Fr. Allen Novotny, SJ, 1952-2010

The
November 2010
Volume 73, Number 2
quilian
19 Eye St, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Gonzaga College High School
Men For Others Since 1821
Fr. Allen Novotny, SJ, 1952-2010
By: The Aquilian Staff
The Gonzaga community
is still reeling from the sudden
passing of Fr. Novotny. The
consensus among students
and faculty is clear: Gonzaga
lost a leader, visionary,
mentor and friend
Fr. Allen Novotny grew
up in Southeast Baltimore
with three older sisters:
Clare, Jean, and Betty. He
attended Loyola Blakefield
High School and in ninth
grade
befriended
Tom
Clifford, who would become
Fr. Tom Clifford, SJ,
longtime Gonzaga history
teacher and current pastor of
St. Aloysius Church.
At Loyola Blakefield,
Fr. Novotny’s ninth grade
teacher, a Jesuit, gave an
apple to the best student
in each subject, and Fr.
Novotny consistently carried
home the apple for his work
in Latin and English. Even
as a young man, his pursuit
of perfection was evident.
He helped found a freshman
newspaper called “Frosh,”
and by his senior year he
was writing for the Loyola
Blakefield school paper. As
a student he was not afraid
to share his keen sense of
humor with others, and this
was evident in his authorship
of a student newspaper
article entitled, “It’s About
Time Someone Criticized
Unfair Criticisms.”
Fr. Novotny entered the
Mr. Pakenham, p.3
Jesuits immediately after
graduating from Loyola
Blakefield High School and
went to Fordham to pursue
his BA in
history, which
he
would
receive summa
cum
laude.
In the Jesuit
novitiate,
Fr. Novotny
discovered
his love of
racquetball,
and he played
his
way
into
great
shape while
becoming
a top tier
competitor.
A f t e r
graduating
from Fordham,
Fr. Novotny
spent a year
as a Fulbright
scholar at the
University of
Heidelberg
in Germany.
After his year
in
Europe,
he studied to
earn a Masters
of Divinity at the Weston
School of Theology. He
later earned a Masters in
Pastoral Counseling and an
MBA at Loyola University
in Baltimore.
Fr. Novotny was an
educator at heart. From 19761979 he worked at Loyola
High School in Towson,
Maryland as a teacher and
then assistant headmaster.
He also served as Director of
Campus Ministry at Loyola
College in Baltimore before
his promotion to Rector
of the Jesuit Community
at Loyola High School in
Maryland from 1990-1994.
When Fr. Novotny
arrived at Gonzaga in 1994,
he faced the monumental
challenges of guiding the
school into the future and
filling the shoes of the
adored Fr. Bernard Dooley,
SJ. Fr. Novotny
succeeded
in
both of these
endeavors.
His
fundraising efforts
transformed
the face of the
campus, and he
quickly became
a beloved fixture
on Eye Street. He
fostered
Jesuit
virtues
among
students as he led
Gonzaga through
tragedies
and
triumphs.
As Fr. Novotny
guided Gonzaga
into the twentyfirst century, he
adroitly balanced
tradition
with
modernization.
D e s p i t e
renovations,
Cantwell
and
Ruesch
Hall
retained
the
character of an
old school. He
helped the new
quadrangle integrate into
the school and became a
focal point of Gonzaga. Fr.
Novotny helped transform
Gonzaga into “an oasis in
the middle of a concrete
jungle.”
The
beautification
of Gonzaga reflected Fr.
Dinner and a Movie, pp.4-5
Student Clubs, p.6
Tribute to Fr. Novotny, p.8
Novotny’s pride in the
school. His passion for
gardening led to the planting
of many trees and flowers
across the campus.
Fr.
Novotny also decorated the
walls of the newly renovated
buildings with pictures
glorifying Gonzaga and its
Jesuit heritage.
Fr. Novotny’s dedication
to Ignatian spirituality was
also evident in his support
for retreats and service
programs. “He immediately
answered ‘of course’ to any
proposals that increased
funding for retreats,” noted
Mr. Mark Howell.
The
freshman retreat began
during
Fr.
Novotny’s
presidency in 2004, and the
event has developed into
a fundamental Gonzaga
tradition.
He also encouraged
a wide range of service
programs.
Sister Seton
Cunneen praised Father as
“a steadfast promoter of
social justice.” Under Fr.
Novotny, Gonzaga not only
increased the variety of its
summer service trips but
also increased the number of
its domestic initiatives. Fr. Novotny displayed
his exemplary leadership
abilities through guiding
Gonzaga through 9/11 and
the sniper scare of 2002. In
the wake these tragedies,
his calm demeanor and
Continued on page 2
The Aquilian | Page 2
Fr. Allen Novotny, SJ, 1952-2010
By: Alex Joun‘12
Contributor
Continued from page 1
appeals to faith comforted
everyone
at
Gonzaga.
The Gonzaga community will
remember Father as a skillful
communicator with a unique
sense of humor. He drew on
a vast repertoire of jokes to
open his speeches, and these
speeches resonated with
Gonzaga parents. “He could
make mothers cry when he
talked about their sons,” said
Mrs. Joncas.
The humble president
was always willing to poke
fun at himself; a roast of
Fr. Novotny benefitting the
Loyola Retreat House was
scheduled for the day after
his death.
Fr. Novotny personally
connected with students. An
avid soccer fan, Fr. Novotny
would ride his bike to RFK
to support Gonzaga’s team.
Mrs. Helen Free extolled
Fr. Novotny for his ability
to maintain relationships
with alumni. Describing Fr.
Novotny’s correspondence
S.A.D.D.
with her eldest son, Mrs. Free
remarked, “It didn’t matter
how busy Father was. He
was always able to keep in
touch with my son. He never
forgot to respond to my son’s
emails.” The vast number
of condolences and elegies
posted by students and alumni
on Facebook following Fr.
Novotny’s death reveal the
great love and respect that
students have for him.
Fr. Novotny’s legacy will have
an indelible effect on Gonzaga.
Students, alumni, parents, and
faculty will never forget his
leadership and commitment to
Jesuit education. May he rest in
peace. AMDG.
S.A.D.D (Students
Against
Destructive
Decisions) is a club that not
too many people know much
about. It is a club dedicated
to promoting awareness and
thought about issues such
as drunk-driving, addiction,
and many other decisions
that may harm others and
yourself. “Anything that
gets in the way of our
human flourishing”, as
Mr. Morgan, the head of
the club, puts simply. The
club engages in periodic
meetings that involve open
and honest conversations
that feature invited panelists
in the fields of medicine,
substance abuse counseling,
law, or people recovering
from addictions to speak
and discuss these matters
in depth. Meetings also
can be solely discussions
between students. The
club also participates in
councils and projects such
as the upcoming Senior
Town Meeting, and talking
to students before major
social events, such as prom
to discourage destructive
decisions. “Think before
you do something that can
hurt others”, Mr. Morgan
says, outlining an important
message the club supports.
Last year, the club engaged
in an interesting project that
pertained to the promotion
of thinking before you
act. This project included
rapping a paper saying
“think” and placing it on
every car in the student
parking lot along with a
soda. If this club appeals to
you and if this is something
you feel strongly about, we
highly encourage you to join
the club. All are welcome to
participate in meetings in
the upper commons every
other Wednesday after
school. If you have any
questions see Mr. Morgan
or Mrs. McLaughlin.
A Reflection on The McKenna Center
By: Michael Gioia‘11
Senior Contributor
Almost all of us see
the lines of homeless men
waiting outside McKenna
Center on Eye Street every
morning
before
school
begins. For any students
who wonder why they are
there, they are waiting for the
warmth and comfort of the
McKenna Center, a center for
homeless men established in
1983 to continue to the work
and legacy of Fr. Horace
McKenna who died in 1982.
Fr. McKenna was a tireless
advocate for the needs of
the poor and displaced
thorughout the city.
It is fairly easy to become
involved with the McKenna
Center. They are open to all
volunteers and have signup
sheets on the second floor
of the Kohlman building
right outside Sr. Seton’s
office. The usual dates for
volunteering at the center are
Thursday during 4 and 5 and
Friday during 4 and 6 . There
are many reasons to become
involved with the McKenna
Center.
First of all, it is a great
introduction to service for
anyone who has not done
The Aquilian
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Men For Others in the Jesuit
Tradition Since 1821
much before; it provides an in a familiar environment.
easy and comfortable way to
Secondly, this kind of
start service. Students will be service lifts the veneer of
serving on Gonzaga’s campus mystery off the homeless
Editors-in-Chief
Andrew Hayden ‘11
Will Speros ‘11
Mangaging Editors
Sean Hayden ‘11
Michael Ledecky ‘12
Production Editors
Brooks Reagan ‘11
Nick Vitale ‘13
people we see every day. It
humanizes them, puts a name
to the face, reveals these
‘beggars’,
‘panhandlers’,
‘homeless men’, as people
just like yourself, they are
simply the victims of bad
circumstances.
Finally,
aside
from
demystifying both service
and the homeless men we
see around us every day,
volunteering at the McKenna
Center can be a rewarding and
charitable action that helps
us live as, our school motto
states, “Men for others”.
Sports Editor
Nick Coates ‘11
Opinions Editor
John Begala ‘11
Features Editor
Brad Riehle ‘12
Staff Photographers
Jordan Person ‘14
Donovan Hill ‘14
Moderator: Dr. Harry Rissetto
The Aquilian | Page 3
A Gonzaga Legacy
By: Mr. David Villeta
English Department
As I perused the last
fine issue of The Aquilian,
I stumbled across the
tenth article on the rule
changes at Gonzaga and
the potential fallout from
these administrative issues
amongst the student body.
Indeed, we’ve all lost
something. Some of you
lost your Nike basketball
shoes… I mean boots.
Others lost your oversized
hoodies that allowed you to
wear the same polo shirt for
the eighth day in a row. I, for
one, lost the chance to wear
my favorite red corduroys
with the embroidered crests
on the pant legs at the first
crisp sign of fall air. And
don’t get me started on my
seersucker suit.
Beneath the griping of
the student body, there is a
legitimate fear that each of
you as Gonzaga students is
losing your voice on schoolwide issues as well
as your identity as
maturing young men.
But I’m not here to
debate the philosophical
line between a hooded
sweatshirt and a hooded
rain jacket (it’s all about
the fabric people).
More importantly, high
school is a period of
time where individuals
begin to form their own
identities, and if we are to
raise “Men for Others,” it is
crucial that we give you some
leeway in how you represent
yourself.
Self-expression
can be a courageous act,
and wardrobes, jewelry, and
facial hair can speak in ways
that sometimes individuals
cannot. This is not to say
that we define ourselves by
something as frivolous as
clothing and beards, but the
ways in which we choose to
represent ourselves to others
do speak volumes.
The quote that I keep
returning to, however, is Mick
Bodenheimer’s assertion that
“student traditions that make
this school so unique from
others… are being attacked
at their roots” as well as his
ominous declaration: “And
to the future traditions that
I’m sure would have been
glorious to Gonzaga—I’m
sorry I will never be able to
partake in what you stand
for.” As a Gonzaga alum
(’01) and teacher here for
nearly six years, I thought I
might weigh in on this issue
of Gonzaga tradition.
Gonzaga has a great
history built on the traditions
of the Jesuit priests and
students who have graced its
hallways. When the school
was asked to move out of the
city, Gonzaga remained loyal
to its tradition of dedication
to the city of Washington.
More importantly, however,
Gonzaga has a history of
creating traditions. Under
Joe Kozik, Gonzaga was
one of the first schools to
integrate its athletic program
in Washington, D.C., and in
the early 1950s, John Gabriel
Smith became the first
African-American graduate
of Gonzaga. Gonzaga saw
a “tradition” of segregation,
and created a new history
for itself. In 19__, Gonzaga
instituted its Kairos retreat
program which has become
a revered institution and
created a powerful spiritual
tradition for its students. The
Freshman Retreat program is
likewise a beloved tradition
that is just now in its seventh
year.
During my years at
Gonzaga, our pep rallies were
held on a rickety fire escape
where panicked freshmen
were forced to climb
high above the throngs of
Gonzaga students assembled
and proclaim that yes, eagles
do fly high. While the quad
has since become the student
commons, Gonzaga has not
lost its tradition of Friday
morning pep rallies or its
famed booster club. For
those of you who worry
about traditions at Gonzaga,
these rallies, which have
become increasingly less
attended, might be a good
place to start. And as spirited
as our traditions were, I never
had the pleasure of telling
someone that they couldn’t
ride my little red wagon,
and none of the young alums
roaming the halls as teachers
were ever able to drink from
the goatskin sack.
Sometimes this desire
to participate in the history
and traditions of Gonzaga
leads to a misguided effort
at participating in Gonzaga’s
storied tradition of school
spirit. Yes, we once turned
the Washington Monument
purple; yet our modern
exercise of that same spirit
must be equally creative, and
never destructive. We must
never fail to see that Gonzaga
traditions are always built on
the dignity and the
respect of its young
men for others.
But
where
does
this
leave
us today?
While
hooded sweatshirts,
scraggly beards, and
cell phones (never
a tradition) might
be banned, we have
only to look at our
past to see examples of the
ingenuity of our students
and faculty in creating new
traditions. In this vein, I
would like to formally invite
Michael Comizio and his
cabinet, Robert Koch and the
booster club, the Aquilian,
and all interested students
to help found the Gonzaga
Historical Society where we
might work together over the
course of this year to create
lasting traditions that the
classes of 2011, 2012, 2013,
and 2014 can pass on to future
generations of Eagles. Maybe
we can even grill sausages
and cook up some flapjacks
in the parking lot before
school for our meetings. Just
be sure you don’t wear your
flannel shirts.
Where’s Mr. Packenham?
By: Torey Ortmayer‘11
Senior Contributor
This past August, many
students returned to Eye
Street under a noticable
cloud of despair. Our former
Headmaster and Physics
teacher,
Mr.
Michael
Pakenham, was no longer
among us. While theories
explaining
his
absence
ranged from the dull to the
outlandish, we do know
for a fact that he is absent
due to a planned sabbatical.
But one may ask, what is a
Sabbatical?
At Gonzaga, and most
other academic institutions,
the school offers a Sabbatical
program for teachers who
meet certain requirements.
These pre-requisites include
working at the school for at
least seven-years, followed
by another promise of two
years of service on the other
side.
In addition, this faculty
member must demonstrate
to the administration how
they plan to spend the time.
Current faculty members,
such as Mrs. Free and
Mr. Baker, recently took
sabbaticals of their own.
Ms. Free, who spent
only a semester away from
Gonzaga, went to Italy
where she was able to work
on an archaeological dig
in Tuscany. There she was
part of an effort to restore a
medieval town.
Mr. Baker spent his time,
being guided through the
Spiritual Exercises of St.
Ignatius and incorporated this
journey into his artwork. His
time away was also topped off
with a tour through Turkey.
Obtaining a sabbatical is
a very competitive process.
Only one is awarded each
year due to the budget and
personnel needed to cover
this special hiatus.
(Aquilian): So Mr. Pakenham,
is this your first Sabbatical?
(Pakenham): Yes, this
is the first time I’ve
been
on
sabbatical.
(A): What have you done
so far and what do you plan
to do during your time off?
(P): I’ve travelled some,
a week or two each of the
past couple of months. I’m
also reading a lot, some
history, some science, and
the odd mystery or spy novel.
Mostly what I am doing is
developing new curricular
materials for the physics
classes at Gonzaga. I’ve set
up a makeshift physics lab
at home, and am working
on a whole new set of labs,
exercises and demonstrations
that I plan on putting into the
course next year. It’s a lot of
fun. And of course, I have a
whole checklist of handyman
and deferred maintenance
projects around the house
that my wife has insisted I
get done. Things like “paint
this hallway, fix this leak,
repair that gutter.”
(A): Will you be returning to
Gonzaga next fall? (P): Yes, I plan on being back
in the classroom next year at
Gonzaga.
(A): What do you enjoy/miss
the most about not having
school every morning?
(P): Actually, I do miss
teaching. It’s something that I
genuinely enjoy. On the other
hand, it’s nice to be able to
work on a project without the
constraints of a bell schedule.
(A): Can we expect a new
and
improved
version
of Mr. Pakenham? Will
there be any surprises?
(P):
Yes,
and
they
won’t be surprises if I
told you what they are.
(A): What will be the highlight
of your Sabbatical? ( P ) :
I’m not sure yet. I think that’s
the kind of question that has
to be answered with hindsight
rather than foresight.
The Aquilian | Page 4
Movie Review: The Social Network
By: Will Speros ‘11
Editor- in -Chief
I had astronomical
expectations for The Social
Network as I took
my seat in the stuffy,
crowded theater. After
Rolling Stone’s Peter
Travers claimed that it
was the defining film of
the decade, I expected
to be nothing short of
impressed. And I was. It easily ranks among
the best movies I have
ever seen, and it will
likely be the best movie
released this year. I was
blown away by Aaron
Sorkin’s witty and
hilarious
screenplay,
Trent
Reznor’s
unsettling, but rather
fitting, score and the
By: Matt Griffin ‘11
Senior Contributor
Imagine that you are on
your long lunch period and
you want to eat off campus.
What are your options?
The first things that usually
come to mind are Subway
or Au Bon Pain. They’re
both easily accessible and
quick, so you don’t need to
worry about getting back
to class on time. But wait!
You suddenly remember that
Union Station just opened a
new Chipotle, and you’re in
the mood for some carnitas.
You quickly grab the burrito,
eat it, get to your next period,
and live happily ever after.
With the emergence
of the new Chipotle, more
students are open to heading
to Union to eat lunch off
campus or grab a bite after
outstanding performances of
the flawless film’s flawless
cast. However, one question
still bothered me as I left
the theater: how should my
generation feel about this
film potentially defining our
era?
It was not until I saw
the film that I fully realized
the pervasive influence of
Facebook. One character
remarks, “They don’t have
roads in Bosnia, but they
have Facebook.” The film
characterizes our generation
as greedy, materialistic,
vengeful and obsessed with
cutting-edge
technology.
Is such a characterization
accurate?
We can all
vaguely remember at least
one homily that urged us
to avoid the materialism
that allegedly plagues our
generation, and most of us
probably rolled our eyes at
this generalization.
After the conclusion
of the film, I pondered its
portrayal of our generation
our world. Has Facebook
transformed us into a more
and viewed Facebook a little
differently. While The Social
Network is an absolutely
phenomenal film that I
cannot find enough ways
to praise, its one negative
aspect is its depiction of
narcissistic society? The
film depicts the past decade
in a very dark, very harsh
fashion that will leave you
wondering how accurate the
film’s depiction really is.
they make great pretzels.
Freshly made, soft, and nottoo-salty, this is the only time
this reporter likes pretzels.
By the way, his personal
favorite is the Cinnamon,
especially after a hard week.
King’s BBQ
This restaurant does not
serve barbeque or anything
of the sort. This serves
mainly Asian food which, in
its own right, isn’t that bad.
However, an anonymous
source claimed that they
they order burgers, fries, and
shakes in a 1950s setting. I
like the idea of a sit-down
restaurant, but it isn’t a
very practical choice for
lunch during the school day.
Chipotle
Delicious burritos are
made on an assembly line
at Chipotle, ensuring that
you can always get the same
great-tasting meal. Along
with salads, tortilla-less
burrito bowls, and tacos,
the food here is excellent
compared to places like Taco
got sick because of a meal
from there.
While this
paper can’t confirm that, we
urge you to take caution.
Johnny Rocket’s
Johnny Rocket’s may be
the closest thing Union has
to Five Guys. Customers are
seated in comfy booths as
Bell and Cal-Tort; also, they
have amazing guacamole.
This may be your best bet for
Union Station food, but there
are many other options that
we have yet to cover. If you
have a certain taste, chances
are that Union Station can
accommodate you.
Eating Out: Stopping at Union Sation for Food
school. But Chipotle isn’t
the only motivation to walk
over to Union Station. One
place to your left. The setup seems average: a salad
bar, slices of fresh pizza,
of Union’s main benefits
is its wide variety of food,
ranging from typical food
court fodder to coffee
shops to healthy meals.
you know, the usual. But
Sbarro’s goes the extra mile
by cooking the pizza in an
oven right in front of you for
that fresh flavor. Although
Sbarro’s serves only
Pepsi, the wide variety
of healthy and tasty
options makes Sbarro’s a
destination for students.
McDonald’s
Ok, we’ve all been
to a McDonald’s, so
you know there isn’t
much to see here. This
is just a fast food place
at Union, and nothing
more. It is situated as far
back as any restaurant
could be, so it isn’t
really worth the effort.
Auntie Anne’s
This is not a good place
to get lunch or dinner, but
Let’s examine a few.
Sbarro’s Pizzeria
When you enter Union
Station from First Street, the
first thing you see is a pizza
The Aquilian | Page 5
Movie Reviw: It’s Kind of a Funny Story
By: Andrew Hayden ‘11
Editor- in -Chief
New York Times
Best Selling novel.
According to Rotten
Tomatoes,
it
is
amiable, and it does
a surprisingly good
job of sidestepping
psych ward comedy
clichés. Having seen
it for myself, It’s Kind
of a Funny Story
does a fantastic job
of portraying Craig, a
teenager who checks
himself into the 9
North Mental Health
“How ‘bout that ride in.
I guess that’s why they call
it Sin City.” Those are the
lines you probably know
actor Zach Galifianakis
best by for his role as Alan
in everyone’s favorite, The
Hangover. Those lines and
his outrageous humor landed
him the role of Bobby in It’s
Kind of a Funny Story.
The film is the adaptation
of Ned Vizzini’s 2006
Food Psychology: Manly Meals at Gonzaga
By: Michael Ledecky ‘12
Managing Editor
As Gonzaga men, how
do we choose what we eat?
Are such decisions simply
a matter of taste, or are
our choices the result of
something less obvious?
A study by Dr. David
Gal and Dr. James Wilkie
published in June 2010
in
Social
Psychology
and Personality Science
concluded
that
gender
identity may factor into a
man’s food choices. When
faced with a decision
between two menu items,
men tend to pick the more
“manly” option, the study
asserted.
What is the difference
between a “manly meal”
and a “feminine food”?
The answer to this question
is
somewhat
abstract.
According to Gal and Wilkie,
the difference often lies in
the description. The manly
meal generally possesses an
Americanized name with
tough-sounding adjectives.
For example, when
faced with two beef options,
male test subjects chose the
“Rutherford Ribeye” more
frequently than the “Filet
Paulette.” Gal and Wilkie
also believe that some
foods, such as flamboyantlycolored berry yogurt, are
inherently feminine while
other foods are inherently
masculine.
Does this bias against
feminine foods apply to
Gonzaga? Indeed, it appears
that “manly meals” on
SAGE’s menu have found
success. One of the most
popular masculine foods
at SAGE is the “Texas
burger.”
There is little difference
between a standard madeto-order quarter pounder
and a “Texas burger”; the
only major difference is
that the latter brings to mind
the home of Chuck Norris.
The “southwestern grilled
chicken” also conjures up
images of the adventurous
Wild West.
SAGE Food Service
Director Yaneev Benno
said that he had not heard
of the June 2010 study,
but he affirmed that food
businesses do recognize the
difference between male and
female preferences. “For
women, the industry has
found that the texture of
food is an important factor.
Men, on the other hand, are
more concerned about what
the food looks like and what
the product is named.”
In
naming
various
Institute due to his struggle
to maintain sanity (pun
intended) in his world of
intense academia. He deals
with whimsical strangers
throughout his five day
stay, such as an Egyptian
entrées,
Mr.
Benno and the
staff at SAGE
strive to choose
descriptive
titles.
“It’s
tough to be
very creative.
Mac ‘n cheese
is just mac ‘n
cheese, but we
can be more
descriptive
by calling it
‘three-cheese
macaroni and
cheese’... Also,
if McDonald’s
or some other
fast
food
restaurant
is
selling a similar
product, we might choose
a name that highlights the
similarities.”
Mr. Benno does not wish
to sacrifice precise description
in order to conform to
student
nomenclature.
SAGE’s renowned deepfried chicken strips stand at
the center of this linguistic
disconnect. The profound
question persists: are they
“chicken tenders,” or are
they “fritters”?
Mr.
Benno
prefers
“chicken tenders” because
the name is more specific; the
word “fritter” can describe
fried potatoes, bananas,
apples, fish, and crabs.
Nevertheless, the lexicon
of Gonzaga students strictly
defines “fritters” as SAGE
chicken. Gal and Wilkie
might argue that students
reject the name “chicken
tenders” because it sounds
too feminine.
man who never
speaks until the
film’s final scene
and a Hasidic
Jewish man with
sonic
hearing.
Galifianakis’
c h a r a c t e r
befriends Craig
and helps him
adapt to the crazy 9 North
lifestyle. Their interactions
are filled with situational
irony and comedy that shape
the rest of the movie.
New “feminine” foods
at SAGE may face an
uphill battle for acceptance.
Smoothies, parfaits, and
hummus seem to sell less
rapidly than meat-based
choices and traditional
dessert options.
Although students might
reject these items out of
purely gustatory preferences,
perhaps these items would
fare better if they were given
masculine-sounding names.
Here’s a list of feminine
things and their masculine
counterparts:
Feminine
Veggies
Smoothies
Hummus
Baby Carrots
Fish Sticks
Masculine
Roughage
Manshakes
Freedom Dip
NightVision
Enhancment
uhh...
The Aquilian | Page 6
Gonzaga Student Clubs and Activities
Halo!
By: Jay Jones ‘11
Senior Contributor
Usually when we think
of Halo, we think of our
journey along with Cortana
or John-117 as they battle
the Covenant or giant hordes
of the Flood. We also tend to
think about the side adventure
of ODST. Now enter 2010.
We have entered into Halo:
Reach. The player is part of
Noble Squad, a squadron
of the Spartan program of
the UNSC. Since we know
nothing of his background,
our player is referred to as
Noble Six. The game in itself
takes on new elements such
as campaign missions that
involve controlling a ship in
space and new horizons of the
campaign levels themselves.
Added onto Halo: Reach is
the armor power-ups such
as sprint, armor lock, and
the drop shield (similar
to the bubble shield from
Halo 3). Multiplayer retains
elements of all of the past
Halo releases combined into
one. Many of us enjoyed
firefight from ODST. If
the player has experienced
Halo 2, there are some map
variants that will seem very
familiar when you take part
in the action. Another new
addition to Halo: Reach is
the types of weapons ranging
from the Needler Rifle down
to the Almighty Plasma
Launcher of Doom. Even
the addition of the Golf Club
as a gravity hammer will ignite
even further excitement. Reach
can be summed up as one of the
games of the year, and therefore
receives 9.5 out of 10.
By: Sean Hayden ‘11
Managing Editor
Gonzaga offers a variety
of clubs and activities
from It’s Academic and
The Fencing Club to The
Intramural Sports Club and
the Lumberjack Club. To
get a better idea about what
some of the clubs’ plans were
for this year and to highlight
a few, I talked to members
of Onyx Inc., Gonzaga’s
Washington Capitals Fan
Club, The Hispano Club,
and the Cooking Club.
Onyx Inc. is Gonzaga’s
Black Student Union that
strives to enlighten others
about the African American
experience. Onyx has been
around since 1988, and the
club was started by Mr.
Jackson with support from
Mr. Maddox. Onyx accepts
all students who are open to
social growth and change
and recently sponsored the
pink-out dress down day for
Breast cancer. Moderator,
Mr. Beckett, said “Onyx
saw an opportunity to raise
awareness for two very
good causes: Breast Cancer
Awareness Month,
and
Onyx’s own commitment to
social change.” President
of Onyx, Thomas Lynch,
said, “Onyx is going to be
great this year. We’re really
excited about where we are
right now, and are making
great strides to constantly
improve. This year, we would
like to raise awareness of and
participation in Onyx; we’re
always looking for new
members! Things we have
planned for and are already
working on this year include
a coat drive, adoption of
a school, various forums
with other schools, a bake
sale, and an awesome Black
History Month Assembly.”
Another popular club
is Gonzaga’s Washington
Capitals Fan Club. It’s a
club for Gonzaga students
that live and breathe the
Washington Capitals. CoModerator, Mr. Battaile,
informed me about what to
expect from the Caps club
this year-- “We’re a newer
club - but like the Caps,
we’re a powerhouse. It all
started in 2008 when Tyler
Radecki ‘08 would visit my
office to talk about Caps’
games, how the team was
doing, personnel moves, the
farm system, etc. We only
had a few students in the
club that year, but we had
lots of fun. We’ve attended
several games, and this past
month we attended a Caps’
practice at Kettler IcePlex on
Columbus Day. Everyone
had awesome seats as we
watched Varly take shots
from David Steckel and DJ
King. Some of the students
saw Ovi, Mike Green, and
Michal Neuvirth close up.
Club President, Andrew
Gemunder ‘11, is organizing
another activity for club
members to order pizza
and watch a hockey-related
movie after school. As comoderators, Coach Casey
O’Neill and I want students
to know that the best NHL
team in the nation just
happens to play right down
the street from Gonzaga.
How could you go to school
blocks away from their home
ice and not be excited?”
The Hispano Club has
been around for more than
thirty years, and according to
Hispano Club Vice President,
Andrew Hayden ‘11, “The
goal of the Hispano Club is
to learn about and celebrate
Hispanic culture. Last year
Hispano organized a 5v5
soccer tournament during
review week in December,
and a FIFA tournament in
the fall, which was very
popular. This year we plan
to sponsor even more events
including a bake sale and a
Hispano mixer.”
One
of
Gonzaga’s
newest clubs, the Cooking
Club, was founded last year
by current Senior, Mick
Bodenheimer.
It started
as a group of students who
increased their interest in
the culinary arts when they
were cooking for Campus
Kitchen. President and Head
Chef, Mick Bodenheimer,
said, “I want people to get
excited for Gonzaga’s first
ever Top Chef Competition
as well as a lot of other fun
activities”.
Gonzaga Students in the U.S. Senate
Reid, (D) Nevada, while
Jack worked for Sen. Richard
Lugar, (R) Indiana.
Alex was a commuter
Some of you may be
page,
living at home and
wondering, “What on earth is
a Senate page?” But the real making the daily trek to the
question is “Who on Earth is Capitol for the 9am-6pm
a Senate page?” Senate pages workday. Jack lived at
are high school students, Webster House, originally
nominated by a Senator, who a funeral parlor back in the
work on the Senate floor. As day, but is now a dormitory
luck would have it, a number for pages; he claims pages
of Gonzaga students have would talk about how the
been fortunate enough to building was haunted but
land this opportunity over being the smart, successful
the years. This past summer, Gonzaga student he is, Jack
we had four participants, didn’t believe these rumors.
The thirty pages that
including Alexander DiNino
reside at Webster House
’11, and Jack Hyre ’12.
An applicant should come from as far away as
be sponsored by a Senator, Nevada, Texas, and even
have a GPA above a 3.0, Alaska. On weekends pages
and be able to complete an attend organized events like
application with a formal going to watch a ball game at
recommendation being sent the Nationals Park, enjoying
from their school. From June the news at the Newseum, or
to July this past summer, taking a trolley bus tour of
Alex worked for Sen. Harry the National Mall.
By: Pat Healy ‘13
Contributor
But don’t get the idea
that being a Senate Page
was all fun and games on
a friday night, it involved
work. A page was expected
to distribute documents, get
water for senators before
they spoke, collect speeches,
deliver further information to
a Senator’s office either in the
Capitol or via underground
subway, and take roll of the
Senators as they would come
in for a floor vote.
Tourists from around
the country always try and
take pictures of the pages as
they briskly, fast-walk to and
from offices in the Capitol
and even past no admittance
signs that are used to bar off
the public. Another tough
task the pages had to master
was the memorization of
every Senator’s name and
face from the party that they
worked for, and they could
only speak when spoken
to. “People were friendly
[though]” Alex Dinino, page
extraordinaire, told me; Jack
Hyre commented that the
most rewarding experience
he had was “meeting all the
new kids from all walks of
life” and how interesting it
was to see laws get passed.
He noted that, “One Senator
can influence the entire
congress with a vote, because
every vote is equal. If one
Senator deems it worthy, he
can hold up a bill or law for
as long as he wants.”
It’s Happening On Stage
By: Miguel Rivera-Lanas ‘13
Contributor
“To dream the impossible
dream, to live that dream made
reality, to love beyond what
can be held in expression,
to express what no words
can describe.” These are
the fantasies theater-goers
see brought to life on the
stage. This fall, the Gonzaga
Dramatic
Association
(GDA) will introduce to the
historic Gonzaga stage their
production of Shakespeare’s
Much Ado about Nothing,
a witty comedy centered
around
two
romances
and sprinkled with deceit
and duplicity. The story
follows two very different
courtships…one love at
first sight and the other a
long-time friendship that
gradually evolves into love.
For purposes of their
own production, GDA will
be adapting Much Ado about
Nothing to take place in
Washington D.C. during the
years immediately following
World War II. This is a
departure from the original
setting in Italy. However, all
the characters and the style of
dialogue will be kept intact
to ensure the authenticity
of the Shakespearean play.
Georgetown
Visitation,
Gonzaga’s sister school and
friendly rival in the arts will
also presenting a show this
fall. Last year Visitation put
on a production of Thorton
Wilder’s Our Town, a classic
Gonzaga’s D1 Athletes
By: Ryan Emerson‘13
Contributor
For many years Gonzaga
alumni have been playing
Division I sports, and this
fall, over twenty former
Eagles will be playing DI
football and soccer.
One alumnus has been
talked about a lot already
this season. He is none other
than David Ruffer ’07. This
season he is the starting
kicker for the University of
Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Though he is currently a great
kicker for the Irish, having
never missed a field goal
attempt during his time at
Notre Dame, he never played
football while at Gonzaga.
He played soccer freshman
year and golf for three years
during his time on Eye Street.
David is expected to have a
very successful season this
year. Other notable Gonzaga
D1 football players include
Cam Johnson and Johnson
Bademosi, both class of
2008.
Cam was a two way
starter while at Gonzaga and
is currently a core member
of the Virginia Cavaliers
defense at strong side
linebacker. He had a very
productive 2009 campaign,
racking up 40 tackles and
being named “Defensive
Player of the Game” against
North Carolina. Johnson
Bademosi, now at Stanford,
was an All-Met DB during
his time at Gonzaga. He
also received the Maurice
Collins Award for excellence
and leadership on and off the
field. So far in his college
career he has seen action in
19 games and has recorded
34 solo tackles.
There are also several
alumni that are star soccer
players in college.
One
of these includes Chris
Bresnahan ’08.
He has
been starting goalie for the
Villanova Wildcats since
his freshman year. During
his career he has averaged
a 76% save percentage and
posted 11 shutouts. Daniel
Valciacak ’09, another former
Gonzaga keeper playing
for St. Francis (PA), holds
the national record for most
saves in a single match this
season. Kieran Rice ’07 will
also play soccer this fall for
the James Madison Dukes.
So far Kieran has started 20
games for the Dukes. These
and all of Gonzaga’s former
soccer stars look to have
promising seasons in 2010.
play about life in a small
rural town at the turn of the
20th century. It explored
how change and the
resistance to change
affect people of all
walks of life. Coming
to the acclaimed Nolan
stage this fall, will be
Arthur Miller’s critically
acclaimed winner of
the 1953 Tony Award
for Best Play, the Crucible.
This exciting drama tells the
story of the Puritan purge of
witchcraft that took place
in Salem, Massachusetts, a
theocratic society, in which
The Aquilian | Page 7
the church and the state
were one. The play delves
into the reality of a culture
where religious law and state
law are one and the same,
and where everything and
everyone belongs to either
God or the Devil. In this
gripping and strongly written
play, the story focuses on
John Proctor, his wife, and
an envious young woman
who incites religious panic
and paranoia for her own
motives. Much Ado about
Nothing is scheduled to open
the weekend of November
12th.
Water Polo
By: Xavier Pugliese‘11
Senior Contributor
It’s as wacky as squash
and as tough as rugby. It’s got
the precision of basketball
with the flow of lacrosse. It’s
a little less swimming than
swimming, and a lot more
treading water than crew.
It’s the game of kings, and
its taking Gonzaga by storm.
You may have heard water
polo referenced in an OC
episode or seen a game in the
Olympics (until you realized
Shawn Johnson was on the
next channel), but the sport
is right here on Eye Street.
Water polo is played in
a pool usually 25 yards long
with two teams of six players
and a goalie. The object is to
throw the ball into the other
team’s goal as many times
as possible. Simple. A few
rules are that you can only
touch the ball with one hand
and you can’t put the ball
underwater. On offence and
defense, the team sets up out
in front of the goal exactly
like basketball, but with one
extra player, the “hole man,”
who posts up in the center,
directly in front of the goal.
Players tread water and pass
the ball around the perimeter
or into the hole man, drive
and set pics, or take shots
from the outside. At a change
in possession, all players
swim down the pool to set
up defense at the other goal.
Common fouls happen often
and just result in a free pass
or shot, but sometimes a foul
can cause a “man up” like a
power play in hockey for one
possession, which leaves the
defense with five players to
the offense’s six. Though two
refs patrol the
pool
deck,
underwater
action
can
turn dirty, with
punching,
elbowing,
and grabbing
of speedos.
Though it is
grueling to
swim
and
tread in a deep
water pool for
four seven minute quarters,
its an incredible game, and
players enjoy it immensely.
So yes, Gonzaga does
have a team, and yes,
they are good. This
year’s team currently
has a record of 13-5,
and before finishing
last year at 17-13, the
varsity team had never
had a winning season;
thus, the program is
rising fast, and the
2010 squad could be the
best in Gonzaga history.
The team is led by seniors
Torey Ortmayer and Bryan
Marquet, the two strongest
hole men, and Nick Knise,
and Xavier Pugliese, the
quickest drivers who usually
rack up the fast breaks. Juniors
Patrick Reyes, Timmy Barry,
and junior goalie James
Doyle are making waves on
varsity, while underclassmen
John McElhattan, Matt
Skowronski, and Thomas
Farrell are bringing young
talent to the team. So far, the
eagles have won big victories
over Calvert Hall, Mount St.
Joes, and Loyola Blakefield,
all of whom Gonzaga had
never before defeated on the
varsity level. In fact, Loyola
Blakefield was the winner
of the Prep School Easterns
Championship last year, and
Gonzaga is looking to knock
them off in November for
the title. Banner watch is in
effect.
The Aquilian | Page 8
I had no idea, when I
sent a welcome letter to him
in 1994, that I would end up
working for Fr. Novotny. I
consider myself lucky to
have known a truly great
man. During my seven
years in the Development
Office, I learned from him
constantly. As the Director
of Admissions, we spoke
often and passionately of
Gonzaga’s greatest treasure:
our incredible students. It
is obvious Fr. Novotny
loved this school. He
will be missed by all, but
personally, I think he would
take joy in our moving ever
forward as a community of
faith.
One of the highest
compliments paid to Fr.
Novotny was from my
classmate, Josh Brady
‘90: “If Fr. Dooley saved
Gonzaga’s soul, then Fr.
Novotny saved its body.”
He made our campus
possible - and in so doing,
made Gonzaga into the great
institution that it is today.
Fr. Novotny, ave et aque.
-Mr. Andrew C. Battaile
Fr. Novotny was a
wonderful priest and Jesuit
who put Gonzaga first. In
my opinion, Allen made
Gonzaga the most sought
after school to enter in the
area--we will sorely miss
him priest, Jesuit and friend.
- Fr. Ray Lelii, SJ
When my son Nathan
was in the first or second
grade, Fr. Novotny would
see him with me around
campus and jokingly call
him “Mr. Potato Head.”
Young Nathan thought that
was hilarious and would
laugh and laugh at it, and,
one day, even called Fr.
Novotny “Mr. Potato Head”
in return. So, the two of
them would then see each
other and call out “Mr.
Potato Head!” whenever
they met.
A couple of years later,
there came out in stores a
Darth Tater doll -- a Mr.
Potato Head doll dressed as
Darth Vader. Nathan insisted
we buy one and give it to Fr.
Novotny, which we did. He
received it with a laugh and
a hug for Nathan.
A little while later, I had
occasion to visit Father’s
office and as we chatted, I
had to laugh myself: there,
on the corner of his desk
which otherwise looked
like a grown-up-man’s
serious office desk, stood
Darth Tater, light saber held
high. It remains on his desk
to this day.
-Mr. Allan L’Etoile
Three images stand out
in my mind: Tending the
flowers, riding a bike down
Eye Street, and wandering
the food line in the JDR
and uttering one word:
“delicious.”
-Mr. John Ausema
He made me feel back
at home when I came to
Gonzaga this year. He made
me feel comfortable taking
this job and I will never
forget that. -Mr. Brendan Sullivan
During my years here,
I always experienced Fr.
Novotny as a kind and
concerned individual.
Most recently, we had an
exchange about the death of
Bill Flanagan. My husband
and I have known the
Flanagans for a long time.
We experienced the same
kind of shock over Bill’s
death as we are now going
through over Father’s. Fr.
Novotny listened kindly and
was most comforting to me.
That’s just one instance. I
have fifteen years worth of
others.
-Mrs. Carol Corgan
In thankfulness for
all the Gonzaga hockey
games that Father Novotny
faithfully attended over the
past several years, when
the program developed
into one of the finest in
the region. He was there
for our sons and with us
parents, unassuming and
reassuring in a calm and
warm way. He always kept
our Gonzaga teams and
family in his thoughts and
prayers.
-Mr. Stan Lechner
(Parent: Dan ‘06, Matt ‘09)
Our hearts, though
grieved in sadness, celebrate
with gratitude a gifted,
humble and beautiful
priestly life of love, service
and devotion. May his
soul soar to God’s loving,
welcoming arms.
- Mary McGinnity,
National Executive Director,
Ignatian Volunteer Corps
When Father saw me
walking on Eye St. he would
usually say something like
“I see you’re patrolling
again”. I saw Father at this
year’s St. Al’s dinner and
told him I was patrolling.
He laughed and told me to
let him know if I noticed
anything. That was the last
time I talked to him and I’m
glad we had a laugh.
-Mr. Greg Schlegel
Over the years many
alumni have asked me
what it was like to work
with Father Novotny. I
always responded the same
way: “He’s the hardest
working man at Gonzaga.” His commitment to our
school, its students, faculty,
parents and alumni, was
total and stemmed from
his deep spirituality. He
never flinched from a
responsibility. We miss him
dearly already.
-Mr. Danny Costello
I was impressed by him
from the beginning. He
was an inspired choice to
succeed Father Dooley
as President of Gonzaga,
and his leadership for the
past sixteen years has
been extraordinary. He
was a wonderful friend to
me personally, and words
cannot express how much I
shall miss him.
-Dr. John Warman
“Work, love, build a
house, and die. But build a
house.”- Donald Hall
Working with Allen
these many years, I’m
acquainted with his loving
heart. The new Gonzaga
was definitely his house.
-Mr. Rick Cannon
Father Al was a great
friend to many of us during
our time at Loyola. He was
a kind man with
a warm and welcoming
smile. He took the time to
get to know the
students personally and
helped guide many of us to
make better and more
thoughtful decisions. He
had a tremendous impact on
so many people at Loyola.
-Mr. Bart Kelly, Loyola College ‘91
“I was confident that I
could confide in him, and I
also knew he had the best
interests of the school at
heart. I think his leadership
is what I will miss most
about him. He was very
talented in that position.
Gonzaga’s current success
has a great deal to do with
Allen.
-Mr. Mike Howell
“One of the great things
about Fr. Novotny is that
he loved practical jokes.
Whenever we would find
something silly outside our
door, you knew he had paid
a visit.”
-Fr. Bruce Steggert
He was dedicated to the
students; having a President
that knows his students is
almost unheard of. It didn’t
matter how busy he was, he
was always able to keep in
touch and never forgot to
respond. He always found
or saw the funny side of
any situation. He worked
so hard, especially with the
fundraising, and no matter
what, he made sure the
students never saw how
tired he was.
-Mrs. Helen Free
I enjoyed having late
night discussions and
debates with him throughout
college. His life and his faith
demonstrated a commitment
to being an active and
engaged part of this world
and making it a better place
for those with less. The
school and the students were
his top priority. Anyone who
got to know him well was
blessed w/ the memory of
his great booming laugh.
-Mr. Jimmy Ryan ,
Gonzaga ‘83,
Loyola College ‘87
Father took great pride
in the Jesuit nature of the
school. He was very keen to
maintain the Jesuit identity.
He trusted the faculty and
their individual abilities.
He didn’t interfere with
what we were doing which
allowed him to dedicate
himself wholly to raising the
money, having dinner with
benefactors so that we could
do what we were doing
in the classroom. What I
loved and admired him for
the most was the fact that
he was so supportive of my
abilities as a teacher..
Mr. Ken Meehan
He was a great priest
and friend. He was very
approachable, caring and
kind. He will definitely
be missed. Gonzaga lost a
great one. -Mr. Michael P. Miller ‘93
That first year I knew
Fr. Novotny, I ended up
in the hospital for major
surgery. While I had met
him only once, Fr. Novotny
was the first person aside
from my family that came
to visit while I recovered.
Fr. Novotny will be
remembered not only for his
work, but for the Spirit that
inspired his deeds.
-Mr. Paul Buckley
AMDG