sOADA SPEAKER URGES SAFETY

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News
Pius X High school - 6000 A Street - LIncoln, NE
April 16, 2010
Volume 46, Issue 7
sOADA SPEAKER URGES SAFETY
NYCU: State Education
Requirements
Page 2
Features
Norma Volkmer
10. According to Barnes, this was
not necessarily intentional but that
they do tend to plan the speakers’
Pius X High School hosted
visits in spring.
its annual anti-alcohol and anti
The main reason for this
drug speaker this past Friday, April
decision is the change in weather,
9. This year the Students Organized
she said. As the weather becomes
Against Drugs and
nicer, kids are
Alcohol (SOADA)
out and about
club brought in
more at places
Randy Bybee, a
like parks or
27 year veteran of
lakes,
often
the State Patrol, to
without
the
give the facts about
supervision of
underage drinking
a parent or the
in Nebraska.
administration.
“It was
T h e
the first time we
talk was quite
brought in a State
informative
Trooper,” Laurie
and, in the case
Barnes, the sponsor
of the video,
for the SOADA
deeply moving.
club, said. “We
It also left a lot
decided to take the
of questions in
State Trooper Randy Bybee speaks to Pius students about the
talk in a different
the air regarding
dangers of alcohol before prom.
direction this year,
youth drinking
hoping to inform the students about “The video was really in Nebraska, specifically here
youth drinking here in Nebraska.”
good,” Mrs. Barnes said. “It was a in Lincoln. Bybee’s speech was
The talk revolved around situation that happened to a normal straight and to the point, with the
a variety of statistics covering person where the consequences facts and images speaking loudly
underage drinking and how were enormous. It was something all on their own.
Nebraska compares to the rest of the students could relate to and Overall, Pius’ annual
the nation. Some of these facts take advice to make the right anti-alcohol and anti-drug speech
were quite disconcerting especially decisions.”
wasn’t half bad this year. Different
Nebraska’s high ranking for The speech coincided yes, but the points still hit home and
drinking amongst 12-20 year olds.
perfectly with Pius’ prom, which the dramatic video left a profound
Bybee
also
focused occurred the following day, April impact in the minds of the students.
staff reporter
on drinking and driving and the
consequences of such actions. His
presentation included the showing
of a short video on a man imprisoned
for the killing of a couple while he
was driving under the influence of
alcohol.
Photo by Kelsey WIEser
James Brown: XPosed
Page 4
Xclusives
Satire
Pages 6-7
Entertainment
Addicting Websites
Page 9
Sports
Girls Tennis
Page 10
New Health Care Plan for AmericaNs
Sarah Benal
staff reporter
On
Tuesday
March 23, 2010, President
Barack Obama made
history by signing the
health care overhaul of
$930 billion. This health
care reform has been said
to strengthen and expand
coverage with insurance
for children and adults
with pre-existing medical
conditions and increased
funding for community
health
centers.
This
tremendous change, which
guarantees
coverage
to over 32 million
Americans, is the largest
change in government
policy since the 1960s.
Getting the bill
all the way to the President
wasn’t easy. The proposals
had to make their way
through the Senate to be
approved and then sent
to the House. During this
long process the bill has
been changed and revised
many times.
This bill has
pitted sides against each
other since it was first
proposed in May of
2007. This was especially
evident when Obama’s
achievement was made on
Sunday March 21 when
the House voted 219-212
with not a single in favor
vote from a Republican.
Nevertheless, the bill was
sent to the President.
A major issue
driving these two parties
apart is abortion. Just
minutes after Obama’s
signing, Cardinal Francis
George of Chicago, the
president of the United
States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, stated
the Conference applauds
the effort to expand health
care to all. However, this
group has opposed the
health care bill because of
the “compelling evidence
that would expand the role
of the federal government
in funding and facilitating
abortion and plans to
cover abortion.”
The plan on
abortion in the policy
states that no health care
plan would be required to
offer abortion coverage.
It
separates
private
insurance payments and
taxpayer money so that
individuals must pay for
abortion through two
separate payments.
People are still
torn.
“In the end,”
political scientist John
Green of the University
of Akron said, “It comes
down to a simple matter
of
trust.
Democrats
believe that Obama will
keep his word to prevent
federal abortion funding;
Republicans don’t.”
Large amounts
of anger have blossomed
due to the health care bill.
Recently, congress has
receivedamassiveincrease
in threats. Violence,
smashing windows, and
death threats have all
appeared recently to at
least 10 representatives.
People wonder if these
representatives are in
danger.
“Yes. [There are]
very serious incidents that
have occurred.” House
Majority Leader Steny H.
Hoyer said.
In 2009, the
threats on congress have
added up to only 15 in
the first three months of
the year. This year, that
number has skyrocketed,
with the finding of at least
42 threats in the just the
first three months since
the beginning of the year.
Three have been arrested.
Members
of
congress continue to
lead their normal lives.
Staying with their usual
routines and trying to stay
unnerved. “Our democracy
is about participation,”
Hoyer
said.
“Our
democracy
is
about
differing and debate and
animated debate and
passionate debate. But it
is not about violence.”
The bill also
placed a temporary credit
of up to $1 billion for
medical research and
kids can stay under their
parent’s health insurance
until the age of 27.
T h e r e ’ s
many different sorts of
proposals within the bill
as well. An interesting
one where ten percent tax
will be imposed on indoor
tanning services. This
tax replaces the proposed
tax on cosmetic surgery.
Chain restaurants will be
required to provide health
information about their
food. These “nutrient
content
disclosure
statements” will have to
list calories on the menus.
Changes
will
officially begin to show
in September with some
changes not surfacing
until 2014. By this time,
Americans will be required
to have health insurance.
Whether it’s through
an employer, through a
government
program,
or buying the insurance
themselves. When finally
enacted, 95 percent of
eligible Americans will
have coverage for health
insurance, compared to
the 85 percent today.
Pius Hosts
25th
Annual
Bolt
Benefit
Fundraiser
Mairead Safranek
cover editor
Pius X High School
will be hosting its 25th annual
Bolt fundraiser on Friday, April
23rd at 6:30pm in the Bishop
Flavin gym. The event includes
a dinner, silent and live auction,
and a lottery.
Directed by Deb
Schulte, the event raises
money to be used towards the
improvement of the school. BOLT
2009 raised
$176,000, which were used to
upgrade the school’s security,
renovate unused space in the
school’s basement for a meeting
room, to install more efficient
lighting throughout the building
and continue payment on
the asbestos loan.
The proceeds of BOLT
2010 will be used to continue
security updates, enlarging the
kitchen, and supporting the
Booster Club activities.
“We’re not trying to
reach a certain amount,” Schulte
said. “We always know that
whatever we raise will be used
well.”
Over 575 patrons
will be attending the benefit,
including 40 corporate tables.
“This is one of the
fundraisers that people actually
like to come to,” Schulte said.
“We have a tremendous amount
of community support.”
This year’s theme is
“Grateful Reflections”, chosen
by the Coordinating Committee
to celebrate the 25th year of
BOLT. The committee is made
up of parent volunteers who
serve for three years.
The 2010 Coordinating
Committee members are Rod &
Michelle Arndt, Tim & Jennifer
Conzemius, Steve & Libby
Jaros, Fr. James Meysenburg,
Mark & Michelle Pieper, Rick
& Georgeanne Rashilla, Mary
Spethman, Tom & Sonya
Zimmerman and Deb Schulte.
Over 300 volunteers
work with Schulte to make the
evening a success.
“Our goal is to build
community and raise funds for
the school,” Schulte said.
As in the past, this
year’s BOLT benefit promises to
be a smashing success.
Opinion
April 16, 2010
Every person has witnessed
the growing trend of the sex invasion
of the media. There is no commercial
break that lacks some scantily clad
woman (or women) doing something
vaguely inappropriate to sell a
product. Or how many
pictures of crazy parties with tons
of booze and hot girls do we see per
day? In an ironic echo of the
Baby Boomers, we declare
“We’re not gonna take it!”
If you still have a hard
time believing this issue permeates
every teen, consider that 78 percent
of everything teenagers say on TV
is about their or someone else’s
interest in sex. Not to mention the
average teenager watches three hours
of television per day which comes
to 20,000 hours by the time they
graduate from high school; more
time than they have spent in the
classroom.
It’s maddening how often
have a liberal heart
Dominic Dongilli
assistant editor-in-chief
Governor Dave Heineman
hasgonetoofarwithhisdiscriminatory
policies. Immigration is a hot and
controversial issue, especially here
in Nebraska. I understand that it is
an undesirable situation that we don’t
want, but it’s here so we have to
deal with it in a compassionate and
respectful manner.
I often think of a quote
by the current Secretary of State
Hilary Rodham Clinton when she
resigned as president of her college
Republican group and became a
Democrat. Again, just because we
don’t like something doesn’t mean
we can slam those involved. “I have a conservative mind
and a liberal heart,” Clinton said.
This issue came to a
head recently when it came time to
renew the broad prenatal healthcare
guidelines that included healthcare
for illegal immigrants. I was appalled
by lack of support for prenatal care
for illegal immigrants through
Health and Human Services. While
the motion passed to continue the
funding, the one and only Governor
Heineman vetoed it. He is ending the
policy that supported women in their
efforts to respect life and carry their
pregnancy to term.
I now see that our supposed
“pro-life” governor only cares about
the lives with a green card in their
hands. He didn’t mean what he said
when he stood up at the Nebraska
Walk for Life and claimed to protect
the unborn.
Now let me remind you,
no matter citizenship, if someone
has a job they pay taxes. Most illegal
immigrants pay more than needed
because they do not file returns for
fear that they get deported. That is
not usually a possibility because
the Internal Revenue Service has an
option to file taxes where you do not
need a social security code.
Our governor has also
Norma Volkmer
staff reporter
Do you remember those
really cheap 3-D glasses made
of cardboard and that red & blue
plastic-like paper from years long
past? I know that my younger
self thought they were basically
the most awesome thing ever
invented.
Once more, as in the
80s and 90s, a three-dimensional
pandemic is sweeping the globe and
taking over Hollywood. However,
as cool as three-dimensional
movies are, they are a potential
problem that could destroy film as
we know it.
I am sure many have
seen at least one 3-D movie, quite
possibly the recent hit How to Train
Your Dragon. I saw Avatar when it
first came out. Those glasses really
made me think I could reach out
and touch those white spirit things.
But
what
actually
happened in the movie? And
what were the main characters’
we are bombarded with these images
or conversations. And it has a deep
effect on the way teenagers view
sex. Let’s skip over the unexpected
pregnancies and the STD’s that teens
can develop from sex and get straight
to the heart of it. A Catholic school
kid might not see this coming but
in the United States, almost a third
of 15 year-olds and 71 percent of
18 year-olds have had sex. Taking a
look at the other statistics, it’s quite
reasonable
3
to guess that the media might have
some responsibility in this regard.
After so much barrage of
garbage, we the staff of the Pius XChange are sick and tired of being
negatively influenced by a media that
pretends to cater to us. By ignoring our
needs and producing entertainment
that sucks us into a world that will
only hurt us, the media violates our
right to true liberty to not be assailed
by this junk. We fight for our right to
chaaaaastity.
the limits don’t exist
proclaimed that he does not believe
illegal immigrants should be eligible
for in-state tuition. This continues to
frustrate me. We are hindering the
success of immigrants and preventing
them from breaking free from the
continual cycle of poverty. So what
if they want to make something of
themselves by receiving an education.
This is a great opportunity to give all
the opportunities possible to people
who are continually put down by
society.
I remember reading in
The Freedom Writers Diary about a
student who couldn’t go to college
because she was an illegal immigrant,
but her family had to pay taxes. I
believe her statement went something
like this, “I have a nine digit code to
fund the government, but they won’t
give me a nine digit social security
code so I can go to college.”
I recently read a follow-up
article in the Lincoln Journal Star that
had interviewed state doctors who
said their patients opted for abortion
because the state no longer would
provide them with medical care for
them and their child. Governor and
state senators in opposition, the blood
is on your hands.
three d’s that ruin movies
names? While I am sure those of
you out there who have become
Avatar fanatics can easily answer
those questions, my point still
stands. Avatar’s special effects
were awesome and amazingly
distracting.
Honestly, I left the
movie thinking it was one of the
coolest films of all time, but the
more I thought about it in terms
of total substance, I realized how
unspectacular it was.
Then, it became the
highest-grossing movie of all time
as well as being nominated for
several Academy Awards, including
Best Picture. Yet it ran out of luck,
losing two of the more prestigious
awards of the night (Best Picture
and Best Director) to Hurt Locker.
While it won for both
visual effects and cinematography
it wasn’t even nominated for its
writing or acting, something that
truly great films possess. While
the average-Joe filmgoers may not
have expected the losses, I see it as
a good sign.
Right now we are in the
midst of a battle… a battle for
our very cinematic experience.
Hollywood continues to try and
dumb down movies and television
shows for us, thinking we only
understand sophomoric comedy
and soap-opera-styled drama. Now,
they can just show us special effect
packed entertainment with no plot
or character development and still
make millions of dollars.
3-D showcases special
effects while down playing any
weaknesses in the plot, characters,
script, etc. I don’t want America in
50 years to be full of people paying
twenty dollars to see a 3-D movie
full of nothing real.
If this is the future we
want, then we can just let it happen
and keep going to average movies
only known for their efforts in the
third dimension. If not, we must
take a stand now. Yes, I think 3D movies are cool, but we cannot
laud them for just having that.
Instead, we must insist
that movies have real substance, to
go along with their 3-D effects, if
they ever be considered good. 3-D
movies are fine. They can be very
enjoyable. It is cool that we live
in a time when special effects are
not only another step in the right
direction, but started a whole new
path. I worry, however, that we
will forget what filmmaking and
watching is really all about.
3-D
movies
could
revolutionize or permanently ruin
the movie industry as it is. In all
honesty, I would rather see film be
taken to a whole new level and 3-D
could do that. However, if it means
the destruction of contemporary
cinema, I would prefer to give up
my 3-D glasses… even if they are
super awesome.
scholarships, I know for sure that
journalism and textiles design/
merchandising is exactly what
I want to pursue in college.
Four years ago I never
would have thought I’d find myself
where I am now.
Looking back I have
belonged, at some point in time,
no matter how short, to almost
every club and organization at
Pius (shockingly enough sports
included. I ran track freshman
Michelle O’Donnell
year, who knew).
features editor
I’ve gained friends,
As senior year of my high lost friends, made mistakes
school career comes to an end, it and
learned
from
them.
seems like classmates of mine feel I think diversity is
more and more obliged to revisit necessary for truly developing who
old memories from way back people become. It’s not possible to
when.
know if you like something or not
Back when we were all without trying it.
immature freshman, sophomores Going into the activity
still trying not to tread on the with an open mind is also a
feet of upperclassmen, juniors necessity, because anyone with
beginning to take our place at Pius, a narrow-minded outlook can
and then finally making it to senior honestly say they haven’t found
year, the top of the food chain. anything they like. However, that
It’s been a terribly long is nobody’s fault but their own.
journey, and despite my many Narrow-minded people
comments on how I can’t wait to have always been a source of
leave Pius behind and finally walk irritation for me. If you don’t have
across that stage May 23 to never a positive outlook, no matter how
return to these hallowed halls, I slight, you’re never going to enjoy
have gained an immense amount anything in life.
of knowledge.
Looking at things with
Not
only
academic an open mind lets you realize
comprehension, but I’ve found the if you really enjoy what you are
niche into which I fit exactly right. doing or not, all pre-conceived
At the risk of sounding notions thrown out the window.
extremely cliché and synonymous Mr. Burns always tells us
to the world’s biggest cheese ball, to take in calculus with an open
I’ve found who I am and what I mind that we will someday use
want in life during this four year what we are learning.
journey.
Whether
that
be
As a senior, with college in practical application of
looming nearer and nearer, I’ve differentiating integrals with
spent the entire senior year racking infinite limits or just gaining
my brains to figure out which path a general knowledge for some
I want to follow in college.
indirect use, it’s necessary to not
Now that it’s three only have an open mind about what
months away from my first you’re doing, but about trying out
day of college classes, after all different sorts of things to find
applying for acceptance and exactly what you love doing.
The Staff
Stacie Hecker
editor-in-chief
Dominic Dongilli
assistant editor-in-chief
Mairead Safranek
cover editor
Caitlin Hassler
news and opinion editor
Michelle O’Donnell
features editor
Katie Houlden
entertainment editor
Patrick Murphy
sports editor
Olivia Vrbka
copy editor
Sean Flattery
graphics editor
Kelsey Wieser
photo editor
Sarah Benal
Kayla Condello
Rachel Hobbs
Allyson Koziol
Austin Safranek
Holly Stejskal
Jake Swanson
Norma Volkmer
staff reporters
Nolan DeWispelare
adviser
contact us:
6000 A Street
Lincoln, NE 68510
[email protected]
2
News
Police crack down on pot growers
April 16, 2010
News From
Around the
World
Sean Flattery
graphics editor
I
n Thailand, citizens loyal to the
former Prime Minister broke
through the barricades to the
Parliamentary complex on April
7 to express their displeasure
with the current government,
and to call for new elections.
Unfortunately for those inside,
the security detachment was
unprepared for the attack. The
terrified officials barely escaped
by clearing the wall at the rear
of the governmental compound,
where helicopters airlifted them
to safety. In retaliation, a state
of emergency has been declared
for the metropolitan area of
Bangkok; enforcing a strict code
of conduct for inhabitants of the
city. The “Red Shirts”, as the
rebels have been named, have
largely ignored the order and
are defiantly roaming the streets
with little confrontation from the
military enforcers.
O
n the Great Barrier Reef
in Australia, a Chinese
oil tanker was punctured by
a submarine shoal on April 7,
releasing a small amount of
viscuous jet engine fuel into the
sea. The Australian government
is pursuing action against the
tanker, presenting the fact that
the ship was several miles outside
of the permissible shipping area.
Australian
environmentalists
are saying that this is only the
beginning of the destruction
of Australia’s natural beauty
by foreign exploitation. The
safe transfer of the rest of the
oil from the tanker will take
an indeterminable amount of
time, and stormy weather could
jeopardize the safety of the entire
reef.
A
landslide near Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, trapped
scores of houses and around
200 people on the evening of
April 7. Built on a decade-old
landfill, the neighborhood of
Niteroi collapsed under the large
amount of rainfall in the area.
Rescue crews have been utilizing
land-moving machines to free
the bodies from the debris.
The Brazilian government has
promised $112 million for relief
in the area, where flooding has
already devasted much of the
terrain for days.
Patrick Murphy
sports editor
The
Lincoln
Police
Department has found a number of
marijuana grow houses since the
beginning of March. They have
raided 11 houses so far. Many of
the houses are within a few miles
of each other, located within the
area of N. 11th to N. 28th near
Vine Street. Police have seized over
8000 plants from the 11 houses. It
has not been made clear if some
of the homes were being lived at,
however police believe that three
of the houses were permanently
unoccupied. Nghia T. Nguyen owned
four of the homes where plants
were seized, but was not living at
them at the time. Nguyen has not
been charged in any of the cases
so far, but six men have been and
five of them already have been to
Lancaster County Court. In the raided homes
the methods of growing the pot
plants all resembled each other
which led authorities to believe
that the undercover operations are
connected. The
marijuana
was
valued for millions in street
value, and now the plants are
quickly being dried out and dying
in the unmarked LPD storage
facilities. The police will follow
federal regulations and be closely
monitored on destroying the plants
as well as any tools which were
involved in the growing process. Those tools can include anything
from fertilizers to the watering
hoses.
In the past few years
police have been lucky to find
600 or 700 plants a year growing
inside houses, but due to neighbors
calling in about recent “marijuana
odors” the LPD has made a record
drug bust. One clue lead to another
and just as police ended the first
few days of investigation there
were many more houses to follow. Besides houses, police have been
informed of a Lincoln restaurant
growing pot as well. Pho 99, 2701
N. 27th St, was recently searched
and it was found that the owner
and her boyfriend fled the country
just a week after the first drug
bust.
LPD came across Pho 99
after several men with marijuana
convictions came forward and said
that someone at Pho 99 was “in
charge” of the Lincoln growing
operations. There have not been
any warrants issued for the owner
or her boyfriend because there is
currently too much information
that still needs to be sorted out
before any presumptions are
made. Many of the houses
were being rented out at the time
of the busts and now the owners
are suing for damage done to
their properties. There have been
reported water damages, walls
stripped out and mold growing on
the floors. These reports have been
a great help to finding the men
who LPD believes were involved
in the growing operations. LPD says that they have
even more clues that lead them
to believe that there are more
homes that will be raided in the
future. As for now LPD is just
glad to have found its record drug
busts without causing any harm to
officers or innocent people.
news you can use: graduation requirements
Dominic Dongilli
assistant editor-in-chief
Future high school students
in the state of Nebraska face a new
set of graduation requirements after
proposed curriculum changes.
Governer Dave Heineman
has always been a proponent of
reevaluating state requirements and
formulating a series of proposals in
order to increase the requirements
and strengthening the state standards
of education. His continual push for
change has inspired the Nebraska
Board of Education to pass a
resolution changing graduation
requirements for the first time in 25
years.
All public school districts
in Nebraska will now be required to
incorporate these changes in their
schools. The graduating class of
2015, this year’s seventh graders,
will be the first students required to
meet the new standards in order to
wear their cap and gowns.
Core subjects are the
focus of these new changes. The
class of 2015 must have: 40 hours
of English, 30 hours of Math, 30
hours of Science and 30 hours
of Social Studies. Curriculum
descriptions also come along with
the requirements. While specific
classes are not mentioned in the
new standards, detailed areas of
study such as technical reading and
writing are mentioned.
Since Pius is not a
public school, it is not required
to meet the state requirements
for education. However, if Pius
Straight From the Bolts
chooses to continue to hold their
state accreditation (which it has)
the administrators must make sure
that Pius’ requirements amount to
the state’s equirements. As of now,
only the requirements for math and
science would be affected.
Pius must also make sure,
public], and that we must offer
excellent classes and Catholic
formation,” Director of Guidance
Jan Frayser said.
Pius’ mission statement
not only includes “academic
preparation of the highest quality”
but also “education that is Christ-
GRAPHIC BY DOMINIC DONGILLI
specifically, that its curriculum and
standards are comparable to those
at Lincoln Public Schools who will
also be forced to make curriculum
changes due to the changing state
requirements.
“We know families have
a choice [between parochial or
centered.” This additional duty in
the mission statement translates into
40 more hours of religion classes
that are required at Pius. These
extra hours of religion have created
worry with some who don’t know
how they will also fit the updated
requirements into the seven periods
What class would you make mandatory for graduation?
“Photography.”
Dorothy Hanigan
freshman
Mason Krcmarik
sophomore
“Study Hall.”
INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY SARAH BENAL.
Tom Seib
history teacher
“Weight Traning so we all can
be huge like [Matt] Ward.”
Madelyne Penkava
junior
of the day.
“It is important to consider that
a student who takes a study hall
every semester of high school and
passes all classes the first time will
graduate with approximately 280
credits when only 230 are needed,”
Frayser said.
One must also consider
how many math classes
students take. As of now, 92
percent of Pius students will
be graduating with 30 hours
of math. The same situation
is present when the amount
of students taking upper level
science classes is considered.
Pius has a significant number
of students who will graduate
with more than four years of
science.
The new 22-minute study
hall that will be added to
next year’s schedule will
also help students keep up
with their classes. It will
also provide students who
originally took a period long
study hall the opportunity to
take an elective instead.
“At Pius, most students
meet
the
new
state
requirements, but we must
consider and determine
appropriate solutions for
those students who are not able to
continue in the upper level math and
science classes,” Frayser said.
Pius administration and
department heads have already
discussed the new curriculum
changes guaranteeing the class of
2015 the best education possible.
“History of modern music
since the 1960s.”
Jess Verplank
senior
“Anything taught by Mr.
Moore.”
April 16, 2010
Features
5
xposed
James brown
Kelsey Wieser
photo editor
In an attempt to get to
know our classmates better and
build a strong sense of community
among the “Thunderbolts,” the XChange features a stand-out senior
student in every issue. This issue’s
focus is James Brown; the studly,
cuddly prom king with a shining
personality.
Sharing a name with
the “Godfather of Soul” can have
its share of interesting instances.
Senior James Brown found a bit of
trouble one day at the DMV when
he told the woman his name. She
proceeded to ask for his name again
thinking he was kidding.
James is a fun-loving
friend to everyone. He can be seen
towering over students in the halls
but always smiling and giving high
fives. His personality has not gone
unnoticed as his peers voted him
Prom King his senior year.
“I was born on September
18 in Sydney, Australia. I came
out, shook my father’s hand and
wrestled three alligators. I went on
to cure Polio,” he laughed.
James Brown has a
personality most people are drawn
to. Any conversation with James
is unpredictable and will have one
holding their gut from laughter.
James is one of those rare students
the halls of Pius see once every few
years, where a student is friends
with everyone he meets.
“I like talking to everyone
because I like our class a lot,” James
said.
Born to James and Cathy
Brown in Lincoln, James grew
up with four sisters. Krista, Jenny,
Esther and Judith all keep James
on his toes and have definitely
increased his knowledge of chick
flicks.
“Family is extremely
important, family is blood. There’s
nothing more important than that,”
James
said
that
Thanksgiving for his family is like
a movie. There’s lots of fun and
jokes. James also visits his older
sisters Cathy in Omaha or Jenny at
UNL to spend time with them. He
also likes to watch movies and go to
Esther and Judith’s games.
His best friends became
like brothers and hanging out with
his friends from St. John’s was easy
when most of them lived around
him. James
has
one
particular
memory of
riding his
bike uphill
to friend
and fellow
senior
G r e g
Portsche’s
house, when he ran into a parked
car and caused around $1,000
damage.
“I was all over as a kid.”
Said James, “I broke nine bones;
my elbow, both of my wrists, three
bones in my leg, my nose, and all
ten of my fingers.”
When James entered
Pius he got into the sports culture
right away. He played football,
basketball and track his freshman
year. As a senior, James played
football in the fall and is jumping
and running in track this spring. He
will be competing in all the jumps
including high jump, long jump and
triple jump and also running the 400
and 200.
“Long jump is my favorite
because I used to be really good at
students take outside classes
Allyson Koziol
staff reporter
Pius students have
expanded their horizons in
their education and class
schedules. Many students
take classes outside of Pius
to better prepare themselves
for college, but also to focus
more on what they love and
further their education on
what they enjoy.
Mickey McConkey, a
senior, leaves Pius for sixth
through eighth period to
attend classes at the Southeast
Community College building
through
the
“Information
Technology Focus Program”.
McConkey
first
learned of the program from
the Pius guidance office staff
in his junior interview. His
interest in multimedia and film
brought up the discussion.
“I’m interested in
technology and film. I had to
fill out an application and get
letters of recommendation [to
participate in the program],”
he said.
The students in the
program are other Lincoln
high school students.
According
to
McConkey, “We sit behind
MAC
computers.
[The
instructors] let us check out
cameras and tripods [to use
outside of classes]… we
spend most of the time using
software to edit and then we
present projects to the class.”
The
program
has
prepared
McConkey
for
college and helped him figure
out what he might like to do
in the future.
“It’s given me a taste
of what I might be doing in a
production journalism class.
It’s given me a good idea of
how filming works,” he said.
McConkey
plans
to go to the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln and take
general courses his freshman
year. He sees working with
multimedia and filming as a
possible career.
“I
enjoy
working
with computers so much I
would like doing that as a job
because it’s easy for me and
something I enjoy,” he said.
Sean Burroughs, also a
senior, is enrolled as a visiting
student, and considered an
at-large student at UNL. In
the fall he took a Spanish
201 class and is currently in
Spanish 202 Literature and
Culture.
“Since I had already
exhausted all the Pius Spanish
classes I wanted to further
my education… I want to be
fluent in Spanish,” he said.
He worked with the
guidance office staff so his
class schedule would allow
for him to take the classes.
“Last semester I went
during seventh and eighth
period and this semester I go
during second and third. Mrs.
Frayser helped me register
and find scholarships,” he
said.
The courses have
given Burroughs a taste of
what college will be like.
He’s learned the importance
of discipline and motivation
and also how important
it is to stay on top of his
homework and listen to the
teacher.
Next year Burroughs
plans to go to UNL and
continue in his Spanish
studies. He would also like to
study abroad his sophomore
year.
Both
McConkey
and Burroughs recommend
programs similar to those
they were involved in.
Taking college courses or
being involved in programs
at SCC can be a great heads
up and preparation for
college itself. According to
McConkey, it provides the
opportunity to take classes
that appeal to personal
interests rather than simply
the required courses.
“It’s a nice break
from the normal schedule,”
he said.
it. We’ll see this year,” commented
James.
When not on the field,
James is busy with school and
Junior Reserve Officer Training
Core or JROTC. He is currently
taking three advanced placement
courses at Pius, AP American
Government, AP English Literature
and AP Biology. James spends
many hours working on homework
and takes the workload one day at a
time to avoid stress.
James is involved in the
JROTC. James attends a class
every morning, waking at six, to
attend classes on aerospace history
and mechanics at Northeast High
School. He and the other JROTC
students at Pius may wear their
uniforms to school on Wednesdays.
James was planning
on attending UNL, but then he
received a call on Friday March
26 that changed his life. James
was awarded a $180,000 ROTC
scholarship. In order to apply for
the scholarship, James had to go
through a slightly different process
than a typical scholarship. James had
to submit two essays, attend three
interviews, volunteer and complete
community service, take a physical
fitness test and meet credentials on
his transcripts, and take the ASVAB
and ACT tests.
“I almost pooped my pants
when I got the call before school
Friday, I ran around my house
screaming,” James said.
Because of the scholarship
James will now be attending UNO
for his first year and than transferring
to a college in California or Texas.
James is a dedicated
student, an athlete, a member
of JROTC, Prom King and a
Thunderbolt.
unl language fair
Sean Flattery
graphics editor
The
Department
of
Modern Languages and Literatures
at the University of Nebraska at
Lincoln recently hosted its 34th
annual language fair.
The fair began at 9 am
on April 15 and ran for about five
hours. The fair was started to give
high school students across the
state an opportunity to demonstrate
and compete with their knowledge
of Chinese, French, German,
Japanese, Russian or Spanish.
Each year, students from
Pius X are brought. Tracy Chapelle,
a Spanish teacher at Pius, has been
bringing her students for over ten
years.
“It is an opportunity
to show students that there is
something to Spanish besides
written homework,” Chapelle said.
The
events
include
singing, reciting poetry and one
year Pius even sent a dance group
that won first.
“It is so neat to see all the
work they put into it,” Katie Hayes,
another Pius Spanish teacher said.
“They are just so talented.”
Events are judged by
faculty and graduate students from
UNL, the Department of Modern
Languages and Literatures. There
were about 800 high school
students and teachers attending.
At the same time as the
competitions, there were various
mini-lessons offered by department
instructors. They taught short
instructive classes in languages
such as Arabic, Chinese, Czech,
Japanese, Russian and Swahili.
There are also dance lessons and
stations where visiting students
can speak with people who grew
up speaking the languages.
Everything was held at the
Nebraska Union, 1400 R Street.
Features
4
April 16, 2010
best places to spend time with spring weather
Gardens
Holly Stejskal
staff reporter
The gardens in Lincoln are in bloom and it would be a perfect time
to take an afternoon stroll. The Sunken Gardens are Located at 27th
and Capitol Parkway (right across the street from the Lincoln Children’s
Zoo).The garden is approximately 1.5 acres and is filled with beautiful
blooming flowers and two ponds. It also is home to multiple pieces of art
which help give the garden its whimsical look.
With the spring in full spring it
almost seems likes the great out
doors are calling you to come
outside and explore them. Almost
everywhere you turn there is a park
in Lincoln. It is a great way to go
and explore the city and find new
favorite places to visit.
It is also easy to get a full wildlife experience without even leaving
Lincoln. Try visiting Pioneers Parks. It is full of trails that can take you
deep into the wild or right to a park to have a picnic. The landscape is
very pretty and wildlife is abundant in the springtime. Also check out the
Nautre Centers to learn fun new facts and be on the lookout for bison, elk
and deer. A visit to Pioneers Park is the perfect place to play explorer for
a day.
Nature
Walks
Making a trip to a park does not have to be a long drawn out process.
There is a school with a playground with in walking distance of most
homes in Lincoln. So take the dog or a younger sibling up to a school
playground and swing on the swings and ride the merry-go-round. Most
schools have soccer fields and basketball courts so grab a few friends and
start a pickup game.
Antelope park is a playground of epic proportions. It is the perfect place to
So turn off the TV and step outside
embrace your inner child. It is located at 23rd and N. to 33rd and Sheridan
into spring and right into a park . It
Blvd. Some of the reasons for making this park so amazing are the huge
is a perfect way to take advantage
twisty, jungle gyms that seem to never end and of course a tire swing. This
of what Lincoln has to offer
park is a great place for playing hide and seek.
Play
Grounds
Schools
Jan Frayser is a Pius Savior to students
When there is a problem,
whether it is with family, friends
or school, odds are Jan Frayser
can fix it. The head guidance
counselor at Pius has tons of
advice lying on her mega desk
waiting for students to take it.
Frayser, like any other
guidance
counselor,
guides
students in different realms:
personal, career, family, social
and college. However, she goes
beyond that. “The philosophy
for my job is Mark 2,” she said.
Mark 2 is the story of the
paralytic whose friends lowered
him to Jesus and Jesus healed
him.
“I want to be the person
who takes people to Jesus, like
the friends in the story,”
she said. “I want to love
them, care for them and
help them wherever
they are.”
Over her long
career at Pius, she has
helped many of the
students who have
walked these halls.
She’s helped people
who may not know
what she was doing for
them.
“I have a list Jan Frayser works at her office desk helping
of people I pray for the many students of Pius X.
everyday. It’s really
“Whenever I talk with
long and it keeps
someone
about a problem they
growing,” she said. have,
I
know
that I am being
It’s hard to imagine
guided
by
the
Holy
Spirit.”
where someone could gain so
But
her
life
has
much knowledge and advice, but
influenced
her
too.
Frayser has help.
“I was blessed to be
born into a family with amazing
parents. They expected a lot
from us kids, but they also gave
a lot to us. They died when
I was young. That gave me
understanding that people can
hurt,” she said.
Even
with
such
experiences, Frayser was not
always a guidance counselor.
She received a degree to be
a theater and music teacher.
But God guided her to be a
guidance counselor. After she
had her last child, she started
thinking about teaching. She
knew that she only wanted to
teach at Pius, but the theater
and music position was filled
at Pius.
For
some
reason,
she wanted to do counseling.
Photo by Kelsey Wieser
Caitlin Hassler
news & opinion editor
An opening for a counseling
position happened to come about
in early August. So Frayser
got her resume and credentials
together and dropped them off.
The day she dropped them off,
she happened upon Monsignor
Barr, the superintendant at
the time. They had a pleasant
conversation. After she got
home, Frayser knew she had
the job.
It turns out that
Monsignor Barr’s mother had
been praying a novena to St.
Teresa. Earlier that August
morning, Monsignor Barr’s
mother called him and told him
that the guidance counselor
would come today.
Frayser plans on being
around Pius for quite a while.
“I love what I do!”
STRAIGHT FROM THE BOLTS
“Where’s your favorite place to go in the spring?”
Harry Endrulat
freshman
“Havleock park with my
friends.”
Caleb Hoesing
Anne Flesher
sophomore
junior
Olivia LaFollette
“The zoo.”
“The track.”
“ The park!”
senior
Larry Logsdon
fine arts dept. chair
“Pioneers Park.”
April Fools
A
P MIley Cyrus charged with Identity Theft, Shocking America
R
I
L
April 16, 2010
Rachel Hobbs
staff reporter
Teen-queen Miley Cyrus
was arrested on Tuesday, March
23, and found guilty on accounts
of fraud and identity theft.
She was brought into
custody following her appearance
on the television show American
Idol on Tuesday night, after it
was discovered that she has been
hiding a skin disorder called
alopecia areata.
The condition, which
is hereditary and believed to be
caused by an abnormality in the
immune system, leaves Cyrus
altogether bald.
“What does it matter if
I’m bald?” Cyrus shrieked as she
fled police. “Nobody’s perfect.”
In fact, it does matter.
Investigators say Cyrus has
earned thousands of dollars from
young children, who innocently
believe that her hair is real.
“Because she has earned
money off of the whole blonde to
brunette deal, she can be charged
with fraud,” said the arresting
officer, who wishes to keep
his name unknown for fear of
enraged and bloodthirsty Cyrus
fans.
“I was always so
jealous of her hair!” sobbed a
dismayed Kate Michaels, a diehard eight-year-old follower of
Cyrus. “I mean... I knew that the
blonde hair was a wig, but I can’t
believe she lied about her brown
hair.”
Michaels has attended
more than forty of Cyrus’
concerts, mostly just to catch
a glimpse of her lush cascade
of phony locks, rather than
hearing the hideous screeching
resonating from the throat of the
deceptive singer.
Now that Michaels
refuses to listen to Cyrus’
music, she plans on spending
her new found time writing a
children’s book that focuses on
discouraging kids from lying
and stealing. The story isn’t due
out for another month or two,
but the young author intends to
send a copy to Cyrus.
Cyrus’ popularity has
been significantly affected by
the choices she made. She lied,
thousands cried, and now they’re
refusing to acknowledge her as
an artist.
She hasn’t been the only
one to suffer, however, as even
the nation’s most popular wig
companies quickly lost money
after the televised affair.
However, Cyrus not
only extorted money from naïve
and trusting young children, but
she has also stolen the identity of
a girl from Tennessee.
Anna Montana had her
Now there’s some exciting
news.
This is a true concern of
the American people. Citizens of
this country worry too much about
things such as earthquakes, health
care, and political elections. Take
a step back and reprioritize. Take
a walk in someone else’s shoes
and gaze into the eyes of a loving,
innocent, adorable, puppy.
“Well in my opinion, if it
is in fact true this puppy is such a
fast learner, and as smart as they say,
I think those of you that planned on
voting for Heineman should write
in Snickers instead of putting your
X by Heineman,” a local Nebraska
citizen said.
Dogs, clearly, get and
deserve all the media attention. For
instance, take the Obama’s dog. The
Portuguese Water dog named Bo
stirred up as much attention as any
other political debate. Stories were
everywhere about this cute pup
entering the White House. People
sat on the edge of their seats, their
American Idol reruns on hold, as
they anxiously awaited the reveal of
what kind of dog the Obamas were
to pick out.
Some people aren’t so
pleased with the large amounts of
coverage America’s pets are getting.
“With all the news going on
right now how does this bit of fluff
rate front page status? If I get a new
pet, can I get an article about that?”
an angry Nebraskan commented.
Animal lovers are pitted
against animal haters. Vegetarians
against carnivores. People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals against
People Eating Tasty Animals.
I say to the governor, dogs
are man’s best friend. And they can
be the country’s best friend too.
7
identity stolen by the deceptive
pop princess. The girl was
one of Cyrus’ classmates back
at Heritage Middle School in
Nashville, Tennessee, and is
extremely frustrated with her
former classmate.
“I just can’t believe she
would do that to me. We weren’t
very close friends back in middle
school, but that’s no excuse to
steal my name and use it to get
popular,” she said.
Montana has endured
much unkindness from other
cruel classmates who constantly
mock her name.
The victimized Montana
has already attempted to press
charges against the foul criminal
that has become Miley Cyrus.
The attempt failed, however, as
investigators could not connect
Cyrus to the crime.
When asked about her
living conditions in her new
home/jail cell, Cyrus simply
said, “It’s a party in the U.S.A.”
This answer has led several
psychiatric professionals to
believe that Cyrus may have
several forms of mental illness.
“I need more friends,”
the singer went on to say, as she
spends most of her days locked in
deep political conversations with
the wall, and holding tea parties
with nonexistent creatures.
Due to the crimes she
has committed, Cyrus has no
hope of probation or being let
out on good behavior. She will
be held in the detention center
in Tennessee for the rest of her
life.
The arresting officer
concluded that “Cyrus has
disappointed all of her fans,
smeared all of her names, and
has single-handedly broken the
hearts of millions of young fans
all across the globe.”
Katie Houlden
not only starting this program, but
they are also going the extra mile
and having writers work on books
to best suit beginning readers’
needs. The books are designed to
teach kids basic words and reading
fundamentals.
Some of the books given
out by the tobacco company include
“Weezy’s First Lighter”, “Mystery
of Matches”, and “The Surgeon
General is a Big, Scary Man Who
Lies”.
“The chief thing isn’t so
much the story; it’s the way that
words are arranged that is important
to a first time reader. We have been
accused of trying to promote our
products with this program, and it
isn’t so. We have experts making
these books so that the children of
our country can read. Who could
fault us for making the world a better
place?” the spokesperson said.
Philip Morris has been
under fire for their efforts to increase
literacy; critics of the program claim
that the program is merely a tool for
the company to encourage interest
in tobacco in young age groups.
All criticism aside, the company is
going ahead with the plans and has
already organized programs in all 50
states.
F
O
O
L
S Breaking News: Cute Puppy-Wuppies Big Tobacco FUnds
Kids’ Literacy Program
A
P
R
I
L
Sarah Benal
staff reporter
More than two months ago,
a massive earthquake shook Haiti,
sending an already poverty- stricken
country into an even more desperate
situation. Crime rates, deaths, and
starvation are increasing. People all
around the world have reached out
to Haiti in an effort to help them
survive.
But on to more important
news.
Recently,
Nebraska
Governor Dave Heineman brought
home a Maltese-silky terrier mix
named Snickers. This brand new
pup, weighing in at only four
pounds, was a gift to the first lady
Sally Ganem. The adorable new
friend is bouncy, enthusiastic, and
just as rascally as any new puppy
would be.
F
O
O
L
S
entertainment editor
Philip Morris, a leading
company in the tobacco industry
and maker of the popular cigarette
brand Marlboro, has announced
plans to launch a children’s literacy
program nationwide. The purpose of
the program is to promote reading at
a young age.
“Children learn more when
they are young, they’re like sponges.
We thought it’d be nice to help kids
read, you know, give back to the
community,” said the spokesperson
spearheading the program.
Participating communities
will receive easy to read books for
children to start off with, and the
program also places a volunteer
in each community. Community
centers, churches, and even schools
are able to submit a request to be
involved in the program, along with
donations to help fund the effort.
“Books are expensive; it
makes sense that we have to give
money to be involved. If it helps a
kid read, I’ll throw my money in
the pot,” Cindy Stevens, one of the
parents trying to bring the campaign
to Lincoln, said.
The tobacco company is
*The X-Change staff has embraced its April Fools calling and wanted to experiment with satire and fiction. Nearly all of the information on this spread is made up, imagined or general nonsense.
anger Gives Child Vegetables Instead of Candy, Genetic Engineer Attemps to Bring Pokemon to Life, Team Jonas officially fails to Rival Teams Jacob and Edward, Cubs Refuse to Win Anymore
Burt Zhu
junior
“I feel we agreed
too quickly on
it. There’s not
enough fighting.”
James Gruett
senior
“I hate it. I wish
the needy
would fix their
health problems
via osmosis.”
Emily Wyatt
campus minister
“I wish I could
bake a cake filled
with rainbows and
smiles and everyone would eat
and be happy.”
April Fools
Justin Bieber Starting New Career In Rap
6
April 16, 2010
Jake Swanson
staff reporter
Chaos is the only word
that can be used to describe the
United States, as crazed teen
girls commit countless crimes
in the name of love. Earlier this
week, pop sensation and one man
boy band leader Justin Bieber,
released that after working with
Ludacris, he has decided to pursue
an illustrious new career as a
hardcore gangster rapper.
Claiming to be inspired
by Ludacris’ amazing style, Bieber
has decided to leave his pop music
behind. Girls around the country
are creating mobs, calling Bieber a
traitor to the cause. Protesters are
standing in silent protest in front
of his house and his recording
studios. Picket signs bearing antirap messages in hand, protester
have been growing increasingly
violent.
Bieber
has
begun
recording his first rap of his new
career. The song is called “cheatin’
on pop.” It illustrates how he
decided to betray his girly image
and become a man. Cheatin’ on
pop will be released next month
and is expected to be a major hit,
but some hope that he fails in this
rapping thing that Bieber is set on
doing.
People around the world
wonder how Bieber could possibly
succeed in the rap business, with
his unusually high pitched voice.
Bieber is going to be undergoing
grueling throat surgery to make
his voice deeper and huskier.
Bieber also will be having Akon
shoot him through the shoulder,
in order to gain street cred, and be
accepted by all gangsters worldwide. Justin Bieber recently
released his life story saying, “it
was tough for me growing up in
a rich family, getting everything I
want.” And Bieber goes on to say
that his family is responsible for
making him the thug he is today.
The world is now just
waiting in anticipation of a CD that
will decide the fate of tween girls
nation-wide. Extra security has
been assigned to malls throughout
the nations to hold back the waves
of angered young girls, driven mad
by Bieber’s new style. Police have
sent out guidelines for the control
and defense against these girls,
and the guns have been turned to
stun.
Whether the CD works
out for Bieber or not, one thing is
for sure, the fate of the entire world
has been altered irreversibly. If the
CD is a hit, the fans will praise
him for his bold choice. If the CD
is failure in the slightest Bieber
will be placed on the hot seat and
will be to blame for all violence
that results from his choice. A lot
of pressure to place on a sixteen
year old boy, the question is, is he
up for it?
Parents everywhere are
wondering how this will affect
their own children, because while
Bieber may keep his lyrics strictly
PG, the same cannot be said for
other members of this rapidly
growing genre. The fear is that
after their kids’ idol, Justin Bieber,
has moved over to “the dark side,”
their kids might begin to slowly
begin to justify listening to 50
Cent, Eminem or Snoop Dogg.
With all this controversy
and excitement, there is only one
thing people can do, wait.
Teens develop Potter
Magic Powers Overnight
Allyson Koziol
staff reporter
Recently,
spouts
of
disturbing
occurrences
have
flooded the web. Children are
attacking school books, known
bullies suddenly are unable to walk
properly, and two-faced teachers
who can’t talk straight. Parents are
suddenly afraid to tell their kids
that dessert can’t come before the
main meal.
These unusual findings
are scattered across the United
States, and seem to have originated
in one Florida boarding school,
The Bolles School. The school was
unable to comment, considering
their principal was to busy cleaning
up mysterious swamps in the
hallways.
At first, cover-ups were
issued for all incidents, but with
more happening each day, they
have failed and have since leaked
into mainstream news. Kids and
teens are now coming forward,
claiming they have magical abilities
and can perform spells found in the
Harry Potter series, written by J.
K. Rowling.
Following the lead, the
episodes can be linked to spells
found in the seven novels. These
spells include: the Bat-Bogey Hex,
the Leg-Locker Curse and the Jelly
Leg Jinx.
Protestors say the kids
causing the attacks should be
locked up in a mental facility,
claiming that the magic is staged
and just for attention. Days later,
the same protestors disappeared
mysteriously
and
reappeared
with no recollection of what had
occurred.
“It’s awesome!” Michael
Johnson said, a student attending
the Bolles School. “I was at school
one day and the teacher was yelling
at us for lying. I was thinking about
how much she was like Dolores
Umbridge and suddenly she turned
into a toad!”
School books are also a
victim of attacks.
“The books are Horcruxes,
everyone knows that. They’re
dangerous in the wrong hands!
They can damage our minds and
make us believe terrible things!”
Colin Avery said, while assaulting
his Calculus book.
The increase of magical
abilities among teens has sparked
anger into the hearts of those “nonmagical” folks, otherwise known
as muggles. Angry civilians have
taken desperate measures to obtain
magical abilities. Some have
thrown themselves off of cliffs into
toxic waste to try and gain powers.
Others have attempted spider bites
and even electrocution. Nothing
seems to work for these poor
muggles.
Their lives will continue
to be void of magic, except for
those around them with the talent.
Flaunting these gifts in front of
muggles is not advised. They
have become violent and may rise
up against the new witches and
wizards. However, how can plain,
boring, non-magical people stand
up to their awe-inspiring power?
Adults have always told
kids that magic does not exist.
So, to all you wizard-hatingmuggle-loving-too-grown-up-tobelieve adults: “The best of us
must sometimes eat our words.”
– Dumbledore
A
P
R
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F
O
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A
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Psychic Misreads Fortune on Purpose R
I
L
Kayla Condello
staff reporter
Dema Destiny Divinelle,
New Jersey horoscope writer, has
been found guilty on multiple
murder and assault charges for
withholding her psychic visions.
Divinelle
writes
horoscopes for an obscure
New Jersey newspaper and is
a certified fortune teller. Her
newspaper is one of thousands
that have adopted the horoscope
trend after seeing teenagers flock
to newsstands and websites to
read their future and be advised
by psychic strangers. The amount
of followers has increased over
the years as the economy has
fallen. Besides their love life, the
lower to upper classes have been
searching for financial advice
and predictions of luck.
After years of leading
her soul children to their destined
paths, she slowly descended into
a dangerous and devastating
fetish. Divinelle began divining
the futures of her readers and
specifically placing instructions
in her column that would lead
them astray.
One reader, Obi Livious,
was searching for her horoscope
on the fated morning.
“I was reading the
horoscope for Taurus,” Livious
said,
“and
followed
the
directions. I was told that my
love life would greatly improve
if I would lie down in the street
and tell anyone who came to help
me to leave.”
Livious was approached
by three men who asked if she
needed help, but ignored them
all. She was then run over by
an oncoming parade float that
had been chartered for the antisuicide parade.
Divinelle admitted to
having actually divined that
Taurus should be cautious
of advisors and accept help
whenever offered.
Livious was not the only
casualty. The column suggested
that Pisces should avoid the
smell of their counterparts, fish.
Multiple residents of the oceanside city were found collapsed in
the street from the lack of oxygen
as they held their breath.
The FBI stated that
evidence was beginning to
uncover a motive. Each of the
targeted astrological signs, Taurus
and Pisces, are not compatible
with Gemini, Divinelle’s sign.
When confronted, Divinelle
attempted escape by cursing the
officers who were chasing her
through the streets. The officers
were worried and paused to
check themselves for any fatal
wounds. Once proved healthy,
they continued the pursuit.
However, bystanders took cover
in fear of having their toes cursed
into falling off.
“I thought it would be
fun!” Divinelle cried as she was
locked behind bars.
F
O
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L
S
clusive: Botanists Offended by the Terms “Greenhouse Gases”, PETA wORKER iLLEGALLY sETS bUFFALO wILD wINGS fREE, Pack of Runners Stampede Family Picnic - Three Injured, Random Stra
X
Straight from the
Bolts
“How do you feel
about the current
Health Care
issue?”
INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS
BY JAKE SWANSON
Desiree Hackel
Gabby Bruckner
“Great. I love giving away free
money.”
“Maybe
Obama should
just zip his lip
like a padlock.”
freshman
sophomore
Entertainment
april 16, 2010
9
AMERICA’S FAVORITE TOYS AT IT AGAIN STRUCK DOWN BY WORDS
Kelsey Wieser
bound student should be easy
to relate to especially for high
school students going through
exactly the same thing when the
Director Lee Unkrich
film premieres.
has created numerous successful
The gang is excited in
Disney and Pixar movies over the
the
beginning
to find the new
past couple years. He first began
possibility
of
being
played with
his career with the ever-popular
again
after
having
spent
years in
Toy Story back in
Andy’s
toy
chest
and
1995. Since than,
are
eagerly
welcomed
Unkrich has directed
by the other toys of
flourishing pictures
Sunny Side, though not
such as A Bug’s
all the toys are really
Life, Toy Story 2,
who they appear to be.
Monsters Inc. and
Troubles soon arise
Finding Nemo. The
and the toys fight to
42-year old child
stay together and keep
at heart is at it once
their motto of “no toy
again with the triquel
being left behind” as
to the Toy Story
they search for a way
trilogy, destined to
out to reach Andy and
hit theatres June
home before he leaves
18, 2010 in Disney
for college.
Digital and Imax 3D.
Disney
and
Woody, Buzz
Pixar
surely
have
Buzz
and
Woody,
the
film’s
partners
in
fun.
and the gang is on
another hit on their
an all-new, hilarious
hands as the story
adventure. Over ten years have
the
world
a
view
of
daycare
the
should
have
everyone interested
passed since the release of Toy
world
has
never
seen
before
from
as
the
plot
unfolds
and as always,
Story 2 and the movie’s characters
a
toy’s
point
of
view.
there
are
plenty
of
laughs along
have changed over time. Andy,
Tom
Hanks,
Joan
Cusak,
the
way.
It
is
sure
to
be a hit with
now nearing 18, is off to college
Wallace
Shawn
and
Tim
Allen
are
all
ages,
even
those
who have
into the great big world. The
all
returning
voices,
portraying
found
themselves
to
have
grown
toys fear their fate and what is to
their
loyal
characters,
Woody,
a
few
years
since
the
first
Toy
happen to them. Throughout the
Jessie,
Rex
and
Buzz.
The
movie
story.
years Andy has let his toys collect
When June 18th, rolls
dust in the toy chest, but never will be a taste of old and new when
adding
in
the
voices
of
Ned
around
the
theaters will surely
could bring himself to throw out
Beatty,
Lots-O’-Huggin
Bear,
be
busy
as
the
audience watches
his old friends. With pressure
Michael
Keaton,
voicing
Ken,
Woody
and
the
gang in what is
from his mom, Andy decides to
and
Tim
Dalton,
playing
Mr.
assumed
to
be
the
final adventure.
donate the toys to Sunny Side, a
Pricklepants.
The
characters
have
not changed,
local daycare where the toys find
In
this
Toy
Story
movie,
they
are
still
the
same loyal
new adventures with a batch of
we
see
more
of
Andy
and
his
friends
and
toys
from
ten years
all-new characters.
family
as
he
prepares
himself
ago
and
that
will
be
a sturdy
The returning characters,
for
college.
The
transition
of
factor
in
helping
to
make
Toy
Woody, Buzz, Mr. and Mrs. Potato
a
young
teenager
to
a
collegeStory
3
a
strong
triquel.
Head, Rex, Ham, Slinky Dog and
staff reporter
Jessie the Cowgirl are joined by
Stretch the purple octopus and
Lots-O’-Huggin Bear, a jumbo
pink fluffy teddy bear. Also joining
is an ascot-wearing Ken doll,
Trixie the dinosaur, Buttercup the
unicorn and Mr. Pricklepants the
hedgehog. These characters bring
about lots of laughs and show
Sean Flattery
PHOTO FROM KILLERFILM.COM
graphics editor
Sally Burt has loved writing
for as long as she can remember.
But when she became part of the
Nebraska Writing Project, the
metaphorical spark of her creative
writing love took new life and roared
into a towering inferno. Now, she
meets twice a month in a creative
writing group- preferring poetry and
personal writing.
In 2000, after 3 years of
teaching at Pius X, the English
instructor took on Senior Writing
classes, transforming them into
editing boards for Pius’ first ever
school-wide literary magazine,
Wordstruck. For six years prior to
2000, it was a class project, issued
each semester. The landmark 2000
edition was primitive, as it was
mimeographed instead of bound.
Since then, the publication has taken
flight: ten years and ten fantastic
issues later, Wordstruck is still going
strong.
Kerri Williams, a managing
editor for this year’s magazine,
explains the importance of writingWordstruck by association- to
teenagers:
“Writing is an integral part
of education. Wordstruck is a way for
authors and artists alike to showcase
their work and have it published.”
Kerri and the rest of the
editing team have been hard at work
since the beginning of the year to
create the best publication possible.
“There is a lot of time put
in by the Senior Writing classes,
the managing editors, and Ms. Burt
to produce Wordstruck.” Williams
said. “Editors are in school on days
off working on layouts, copy-editing
and cleaning pages.”
2000 also marked the
first year for the poetry-slam-esque
Wordstruck Live! event. Senior
Dustin Wuerfele is in charge of this
year’s show.
“I helped coordinate the
event with Ms. Burt; it wouldn’t be
anything without her!” he said with
a laugh.
“At Wordstruck Live!
there are poetry readings, artwork
displays, and a live band to entertain
guests for the night,” Wuerfele said.
“It should last around two hours. We
also have an open mic segment for
anyone who would like to read their
work.”
This year’s event takes
place at 7:00 PM on Saturday,
April 17. Student tickets cost $2 in
advance, and $3 at the door. Adults
can purchase their tickets for $4 in
advance, and $5 at the door.
“The
atmosphere
of
Wordstruck Live! is very similar
to a coffee shop; it is very free and
emotionally open.” Wuerfele added.
Scores
of
students
submitted
paintings,
poems,
drawings, stories, and photos;
however, only a select few end up
being published.
“I was very impressed by
the amount of talent submitted to
Wordstruck this year!” Williams
said. “It was difficult to narrow
down the pieces but I think the work
presented in the magazine this year
fairly represents the talent that this
year’s Pius artists have.”
The theme for the 20092010 publication is Metamorphosis,
because so much of the work
submitted related to the progression
of life and death. The Wordstruck
magazine is currently available for
pre-sale for $10.
INternet provides kids another reason to avoid homework
Rachel Hobbs
staff reporter
Since its creation, there has always been
something alluring about the internet.
The ability to communicate with
anyone, anywhere, at anytime has
drawn in users everywhere, at an almost
dangerous rate.
Often, internet usage can get
out of control, even to the point of
addiction. In fact, after a nationwide
study, a Stanford team found that nearly
one out of every eight Americans is
a victim of possible addiction to the
internet.
The internet can cause social
disorders, financial problems and it can
destroy marriages and friendships.
It isn’t all bad, though, because
infinite amounts of knowledge can
be accessed via the internet, in just
minutes, not to mention the availability
of enthralling games, contests,
communication with friends and loved
ones, and loads more.
For example, Pius sophomore
Kayla Malizzi enjoys the website
Wikipedia, because “they have
everything, and most of what they have
is actually true.”
There has been some
speculation, however, because anyone
can post information on the site, no
matter if it is true or not.
Malizzi was correct, though, as it was
discovered that information found on Wikipedia isn’t
always false.
“Even if it isn’t [true], they still have other
websites that you can go to that are listed at the bottom,”
Malizzi said.
Malizzi has found Wikipedia to be a mostlyreliable source of information for either school work or
Graphic by Katie Houlden
just for recreational purposes; however, she has often
wasted time on the site.
She said, “If I’m on it, I am (addicted), so I try
not to get on.”
This inability to say no to the internet and
remaining online longer that intended, also happens to
be one of the symptoms of internet addiction listed on
netaddiction.com.
According to the site, other symptoms include
thinking about past internet visits,
and anticipating new ones, using
the internet for increasing amounts
of time, feeling restless or moody
when not online (only to be
relieved after signing on), among
others.
Amanda Demuth, a junior,
uses sites such as Facebook and
playlist.com. She goes to Facebook
to so that she can “talk to people
and see if someone sent [her] a
message or commented on [her]
art.”
Demuth tries to spend only
an hour online after school, but like
many, she finds herself tempted to
stay on for longer periods of time.
The good news is that
there is plenty of help. On
netaddiction.com, visitors can take
a test to determine if they have
any form of internet addiction.
They can also read blogs and
find out more about seminars and
workshops on the topic.
Even at-home study
courses are available to users
so that they can leave their
compulsive internet-surfing days
behind them, and other sources of treatment can be found
on the site.
Moderation is important when using the internet.
Go online, but be sure to spend more time outside or just
being with family.
Entertainment
8
Here, There, and
Everywhere.
A column by Katie
Houlden with random news
about movies, goings-on in
Lincoln and at Pius, and
anything entertaining.
it. When a popular artist writes
a song, they (not to mention the
label that they are signed to)
are most likely concerned with
the image that the song will
help them to create. People who
make a living writing music and
performing music realize that
song lyrics can give an artist an
image, a certain appeal. Many of
today’s artists go the route of the
“bad” image. They sing about
sex and partying, and they make
it all sound so fun, and it sells
CDs.
I think that any music that
isn’t genuine is very superficial.
If Kesha or Lady GaGa really do
love partying and hooking up,
then why do they need to keep
trying to convince their fans that
they’re for real? Don’t get me
wrong, their songs are catchy, but
I would love to hear some songs
that have substance. Everyone
has interesting thoughts, so
imagine what these women, who
have the backing of record labels,
could do if they were given the
freedom to wirte what they really
feel instead of writing what the
industry expects of them.
My beef isn’t only with
pop singers who “like to pa-paparty, yeah”, but also singers
who shamelessly tug on the
heartstrings of 14 year old girls
who just want to find their prince
charming. Namely, Taylor Swift.
Her songs are pretty and nice on
the surface, but has she really
felt all of those emotions? If
so, were the feelings all for the
same person, or have there been
several “pictures to burn”? Swift
seems like a lovely girl, but she’s
also smart, and there’s a good
chance that she’s laughing all the
way to the bank after writing her
songs.
Pop music is fun to listen
to and even more fun to dance to,
and if an artist is just in it for the
fame and the money, then more
power to them if they know how
to get it. But when it comes to
music, I prefer the real stuff. You
know, from the heart and such.
Lied center leads the way
Austin Safranek
staff reporter
He
has
received
numerous awards, including the
Avery Fisher Prize (1978), the
Glenn Gould Prize (1999), the
National Medal of
the Arts (2001), the
Dan David Prize
(2006), the Sonning
Prize (2006) and the
World
Economic
Forum’s
Crystal
Award (2008).
Another
high
profile
performance,
Broadway’s, “The
Wizard of Oz,”
came to Lincoln
on April tenth and
eleventh.
T
h
e
original Broadway
show was adapted
from
Frank
L.
Baum’s,
“The
Wonderful Wizard
of Oz,” where it ran
for a period of three
Yo-Yo Ma, one of the high profile Lied Center
years, from 1901performers.
1904. Since then,
a number of other
teacher was Leonard Rose at the literary adaptations have been
Juilliard School of Music. He made, most notably, the 1939
sought out a traditional liberal film adaptation.
arts education to expand upon his
The Moscow Ballet will
conservatory training, graduating also be performing, “Sleeping
from Harvard University in Beauty,” on April 30.
1976. PHOTO FROM NEWTON.COM
The Lied Center for
Performing Arts has seen a
recent uptick in the high profile
performances.
Several weeks ago, world
renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma
performed in Lincoln . Yo-Yo Ma
has created more than 75 albums,
including 15 Grammy winners,
reflecting wide ranging interests.
He has made several
successful recordings that defy
categorization, among them,
“Hush,” with Bobby McFerrin,
“Appalachia
Waltz
and
Appalachian Journey” with Mark
O’Connor and Edgar Meyer and
two Grammy-winning tributes to
the music of Brazil , “Obrigado
Brazil” and “Obrigado Brazil Live in Concert.”
Yo-Yo Ma’s most recent
recordings include “Paris: La
Belle Epoque,” with pianist
Kathryn Stott, “Appassionato,”
which contains some of the
world’s most romantic music,
and “New Impossibilities,” a
live album recorded with the Silk
Road Ensemble and the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
Ma was born in 1955 to
Chinese parents living in Paris
. He began to study the cello
with his father at age 4 and soon
came with his family to New
York , where he spent most of his
formative years.
Later,
his
principal
Straight from the bolts
Sparking interest
Holly Stejskal
staff reporter
It is impossible to
turn anywhere without seeing
something Nicolas Sparks
related. Whether it is the
hundreds of young women
carrying around one of his books
or almost every 5 minutes one of
his books is turned into a movie.
Actually five of his
books have been made into hit
movies such as The Notebook,
Nights in Rodanthe , Dear
John and A walk to remember
just to name a few.
It seems like escaping
Nicolas Sparks is an almost
impossible task. His book
The Last Song has also been
eaten up by Hollywood and
is currently in a Theater near
you. It stars Miley Cyrus;
she is a young teen girl who is
shipped to live with her single
dad for the summer and falls
in love with a local boy.
Spark’s novels are
quick reads and easy to
follow. His main characters
normally face the common perils
of life like, divorce, death of a
spouse or the realties of a lost
love.
His books share many
common plots and story lines.
The coast of North Carolina is
a common location for many of
Sparks’ books. His works love
and tragedy into his stories. His
books are quite an easy read that
still leaves most readers satisfied.
The Notebook is one
of Nicolas Sparks’ most notable
books turned movie. The movie
in theater did average in sales
opening at number 4 back in
2004. By word of mouth the
movie became a classic romantic
comedy. If you ask any teenaged
girl she has probably seen it
multiple times and stills cries
every time she watches it.
Junior Camrie Seier
said “I think The Notebook is the
ultimate love story.
According to thenumbers.
com The Notebook DVD has
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY?
“Biking.”
“Swimming!”
“Picnics.”
Catherine Berrick
Shelby Condello
“Flying with Mr. Cox.”
Mike Aylward
Haley Vrbka
freshman
sophomore
junior
senior
grossed about $750,000 this
year already, making total sales
since its release in 2006 over $
15,000,000 with the price still
grossing.
Dyaln Knobbe said
“I did not like The Notebook
at first, but now I really like
watching it.”
Sparks books and
movies may seem to be geared
more to young women ,with all
PHOTO FROM HBG-INTERNATIONAL.COM
Music is my passion. I
know, it’s a cliche, but it’s true.
I absolutely love listening to
music and playing music and,
well, you get the point. I think
the majority of the population
loves music. Never have I met
someone who claimed to dislike
music. Our favorite songs coexist
in our minds, creating perfect
soundtracks to our experiencs. People have the tendency
to get caught up in music; it gets
stuck in our heads, affects our
moods, and can bring memories
rushing back. Listening to a song
isn’t an inactive, uninvolved
activity. Even if music is on in the
background of other activities, it
is still at least somewhat absorbed
into the brain.
Music
is
such
a
beautiful, powerful thing, and
I believe it’s important not to
misuse it. So many popular songs
are incredibly sexually explicit.
There are songs that are about
drinking, drugs, sleeping around,
you name it, there’s a song for
april 16, 2010
the romance and lovey dovey
story lines but with many of
his stories coming from a mans
point of view his stories could be
enjoyed by men and women.
His novel are very quick
reads and easy to follow. Sparks
uses a very straight forward tone
but with just enough fluff not to
make it over bearing.
Nicolas Sparks is
actually an Omaha native. He
sometimes sneaks Nebraska into
his novels for example, being the
hometown as one of his character
in Message in a Bottle.
Love him or hate him
Nicolas Sparks is here to stay.
With sixteen novels under his
belt and a new one in the works
Sparks making a statement in the
literary world.
Sparks’ books have
made the New York time best
sellers list multiple times. Right
now he currently has two books
on the paper back seller list,
Dear John and the Last Song.
INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY SARAH
BENAL AND ALLISON KOZIOL
“Watching corn grow.”
Fr. Miller
theology teacher
SPORTS
April 16, 2010
11
Former Pius team mates set to Husker nation will see
reunite on volleyball court new faces at spring game
Olivia Vrbka
copy editor
Natalie Braun and Elle Ross thought they
would never be playing in the back row of a volleyball
court together again. They spent the summer after
Braun graduated in 2009 playing sand volleyball,
sure they would never be on a court playing side-byside after that year.
Braun, a Pius graduate and Ross, who will
graduate from Pius in May, got to experience being
Class B volleyball state champions together two
years consecutively—in 2007 and 2008.
According to Ross, winning State was
“almost indescribable.” She said, “Once I took home
the state title, I got greedy. I just wanted to win
again.”
Playing for Coach Jake Moore and with
such talented girls as Braun, Leigh Connot, Lauren
Cook, Allie Falter and Mollie Lacy made her Pius
volleyball experience what it was. Braun was
motivated on the court by former players such as Pam
Jarrett and Alexis Edwards.
“Those two especially taught me what it
was like to work hard every day while being a leader
at the same time. As I got older and my roles changed
I really tried to impersonate what they were in the
years past,” Braun said.
Ross came to see early on how much of a
team sport volleyball is, especially with Braun.
“[Natalie] plays with passion all the time. It
was so easy for me to fall into my position as libero
my junior year because she was so easy to play with.
Because of how disciplined of a player she was, it
was easy for me to be an integral part of the team,”
Ross said.
Braun saw in Ross immediately a
dependable attitude on the court.
She spoke fondly of Ross’s determination
and confidence: “It seemed like we instantly hit it
off on the court. I feel like [Elle and I] shared the
[same] attitude when it came to digging balls in the
back row. I loved that she wasn’t afraid to stick her
nose in there and make plays. I always had a sense of
comfort when I knew Elle was standing next to me
on the court.”
Braun signed to play at Division I Furman
University in Greenville, South Carolina for her 2009
freshman year. She started every game.
“I know it sounds cliché, but the minute I
stepped onto the campus I knew it was the school for
me. It had everything I was looking for: a smaller
Division I school, tough academics and a volleyball
program that I could make an impact in right away,”
Braun said.
Her freshman year had a tough preseason
schedule.
“Playing teams like Michigan State and
Clemson prepared us for our conference schedule,”
Braun said.
They completed their regular season
conference schedule undefeated; setting the school
record for wins in a row and wins in a season. Furman
hosted last year for the first time ever the Southern
Conference (SoCon) tournament, but unfortunately
lost in the championship game. They finished with
an RPI in the top 50 and just barely missed getting an
at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
When Braun came back to Lincoln over
Christmas break, Ross spoke with her about her
indecision for her college volleyball career. As of
December, Ross hadn’t received serious offers from
any schools that she really liked.
Braun told her coach, Michelle Young, about
Ross. Young came and saw her play in February and
offered Ross a scholarship immediately following the
game. Ross visited in March and “loved it.”
“Mr. Moore helped me a lot in deciding that
it was the right fit for me. It’s hard not to love it there
considering it’s like seventy degrees and gorgeous
there the majority of the time. I always wanted to go
far away and it also has a great law school, which
is what I’m planning on pursuing. It was a doublebonus-triple score that I had someone there that I
knew. I know it’ll make the transition like twenty
times easier,” Ross said.
Ross looks forward to the experience at
Furman. From her future coach to future teammates,
she anticipates it all. She looks forward to the beautiful
Southern weather and the law school at Furman. Ross and Braun can’t wait to be reunited
on the court.
Austin Safranek
staff reporter
The University of
Nebraska is on the downhill side
of spring football practice.
With just five practices
to go until the annual red-white
spring game, fewer than 15,000
tickets remain.
In these closing days of
spring practice, much of the focus
has been on filling the shoes
of some critical positions left
vacant by graduation. Although
it promises to be stronger than
ever, the secondary has to replace
starters Matt O’Hanlon and Larry
Asante at the safety spots, not
to mention filling the shoes of
Heisman finalist and prospective
first round draft pick Ndamukong
Suh.
The Blackshirts tout a
brand new defensive scheme this
season, neatly coined “The Peso.”
Despite the catchy appellative,
the defense the Huskers run
this year will be basically the
same as the defensive scheme
that strangled high powered
Oklahoma, Arizona and Texas
last year.
On the offensive side
of the ball, little remains set
in stone, least of all at the
quarterback position. With last
year’s starter, Zach Lee injured,
there remains heated competition
for the starting job. The two clear
candidates are sophomore Cody
Green and redshirt freshman
Taylor Martinez.
Green saw limited snaps
last season, coming in only after
Lee was pulled. Martinez has
impressed the coaches this spring
with his poise and athleticism. He
has shown blazing speed, running
a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash.
In addition to
the considerable depth at
quarterback, other facets of the
offense promise to be stronger
than ever as well. The Huskers
return two starting running
backs, senior Roy Helu Jr. and
sophomore Rex Burkhead, who
had a stellar season as a true
freshman.
The phenom from Plano,
Texas, bulked up to 210 pounds
for spring football practice.
He’s sharing time with senior
Roy Helu and fellow sophomore
Dontrayevous Robinson. If
the end of 2009 provides an
indication, Burkhead will get
plenty of carries next season.
He rushed 52 times in
the Huskers’ final three games
- nearly twice the attempts given
to 1,100-yard rusher Helu - after
Burkhead returned from a broken
bone in his right foot that cost
him five games.
Niles Paul also returns
for his senior season as wide
receiver, along with fellow senior
Mike McNeill.
A host of top recruits
plan to be at the Red-White
game this year including Brett
Hundley (Chandler, Ariz.),
defensive tackle Todd Peat
(Tempe, Ariz.), defensive tackle
Isiah Norton (Dallas), linebacker
Rob Hankins (Dallas) running
back Rob Standard (St. Louis),
defensive end Jalen Grimble (Las
Vegas), offensive tackle Christian
Westerman (Chandler, Ariz.) and
running back Aaron Green (San
Antonio).
Girls tennis hopes to rebulid program during 2010 season
Stacie Hecker
editor-in-chief
The Pius X girl’s tennis team is gearing up to
be some of the best players in the state. Girl’s tennis has
been known for their outstanding records and making it
to State for many years now. In recent years, the program
has begun to deteriorate and fall and needs repair. But
not to fear. In an attempt to bring back that powerhouse
and rebuild the program, the team has been exerting
themselves for months now.
Junior Abby Zimmerman said, “We worked hard
off season so we’d be ready when it came. Now we work
hard in season.”
Junior Ally Pryor added, “We weight lift twice a
week in addition to practice. To get bulked up.”
Not that there weren’t any set backs in the preseason. With the horrid winter weather it was tough for
the team to get some quality practice in. After scooping
the snow from the courts for three days, “we lost time for
practice and so we moved to the gym, which was not very
productive,” Pryor recalled.
And the season so far has been very good.
Only losing to Beatrice by one point, “It’s probably the
closest we’ve come to defeating them for a long time,”
Zimmerman said. Pryor said, “We did as well as we
could, but just fell short.”
With Elkhorn and Skutt as the girls’ other rivals,
there will be some epic battles fought on the courts.
But it won’t get any easier from here on out. “We
have to work hardest at Districts to make it to State this
year,” Zimmerman commented.
“This year our record counts toward our
ranking,” Pryor said. Previously, there were no Districts
for tennis. Now with ten teams contending at Districts for
the top four spots to earn their shot at the State title, the
competition has become quite heated.
But they aren’t worried, Zimmerman showed
confidence in the team and summed up the overall
thoughts on the season when she said, “We have good
team unity with strong senior leaders. And we work
really hard. I think we’re going to do well.”
Straight
from the
bolts
“What Do You
Think About Tiger
Woods Returning
To Golf?”
Josh Houlden
freshman
“He should
just stay out
of golf.”
Michaela Maguire
Jessie Smith
Kiki Linebaugh
“He should
maybe stay
away for awhile
before coming
back.”
“I don’t
care. Golf is
dumb.”
“I would be
afraid to show
my face in
public.”
sophomore
junior
senior
Tim Aylward
athletic director
“He is the best
golfer in the
world, he should
be playing.”
INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY KAYLA CONDELLO & SARAH BENAL
SPORTS
Pius Athletes adding LAcrosse to
long lists of sports
10
the defending state champions. The team
is now in a three way tie for first place in
staff reporter
their division with a 6-1 record. The team’s
new outlook is due to both the players’
Student-athletes are easily
gained experience and the new coaches.
recognizable walking through the Pius X
They seem to have adjusted to
hallways or in those of any high school. All
the
fast
and
physical world of lacrosse
one has to do is pick out the kids wearing
as
it
should
be
played. Lincoln itself is
their letter jackets or the sweatshirts
still
new
to
the
idea of lacrosse, having
declaring whatever sport they participate
introduced
the
sport
about five years
in. Even in just their lovely uniforms, their
ago
as
a
YMCA
sport,
played purely for
faces can still be identified due to the large
enjoyment
by
groups
of
pre-teen boys.
amount of posters plastered around the
Then,
three
years
ago, it turned
school.
into
a
high
school
sport,
combining
However, there are eight students
players from schools around Lincoln,
walking these halls who are not recognized
including seventh and eight graders, for
for the sport they play. Juniors Tom Gillan,
a junior varsity team.
This will be only their
second year as a Varsity
team, playing other high
school teams around the
Midwest.
With the new head coach,
Nate Hoeckelman, they
have taken another step
to becoming one of the
best in the Midwest.
Hoeckelman, was the
coach for the University
of Nebraska at Lincoln’s
club lacrosse team. Tyler
Rawley, associate head
coach, played lacrosse
in college. They are also
joined by two volunteer
coaches, both of whom
are former college
lacrosse players.
They have helped the
team grow and improve
with their college-level
experience. This is
especially great for the
Pius members, who have
all expressed an interest
in taking their game to
The Lincoln lacrosse team breaks the huddle before the start of a game.
Photo by Norma Volkmer another level.
Just because these
lacrosse players don’t
a
junior
varsity
team
this
year.
The
depth
wear
warm-ups,
get letter jackets or have
Joe Naumann and TJ Westfall, sophomores
helped
stave
off
a
late
comeback
by
Omaha
posters
featuring
their names and faces
Ashton Jones, Riley Giesler and Austin
Westside
on
March
27,
as
the
team
went
on
plastered
everywhere
around the school
Niemann and freshman Matt Vagts and
for
their
second
win.
doesn’t
mean
they
aren’t
athletes of their
Grey Giesler are members of the Lincoln
Their
lone
loss
is
to
Millard
West,
own
choosing.
The
sport
they
play is
Lacrosse Rampage.
unknown, yes, but won’t be for long.
Norma Volkmer
“The season’s looking really
good,” R Giesler said. “Our new coach has
really got us doing what we need to do at
practice to prepare for games.”
Their season began March 13
against Papillion in a resounding victory
of 7-2. The win was the first not only of
the season but of the past two years since
Lincoln started their lacrosse team with
players from all of the city high schools.
The victory marks the beginning of both a
new season and a new era.
The team is looking forward to
an exciting season, according to many of
the players. They are very solid, with some
nice depth on the bench due to the lack of
Tiger Returns to masters
Patrick Murphy
sports editor
The 2010 PGA masters
in Augusta Georgia concluded
this past weekend and it was
one that many people may be
remembering for a long time.
The $7,000,000 grand prize and
Green Jacket went to who is now
three time winner Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson finished the
three rounds 1 under par while
Lee Westwood of England finished 13 under par.
Augusta would also be
the stomping ground for Tiger
Woods who made the Masters
his first appearance since the
mistress scandals and being in
rehab. Woods told the press that
he needs to clean up his act out
on the golf course.
He said that cussing,
making big gestures and throwing clubs isn’t part of the game
and he needs to stop.
During the first days of the Masters Woods seemed to be doing
fine and kept his composure and
cool for the most part. It seemed
like Tiger wasn’t being the Tiger
he used to be.
On the final days of
the Masters Woods stared three
behind the leader. As he drove
his first ball on the final day
the frustration set in as Tiger let
his club fall to the ground after
hooking the shot left.
As the day went on Tiger seemed to go more down hill.
While commentary was on him
one could hear him talking to
himself and cussing at his mistakes. It seems as if Tiger didn’t
remember what he had said just
a few days prior.
If Tiger keeps up the act
he is putting on now it seems
that he will be ruining his career
as the worlds greatest golfer one
stroke at a time.
April 16, 2010
Allyson Koziol
staff reporter
Baseball:
Varsity boys lost their first
game to Lincoln Southwest, 6-5.
Recently, they have played against
Nebraska City. Currently, the boys are
4-5.Their next game is in Ralston on
April 17 at 1 PM.
Boys Soccer:
The varsity soccer team is
rated 2nd this season. The team had
their first game on March 25 with
a 4-2 win against Mount Michael
Benedictine This season they are 4-1.
They have their next game on April 20
versus Beatrice.
Girls Soccer:
The girl’s soccer team started
out with a 3-0 win against Omaha
Duchesne Academy. They are currently
ranked 8th. So far this season, the girls
are 2-3. Their next game is against
Millard North on April 17.
Track & Field:
The track and field teams
have been working hard this season.
Varsity had their first meet on March
19 at Lincoln High. On April 15, they
attended an invite at Elkhorn. Their
next meet is on April 22 at Lincoln
High.
Boys Golf:
The JV and Varsity teams
golfed against Waverly for the first
match of the season. Varsity had their
first invite at Beatrice on March 25.
The next invite is on April 29 for the
Lincoln Southeast Capitol City invite.
Girls Tennis:
Varsity tennis had an away
match against Southeast on April 15,
while JV faced them on the home court.
The next match is on April 20 in Crete
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12
April 16, 2010
Breaking News: Administration adds
days, postpones graduation
of the LPS school board,
soon became just that,
features editor
a
miraculous
mirage.
Second semester With the end of the
has been one of incredible school year approaching,
luck for Pius students. teachers have become more
With snow days causing a and more strained when
much extended Christmas dealing with plans for the
holiday, and getting a few rest of the year, and their
more free days thrown anxiety has been showing
in later just for kicks in and out of the classroom.
with no threat of being Since the five
forced to make them up snow days at the start of
seemed like a delicious the semester, there had
delusion
that
seemed been growing concern
way too good to be true. among teachers that there
The
only just won’t be enough time
downside in sight was no to finish their scheduled
Bishop’s day off, but there curriculum. A few agitated
is no question as to which parents even called the
students would prefer: one school and scheduled
day off from the bishop, meetings with Principal
versus a whopping five free Tom Korta to discuss their
days filled with glorious, concern about the 43 missed
homework-free,
hot hours of possible education
cocoa sipping activities. lost for their children.
That
seemingly Teachers
have
miraculous mirage of five been increasingly spotted
limitless days, compliments displaying signs of the strain
Michelle O’Donnell
and tension throughout the
classrooms and halls of
Pius. Fr. Joseph Faulkner
has been constantly red in
the face since the end of
third quarter, and Spanish
teachers Katie Hayes and
Tracey Chapelle have
been heard mumbling
in rapid Spanish while
walking through the halls.
Despite Korta’s
initial refusal to acquiesce
the demand voiced by
teachers
and
parents,
students throughout Pius
jovially walked through the
halls knowing there would
be no makeup days, while
ten blocks down the road
students at Lincoln East,
and every other LPS school,
were being inhumanely
forced to wake up even
earlier and stay later than
the regular dismissal for
two weeks to make up
for the snow days missed.
Students
across
the board are in raptures.
“If we were forced to stay
later than normal dismissal
time, I would be still stuck
in AP Calc right now,
counting the times my
class could distract Mr.
Burns into telling us some
fairly interesting story
that had nothing to do
with calculus at all,” said
senior Anna Henrichsen
while
meticulously
lining up M&M’s in
alphabetical rows and
color coded columns.
“I have more
orange than either red or
purple, today’s going to
be a bad day,” she added.
Like most good
things, however, this false
sense of security students
had lulled themselves
into has come to an
abrupt and painful stop.
“After a lofty
amount of complaints about
so many missed school
days, something had to be
done to placate the teachers
and
parents
worrying
about students missing out
on material. After several
administration and school
board meetings, we have
decided to add [five] more
days of school at the end
of this year,” Principal
Tom Korta explained.
Instead of school
letting out for the summer
on May 27, students will
be required to attend
classes until June 3. Finals
will take place June 1-3
for all underclassmen, and
seniors are not exempt
from this extension. All
senior finals have been
moved to the 25-26 of May.
However, the biggest news
coming from this change
is the date of graduation
is being moved back to the
following Sunday, May 30.
The five added
days of school will give
teachers and parents peace
of mind. With all the extra
time to fit in their scheduled
curriculum, there should be
no problem for students to
miss out on any material.
With all the extra time,
some teachers are even
deciding to go ahead and
cover advanced material
that will be included on end
of the year’s final exam.
However,
that
which furnishes joy to
teachers
and
parents
synonymously
presents
students with a bleak outlook
for the rest of the year.
“I was completely
outraged when I heard
they were adding extra
days,” said senior Michelle
O’Donnell, “But then I
remembered I made the
whole thing up for April
Fool’s.”
Straight from the bolts: April Fools!
What is your all time favorite April Fool’s Day prank?
Sr. Anne Marie
I heard about this boyfriend
who broke up with his
girlfriend on April 1st. She
thought he was kidding...but
he wasn’t.
Mr. Anderson
I love the mystery of the 3rd
pig. Buy 3 pigs and number them one, two and four.
Release them somwhere.
When one, two and four are
accounted for, watch everyone freak out about number
three. Classic and cerebral.
Fr. Kipper
When I was little, my mom
would give lolipops to my
class. Before, she would
change the wrappers so they
were different flavors.
Laura McGahan
Clear Saran Wrap on the
toilet seat always works.
Also you can put a rubber band around the sink
sprayer so the person
who turns it on gets all
wet.
Valerie Dodds
Mary Sullivan
My parakeets died on April
Fool’s Day. My brother
came down to tell me and I
didn’t believe him!
I’m writing a fake Hogwarts
acceptance letter to my
boyfriend.
Sara Vondracek
Hannah Schinkel
I remember every year in
grade school somebody
would put a farting machine
on the teacher’s chair.
Once my dad got up in the
middle of the night and
changed all of the alarms
to go off at 3 in the morning.
Photos and Interviews by Mairead Safranek