The Quill The Student Newspaper of Mount Saint Joseph High School - Volume LXXX - Issue VI - May 2011

Just Exactly Who is Brother James?In His Last Article for The Quill, Senior Moses Hubbard Unlocks the Mystery

Moses HubbardQuill Editor-in-Chief

Tommy O’DonnellQuill Staff Writer

Getting Lost in the Written Word Can Still HappenBut Do You Have the Attention Span to Read This Whole Article?

Oneofthefirstthingsyou’llseewhenyoustepintoBrotherJames’officeisthe small square placard sitting on his desk. On it is a quote from Winston Churchill: “Ifyou’regoingthroughHell,keepgoing.”To the left of the placard is a name-plate thatreadssimply,“Himself.” Throughout my freshman and sophomoreyears,BrotherJamesremainedsomething of an enigma to me. I knew that heaskedpeopleformoney,andhestoodinpictures with students when they had done somethinggood,butbeyondthat,hisroleand place at the school were mysteries. So what does Brother James do?

Iwenttointerviewhim,buttheonlytimehecouldfindtotalktomewasduring his lunch – as I walked in he was eatingice-creambehindhisdesk.

Brother is the President of the Mount. This means that a large part of his time is devoted to raising money for theschool,keepingitsendowmentsteady

and making sure that it has all the income itneedstocontinuerunning.Brother’scurrentfundraisingprojecthasbeenforthenewgym.Thishadbeengoingwell–heandhisteaminthedevelopmentofficehad actually exceeded their goal of $10.5 million-buttheyrecentlylearnedthattheproject will cost another 9.5 million. “And that,”Brothersays,“isjustalotofwork.”

Brother is also the administrative headofthefaculty.It’shismissionto make sure that the school thrives and meets the standards of a Xavarian institution.Everyoneonthestaff,evenMr.Fitz,reportstohim.“Isigneveryone’spaychecks,”hesayswithabitofalaugh,whichisprobablywhyhefeelsmorecomfortablethanmosteatingice-creambehindhisdesk.

Hisleastfavoritepartofthejob,Brotheradmits,is“whenIhavetofirepeople.I’veneverlikedthat,butithastobedone.ThefirsttimeIactuallyfiredateacher,Iwastryingtobesosensitivetohisfeelingsthathedidn’tgetthepoint

thatIwasfiringhim.Finallyafterfifteenminuteshesaid,‘Areyoufiringme?’andIsaid,‘That’sit!Yougotit!’Ihatedthat.”

Hisfavoritepart,Brothersays,ishisteaching.Itseemstobeattheheartofwho he is (I noticed that even the Churchill plaquefacesawayfromBrother’sdesk,asifit’slessapersonalreminderthananinstructiontothoseontheotherside),andhe does it spectacularly.

ThebestclassI’veevertakenwas his course on British Literature. Even withhishealthflagging,Brotherhasmadeteachingatoppriority,usingSkypetocommunicatewithhisclasseswhenheisn’tabletobethereinperson.

“One of the things I am most proudofasaXaverianBrother,”hesays,“is that I have taught at the three oldest schoolsrunbytheXaverianBrothers[SaintXavier,theoldest,MountSaintJoseph,thesecondoldest,andSaintJohn’s].”

Hewenton,“I’mverymuchintothehistoryoftheXaverianBrothers,and

the men of our history. If you come into myoffice,onthewallyouwillseeallofthedeadheadmastersoftheMount,allofthebrotherswhoproceededme,someofwhomwereincrediblesaints,whichhumblesme.”

I looked at the pictures of theheadmasters–therewereaboutnine of them. His walls are covered in photographs.

“The Mount was our mother houseforoverahundredyears–it’swhereyoungbrotherscametobetrained,whereoldbrotherscametodie.There’ssomuchXaverianhistorythatjustbeingheremakesmefeelintouchwithallofthat.”

He places a lot of emphasis on “Xaverian”–itkeepscomingupinourconversation. Sitting across from Brother James,withhisicecreamandplaquesandphotographs,IthinkImaybelookingatthe closest you can come to this word he spends so much time on.

I originally intended this article to be about the future of this newspaper.I opened with an ironic quote from Mr. Perzinski, spokeofThe Quill as if it were alivingbeing,andofferedmysuggestionsfor adapting to new media, including theidea that The Quill work with The Mount Magazine, with which it shares similartopics of interest. To survive the future,The Quill needs to ask questions and start conversations, I conjectured. I conducteda SOAP analysis (Subject, Occasion,Audience,Purpose)ofthenewspaper(thankyou,Mr.Peightel)andconcluded thatThe Quill should sculpt a fine sports sectionin order to attract more readers. Everyone loves sports headlines.

Unfortunately, my article wasbland.Forget thenewspaper--whowasmy audience? What was my purpose?Iwasn’tsure.Iwastalkingtoastudentbodywhoisalready largely uninterested in these words andmayprobably never read them. Iwasnever the editor of this paper and I never submittedmy articles before the deadline,so I have no authority to make suggestions for future editors and writers. The Quill will carve itsown future, as longas it realizesthat it can beanintegralpartoftheMountSaint Joseph community.

I’dliketobeginmyarticleagain,butwithanewsubject, anewoccasion, anew audience, and a new purpose.RatherthanworryingaboutthefutureofThe Quill,I’d like to worry about the future of thewritten word.

MyworriesbeganlastNovember,whenI readBrotherJames’monthly letter“On Technology and Reading.” In it, hediscusses the conflict between SMARTBoards and Wuthering Heights, betweentexting and TheReturnof theNative. The curmudgeonly ravings of my old English teacherinspiredmetobeginanalyzingtherelationship between reading,writing, andtechnology in my own life.

I looked first at my eleven-year-old brother, who does enjoy reading, butalso enjoys spending hours clicking through 30-second YouTube videos about bicyclecrashesandangrykittens.He’srightonthecusp of a technological transition, right attheagewhenhe’llcreateanemailaddressanddomore school researchonline.He’llhave a cell phone within three years, andprobably a Facebook account soon after.I hope he keeps reading. But when he has texts and status updates and emails to respond to, Iworry thatbookswon’tbe apriority. With everything else I need to pay attentionto,theyoftenaren’tapriorityforme.

But if books fall by the waysideandwe learnfromothersources,whatarewe losing? Isn’t technology’s promise ofconstantconnectionandflowofinformationleading us to be more creative and moreproductive?Toanswerthisquestion,IreadNick Bilton’s I Live in the Future, andHere’s How it Works, a short ode to allthingstechnological,praisingrevolutionsinelectronicreadingtechnology,videogames,and equal-opportunity storytelling. Despite Bilton’s optimistic epilogue (titled “whythey’renotcomingback”), Iwas leftwiththe nagging feeling that,with this seismicshift in thewaywe consume information,we’relosingsomething.Maybeit’sjustmynewfound conservatism and my general oppositiontochange,butIsensedthat thetechnological“cliff”Biltontellshisreaderwe’reallheadingofftogetherisadangerousone.Toquotemymother,“Ifallyourfriendsjumpedoffofacliff,wouldyoujumptoo?”

Bilton doesn’t lament, asBrotherJamesdoes,theslowdeclineinthequalityof modern writing. Although Bilton’sprose is characterized by short snippets,reminding me of an Internet article more so thananon-fictionbook,hiswritingisclear.But he has a team of professional editors to assist him.

Unfortunately, we don’t all haveprofessional editors to check our day-to-

day prose. Teachers spend hours trying to inculcate writing skills into students. I don’t think it helps much. Imagine tryingto teach a student how to play piano, butrefusing to let that student hear anyone buthisclassmatesplaypiano. In fact, thishypothetical student has never heard an artistofanyprofessionalcaliberrunhisorherfingersdownthekeys.Thestudenthaspotential, but when he can only comparehis work to that of his peers (who are in the same situation), he has no idea what truemusic sounds like.Well, English studentstoday face the same challenge. They’retoldthattheirwritingneedstoimprove,butmoststudentsaren’texposedtothelevelofEnglish prose they could aspire to. Sure,teachersassignessaystoabsorbandnovelsto enjoy, but howmany students read theoriginal words? Not many.

While I can’t give statistics, Ihave firsthand knowledge of the use ofWikipedia, online chapter summaries, andYouTube clips in order to “read” a book,ratherthanreadingthetextitself.Infact,Ishould admit that I never read the last three chapters of Wuthering Heights. I read the SparkNotes summary and skimmed the text inordertowritemyfinalpaperforBrother

continued on page 8

Defining LegacySaint Joe Senior Analyzes What Goes Into Teacher Legacy at Saint Joe

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Sean GilmourQuill Staff Writer

“If It’s Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is” Quill Staff Writer Examines a Commonly Used Phrase

Adam Kellermann Quill Staff Writer

As I looked out from the choir at St. Joseph’s Monastery at Ms. Judy Kraft’s funeral this past February, I realized that I was at a funeral of a teacher. I had been to funerals before, but not one for a teacher. I say this because from my vantage point, something was very peculiar. It wasn’t something so small that only I could notice it. In fact, the reason that it was so peculiar was that it was so obvious.

The monastery is divided in half by an aisle, like any other Catholic church. The first three or so rows on the left side of the monastery were all people I had never seen before – the bereaving family. The next three rows behind them and the first ten rows of the right side were people I had seen quite often – the St. Joe faculty. But the rest of the monastery, more than half the pews on both sides, was occupied by students and younger alumni. Surely they were not all taught by Ms. Kraft. Perhaps some of them had never even talked to her. The sheer number of young men, most of them dressed as if it were any other school day, was stunning. Surely Ms. Kraft had handed down something to our student body that transcends time, careers, and, most suitably, death. We have a word

for that in English: legacy.

Nonetheless, how can we define legacy as it pertains to a teacher? One way would be mathematically: how long has a teacher been teaching here? Certainly if a person has stayed at one school for a long time, they must be doing something right. And in the process, they must have met and influenced a considerable number of students. For this, I would estimate a mathematical legacy would allot for a faculty member to be on-staff for two generations. On a strictly statistical basis, you would have to account for one man’s high school period (4 years), the time for him to get married and have a child (the average man has his first child at roughly 25 according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, so 7), and, finally, time for said son to graduate as well (18). Add it all up and for a mathematical legacy, a person would have to be teaching here for 29 years. At the

beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, only 9 teachers met that criteria (Mr. Cegelski, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Jeffrey, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Berndt McDivitt, Mr. Norton, Mr. Pittman, Mr. Roach, and Mr. Rukowicz). Even bumping the sum down by four whole years (to 25) added merely two more people (Mr. Harris and Mr. Peightel) to

this list. Among those who did not meet or have not met this lower limit are Ms. Kraft, Mr. Kenyon, four of five administrators, and five of the past six Ryken Award winners.

But then again, there are numerous teachers who have a lasting effect on students, regardless of length of tenure, awards, or athletic facilities named after them, for that matter. Unfortunately there are not any available resources to measure “pupil satisfaction” on record. And besides, one kid may love one specific teacher to death; another might simply want them dead. There are definitely some

very polarizing teachers here at the Mount.I was stumped myself. So I

went to the people who would know. Our principal, Mr. Barry Fitzpatrick says, “For a teacher to leave a legacy, it takes integrity of self that you share with everyone you come in contact with.” Upon hearing my hard-line, logical approaches, he said, “Legacy is intangible – some are bloated and some are underestimated. Brother James [Kelly, our school president] has only been here 10 years, but he brings 42 years of experience.”

About Ms. Kraft, who joined the faculty in 1996, he says, “[She] left her mark mentoring teachers. It was seamless …as if she became part of [a new teachers’] family.” A legacy like this surely cannot be measured, by the student population, if recognized at all.

Mr. Cegelski has certainly seen many teachers come and go over his jaw-dropping 46 years in our very own math department and assuredly has left a positive impression on many a student.

“I have to think about that,” he quipped, on defining his own legacy. “I [have taught] so many people. I’ve taught fathers, but I don’t know if I’ll make it to grandfathers.”

Should legacies even be limited

We have all heard the quote “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” This however is not your ordinary cliché, but rather a life lesson that applies in a multitude of circumstances. When is the quote germane and how it can help us are commonly raised questions. Although the circumstances are sometimes complex, the answer is surprisingly simple.

Browsing through the New York Times Business section on Easter weekend, I came across an article about Bernie Madoff ’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme; the article made me reflect on the true meaning of this quote. Madoff was the operator of what has been commonly described as the largest Ponzi scheme of all time. He defrauded many investors of billions of dollars and because of this, thousands have been left without their life savings, and many lives have been left in ruins. He was appropriately sentenced to the maximum amount jail time of 150

years because of the many lives he had destroyed.

Investors ignored the many warning signs and red flags and for that they paid the price, literally. Madoff ’s clients let the promise of consistently high rates of returns on their investments cloud their judgment; they failed to heed the adage and question if their returns were too good to be true. They went from what they thought of as extreme highs in that they were gaining money, to ultimate lows of no money when it all collapsed. It is because of these failed warning signs and loss of common sense that these investors would only be left to blame themselves for the loss of their money after the scheme.

To address the question of when “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is” is germane and how it can help guide us through life is simple: “always and greatly”. No matter what the circumstance may be, you have to make a deliberate decision one way or another. If it sounds too good, there are usually catches and tricks that in order to

to teachers? Our custodians and lunch ladies average tenure easily exceeds that of teachers. Some students even leave a legacy on the school for their astounding achievements here and beyond (see: Teixeira, Mark).

The Mount Saint Joseph mission statement makes it clear that the prevailing outlook towards building young men may not be “a challenging academic program,” but rather “enduring personal relationships.” Mr. Fitz continued by saying that a legacy would best be determined “on the lasting impact on those you teach.” Every personal relationship is different; and admittedly, not all relationships between teachers and students are mutual or lasting. But it would be both unfair and ignorant to try to say one teacher’s legacy is “better” than another’s. A broad and generalizing term like legacy should not exist altogether, save for the unique memories and fondness each one of us have separately for our individual inspirations.

make the right decision, we must examine these to make the right decision. These red flags are usually spat right onto our shoe in the sense that they are easy to recognize; however, it is when our judgment becomes blinded by greed or the promise of something spectacular that we start to get in trouble. Next time something sounds too good to be true, run in the other direction or you too may become a victim.

Mr. Jody Harris and Mr. Dan Peightel

Ryken Award recipients pose with president Bro. James Kelly, principal Mr. Barry Fitzpatrick (himself a Ryken recipient), and Mrs. Phyllis Plevyak.

Where Did the Years Go?Senior Reflects on Memories and One Really Good Choice

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Dominic SalackiQuill Staff Writer

I can’t imagine having a better and affecting four years of high school anywhere else. It’s upsetting to believe that next year I won’t be able to receive the same education that I‘m so used to. I’m not sure if college has its own version of Edline, which would be very useful, but the fact that the teachers won’t remind you when a paper is due or your parents won’t be there to get you up out of bed is a little intimidating and daunting to think about.

College is going to be a completely different environment for every one of us and we have to be able to be responsible about our actions, whether it be in the category of time management, when going to parties, or when peer pressure gets in our way. College will be an amazing experience and we cannot, nay, we should not, let anything ruin that experience. We have been given some wonderful advantages in our time at Mt. St. Joe and we should not let them be wasted.

I personally appreciate the advantages that I have been given. I thank my dear parents for convincing me to attend Mt. St. Joe. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to an all-boys school. In my 8th grade year, I was looking at other schools that I thought better fit my personality and preferences. When I went to the Mt. St. Joe open house, I did not let myself become familiar with the environment because I knew that my mom wanted me to go here but I didn’t. I did not let myself have a good time and I was in an awful mood. I deeply and sorrowfully regret every single one of my actions that showed that I didn’t want to go to my future second home. I wish I would have given this wonderland a chance. Thank God for my parents who eventually persuaded me to become a part of Mt. St. Joe.I have bonded well with my Mt. St. Joe brothers and I believe we will stay connected in our hearts and our minds throughout our entire lives. Whenever we look at the chain links we received on our senior retreat, there is no possible way that no one will think about the times we have shared with all of our Mt. St. Joe brothers. The connection we all have made is something special that must never be forgotten.

While my fellow graduates are important to me, there are also the teachers of Mt. St. Joe whom I also will remember. I will never forget all the teachers I have known and have come to

cherish.Thank you, teachers, for all of

the time, wisdom, and advice you have all given to your (most of us) grateful students. Even though I am thankful for every teacher’s effort they have put in to building us into men, I’d like to address

the teachers who have affected me the most.Mr. Lambdin, thank you for your overwhelming humor and authoritative wisdom that I had the chance to experience. Even though I was never able to understand how to construct your famous story maps, I’ll always remember your humorous antics and your love for the Beatles.Mrs. Meyer, you are a very

kind and helpful teacher. Thank you for helping Spanish to seem less incomprehensible, for your compassion for your students, and for crazy tie day.

Mr. Jeffery, ever since football tryouts back in August of 2007, I have always thought of you as the tough guy. But when I became a student in your World Civilization class in the fall, I knew that you were a tough guy with a

very spiritual side. Each day before class, you’d tell us to be quiet and listen to the prayer. And during Lent, you’d break out the Lenten worship mini magazine and read the daily prayer. I also appreciate the way you always wanted your students to break their bad habits and how you told us to become more mature. I will always remember your wisdom and spirituality.

Mr. Belzner, your enthusiastic spirit has always cheered me up and I have enjoyed the last four years knowing you, ever since I took your study skills class with John Evans. I will always remember your “guiding” spirit, “counseling” behavior, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes/Partners in Prayer (the PIPs).

Mrs. Campbell, thank you for always being there for me and I can’t thank you enough for your time and the astuteness you have given me. Thank you for always being there for me in my times of need and for your unending benevolence. I will always remember your sympathy and your kind-heartedness.

Mrs. Esserwein, Mrs. E, you are the craziest teacher I have ever met. Your hilarious insanity will be remembered by

each and every one of your students. Your famous and powerful shouting scream will be one of the many sounds that I will remember forever. I will also remember our school Masses and how you were so grateful for everyone’s presence in the choir. I can’t believe how fun it has been, what with the musicals, piano classes, drama class, and all the important Masses. I will always remember your extraordinary knowledge of music and how to harmonize it, your love for coffee, and of course your crazy madness.

These past four years here at Mt. St. Joe will stay with me for the rest of my life. I can’t believe how memorable my time has been at the Mount as a Mount man. The places I went, the people I’ve met, and the times I’ve shared with them will be kept in my heart for my entire life.

It is true when they say, “home is where the heart is” and home is also where the family is. I am happy to call Mount St. Joseph High School my second home for the past four years and for the rest of my life. As for my teachers and my brothers, “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”

The Quill Staff 2010-2011Editor-in-Chief: Senior Editor:

Moses Hubbard Harrison Bachman

Staff Writers:

Steward Beckham, Adam Kellermann, Sean Gilmour,

Tommy O’Donnell, Dominic Salacki, Jordan Taylor

Cartoonist:

Brad Gonce

Production Staff:

Harrison Bachman, Steward Beckham, Moses Hubbard

Moderators: Ms. Richmond, Mr. Bieniek

Freshmen Year at Saint JoeA Reflection of that Unforgettable First Year

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Adam Kellermann Quill Staff Writer

A New Way of Working Saint Joe Student Experiences Life in the Working World

Steward BeckhamQuill Junior Editor

Entering my freshman year, I was thoroughly scared. Getting to class on time, having the right books, knowing how to get to and from classes, and figuring out how to make a good impression on my teachers were all of the things going through my mind since the minute I stepped foot on campus. Even though I don’t like to admit it, just like everyone else I was apprehensive about going into my freshman year.

Freshman year went very smoothly to the point where all of the fear contained inside of me from day one had completely vanished. I felt so welcomed at Mount Saint Joe by the upperclassmen, the teachers, and my fellow classmates. Leaving behind all of my friends from middle school was hard, but the relationships I have gained at the school will go beyond the classroom and graduation. The thing that helped me the most in the transition from middle school to high school was the homeroom challenges at the beginning of the school year. It

helped me to bond with my homeroom as well as the other homerooms. As far as getting to class on time and being prepared to class, it was surprisingly easy. The faculty helped a lot with finding your class and pointing out what you need for each class.

After experiencing my freshman year, I have a lot of advice for

the incoming freshman. First and foremost, you should get involved in school activities and clubs. As Brother James always says, “don’t be an 8:00 to 2:30 student.” There

are so many things to get involved with after school and within the school community. With over twenty-five clubs, there is something to do for everyone. Teachers and colleges look for well-rounded students, not just book smart students. I got involved in many clubs including The Quill, chainmail

Life after high school is on the minds of most of us juniors and seniors. However, have you thought about where life might take you after acquiring your college degree? This past year I have participated in an internship at ABC 2 News in Towson. Along with my excite-ment was a lot of anxiety and fear of the unknown. Over the course of this year I have gotten used to the fast-paced environment and increased demand, but not without learning a few lessons on the side. Teen Perspective 2News is a news show on ABC that is run by teens. We all take on a variety of jobs each month, from reporting to producing. In the end, we produce a show at the end of each month that features news stories that cater to teenage life. I will admit, at first, I was confused and a little bit lost. The new way of thinking, writing, and accomplishing tasks completely deviated from what I have been used to. No longer could I expect a second chance at a story or leave the final part of a project in the hands of someone else. I became responsible for my own work and success. In school we are given syllabi and at the beginning of

each year our teachers prep us for what is to come. They pamper our every academic need and some are quick to give second chances at a failed test, project, or homework. The world of live television is the complete opposite. A failed package (long 2-3 minute story) will be cut from the current show if deadlines are not made. The whole business functions

around deadlines, because live TV waits for no one. Along with deadlines, I was able to pick up another skill that is the basis of successful journalism. It’s a simple thing called networking. The power to network is the power to get anything you want. So what is network-ing? It is gaining professional relation-

ships and building upon them. This is a positive because it helps me attain jobs and stories that I would have not gotten without a contact. Networking also helps to put you in a position to meet important people and attend important events. These are all big changes that took me off guard. But trust me it is good that I learn now, instead of at the end of college, when I will desperately need a job. These revelations and skills can help tremen-dously in the classroom. They teach responsibility, communication, and discipline. Simple tasks like doing homework seem more meaningful because you realize that getting homework in on time is a building block to something bigger in your long career timeline. This is why I consider work experience just as valuable as grades and SAT scores, if not more. Our grades and our SAT scores are very important and help us get into college, but work experience teaches us skills and lessons that will benefit us not just in college, but for the rest of our lives. Summer is rapidly approaching, which means that there are all sorts of jobs and internships available. You just have to look for them.

club, foreign language club, and leadership club. My advice to you is to try different clubs to find out what you enjoy. You will find something! Secondly, listen to your Big Brothers! They know what they are talking about and have answers to your questions. Lastly, do not be afraid to get to know the faculty and staff. They are truly good people who care about you doing well in everything that you do.

Despite being afraid of high school at first, it became something that I enjoy going to everyday. The Mount Saint Joseph community has truly helped me transition from

middle school to high school in a way that I will never forget. My freshman year has been a great experience and I hope to take all of the things that I have learned and the friendships I have gained at Mount Saint Joseph beyond high school and for the rest of my life.

Steward sits at ABC 2 News’ field office to CNN.

Senior Big Brothers (including The Quill’s own Moses Hubbard (center) smile with their freshmen Little Brothers

Chris Brown Rebounds with New AlbumF.A.M.E. Seeks out Forgiveness and a New Beginning

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Harrison Bachman Quill Senior Editor

Go Fish with the Fish’n’ ClubGrab Your Bait and Rod for a Day on the River

Harrison Bachman Quill Senior Editor

Love him or hate him, you need to respect him. Chris Brown is back with a new image: an image as if the whole domestic violence situation with Rihanna never existed. His album called “F.A.M.E, or Forgiving All My Enemies, features Chris Brown in three different genres. On some songs, Chris shows his emotional R&B side; in others listeners hear him rap. Then the pop side of Chris Brown is shown in a couple of his radio hits.

Chris’ first radio hit “Deuces”, which featured both rappers Tyga and Kevin McCall, was said to be aimed at singer Rihanna who led his career to a downfall last year. This put Chris in a good position, signifying that he was done with the drama and is looking forward. The other early release of the album was “No BS” which was released last year as a calmer R&B song. Kevin McCall was also featured in this song. “No BS” has been on the Billboard Charts for quite a while now.

In his R&B songs “Up to You” and “She Ain’t You”, you get a feeling you

are back in the 90s love-song era with the slow beat. Both of these songs show Chris’ more emotional side.

My personal favorite and his most popular hit “Yeah 3x” is a club banger. This song has a catchy electronic

beat. This song is a radio favorite and shows that people still will listen to Chris Brown no matter his past mistakes. This song gives fansa modern version of his hit “Forever” from 2008. Amar Toor of AOL Radio Blog states “with its electro-vibe and frenetic pulse, ‘Yeah 3x’ sounds like the perfect club banging anthem to get

any night off to a raucous start.” “Yeah 3x” peaked at spot 15 on the Billboard Top 100. The other pop hits, “Say it With Me” and “Oh My Love”, get overlooked with the popularity of “Yeah 3x” and are sure to get play in clubs.

Chris Brown’s second single “Look At Me Now” has a unique sound that shows Brown’s rapping skills. The song features Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne. Both of these artists fit perfectly

into the heavy bass and electronic sounds. Critics say that Brown was not as sharp as Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne, who have better verses. The lyrics in the song “Look at Me Now, I’m Getting Paper” show Chris as a tough guy who has a lot of money and is living the good life. Lil Wayne and Chris Brown have produced a few hits in the past including “Gimme Dat” and “Transform Ya” and this song can go right up with those hits.

The song “Next To You” features Justin Bieber (Yes, I know). I would never have thought that they would make a good combo, but they did. The song gives listeners a taste of the older Chris Brown but in a newer fashion. The song blends in with Justin Bieber’s vocals which really enhance the emotion in the lyrics, especially in the chorus.

The song “Bomb” features the hottest rapper out, Wiz Khalifa. This song is sure to get radio play in the future.

Other featured artists on this album include Ludacris, The Game, and Big Sean and Timbaland.

Chris Brown says that he wanted people to look at him as more matured

individual. He states, ““Some of the songs are more grown-up,” Brown said. “There are songs from all genres … Collectively, ‘F.A.M.E.’ is me giving fans every aspect of who I am as far as my art, my culture and my concepts.”

Chris wants us to forget what happened in the past and show that he has

gotten his act together. Personally, I am willing to give anyone a second chance, as long as they are willing to change and stay with it. CB should be applauded for his comeback with this album. I have gained much respect for him after listening to F.A.M.E. My hope is that the fan base he had before the Rihanna incident will come back because he deserves it back.

The Fish’n’ Club is a unique club that offers students the opportunity to interact with peers about a hobby that is overlooked most of the time. The club was started three years ago by Mr. John O’Dell, one of the Mount’s science teachers, and former student Mike Rechen from the class of 2010. Mr. O’Dell enjoys running the club and has a good group of students that participate regularly. He says that the club is made up of about 25 students, with 11 actively participating in the meetings and events. Many members compete in sports, so they can’t make meetings but stay in touch in other ways. During the meetings, which take place on alternate Tuesdays, students talk about fishing in general, ways to fish, fishing gear, and how to tie different kind of knots. Each member has a chance to share

experiences with one another. The club just recently went on a

trip in mid-April 2011 to Diamond Ridge Park, located right off the Patapsco River. Mr. O’Dell said that the rain and wind interfered with their trip, making it tough

to catch anything. The Fish’n’ Club has

already planned another trip in mid May to head over to the Avalon entrance of the Patapsco State Park. Hopefully it will be a better experience than the last one.

As for Mr. O’Dell, he has enjoyed fishing his whole life and has quite a background. He owns a boat and keeps it in Ocean City, Maryland. He loves to fish out in the Atlantic Ocean. He participates in many contests and tournaments over in Ocean City during

the core fishing months, which are June through September. He does not have a favorite fish to catch.

He says, “I enjoy catching everything. As long as I am out there catching something, it makes me feel good and that is why it is my favorite hobby.” Mr. O’Dell’s favorite fish to eat is Wahoo. For those of you who do not

know what it is, Wahoo is common in the Atlantic in summer all along the coastal waters. This fish has a very good flesh and cooks very nicely. One day, Mr. O’Dell would like to go on a fishing trip out in the Cabo San Lucas area, which is world famous for fishing. The Fish’n’ Club has an annual, precision casting contest with cash prizes for members. If you have an interest in the fishing club,

please see Mr. O’Dell, as he would love to have new members, especially for next school year.

AJ Ekas hooks a fish!With tackle boxes in hand, AJ Ekas , Cam-eron Cooper, and Nick Seymour are ready to catch the big one.

Osama is Dead - Do We Celebrate?The Implications of and Morality Behind Killing Public Enemy #1

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Sean GilmourQuill Staff Writer

The Rock Returns for More MayhemAttitude Adjustments Will Still Happen in WWE

Jordan TaylorQuill Staff Writer

Late on Sunday night, May 1, the death of Osama bin Laden was greeted with patriotic fervor last seen (ironically) in the weeks succeeding September 11, 2001. The tone was starkly different, though, with America reveling in the discovery of, attack upon, and death of the international face of terrorism. But should we be celebrating? My mother has deep ties to the NYPD and the FDNY, or rather the city of New York City as a whole, and her grudge has not been lost on me. But everyone, from Osama’s loyal disciples to Lady Liberty’s biggest fans, is affected by this historically significant event. Highlighting the primary benefit from bin Laden’s death, President Barack Obama proclaimed “Justice is served.” This one man has been held responsible for not only the deaths of about 3,000 human beings, without leaving out a single race or creed, on 9/11, but also exponentially more from his decades-long ‘fatwa’ on the Western world and the docile Middle East. To the entire world, Bin Laden had become the face of evil. “I see his demise as a shining star on the end of my high school career, and as

the turnaround of the nation regarding the future,” says senior Zach Hands. But perhaps after his demise, this status as a tangible image can become all the more powerful. Without a clear target, now what motivation, what direction, can the peacekeepers of the world set their aims on? In an echo of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous words, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”, the shroud of mystery that concealed al Qaeda, sleeper cells, and civilian combatants is essentially stronger than ever before without its unifying icon. However, a shroud of mystery still conceals the details of Osama bin Laden’s death. The only thing we can base our celebration on is the word of our president and our intelligence community.

There are no pictures yet released of bin Laden’s body; there are no videos known to be recorded of the invasion on bin Laden’s compound. “My biggest hesitation is that they buried him at sea,” Rocky Andrews expresses. “If [they were to ensure that] they hadn’t lied, they should have done a better job at not leaving his body in the ocean where no one will ever find [it.]” There also remains the threat of retaliation. George Orwell’s seminal book 1984 notes how the oppressive government never kills an unruly citizen out of fear that sole person becoming something more, a martyr. Martyrs have already proven to be the lifeblood of one disobedient, emerging school of thought, Christianity. On that note, we, as Catholic school students, have been reminded of the dignity of human life throughout our time at Mount Saint Joseph. Although bin Laden’s death was not preferential to Americans or avoidable in the firefight described to have been played out that night, we have still rejoiced in the fact that he was killed. As Catholics, we are dedicated to the doctrine that no human being truly deserves to die before nature’s intention – no exceptions, whatsoever. “This is the first time in my

adult life a major leader died – who we don’t like,” points out Tommy O’Donnell. “Anytime we celebrate a death like this, it’s iffy. The one thing that has made me feel worse is that in the reports there [seemed to be] no question that we were going to kill [Osama bin Laden.] We did give him a chance to surrender…but [in the end] he wanted to go out firing.” Still, it was hard for me to restrain a slight feeling of satisfaction in hearing of bin Laden’s death, although I recognize that Osama bin Laden was only one man. Whether in a cave or in a fortified compound, the leader of al Qaeda was still limited to the most primitive of means even to communicate with his minions – much less operate it with the precision of a militia. This past weekend, terrorism did not die nor will it die in our lifetime. But these events should serve as an end to our hostility in the Middle East. This manhunt has spanned several countries and in the process served as a reason for infliction and not recovery. Only now has America accomplished its initial objective. Finally we can indisputably dedicate our presence in the Middle East toward recovery (or simply stabilization) and peace (even if it is separate).

“Finally The Rock has come back (dramatic pause) home!” These words rang throughout Anaheim in an almost surreal moment .The crowd cheered “Rocky” as he addressed them with the same passion and charisma that made him a star so many years ago. After a seven year hiatus, on February 14, 2011, nine-time world champion Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had “come home” to the business where he got his start, to announce that he would host its biggest show of the year, Wrestlemania 27.

Though he mentioned names like John Cena and then WWE Champion the Miz in his speech, this night was all about “The Great One”. As memorable as the night of February 14 was, however, wrestling and non-wrestling fans alike were left wondering how often The Rock would appear on WWE programming before Wrestlemania and if he would ever wrestle another match. The Rock retired from pro wrestling in 2003 to become a full time actor, with his final match being a tag team match at Wrestlemania 20 where he teamed with Mick Foley against Evolution. Since then he has starred in

various films including The Gameplan, Get Smart, The Other Guys, Gridiron Gang, and The Rundown. The people got one answer though: sporadic appearances by The Rock on Monday Night Raw in both live and taped segments.

In the build to Wrestlemania, The Rock appeared numerous times, leading to a feud with WWE poster boy John Cena. On the final edition of Raw before Wrestlmaina , Cena thought he got the upper hand on The Rock when he hit him with a surprise Attitude Adjustment; however, it was the Rock who would have the last laugh.

After Cena and The Miz’s WWE Championship match at Wrestlemania ended in a double disqualification, The Rock came out to restart the match. He then cost Cena the match and the championship by hitting him with a Rock Bottom. The people’s second question was answered when it was announced the following night on Raw that next year at Wrestlemania 28 The Rock and John Cena will square off for the first time ever. This is the first time that a Wrestlemania main event has been announced almost a year in advance. The Rock is also expected to go into the WWE Hall of

Fame next year, with both Wrestlemainia and the Hall of Fame ceremonies emanating from his home town of Miami.

The Rock recently made an appearance on the May 2 edition of Monday Night Raw as the night was

dedicated to celebrating his birthday. His future appearances have yet to be determined but with John Cena currently holding the WWE Championship the rivalry could become very interesting. Who knows – next year at Wrestlemania The Rock could walk out of the event the WWE Champion. But what does all of this mean for The Rock’s acting career? Well, it’s hard to tell exactly. Though The Rock is in great physical shape, it’s hard to imagine him going back to a full-time wrestling career. The travel schedule is hectic and wrestling takes a physical toll on one’s body. There is a chance that The Rock’s acting career could take a hit from his renewed association with WWE, because when he first began acting it seemed as though he was trying to distance himself

from wrestling. It could happen, but if his recent movie Fast Five is any indication of his future, it seems that The Rock’s acting career will be fine.

Navy SEALs like these found and killed bin Laden

MSJ 2011 Art Showpage 7

Artists Names in order of appearance by row, top down, left to right:

Nate PetersTim MoranGraphic Design LabChris CourtneyBobby KeysSeth TevaraAnthony GragoSungwon Kim

Quality of Writing Influences Quality of ThoughtHave Our Brains Changed for Worse?

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Senior Brad Gonce’s Final Quill Cartoon

James. However, my literary sin is trivial compared to the dozens of Mount Saint Joseph students who, in their high school career, have never read a whole book. And with the accessibility of easier alternatives and the large number of extra activities in our hectic schedules, I don’t blame them.

As George Orwell informs his readers in the much-discussed essay “Politics and the English Language,” the quality of our thought is directly related to the quality of our writing. Tommy O’Donnell would like to add that the quality of our writing is directly related to the amount of good prose we are exposed to. In addition to expanding our passive vocabulary and improving our SAT scores (as Brother James reminds us), reading books helps us to recognize when our own writing isn’t up to par. If we only read emails, status updates, and blog posts, the quality of our writing will remain low. And we will never realize it.

Orwell’s thesis is hotly debated. Does the quality of one’s thought actually relate to the medium in which it is expressed? Nicholas Carr offers

a scientific answer in his beautifully constructed book The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. I have no reservations in saying that this is the most important book I’ve read in the past two years. Carr’s argument is so perfectly laid out that it’s hard to summarize here, but he attacks two common misconceptions. First, he proves that with each new invention in the history of man--the watch, the map, the book, the printing press, the typewriter, and most recently, the Internet--the structure of our thoughts has changed. Imagine a life without clocks, one in which we tell time by the sun and by our biological tickers. We would live and think much differently, without so much structure. In the same way, it’s impossible to deny that the Internet isn’t changing the way we live and the way we think. But isn’t this silly to worry about? As soon as I turn off my computer and pick up a book, won’t I return to the same patient, linear thought that I used to have? Carr, again, proves that the answer is no. The physical structure of our brains (which affects short and long-term memories, subconscious thought, and even our

emotional reactions to people and events) is in a constant state of flux, no matter our age. The Internet physically changes the way we think, feel, and possibly even love. Maybe you don’t mind that. But if, like me, you enjoy detailed arguments, books, long-form journalism, patience, attention spans, empathy, and your ability to remember, this is a troublesome read, taking I Live in the Future and ripping Bilton’s arguments to shreds.

The day after I finished reading The Shallows, I arrived at school and made my way to the library, my usual morning haunt. I recognized the back of Moses Hubbard’s head from the doorway. Still carrying Carr’s book, I rushed to Moses to tell him what I’d learned about the dangers of constant connectivity. Even more loyal to dead trees than I am, Moses refuses to write first drafts on a computer screen, whereas I’ve written this entire essay on my laptop (in full-screen mode, to eliminate the distractions of the Web). As I approached Moses from the back, however, I noticed that he was hunched over in an unfamiliar way. It wasn’t the tight arms of someone reading

a book, or the hunched shoulders of a furious writer, but the left-handed hold and single-fingered flick of a touch-screen technophile. Moses bought a Smartphone.

While Brother James was able to offer his perspective from the view of a sixty-year-old English teacher, I hope I can offer a different outlook from the position of a student. I’ve always loved reading. I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone when I was in second grade. Able to curl up for an entire summer’s day with a book, I used to calculate the number of pages I read between one school year and the next; one summer, I read nearly 10,000.

But the days when I could read 10,000 pages in a summer are gone. I have a laptop, a Facebook account, and a cell phone. I can more easily read an article on the New York Times website than I can sit for three days and read 700 pages. My attention span is fried. I recognize that. And I miss it. But I can feel when I have it back--when I force myself to sit and read and absorb and enjoy. When my brain begins to properly process the information, rather than let my eyes simply gloss over the words and scan for the highlights, I forget that I’m reading a book at all, and often come to a sudden jolt, as if I’ve awoken from a dream; I have to remind myself of where I am and what I’m doing. Maybe these are just the pointless rantings of a nerdy senior. But I’ve lived fully in two worlds--that of the printed page and that of distraction--and I know which one I prefer.

I encourage everyone to read the sources I’ve cited. Brother James’ letter is available on our school website. “Politics and the English Language” is readily available online and in many different anthologies. The Shallows is available in our school library, your local public library, and, ironically enough, in a Kindle edition. I think every teacher in the country--including those at our school--should read it over the summer. The challenge of making students read is a difficult one, made even more important by the close relationship between digesting healthy reading material and producing good writing. Nicholas Carr’s book only reminds us of what we already realize--that our brains are adapting to distraction, un-learning the basic attentive skills we acquired in elementary school. Do we give in, finally jumping off the cliff with the rest of the herd, leaving our libraries to be used as firewood? Or do we fight?

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