DistractedDriving

DistractedDriving

DistractedDriving

DistractedDriving

Award-winning news, photos and opinions online at roundup.brophyprep.org

OFJ offers new immersion trip to Kenya this summer. Page 3

ADD, ADHD diagnosis rates rise significantly.

Page 3

Basketball Recap: Broncos headed to playoffs.

Page 9

The Rounduproundup.brophyprep.orgMarch 2010 Edition 5

New music section debuts this month. Check out ‘The Noise’ and a new podcast.

Page 15

Inside• Haiti relief provided, other countries in need of assistance. See Opinions, Page 5• Brophy mobilizes to meet Haiti’s needs, both in relief assitance and solidarity. See Opinions, Page 5

Photo Illustration by Josh Zillwood ’10

109 students responded to a roundup.brophyprep.org poll on texting while driving. For more on this topic, see Opinions, Page 6

DistractedDriving

Haiti tragedy ripples across BCP, students respond

Vigil, donations, T-shirts raise $10,000

By Rohan Andresen ’12 and Ian C. Beck ’12THE ROUNDUP

Immediately after an earthquake devastated Haiti, students and staff members at Brophy heard the cry for help and banded together to raise thousands of dollars through a multitude of fundraisers and created a vigil to commemorate the people of Haiti.

The recent earthquake in Haiti left hundreds of thousands dead, missing or badly hurt. Even more are left without homes and without adequate food and water.

As aid services from all over the world flock to the small island country to help them, the ripple effect of graciousness and caring has reached the Brophy community with great fervor.

“I’ve just been moved and saddened and really touched by the images that have been coming out of Haiti,” said Principal Mr. Bob Ryan.

Hoopcoming raised $2,250 for Haiti relief and Brophy hosted a series of events designed to provide awareness of the tragedy and raise funds.

Earthquake Relief T-shirts have been on sale since Thursday, Jan. 28 for $10 and sixth period classes collected pecuniary donations for a few Thursdays in early February.

Funds that were raised were given to three organizations: the Jesuit Refugee Services, Friends of the Orphans and Health through Communications.

There was also a continuous daily vigil that occurred at the “Crown of Thorns” statue in the mall. Members of the Brophy community stood before the memorial erected there from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., praying and standing in solidarity

See TEXTING, Page 2

See HAITI, Page 2

By Dallas Ducar ’10THE ROUNDUP

The temptation begins. You’re sitting with hands on

the wheel in the middle of traffic when you hear the roaring vibration of your phone; in comes a new text message.

It could be your best friend asking to “chill” this weekend, possibly your dad asking in his new hip lingo “wutz up LOL?” or maybe it’s that girl you met last week who is finally texting you back.

The temptation rings through the air again, traffic is backed up and you know it would hardly take any time to send off that reply. So you pick up the phone and begin texting away.

Concentrating on those last couple characters your eyes are drawn off the road and then suddenly it happens. You look up; the driver had stopped too quickly for your reaction and you’ve hit the

back of his car.This is hardly the worst of your problems: Next

you have to deal with your insurance rates, repair, points on your license and perhaps worst of all, your parents.

While it may seem as if you, the driver, are the only one in harm’s way when texting while driving, this is certainly not the case.

Incidents where pedestrians fell in harm’s way have even occurred in the Brophy community.

“I was just riding my bike across the crosswalk one day when she straight up hit me,” said

Nicholas Shore ’10 about an experience of his own. “I started pedaling when the sign said ‘walk’ … before I knew it a Xavier girl

had hit me.” While Shore was able to recover quickly and

remained unscathed, the fact remains that he was hit by someone who was clearly not paying any attention to the road.

“She was going slow, hardly fast enough to hurt me,” Shore said. However, the incident could have been much worse.

According to the National Highway Traffic Association, about 5,000 pedestrians are killed and another 64,000 are injured when hit by a

The RoundupBrophy College Preparatory

4701 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012(602) 264-5291 roundup@brophyprep.org

Editors in ChiefAndrew Atallah ’10Dallas Ducar ’10

Associate EditorLiam Martin ’10

Entertainment Editor

James McElwee ’10Sports Editors

Ian Beck ’12 & Tyler Scott ’12

Photo EditorBenjamin Jackson ’11

StaffRohan Andresen ’12

Ulises Araiza ’11Samuel Fleury ’10

Sean Harris ’11Michael Mandeville ’11

Erik Masingill ’12Alex Pearl ’10

Beau Peterlin ’10Daniel Robb ’10

James Saint Amour ’10Mason Smith ’11Alex Stanley ’12

Chase Stevens ’12Adam Triplett ’10

Eric Villanueva ’11Joshua Zillwood ’10

ContributorsRob March ’11

Jesus Aponte ’10Michael Notestine ’11

Michael Heraty ’10Andrew Ahearne ’11

Peter Scobas ’12Matt Habib ’10

Ryan Johnson ’10

Kunal Goel ’12John Galang ’12Keith Bender ’11

Kristofer Venezia ’11Manuel Siguenza ’12

Web AssistantGabriel Alba-Rivera ’13

Mission StatementThe Brophy College Preparatory Roundup exists to inform and entertain the Brophy community by producing a quality product that contains pertinent information about the Brophy community. This newspaper will educate our Brophy community and by doing so provide an understanding of journalism theories and techniques for our staff. We will be ethical, honest, trustworthy and dedicated in our news coverage. We strive to be fair and balanced, yet not afraid to report the truth even when it is unpopular to do so. Our goal is not only to report information, but also to encourage and foster discussion amongst our community. Overall we attempt to do all things for the greater glory of God.

CorrectionsThe Roundup seeks to correct any printed mistakes in a timely and public manner. Please e-mail corrections to roundup@brophyprep.org

SubmissionsThe Roundup welcomes news, opinions, sports, entertainment and photography submissions and ideas. E-mail roundup@brophyprep.org or see Mr. Mulloy in Eller Room 331.

AdviserMr. Mica Mulloy ’99

The Roundup is a student publication of Brophy College Prepara-tory. Copyright 2009 Brophy College Preparatory’s The Roundup. No material may be used without permission from the editors and adviser.

Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

National Scholastic Press Association Member

Page 2 | March 2010 The Roundup

motor vehicle every year. New studies on texting while driving

are mixed but some indicate it only increases the likelihood for accidents.

A study by Human Factors quarterly journal reported that cell phone distraction resulted in around 330,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths in just one year.

Another study by the University of Utah finds texting while driving is as dangerous and deadly as drunk driving because it distracts drivers and reduces response time.

So what is the government doing to regulate cell phone usage while driving?

So far 20 states ban usage of a cell phone while driving but only for those under 18. Nineteen states and the District of Colombia have laws addressing texting while for all drivers.

It is against the law to text while driving in the city of Phoenix.

Drivers can be fined up to $250 for each violation. Arizona does not have such a law; however, a bill currently moving through the state legislature would create a statewide ban.

A recent AAA poll found nine out of 10 Arizonans support such a law. The poll also showed respondents ranked texting while driving 9.2 out of 10 on a danger scale, just below drinking and driving.

The Highway Loss Data Institute looked at accident rates before and after cell phone bans took effect in several locations including New York, the District of Columbia, Connecticut and California.

This study found that the patterns of month-to-month collision accident claims did not fluctuate before and after cell phone bans took effect.

“Obviously in response to the study you would have to rationally adjust your opinion of the danger of text messaging while driving, but that does not change the fact that texting while driving is certainly more dangerous than not ... it’s just a matter of degree,” said Danny Hinzte ’10.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that 50 percent of all drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 are found texting while driving.

At Brophy, 109 students responded to an online Roundup survey and 62 percent admitted to texting while driving either frequently or occasionally.

Through an informal, non-scientific poll, 21 percent said they text frequently while behind the wheel; 36 percent said occasionally; and 43 percent said they never text while driving.

This problem is not like many others that younger age groups inherit, but instead it is generational.

A study by Nationwide Insurance shows that the generational trend is

evident, with 37 percent of people from ages 18 to 27 admitting they text while driving.

Meanwhile, only 14 percent of people from ages 28 to 44 have been involved in accidents while texting and only two percent of drivers ages 45 to 60 admitted to it.

“It’s not that it’s a problem to text while you are stopped like at a red light for example, but texting while you are driving is a bad idea and could put others, such as pedestrians, in danger,” said Kyle Nilsen ’10.

From TEXTING, Page 1

with glowing candles in hand. An overnight vigil occurred Wednesday, Feb.

10 that featured prayers, conversations and presentations.

Teach-ins were also scheduled throughout February so students would learn more about the current situation in Haiti, as well as what Haiti was like before the earthquake.

Mr. Ryan said it was essential to get involved in the relief saying that “we should take the cross off the walls” if Brophy, as a community built on the principle of men for others, did anything less.

He also added that the relief needed in Haiti was beyond simply a check or a monetary donation but also involved prayer, awareness and understanding.

He stressed that we needed to allow the earthquake to impact ourselves and let it transform our lives.

Keon Seif-Naraghi ’10 was a leader in the organization of the vigil and other relief efforts.

“We wanted to show the world and ourselves that Brophy isn’t just a community that just watches things and donates money,” Seif-Naraghi said.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has come to the vigil,” he said.

Both Mr. Ryan and Seif-Naraghi urged the community to sustain relief efforts even after the hype of the situation goes away.

Editor’s Note: Both of the writers of this article participated in the Brophy vigil but excluded their personal experiences from their report.

From HAITI, Page 1

Photo courtesy of MCT CampusLoudrine Antenor, 6, waits in line to fill a jug with water at Delmas 33 Camp, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Sun-day, February 7, 2010. With the rainy season coming, one of the biggest problems facing Haiti in the wake of last month’s devastating earthquake is housing for the hundreds of thousands who lost their homes. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

Photos and text belowby Andrew Atallah ’10

“I don’t always text while I drive, so I’m not morally opposed to it; I don’t really see it as the worst thing, sometimes I

do (text).” ―Jameson Powell

’10

“Yes, I text at stop lights or if I’m driving on Central north of

Bethany Home.” ―Nick DeSantiago

’10

“I text because my parents are asking me something important like ‘where are you?’” ―Jobert Adan ’12

“I text while I drive if there is no one else

inside the vehicle with me.”

―Sean Hanson ’10

The Roundup March 2010 | Page 3

ADD, ADHD diagnosis rates soarBy Michael Mandeville ’11

The Roundup

When pressure builds and the books stack higher and higher, it seems inevitable for students to fall behind somewhere.

Maintaining sanity and the best possible grades is almost beyond some students.

Brophy’s workload can sometimes seem nearly impossible and for some it seems that every year teachers expect more and more.

But this is not unique to Brophy. The Web site Edutopia.org took a poll of

nearly 3,000 people, and 70 percent of the participants noticed or felt an increase in work over the years for high school students.

This is all while more students have been diagnosed with attention disorders like ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and ADD (attention deficit disorder).

Though first only considered ADD, doctors recently coined the phrase ADHD as a newer, more developed term.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 4.5 million children from ages 5-17 were diagnosed with ADHD.

ADHD and ADD are both considered to be neurobehavioral disorders involving attention and concentration, but ADHD involves hyperactivity or irregular behavior as well as the other symptoms.

As a result of both, the likely form of treatment is the prescription of stimulant drugs, the most common being Adderall and Ritalin, according to WebMD.com.

The use of either of these drugs essentially stimulates the mind allowing an individual to concentrate without distraction.

PBS, citing an IMS America report, stated that 11 million prescriptions were written in 2004; 7 million for Adderall alone.

Considering that, a report on Health.com stated that between 2002 and 2005 the amount of people diagnosed with ADHD or ADD increased by 90 percent.

With the rise in the diagnosis of these two disorders, a rise in prescription takes place.

Just how easy is it to get these drugs? While concrete evidence is difficult to

come across, Jeff Bussey ’11, who has been diagnosed with ADD for the past six years, said it isn’t hard.

“Psychiatrists are fairly easy to convince and I’ve felt it gets simpler over the years,” Bussey said. “They, well at least mine, will essentially prescribe very liberally.”

Not to say he takes advantage of the conditions, but Bussey said he is convinced he could get just about any prescription he wanted as long as he convincingly showed symptoms of any given disorder, real or not.

Aside from legitimate prescriptions, problems

with the illegal distribution of these drugs have increased.

Use of the stimulant Ritalin without prescription has increased, according to the University of Michigan’s annual “Monitoring the Future” report.

Between the late 1980s and the late 1990s illegal use rose from 0.3 percent to 2.4 percent.

ADHD and ADD continue to be problems for some students though, but there still are alternate treatments besides stimulant drugs.

Brophy counselor Ms. Karen Parise suggested prescriptions should be handled carefully.

“I won’t ever recommend medication without a proper psycho educational evaluation by a psychologist,” Parise said. “It measures an individual’s intellectual abilities as well as their computing processing; a four hour test.”

She suggested that depending on the severity of the problem, students can work with behavioral treatment, but sometimes both medication and behavioral are used together.

There are potentially dangerous side effects like weight loss and mood swings, but if properly tested and treated, ADHD and ADD can be aided safely with medication.

Photo Illustration by Ben Jackson ’10

Office of Faith and Justice offers new ‘life-changing’ immersion trip to Kenya this summer By Eric Villanueva ’11

THE ROUNDUP

Summer bears different meanings for different people.

For most, it’s a break from the rat race of school and sports, but for some students, summer means volunteer trips – Canada, El Salvador, West Virginia, Mexico, Peru and now Kenya.

Twelve students along with faculty chaperones Mr. Brad Shear and Mr. Matt Hooten will travel halfway around the world to build a primary school and a well in the village of Narok, Kenya July 9-23.

“We are (going) over there to try to be great ambassadors of Brophy and to try to make a difference in the community,” Mr. Shear said.

Of course, no difference could be made or work done without longstanding connections and experience in working

in this impoverished region, so Brophy isn’t walking in alone.

Brophy is partnering with Me to We, a social enterprise that offers trips to Kenya, Ecuador and India in exchange for donations to the Free the Children charity. Trip participants volunteer in the Maasai tribal region, which borders Tanzania in southwestern Kenya.

Me to We is “an organization which has been working with and living in these communities for a long time,” said Mrs. Kim Baldwin, assistant principal for ministry. “They build their trips similarly to how we build our trips.”

Parents should be assured that Me to We and Brophy’s first priority is the safety of their students, which is one reason Brophy partnered with Me to We.

According to Mrs. Baldwin, an African immersion trip had been in the workings for awhile, but there were

concerns about walking in without local, community connections.

The logistics were solved earlier this year when Mr. Jim Harrison, a parent of a Brophy alumnus who went to Kenya last year, recommended the Me to We trip.

In cooperation with Me to We staff in Kenya, students will spend most of the two weeks working in solidarity with Maasai villagers to build a primary school and a well to provide clean, safe drinking water – two luxuries in that region of Kenya, according to Mr. Shear.

Students will also explore the Maasai tribal culture with Swahili lessons, lessons on poverty-related issues in Africa and a safari.

“Specific to Africa, (the objective is for students) to move beyond an awareness of the problems in the communities of Africa to how we may be connected to

them and what we can do for them,” Mrs. Baldwin said.

Last month, the online application for the trip was posted under summer immersion trips on the Office of Faith and Justice Web site.

So far, the response has been “unexpected” and “surprising” with 19 students who have expressed interest, according to Mrs. Baldwin.

However, the $5,000 all-inclusive cost, which mostly accounts for the cost of airfare, may deter some students.

Like the Peru and West Virginia immersion trips, the Africa trip offers 25 Junior Justice Project hours to incoming juniors, but graduating seniors may also apply.

The OFJ is “not committed to continuing this relationship (with Me to We) past this year,” Mrs. Baldwin said. But, “as long as the experience is as good as we hope it to be, we will offer

it again.” Though the overseas immersion

trip is at the forefront right now, the earthquake last month in Haiti has caused some students to ponder the

possibility of a Haitian immersion trip. As of Jan. 29, there were no plans on

the table for such a trip because there isn’t a lack of volunteers in Haiti, but a lack of supplies and a challenge of getting there, Mrs. Baldwin said Jan. 29.

“It is such a natural reaction right now, but we need to see how things play out over time,” she said.

Mrs. Baldwin said the OFJ would explore the option within the next year and if a trip was planned, the OFJ would probably go through Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, which has numerous operations already inside Haiti.

Onlinethis month

roundup.brophyprep.org

iPad debuts as all in one Tablet, e-reader

By Kunal Goel ’12/THE ROUNDUPThis is not a genuine laptop, nor is this a

supersized iPhone. The Apple iPad is completely new to the

precipitous platform where all great technological advances have stood.

By Peter Scobas ’12/THE ROUNDUP“I use Facebook every

day,” typed Greg Ali ’12 and Christopher Frame ’12 in an interview conducted on the social networking site.

“It allows for communication in a way I’ve never experienced before,” Ali added.

According to the Web site “All Facebook,” Facebook users, now in the 400 millions, share five times more than they did six months ago, bringing the average status amount to 12 per week.

Facebook users share 5 times more often than 6 months ago

Spring musical promises ‘fedoras and zoot suits for everyone’

By Eric Villanueva ’11/THE ROUNDUP Brophy-Xavier Theatre presents the Broadway

musical “Guys and Dolls” in Xavier’s Performing Arts Center March 18-20 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available from cast members or Ms. Sandra Dennard in the Student Activities Center starting March 1 for $7.

Seniors long for big finish this May

By Beau W. Peterlin ’10/THE ROUNDUPIt is that time of the year again and spring is upon

us. The time that it starts warming up and heavy

jackets are no longer needed; the time students begin to look forward to a much needed spring break.

The second semester of senior year can mean a number of things.

Page 4 | March 2010 The Roundup

By Ulises Araiza ’11THE ROUNDUP

After a Brophy varsity basketball win over the Desert Vista Thunder, Brophy’s annual Hoopcoming was the place to be on a Friday night.

Despite light rain during the evening, students from throughout the Valley poured in to the David Graham Plaza and Harper Great Hall on Jan. 22 at around 9 p.m. to have a good time.

According to an e-mail sent out the day before Hoopcoming by Assistant Principle for Student Activities Mr. Jeff Glosser, more than 1,500 people were expected to attend the event, and more than 1,200 people had already confirmed their attendance on Facebook, one day before the event.

The Great Hall, where most of the activity took place, was separated into two dance rooms; the north end was used for techno music, while the south end was used for hip-hop.

Any student from any school could go in to the dance for $10, but those who went to the basketball game against Desert Vista could get in for $7 by paying for their entrance during the

game. In the Brophy spirit of “Men for Others,” some of the money from the dance will be sent to help the Haitian relief effort.

Water, hot chocolate and the energy drink Redbull were available for students to drink, with the latter receiving most of the attention, at least until supplies ran out.

Apart from dancing in either the techno or hip-hop rooms, there was a live performance by the band KINCH in the Plaza to offer students more musical diversity.

In the techno room, students tended to show off their own original dance moves, while those in the hip-hop room preferred more widely known moves.

“I had a really good time in both rooms,” said Frankie Villegas ’11. “I got to see the band and I liked them too.”

Students had to leave by 11:30 p.m., but were permitted to leave at any time.

Altogether, $2,250 was raised for Haiti from the dance alone adding to $900 that had already been raised the week before, according to a Facebook message sent out by Bryce Muzzy ’10 to the attendees of Hoopcoming.

Despite rain Hoopcoming attracts students from across the Valley

By Sean Harris ’11THE ROUNDUP

It is nighttime on campus as students in Mass dress pour out of the chapel.

On this night, Feb. 2, the students were not at an evening Mass, they were inducted into the National Honors Society, an honor in the Brophy community.

There are 87 inductees this year, bringing the club total to around 200.

“We run the Blood Drive, man the STEP tutoring program,” said NHS moderator Mr. Fred Garner.

“…In addition to work study we also provide on-campus help.”

NHS meets once in the beginning of the year, another meeting towards the middle of the year and at the end to hold elections.

“We don’t really have a need to meet as a society regularly,” Mr. Garner said. “At least the way we have things set up, because through e-mail it’s a much more efficient way of getting the word out.”

NHS inductees posses various skills, separated into four different pillars: service, leadership, scholarship and character.

“They have good grades,” Mr. Garner said. “…Their GPA has to be a 3.5 un-weighted or above. I don’t verify anything that’s weighted.”

These four pillars also mean that NHS members have taken on a leadership position at Brophy, they will put forth good service and they have good character.

“I frequently check in with the Dean’s office to make sure that guys have been living up to that standard,” Mr. Garner said.

There are many benefits to being a part of NHS, according to the moderator as well as the members.

“I believe that NHS is a very good program because colleges look at extracurricular activities and school clubs that you’re in, and NHS is pertaining to grades,” returning NHS member Paul Short ’11 said. “I think it’s very good to see that you joined a club that helps you motivate yourself to keep a better GPA.”

But it is not all about a college application. “The main benefit of NHS is a vehicle to be able to

serve,” Mr. Garner said. “Most of the guys that are in NHS are just happy to serve Brophy’s campus.”

National Honors Society inducts many new members into organization

Photo by Andrew Ahearne ’11Students watch lights and dancing during the annual Hoopcoming Dance on Friday, Jan. 22. Students had two dance rooms to choose from, along with a live band in a tent outside. For more photos, visit roundup.brophyprep.org.

Zoning permit crashes for planned skyscrapers near Brophy campusBy Chase Stevens ’12 and

Alex Pearl ’10THE ROUNDUP

A developer scrapped plans for a 400-foot tall skyscraper at the corner of Central Avenue and Camelback Road over concerns of building height.

The building was going to be a mixture of retail shops, condominiums and hotels; three large, 750-unit towers, an eight floor parking structure, and stations for passing buses and light rail trams, according to a Phoenix Planning Department document obtained by The Roundup.The Phoenix Planning Department recommended the City Council not approve the project because of height concerns on the lot that bisects the Light Rail route.

However, before City Council could vote on the matter, developer Reid Butler opted to pull back his plans in the face of neighborhood and planning department concerns.

According to a New York Times article concerning the building and its development, Butler – the president of Butler Housing Co. and an employee of Ellman International Real Estate

who submitted the plans – was asked to cancel the plans for the towers and retail center by both City Councilmen Sal DiCiccio and Tom Simplot.

Arguments against the building ranged from the height zoning arrangements to the assertion that not enough businesses would arrive to fill the buildings after they were built.

The plans said that the towers would be constructed 400 feet high, or 36

stories high, while the lot was zoned for 250 feet in height at maximum.

In the official planning department report, the main reason for rejection was that “the request greatly exceeds the height of comparable development or other approved high-rise sites along Central Avenue between the Grand Canal and Camelback Road.”

To provide perspective, the M&I Bank building down the street from Brophy

and across the road from Butler’s property is zoned for 150 feet tall, about 11 stories, and the Landmark towers to the south of the vacant lot is zoned for about 220 feet, 17 stories, according to the Planning Department Document.

According to conceptual plans, the site would have actually been built as two different buildings on the same area of land. The skyscrapers would have incorporated a lot of glass into the

design of the building.There is still an All Pro Fence company

fence around the property, hinting at things to come.

Although Brophy students may have lost the chance at having a shopping center and retailer right across the street, a commercial project appears to be a possibility.

When asked about the lot and its past and future uses, Fr. Edward Reese, SJ said he would like to see some development in the vacant Central-Camelback lot rather than none, and that although he felt a skyscraper to be inappropriate he had no strong feelings about what he wanted to see there.

Currently, any building to be built in the lot would have access to the transit hub, which the original centers’ plans included. The Central Avenue/Camelback Transit Center, a stop for both the light rail and passing buses, is nestled neatly next to the vacant space. The Ellman Company is still holding on to the lot, but Marc Thornton in the City of Phoenix Planning Department said that as of Feb. 10 neither Butler nor the Ellman Company had submitted revised plans for the future.

Photo by Rob March ’11The Southwest corner of Central and Camelback remains barren for now.

OpinionsThe Roundup

The first time I ever heard of Haiti was back in 2008 in Mr. JP Jarcyzk’s Gospels in Actions class.

As part of the curriculum we read Tracy Kidder’s “Mountain Beyond Mountains,” which highlighted the poverty and economic inequality of Haiti.

It discussed the work of Dr. Paul Farmer, who was trying to give Haitians basic medical supplies to improve their quality of life.

At the time, it was shocking to read about such an impoverished country, especially because I had never heard of it before.

In the wake of the terrible earthquake that occurred in Haiti, it is only fitting that so many Americans, including the Brophy community, are doing so much to donate to the Haitian relief fund and help them get back on their feet.

It is outstanding to see how quickly Brophy has mobilized in the form of the vigil, donations and lunchtime talks.

But the reality is Haiti needed our help years ago.Unfortunately, there are many other countries in

need of humanitarian aid as well, but that haven’t been rocked by horrific natural disasters.

These countries will go without our help despite their own impoverished conditions.

Why must a natural disaster precipitate nation-wide or even school-wide awareness of a community in need?

Think about it, Haiti is in the same continent as

the United States and prior to the earthquake most people could not have pointed to it on a map.

As a part of a globally conscious community, I ask the student body to make themselves aware of countries all over the world that need their help.

Take advantage of the awareness that the Haiti disaster has provided and

continue to donate to international charities such as Oxfam, The Red Cross or Catholic Relief Services.

Countries like Malawi, East Timor and Papua New Guinea need our help.

Don’t let a natural disaster make the difference for whether you care about that community.

If we are truly committed to doing justice, which I believe we are, then there is a lot more we can be doing to help those in need.

As a community of people committed to social justice there is more to be done than simply donating money.

“There is no ‘ready fix’ to Haiti, but there is a long term solution: it is people like me who are committed to a lifetime, a vocation of service to others. That is the real solution,” according to the prayer guide for the vigil distributed by the Office of Faith and Justice.

Please continue to help the millions of Haitians in need and help Haiti get back on their feet.

It is important to remember and reach out to other nations in need who may not have felt an earthquake, but have certainly been shaken by poverty.

Students need to take a look at the world on a larger scale

As the earth stops shak-ing, relief efforts begin

Photo by Josh Zillwood ’10Mrs. Sue Hornbeck sits at the vigil for Haiti during the school day in Febuary.

For the last several weeks eight people stood abreast with the The Crown of Thorns statue in the Brophy Mall.

Eight faces, some half-hidden by bandages, stared from glossy pictures with tired and tearful eyes and hungry mouths.

Since Jan. 28, many students, parents and faculty members volunteered in one hour shifts to stand in solidarity with these and all the people of Haiti after the earthquake on Jan. 12.

However, I truly believe more than 1,200 students plus an odd number of faculty and staff have continuously maintained the vigil in their thoughts, hearts and prayer.

What brings out these emotions and collaborative relief efforts by the community?

Through buck-a-jeans days, Hoopcoming and basketball game collections alone, students and faculty have donated more than $4,500 towards Haitian earthquake relief efforts through Jesuit Refugee Services.

“Anytime there is a disaster, they (JRS) are really active in that, and they have been working in Haiti even prior to that,” said Assistant Principal of Ministry Mrs. Kim Baldwin.

According to Mrs. Baldwin, some of the collection will also go to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, which has numerous operations in Haiti, including a pediatric hospital that collapsed during the earthquake.

Adding collections during sixth period on Jan. 23 and Feb. 4, the donations grossed more than $10,000.

The outpouring by the school community is ineffable and proves yet again why a Jesuit education is so different from the rest.

But relief efforts are also seen across the nation.

Soccer moms, super models and sports car teams alike have come together to support their fellow human beings thousands of miles away, but with a worldview very different from their own.

For celebrities, the “A” in “A”-List has changed from “adoption” to “answering” phones on celebrity telethons that help to raise money for Haitian earthquake victims.

The “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon, which aired on a number of networks and Web sites Jan. 22, raised $57 million and counting, according to a CBS News article.

With bodies lining the streets and more than 1 million Haitians estimated to be living in tent cities, the millions of dollars in aid cannot come soon enough.

“We urgently need aid to arrive. I can’t say how urgently,” Dr. Jean Jazon of City Med Hospital in Port-au-Prince said in an Independent article Jan. 17. “Not tomorrow, today. Yesterday, even.”

With the rescue of a 16-year-old girl from the rubble 15 days after the earthquake reported by the BBC News, rescues operations have come to a close, but the relief efforts will need to be enduring on the poverty-stricken island.

This is not a plea for everyone to empty their pockets; rather, a call to stand with your fellow man.

With the worldwide support surprising by all accounts, Brophy has become another small part of that support where every piece adds to a greater whole.

As Dr. Jazon expressed an over arching emotion in Haiti, they needed help in Haiti yesterday, and they will definitely need continued aid and support tomorrow.

Brophy has answered this call to solidarity.

Who knows, our efforts, though they may seem insignificant, may become an example to other schools and communities nationwide.

With more schools and communities around the nation outreaching, international opinions of the United States will change, while simultaneously raising money for earthquake victims.

This is a global community and we are doing our part to help those in need.

Letters to the Editor PoliciesThe Roundup provides an open forum for public comments, criticism and debate. Submit letters to the editor to roundup@brophyprep.org or to Mr. Mulloy in room E331. Letters must not exceed 300 words and must include your full name and a phone number or E-mail address. All letters will be verified with the author before printed. The Roundup reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, style, context and inappropriate content. Let-ters will be printed as space allows.

What’s your opinion? Let us know.

By Andrew Atallah ’10The Roundup

By Eric Villanueva ’11The Roundup

The RoundupStaff member of

the Month

March: Eric Villanueva ’11

Everybody knows that one student who does everything: NHS, several sports, band, photography club, speech and debate and concert piano.

He has participated on three immersion trips (just this year), is an altar server and is taking five AP classes.

I think it is impossible, and certainly at least impractical, to participate in all of those activities/classes at once, but many students are overloading themselves with activities in order to get that extra edge in the college admissions process.

In this day and age, getting accepted to a prestigious college is becoming more and more important, and “the high school experience” is the first casualty of this epidemic.

Getting into the college of your choice is

important, but not at the cost of enjoying your youth.

I am not saying students should not participate in any activities.

I am merely trying to say that students should participate in activities that they enjoy.

Do not get involved in a club or activity just because you think it

will look impressive on your college résumé.

Besides, colleges would prefer to see that you were deeply involved in a few activities, rather than having limited involvement on many.

The Stanford University Web site says, “We are more interested in the depth of your commitment and achievement than in the sheer quantity of your activities. An

exceptional experience in one or two activities demonstrates your dedication more than minimal participation in five or six clubs.”

Colleges like Stanford have started to realize that students are padding their résumé with a bulky amount of activities.

Many other colleges have started limiting space available to list activities on their applications.

Do what you love and do it well, not what you think will get you into

college the easiest.

The Roundup Page 6 | March 2010 OpinionsDrop the texting, just drive please

Texting and driving a dangerous roadway comboAs I hit my turn signal to switch lanes I

passively check my blind spot and find the driver looking down from the wheel checking something.

Unless they are reading or playing their Nintendo DS, it is highly probable that they are texting away like there is no tomorrow.

I guess this should not bother me that much, but it does.

A poll by The Roundup asking if students ever text while driving found that of the 109 who participated, close to 60 percent either occasionally texted or frequently texted.

Sadly, I’m not bothered because of the staggering statistics about cell phone use as they correspond to driving and the severe risks that could develop out of the situation.

This month The Roundup reported that according to study by Human Factors quarterly journal, cell phone distraction resulted in about 330,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths in just one year.

In another study done by the University of Utah, texting while driving has become as dangerous and deadly as drunk driving because it slows drivers’ response times.

No, it’s not those statistics; it’s more about what I immediately think of the driver.

I cannot get it out of my head that these people think they just own the road and it’s their field to

do what ever they please. Stop texting please and just drive.You do not always have to be connected

to your best friend, girlfriend, boyfriend or parents.

It is OK to not be at the disposal of people

for the 20 minutes you are in car. Really.This all started when a friend of mine would

constantly text while driving. After his third time swerving into the next

lane he would say that he usually is a really good driver and that he didn’t know why he kept slipping.

It’s because you are texting! And when I brought it to his attention that

he shouldn’t be texting in the car next time we were together, he told me not to worry because he had, pitifully, practiced driving with his—knees.

I really hope he is the exception because I don’t know what I’d do in a world of socially absorbed knee-drivers.

Think like Roger Bond Choquette ’10. “No… because it’s just stupid” he said when asked if he texted while driving. “I’d be putting my life in danger and those around me in danger.”

Thank you Bond Choquette, you are just as hip on the inside as you are on the outside.

Who can forget 2009? For that matter who can forget the last decade? Terrorist attacks, anthrax scares, wars, economic downturns,

natural disasters and the promise of hope made the 2000s turbulent to say the least, with more ups and downs than anyone could have imagined.

2009 was no diamond in the rough. For many hard-working Americans, 2009 meant the loss of their job, house, car and even their families as just a few years ago the separation rate among married couples was estimated to be between 40 and 45 percent, according to a May 2007 Associated Press report.

For high school and college students, 2009 meant the lack of a summer or part-time job as many companies stopped hiring and many others let go of people who worked there for years.

2009. Who can forget the inauguration of the first African-American president?

Never before had a crowd so large gathered in Washington, DC to witness a presidential inauguration, despite the freezing cold weather.

How historic to be alive 146 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and 217 years after construction began on the White House, which was largely built by black slaves.

2009. Like every other year it came to an end with countless people making up New Year’s resolutions.

However, it is now March and for many people those resolutions have only manifested themselves in their mind or on a piece of paper.

Drinking less alcohol, losing weight and reducing overall stress are just three out of 13 popular New Year’s resolutions, according to the U.S. governments Office of Citizen Services and Communications.

2010. The UN has dedicated this year as the “International Year of Biodiversity” and the “International Year of Youth,” but really, who knows or cares about this?

There was no big fuss last year when 2009 was designated as the “International Year of Astronomy” and the “International Year of Natural Fibers.”

2010. So where are the flying cars, the robot maids and the trips out of this world?

Isn’t it time for another man to go to the moon? If they did it successfully in 1969, then why can’t it be done

41 years later? Technology has advanced so much in the past four decades,

and who knows what the government is working on behind closed doors.

Or should we take a step back from all that we have done and just take it easy?

In the age of the Internet, the iPod and instant satisfaction are we simply going too fast to think clearly and make any right decisions?

Are our priorities so messed up that we are more worried about the unknown tomorrow than the tangible present? Are we so out of touch with reality that we cannot see how our decisions are affecting our planet and those around us?

Of course, I would be lying if I said everyone is like that. Around us there are Mother Teresa’s and Ghandi’s who

work tirelessly for a cause and are willing to give up their lives at any minute to see it live on.

In a dog eat dog world, there is still true love and dedication.Perhaps 2010 will be the year where things turn around.We are only three months into the year, so it is still too early

to judge it all, but perhaps this year—no, this decade, will be less turbulent than the past one.

Perhaps the economic situation will get better, perhaps the wars will end, perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Just perhaps.

New decade ush-ers in new ideas, hopes—perhaps

Republicans, Sen. Scott Brown win battle but not warBrown elected to Senate seat previously held by Democrat

Ted KennedyU.S. Sen. Scott Brown was

sworn in on the floor of the Senate by Vice President Joe Biden Feb. 4.

Jan. 19 was the day that Senator Brown became the first Republican senator from Massachusetts since 1972.

He announced his intentions to fill the slot of the late Ted Kennedy on Sept. 12, 2008, which was coincidentally his 50th birthday.

Brown won the longtime Democratic stronghold Senate seat on Jan. 19.

With the arrival of a Republican in the Senate and with the loss of a Democrat, the Republicans now have the ability to filibuster bills they do not like.

A bit of political background is necessary to fully understand the terms used. A filibuster is a political strategy used to indefinitely lengthen debate over a bill.

There are no time limits for speeches given by senators, so they can speak for a long as they want. The longest speech in a filibuster was given by Strom Thurmond, who spoke for over 24 hours.

If a senator can speak long enough, there cannot be a vote on the item.

There is another political move, designed to counter things such as filibusters, called a cloture. When a cloture

is enacted, debate on a bill ends within the next 30 hours. In the United States, cloture requires a three-fifths vote.

Senator Brown took the 41st Republican seat in the Senate, meaning that the Democrats no longer have the ability to cloture. This allows

Republicans to filibuster bills that they do not want to pass.

While it may seem like a huge blow to the liberal agenda, in reality it is not that damaging. The Democrats still have a big majority in both the House and the Senate.

Not only that, but the United States has a Democrat president.

In addition, filibusters are not always effective.

As stated, Strom Thurmond gave a 24-hour speech during the Republican filibuster of the Civil Rights Bill. As we all know, that obviously still passed.

Sen. Brown is rather overrated. The media may be having a field day over

the fact that the Republicans can filibuster, especially in regard to a health care bill, but filibustering is not that damaging.

Also, Sen. Brown only serves for the rest of the late Ted Kennedy’s term.

Come Nov. 4, 2010, Brown will have to be reelected in order to stay in his senate seat.

Include this article on my résumé, college applications

By Michael Mandeville ’11The Roundup

By Chase Stevens ’12The Roundup

By Alex Stanley ’12The Roundup

By Ulises Araiza ’11The Roundup

Getting into the college of your choice is important, but not at the cost

of enjoying your youth.

What do you think?A recent Roundup poll found 62 percent of respondents admitted to texting while driving either frequently or occasionally. Do you text while behind the wheel? Cast your vote and leave your opinion online at roundup.brophyprep.org.

What’s your opinion? Let us know.Your community, your voice.

E-mail your comments to roundup@brophyprep.org or post them online at roundup.brophyprep.org

Question of the Month

By Mason Smith ’11The Roundup

Who do you think will win March Madness? Why?

University of Connecticut (UCONN), I always cheer

for the underdog. -Michael Johnson ’11

Duke because they dominate.

-Kyle Stanford ’10

Duke, because they have a good coach, and have

good structure.-Brendan Beggs ’13

Old Dominion, I always put money on them.

-Mr. Chad Unrein

Duke, because they have Coach K.

-Kevin Donely ’11

The Roundup March 2010 | Page 7OpinionsHipsters blinded by irony in ‘indie’ lifestyle, trends

The modern hipster is considered “indie” or individual.

This trend stems from indie/underground music scenes and other anti-establishment movements.

The indie music trend has been around for decades but has resurfaced with more girth in this decade.

Bands that don’t want to “sell out” have inspired this individual era. The train of thought has immigrated from bands into the public.

The thought of being your own individual is a beautiful concept.

Not conforming to what others want you to be. Just go against the status quo because you want to. You can do

whatever you want to do. Really putting the “be yourself ” cliché

to work. It’s every rebellious

teenager’s dream. So it is natural that it is

adopted by so many. However, this theme

morphs often into irony.It happens when so many

are trying to be different that they suddenly become the same.

Many trends that harness nonconformity

suffer from this irony. They succumb to the thing they are

trying to escape.Indie clothing for example isn’t new or

different. Experts call it a cannibalism of past styles.

It is a consumption of all the cool things from past decades.

Retro items and bits taken from other styles were tossed together to form a mishmash.

There is an interesting online illustration of these styles titled the “Evolution of the Hipster.”

It is easily found through Google.

This illustration, which is by Josh Meister, displays the different styles and the years they found popularity.

It is a good reflection but it has some snide remarks on the usage of some

fashions.Some examples the illustration

brings up are far too common in their ridiculous attempts to be cool or hip.

The one that sticks out is the usage of thick rimmed glasses despite no need for optical correction.

This addition of something that is unnecessary is a commonly used tool in self improvement but it goes totally against the mission statement

if any the “indie” movement has. Being yourself is the calling,

but wearing glasses that you don’t need is not being yourself at all.

The contradiction is unnerving. The trend isn’t bad. If anything it

improves the world. The bright colors add flavor to the

world.The main problem settles with the

irony that comes out of the trend. The trend seeks only to call out the

individual but industry, and perhaps some human instinct to segregate, makes it into a set of clothing, and separation into cool or not cool.

With the new decade upon us, hopefully there can be some revolution. Youths can maintain that theme and not say they stand for something just to be cool.

Being part of the in-crowd is not necessary so don’t sell out.

Wishes for a changing Brophy as seniors depart for collegeGet involved on campus,

enjoy your timeIt’s 2002 and I am standing in the Brophy mall for

the first time ever in my life. It’s lunch time and the only thing I

can hear are kids yelling out how many McChicken sandwiches they want from the Coral.

I am in fifth grade and I am starting my summer enrichment classes.

I believe knowing Brophy for eight years gives me a valid understanding of what has changed here and what has stayed relatively the same.

I also believe that my continual interaction with this community has formed my opinion of what I hope for Brophy in the future.

Brophy is a place of continual change. No matter the year one graduated, the experience they had

will be much different than that of my peers and the class of 2010.

However, despite the difference of experience that occurs at Brophy there is a common ground. This is that the experience itself of four years here

is anything but common.Personally I feel that Brophy is headed

in a new direction. This new direction is helping students shape themselves into something different than the past.

The new Brophy student, I believe is more aware not just of himself but also of others.

I also believe that in a world of such specialist education, Brophy students still choose to spread themselves in many areas.

Students choose activities ranging from football to the Rubix Cube Club.

Students are also finding new things to be involved in. There are more activities now than my class had as a freshman.

I simply wish for the students to get involved as early as possible, no matter what it is. I hope students continue to make new events and clubs the same way Techno Tuesdays was created.

As the lives of students become more hectic each year, I see the Brophy community still staying close, which is extremely reassuring.

Brophy does this by offering help such as after school tutoring and counseling.

Technology on campus is something of a cliché about Brophy. My view is that yes, we can talk about how many problems we have with our computers or we can soften our complaints and take action.

I have seen Brophy become fearless when it comes to this type of action. Brophy is willing to experiment, and still stay at the forefront of education.

I also hope that we continually look for a way of improving, by working with students as reference on Tablets.

I am also very passionate about something besides just getting involved in extracurricular activities. I

wish for Brophy students to get connected. I hope that underclassmen find faculty members

who they click with and build a relationship with.Brophy faculty and staff members are much more

than just teachers and counselors. They will teach much more outside the classroom, they will teach you about ways to live your life. From talking to Mr. Lane McShane ’82 about music in the mall to discussing an issue with Mr. Stephen Johnson after school, students should do this as soon as possible.

Along the same lines I wish for Brophy alumni to continually come back to teach. It is obvious that veterans of the Brophy experience return to campus almost every day. However, the alumni who teach make this a unique high school.

They have not only seen the changes Brophy has made, they have also been that change.

My final wish for the Brophy community may seem a bit selfish. It is that when I come back, Brophy is not the same.

Kentucky, because their coach has championship experience and they have

the best player in the country.

-Mr. Jeff Glosser

By Sam Fleury ’10The Roundup

By Beau W. Peterlin ’10The Roundup

The trend seeks only to call out the individual

but industry, and perhaps some human instinct to segregate, makes it into a set of

clothing, and separation into cool or not cool.

I saw a peaceful protest, heard embracing and spirited chants and witnessed a clash with the police.

And from my first protest I took away an invigorated belief in the need for humane treatment of immigrants.

On Jan. 16, thousands of people, including myself and other Brophy students, attended a march that began at 9 a.m. at Falcon Park north of Carl Hayden High School.

There were more than 10,000 in attendance, including humanitarian groups such as No Mas Muertes or No More Deaths, Zack de la Rocha from the rock group Rage Against the Machine, singer Linda Ronstadt and opponents of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s treatment of illegal immigrants.

Before commencing, small bands performed and speakers spoke against the sheriff’s treatment of prisoners, particularly those who are undocumented, as cruel and inhumane.

Simultaneously, vendors came to sell ice cream, mangos and favorite Mexican treats. As I waited, I constantly saw a

sea of posters that said “We Are Human” and “Stop the Hate” and several other handmade ones.

I saw determination and a positive attitude from the crowd.

After three hours at Falcon Park waiting to start the march, I saw people of different cultures, backgrounds and ideas join together as one.

It inspired me and made me feel like anything was possible.

The crowd of 10,000 left Falcon Park while I went into my father’s truck and headed to La Gran Bota to distribute water. As I waited, I felt the need to join my fellow marchers, and decided to join after I distributed water to many.

I ended up starting behind a group that did an Aztec spiritual dance and progressed from there. The march would eventually end in front of the infamous Tent City.

As I marched, I heard many people chanting, “¡Arpaio! ¡Escucha! ¡El pueblo está en la lucha!” and “¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!” These translate to “Arpaio! Listen! The people are in the fight!” and “The people, united, will never be defeated!”

An English chant yelled included “Hey hey! Ho ho! Sheriff Joe’s gotta go!”

The chants and the fervor people had brought me to shout these chants, giving me the right spirit for a peaceful protest.

Unfortunately, not all of the people there were in the mood to protest peacefully.

As we passed Buckeye Road prior to

Tent City, a group of anarchists dressed in black and holding vulgar signs clashed with the city police.

I was next to this group on the sidewalk when out of nowhere they split up and I saw police officers attacking them and using pepper spray on the group including children.

The anarchists beat a police horse and

injured the policewoman in doing so.All this commotion gave me

adrenaline, for this was my first protest, and never had I thought that I would see such an act. After the appalling moment, I continued on to reach Tent City and shortly returned back to assist with distributing water.

This experience was eye opening and showed me the truth that occurs with the way Sheriff Arpaio treats his inmates.

As a Latino, I am baffled that my fellow community has to live in fear because of the sheriff’s inability to understand immigrants.

I am hopeful he finds that understanding soon.

The Roundup Page 8 | March 2010 OpinionsMarch to Tent City brings hope to marginalized community

Photo by Manuel Siguenza ’12Phoenix Police arrest a protester Jan. 16 at Falcon Park during a march to Tent City.

Hallmarking of holidays obscures reason for the season

An estimated 1 billion Valentine cards are sent each year, according to the Greeting Card Association, a number second only to Christmas, with an estimated 2.6 billion cards being sent each year.

And what better way to say “I love you” than with a Hallmark greeting card and a $4.99 box of chocolates from Walgreens?

This festivity occurring every February has murky origins and many historians debate who the actual “Saint Valentine” was.

However, according to one of the most popular legends, St. Valentine was a Roman citizen who attempted to help Christians escape from ruthless prisons during the early days of Christianity. After many attempts, Valentine found himself imprisoned and falling in love with a young girl he met who was rumored to be the jailer’s daughter.

Because of his inability to be with his newfound love, Valentine instead decided to create and send the first “Valentine” in history. According to legend, before being put to death Valentine signed the letter “From your Valentine,” a message that many cards still keep to this day.

While this simple written declaration of love still exists in today’s version of the holiday physically,

the message seems to be all but present. Valentine’s Day is about professing one’s true

feelings for another with thoughtful and personal actions. However instead of creating meaningful expressions of love, many simply buy the message for their lovers, thus defeating the true meaning of the holiday.

This has not only occurred in the case of Valentine’s Day, but in just about every major holiday in the United States. From the largest holidays like Christmas to the most obscure like Guy Fawkes Day, every holiday has become a method of profiteering.

Even the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day, yet another holiday that celebrates a revered member of the Catholic Church, has been exploited to become a moneymaking scheme.

While the holiday was brought to the United States in the early 18th century, it has been rooted in Irish tradition since 385 AD. The feast day was first celebrated in the colonies on March 17, 1737 by the Irish Society of Boston and became more widespread near the latter half of the 18th century.

Parades became social statements for the public, a way for the Irish immigrants to be heard in what many historians consider a period in American history where they were being treated quite harshly and unfairly.

However, today St. Patrick’s Day is commemorated by many people regardless of ethnic background. Many people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, yet many of these same people don’t pause and reflect on the true meaning of the holiday.

While t-shirts marked with leprechauns and

clovers sell like wildfire, a t-shirt with the depiction of the saint himself is hardly ever even seen for sale.

As Valentine’s Day has at least kept the general message of love in the holiday, St. Patrick’s Day has hardly any trace of its own origins. Stores now market just about everything green from “Kiss me I’m Irish” apparel to the green shakes at local fast food chains.

It seems St. Patrick’s Day, like many other holidays has succumbed to both the hedonistic and materialistic portions of our society. The drunken revelry combined with the constant games of pinching has really allowed us to loose focus on the holiday and tradition itself.

Just about every holiday has become a tradition for a reason, to help teach us some sort of lesson, remind us of a great deed that should be commemorated, or do both.

The word “holiday” itself originated from the middle English word for holy day or a day of reverence. The reason for holidays is not to take a day off work or get another excuse to go to a party, but to instead revere the reason for the day and reflect on its meaning.

I am not asking for the buying and selling of holiday-oriented goods to stop, nor to end festivities as a whole, but instead simply remember the reason for the season.

When we pause to reflect on either the mistakes we made as human beings in the past, or victories we carved into history, we can better learn who we are, our own place in the world and where our future will take us.

I imagine it will take more than a $4.99 box of chocolates to remind us of that.

Photo courtesy of MCT CampusHershey’s chocolate is one of many popular Valentine’s Day treats, but may not represent the true intent of the holiday.

By Manuel Siguenza ’12The Roundup

By Dallas Ducar ’10The Roundup

Big second half leads to home win over Desert Vista

Brophy 49 Desert Vista 38

By Erik T. Masingill ’12/THE ROUNDUP

Jordan Medl ’12 scored a season high nine points to lead Brophy to a 49-38 victory over Desert Vista on Hoopcoming Jan. 22.

Medl and Sai Tummala ’11 were key as the Broncos cranked down on defense, holding the Thunder to just 10 points total in the second and third quarter.

“Tonight I felt like stepping up and playing with energy,” Medl said. “I did what I could to help my team by playing my inside game of rebounding and scoring.”

Broncos score season high at Chandler for 7th win

Brophy 81 Chandler 64

By Erik T. Masingill ’12/THE ROUNDUP

Ryan Milne ’10, Chris Pierre ’11, Sai Tummala ’11, James Harper ’12 and John LaVanway ’10 all scored in the double digits to lead Brophy to its biggest win of the season 81-64 over Chandler on Jan. 26.

The big output was Brophy’s highest point total of the season, passing the mark of 60 points they put up in a loss to Mesquite.

“It was a great job for every member of the team,” Milne added. “When I drive the ball, it opens up spots for the other guys to score at. Even other players got me open for a couple of shots. I absolutely loved the way we played tonight.”

Broncos upset No. 1 ranked Mesa 56-51

Brophy 56 Mesa 51

By Erik T. Masingill ’12/THE ROUNDUP

James Harper ’12 scored 21 points as Brophy upset the previously undefeated Mesa Jackrabbits 56-51 on Jan. 29, Mesa’s only defeat this season.

The Broncos got on a run in the final quarter, 22-9, and took the lead for the first time all game.

“It was a great team effort out there,” Harper said. “We made it possible with the great coaches we have and we also had the right players to do it.”

Broncos spoil St. Mary’s ‘knight’ with 56-53 win

Brophy 56 St. Mary’s 53

By Tyler J. Scott ’12/THE ROUNDUP

Behind a 19-point, four-rebound game from James Harper ’12, the Brophy Broncos beat the reigning 5A-1 state champions St. Mary’s on their home floor Saturday, Jan. 30.

The win comes on the heels of Brophy upsetting No. 1 ranked Mesa the previous night by a score of 56-51.

“Beating a talented team like St. Mary’s gives us more confidence going against other talented

teams,” head coach Mr. Tony Fuller said about the win.

“James’ defense and rebounding have improved and it has helped our team,” he said.

Hamilton ‘pounds’ Bron-cos to end winning streak

Brophy 48 Hamilton 57

By Ian C. Beck ’12/THE ROUNDUP

It was a White Out at Brophy Feb. 5 but the black-clad Hamilton Huskies crashed the party and ended the Broncos’ five-game winning streak with a 57-48 victory.

“It’s being the hunter (rather than) the hunted. We were hunted tonight and we didn’t step up,” head coach Mr. Tony Fuller said.

Brophy surged early in the second half, cutting Hamilton’s lead to 25-20 with 5:44 remaining in the third. But the Broncos were hit with a technical foul that gave Hamilton two points from free throws and the ball back.

The Huskies hit a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, then Brophy drew another technical

foul. Hamilton hit their two free throws then added another three.

In a flash the Huskies had the lead back to 15 in a 10 point swing and the Broncos could not recover.

“Physically they just pounded us, we didn’t want any part of it,” Mr. Fuller said.

Thunder romps Broncos in biggest defeat of year

Desert Vista 59 Brophy 33

By Tyler J. Scott ’12/THE ROUNDUP

The Desert Vista Thunder had hot hands the entire game Feb. 9 and downed the Broncos 59-33.

Chris Pierre ’11 led Brophy scorers with 13 points. He was the only Bronco in double figures; however, Sai Tummala ’11 grabbed five rebounds.

Junior Nick Timpani of Desert Vista had 23 points, including five three-pointers. Senior Duncan Schramm contributed 15 points as well, all of which were three-pointers.

“We got to grow up, got to get some leadership, got to get some heart and some guts,” Mr. Fuller said after the game.

Broncos charge to the play-offs with win over Chandler

Brophy 65 Chandler 56

By Ian C. Beck ’12/THE ROUNDUP

Sealing a playoff berth, the Broncos beat the Chandler Wolves 65-56 Thursday, Feb. 11.

John LaVanway ’11 had 11 points and nine rebounds along with a steal. Sai Tummala ’11 had six rebounds and 11 points of his own and Chris Pierre ’11 had a team-leading 13 points in addition to three rebounds and three steals.

They led 48-33 at the start of the fourth quarter but with 1:09 left in the game their lead shrunk to eight at 58-50. Chandler senior CJ Dickerson hit two three point shots to put Chandler back within 10.

Pierre was fouled on the ensuing possession and knocked down both of his free throws to put the lead back at a double digit mark.

“I thought we bounced back very well,” said head coach Mr. Tony Fuller, referring to Brophy’s previous two consecutive losses to Hamilton and Desert Vista.

SportsThe Roundup

Broncos make push for the playoffs

Left photo by Rob March ’11Sai Tummala ’11 leaps for a layup Feb. 11 against Chan-dler.

Right photo by Andrew Ahearne ’11 Brophy sophomore Jordan Medl ’12 goes up for a layup Jan. 22 against Desert Vista. Medl scored 9 points, his highest total of the season, in the Broncos’ 49-38 win.

Read full game stories online at roundup.brophyprep.org

Go to www.twitter.com/bro-physports to get updates on

Brophy’s playoff run.

Page 10 | March 2010 The Roundup

Close to 30 athletes headed for college playBy Alex Stanley ’12THE ROUNDUP

Brophy athletics never fails to amaze, as nearly 30 students so far are heading to play their sport in college.

On the gridiron, there are five players looking to play football in college.

Max Leonesio ’10 will be going to Princeton University, Alex Garoutte ’10 will kick at Arizona State University and Hank Jenkins ’10 is going to the University of San Diego, according to football coach Mr. Scooter Molander.

Tommy Woodward ’10 is still deciding where he wants to play, as is Max Eller ’10, who is looking at Division III colleges such as California Lutheran University, Trinity University and Bentley University.

Brophy swimming has had three swimmers commit to Division I colleges, and Nick Ryan ’10 is still deciding, said swimming coach Mr. Patrick O’Neill.

Harrison Gibson ’10 will swim at the University of Florida, John Wojciechowski ’10 is going to the University of Michigan and Danny Hatfield ’10 will attend the University of North Carolina.

In addition to these many prospects, golf has three players looking to play in college.

Parker Middleton ’10 is going to Gonzaga University to golf.

Ryan Donahue ’10 said he is looking to commit in March to one of three schools: Loyola University Chicago, University of Kansas or Rutgers University.

Lastly, David Lowe ’11 is still looking at several different schools to play at, all of which are on the west coast.

Wrestling has one athlete who will be wrestling in college.Paul Looper ’10 said he is looking to wrestle at Arizona

State University, the University of Dubuque, Embry-Riddle University or the University of Central Oklahoma.

From the Broncos’ baseball diamond, Kasey Coffman ’10 signed a letter of intent with Arizona State University, and there are many other players looking to sign in April, according to baseball coach Mr. Tom Succow.

On the soccer pitch, there are three graduating seniors who are going to play soccer in college.

Patrick Poblete ’10 is the only player who has decided where he wants to go. He will be attending the University of New Mexico.

Brian Hines ’10 and Graham Smith ’10 both received offers from Gonzaga University, and Hines has also received offers from Santa Clara University and University of California Irvine.

As of now, no basketball players have received offers from any colleges, but Ryan Milne ’10 is planning on playing.

Next up, volleyball. “Boys volleyball scholarships are very hard to come by;

(there are) about 30 teams offering 4.5 scholarships a piece,” said volleyball coach Mr. Tony Oldani.

Due to this, most college players are walk-ons.Junior Matt Pohlman ’11 is looking to play in two years for

a school like George Mason University or Loyola University Chicago, although he hasn’t been focusing too much on the college process since he is only a junior.

Crew is similar to volleyball in that it is extremely hard to get a scholarship.

Rowing does help to get a student into a school that he might not have been able to be accepted to if he did not row, according to Ryan Hemelt ’10.

The crew team has three graduating seniors who are going to row in college. These are Hemelt who is going to the University of San Diego, Alex Douglas ’10 who will be attending Cornell University and Chris Burghart ’10 who is still deciding where to go.

Track has three different athletes in three different events who will be playing in college.

Alex Bishop ’10, a pole vaulter, is still deciding which college to attend, although he is leaning towards the University of Kansas or Arizona State University.

Harry Danilevics ’10 is interested in Columbia University, the University of California Los Angeles, Arizona State University and any other offers he receives this year for hurdling.

Matthew Xuereb ’10 will be looking to run long distance at Villanova University, Boston College, Gonzaga University or the University of California Berkley.

Hockey is a whole different story compared to most other sports.

It is very hard to go straight from high school to a prestigious hockey college. Most colleges want hockey players to compete in a junior league (at the semi-pro level) before joining a team at the NCAA level, according to Tomas Abrate ’10.

That being said, Michael Weinberger ’10 and Abrate are being recruited by teams in the British Columbia Hockey League. Both are being recruited by ASU as well, but Weinberger said he would prefer to play at a school like Fordham University, Loyola Marymount University or Fairfield University.

Tommy Tuohy ’10 is leaning towards playing for a Pac-8 hockey team or Vanderbilt’s team if he is accepted.

Wrestling captain Ruelas pins opponents down 4 years straightBy James “Buffalo” Saint

Amour ’10THE ROUNDUP

Varsity wrestler Tadeo Ruelas ’10 has been wrestling since the eighth grade when he fell in love with WWE style wrestling, and he wanted to try it out for himself.

One could say he was confused when he didn’t see this type of “show” wrestling when he stepped onto the mat.

At one point in his eighth grade season he asked his coach, “When are we gonna start hitting with chairs?”

His coach just told him to take another lap.

Wrestling is not what it looks like on WWE RAW; in the high school sport wrestlers must combine strength, brains and finesse in order to overcome their opponents.

Ruelas wrestles in the 130-pound weight class, a position that he has held since his junior year.

Before being 130, Ruelas wrestled in the 125-pound weight class, where he earned himself the nickname “The Shank.”

Ruelas’ record sits 20 wins to only four losses at the end of January.

Ruelas is one of the three varsity captains this year, a position he shares with fellow four year varsity wrestler Paul Looper ’10 and junior Kevin Molloy ’11.

“Tadeo is a very physical wrestler, he’s not too fast, not too strong, but is constantly putting pressure on you when you

are wrestling him,” said his varsity co-captain Looper.

Ruelas has proved his mettle by pinning his counterpart from Hamilton,

and out scoring his opponent from Corona del Sol, who was at the time ranked just behind Ruelas in third.

“As a teammate Tadeo won’t shy away to tell anyone if they are slacking off. He gets all the underclassmen fired up,” Looper said.

Ruelas and Looper also meet up outside of regular practice times to get in extra workouts to stay at the top of their games.

In the state run Ruelas can match up with the best of them. Two of his four losses come from the top ranked

wrestler in the state.As the team inched closer to the state

tournaments in late February, Ruelas was confident about the Broncos outcome.

“This year we are gonna have state champions,” he said.

Photo by Ben Jackson ’11Tadeo Ruelas ’10 grapples with an opponent. Nicknamed “The Shank”, Ruelas is a leader on the varsity team.

Tadeo is a very physical wrestler, he’s not too

fast, not too strong, but is constantly putting

pressure on you when

you are wrestling him.—Paul Looper ’10

Commentary by Tyler J. Scott ’12 and Erik T. Masingill ’12

THE ROUNDUP

In arguably the most exciting tournament in sports, March Madness is set to make a comeback beginning on Tuesday, Mar. 16.

Last year’s champions, the North Carolina Tar Heels, are struggling to contend for a tournament spot this year.

Louisville, last year’s overall No. 1 seed, is also struggling to hang on to a 12 seed.

What does this mean for the tournament this year?

It’s wide open. This season, the No. 1 team in the ESPN/USA Today Coach’s Poll has changed three times already through Week 13.

From previous years we know the team that wins in the end has an experienced back court.

Last year’s champions, North Carolina, had eight seniors. Their point guard, Ty Lawson, was a junior at the time and is now in the NBA.

Four of their five starters from that championship team were drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Inexperience and losing so much talent has led to the Tar Heels being 13-10 as of Monday, Feb. 8.

This year’s favorites, in our opinion, are Kansas, Syracuse, Kentucky and Villanova.

Kansas still has five players from their championship win in the 2007-2008 season, including Sherron Collins, their clutch point guard.

The duo of Collins and Cole Aldrich, who was a freshman during their championship run, average 27 points a game together. Their experience together has propelled them to the No. 1 ranking as of Feb. 8.

Syracuse has two experienced seniors on the team, a guard and a center. The guard is Andy Rautins who averages 10.7 points per game and has always been a core part of the Syracuse offense. Arinze Onuaku averages 10.3 points per game as well as 4.6 rebounds per game.

Syracuse’s pesky matchup zone also poses problems for all opponents.

Kentucky does not have the experience in players, but they have an experienced coach in John Calipari as well as two freshman phenoms in John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins.

The dynamic duo of Wall and Cousins averages 32.8 points a game and has the Wildcats sitting at No. 3 in the ESPN/USA Today Coach’s Poll as of

Feb. 8. The University of Kentucky is the winningest

program in college basketball, grabbing 1,988 wins and they are looking to get back on top.

Villanova is fresh off of losing to the reigning champions, UNC, in the Final Four last year.

The Wildcats are returning with their amazing back court consisting of Scottie Reynolds who is a senior, Corey Fisher who is a junior and Reggie Redding who is another senior.

With the Big East attitude and strong schedule, the Wildcats are looking for a championship.

Reynolds is Mr. Clutch once again this season and he often starts Villanova’s comebacks.

He is averaging 18.8 points a game as well as 3.6 assists per game while Fisher averages 13.8 points a

game and four assists.As of Feb. 9 in ESPN writer Joe Lunardi’s

“Bracketology,” the tournament seeding has Kansas in the No. 1 spot in the Midwest, Villanova No. 1 in the West, Syracuse No. 1 in the South and Kentucky No. 1 in the East.

Kansas has a fairly easy way into the Elite Eight; Georgetown is the only other team in their region that could give them trouble.

Villanova has a slightly tougher region consisting of bracket busters like Temple and St. Mary’s. They also have an inconsistent Texas team as well as a banged up Michigan State team in their midst.

Syracuse has the hardest road to the championship but their matchup zone should help to slow down their opposition.

Their bracket consists of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who are always a threat, a sneaky Kansas State team and a Duke team that could get really hot from the three.

Kentucky has a very easy bracket that only contains a tough Wisconsin team and a solid West Virginia.

All pending a let-down by one of these four teams, we will see another all-No.1 seed Final Four.

No matter what matchup this year’s championship is it will come down to a skilled backcourt along with numerous clutch plays.

Tyler’s prediction: Kansas vs. Villanova. Winner: Kansas. Explanation: Villanova doesn’t have the size/championship experience.

Erik’s prediction: Syracuse vs. Kentucky. Winner: Syracuse. Explanation: Syracuse has a big, talented team and Kentucky is overrated.

The Roundup March 2010 | Page 11

Bronco wrestlers place high at individual state tournament Feb. 18Senior Ruelas named state

champ at 130lbsBy Ian C. Beck ’12THE ROUNDUP

Senior wrestler Tadeo Ruelas ’10 earned state champion at 130 pounds

Feb. 18, becoming the first Brophy wrestler to ever place at state three times in his career.

Ruelas placed fifth as a sophomore, fifth as a junior and most recently placed first. He is also just the second state champion in the history of Brophy wrestling.

Nine Broncos qualified for state, according to Head coach Mr. Brad Frank, and five of them won medals.

Kevin Molloy ’11 placed sixth at 145 pounds, Paul Wirth ’11 placed fifth at 171 pounds, Marshall Varner ’13 took fifth at 140 pounds and Paul Looper ’10 came in second at 135

pounds. According to Mr. Frank, Looper

battled back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the score at six, forcing overtime.

However, he was taken down with just a few seconds left in overtime, losing out to a three-time state champion.

Experienced guard play is key to winning it all this March

Photo courtesty of MCT CampusSherron Collins leads the top seeded Kansas Jayhawks as the NCAA regular season winds down, sparking debate over who is into the NCAA Tournament and who will miss the cut.

Soccer closes season with 1st round playoff lossBy Rohan Andresen ’12

THE ROUNDUP

Brophy soccer season has come to a close leaving many victories and a few losses in its wake.

“We had an up and down season; we played some very difficult teams, and those teams we beat,” said head coach Mr. Marc Kelly ’87. “And then when we played some teams we should have beat we had

bad luck and didn’t get the victories we needed … we had a lot of bad luck this year.”

They finished this year with 14 victories and six losses. This season the team scored a collective 38 goals, with only 16 goals scored against them.

The top goal scorers this year were seniors Taylor Ahrensdorf ’10 and Brian Hines ’10 with four and five goals scored respectively.

Both these players will graduate along with the four captains of the team, one of which is Hines.

The soccer team welcomed six freshmen to the team this season.

Prior to this year there have never been more than three freshmen at a time on varsity.

Mr. Kelly said the future of the team looks bright and that he is excited for how the freshmen will develop over the next four years.

The season ended when the team lost their first playoff game to San Luis High in Yuma.

The game was tied 1-1 going into overtime. San

Luis was granted a penalty kick in double overtime and scored.

Mr. Kelly said it was one of the best games that goalie Patrick Poblete ’10 has ever played. He was voted the player of the game.

“Hopefully we will be able to keep the morale high and make next year just as much fun, if not more fun, than this year. Also, hopefully we can bring home better results and a state championship,” said Nikhar Abbas ’11.

To read a full wrestling recap, go to

roundup.brophyprep.org

March Madness pool drew nearly 500

students last yearBy Tyler J. Scott ’12

THE ROUNDUPLast year 483 students participated in a

March Madness pool but only the top 10 finishers received prizes.

The prizes were extravagant: up to $125 cash, an iPod nano, gift certificates, vintage Brophy T-shirts and a Great Hall Front-of-the-Line pass.

The entire pool was done through the Web site www.hoopness.com and students were required to login as their Brophy ID’s such as “TScott12.”

Students simply signed in to www.hoopness.com and filled out the brackets there.

At the end of March Madness, after the Championship, the students with the most accurate picks were placed.

Last year’s winners consisted of C. Dare Slonaker ’11 in first place, Ryan Johnson ’10 in second, Michael Sutter ’11 in third, Jeff Romine ’10 in fourth and rounding up the top five, Kevin Curley ’10.

Mr. Jeff Glosser and student council members run this event.

Page 12 | March 2010 The Roundup

Winter Olympics prove no match for SummerBy Mason Smith ’11THE ROUNDUP

The winter Olympics are officially over.

Over several weeks athletes were able to showcase their different winter skills in the two week event held in Vancouver, Canada.

But how many watched the winter Olympics compared to the people who watch the Summer Olympics?

According to Olympics.org, there are 33 different sports for Winter and Summer Olympics combined. Twenty-six of those sports are summer sports, and the remaining seven are winter events.

Skating, skiing, bobsleigh, luge, biathlon, ice hockey and curling are the seven sports for the winter Olympics.

Even though these are the seven winter sports, there are many different events under skating, skiing and bobsleigh. Some of the events are figure skating, speed skating, snowboarding, freestyle skiing and bobsleigh skeleton.

But with the different events in the sports, that is still no match for the summer games that have twenty-six different sports and a number of

different events under each of those. Track and field, soccer, rowing,

gymnastics and basketball are just few of many sports that the summer games have to offer.

In a recent poll conducted by The Roundup, 100 different people were asked if they either watched the summer Olympics or the winter Olympics more. Sixty-five of those people answered summer, 25 winter and 10 people watch both winter and summer equally.

According to a December article posted by mediadailypost.com, NBC Universal will lose an estimated $200 million on the Winter Olympics.

During this year’s winter Olympics, the United States sent 240 athletes to Vancouver to compete. In 2008 when the summer Olympics were held in Beijing, China, the United States sent 548 athletes, according to teamusa.org.

The Summer and Winter Olympics showcase some of the best athletes from all corners of the world in nearly every sport, but the Summer Olympics best out the Winter Olympics in nearly every aspect.

The next Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia.

In the meantime, fans can look forward to the next summer games in 2010 in London, England.

Photo courtesy of MCT CampusVancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash and former Phoenix Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky both participated in the Opening Ceremonies Feb. 12.

The Union brings fans and respect to underappreciated sportsBy Sam Fleury ’10The Roundup

The Union, no not a faction in the American Civil War, is a Brophy Club that goes out every week to support as many teams as possible.

Their official mission statement is to “bring social justice to underappreciated sports,” according to Vice President Ryan Tiglas ’10. They don’t

restrict themselves to just major sports. They treat football and badminton with the same

respect. And they want the whole student body to devote some of their time to a wider variety of sports. Their part in filling the stands provides support for teams that would otherwise go without a substantial crowd.

One can find The Union at almost every home soccer game.

To spot them at a game look for the most excited and loudest crowd members; it will more than likely be them.

The Union is also looking forward to the baseball season in order to attend those games. Tiglas mentioned they will be attending many Xavier basketball and softball games.

Track and field and hockey are other sports that The Union plans to cheer for.

The Union is led by President Riley Brennan ’10 and Vice Presidents Peter Kelly ’10 as well as Tiglas. The ranks of the club are filled with members of both Xavier and Brophy, but there are only about 10 constant members.

The general environment of the club is laid back with a continuous calling to friends and classmates to attend games. If interested in The Union talk to one of the three leaders for more information.

Want more Brophy sports?Need more scores, stats and analysis?Looking for more photos and comments?

We’ve got just the place.

roundup.brophyprep.org

The RoundupReporters Wanted

Attention Writers: The Roundup is looking for you. If you are a writer, photographer or graphic designer and are interested in making an impact in the information the Brophy community reads, talk to your counselor about Brophy’s Journalism class, which produces The Roundup.

EntertainmentThe Roundup

Fantasy found in ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’

By Sam Fleury ’10The Roundup

Spells, witches, wizards and castles are all the telltale signs of a fantasy novel.

Diana Wynne Jones has all of these in “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

This was the Literati’s book of the month and it was a relaxing read. The Literati is Brophy’s book club and about every month a book is chosen to read and discuss.

The story starts with a young girl, Sophie, who is the eldest of three with a stepmother and no father. Much like the stereotypical Cinderella story, there are hints that the stepmother doesn’t care for the children.

Early in the book the three are separated and Sophie is all alone working in the back of her stepmother’s hat shop.

It seems that no adventure would reach Sophie in her cloistered world but she is quickly bombarded by the Witch of the Waste, the antagonist, who turns her into an old woman. This starts the adventure. She wants to find a way to be normal and her stepmother would be back at anytime. So she sets out to the hills.

Soon she meets Howl the wizard who, according to rumors, is evil. His character has some very peculiar traits, for example he tries to have women fall in love with him and then dumps them once they do.

The story, as you can derive from the title, is set in a moving castle. There are other towns that are visited but the castle tethers the story together.

The relationship between all the characters develops. Sophie and Howl grow closer. Soon they must face the Witch of the Waste, who has cursed Howl and Sophie.

The characters in this book are interesting and not usually what is found in other fantasy novels. That is why it stands out.

It is worth a read. With regular reading it shouldn’t take too long but it’s not a short book by any means at 329 pages.

Seeing the movie, released in 2004, is not a suitable alternative for the book because the director changed the plot quite a bit. In the movie, themes were changed to reflect an anti-war message.

However, I think the themes, if any in the book, are focused on character flaws and changes.

Take time to give back to Arizona trailsGet Lost

By Adam Triplett ’10The Roundup

Arizona is a state full of beauty and amazing natural landscapes that provide the backdrop to our lives.

Unfortunately, the majesty of the country can sometimes be neglected and taken for granted. Wherever there are people, trash inevitably follows.

Every weekend when I go out onto a trail, I find pop cans, plastic food wrappers, glass bottles, drywall, car parts, sofas, filing cabinets; you name it, it’s out there. Some people have decided that the world is their trashcan. It seems like such an insurmountable amount of trash is piling up in Arizona’s backcountry that there is nothing you can do.

Think again.Regularly there are cleanups sponsored by off-road

clubs, local stores or private individuals. The most recent of such events was the Four Peaks area cleanup, which was held Feb. 6. This was the third annual cleanup around Four Peaks, which includes Sycamore Creek and The Rolls OHV (off-highway vehicle) area around Saguaro Lake north of Mesa.

The first year of the event, there were around 250 volunteers who picked up roughly seven tons of trash. The next year, 500 volunteers. The number has been growing ever since.

This year volunteers filled up five, 40-cubic-yard trash containers, more than tripling the first year’s

cleanup.There are also organizations that go out more often

than just once a year. Tonto Recreation Alliance, TRAL, is one such alliance. They put together cleanups, trail repairs, surveys and several other activities oriented towards giving back to the land we all enjoy.

Past all that, you, the individual, can do your part to cleanup the ever growing amount of trash circulating around Arizona.

Each weekend I am out on a trail I can easily pick up more then one bag full of what other people have left.

Next time you go out on a trip, take a trash bag or two and pick up the trash you can see. Every little part helps.

Remember the old outdoor adage: Pack it in, pack it out.

For more information on how to help, visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/home.shtml

Photo By Adam Triplett ’10Conscientious people help clean up the Four Peaks area Feb. 6.

Mac’s MealsBy James McElwee ’10

THE ROUNDUP

We live in a state with thousands of restaurants, and when faced with this abundance of choices, how can you decide where to eat?

This question plagues me for a couple days each month as I try to decide what places to review for Mac’s Meals. If I don’t get a recommendation from someone, I inevitably end up on one of two Web sites, either Yelp.com or urbanspoon.com.

These two sites allow people to create a profile and write reviews of the places they have been, and the reviews provide a good indication of what places are good and which are not.

Yelp also includes other categories besides restaurants. Everything from arts and entertainment to religious organizations, so you can review your church, the place you went to eat afterwards and then where you went shopping later in the afternoon all on one site.

Urbanspoon focuses solely on restaurants.

Both sites allow you to sort your choices based on the style of food and

the price you’re looking for; anywhere from $8 greasy spoon diners to $100 steakhouses, depending on your budget and taste.

I won’t tell you which Web site is the best, that’s for you to decide, but they both have different styles. Yelp has more regular people and patrons writing the reviews, while Urbanspoon includes reviews from Bloggers and the local newspaper, in our case The Arizona Republic.

Urbanspoon does include reviews from customers as well, but it is not featured as prominently as it is on Yelp. It also has iPhone and Android apps.

As an example, the users on Yelp have

some nice things to say about Mi Patio, which I reviewed last edition. John P., from Washington, DC has nothing but good things to say about Mi Patio:

“Start with the green Chile cheese crisp and then dive right into green Chile burrito or their uniquely delicious Baja chicken burrito. Actually, every time we go everyone loves what they get. Don’t forget to ask about the specials which are always great,” John wrote.

All in all they are both really good places to find new restaurants, haunts and hangouts.

They are also quite useful when out of town, as you get to see what restaurants the locals like.

With the Internet around everyone can be a critic

NBC pulls the plug on Conan O’Brien’s ‘Tonight Show’By Chase Stevens ’12

THE ROUNDUP

The last episode of the “Tonight Show” with Conan O’Brien aired Jan. 22 on NBC.

Due to Jay Leno not doing well on his own primetime show, NBC tried to move O’Brien back into a later time slot instead of the regular 10:35 time slot.

However, instead of moving the “Tonight Show” to 12:05 A.M., O’Brien instead resigned.

Not all is lost for the red-headed comedian though. O’Brien and his staff will get a $45 million severance package, with $33 million going to

O’Brien and $12 million going to his staff, according to The New York Times.

To top it all off, NBC will air a pilot of the series “Justice,” of which O’Brien is the executive producer.

“Justice” is a show about a Supreme Court justice who quits to start his own private law firm. It is said to be a “dramedy,” or a comedic drama.

While many fans say it is unfortunate that O’Brien has left the “Tonight Show,” they believe that he was well compensated.

“He’s not getting fired so much as walking away… I think it worked out pretty fairly,” said Andy McCoy ’12, a watcher of the

“Tonight Show.” “And the last couple of sketches he did

on the ‘Tonight Show’ were worth $10 million.”Some think that NBC would have been wiser to let

O’Brien keep his show. “But when you’ve got Jay Leno, you really don’t have

a choice,” McCoy said. “Jay had done the ‘Tonight Show’ for many years, so it

makes sense that he would get his old time slot back.” Others have different ideas as to what should be done

at NBC. If he was president of NBC, Scott Franz ’10 would

“just get rid of all of the stupid sitcoms” in order to have room for more talk shows like the “Tonight Show.”

When asked what he would have done if he had been president of NBC, McCoy would have “fired Jay Leno. He’s just not that funny.”

Page 14 | March 2010 The Roundup

Cavnar-Lewandowski wins poetry contest, will go to stateBy Alex Stanley ’12THE ROUNDUP

Walking into the Black Box Theater for the first annual Poetry Out Loud contest, a poetry enthusiast might expect to see just a handful of students.

This was not the case in January when there were 30-40 Brophy students crowded into the Black Box Theater.

Brophy’s first ever Poetry Out Loud poem recitation contest took place Jan. 20 and Jan. 21.

The basic rules for the event were simple: a student recited a poem, written by a famous poet,

by memory. The participants are judged similar to a speech

and debate round; on how well they project their voices and act out the emotion in the poem.

Seventeen students participated in the event. Only the winner, however, Jean Luc Cavnar-Lewandowski ’10, will go on to the state competition. If he wins this he will go to the national competition for a run at $20,000.

The second place prize went to Conner Wareing ’12, and Jack Wolf ’10 claimed third place.The contest was coordinated by the Mr. John Damaso ’97, and judged by a cast of five Brophy teachers:

Ms. Kelly Guffey, Ms. Elizabeth Clark, Mr. Scott Middlemist ’88, Mrs. Dorothy Dunnion and Mrs. Susan Maynard.

The judging of recitations consisted of six different categories.

These are Physical Presence; Voice and Articulation; Appropriateness of Dramatization; Level of Difficulty; Evidence of Understanding; and Overall Performance. Each category was graded on a one to six point scale except for the Overall Performance section, which was on a two to 12-point scale.

Mr. Chad Unrein was the prompter in case

someone needed a reminder on lines. Mr. Steve Smith ’96 was the official score keeper.

Mr. Unrein described his job as “nerve-wracking” since he wasn’t sure whether students were taking dramatic pauses, or forgetting their lines.

Mr. Damaso said he didn’t know how the event was going to go, but the students rose to the occasion. Because of this, he said the quality was even higher than he had expected.

“I was very impressed by the students’ ability to get up in front of the crowd and perform,” said Ms. Christine Gallagher.

English classes show bias toward literary fiction, miss opportunitiesBy Liam Martin ’10THE ROUNDUP

Every year in English classes across the country, students are required to read books many of which are, quite frankly, boring.

These books, put rather indelicately by some as having been written by “dead white guys,” are assigned because they are considered to be “classics.”

In American Literature class, it is professed that we are being taught the history of American literature, but that assertion is at best a gross misrepresentation of the truth. What we are being taught is the history of American literary fiction, along with those few works of science fiction or fantasy that have managed to escape from the intellectual ghetto into which

speculative fiction has been placed.This is a nearly universal bias in the

academic world, extending from high school to college and beyond.

We are made to read Hawthorne and Eliot, but Asimov and Heinlein are strangely absent. We are assigned Twain and Fitzgerald, but not a mention is made of Herbert or Le Guin. An entire literary movement, speculative fiction, has been almost completely ignored—perhaps because it produces works which the average person can read without having to have learned the proper techniques for decoding the pretentious obscurities of literary fiction.

We are taught about the modernists of the early twentieth century, but not about the futurists of the golden age of science fiction.

One undesirable effect of this one-

sided presentation of literary history is a general impression on the part of students that books are boring and difficult to understand, and that reading is something to be done for homework and not for recreation.

Of course, assigning books like Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation,” Robert A. Heinlein’s “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress,” or Arthur C. Clarke’s “Childhood’s End”—all of which are excellently written, well-crafted stories that provide ample material for philosophical speculation and class discussion—might not solve this problem.

I know from personal experience the mere fact that a book was assigned by a teacher may sometimes be enough to discourage me from reading it. But I certainly think it would be a step in the

right direction.Many teachers at Brophy have

made this step, or begun to make it, choosing books beyond the already generally accepted “Fahrenheit 451” and “Slaughterhouse 5.”

Mr. Scott Middlemist ’87, the chair of the English department, has for two years assigned freshmen the science-fiction novel “Ender’s Game,” by Orson Scott Card.

“I chose it because it deals with many of the ‘Grad at Grad’ themes we discuss, and because I loved the book and thought students would as well,” Mr. Middlemist said. “I believe that many genres can work well in the classroom, as long as they focus on the main theme being discussed.”

He has also had students read “The Once and Future King” by T.H. White

for 15 years, and taught William Gibson’s “Neuromancer” for two years.

No doubt other teachers also have and will continue to assign the occasional work of speculative fiction, but my concern is that a large portion of literary history is being treated as if it doesn’t exist, or isn’t good enough to be taught in the classroom.

Eliot and the modernists wanted to raise literature to the highest denominator, and they raised it so high that a reader cannot understand what they’re talking about without spending years in college learning to “appreciate” its “true genius.”

So I say give us a History of Speculative Fiction class, and let us read books by authors who care more about writing compelling literature than about showing off how smart they are.

Students should dress to impress on Mass dress days8 tips to avoid formal fashion

faux pasBy Lorenzo Galicia ’10

Special To The Roundup

We have all heard and dreaded the phrase “Mass dress tomorrow” (some of us have even forgotten), but Mass dress days present the opportunity to look sharp and live smart for a day.

However, throughout the many Mass dress days we’ve had at Brophy, I’ve noticed faults in some students’ outfits ranging from subtle to major errors.

You might be reading this and thinking, “so what?” or “who cares?”

Well, you’re absolutely right that you’re among friends during Mass dress days and that, minus Xavier girls (and teachers), there’s really no one to impress.

But let’s step outside the campus here and go into a business or an interview setting. You wouldn’t wear jeans and a t-shirt to a formal interview would you?

If you don’t know how to button your suit or how long your tie should be, then according to Murphy’s Law, you’re interviewer will definitely know how and more than likely, your outfit’s error will blurt itself out giving it unwanted and unneeded attention.

Now, short of completely reorganizing your wardrobe, I’ve compiled some short tips and general guidelines from sources like GQ

(Gentlemen’s Quarterly) and Askmen.com that you should remember anytime you put on a suit or even a dress shirt. It will leave you looking sharp, and living smart:

1. When wearing a one-button suit, you may button the button, but unbutton it when you sit down.

2. When wearing a two-button suit, button the top button only and never all of the buttons or just

the bottom one. 3. When wearing a three-button suit, you may

only button the middle button or the top and middle button but never all of the buttons, the bottom one, the bottom and middle or the bottom and top.

4. The tip of a tie should slightly touch the top of your belt buckle. It should never completely cover it, go beyond it or be anywhere else above it.

5. Add a dimple to your tie; it gives depth to an otherwise flat surfaced tie.

6. Don’t wear white socks with formal clothes 7. Don’t tie your tie’s knot too tight: it’ll ruin the

tie. 8. Bow tie guys: don’t make the bow too big;

you’ll look like a clown (By the way bow tie guys, you should never wear a bow tie to an interview; go for a neck tie instead).

Photo by Rob March ’11 Students stand at attention in the Mass of the Epiphany. Mass dress days should be an opportunity for students to show some style.

The Roundup March 2010 | Page 15Entertainment»Music

The Noise By Quinn McGovern ’12 & Kevin Cabano ’12THE ROUNDUP

“The Noise” is a new feature in The Roundup created as a forum for all things music. Every month writers Quinn McGovern ’12 and Kevin Cabano ’12 will review bands, new

songs or emerging artists.Is there a Brophy band you would like to see reviewed? E-mail your suggestions to The

Noise at roundup@brophyprep.org.

New Muse album may be front man’s crowning achievementFor those of you who haven’t been exposed

to what Muse has done over the last 10 years or so, Muse consists of three main members; Matt Bellamy on lead vocals, guitar, and piano, Chris Wolstenholme on bass and Dominic Howard playing the drums.

They originated in Devon, England and after they started to become semi-popular, they changed their name from Rocket Baby Dolls to a more serious one; Muse.

From the beginning they offered much sheer power in most of their works, which seemed to especially show in their second album (my personal favorite) “Origin of Symmetry.”

The reason I chose to talk about Muse was because their work serves as a major defining moment in the progression of music in both the

sound as well as how it is produced. Some musicians may argue that music loses

its identity as more technology is used. This argument is something I don’t believe but one that could certainly be applied to Matt Bellamy, Muse’s frontman.

Bellamy took a Manson guitar and added many kill switches and sustainers on the body to affect and sustain created sound. He also implanted a small touch screen “Kaoss” pad which he used to control effects on the sounds he makes as well as operate stage lights and lasers at the ridiculous live shows they perform.

Muse fans can recognize them from miles when they hear the incredibly loud and raucous songs that have a sound similar to that of U2 meets Dépêche Mode.

Much of what they do is similar to that of the distorted and powerful methods of music making from both rock pioneers like Jimi Hendrix and also epic classical composers such as Rachmaninoff or Beethoven.

The unique thing about the album is the three part symphony at the end that I would like to think is Bellamy’s crowning achievement.

Muse of course is sharing this album all across North America this spring and you can catch them in the US Airways Center April 9.

Key Album: Black Holes and Revelations, 2006

Key Songs: “Knights of Cydonia,” “Starlight,” “New Born,” “Uprising”

-Quinn McGovern

Van Halen reunited with David Lee Roth, world tour on the horizonVan Halen is a hard rock band that formed in the

early 1970s in Pasadena, Cali. Their classic lineup - brothers Eddie (guitar)

and Alex (drums) Van Halen, David Lee Roth (vocals) and Mike Anthony (bass) - rose to fame in the late 70s and early 80s with their energetic, talented playing, producing hit songs such as “Runnin’ With the Devil” and “Jump.”

As successful as the band was, a sort of rivalry between Roth and Eddie grew as the years went by, nearly peaking with the album “1984,” which had a much more mainstream sound than their previous work.

By 1985 Roth had enough and left the band. The band had no intention of stopping, so they immediately began searching for a new singer to replace Roth, and finally found Sammy Hagar,

who had already had a successful career both as a solo artist and in the band Montrose.

Hagar brought his pop influences into the songwriting of the group, further pushing Van Halen into the commercial fold.

The band, sometimes referred to as “Van Hagar” due to nearly sounding like an entirely different band than with Roth, released hit songs such as “Dreams” and “Right Now,” both of which featured prominent piano and keyboards as opposed to the guitar-based rock of their early days.

In the mid-’90s Sammy left the band. Van Halen tried a third singer, Gary Cherone of Extreme, but failed to sell well with the album they released with him.

Cherone left the band on friendly terms in the

late 90s. Since then, no new Van Halen music has been released save for a few songs, but the band reunited with Hagar in 2004 for a tour. However, this ended badly and Hagar left the band for the final time.

In 2007, the group announced that David Lee Roth had rejoined the band, and Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang would now play bass. They embarked on a hugely successful reunion tour in 2007-2008, and have plans to tour again in the next few years, with possible new music on its way.

Key Album: Van Halen, 1978Key Songs: “Hot For Teacher,” “On Fire,”

“Jump,” “Unchained,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”-Kevin Cabano

This month The Roundup is introducing a segment where I run through a few new songs and artists that I may love, hate or find that students would like.

You can listen to this and clips from the songs discussed in the new podcast “The Music Sounds Better.” To download the podcast, head over to roundup.brophyprep.org and go to the Music section.

There is a lot of diversity in music these days, and that keeps developing day to day. It is important to consider all kinds of music whether it is rock, rap or electronic music.

I find there is a lot to appreciate in all spectrums, and I’d like to ease the way to finding new, exciting music.

So to get things started I want to mention a track from folk-rock dream team She and Him made up of M. Ward, who has been releasing albums on his own for the past 10 years, and the lovely Zooey Deschanel, the star of the 2009 film “(500) Days of Summer.”

The song is called “In the Sun.” Immediately following the beginning of the song, I could predict its innocence and happiness.

Deschanel sings without worry and paints an antithetical picture of everyday problems matched to a delightful, shinny tune.

Musically, I don’t think it is the best of Ward’s work, driving too much on a single piano riff and a single chord progression.

All together though the song is very bright and very upbeat and I am interested in what the rest of the album with feel like.

Moving on, I introduce to you Owen Pallet, aka Final Fantasy. His work on the string arrangements with Arcade Fire opened his solo work to a much larger audience.

In the track “Lewis Takes off his Shirt,” Pallet demonstrates his ingenious talent as a multi-instrumentalist.He has shown signs of brilliant talent from a young age as almost a prodigy in classical piano and violin, and he is not afraid to show this in his music.

Really only made up of a single keyboard section and the work with his voice and violin, the song continuously builds. His efforts debatably surpass any of the work done on previously releases, including Arcade Fire.

“Lewis Takes off his Shirt” is only one of many complex, great songs on his new release “Heartland.”

To finish things off, consider a new interesting song by Sigur Rós front man Jónsi entitled “Go Do.”

In a recent interview he stated the material for this solo album was made up of the songs he felt did not fit the Sigur Rós catalogue.

While it’s necessary to respect the artist’s opinion, I honestly believe that this could easily just be a new track from the band.

It sounds like an electronic version of previous Sigur Rós material but in English. The song is by no means bad, I just feel it’s a bit predictable of Jónsi.

Anyway, that is it for this edition of “The Music Sounds Better,” watch for the second edition in the April issue of The Roundup.

New Roundup pod-cast offers music options, insight

Internet radio provides free music for all, custom stationsDaniel Robb ’10

THE ROUNDUP

The Internet has been changing the music industry quickly and surely.

Probably the most noticeable aspect of this is the purchasing and downloading of music. But this isn’t the only element that is changing. Internet radio has started to gain more and more users in the recent years.

I recently looked at two of the most popular: Pandora and Slacker. The mission of these sites: to deliver to you music that you will like, based on whatever you already enjoy.

PandoraThe first thing you notice when

you arrive at Pandora.com is the slick layout. Everything you need is located on one page; expertly placed so that you don’t even need to scroll down.

The functionality is simple and self-explanatory. The “Create a New Station” button is clearly placed, and allows you to make a new “station” based off of an artist or song.

As it creates a station, it tells you what criteria the system is basing the content off of. Pandora uses a unique

procedure it calls the Music Genome Project. The project apparently involved eight years of musicologists classifying songs based off of 400 different criteria.

The result is a vast database of music and stations that provide quality music with the same heart, soul and style of the base artist or song. On a grading system, I would give the quality of suggestions and music played a solid “A.”

You can pause and skip songs, though because of licensing issues, you are only allowed six skips per hour per station and 12 per day.

There is a “like” and “dislike” function that you can use to tell Pandora what to play more of, and what to play less of. There is an “add variety” function which allows you to add more songs or artists to a station.

While a song is playing, you have the ability to purchase it through iTunes or Amazon, and to share it with your friends through Twitter, Facebook, e-mail or through Pandora itself.

Along with all of this, you have an additional menu below the music player which allows you to view your own profile information, artist/

album/song information, browse by genre or take a look at their video series concerning music.

There is one advertisement on the side of the page, and extremely infrequent ones will play while listening to a station. Most of them will appear when you switch from station to station, though they are all extremely short and therefore not much hassle.

You have the ability to access Pandora outside of your computer as well through Android, Blackberry, iPhone/iPod touch, Palm Pre or Windows Mobile, giving you access nearly everywhere if you own one of these.

Slacker Personal RadioSlacker.com certainly has a nice feel

to it. The design of the site is pretty good, and is navigable with relative ease.

The player is tab based, with tabs on the side that you can use to see what is playing, a list of pre-made stations, the station creation interface and your mobile devices.

Once you’re listening, it has a noticeably smaller music database than its competitors. As a result, you may hear the same artist multiple times within a short period. Also,

it plays more popular artists more often, which depending on your predilection could be preferable to obscurity.

In addition to the limited range, the quality of music can be fairly inconsistent, prompting me to give its music and suggestion quality a “B.”

Other than that, it has the standard pause/skip feature, and the ability to “like” a song or even ban an artist from a station. The same restrictions on the “skip” feature apply here.

The ability to share a station is there, though you cannot share what you are listening to directly through Twitter or Facebook.

A cool feature it also possesses is a list of artists who are on the station, as well as the ability to see what is playing next.

It can be played on the Blackberry, iPhone and Android.

There are several ads on the page, which can be distracting in the event that you are on the page, and there are still the infrequent ads while playing. Neither of which are obstructive enough to warrant leaving the site, though.

“Physics or silence!”

–Dean Mr. Jim Bopp

“There is a God!”

– Mr. Paul Fisko after he found a small phrase using the “cached”

feature on Google

“…and his name is Google.”

– Bryan Curran ’10 in response to Mr. Fisko.

“Alright, you have two minutes to complete the question. If you can’t answer it, you fail the course.”

– Dean Mr. Jim Bopp in AP Physics B

“Let’s go murder the English department.”

– Mr. Paul Fisko after his synthesis students didn’t know how to

punctuate

“I don’t know—I think I’d make a pretty attractive girl.”

–Patrick Neill ’10

“Why can’t all the gospels be put into one super book? Wouldn’t that make more sense?”

–Nate Sundermeier ’12 in Mr. Jim Grindey’s scripture class.

“Yeah, it’s called the Bible.”

–Mr. Jim Grindey answering Sundermeier’s question

“I do wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy.”

–Ms. Christine Gallagher

“I reserve my right to be a female and change my mind.”

–Ms. Debbie Kauffman talking about rescheduling a quiz

“It’s just not sexy enough for TV.”

–Ms. Kelly Guffy speaking about Social Security

Page 16 | March 2010 The Roundup

Above, photo by Jimmy Matwijkow ’10

Right, painting by Robert Takahashi ’10

E-mail artwork for “The Artist’s Corner”

to roundup@brophyprep.org

The Artist’s Corner

Words from the Wise ...XavierGator

Slender Man: marblehornets.wikidot.com

Have you heard any wise words lately? Send them to Entertainment Editor James McElwee ’10 at roundup@brophyprep.org.

Kelli Ebensberger ’13By Chase Stevens ’12

The Roundup

So how do you like Xavier? It’s really nice, and the academics are good. You

make a lot of friends and it’s a good environment.What middle school did you go to? I went to St. Simon and Jude.Is Xavier a lot different than St. Simon

and Jude? Not really. Both Xavier and St. Simon and Jude

are Catholic schools, so there were still uniforms and higher academic standards at St. Simon and Jude, but it’s still a different environment with all of the different classrooms.

What extracurricular activities do you do?

I do Drama Club and Speech and Debate.Do you like your extracurricular

activities? Yeah, they’re really fun; they’re a good break

from the hardcore academics of Xavier. You can have fun with your friends while also doing work.

What do you do in Speech and Debate? Do you give speeches?

Yeah, I do interpretive events like Duo Act and Dramatic Interpretation.

Are you good? Well, I’m a novice, so I’ve done ok for just being

new.Why do you think other people should

join speech and debate? It’s just fun, the people you meet are the most

fun people you will ever meet in your life. It’s a good academic event but it’s also a lot of fun.

Why did you join Speech and Debate? I did it because my brother Steven

Ebensberger ’10 (A captain on the Speech and Debate team) was always talking about it.

What kind of music do you listen to? I listen to rock and alternative.Do you have any favorite bands?Rise Against, Seether, Fall Out Boy.Have you seen “Twilight: New Moon”? Yes, yes I have.Team Edward or Team Jacob? Team Edward, because vampires are just

amazing, and they’re romantic and mysterious.What are your favorite books besides

“Twilight”? “The House of Night” series and “Animal Farm”. What is your favorite kind of sandwich? Grilled cheese, because I’m a vegetarian.Oh, why did you become a vegetarian? It started in late eighth grade. I had to do a

report on PETA, and that convinced me. It’s a good health choice, but I did it mainly for animal’s rights.

Back to sandwiches, are you good at making grilled cheeses?

Yes, I’m excellent. I always make them for guests of the house.

Do you also cook a lot? Yes, but I bake more than I cook.

By Alex Pearl ’10 THE ROUNDUP

America is home to many strange cultures, two of the most unusual being myth culture and Internet culture.

The two contenders – myth culture with its blurry photographs of furry, scaly, gargantuan or anthropomorphic beasts and Internet culture with its keyboard cats, advice dogs, Numa Numa guys and bottomless supply of trivia – have recently given birth to a horribly misshapen but largely terrifying new creature: The Slender Man.

Slender Man is a tall, thin and long-limbed man dressed in a business suit with no face who wanders around heavily wooded areas and steals people.

As if that wasn’t creepy enough, he can elongate his limbs and cause multiple appendages to appear at will. A scarier notion is that this ability doesn’t seem to be necessary to catch his prey.

Created on the Something Awful forums by users who wanted to frighten paranormal enthusiasts elsewhere on the Internet, Slender Man has grown in popularity and spread from highly-edited photographs to several ARGs (Alternate Reality Game), in which users relate their horrifying “encounters” with the Slender Man.

The first and most popular ARG is entitled

“Marble Hornets,” a series of videos about a filmmaker simply named J whose friend Alex Kralie ceased production on a movie project for unknown reasons. Taking the footage for himself, J begins to sort through it and finds that Alex has encountered something terrible. At least, before he disappeared without a trace.

Another ARG involving Slender Man is a blog titled “Just Another Fool,” telling the story of Logan, a young man who receives an unusual notebook, which he gave to his friend Matt before he shipped to Iraq.

After an ambush and a violent case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Matt began to draw disturbing images in the notebook as his only method of communication.

Logan received the book from Matt, but mysterious circumstances lead to his loss of sanity and eventually his disappearance.

Most of the Slender Man mythos centers on this: Slender Man’s attention causes his prey to develop an increased sense of paranoia, memory loss and an intense, racking cough. He appears most often around wooded areas, possibly due to his “tree-like” appearance, and he rarely leaves evidence of his victims or their fate.

It may all be made up, but Slender Man shows that the Internet is ready and willing to oust the Bigfoots and Nessies out there in a heartbeat. Of course, if it isn’t an elaborate hoax, then stay away from the trees.