THE BLUE JAY - Jesuit Home

A. M. D. G.
THE BL UE J AY
December, 2006
Volume 79, No. 3
New Orleans, LA
Jesuit Cross Country Team Wins
Fourth Consecutive State Title
Kyle Lutkewitte
Chief Reporter
On November 14, the
Jesuit Cross Country team left
Natchitoches with the 5A State
title for the fourth consecutive
year. The course was muddy to
say the least, but our runners
seem to thrive under adverse
conditions.
All seven runners finished in the top thirty. Junior
Chad Guidry even managed to
finish strong after slipping in a
large mud puddle.
Senior
Kenny
Ehrhardt led the team by finishing in second place with a time
of 16:42. At the end of the race,
Kenny even managed to pass up
Alex Lorio, the Rummel runner
who came in first place at
District.
Kevin Fitzgerald came
next for Jesuit, finishing in 8th
place. Also in the top twenty
were Graham Williams (11),
Cory Guidry (14), and Chad
Guidry (20). Peter Flores fol-
The Cross Country team poses for a photo after winning the State Meet.
Staff Photo
Continued on Page 11
Swim Team Takes Home State Championship Once Again
Team Rebounds after
Finishing Second Last Year
The seniors of the swim team celebrate another State Championship.
Bobby Jindal Visits
Jesuit
Page 2
BJOM: Michael Collins
Page 5
Staff Photo
Sports
Opinions
Inside
This
Issue...
Continued on Page 12
Features
The Jesuit swim team
reclaimed its title as State
Champions after breaking an
eighteen year win streak last
year, largely due to Hurricane
Katrina. The team, led by captains Michael Collins '07 and
Garret Malbrough '07, finished
first in the state meet with 423
points, with Catholic High, who
came out on top last year by a
margin of seven points, scoring
only 302.
News
Spencer LeBlanc
Editor-in-Chief
The meet was held in
Sulphur, LA, on November 18.
Out of eight events for individual swimmers, Jays took first
place in four, as well as first
place two of three relay events.
At least one Blue Jay took one
of the top three spots in every
individual event.
Especially impressive
was the 50 yard freestyle, in
which Collins finished first,
Brandon Harvey '08 second, and
Marc Dorsey '10 third. This
event alone earned 53 points for
the team.
The 200 yard medley
Dwarfish Water
Fountains
Page 7
Senior Spotlight:
Chris Staudinger
Page 11
Page 2
December, 2006
News
Congressman Bobby Jindal Addresses
Jesuit Pro-Life Club at Lunch
Jindal Emphasized
Importance of
“Planting Seeds”
Spencer LeBlanc
Editor-in-Chief
On Friday, October 27,
Louisiana’s U.S. Representative
Bobby Jindal took a break from
the campaign trail to speak to
Jesuit’s Pro-Life Club. Over 150
students packed into Room 329 at
lunch to hear Jindal’s speech,
ultimately running out of chairs.
Unfazed by the crowd, students
stood along the walls and even
sat in the aisles.
Pro-Life Club Vice
President Jansen Petagna ‘07 led
the assembly in prayer to begin
the meeting, and the club’s president, Ian Gunn ‘07, introduced
Jindal with a brief biography.
He
light-heartedly
began his speech by discussing
his oldest daughter’s adjustment
to school in Baton Rouge following Hurricane Katrina. She had
told him that she preferred her
school in New Orleans because
she liked “lunch much better in
New Orleans.”
The speech’s main focus
7 Questions with
Bobby Jindal
The Blue Jay: What were the
main points you hoped to get
across in this speech?
was on abortion, which he called
“one of the most important issues
facing us as individuals, but also
facing us as a society.” He said
that he wished to “put aside...the
spiritual arguments, put aside the
biological arguments,” and focus
on how we as humans can
“instinctively” recognize an
unborn child as a life. As an
example, he talked about how his
wife changed her habits when she
was pregnant to protect what she
knew without doubt to be another
life within her.
He then explained the
importance of having a “culture
of life.” When told during his
gubernatorial campaign in 2003
that being pro-life would cost
him votes, he said that “there are
some things more important than
winning and losing...than simply
being popular,” and he encouraged students to stand up for their
beliefs, no matter what pressure
they receive from society to
change them.
According to Jindal, the
single most important moment in
his life was his conversion to
Catholicism. He explained that
Congressman Bobby Jindal:
The two most important points
were 1: the importance of having
a culture that respects life, that
respects the sacred, and secondly,
the importance of planting seeds,
knowing that we can change
society by changing the individuals around us.
Bobby Jindal greets Blue Jays after his speech to the Pro-Life Club
Staff Photo
his conversion came as a result of
the “seeds” planted by his childhood friend, who gave him a
Bible for Christmas. He didn’t
open it until years later when
searching for answers after his
grandfather’s death. It was then
that he asked if God existed, and
if so how to worship God.
The factor that finally
brought him to a church was his
high school girlfriend, who asked
TBJ: How well do you feel the
national
government
has
addressed the recovery of New
Orleans?
him to come to a service to hear
her sing in the choir. During the
service, a film was shown with an
actor playing Jesus carrying a
cross up a hill. According to
Jindal, this image, for whatever
reason, “hit [him] harder than
[he’d] ever been hit before.”
After that, he began to live his
life as a Catholic, and has done so
ever since.
Jindal wrapped up his
economic development.
My
focus will be trying to help the
state make progress in those
areas.
CBJ: I think there are two huge
shortcomings. One is cutting
through the red tape of bureaucracies so that money actually
gets to the people it’s intended to
help. That’s still not happening,
both on the federal or state level.
The second is approving legislation to give Louisiana our fair
share of our own oil and gas revenues so that we have a recurring
revenue stream even after the
country’s attention moves away
from Louisiana.
TBJ: Are you considering a run
for U.S. Senator or LA Governor
in two years?*
TBJ: What would you hope to
accomplish with a second term as
a U.S. Representative?
Bobby Jindal poses for a photo with seniors Ian Gunn
Staff Photo
and Spencer LeBlanc.
CBJ: We’ve started a lot of projects, including the offshore oil
and gas royalties. Obviously the
world is changed because of
Katrina. There are issues we care
about nationally, but a lot of our
focus is going to be on helping
Louisiana rebuild. I think we
have a real chance as a state to
improve in areas where we had
problems before Katrina, in areas
like education, healthcare, and
CBJ: We’re certainly praying
about what comes next. My wife
and I have said we’ll make a
decision by the early part of next
year. I do believe in a concept of
Christian stewardship, that we’re
called to use our talents and the
gifts we’ve been given to try to
discern where we’ll have the
greatest impact. For me it’s not
about titles or offices, but where
can I make a difference?
speech by saying that the most
important message was the
“importance of planting seeds.”
The Pro-Life Club gave him two
large Pro-Life Club shirts in
thanks.
On November 7, Bobby
Jindal won a second term as U.S.
Congressman by securing 88% of
the vote in Louisiana’s first
Congressional District.
“blue jay.” Do you think that’s
just a coincidence, or do you
have some affinity to Jesuit High
School?
CBJ: (laughs) Well I hope I can
use that when my boy’s old
enough to get into here. I know
how hard it is, so I think I’ll use
that on the application. I’m very
proud of the tremendous not only
academic, but also spiritual, formation that takes place on this
campus. Jesuit has a reputation
of excellence in everything it
does, whether it’s the arts program, athletics, academics, spiritual formation. I’ve got two
boys, and as they get older I
would love for them to get the
education that’s offered here at
Jesuit.
TBJ: Are you a Saints fan?
CBJ: I’m a huge Saints fan. I
was a believer even when they
were 1-15. I think the Saints
have a lot to teach the state. They
were 3-13, so they got a new
coach, new quarterback, new
running back. I think we should
be like the Saints and be willing
to take some chances.
TBJ: I’ve noticed that your initials are the same as the initials of
TBJ: I seem to recall that you
have some dislike for lima beans.
CBJ: I do indeed. I don’t care
what you do to them. I don’t care
if you fry them, put bacon on
them, I’m just not a lima bean
fan.
*Bobby Jindal declared his
candidacy for the 2007
Gubernatorial
Race
on
Wednesday, November 15.
Page 3
December, 2006
News
Revival of a Jesuit Tradition: Columbian Squires
Andy Lade
Staff Writer
The Columbian Squires
are slowly regaining their status
as the largest service organization at Jesuit. Since Katrina, the
circle has shrunk tremendously;
but through the dedication of the
members and Mr. Dillon, the
group is beginning to grow. This
past weekend the Squires held
their quarterly mass where four
new members were initiated. A
visible sign of the Squire’s
growth is the can tab collection
cup on top of the drink machines.
The group is also trying
to reestablish its service aspect.
At Jesuit, the Squires hold bake
sales and plan to provide for a
family during the Thanksgiving
Drive. Outside of Jesuit, the
Squires have held can shakes at
local grocery stores, helped clean
a flooded house, and worked at
Boo at the Zoo. In addition to
working at Boo at the Zoo, they
collected and donated over
25,000 pieces of candy. The profits from Boo at the Zoo helped
Children’s Hospital provide for
children whose families can’t
afford medical care. The funds
raised at can shakes and bake
sales go to institutions such as
Ronald McDonald House or St.
Michael’s Special School.
What separates the
Squires from other clubs is its
ties with The Knights of
Columbus. The Knights support
the Squires in all of their activities and help to provide for any
of their needs. The Knights are
also very present in the club,
attending the masses, providing
several lunches throughout the
year, and coming to weekly
meetings on Friday mornings at
7:15 in the hallway between the
auditorium and the cafeteria. The
Squires are always looking for
new ways to serve and new
members to help.
Become a Squire.
Contact: Mr. Dillon in the theology office or Andy Lade to join.
Chief Squire Andy Lade initiates a new generation
of Squires.
Staff Photo
2006 Alumnus of the Year Jim Amoss ‘65 Addresses Assembly
Ricky Bordelon
Staff Writer
Jim Amoss ’65, Jesuit
High School’s 2006 Alumnus of
the Year Award and Editor of the
Pulitzer Prize-winning The Times
Picayune, spoke to Jesuit students at morning assembly.
Amoss was born in New
Orleans but moved to Germany
for ten years and Belgium for one
year before returning to New
Orleans for his junior year at
Jesuit. He began writing for The
Blue Jay in his senior year.
When asked for the funniest moment of his years at
Jesuit, Amoss thought for a
moment and recalled the time he
was asked to join the debate
team. At the time, a Jesuit
scholastic would walk around the
yard each morning with shears to
cut anyone with long hair. The
scholastic, also the debate coach,
walked up to Amoss one morning, and to his surprise, instead of
cutting his hair, asked him to join
the debate team.
Amoss and three friends
each won a national tournament
while on the debate team. Amoss
also said that the biggest changes
Jesuit has experienced since his
tenure there is female teachers, a
“pleasant surprise.” He thought
that Jesuit seems more creative
than it did at his time and less
regimented than when he was
there.
After Jesuit, Amoss
attended Yale, where he majored
in history and literature, before
attending Oxford University as a
Rhodes Scholar. Amoss wrote
for The States-Item, New
Orleans’s afternoon newspaper.
While writing for The StatesItem, he uncovered many scandals, including one involving
New Orleans Police and a sting
operation for prostitutes on
Decatur Street. Later, The StatesItem merged with its competitor,
The Times-Picayune. Amoss
became an editor in 1990, and the
paper has won four Pulitzer
Prizes since.
In the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina, The TimesPicayune played an important
role. To Amoss, getting news stories to the public was his numberone priority. After Katrina, The
Times-Picayune would update its
web page daily with the new
information for evacuees. Amoss
said that he was never feared for
his physical safety, but he was
afraid for loss of his possessions
including his home. Amoss and
the staff of The Times-Picayune
evacuated to Gretna and then on
to Baton Rouge.
Amoss explained that
The Times-Picayune printed the
first paper post-Katrina on
Friday, September 2, 2005, from
Houma. The staffers distributed
the paper to shelters around
Louisiana and then to people in
the unaffected areas of Metro
New Orleans. For their amazing
coverage of Hurricane Katrina
and provision of information critical to New Orleanians, the newspaper received a Pulitzer Prize.
Amoss said, however, that he
would trade his Pulitzer Prize for
his city back any day.
Amoss expressed his
admiration for the rescue workers
in the city during Katrina, including some of his own reporters
who rescued flood victims from
the victims’ houses. He also said
that, like the rescuers, The TimesPicayune is serving others,
explaining that the newspaper
has had a more important role
than it did in the past, telling stories only a newspaper can.
Amoss listed the many
things he learned at Jesuit that he
used during the storm–responsibility for oneself and others, leadership, and listening to the good
counsel of others. In that regard,
Amoss’s advice to Jesuit students
is that “you live in a wonderful
city” and that “you must step up
and be leaders” in the recovery of
New Orleans.
Elections Mean No School for
Students
John Alongia
Staff Writer
With the 2006 United
States House and Senate races,
and various state elections on
Tuesday November 7th, Jesuit
students had the day off. The
school administration thought it
would be best to let students stay
home to prevent complications
with voters, but faculty still had
to come in for in service training.
Jesuit’s student commons was used as a polling place
for local New Orleans residents
to cast their ballots. This is the
second time Jesuit has been used
as a polling precinct following
Hurricane Katrina. Last year
Jesuit was used for the New
Orleans mayoral elections.
Jesuit once again
demonstrated its importance in
the community, helping out any
way it can for New Orleans to
come back. “Jesuit is happy to
provide service for the city and
voters. We’re sorry we couldn’t
have school and we will make up
the day after the holidays.” said
Father McGinn. No make up
date has been announced yet.
Students overwhelmingly supported the day off,
especially coupled with the two
half-days for open house which
followed it. Senior Andrew
Simoneaux proudly announced,
“I learned nothing over those
few days.” Student Council
President Jeff Schott agreed saying, “It was completely necessary.” Senior David Bray offered
some advice for the administration, “We should do this every
week.”
The midterm election
was very important to determine
which party would control
Congress. The Democrats took
both
houses
from
the
Republicans
with
two
Independents in the Senate siding with the Democratic Caucus.
As for Louisiana, the popular
amendment to consolidate the
assessor’s office from seven
assessors to one passed overwhelmingly. The polls opened at
6:00 A.M and closed at 7:00
P.M.
The Blue Jay
Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Spencer LeBlanc ‘07
Features Editor
John C. Walsh ‘08
News Editor
Ian Gunn ‘07
Opinions Editor
Andy Schwehm ‘07
Sports Editor
Peter Zuppardo ‘07
Moderator
Mr. Zabrecky ‘99
Chief Reporter
Kyle Lutkewitte ‘07
Staff
Chris Barberito ‘08, Ryan Levy ‘07, Charles Babbit ‘07, Justin Martineau ‘07, Zack Poché ‘08,
Ed Seyler ‘08, Nicholas Chedid ‘09, Andy Lade ‘07, Ricky Bordelon ‘11, David Helman ‘07, Alex
Faust ‘07, Ian Cannon ‘09, John Alongia ‘09, Chris Sellers ‘07, Elliott Waits ‘07, Duval Hilbert
‘07, Philip Sampognaro ‘07, Michael Collins ‘07, Patrick Vocke ‘07, Daniel Scullin ‘07, Peter
Flores ‘09, Kanwal Matharu ‘09, Mark Reuther ‘09, Jansen Petagna ‘07, Mark Johnson ‘07, Martin
Roth ‘07, Jeff Schott ‘07
The Blue Jay is the student newspaper of Jesuit High School, New Orleans. All opinions articles represent the opinions of the
writers and not those of The Blue Jay or Jesuit High School. The Blue Jay welcomes letters to the editors. All letters are subject to editing if deemed inappropriate. All submissions should be sent to bluejaypaper@gmail.com.
4133 Banks St., New Orleans, La. 70119 (504) 483-3873
December, 2006
Page 4
Featur es
Teacher Feature: Coach David Storm
Senior: “How much
energy is there in the
world?”
Mr. Wahl: “No.”
Martin Roth
Staff Writer
Mr. Storm, Coach Storm,
Coach Cowboy, call him whatever
you would like, for they all refer to
the same extraordinary man.
Aside from being outstanding at
life, Mr. David Storm occupies a
plethora of positions around
Carrollton and Banks, making him
a vital aspect of student life. From
teaching Chemistry I to sophomores and Chemistry II to seniors,
to head-coaching the JV soccer
team and assistant coaching the
varsity team, the man is always on
the move. He has been at Jesuit
for fourteen of his twenty-six
years of teaching. This Chemistry
guru tackles stoichiomestry and
molecular bonding head-on with
his trusty companion, Mr. Clark.
Most times he wears cowboy
boots of fine leathers and skins to
accent his fantastic skills in the
lab.
Aside from school life,
Coach Storm is a husband and a
father. He is quick to lighten one's
day with a joke or a story, and he
can often be found helping students in his free time. In all honesty, Mr. Storm is the walking
epitome of teaching excellence.
The Blue Jay: "Why Chemistry?"
Mr. Storm: "I don't know, I guess
it kind of fell into my lap, literally."
TBJ: "How do you like coaching
soccer?"
Coach Storm: "I love it. What better way to spend time after
school?"
TBJ: "Do you follow profession-
Verbatim:
Mr. Wright: “That’s
why we do math: to
keep the physicists in
line.”
Mr. DiRosa:
“Actually, the rat eats
my jokes to stay
alive.”
Senior: “That’s
because they’re so
cheesy!”
Coach Storm makes a quick call to security to get rid of the paparazzi.
Mr. Zabrecky:
“John does really
great work... eventually.”
Photo by Ian Gunn
al/international soccer?"
Coach Storm: "As much as possible."
TBJ: "What was your opinion on
Zidane's head butt in the final
game of the 2006 World Cup?"
Coach Storm: "Idiotic. He was
inches from being a national hero,
but he lost control."
TBJ: "Penelope Cruz or Jessica
Simpson?"
Mr. Storm: "Farrah Fawcett."
TBJ: "Hot Pockets or Lean
Pockets?"
Mr. Storm: "Hot oatmeal."
TBJ: "Who is your role model?"
Mr. Storm: "A great man by the
name of Louis Levy
TBJ: "What is the deal with the
cowboy boots?"
Mr. Storm: "Maybe it's a desire to
be back in the Old West, or that
they are dang comfy."
TBJ: "What, exactly, does washm-
rrr mean?
Mr. Storm: "If you don't
know, then shame on you."
1st Junior: “That Mr.
Rogers on TV was
full of it.”
TBJ: "Describe Scootin'
Gooch's impact on your life."
2nd Junior: “You
Mr. Storm: "He was always can’t say that, he’s
there to stop me from being
dead!”
too serious."
1st Junior: “But he’s
TBJ: "Anything further?"
Mr. Storm: "If you need to still in full syndicareally know about me, ask my
tion!”
students."
THE “TASTE BUDS” VISIT...
Rooster’s Grill
wings. We chose their spicy
sauce along with their butter
sauce on the side to dip in. The
oyster poor-boy was also
extremely tasty. The oysters
were spicy and fried to a golden
crisp, and were a wonderful complement to the cheese fries.
While we did not order
dessert, we were informed that
they have a wide variety of
sweets to choose from. As we
left Rooster's, we were certain
that this was our best experience
in local New Orleans cuisine so
far. It is clear that this is a hidden
gem located in the Crescent City.
With that said, we give Rooster’s
a Golden Fork.
Elliott Waits
& Duval Hilbert
Eaters-in-Chief
In our third adventure
into the fine dining world of New
Orleans, the Taste Buds decided
to try Rooster's, recommended by
Jesuit's very own Mr. Wilson of
the
English
department.
Rooster's is located on Carrollton
across from what was once
Venezia's, just a short walk from
school.
As one walks into the
establishment,
located
on
Carrollton right next to the
Hibernia Bank, it is easy to feel
the terrific atmosphere. The
waiter will seat you and instead
of a "you're welcome" in
response to your "thank you,” a
simple "cheers" is all that’s
required. However, the food is
ultimately what decides the grade
of a restaurant, and we were not
disappointed. We both decided to
order their famous cheese fries as
our appetizer, and we were
impressed to say the least. Think
Rating:
The Taste Buds reflect on the meal they just enjoyed at neighborhood Rooster’s.
Photo by John C. Walsh
Rally's fries with the cheesiness
of Bud's Broiler combined into
one. One can also add chili to
this mound of deliciousness if he
desires.
For our entrées we
selected the Buffalo wings and
the oyster poor-boy. The Buffalo
wings, we are proud to say, were
nothing short of amazing. One
can have a variety of different
sauces to go along with the
The Golden Fork
December, 2006
Page 5
Featur es
Blue Jay of the Month: Michael Collins
9 Questions With Mike:
Phil Sampognaro
Staff Writer
Mike Collins has
been swimming for as long as
he can remember. His birth
was actually complicated
because he came out with flippers and a snorkel. He perfected his flip turns in the bathtub
as a toddler. Now as a senior,
Mike is poised to lead Jesuit
Swimming back to its rightful
spot as State Champions. As
the Captain of the Swim Team
(well, Co-Captain, but Mike
swears that's simply a formality), he's spent so much time in
the water preparing that he's
actually developed gills.
Besides his aquatic abilities
Michael is also a valedictorian
candidate, breaking down the
competition both in the pool
and in the classroom. When
the State Championship is Mike and 2-D Jayson get prepped for the State Swim
secured, Mike has plans to betMeet.
ter Jesuit student life. Noticing
Photo by Spencer LeBlanc
an obvious absence in the
It
should
also
be
mentioned
that
Commons.
The eighth grader had
Jesuit Nationality clubs, Mike
plans on forming the American Mike is from Kenner and proud apparently doubted that Kenner
Club, where members will enjoy of it. As I approached Mike for was in fact "America's City." I
hot dogs while watching classics our interview, I witnessed him quickly crossed off all Kennersuch as The Patriot and re-runs of powerbomb an eighth grader related questions from my list.
through one of the tables in the
American Gladiators.
A Jay at the Movies: Borat
TBJ: Favorite Teachers?
MC: That's hard to say.
I'll go with Ms. Cordova,
Mr. Clark, Mr. Powers,
and Mr. Wright.
TBJ: Goals for Senior
year?
MC: Showing those boys
from Catholic who the
real swimmers are when
we bring the trophy back
to its home outside the
library.
TBJ: Best Jesuit
Memory?
MC: The senior swimmers's haircuts for State
last year.
TBJ: How are you going
to prepare for the State
Swim Meet?
MC: Full-body shave is a
must. Resting, obviously.
A succulent turkey sandwich from my neighborhood Subway, and some
serious pump-up music
on the iPod.
TBJ: Three Favorite
Bands?
MC: I'll have to go with
the Red Hot Chili
Peppers, Dave Matthews
Band, and Rage Against
The Machine.
TBJ: Anything else you'd
like to say to the people?
MC: Swimming is the
only Jesuit sport that
involves the substance
that makes up 70% of
your body. Chew on that.
A CONTEST
Do you enjoy doodling in class?
Do you like poking a little fun at some of your
teachers or classmates?
John C. Walsh
Features Editor
Every time one goes
to see a film, the total night's
experience is what really matters. That is why I made sure
that when I saw Borat, I would
have a night that would be
absolutely fantastic. Three of
my friends and I hopped into
my dad's Caddy, which I had
borrowed for the evening; and
we sped on our way to the theater. All of us had been awaiting this night for many weeks,
and finally we would get to see
the long-expected film. In the
car we all talked about our
favorite moments from Da Ali
G Show, the precursor TV
show to the Borat spin-off.
Upon arrival, we each
picked up whatever snack
items we needed and hurried
into the theater. As the lights
dimmed, the theater went
quiet. That quiet would not
last long. In the first few
moments of the film, the crowd
was already screaming with
laughter. One gentleman in
particular behind me seemed to
have the most obnoxious laugh
I have ever heard, and he kept
interjecting certain choice
exclamations of shock at the
screen. But not even he could
ruin this movie for me.
The premise of Borat
The Blue Jay: Who's your
favorite Superhero?
Michael Collins:
Aquaman
TBJ: How amazingly predictable.
Do you feel like showing off some of your caricatures to the school?
THE BLUE JAY is offering you a chance to
have your drawings shown in our next edition. The top submissions, judged by the editors of this publication, will be displayed
proudly in the Features section of the January
Blue Jay. Please turn in all submissions to the
Blue Jay Office (Rm. 207) or John C. Walsh by
Monday, January 15.
Each caricature must be signed by both its subject and artist.
Borat introduces us to his wonderful nation of
Kazakhstan.
Photo Courtesy HBO Films
is simple. It's a cross between a
reality show and a mockumentary (think MTV's Jackass
mixed with This is Spinal Tap).
The character Borat (really
Sacha Baron Cohen, the wacky
British comedian) is a journalist
from Kazakhstan, here in
America to discover and document the American way of life.
Borat puts normal, real-life people in situations that they normally wouldn't (or at last would
rather not) encounter. How
these people react is the actual
comedy. In one of the first
scenes of the film, Borat is riding the New York City subway.
Out of his suitcase comes a live
chicken, which squawks and
jumps around the subway car.
The other passengers' reactions
are all priceless. Some dyed-inthe-wool New Yorkers don't
even react. Their staid expressions remain unchanged, as
though this were an everyday
occurrence. One man, however,
literally jumped from his seat;
others screamed. Borat then
tries approaching folks throughout New York City and receives
mixed reactions. One businessman actually tried to assault
Borat for approaching him,
while another ran away screaming after he had been greeted.
The film progresses and picks
up what almost passes for a
plot, with Borat traveling to
California to meet his new love,
Pamela Anderson.
At the end of the
movie, my buddies and I left the
theater teary-eyed from laughter. Thinking back now, Borat
actually gave us more than just
a laugh for our buck; it showed
us some of the more ridiculous
parts of American culture. In a
strange way, it's like looking at
ourselves for the first time in a
fat-mirror, when we had always
grown up looking at ourselves
in the cultural skinny-mirror. I
have to say, and I think my
friends would agree, that this
was one of the funniest movies I
have ever seen; and I give it the
all-star rating of 4/4 wacky
Kazakhs.
Note that Borat is a
film that is, by its very nature,
pretty lewd and pretty crude at
times; so I wouldn't suggest that
anyone faint of heart see it without bracing themselves first
(and they might need a
guardian's consent, for our
underclassmen).
We give it:
4/4 Wacky Kazakhis
December, 2006
Page 6
Featur es
¡Yo Quiero! “The Truck”
Zack Poché
Staff Writer
Jeffrey Schott
Staff Columnist
A Moment
in
Philosophy
“Is the Pen Mightier than
the Sword?”
In 1839, Edward
George Bulwer Lytton, in an
hour of despair, wrote one of
the most famous sayings in the
world: "The pen is mightier
than the sword." But, I wonder,
when it comes down to it, is the
pen actually mightier than the
sword? Metaphorically, the
saying is sound; a man's unforgettable message through written word is able to stand the test
of time and inspire millions
unlike the unnecessary slain of
the sword. But I must make a
statement here.
I believe I speak for us
all when I say that, if trapped in
a dark corner, surrounded by
bloodthirsty enemies, we would
prefer to hold some sort of a
sharp blade rather than a writing utensil. Now people may
say, "Hey now, what if someone, who is quite crafty in his
use of the pen, could escape
from that situation?" Then, of
course, I would be obliged to
say, "Yes, the pen, in that guy's
hand, is mightier than the
sword." But realistically, the
pen can cause a simple hand
cramp at most. The sword, on
the other hand, can slice human
flesh, cut off limbs, and kill
(well that was dreadfully pessimistic).
However, I shall dispel
this deep thought by saying to
you, "Nay, the pen--in most
real-life situations--is not
mightier than the sword."
P.S. My apologies to the
English department for satirizing Lord Lytton and this great
quote.
Deep Thoughts from the
Faculty:
“I’m gonna go with the pen so
that people don’t think I’m a
warmonger.”
-Mr. DiRosa
“Yes, in the long run, [the pen
is mightier] because of the
inspiration instilled in people
through writings.”
-Dr. Levagnec
“Uhh... It depends on how
good the writer is.”
-Mr. Lyons
The
opening
and
reopening of many of our local
restaurants has been greeted with
celebration, newspaper articles,
and probably a performance by
Benny Grunch and the Bunch;
however, there is one new place
that is only a few blocks from our
school that has not received a
fraction of the notoriety it
deserves. I am speaking, of
course, about “The Truck.” This
truck is parked just down the
street. The food is amazing, and
it is cheap. The truck specializes
in Mexican cuisine, though it
also serves Lay’s and Coke products. At present, this is all we
know about the truck; the rest is
pure speculation.
The most commonly asked
questions about the truck are:
where can I find it? How much
does the food cost? And, most
controversially, is the food safe to
eat?
The first question is a tough
one because we are simply not
sure. What we do know is this:
the truck is parked around the
intersection of Carrollton and
Tulane from sometime between
5:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
Basically, it is there before school
and it unfortunately is not there
after. Where it goes from there is
a mystery.
The truck’s prices are about
as concrete as it location. The
Zack Poché and another enthusiastic patron of “The Truck” wait to receive their
food.
Photo by Madison Poché
prices are not written, but if you
ask how much something costs,
the owner will probably tell you
that drinks are $1 and the hot
food (quesadillas, taquitos, and
sandwiches) is $3.50. If you try,
you can reasonably get the price
down to $2.75; but even if you
don’t, the price is a huge bargain.
The food fills you up much better
than your average fast food meal,
and is much better for you (...I
think?).
Lastly comes the actual quality of the food. I believe that
there is only one standard for
food quality. My standard does
not require inspections, random
testing, or the FDA; I judge by
taste. Unfortunately, not everyone is satisfied by this “test.” I
think that there is nothing wrong
with the food, but the truth is, the
food might not actually pass all
US tests. Everyone I know who
has eaten truck food has been
fine, and all the immigrant workers who eat the food daily are
healthy enough to keep on working. I personally have eaten from
the truck almost every day of the
last few weeks; and I am, at printing, still alive.
The truck food is amazing,
no doubt about it. This truck is a
blessing on our city, and we all
hope for its future success.
New Tunes: Mars Volta’s Amputechture
David Helman
Staff Writer
Less than two years
after the release of their critically acclaimed album Frances the
Mute, the enigmatic Mars Volta
returns with Amputechture.
In this latest effort, lead
guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
and singer/songwriter Cedric
Bixler-Zavala bring a little of the
old and plenty of the new to the
table for over an hour of some
of the most original rock you’ve
ever heard. Throughout the
album the band experiments
with ridiculously fast guitar licks
(many contributed by the Red
Hot Chili Peppers’ own John
Frusciante) mixed in with saxophone solos, voice disguisers,
pulse pounding bass lines, and
some “sick” work by drummer
Jon Theodore to create a groovy
and yet rocktastic experience
that will call to mind The Chili
Peppers, Pink Floyd, and Iron
Maiden all at once. The lyrics
contribute greatly to the music,
as Cedric Bixler-Zavala continues with his practice of using
double sided (and somewhat disturbing) metaphors to get his
point across; Bixler-Zavala also
returns to the Latin vibe from
Frances the Mute, switching
from English to Spanish in several songs. Amputechture has
something for just about every
listener, whether you want to
stomp your feet to the bilingual
“Viscera Eyes,” or have your
mind blown by the bass and
drum solos in “Day of the
Baphomets,” The Mars Volta
delivers. Many potential fans
might be turned off by the
notion that The Mars Volta’s
lyrics and experimentations into
jazz and Latin music are far too
strange and hard to access, but at
the end of the day this CD boils
down to good rock music plain
and simple.
Whether you’re expecting
the next great prog rock classic,
or simply something to bang
your head to in the car,
Amputechture is the album for
you; don’t fear the Volta.
Omar busts out a riff from the Volta’s new album.
Photo Courtesy Mars Volta Online
December, 2006
Page 7
Opinions
Homecoming Dance “Good and Bad”
Zack Poché
Staff Writer
Jesuit, over the years,
has had some incredible homecomings and some rather boring
ones.
An example of the former, of course, would be the
1980’s Enchanted Under the Sea
Jungle Homecoming Dance
Extravaganza 2003; and an
example of the latter would be
the rest of them.
Jesuit’s Homecoming
Dance of 2006 falls somewhere
in the middle of these two
extremities.
This dance definitely
had its good and bad qualities.
The first, and most obvious, of
the positive aspects was the food
that was provided at no charge to
the students.
What can you feed your
date that says all at the same
time? I love delicious food, I
support local business, and I
want to be formal; but, you
know, I like to party.
Beignets. Well done on
getting the beignets, student
council.
This year, as always, the
notorious Brother Huck brokedanced (or whatever the past
tense of “to break-dance” is); and
it was simply amazing.
Every year, I just do not
think he will do it; but year after
year I am astounded by his performance on the dance floor, or
dance concrete in this case.
I’m sure we can all
agree that homecoming is incomplete without a break-dancing
clergyman.
The biggest and loudest
issue was definitely the music.
The DJ was amazing.
If I remember correctly,
we heard “Back That Thang Up”
by Juvenile. Not only is that
musical masterpiece a necssity at
any dance, but it also gets the
ladies out on the dance floor.
Unfortunately,
the
music was a double-edged
sword. There was a band, and
they were not too good.
One of the songs they
played was “I Will Survive.”
That song is, without a doubt,
one of the worst songs ever written (but, to be fair, it is probably
in a last place tie with a few
other songs such as “Get your
Sexy on” by Justin Timberlake
and just about anything by
Coldplay, especially “Yellow.”)
Also wonderful was the
setting for the dance, outside in
the wonderful Spanish Plaza at
the Riverwalk. This was one of
the nicest atmospheres we’ve
ever had at a Jesuit dance. Every
couple there seemed to enjoy the
Moonlit walk outside with the
band or the more cozy (warmer)
setting inside.
The 2006 Homecoming Court.
Staff Photo
Bob Barker: Animal Activist or Madman?
Chris Sellers
Staff Writer
The price is wrong, Bobby.
Staff Photo
This month Bob Barker
announced his retirement, thus
beginning his thirty-fifth and
final year as the host of one of
America’s favorite daytime
game shows, “The Price Is
Right.”
Despite Barker’s popularity with daytime viewers, he
has had his fair share of legal
troubles, most notably his very
public harassment lawsuit with
an ex-Barker Beauty.
One thing Barker does
pride himself on, though, is his
involvement with numerous animal rights organizations. He has
undoubtedly made famous his
daily sign off, “Help control the
pet population. Have your pet
spayed or neutered.”
But has Barker gone too
far? What is this personal
vendetta he seems to have
towards an animal’s natural right
to reproduce, which he so vehemently discourages on a daily
basis?
More importantly, what
is he worried about?
Apparently, age has
caused Barker to form some fear
of an animal takeover as a result
of an unobstructed mass reproduction of the common house cat
and miniature poodles.
Maybe his retirement is
coming not a moment too soon.
Have thirty-five years of Plinko
and gigantic spinning wheels
turned his mind to mush?
Officially,
Barker
claims that, at the age of eightytwo, he is ready to start the
“prime of his life” and is, thus,
retiring.
However,
sources
report that growing fears of a
Chihuahua uprising have caused
him to devote all of his time to
completing a secret underground
safe-house which will supposedly protect him from harm.
Crazy or not, Bob
Barker has left a lasting impression on more than one generation, and on television history.
Thinking about writing for The
Blue Jay? We are in need of students to write the articles for
each edition. Photographers are
also welcome. Anyone interested
should see one of the editors or
Mr. Zabrecky. E-mail all submissions to
bluejaypaper@gmail.com.
PS3 Hits Shelves...People Go Crazy
Andy Schwehm
Opinions Editor
That's it. People have
finally gone over the deep end.
The world is going to end.
Ten Days and over $600
is long enough to do many things,
such as take a nice trip to just
about anywhere in the U.S; or, if
you want to fork out a few more
dollars, to fly to just about anywhere.
I guess some people
would rather do other things, i.e.
sit outside Best Buy to wait for
the newest addition to the
Playstation line: the PS3.
I had to go to Barnes
and Nobles to get a book for
English class on November 16th,
and as I walk towards B & N I
notice a mass of people waiting
outside Best Buy (I live on the
Westbank, just so you people
don't go nuts thinking there is a B
& N next to Best Buy on the
Eastbank). Now, I'm no "gamer";
and I have no idea what is going
on, so I decide to walk over there
to see what is going on, and I ask
one of the people in line waiting
what is going on.
"Are you kidding me?
THE PS3 COMES OUT
TOMORROW!" he gently yells
at me.
As I take a step back, I
excuse myself and ask, "Well,
how long have you been out
here?"
"Since Monday night,"
he states proudly.
Monday. Are you kidding me? I can't stand in line for
3 minutes, never mind 3 days.
People have to come to grip with
reality.
The PS3 is great and all,
I'm sure; but you could get it in a
few weeks, and I promise it will
be the same. Get a life. The city
needs help rebuilding. Go out
and help with that, rather than
wait in line for three days to get
that overpriced gaming system
There is no reason to
wait that long for anything,
except maybe to see Jesus . . .
maybe.
People waiting outside Best Buy 10 days before the PS3’s release.
Staff Photo
December, 2006
Page 8
Opinions
Monthly Mass Is Underappreciated
Kyle Lutkewitte
Chief Reporter
On Friday, December
18, 2006, the entire student body
and faculty of Jesuit High School
gathered in the Chapel of the
North American Martyrs for
monthly mass for the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception.
In an age of mass secularism and dwindling amounts of
clergymen, it is remarkable that
Jesuit students have this opportunity for monthly mass.
But every time we have
our monthly masses, I wonder if
the students truly appreciate this
tradition. Every student secretly
spends his mandatory silent
reflection time while walking to
the chapel hoping to get one of
the coveted aisle seats.
If one does not manage
to snag an aisle seat, he faces an
hour of squirming around and
repositioning his limbs so as not
to keep jabbing his neighbors in
their backs.
The students’ angst was
especially high at this mass
because many students (myself
included) were not used to having
to go to mass on a Friday morning.
Nevertheless, monthly
masses are visible signs of Jesuit
High School as a community of
brothers and of men of faith.
Although at times the
students may feel crowded into
the pews because of all of the
people that need to be accommodated, there is still an awe-inspiring feeling when all of us are able
to be in one room together once a
month. Also, monthly masses aid
in the formation of Jesuit students
as men of faith.
Basically, it all comes
down to the old adage: “You can
bring a mule to the trough, but
you cannot force it to drink.”
As teenage boys, many
of us may be questioning our
faith and having doubts; but it is
comforting to know that our
school has numerous opportunities, such as monthly masses, to
help us strengthen our faith if we
so desire.
Students celebrating monthly mass at Jesuit.
Staff Photo
Jays Shout,“Why No Day Off After Halloween?”
Nicholas Chedid
Staff Writer
Not all Blue Jays were as happy as this Jack O’
Lantern on the day after Halloween.
The students' opinions
about not being off the day after
Halloween were mostly one-sided.
To many students this decision
seemed outrageous.
From many students' perspectives, there were several good
reasons not to have had school on
All Saints' Day.
Many felt deprived
because they simply didn't have
enough time to eat all of their hard
earned candy.
Tyler Andrews, class of
2009, said, "I felt depressed about
having to go to school, and I was
tired all day."
Like Tyler, many students
were completely exhausted the day
the idea of having school on
November 1, but only because it
meant not shortening the
Thanksgiving or Christmas holi-
“I felt depressed about having to
go to school, and I was tired all day.”
-Tyler Andrews
after Halloween and could barely
think straight from lack of sleep.
Also, much of the student
body didn't have enough time for
homework; and, because of these
reasons, many students did horribly
on any tests they took on November
1.
A few students supported
days.
However, the student
body seemed overwhelmingly in
support of being off on All Saints’
Day. They were tremendously disappointed that they did not have the
day off, and felt wronged by the
apparent injustice.
A Letter To the Editor:
Dear Opinions Editor,
For over two hundred years Americans have boldly proclaimed this nation to be the
“land of the free,” and indeed American citizens enjoy many freedoms and rights which are
denied to less fortunate denizens of other countries. And yet the rights of citizenship here in
America have not always applied to all citizens: non-landowners, blacks, and women all had to
fight to secure for themselves the freedoms which had been enjoyed by other Americans for
years. We now live in a time when all humans who are citizens hold the same rights set forth
in the Constitution.
However, it has of late become clear that equality is still not shared by all members of
our society. I am ashamed as an American and as a Blue Jay to inform you that in our very own
courtyard here at Jesuit High School, four innocent trees are being held against their will without any specifically stated reason for arrest. This blatant defiance of the Sixth Amendment is an
outrage that ought to inflame the very heart and mind of every Blue Jay.
And so I beseech you, Jesuit High School, to see that the Constitution of these United
States of America is not denied to any American citizen whether man or woman, black or white,
rich or poor, animal or vegetable. These trees, all born in the USA, deserve—nay, are owed—
the same rights and immunities given every other American. Do not allow their rights to be
pushed aside for no other reason than that they are as they were created. Stand up for your
rights, the trees’ rights, and every living, breathing American’s rights
Sincerely,
An imprisoned tree, woefully expressing its silent sorrow.
An Anonymous Senior, concerned for our trees
Photo by John C. Walsh
December, 2006
Page 9
Opinions
Squires Help to Clean Up Around Jesuit
Kanwal Matharu
Staff Writer
The effects of Hurricane
Katrina upon the city are still
clearly visible today.
In response to the massive amount of work still left
undone, the Columbian Squires,
Jesuit's prestigious service
organization, decided to support
the effort to rebuild New
Orleans.
The Squires organized a
clean up of the area around Jesuit
recently and intend to arrange
quarterly efforts to improve the
area.
Whenever
someone
comes to Jesuit and addresses the
situation here in our beloved city,
that person mentions the role that
we, as students of Jesuit, must
fulfill as future leaders.
Although picking up
trash may not appear to be as significant as constructing a house,
for example, this is a simple way
to help where help is needed.
Rebuilding the city is a complex
process in many aspects; cleansing our neighborhood is one of
them.
Students at Jesuit have
more than enough responsibilities--parents, teachers, girlfriends, and coaches constantly
need us to do more.
However, as inundated
as we might be, we have a
responsibility to our city and the
school. Picking up garbage for a
half hour once a quarter is not
that burdensome a commitment.
The squires can always use any
extra help that they can get in
cleaning up the school
At Jesuit we memorize
many prayers and adages; however, this amounts to nothing if
we do not live what we preach
and believe.
Cleaning up the area
surrounding Jesuit is a means of
demonstrating how we live as
"men for others."
Chief Squire Andy Lade ponders future activities for the Squires.
Photo by Spencer LeBlanc
New Water Fountains Too Small
Alex Faust
Disgruntled Senior
During lunch on a
Friday in October, I was taking a
casual stroll on the first floor
towards my locker to pack for
the next two classes. Passing by
the new bathrooms, I noticed the
innovative, gleaming water fountains which had recently been
installed.
However, these small
fountains led me to shock, alarm,
sadness, disappointment, and the
like.
I asked myself: “How
can Jesuit High School, with its
long history of tradition, success,
and excellence, stoop to such a
low level (literally)? How can
these new water fountains favor
only the minuscule, diminutive
heights of the eighth graders?”
This, my fellow Blue
Jays, is ridiculous. The upperclassmen simply cannot crouch
to the low height of these water
fountains, nor will they.
Also, I think it’s time
someone spoke up about the
water fountains on the other
floors. Whenever we try to
quench our thirst with one of
these fountains during any travel
time, we are always frustrated
and dissatisfied to see a weak
trickle of water flow slowly over
the fountain head—every time.
How can we be expected to gain any refreshment?
Something needs to be done, and
it needs to be done as soon as
possible.
Here’s a thought: let’s
replace them; and replace them
with something strong, forceful:
something that sends a large,
concentrated stream of cold,
refreshing water, something that
is installed at the height of an
average human being, not a
small eighth grader.
Without these changes,
Jesuit High School will no
longer be a home of the importance, goodness, and success that
it was once known for.
They are so small that Senior Andy Hamilton has to kneel to drink out of them.
Photo by Jeff Schott
A Letter From the Editor:
Dear Anonymous Senior, concerned for our trees,
Tree-huggers are really not taken kindly to around these parts; and, furthermore, I have bigger fish to fry (or trees to burn in this
case), so I am going to go ahead and talk about what I need to. I have noticed over the past few weeks an increasing number of students
defying the unwritten laws of society. Many students, mainly underclassmen, have been going through the wrong side of the doors on the
stairwells, and in other places. Walking is like driving, which is why the underclassmen may not know which side to use. So I shall give
ya'll a quick walking lesson. Use the RIGHT side of the door so that passing traffic can use the other side. It is that simple. We are not
in England, so don't use the left. The bar dividing the doors is there for a reason, and that reason is to attempt to stop people from using
the wrong side (not, contrary to popular belief, to stop the doors from swinging the wrong way).
My fellow Blue Jays, we must put an end to this madness. This has been going on for far too long; and I, for one, am tired of it.
I must also address something else dealing with walking. There has been an increase in the number of Jays, again underclassmen,
who attempt to run up the stairs on the left side to get to class 10 seconds faster. Traffic flows two ways on the stairwells, just in case you
young’uns failed to notice. All your delinquency does is cause traffic jams, and you end up getting to class 10 seconds later than if you
would have waited patiently like the rest of us. Just calm down and slow down and everything will be just fine. I promise.
Jays, if you notice any of these activities going on, simply stop the violator; and tell him to slow down. Remind him that everything will
be O.K.
Sincerely,
Andy Schwehm
P.S. It must be noted that everything I have previously stated does not apply to any seniors.
December, 2006
Page 10
Opinions
The Dems Take Congress
Thoughts from a Conservative...
...and Thoughts from a Liberal
presumably do the same but the
Democrats have already suggested that
they may not be interested in passing legislation, just investigating government
officials about Iraq. In two years people
will still be tired of stagnation.
The situation with Lieberman
will be crucial to watch because, even
though he’s siding with the Democratic
Caucus, the reason he wasn’t supported
by the Democrats in his race was his support of Republican policies in the war.
Look for him to be a thorn in the
Democrats’ side especially if he costs
them their majority in the Senate.
I was surprised with the Senate
takeover, but am more concerned with its
affects on the ’08 presidential race.
Virginia’s incumbent Senator George
Allen was touted as a front runner in the
Republican presidential nomination along
with John McCain and Rudi Giuliani.
Instead he finds himself out of the Senate.
Whatever the case, I’m just hoping
Hillary wins the ticket because I just can’t
see a Republican losing to her; she has
too many opponents in her party nationwide.
3. Finally, let’s not have anymore beating around the bush – after this
election we all know the media is biased,
there’s no more denying it. When you
hear Wolf Blitzer and other political commentators saying “We won the House”
and talking about how “we” may not get
the Senate on CNN and Brit Hume on
Fox News cracking jokes about
Democrats, there’s no doubt about media
bias.
Gridlock and the Democrats’
own nonexistent agenda is what’s saving
the country from being run by, well, to
tell the truth, a bunch of donkeys. Well,
you know what I mean.
they had had medical insurance. In 2002,
the US infant mortality rate actually went
up--for the first time since the 1950s.
What have George Bush and the
Republicans done about this? To be short,
nothing. But that just doesn't make sense.
Universal medical insurance for all
Americans would actually create a much
higher standard of life for all Americans.
Several companies, like Toyota, that
would have incorporated in the US (with
thousands of new jobs) incorporated in
Canada instead because our friendly
neighbor to the north offers all its citizens
medical coverage. General Motors pays
more for the healthcare of its workers than
it does for steel. People wonder why the
American industries are headed so steadily to ruin, and this is one of the reasons
why. Our healthcare system is rated the
thirty-seventh most effective in the world.
That just seems wrong. In Iraq, we pay
for all the citizens to have medical coverage, but not here. America needs national
health insurance.
4. Finally, I need to address Katrina. It
sounds like one of those “liberal lies” that
certain republican talking heads mention;
but, in reality, the Katrina fallout would
have been nowhere near as bad if it were
not for the president himself. President
George Bush was presented with a $750m
proposal to strengthen the levee systems
of LakePontchartrain, and he decided that
only twenty percent of it needed to be
funded. I hold him partially responsible
for the devastation of the storm, especially
the Lakeview destruction which so many
of us have directly felt. He is quoted as
saying, “No one expected the levees to
break.” A hurricane and flood in New
Orleans was actually deemed one of the
Ian Gunn
News Editor
The country needed a change.
That is what political analysts across the
country attributed to the Democrats’ success on Tuesday, November 7. Yes, like
most loyal Republicans I went to sleep
depressed that night but as I continue to
think about it, the more encouraged I get.
What it all comes down to is this
“change” that needs to happen.
Throughout the campaign process beginning months before election day, we
began to hear about Republican screwups more frequently. In fact, I heard more
about what Republicans were doing than
Democrats from Democratic ads, candidates, and campaigns.
So here’s what I think:
1. It will be interesting to see if
Nancy Polosi, the new Speaker of the
House comes out with an agenda that the
Democrats want to push. They certainly
didn’t provide one while campaigning.
They simply fed off of disapproval of
Republicans. All we know about the
Democrats’ “New Direction for America”
is that it involves some unknown plan for
Iraq (that probably doesn’t exist), investigations (to tie up Congress more), and
raising the minimum wage (only occasionally mentioned after emphasizing a
new plan for Iraq).
2. Does gridlock equal change? I
think if anything, this election creates
more gridlock in Congress than before
and comes back to bite the Democrats in
2008. First, Democrats will attempt to
block Republican legislation until they
get into office. The Republicans would
John C. Walsh
Features Editor
“A Progressive’s Wishlist”
The holly is hung, the garland is
strung, and carols are sung. And I've written my wish list. No, this isn't the list that
I'm giving to my mom when she runs to
Best Buy. I'm sending this list to
Washington. The Democrats will soon be
in control of the Congress, and perhaps
now there will be some better decisionmaking on Capitol Hill. Much of this
thinking is really based on something I
think we'd know a lot about here at Jesuit,
being Men for Others.
1. Raise the minimum wage to a liveable
wage. It is absolutely atrocious that
America has let the national minimum
wage remain so low for this long. If the
wage were raised to the buying power of
the wage in the 60s, it would about $7.50
an hour. This matter affects us as young
students. The poorest of the poor make
minimum wage, and so do students. We
don't have to live on it, though. Our parents don't need us to go to work so that
our little brothers and sisters can eat.
Some CEOs make more than two thousand times the proposed minimum wage.
That simply does not seem just to me.
2. Wash out Washington, and get rid of
the corruption. It's been said, "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."
The Republicans were in control of the
Congress for twelve years, and we are just
now feeling the effects of some of their
worst policies. The Jack Abramoff scan-
18,000 people die every year because they have no health
insurance.
dal, the K Street Gang, and more--you
know, the politics of America today.
Hopefully a Democratic congress can get
rid of some these thieves.
3. Universal Healthcare's what we need!
Forty-five million Americans today are
without health insurance. Seven million
of those are children. Five million
Americans lost their health insurance from
2000 to 2003. Eighteen thousand people
die every year who would not have died if
most likely and most destructive disasters
to happen to the US. President Bush gave
it the twenty percent he thought it
deserved, and then proceeded to spend
eighty-seven billion dollars in Iraq.
Hopefully the Democrats can help us all
in New Orleans in recovery and make
sure that this never happens again to any
American city.
Chris Sellers’ Christmas Cellar
Chris Sellers
Staff Writer
Christmas is fast
approaching and Jesuit is already
showing signs of a student body
filled with that special kind of
spirit that can only be found during this time of year. The homeroom doors are all decorated
with an assortment of different
designs, some much more creative than others. The excitement could be seen all over the
face of senior Chris Staudinger
‘07, who eagerly decorated his
door and classroom before
December even began, making it
the first door decorated in the
entire school.
Gift Spotlight ‘06: Still
trying to find that perfect gift for
the hard to shop for person in
your life or even wondering
what you really want this year
waiting for you under the tree?
Well, your search is over. My
top pick for this year would have
to be the life-size and incredibly
realistic wall murals of your
favorite sports players available
at FatHead.com. They’re a little
pricy, running about $150 each,
but well worth it to be the
coolest kid on your block. I
highly suggest this item!
But this Christmas is
about much more than who’s
getting a puppy or a new pair of
underwear; this will be the first
time that many families are celebrating Christmas back in their
own homes since Hurricane
Katrina struck New Orleans over
a year ago. It’s a time to
remember all that we’ve lost
over the last year and treasure
the things, and most importantly
the people, we still have. So
take a moment this Christmas to
appreciate all the things in your
life you have to be thankful
for…and then spend the other 23
hours and 59 minutes of the day
enjoying those gifts from Santa!
What could be a better gift than your very own Ben
Roehtlisberger?
December, 2006
Page 11
Spor ts
Cross-Country Runs to State Title
Jays Place
Seven
Runners
in Top
Thirty
Spots
Continued from Page 1
lowed soon after in 21st place,
and Cullen Doody finished 29th.
Juniors Kevin Fitzgerald (left) and Cullen Doody (right) helped the Jays to win the State Championship meet
in very muddy circumstances.
By Spencer LeBlanc
Jesuit Racers in State Meet
Name
Time
Place
Kenny Ehrhardt, ‘07
16:42.64
2nd
Kevin Fitzgerald, ‘08
17:09.86
8th
Graham Williams, ‘08
17:17.25
11th
Cory Guidry, ‘08
17:19.08
14th
Chad Guidry, ‘08
17:29.03
20th
Peter Flores, ‘09
17:29.46
21st
Cullen Doody, ‘08
17:51.07
29th
Daniel Scullin
Staff Writer
Chris Staudinger
Senior Spotlight:
This is an extraordinary feat
when one realizes that two of our
runners – Cullen Doody and
Chad Guidry – ran while they
were sick.
When asked about his
team’s continued good performance, Coach Peter Kernion
replied, “The competition was
good, but our boys ran really
good races.”
Kenny
Ehrhardt
remarked, “This is the perfect
ending for the season.”
Additionally, the Jesuit
Cross Country team won all three
district titles this year: Varsity,
J.V., and Junior High.
A big contributor to the
Jays’ success has been the superb
coaching of Coach Kernion. He
trained this team from the ground
up, nurturing each runner and
building on potential talent.
Coach Kernion taught the team
how to perform at the best of
each runner’s ability through
intense workouts and pump-up
songs, such as Phil Collins’ “In
the Air Tonight.”
Fans kept the team alive
by shouting creative motivational
cheers like “Run!” to each Jesuit
runner.
Congratulations to the
Cross Country team on a great
season.
The mighty Chris
breath.
Yet again the swim
team brings home another state
title, which can be attributed
mainly to a strong sense of senior leadership. This month's
Senior Spotlight, Chris
Staudinger, has been a strong
contributor to the team throughout the season. He posts such
times as 1:03.31 in the 100
Breast and 56.52 in the 100 Fly.
Chris, who aspires to swim at
the next level possibly at NYU
or BC, also gets it done in the
classroom. This was exemplified by a 4.03 GPA this past
year. Mike Collins, a fellow
Staudinger takes a
senior swimmer, says of Chris,
Photo by Kyle Lutkewitte "He's a really rockin' dude. He
has really pretty hair." Chris
wants to thank all that came out
and supported the team this year.
The Blue Jay: How long can you
hold your breath?
CES: I don't know. Maybe
around three minutes.
TBJ: Does shaving really make a
difference?
CES: Absolutely. Especially in
the back and lower regions. It
exposes new nerve endings.
TBJ: What makes us so good?
How do we win so often?
CES: The tradition.
TBJ: Do you have any presswimming rituals?
CES: Yes. I listen to music, in
particular Dave Matthews Band's
"All Along the Watchtower" or
Coldplay's "Talk," you know-the one they play at the Saint's
game?
TBJ: When you swam in Dallas
did you notice any differences?
CES: Texas swimming is a lot
faster because of tradition. They
swim every morning. They had a
freshman with an Olympic trial
time. He was a beast.
TBJ: Do swimmers ever trash
talk?
CES: Hell yea. Well, umm… I
don't. I'm classy. However,
sometimes swimmers spit in
other swimmers' lanes before a
race.
TBJ: What do you think is your
most significant contribution?
CES: I made it fun sometimes. I
helped the atmosphere.
December, 2006
Page 12
Spor ts
Swim Team Recaptures State Title
Continued from Page 1
relay team, consisting of Mark
Reuther '09, John Tortorich '08,
Malbrough, and Marc Dorsey
'11, won first place with the
added notice of having one student from each high-school
grade level participating.
The 100 yard butterfly
finished with Tortorich in first
place and Malbrough in second, scooping in 37 points, and
Brian Carr '11 picked up 20
points by finishing first of 29
competitors in the 500 yard
freestyle. The team found 66
more points in the 100 yard
backstroke, in which Dorsey,
Malbrough, Reuther, and
Ramsay Burch '11 took first,
second, fourth, and fifth,
respectively.
Tortorich,
Malbrough, Harvey, and
Collins earned another 40
points in the 400 yard freestyle
relay.
Also wracking up
points for Jesuit were Chris
Staudinger '07, Napoleon
Benoit '08, Scott Pierce '08,
Jared Rodrigue '09, Chris
Reuter '09, Chris Willem '09,
and Lyle LeBlanc '09.
Coach Bret Hanemann
'85, a teacher at Jesuit from
1990 to 2001, expressed
tremendous satisfaction with
the team's performance: "Every
one of the guys who went to
state tried hard, and every
swimmer got his own best
time," he said. "They went in,
and it was one of the fastest
state meets we've had as a
team."
He went on to emphasize the importance of every
member of the team, saying
that "not everybody on the
team is going to win a state
championship, but everyone
competes."
Hanemann, who
swam when he was a student at
Jesuit, has a great pride in
Jesuit's athletic tradition, especially in regards to swimming.
"It's understood when you
come to swim at Jesuit High
School what's expected of you.
What some of our teams have
done in the past is incredible."
He is also optimistic for the
future, pointing out that two
freshmen and a junior took
first place spots in individual
events at the state meet this
year.
The father of five
children, Hanemann says he
feels truly blessed: "God is
looking down on me in a nice,
nice way. This is a good program. I'm thankful for the
kids, and I'm thankful that I'm
even a part of it." His Jesuit
education showed as he said
"Everything we do, we do for
the greater glory of God, we do
for Jesus, and we do as a
team."
Congratulations to the
swim team, and good luck on a
new streak.
The swim team begins a new State Championship streak after having its 18-year run broken by Hurricane
Katrina.
Staff Photo
Hornets Season Promises
to Be a Winner
Kanwal Matharu
Staff Writer
The New Orleans
Hornets embarked upon a promising season this month.
Excitement surrounding this
team is at its peak. After a dismal season two years ago, the
Hornets progressed in the 20052006 season, winning 20 more
games than the previous year
and competing for a playoff spot
until the last week of the regular
season. This season an
improved Hornets team intends
to build upon the surprising success of the last season.
The dynamic nucleus of
last year’s team has been
retained. Chris Paul, the reigning Rookie of the Year, changed
the attitude of this team.
Competing statistically with legends such as Magic Johnson,
Chris Paul emerged as one of the
elite point guards in the League
within his first season. CP3, as
announcers have dubbed him
(because he wears jersey number
three), is not only an excellent
player but also a leader. He has
the intangible qualities that separate the good players from the
great ones. The only aspect of
his game requiring significant
change is his offensive aggressiveness. By improving his
jump shot and mentally developing an attacking attitude on
offense, Chris Paul should
become a potent threat to score
this season. Learning from stars
like LeBron James and Dwayne
Wade on the US Olympic
Basketball Team this past summer can only aid Chris Paul in
his quest to be the best.
David West is another
crucial part of this team. Last
year, West finished second in
votes for Most Improved Player
because he nearly tripled his
scoring from the previous year.
He led the Hornets in scoring
and rebounding. Working the
pick-and-roll – one of the most
basic yet most effective plays –
with Chris Paul has become a
strategy that few teams can stop.
Coaches claim that West has
improved his outside shooting
during the summer, making him
even more difficult to guard.
This past off-season,
however, is the reason for exhilaration. The combination of
shrewd draft picks, a solid trade,
and expedient free-agent signings has sent Hornets fans into a
frenzy.
The Hornets selected
Hilton Armstrong and Cedric
Simmons in the first round to
bolster the front line. Cedric
Simmons has shown great apti-
tude for Coach Byron Scott’s
offense because he played in a
similar system in college.
Hilton Armstrong has struggled
slightly; but, due to the trade for
Tyson Chandler, he has time to
adapt to the NBA.
The trade for Tyson
Chandler could be one of the
best moves the Hornets – a franchise notorious for making poor
management decisions, such as
trading away Kobe Bryant –
have completed in a while.
Tyson Chandler is an established
defensive presence, a component
the Hornets have sorely lacked
over the past few seasons.
Although the Hornets lost P.J.
Brown, one of the most respected and popular players in the
League, they gained a player
with the potential to evolve into
an offensive force due to his
exceptional athletic ability. This
growth will be directly related to
the Hornets’ success this season.
This trade for Tyson Chandler
was designed not only to help
the Hornets prosper immediately, but also to construct a sturdy
foundation for the future.
However, the most
electrifying prospects for this
season are Peja Stojakovic and
Bobby Jackson. Enticed by
Chris Paul’s talent, Peja
Stojakovic, a perennial candidate
for the All-Star team, and Bobby
Jackson, who was awarded the
Sixth Man of the Year, signed
with the Hornets this past summer. Peja Stojakovic, arguably
one of the top three perimeter
shooters in the NBA, will force
opposing teams to structure their
defense to accommodate his
accuracy. This, in turn, will create more space on the court for
Chris Paul to shred opposing
defenses with his precise passing. Therefore, the whole team
will benefit from Peja
Stojakovic’s presence. Bobby
Jackson, the new back-up point
guard, is also a reputable threepoint shooter. Although he is
relatively old on this youthful
Hornets team, his experience
and undeniable desire to win
will be invaluable, especially
since the Hornets imploded
toward the end last season due
to their inexperience. Another
addition to the Hornets is
Jannero Pargo, who has proven
to be extremely quick and difficult to guard.
Although the Hornets
are in the most competitive division, expectations for this
Hornets team are escalating. If
the Hornets can avoid devastating injuries this season and
defend as vigorously as they did
last year, they will thrive. This
could be a very enjoyable year
to be a New Orleans sports fan.