2007-2008 school year) and replaces the proper length according to the handbook. pictured are different sizes.
Deacon ‘O’ Takes His Vows
Sam Snead
Staff Writer
The newly-ordained Deacon Ochenkowski smiles for the camera in the Student Chapel.
To the students at Bishop
O’Connell, Mr. Ochenkowski is known
as a beloved history teacher. He not only
teaches AP Modern European History and
AP U.S. History, he is also the head of the
history department. Not many people know,
however, that he has spent many long hours
studying to become a deacon. On January
15th, 2011, Ochenkowski was ordained a
deacon along with sixteen other men in the
Diocese. From this day on in the Church,
he is known as Deacon Paul Ochenkowski.
Ochenkowski wanted to serve as
a deacon because of his love for history
and religion. He considered becoming
a priest back in the 1970’s when he was
in high school. After graduating from
Notre Dame High School, he went on to
college, earning a bachelor’s degree from
the University of Virginia and a master’s
degree from Harvard. Ochenkowski also
served as a U.S. Navy Supply Corps officer
for 26 years. He served as a Catholic leader
on two Navy ships, and he also sang in
several different church choirs. He didn’t
stop his religious activities when he retired
from the Navy in 1997, however. He came
to O’Connell and continued his religious
work along with teaching history. He
currently serves at school masses, and he is
also a lector at St. Veronica’s Church. Along
with his participation in these activities,
he also counsels O’Connell students who
believe they have a religious vocation.
Known as ‘Mr.O’ around
campus, Ochenkowski
is now also
known as someone who has dedicated
his life to the service of others. He is
a teacher, a husband to his wife Mary
Lynne, and now a deacon of the church.
O’Connell Students Receive Highest Awards in Scouting
Marilyn Savich
Staff Writer
Amongst the Bishop O’Connell
students, Seniors Robert Gooch and
Addison Snidle have earned the highest
award in the Boys and
Girls Scouts of America.
Gooch received the
Eagle Award by raising
$2,000 for the Forestville
Pregnancy
Center
in Marlow Heights,
Maryland.
Gooch’s
donations helped the
Center to replenish
their supplies after the
building exploded. He
raised funds at grocery
stores and his church, St.
Mary’s Catholic Church
of Piscataway. Gooch
used
the money to purchase
supplies such as multiple
boxes of diapers and
baby wipes for the center.
The facility primarily
aids pregnant teenagers and young women.
The center offers counseling, medical
care, and baby supplies to women who
need support. Gooch explains why he
chose to help the Pregnancy Center:
“My church would usually
collect change for them every couple of
months, so I decided to go the extra mile.”
In order to earn the Eagle Award,
Gooch also earned 21 merit badges,
served 6 months in a Boy Scout leadership
position, planned
a service project
in his community,
partook in a Scout
master conference,
and completed the
Eagle Scout Board
of Review. In 2009, only
approximately
five percent of Boy
Scouts
reached
the coveted Eagle
rank. To become
an Eagle, Boy
Scouts must have
progressed from
the Tenderfoot to
Second Class, First
Class, Star, and
Life award. The
Boy Scouts must
meet the challenges of rescuing a practice
victim, fulfilling community service
projects, passing a rigorous swim test,
going on extended hikes, and preparing a
meal in the woods, among other tasks. It is
the norm for the Boy Scouts to take many
outdoor excursions throughout the year.
While many Girl Scouts complain
that the girls do not have as many
adventurous opportunities as the boys,
Addison Snidle has left a long-lasting
impression on
Lyon Village
P a r k
community
as well as the
Arlington
S p o r t s
Foundation.
Snidle turned
the tragedy of
her murdered
neighbor into
a community
development
which
will
perpetuate her
n e i g h b o r ’s
(Carl Diener’s) memory. Diener loved playing tennis on
the Lyon Village Park tennis courts, so
Snidle decided to develop a new tennis
backboard which will give players the
ability to volley even when they are alone.
She needed to collect approximately
$4,000 to put the plan into action.
Snidle introduced her idea to
the Lyon Village Community during
residential monthly meetings. The
neighborhood embraced the plan as a
way for the community to cope with
Diener’s death and used their connections
to help Snidle meet with county officials.
The Arlington Country Tennis
Association supported the idea because it
would be the only tennis backboard around
the area. The
“Gold Award
S c o u t ”
knocked on
over
200
houses
for
donations.
Snidle’s
successful
endeavor
touched the
heart of Carl
Diener ’s
sister, who
remarked,
“[Carl’s]
legacy and his
unsolved murder will be kept alive thanks to
Snidle’s work and we are forever grateful.”
For fulfilling a need in the local
community which will live on, Snidle is
among the 5% of Girl Scouts who receive
the Gold Award. This highest rank gives
Snidle and other Gold Awardees the
opportunity to rise from one rank in any
of the United States military branches.
It looks like there’s more to scouting
than selling delicious pies and cookies.
Visor February 2011
Campus News
Pa g e 4
Spotlight On: Matt and Michael Katz!
Scott Rapuano
Staff Writer
Seniors Matt and
Michael Katz come from a
family with a long history
at O’Connell. While Michael focuses on football and
baseball and Matt prefers to
serve the student body on
the SCA, the cousins have a
strong bond—a “bromance,”
if you will. Not only are
they good looking, but they
are insightful. I asked them
recently to reflect on their
experience at O’Connell
as well as other important
topics, and here’s what they
have to say.
How do you feel about being the two
most attractive things at O’Connell?
Mike: I don’t have a problem with all the
picture requests and photographs.
Matt: It’s a blessing and a curse.
Who inspires you?
Matt: The Entourage.
Mike: The man in the mirror.
Where do you see yourself ten years
from now?
Matt: Living off Michael’s success.
Mike: Playing in the MLB and coming
home to Matt living in my basement.
If you could leave something behind to
someone what would it be and to whom
would you leave it?
Matt: My snuggling ability to a certain
someone. She needs it.
Mike: My book smarts to Matthew Katz
so hopefully he’ll graduate next year.
Are you guys going to miss each other
when you go off to college?
Matt: I’ll miss the idea of him.
Mike: Miss who? This kid has been following me around my whole life? And
no, I won’t miss him because we’ve
agreed to Skype every morning before
we go to sleep.
What’s your favorite memory of each
other?
Mike: All the times I couldn’t go to
sleep at our sleepovers cause of Matt’s
horrible snoring.
Matt: The times we went to visit JMU
and UVA.
What’s been your favorite part of senior
year?
Matt: Watching my friends sign for
college.
Mike: No homework. It’s awesome.
What has been your greatest achieve-
ment at O’Connell?
Mike: Hiding Coach Sabatino’s expo marker and
laptop and never getting
caught.
Matt: Winning WCAC
Player of the Year.
What’s your favorite
food?
Matt: What are you implying?
Mike: Anything my Aunt
Cathy surprises me with
when I come to the bookstore.
Do you have a celebrity
crush?
Mike: Blake Lively and Brooklyn Decker!
Matt: Mila Kunis.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Matt: Macking and sleeping
Mike: I’m an R&B sensation. I’ve got
the dance moves of Chris Brown and the
vocals of Justin Beiber.
What’s your favorite quote from all your
years at O’Connell?
Mike: “What unit is this?...chocolate
milkshakes.” –Mr. Breuel
Matt: “Snarf.”
Renovation Goals Accelerate under New President
Joe Bender
Staff Writer
O’Connell’s athletic fields
have seen much wear and tear over the
years, and now the move to improve
them is gaining noticeable momentum.
This project has been anticipated for
many years and the school current administration is meeting with O’Connell’s
neighbors to address
their concerns. It is
the current hope that
the fields themselves
will be ready for the
start of next year’s
fall sports season.
The new athletic fields will have
a vast impact on the
O’Connell landscape.
The baseball field is
being flipped to allow
for a full-sized field
that still favors the batters over the pitchers.
D y l a n
Stoskus, a senior
baseball player said “I
wish we could play on
the fields now,” when
asked for his opinion
regarding the projected improvements.
The main field is being slid
forward and widened so it is regulation
size for all of the sports that O’Connell
offers: football, soccer, and lacrosse.
The track will also be expanded from
five to six lanes. The concession stand
is to be expanded and there is even a
central ticket-booth planned to serve
the entrance to both fields. However,
with these moves, about 50 parking
spaces will be eliminated from the
senior lot. The lot will be repainted so
as to maximize the number of parking
spots in the space available. The full
project is still on hold, however, pending county board approval for the lights.
One issue that is not under
two programs is already being tackled.
Coach Wootten and Debbie Warren, the
Athletic Director at Marymount, are
looking at different ways to schedule
practices and games that works best
for everybody. Some ideas that have
been considered for practices is allowing Marymount to practice during
our school day or having Marymount
negotiation is the partnership with
Marymount. The partnership will allow a sister institution to share our
fields, although Bishop O’Connell will
always have priority. All of the teams
that Marymount would have use the
O’Connell fields, such as baseball, track
and field, and field hockey still need to be
formed; but the issue of scheduling the
teams practice with O’Connell teams.
Marymount will also be paying solely
for any additions to the new athletic
fields that are only used in college
athletics, such as the steeplechase.
Many students, especially
athletes, are excited about the prospects of having lights so O’Connell
can support night games. However,
some neighbors continue to oppose the
installation of lighting for night games.
The discussions addressing their concerns
are ongoing. Some complaints have come
from people who consider a pair of fields
to be an “athletic complex,” and these
opponents fear the volume of traffic
that could accompany the addition of
lights; so these fears are being addressed
through the ongoing talks.
The school is hoping
however that the county will at least provide
the permit to start work
on renovating the fields.
According to President Katherine Prebble,
the project itself would
only take 120 days; so
if the project begins on
schedule, the fields will
be ready just in time for
the fall sports season.
The entire O’Connell
community is eagerly anticipating the new fields.
Junior Quincy Smith
may have summed it up
best when he said “I’m
really excited for the new
fields next year. I think
they will be a great asset
to O’Connell for both
sports and the image of the school
itself. They will make O’Connell an
even greater place than it already is!”
Hopefully the new fields
will be witness to the same incredible feats of athleticism as Jacobs Field
and McMurtrie Field have seen in
the many years that O’Connell students have competed upon them.
Visor February 2011
Health
Page 5
February is National Heart Month!
Christina Chiames
Staff Writer
Students often associate February
with snow days, Valentine’s Day
and the shortest month of the year!
However, February is also the
nationally declared Heart Health
Month. Since 1963, Congress has
required the president to proclaim
February as the Heart Health
Month.
The month was designed
to encourage people across the
country to learn more about how
to live a heart healthy lifestyle.
Cardiovascular diseases, which
include strokes and heart attacks, are
the No. 1 killer of Americans, even
outnumbering cancer. More than 2,500
Americans die from heart disease each day
and every 34 seconds a death occurs due to
heart or cardiovascular diseases.
As high school students, watching
cholesterol levels and practicing heart
healthy tips is often NOT a priority, yet it
is very important to practice good habits
now in order to avoid heart related diseases
in the future. Small steps to prevent heart
disease, as directed by the Mayo Clinic, are
best started early.
Doctors and researchers suggest
people choose whole grains instead of
products that use white, refined flours;
eat more fresh or frozen vegetables and
fruits; reduce the amount of salt consumed
by avoiding too much table salt, frozen
dinners, and soy sauce; and exercise for at
least 30 minutes each day.
Factors that can affect heart
disease development include weight,
gender, age, and volume of daily exercise.
Men, African-American women, people
suffering from obesity, and people over the
age of 55 are the most common people to
suffer from heart disease.
On Friday, February 4, many of
the teachers around the school participated
in the National Wear Red Day to promote
heart disease awareness. Teachers included
some sort of red to their attire, whether
a necktie, shirt, or sweater, helping to
encourage the prevention of heart diseases
and the importance of heart healthy steps
within the O’Connell community.
UCLA Study Finds Students Are Stressed Out!
Sydney Speetjens
Staff Writer
Students often complain about the amount
of pressure they experience during their
high school years because of the amount of
work placed on them by teachers, as well as
issues at home and the hassles of daily life.
Many times, their complaints
are brushed off as “overly dramatic” and
“unreasonable.” Students are told by those
who have already survived the high school
struggle that the only remedy is to “deal
with it.” But just dealing with it may not
be the best solution anymore; the results of
a recent UCLA Annual Freshman Survey
conducted by the Cooperative Institutional
Research Program (CIRP) states otherwise.
This study, found at http://www.
redorbit.com/news/health/1986890/
stress_increasing_among_imcoming_
college_freshman/index.html,
revealed
that students’ emotional health levels
are rapidly declining, while their
stress levels are rising to new heights.
According to the recent report,
only 51.9% of the polled 200,000+
incoming freshman class characterized
their emotional health as “above average”
or “in the highest 10%” before the 2010
school year. Furthermore, there was a
3.4% decrease from the study conducted
in 2009, and an even greater decline from
that of the first study conducted in 1985.
Another fact revealed by the
study was that “female freshman were
more likely than their male peers to
report feeling stressed,” according to
AFP reports. UCLA researchers stated
that only about 46% of females ranked
their emotional health as “very good,”
in contrast to the male vote of 59%.
One of the main reasons for such
emotional distress proved to be economic
factors, such as the use of excessive student
loans to aid in increasing debt. The UCLA
study found that “53.1% of incoming
freshman were using loans to help cover
college costs.” The same study also found
that the statistics regarding students who are
attending school on scholarship as well as
the statistics regarding the unemployment
rate among parents were at an all-time high.
So what do all these facts
and figures mean? Author and CIRP
Director John H. Pryor stated, “Stress
is a major concern when dealing with
college students. If students are arriving
in college already overwhelmed and with
lower reserves of emotional health, [then]
faculty, deans, and administrators should
expect to see more of the consequences of
stress, such as high levels of poor judgment
regarding time management, alcohol abuse,
and a decline in academic motivation.”
“Record numbers of students
rated their academic abilities (71.2%) and
their drive to achieve (75.8%) as ‘above
average’ or in the ‘highest 10%,’” the
report discovered. It is good for students
to be driven in their efforts at school,
and to try to strive to achieve the best
academic record that they possibly can; but
everything has to be kept within reason,
and should not be at the expense of their
emotional health and wellbeing. Students
need to make sure they get enough sleep,
eat healthy, and exercise often to try to
counteract the increasing pressures of
school. There needs to be a balance!
Taco Bell: What’s Your Beef?
Samantha Sison
Staff Writer
California customer Amanda
Obney filed a lawsuit against Taco Bell
in January. The lawsuit claimed that
Taco Bell’s meat filling isn’t really meat
but a mixture of fillers, binders, and
preservatives. Obney does not seek monetary
compensation for Taco Bell’s damages
but desires the court to order Taco Bell to
be honest when advertising its products.
Taco Bell’s meat is only 35% beef
by volume. The other 65% consists water,
wheat oats, soy lecithin, anti-dusting agents,
modified corn starch, and even cocoa powder.
Taco Bell meat filling does not satisfy
the requirements of the US Department
of Agriculture to be labeled as beef.
Taco Bell currently boasts
of using “seasoned ground beef” but
the lawsuit demands that Taco Bell
change their marketing by telling the
public the truth
about its ingredients.
One
attorney
representing
Obney
says, “We are asking that Taco Bell
stop saying that they are selling beef
because their advertising is misleading.”
The company does list their
ingredients on the website but only
indicates that wheat and soy were
allergens, while in truth, what they were
hiding could be dangerous for many
customers. Wheat oats, soy lecithin, and
maltodrextrin are common allergens added
to process foods to make the product
cheaper because using real meat would be
much more expensive. One dietitian says,
“Taco Bell should refer to their ‘seasoned
ground beef’ as ‘mixed meat’ and they
should list the additional ingredients
contained in their food so consumers know
what they are putting into their mouths.”
People throughout the world
enjoy their fast food, but they also want
to know what is being put into their
bodies. Fast food concessions like Taco
Bell have a responsibiilty to provide this
infomation honestly. Allegations like
these, proven to be accurate, can lead
to a public relations nightmare, at the
very least, and at the worst can cause
the kind of physical and legal injury that
can result in the end of the enterprise.
Visor February 2011
Spread
Page 6
Visor February 2011
Spread
Page 7
HappyVa11entine’sDay!!
To: Franklin Fomunyoh, Trey Carter. harrisonEvola,EmonteRogers,RashardKelly,
TreCampbell,MarquisROwe,Romelotrimble,
KharyDoby,WillFerguson,CameronGregory,
and Stephen OSu,
From: Mrs. Adkins
Message:
Congrats on a great season. I love you! HappyValentine’s day
To:JamesBourne,JoeCabrera,Brad
Hunt,LarrySavage,SamMcGrath,
Aman Jesfay, And Wes Robinson
From: Mrs.Adkins
Message:MySeniorBoys!Congrats
onagreatseason!Iloveyou!Happy
valetine’s Day!
To:Brittany Hoyle
From: Mandy
Message:Heygorgeous!You
arethebestfriendever.Ihope
that you have a marvelous
Valentine’sDay.Muchhhloveee
and affectionnn.
To: Katie
From: Kevin
Message:Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Love, Kevin
To: Dre Gochez
From:Emily,Kaitlyn,Caroline, and Alexa
Message:Rosesarered,Violets are blue please be our
valentine‘cause we really
love you! Be ours?
TO: Mr. Borgiazz
From: ALL SENIOR GIRLS
Message:Wegreatlyappreciate your presence in our
classwhenyousubstitute.It
makes our day!
To: Julia Paegle
From: Thomas Macnamara
Message: Jules, follow the
instructionsinyourlockerduring6thperiod.Ihaveapresent
for you!
To: Rachel Wright
From: You Know Who
Message:
Love You! Squeak
To: Kelsey Barger
From: Tim
Message:MamaaaB!!!<3
To: Kevin Lauerman
From: Your Secret Admirer
Message:Iloveyou.Ispeaktoyoueveryday but I am afraid to tell you of my love.
When you hug me my heart beats at a
thousandmilesperhour.WhenIlookinto
your eyes I feel a hot fire go within me.
Love You!
To: Maddy
From: Joe
Message:LOVEMEMADDY!
To: Gerson
From: Alicia
Message: I Love You with
allmyheart!Muah!!Happy
Valentine’s Day!
To: Katie Horwath
From: Nicholas
Message: Will you go out
with me?
To:Betsey Adkins
From: Mom aka DW
Message:ILoveYou.Happy
Valentine’s Day
TO: Ben Stievater
From: Anonymous
Message:You’re Amazing!I
hopewe’realwaystogether,
for ever and ever :)
To: Iosif
From:guess who.
Message:ILoveYou!Btwourbet
is off.
To: Everyone
From: Tim
Message: I Lo You!
To: SCA Executive Board
From: Mrs. Adkins
Message: I Love you. Happy
Valentine’s Day!
Visor February 2011
O’Connell Basketball
Girls’ Basketball Seeks Strong Finish to
Season
Christina Chaimes &
Dina Hamami
Staff Writers
The girls’ varsity basketball
team started the season strong, winning
their first game against Don Bosco on
December 1st. The team, led by seniors
Megan Gadell, Megan Nieto, and Katie
Flach, enjoys a strong team spirit, inspiring them on the court. The team also
boasts a couple of new additions to the
varsity team this year, including freshmen Allison Cannon, Ashley Jean, and
Catherine Irvin. The team is coached by
Coach Jimmy Brown, who is in his seventh season as the girl’s varsity coach.
Coach Brown said “This is
one awesome group of girls. They
love playing and supporting each
other on the court. Also, they have
improved on rebounding the ball.”
Coach Brown is also proud
of the girls because they are the area’s
leaders in 3-pointers. The varsity team’s
record is 8- 17. They recently won a
big game against Bishop Ireton with a
final score 78-71. Senior Megan Gadell scored 29 points during the game,
including seven 3-pointers. This game
set a new team record for the 2010-2011
season with a total of fourteen 3-pointers, subsequently beaten when they
made 15 3’s against Seton last week.
The varsity team is determined
to conclude a challenging season on a
winning note. Despite hardships faced
by the varsity team, the junior varsity and freshmen teams are dominating the league. Junior varsity, coached
by Mr. Edmonson, has a record of
11-5, and their record in the league is
8-5. The team is led by sophomores
Kerry Finley, Shanna Ferrari, Sydney Meruvia, and Rebecca Pereira.
Sophomore Kerry Finely
would describe the team as “extremely
talented.” She also says “We have really good chemistry; and we have a
lot of fun. Mr. Edmondson is a boss.”
The freshmen team is also
getting a lot of hype for their record in
the league. They are undefeated with
a record of 12-0 in the league. The
team, coached by Coach Cassidy, has
played against many difficult teams.
Some of these teams include Good
Counsel, Georgetown Visitation, and
PVI. They have defeated the competition with their dominating play.
The team is led by freshmen Jenny
Zinzi, Elisabeth Healy, and Shea North. Freshman captain, Jenny
Zinzi, says “We all love each other; we trust each other on the court,
and we have become a family.”
Come out and support the
Lady Knights to see them dominate on
the court as they finish off their season!
Page 8
OC Boys’ Basketball Program
Draws Major Media Attention
In addition to success on
the court, the O’Connell Knights
basketball team has also received
lots of media coverage this season.
On January 7th, the Bishop
O’Connell vs. PVI game was voted dc.highschoolsports.net game of
the week by receiving over 2500
votes. The game was covered by
the dc.highschoolsports.net media
team, and was featured on channel
WUSA 9, 11p.m. news. The team’s
significant win over PVI on January
7th resulted in an article in the Washington Post’s sports section the next
day as well as in featured video recapping the game on the Post’s website.
The team’s other big win,
a 61-58 victory over Dematha on
January 23, also was covered by the
Post. Dcsportsfan.com, one of the
biggest sports websites in the area,
features coverage of local high school
basketball, including O’Connell bas-
ketball. The website includes wrapups, photo albums, and scores from
many O’Connell basketball games.
It’s always easy to follow the Knights with internet access. Allmetsports.com as well as
dc.highschoolsports.net post the results
and highlights after every game. The
Knights’ Basketball also created its
own Twitter page. Check out www.
twitter.com/DJOHoops for updates on
the basketball team as well as scores for
those who cannot make it to the game.
It should come as no surprise
that the basketball team has received
such extensive media coverage. The
team has been extremely successful
for several years now. The high winning percentage and numerous trophies
won over the years have both made
the team very popular, not just in the
O’Connell community, but the entire
metropolitan area. This current media
coverage shows how Knights Basketball
has made a mark on the DC area and
with good reason, as the team shows
no signs of deserving anything less.
Along with strong efforts
from the seniors, the underclassmen,
such as Will Ferguson and Romelo
Trimble, have stepped up big time for
the Knights this season as well, and put
in some quality minutes for the team.
The Knights also received invitations to the Waldorf Holiday Hoops
Classic and the D.C. Assault Classic,
two prestigious tournaments held in
Maryland. In Waldorf the Knights took
down Lackey High School and Riverdale Baptist; and they were also able
to edge out a second meeting against
Riverdale Baptist in a 62-60 overtime
victory. The team still has three more
conference games, including their home
finale against DeMatha on February 18.
When asked about the team’s success this far, Savage said, “We work
hard every day to get better, that’s
the ultimate goal. Wins are nice but
we want to get better as a team.”
That central goal of moving
forward as a team has been a centerpiece
to the Knights’ success as every one of
the players has unselfishly put his ego
aside to ensure that he becomes a better player, teammate, and young man.
“Every day we want to bring our
personal best. We don’t care about the
competition or what everyone else is
doing, our main focus is improving; and
the guys have done a great job of giving me their best, day in and day out,”
Wootten said regarding his team’s efforts.
His players to a man sport
blue wristbands that say “Tough. Eager.
Attitude. Men.” All four words demonstrate the character that the coaching
staff hopes to see out of its players: one
of physical and mental toughness, a willingness to come in and work hard every
day, a positive attitude, and an ability
to handle their business on and off the
court. The Knight’s season is almost over,
but they still have a chance to contend
for a WCAC title and bring home another state championship for their school.
Patrick Morris
Staff Writer
O’Connell Basketball: Winning the Right Way
Gabe Salas
Staff Writer
For most of the winter season, the
entire O’Connell community has shown
tremendous support for the boys basketball team, as always. Year in and year
out, the basketball team has earned this
support from students and faculty alike
because of their continued success in
the very tough WCAC conference.
That tradition of excellence
has carried over with this year’s team;
and after winning the State Tournament last year, the team knows
they have a target on their backs
every time they step on the court.
But Coach Joe Wootten,
who has won four state titles and one
conference championship in his time
at O’Connell, made sure that the team
stayed focused during the offseason; and
once again the Knights have established
themselves as a local powerhouse.
The team is currently 16-7 and
9-6 in the WCAC. Despite losing 6
conference games, the Knights have
posted road wins against DeMatha
and Good Counsel; and they’ve also
swept their archrival PVI. The team
also boasts a 6-2 home record, which
speaks to the intensity with which
the home crowd ignites in the team.
“Playing at home is great. The
crowd really gets our team fired up,
especially when we’re in the fourth
quarter of a tight game,” senior
Larry Savage observed, regarding
O’Connell’s home court advantage.
Along with Savage, the team
is led by seniors Joe Cabrera, Brad
“Breezy” Hunt, Wes Robinson, and
James Bourne. When asked about the
senior leadership, Wootten said, “The
seniors have been great; and I’ve been
really impressed with the improvement
of all the seniors over their four years.
All of them have really matured and
they set a great example for the team.”
Visor February 2011
Sports
O’Connell Wrestlers Set
High Standards
Audra Nakas
Staff Writer
As the winter sports’ season
begins to wind down, O’Connell’s
wrestling team is seeking to finish
strong after a dual meet record of
8-9. Under the leadership of captains
Jacob Ramos and Curtis Jeney, the
Knights placed third in the Virginia
State Catholic Championship Tournament and the WCAC tournament.
Several O’Connell wrestlers placed
first, second,
and third individually at
both of the
events. While
matches are
usually away,
students
had the opportunity to
see the team
defeat both
Bishop McNamara and
St. John’s at
O’Connell’s
only home
match of the
y e a r. T h e
wrestlers
were encouraged by
t h e s t u d e n t b o d y ’s s u p p o r t .
“The team wants to
thank everyone who came out to
watch. It was a great feeling to
win both matches in a tri-meet for
the first time in two years. All of
our wrestlers fought their hearts
out,” shared senior Jon Norris.
Norris isn’t the only one proud
of the team’s efforts. According to
Coach Brad Drummond, the wrestlers have improved in listening to
their coaches and in other aspects that
make wrestling a challenging sport.
“Each practice is like a
class, and each match is like a cumulative exam where all the skills
learned have to be put together. The
guys have really improved in applying what they’ve learned in practice
to competition,” said Drummond.
In order to fully develop
necessary skills, the wrestlers spend
a lot of time either in the weight room
working out or in the wrestling room
training to become strong while remaining agile. They also have to keep a
close watch
on their
weight because their
weight
classes have
strict limits.
Many wrestlers find
themselves
skipping
lunch or
sustaining
themselves
with water just to
make sure
that they
are light
enough to
compete
in their
weight class. Other times they may
be forced to do intense workouts over
a short period of time in order to lose
enough weight to make their class.
Drummond also explained that
the wrestling team’s goals for the end of
the season and next year are to be more
consistent and increase endurance during matches, which will be especially
important for the upcoming Virginia
State Prep Championship Tournament.
The team’s ultimate goal, however,
is to compete in the prestigious National Prep Championship Tournament.
Page 9
Knights Hockey Aiming High
Scott Rapuano
Staff Writer
Knight’s hockey has had
a comeback season this year. After
winning only two games last year,
the team rallied in the offseason and
is 7-4-1 so far this season. Captains
Alex Guerere, Kyle Lewis, and Chris
Clark have been working hard to ensure
their teams success for this season.
The season started with a 2-2
tie with Potomac Falls/West Springfield
team, but the knights won two out of
their next three games, beating Bishop
Ireton and Mountain View High Schools
5-1 and 5-0, respectively. After a loss
to Mclean, the Knights went on a fourgame win streak that was capped off with
a 7-0 victory over arch-rival Paul VI.
The team honored their seniors
on Friday, February 4th, during the Centreville/Brooke Point game by introducing each senior to the audience and having each present flowers and an action
picture of themselves to their parents.
Also, at the game there was a pamphlet
with each O’Connell senior on it and a
couple paragraphs of each player. It was
a nice gesture during what was one of
the seniors’ last O’Connell hockey games.
The game was also a huge
success, with our Knight’s going down
1-0 in the first period, but quickly rallying and going on a 7 goal streak to
end the game 7-1. It was an impressive
performance on the ice and as a team,
they were happy with their performance.
Guerere commented that, “I
think our team has really brought it together this season and has been successful
.” The team has been improving throughout the season and they came together
at just the right time to be able to have
high hopes for the playoffs this year.”
Lewis wants to win another state
championship and thinks, “Most of the
upperclassmen remember when we won it
two years ago and are hungry for another
championship. Our seniors want a repeat
of sophomore year so we’re going to come
out strong and hopefully win the title.”
The O’Connell Knights Hockey
team knows they have a tough road ahead
of them if they want to repeat their State
Championship success of two years ago.
With the leadership of the seniors and
the overall strength within the squad,
winning another State Championship
is definitely a goal within their grasp.
OCSD Swims to Victory
Sydney Speetjens
Staff Writer
The O’Connell swim team
made its way to Villanova University
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the
weekend of Janurary 22nd to compete
in the National Catholic Invitational
Swim Meet. The National Catholic
Invitational Swim Meet is a renowned
event, with swimmers from many
Catholic schools across the nation
who come together to compete in
the hopes of swimming for gold.
For the O’Connell swim team as a
whole, the intense weekend proved
to be quite a success. Many of the
swimmers achieved personal best
times and won close races. The team
knew when it was necessary to step
up their game, and they rose to the
occasion. Even seniors who typically
assume leadership roles further
stepped up to the plate, and by the end
of the weekend, all the coaches were
extremely proud of their swimmers’
performances.
“We did great in the meet.
The girls got 9th place, and the boys
got 6th place. Last year the girls got
10th place and the boys got 12th
place, so both teams did much better
this year. It seemed like everyone
had a great time,”
commented Head
Coach Evan Styles.
Team
bonding was
apparent and
abundant the
weekend of
National Catholics
as well. “Team
Unity” has always
been the main
theme of the team,
but on that weekend
in particular, the
unity focus was
also supplemented
with some fun.
“One of
our other awesome
coaches, Christel,
came up with
the theme ‘Call
of Duty’” says senior captain Ryan
Umberger. “All of us went to Five
Below and made army bands; and
then we had water-gun fights. It was a
blast, and everyone thought the theme
was appropriate because we were very
determined to do well in the meet.”
To continue the team
spirit, the girls painted their nails
in bright colors, and some of the
boys even shaved their heads! When
shaving their heads, some boys, like
Senior Ian Decker, opted to shave
it completely, while others, such as
Thomas Macnamara, decided to sport
a Mohawk instead.
The swimmers “D-J-O!ed” until they lost their voices in the
hopes of boosting their teammates’
confidence and morale, and in the end
it was clear that these cheers ensued
positive results. As the team motto
goes, “OC team unity all the way!”
Visor February 2011
Outside News
Page 10
Forget 7-11, Look Out Deli Italiano
Elizabeth Bloom
Staff Writer
Everyone knows that the 7-11
closed in the Williamsburg Shopping
Center, but not many know about the new
restaurant that has opened up around the
corner: Deli Italiano. At Deli Italiano, all
types of Italian cuisine is served, including
a selection of appetizers, salads, calzones,
stromboli, deli wraps, sandwiches, subs,
burgers, pastas, and pizzas. Although
the restaurant’s menu offers many items,
according to the manager , Basem, the
pizza slices are the most popular item,
especially among the younger patrons. Not
only does Basem think the new location
is good, considering it is in the vicinity
of four schools, but he also commented,
“We hope to get a lot of
walk-ins from the people who are
walking or biking near the restaurant,
especially during the summer time.”
This new restaurant is open every
day of the week; however, the hours do
fluctuate between the weekdays and the
weekend. The restaurant provides several
options, such as ordering in the restaurant,
ordering online, or standard home delivery.
Offers such as family specials, dinner
for two specials, and daily specials are
also offered to the customers. Although
Deli Italiano has another location in
Great Falls, Virginia, Basem explained,
“This second location allows us to
cover the area between here and Great Falls.”
Deli Italiano may be in the
same shopping center that 7-11 used
to be in, however, with more and
more people learning about this new
restaurant its business may eventually
surpass the success the 7-11 enjoyed.
Super Bowl Isn’t All Football
Patrick Morris
Staff Writer
The Super Bowl is arguably the
biggest night of the year for television.
Ratings are always extremely high as
viewers tune in to see which team will take
home the Lombardi Trophy. This year was no
different, as the Green Bay Packers defeated
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Because ratings are
so high companies pay lots of money to
advertise their products during the many
commercial breaks throughtout the game.
This year during the game many
new commercials debuted and although
their audience may not have been as
creative as in previous years’ Super
Bowls there were still several memorable
ones. Doritos, who always make clever
Super Bowl commercials, featured ads
including a man licking Doritos off another
man’s fingers, Doritos with the ability
to bring the dead back to life, and a dog
breaking down a door to get to Doritos.
There were several creative car
commercials but two of the best were
a Chevy ad featuring the car saving
a boy from strange situations, and a
Volkswagen ad that showed a kid dressed
up as Darth Vader trying to use the force,
complete with the Star Wars soundtrack.
Companies want celebrities in
their commercials and this year was no
exception. A claymation Eminem was
featured on an iced tea commercial;
then in a later commercial he paid
tribute to his hometown of Detroit.
Kim Kardashian appeared in a
Sketcher’s commercial, and Faith Hill
was in a flower commercial where she
urged a man to speak from his heart.
Fox, the network that hosted the
Super Bowl, also marketed new comedy
shows and the return of House. Marvel
used the night to debut trailers of two of
their superheroes coming to the big screen
this summer, Thor and Captain America.
All of these commercials and many more
remind viewers that the Super Bowl is
much more than a football game. Though
viewers enjoyed a competitive game, many
tune in especially for the commercials.
14 Year Old Genius’ iPhone App
Sam Snead
Staff Writer
Most fourteen-year-olds spend
their time doing homework, studying
for tests, and viewing social networking
sites. However, one fourteen-year-old
was busy creating an iPhone application
that climbed its way to the numberone most purchased free application.
A teenage boy named Robert
Nay, born in Utah, created a game called
“Bubble Ball,” which is an addictive
physics game that kicked the ever-popular
“Angry Birds” out of its nest from the
number-one spot for the free games midJanuary. Nay was inspired by his love
for computer games and taught himself
computer programming. The game
increases in difficulty as the player tries
to roll a ball past a checkered flag to pass
to the next level. But that is not the most
difficult task. There are geometric shapes
to aid the ball’s path, such as arrows that
speed up the ball, slow it down, and lift it up
to help it reach the coveted checkered flag.
These objects are found at the
top of the screen. A player can grab and
rotate these objects to create a pathway to
guide the ball to the finish line. The mindrattling game has booked over 6 million
downloads; and if this game were not
free, the profits would have a considerable
impact on Nay’s pockets. He continues
to update his game with new levels.
“Bubble ball is a bouncy,
bubbling, balling goodtime,” commented
junior Joseph Dannenfelser, one of the 6
million people who have downloaded this
number-one game. So stop sitting there
and get out your iPhone, iTouch, or iPad,
and get “Bubble Ball” while it’s still free!
Visor Ferbruary 2011
Entertainment
11
The 53 Annual Grammy Awards
rd
Christina Chimes
Staff Writer
In a few days, the 53rd Annual
Grammy Awards will take place at the
Staples Center in Los Angeles, California,
celebrating and rewarding singers,
instrumentalists, songwriters, and music
video choreographers for their talent within
the music industry. The biggest night in the
music business has chosen its nominees in
over 100 different categories, from Best
Record of the Year to Best New Age Album.
Eminem leads the pack for having
the most nominations for this year’s
Grammys; he was nominated for 10 Grammy
awards, including Song and Record of the
Year, Best Rap Solo Performance, and
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Bruno
Mars got the second most nominations,
with seven after his incredible year. Lady
Antebellum, Lady Gaga, and Jay-Z are
all up for six nominations respectively.
Up for Best Record of the
Year is Bruno Mars featuring B.o.B.’s
“Nothin’ on You,” “Love the Way You
Lie” by Eminem and Rihanna, Cee Lo
Green’s “Forget You,” Lady Antebellum’s
“Need You Now,” and “Empire State of
Mind” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys.
One of the biggest Grammy
controversies this year is whether or not
Justin Bieber will win Best New Artist, a
category in which he is up against Drake,
Florence & the Machine, Mumford & Sons,
and Esperanza Spaldin. In other big news,
Taylor Swift was not nominated for any
awards this year, though last year she won four
Grammy awards for her “Fearless” album.
Performers for the big night
include Lady Gaga, singing her new song
from her album that comes out in spring
2011. Gwyneth Paltrow will sing “Forget
You” with Cee Lo Green and Selena Gomez
will perform one of her hits. Rumors
say Britney Spears will perform, but the
Grammy Awards have not confirmed any
news on whether or not Spears will sing.
We will have to wait and see who the big
winners and performers are this year!
127 Hours of Adventure and Suspense
Natasha Warcholak
Staff Writer
What do you get when you put together
an experienced, spontaneous mountain
climber, miles of rock in an enormous
canyon, and curiosity? Trouble. 127 Hours,
based on a true story, stars James Franco
(Pineapple Express) as Aron Ralston, a
recreational climber just looking for a fun
weekend to himself. He goes out to climb
almost every weekend, calling it his “home
away from home.” Ralston does not count
on the fact that one, out of millions of
rocks he has encountered in his life, will
fall and trap him in a deep gap, with his
arm crushed between the rock and the gap’s
wall, miles away from the nearest person.
Ralston travels the lesser known
routes because he likes to live on the edge,
but even the edge has its limits. Because
of his misjudgment on the stability of
a rock, he now has to fight for his life
using only the supplies in his backpack
to survive. He has a rope and some tools
to help him get by, but minimal food and
water. The plot is full of suspense and
surprises and keeps viewers guessing.
Since Ralston is a seasoned
mountaineer, he does not tell anyone
where he is going that day. He seriously
regrets this as he shouts for help, any help
at all, with only nature around him to
listen. He makes a video of his 5 days and
7 hours in the gap, saying his apologies
and goodbyes, just in case. As the film
progresses, Ralston starts to question his
sanity. He starts hallucinating and even
imagining himself on a talk show, going
over his mistakes. His hidden optimism
is what gets him through it. He has no
food and no shelter, but enough hope,
and will sacrifice anything to survive.
It is possibly James Franco’s best
work yet. The movie has made over $13
million so far, and is expected to win several
honors in the coming months. Franco
Coming Attractions
captures the story so well, by not just telling
but showing every emotion in the process. A
barrage of fear, hope, courage, fatigue, and
near insanity rush through him with every
second, all fueled by the will to survive.
“The Show Must Go On!”
Natasha Warcholak
Staff Writer
February 18th:
I Am Number Four
Unknown
March 4th:
Rango
The Adjustment Bureau
Take Me Home Tonight
March 11th:
Battle: Los Angeles
Jane Eyre
March 18th:
Limitless
127 Hours is inspirational, thrilling, and
makes all who see it appreciate the many
things in life taken for granted. This is a
great movie, definitely worth its while.
There’s a new boss at The
Office! But who is it? The NBC
mockumentary will be adding new
cast member Will Ferrell for the
ending episodes of its seventh season.
Steve Carrell, who plays regional
manager Michael Scott, is leaving the
show, while Ferrell enters as another
branch manager who will take over
temporarily. Carrell decided to leave
the show to “concentrate on his movie
career.” Many Office fans thought
that meant the show was going to
end, because the plot’s main focus is
Michael’s jokes and personality within
the fictional workplace. NBC still
plans to “press on without him.”
There is still talk as to
who will be Carrell’s permanent
replacement, but one of the popular
assumptions is Ricky Gervais, star
of The Office: UK, which the show
is based on. It will be difficult for
anyone to fill Carrell’s shoes as
regional manager, because he has been
with the show since the beginning.
The main cast has been the same for
the entire series with the exception of
Erin and Gabe, so the exit of its funny
and fearless leader comes as a shock.
Despite the series’ new
characters, it still contains the same
wittiness and humor that it did
from the beginning. The new cast
additions of Will Ferrell and whoever
will be Michael Scott’s permanent
replacement could be a positive thing,
giving the series an opportunity to
get some fresh ideas. The show has
a large and dedicated fan base, so
it should have no problem getting a
good response from its viewers. TV
shows come and go, but The Office
has been a favorite on NBC for a long
time, and will continue to be.
Visor February 2011
Page 12
In loving memory...
Fr. Luis Valdivieso
(1936-2011)