september 28th, 2011

SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY

XAVIERITET H E E Y E S A N D E A R S O F T H E S T U D E N T S

theWednesday September 28, 2011

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www.thexavierite.com

Both men and women’s cross

country teams off to running start

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Tony rails against reality TV...and

compares Jersey Shore to cat litter

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Our staff offers low budget tips on best ways to explore

Chicagopage 6 and 7

No clear answer in sight

By Genevieve BonadonnaEditor in Chief

problematic for cash-strapped resident students who normally rely on their Cougar Card to pay any fees they may encounter on campus. Concerning the machines’ problems, freshman student Tara Patrick, biology major, said, “Well, its rather annoying that the vending machine by the radio station studio and in the Andrew Conference Center don’t work, or at least they didn’t when I tried.” Senior music major Mary Kavanaugh also added, “Well, there was a problem with the ones [vending machines] in Morris Hall not swiping. It’s just annoying.” Rola Othman, director of technology and computing support services at Saint Xavier, helped clarify why the machines have been causing such trouble lately.

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) has abandoned its earlier rationale that Saint Xavier University is not a substantially Catholic institution and is now focusing on whether faculty members perform significant religious functions. The IEA is the group that has led efforts to unionize the adjunct faculty workforce at SXU, efforts that have involved them in an ongoing dispute with the SXU administration. “The IEA has changed its rationale because they are concerned over whether the original determination by the labor board will hold up,” said President Christine Wiseman, a former lawyer. “Lawyers often do that. It’s not uncommon to change tactics.” This summer the regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a determination that SXU failed to demonstrate “substantial religious character.” Because SXU did not pass the test, adjunct faculty may now hold an election for union representation. SXU contends, however, that the decision infringed on the university’s First Amendment rights that protect separation of church and state. The only legally-binding ruling in such a matter would be one that was issued by papal documents, not one issued

by a secular institution like the NLRB. Ex Corde Ecclesiae is a document written by Pope John Paul II in 1990 that emphasizes the relationship among bishops and Catholic universities and colleges. The document recognizes that there are many different ways to define Catholic identity—and thus may provide the university religion-based arguments to bolster its position. President Wiseman said she has no problem if adjunct faculty decide to organize internally but she takes issue if third parties were to be brought in. She also noted that under the revised proposal from the IEA, not all part-time staff would be represented, as some nursing instructors, music tutors and supervisors of the School of Education would be excluded from the union vote. Across the university, several adjuncts and some full-time faculty members chose not to speak publicly on this matter for fear of losing their jobs or suffering other retribution. Some critics of the administration agreed with SXU’s right to define its Catholic identity but expressed disappointment that the university would rely on its Catholicity to deny better working conditions and a stronger, more unified voice to a group that many consider oppressed or at least struggling under adverse conditions. Aisha Karim, associate professor from the English and Foreign Languages

From left: President Wiseman, professors Peter Hilton, Ann Filipski and Charles Shanabruch. The four are part of the ongoing discussion of adjunct unionization and Catholic identity. Photos: The Xavierite

Robbery in Riviera Apt.

Vending Machine Blues

By Macy ZamudioNews Editor

By Macy ZamudioNews Editor

Saint Xavier students should be on alert. The Evergreen Park Police Department reported that around midnight on Sept. 21, a person was robbed by two individuals who implied that they were armed. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Riviera Apartments. The police report describes the two individuals as black males in their early 20s

with thin body frames. One of the robbers wore a blue hooded sweatshirt while the other had on a brown and red striped hooded sweatshirt. The offenders stole the person’s cell phone and escaped the scene by running down Troy from 97th Street. SXU students are encouraged to walk with a group of friends around campus and to use the school’s shuttle bus service. If anyone notices some suspicious behavior around campus, students are advised to contact the university’s public safety services or their local police department.

Hungry for a quick snack? Looking for a bottle of pop to tide you over after food venues are closed? Or just want something out of the vending machine? This may not be as easy as one may think. According to several Saint Xavier University students, some of the university’s vending machines seem to be malfunctioning. Complaints have begun circulating through SXU hallways about machines not detecting students’ Cougar Cards no matter how many times they may swipe it through the scanner. This situation proves to be especially page 2VENDING >

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Get ‘Tech-y’ with ItBy Ruby VenusSenior News Editor

Logging onto MySXU? Checking out the scores to the latest games that the sports teams played? Just searching for some information about the university and its resources? To do any of these things, one would need access to Saint Xavier University’s website, www.sxu.edu. “I’m always excited to see new site changes. I do think we need a revamp and a bit of a more user-friendly main page,” said Luci Farrell, a senior organizational communications major. In order to better serve the users of the main site, SXU’s website will be getting a total makeover. “SXU is getting an overall website redesign, with improved navigation and functionality,” said Jennifer Younker, executive director of Marketing and Communications. The website is set to incorporate mega-menus on the home page, which will allow users to view more categories and links to help in their searches and navigation of the site.

“I like the idea of a new website,” said Jenikka Hendrix, a sophomore biology/pre-med major. “Mostly, when I get on the site, I have to type in a keyword. I like the links at the bottom of the page, direct links work a lot better, I think. Overall, it’s good. Change is always good.” The site will feature crisp designs and updated photography and videos to entice prospective students as well as to make access easier for current users. Younker said, “The design features a cleaner look that incorporates sophistication and SXU’s commitment to education.” In addition to the aesthetic changes that will be made to the website, more social media tools, information such as financial aid calculators and course requirements, will be incorporated in the overall scheme. “SXU is good at revising things, making them better and more appealing,” said Lauren Narcisse, a freshman biology/pre-med major. “I like that it will have more social media stuff. Easier access to course information is the most important thing, though.” In early spring of this year, University

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IEA changes earlier rationale; adjunct unionization remains

hot topic

SXU website redesigned to be more user-friendly

The Xavierite Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The XavieriteCall773.298.3380Fax773.298.3381

[email protected]

WriteThe XavieriteSaint Xavier University3700 W. 103rd StreetChicago, IL 60655

Staff:Editor in Chief Genevieve Bonadonna

Deputy Editor in ChiefTony Bara

News EditorsRuby VenusMacy ZamudioGenevieve Bonadonna

Viewpoints EditorsTony Bara Kelley Lindsey

Viewpoints CorrespondentKane McKeown

Features EditorsJaneen WilkeyKelley LindseyBecki Brown

Sports EditorsVinnie HughesGreg Pilafas

Sports CorrespondentAlan Paape

PhotographerMelissa Wrobel

Business ManagerMolly Knapper

Copy EditorsAllison HornMary Crane

ContributorsEsmerelda SanchezJessica Ogle

WebmasterMike Catania

Assistant Director of Campus Life Student Media:Peter Kreten

Journalistic Advisers Moira Mis

Photo Credits from Front Page Bar: 1) mtv.com 2) explorechicago.org 3) SXU Athletics

Any undergraduate students may write for The Xavierite. Other interested graduate students, faculty, administration and staff may write a “Letter to the Editor.”

WorldBits

• A ban on bullfighting in Barcelona has now come into effect, putting an end to an age-old tradition that many have deemed barbaric. Over 20,000 spectators filed into the famous Monumental arena on Sunday as top matadors performed for a final time. Six bulls were slayed as chants of “Ole!” resounded in the stadium. The crowd carried the three matadors on their shoulders after the last animal was killed as onlookers cheered.www.bbc.co.uk

• Saudi Arabia’s king said on Sunday that women will be given the right to vote and stand in elections. The king, 88-year-old Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud, did not address broader issues such as the requirement of a male relative to grant permission to work or leave the country and the fact that women are not currently allowed to drive. Nevertheless, one writer wrote that the right to vote is “great news.” Women’s rights activist Wajeha al-Huwaider said, “Women’s voices will finally be heard.”www.chicagotribune.com

• More than 3,000 people stripped to their underwear and ran through Salt Lake City Saturday to protest “uptight” state laws. Nate Porter, Undie Run organizer, said the purpose of the event was so people who were frustrated with the conservative state of Utah law could gather together.www.huffingtonpost.com

President Obama’s American Jobs Act

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By Ruby VenusSenior News Editor

Othman said, “This year, we upgraded ten machines’ scanners. The others were getting old. It takes time to configure and program them and we have to wire all the cables behind them. Sometimes, however, some readers come defective and we have to send them back to the manufacturer and wait for them to send us a fixed version.” Othman did, however, explain a solution to a frequently mistaken problem that occurs on the machines. “Sometimes, the machine goes to sleep - offline - but all the student has to do is swipe their card to make it work.” Although some students believe that technical support does not bother in fixing any of the university’s equipment, Othman dispelled that rumor by saying, “The team does a walk-around once a month of all things – vending machines, the Pepsi machines, and the laundry equipment. We frequently check to see if all systems are operating correctly.” Instead of students merely complaining to their friends about the school’s machine problems, Othman of fered a more productive alternative for students to do if

they encountered troublesome vending situations. Othman said, “We would really appreciate it if students sent us an email if they run into a problem with any of the machines. Whenever we get an issue, we try to fix it as quickly as possible. Students could easily send us an email from their phones, and we’ll be sure to respond.” While some students may dislike the machines for their minor inconsistencies, not all students are against them. Freshman student Joe Wilkinson, music major, said, “I think the vending machines work fine. I don’t hate them and they are convenient.” Even though some may love them and some may hate them, one thing is for certain, the vending machines at Saint Xavier are useful on campus and the technical support team that manages them helps maintain them to provide efficient services. For any issues with technical support regarding vending machines students are encouraged to stop in at the Help Desk, S119.

Left: A student uses her Cougar Card on the vending machine. Right: A vending machine’s card reader offline. Photo: The Xavierite

• Physicists and engineers have created an “antimagnet” cloak that shields an object from a constant magnetic field without disturbing that field--a magnetic invisibility cloak.www.wired.com/wiredscience

CORRECTION: In our September 21st issue, we incorrectly stated in our headline: “Celebrating 184 years of Mercy.” In actuality, Mercy Day has been celebrated for 184 years. We regret the error and apologize for any confusion it may have caused.

CORRECTION: In our September 21st issue, we incorrectly stated in our headline: “Celebrating 184 years of Mercy.” In actuality, Mercy Day has been celebrated for 184 years. We regret the error and apologize for any confusion it may have caused.

President Barack Obama recently sent the American Jobs Act to Congress for immediate action. Controversy over this current sense of urgency has had people wondering if this bill can be passed and if it will bring any significant change to the people of the United States. The bill is said to be reminiscent of the 2009 stimulus bill. “I don’t like it. The bill screwed up the first time,” said Amanda Novak, a sophomore secondary education English major. “I’m not looking forward to my future as a teacher at all now because of this.” Fox News reported that President Obama claimed that the bill is filled with bipartisan proposals as a way of cooling the tensions that have risen as the presidential race is slowly gaining speed. With the use of state aid, tax breaks, infrastructure spending, and unemployment assistance, the American Jobs Act seeks to help create jobs in the workforce and while creating the allowance to hire teachers and refurbish schools. Novak said, “Even if there is a plan to hire more teachers, I have to see it to believe it. The stimulus act didn’t create too many jobs so I don’t feel very confident about this one.” In the same article, Fox News states, “Obama’s latest jobs plan calls for $130

Obama would keep pushing for the passage of all parts of the bill. Students of Saint Xavier University have differing views on the issue. Certain students agree completely with the bill. “With the unemployment rate at record highs, I feel that something has to be done soon,” said Stephanie Smith, a senior elementary education major. “As an education major I appreciate President Obama’s attempt to improve the school system and create more jobs for teachers. I definitely support this bill.” Others feel as though it is just an attempt to help the economy. Dorian Lofton, a sophomore nursing major said, “It may help. Right now, there really is nothing concrete. If anything, it’s an effort to do something to aid the economy.”And others neither agree nor disagree with it. “I don’t feel that it would work or help anything,” said Patrick Kim, a freshman psychology and sociology major. “The stimulus bill didn’t really do anything because the government really didn’t do anything. If the federal government works with the state and they can work well, then it could possibly work. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

billion in aid to state and local governments, providing either a welcome infusion of cash for those struggling with budget gaps, government layoffs and crumbling roads, or merely a temporary patch for budget holes that are likely to remain long after the federal money runs out.” One of the key elements to this plan is the lowering of Social Security payroll taxes for individuals and businesses. “I don’t think that tax breaks are enough. They aren’t even enough to hire more workers,” said Julia Gomulka, a sophomore undecided major. The Huffington Post reports a senior administrator’s defense of President Obama’s plan. The article reported that administrator stating that “it would be politically suicidal to veto a bill that creates 1 million jobs just because it doesn’t create 2 million jobs.” The breakdown of how President Obama intends to divide funding includes: $50 billion for state and local governments, $35 billion for school, police and fire department payrolls, $30 billion for public school and community college improvements, and $15 billion to refurbish foreclosed homes and businesses, according to Fox News. In order to allow the bill to pass, The Huffington Post reports that President Obama is pushing to keep all the parts of the bill intact and not just allow for an “a la carte” type of deal. The article stated that President

SXU students are left wanti ng more

The XavieriteWednesday, September 28, 2011

CougarBites

•Upcoming Events:“Two Guys, One Cougar” Improv Show at 9:16p.m. in McGuire Hall on Sept. 29

Black Student Union (BSU) presents Blackout Party in the Andrew Conference Center ACC 102/103 at 8p.m. on Sept. 30

BSU Skate Party at 7p.m. on Oct. 3

•Sports & AthleticsVolleyball vs. University of Saint Francis [HOME] at 7p.m. on Sept. 29

•PresentationsCultural Intelligence: Building Trust and Getting Results in Global Markets, with Mr. Roland Dietz on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 6:30-7:30p.m. in the Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library’s Bishop Quarter Room.

John Farley from the Mercy Volunteer Corps will be in the SXU Diner from 10a.m. to 2p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 to speak about experiences with the Corps and to explain the application and selection process.

•Art Exhibits:“The Power of Image” photography exhibit at the Visual Arts Center from now until Wednesday, Oct. 5 displaying the work of SXU students from 1981 to 2009.

O’Brien Medallion Recipients

Relations met with different departments and offices throughout the university to discuss what worked and what could use some improvement on the current website. “From a technological standpoint, I hope that the website is more advanced than the current website,” said Chris Duva, a senior communications major. To thoroughly conduct this research, focus groups composed of faculty, staff, and students were asked to give feedback. “A website redesign will empower the university to take its web capabilities to the next level, not only to streamline marketing messages, site content and overall look and feel, but create an intuitive, dynamic, and user-centered site,” said Younker. From the feedback received, the development of this new design began early

in summer of 2011. While the look and feel of the new website will be step toward a more streamlined and sophisticate aesthetic, the old design will be archived and all the links that were on the original website will be incorporated into the new one. “It sounds like a great thing, I just hope it doesn’t make it more complex, like the new Facebook design,” said Xavier Dombrowski, a freshman business administration major. “I’m all for efficiency, but I just hope it isn’t too confusing for people who aren’t familiar with it.” Prior to the official launch of the new website design, select departments, faculty, staff, and students will preview the site. The site launch date is set for Dec. 2, 2011.

[email protected]


Saint Xavier University’s core values in unison with its mission statement call for a high level of compassion, dedication and service to the university and to the community. In recognition of this standard of compassion, dedication, and service, both to SXU and the community, six students were honored with the O’Brien Medallion this past week on Sept. 22, 2011. The O’Brien Medallion is an award based on leadership and service to the school and community. To celebrate the O’Brien Medallion Recipients, a dinner in there honor took place in the Butler Reception Room, where they were awarded their medallions as well as a ball in their honor. “I was surprised and humbled to receive this award,” said Darryl Brown, a senior biology, chemistry, and Spanish major and recipient of the O’Brien Medallion. “I was inspired by others here and am honored to hopefully inspire others as well.” The recipients of the 2011 O’Brien Medallion are:College of Arts & Sciences-Brittany Jones and Darryl Brown.Graham School of Management-Michael Joseph Prosser.School for Continuing & Professional Studies-Matthew Stojack.School of Education-Annie Kelly.School of Nursing-Katlyn Dean.

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department, has been a vocal supporter on the issue of union status for adjuncts. Karim is a member of SXU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)—a group that has publicly stated its support in the efforts of adjunct faculty for unionization. “You see that a lot of the time adjuncts are not making enough to live on and are constantly going from place to place, just trying to make ends meet,” said Karim. According to SXU’s website, there are 178 full-time faculty and 252 adjunct faculty members. Not all adjuncts are currently listed in SXU’s online staff directory and some do not have offices on campus, making contact with students difficult. A benefit for going to a smaller university like SXU, according to Karim, is the ability for students to spend more time with their professors—an advantage that has proved problematic given the current state of adjunct affairs. “It’s not only adjuncts that suffer when they are not afforded certain rights—it’s the students as well,” said Karim, who is also a member of the Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC), the NLRB-recognized union for full-time faculty that was certified in 1979. Charles Shanabruch, current FAC chair and associate professor in the Graham School of Management commented, “FAC believes people have the right to organize if enough want to; they should be able to have a collective voice.” Shanabruch also made it clear that there is not an inherent disconnect between the administration and FAC. “Unions aren’t against management,” Shanabruch said. “We’ve worked with the administration in the past and we will continue to work with them. We share a common interest in wanting the best for the university—we just approach it from a different position. “Diversity of opinion is always needed.” Unions equalize opportunities more, according to Karim. “Collectively, they allow people to be much better poised to fight back against injustices,” said Karim. AAUP President and Associate Professor of Education Peter Hilton said a possible reason SXU has been side-stepping union attempts is because unions complicate things. “A union can collectively question wrongs and give a solidified voice. If all our over 250 adjunct members decided not to work for us, it’d be very hard for Saint Xavier to pick up the pieces and cover all those classes,” Hilton said. “From an administration point of view, it’s easier to work with people one-by-one.” Adjuncts have no built-in job security and many work second jobs to have a sustainable lifestyle, according to Ann Filipski, associate professor of Nursing and associate chair of FAC. Compensation is offered on a per-course basis; thus, there is a significant monetary difference between adjuncts and full-time faculty. Filipski spoke of the larger picture, where the role of unions on a national level—once a staple in U.S. society—is being questioned and re-evaluated. “Right now, people’s viewpoints about unions are really enf lamed. People are wondering if unions are still relevant today,” said Filipski. Still, it appears that SXU’s legal questions and unionization attempts will not have a clear resolution in the immediate future. “It’s an ongoing issue that won’t have a clear resoluiton anytime soon,” Wiseman said. “You can be sure of that.”

More information on this issue will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead. Be sure to stay tuned with The Xavierite.

Terracycling Trends


RPM Julie Keller stands by the Terracycle symbol displayed in Regina Hall. Photo: The Xavierite

The craze that hit Saint Xavier University last school year has been brought back. Terracycling. This year, the Terracycle program is being spearheaded by Resident Peer Minister (RPM) Julie Keller, a senior communication sciences and disorders major, as a program intended for the residence halls on campus. “The Terracycle program takes non-recyclable and hard to recycle waste and turns them into products that can be sold and reused,” said Keller. The aim of the program is not only to help the environment, but also to aid in raising money for a charitable organization, Books for Africa. “I think that recycling in any for is good for the environment. We should reuse anything we can,” said Mirhanda Allen, a freshman biology/pre-med major. “People need to realize that our waste accumulates and it’s better to recycle everything we can recycle instead of letting it all build up in a landfill.” Each residence hall is equipped with at least one donation box. “In each of the Quad Halls, there is at least one box where people can terracycle their chip bags, candy wrappers, etc. In Regina and Pacelli, there are a few throughout the building,” said Keller. Keller has coordinated with several

of the Resident Assistants (RAs) and other RPMs to make this program happen. Keller said, “The wrappers that students terracycle are turned into different items such as notebook covers, handbags, wallets, backpacks, and other cool things.” Terracycle products are seen at stores such as Urban Outfitters and display the Terracycle symbol. “I like the fashion in it. It’s very original and pop-arty,” said Lisa Varley, a senior biology major. “The whole emotional connection thing is what gets me. I don’t think it’s necessary. Raising money for charity is great and all, but we should terracycle because we can, not just because we’re trying to make money.” Keller explains that students should terracycle to help the environment but also mentions that it is an added bonus to be able to help children who are less fortunate. To further extend the Terracycle effort, Keller has been working with Mercy Students for Peace and Justice (MSPJ) and the Service Club to try to get more Terracycle bins in the Warde Academic Center and throughout the campus. “For right now, we’re focused primarily in the residence halls, but we hope to move further,” said Keller. For more information about Terracycling and what kind of products are made from the donated waste, visit terracycle.net. For information on how to get involved in the Terracycle efforts on campus, contact Julie Keller at [email protected].

CougarBites

•Upcoming Events:“Two Guys, One Cougar” Improv Show at 9:16p.m. in McGuire Hall on Sept. 29

Black Student Union (BSU) presents Blackout Party in the Andrew Conference Center ACC 102/103 at 8p.m. on Sept. 30

BSU Skate Party at 7p.m. on Oct. 3

•Sports & AthleticsVolleyball vs. University of Saint Francis [HOME] at 7p.m. on Sept. 29

•PresentationsCultural Intelligence: Building Trust and Getting Results in Global Markets, with Mr. Roland Dietz on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 6:30-7:30p.m. in the Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library’s Bishop Quarter Room.

John Farley from the Mercy Volunteer Corps will be in the SXU Diner from 10a.m. to 2p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 to speak about experiences with the Corps and to explain the application and selection process.

•Art Exhibits:“The Power of Image” photography exhibit at the Visual Arts Center from now until Wednesday, Oct. 5 displaying the work of SXU students from 1981 to 2009.


>Editorial<

SXU’s Catholicism Put to the Test

By: The Xavietite Staff

In the Sept. 21st and 28th issue of The Xavierite, we reported that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is making decisions about Saint Xavier’s Catholic identity and the religious functions of faculty members. This is a very complex issue with many angles to consider and no clear-cut, definitive answers. One of the first responders to the story took place this summer in a June 24 article in The Wall Street Journal by Patrick J. Reilly. In this article Reilly points out that in a 1979 Supreme Court case, the National Labor Relations Board had violated first amendment rights by forcing federal labor laws on Catholic institutions. Since this article, on Sept. 15, The Chicago Tribune also ran an article outlining the NLRB’s ruling that Saint Xavier is not Catholic enough. Instead of focusing on the legality of this move, The Chicago Tribune focused on what this means for adjunct faculty, and the possibility of a union for them. One question that has been on our minds is why is this issue just now being publically addressed. Part of this is the fault of us here at The Xavierite. We have been gathering facts since the story broke in June. In order to secure a well-banlanced and researched article presenting both sides fairly and evenly, we had to tread carefully and cover all our bases. A press release or headline in the daily Saint Xavier Today email explaining to students what is going on in a way we can understand would be greatly appreciated. A lot of students may not understand the legalese that is usually thrown around when it comes to such issues; a lot of us would like a better understanding of what this means for Saint Xavier as a whole, and for us as students. Each new ruling brings more and more questions to the table. We would like to acknowledge the fact that the teachers have been updated throughout the summer. We are sure the teachers are just as concerned as the rest of the community and administration are about these new developments. This is not an issue that will be resolved soon, like most ongoing legal issues. There are many things to consider. Is the NLRB overstepping its bounds? Would an adjunct union really be so bad? What does it mean to be “Catholic” in 2011? What does a Catholic education consist of? All of these questions are valid. All of these questions need answering. None, of these will be easy to answer, unfortunately. There will be a battle ahead for Saint Xavier and other Catholic institutions that have been found wanting under the National Labor Relation Board’s test of religiosity. We at The Xavierite promise to keep you up to date on the facts regarding this case. We hope the administration will do its job in keeping us informed as well. We wish the best of luck to the university in this time of trial and confusion. May the best solution for all parties be found quickly.

>Have an opinion on the subject? Letters to the editor are welcome and encouraged. E-mail us at [email protected] or comment on our website at www.thexavierite.com.

Congratulations! You are currently reading words! You are engaging more of your brain by reading this sentence than you do when you watch any amount of television. I do not even need all the very true statistical information on that to make my point. Simply watching TV can make you a worse person. And here is the proof. There have been shows, once airing and in some cases still airing that prove just how awful people can be. These shows personify every terrible thing about humanity that I can fit into a single article. My Super Sweet 16 is a little bit older, the last episode airing in 2008, but it certainly left an impression. Each episode, some unlucky camera crew followed around a girl who would soon be celebrating her sixteenth birthday. The twist is that these girls came from families so rich, the parties often times took place in huge venues with rented musical artists and a crowd of people bigger than your facebook friends list. Somehow, in the midst of all this privilege, the girl would find something to complain about and prove to the world that being born rich can easily make you a terrible person.

Sister Wives is a show about polygamy. And I do not mean that in the sense that some guy is dating girls on the side. This man, Kody Brown, is married to four women,

all of whom he has children with. Whether or not you agree with that life style, and I kind of hope you do not, the act of marrying multiple times without first divorcing is actually illegal. So, here we have a show that follows a morally questionable and illegal family raising children according to those same questionable and illegal morals and it airs on national television. It is no wonder that the police eventually came to this family’s door along with child protective services in an episode.

I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant is a show about women who did not know they were pregnant. Let that sink in for a minute. No, actually, let that sink in for about nine months and then be super surprised when it finally hits you. This show takes the stories of real women and films recreations of the events described. Not only is the premise ridiculous, but so is the acting. The idea that a woman can be pregnant and not be aware of it until her water breaks is laughable at best and the actual production of the show does not add a single iota of credibility.

Toddlers and Tiaras is a show that, sadly, is still airing to this day. For those not aware of the tragedy that is children’s beauty pageants, let me first apologize for destroying your faith in humanity. Take the traditional American beauty pageant and replace all those women with children anywhere from ages twelve to, oh. I don’t know, less than a year old. That is right. For the duration of this

show, you can watch the parents of some poor, unfortunate child as they take her to get spray tans, wigs, teeth whitening procedures, get their make up done, and buy dresses that could cost upwards of one thousand dollars. And the best part is, these children then go on stage to compete against one another, judged by a panel who distributes scores based on things like charisma and personality; things that girls less than a year old totally have.

Bridalplasty is the worst of all these shows and ran for one season too many considering that it ran for one season. The premise is that a group of women, soon to be married, separate from their fiancées for the duration of the show, during which they compete in challenges to win plastic surgery. At the end of the show, the winner is treated to not only all the plastic surgery she won through the season, but a final make over. Only after which is she finally revealed to her fiancée and married on television. Now, these are women who were proposed to by men who hopefully loved them just the way they were. Yet, here they are, battling each other for syringes of Botox and a scalpel to the face just so they can look absolutely nothing like the woman their fiancées fell in love with. Most disturbing of all is the fact that not only are there people who act so strangely that television can be made about them, but that there are people willing to watch. If you still want to watch television, just go watch Glee or something, that has got to be the lesser of two evils.

By Kane McKeownViewpoints Correspondent

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Television Shows that Prove Humanity is Doomed

Don’t Want To Die In Georgia: The Story of Troy DavisBy Kelley LindseySenior Viewpoints Editor

At 11:08p.m. on Wednesday, Sept 21st, a man was murdered by the state of Georgia. I’m sure many of you who watch the news have heard about the days of protest leading up to the execution by lethal injection of Troy Davis. Davis was accused and convicted in 1989 of killing a cop, Mark Macphail. However, since then a lot of evidence has surfaced that seems to exonerate Mr. Davis, or at least cast extreme doubt of his guilt. In the United States, the accused is supposed to be shown as guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. While the evidence presented at trial seemed solid, things that have come to light since show that Troy Davis was most likely innocent. First of all, seven out of the nine witnesses that testified for the prosecution recanted their testimony. They said that not only did the police coerce them, the majority of them were illiterate. They could not read the statements the police made them sign. They could have been signing their lives away in Troy’s place and they never would have known. Some of the jurors have stated that had they known then what they know now, there is no way they would have convicted him. One of the two witnesses that did not recant, Sylvester Coles may be the actual murderer. There has been mounting evidence against him in the 21 years since the murder. The Monday before Troy Davis was to be executed, a woman named Quiana Glover said she heard a drunk Coles confess that he had murdered Macphail. Another man confesses, albeit drunkenly, and they still execute this man? There is no physical evidence linking

Davis to the crime. Although DNA was not as widely used in the early 90s, to this day there is still no DNA evidence implicating Troy Davis. Not only that, there was never a murder weapon found. As much as we like to pretend that we live in a post-racial world, we do not. This is especially evident in the American south.This was a black man accused of killing a white police officer. There is no way that this did not play into the verdict. I am in no way saying that all southerners are racist. They are not. Growing up in Alabama, I saw both sides of the coin. There will always be those who are close-minded, and there will always be those who have learned better. However, even if we want to think that the south, and America in general is past institutionalized racism, it isn’t. The racialized past of the south still rears its ugly head at times. With such a preponderance of evidence showing that he most likely did not do it, why would the state of Georgia go ahead with the execution? This was Troy’s fourth execution date. Three previous times he was supposed to be killed, but was granted a stay in the days

or hours before. I cannot comprehend having enough doubt to grant three stays, but not a fourth one. If there is even a slight doubt, I think the death penalty should be off the table. I do not condone the death penalty at all actually, for many reasons. How does killing someone show that killing is wrong? It doesn’t. Furthermore, killing another human will not bring the murder victim back. Why cause a family that I am sure is already having a hard time to go through the pain of losing someone? My heart sincerely broke when I learned that Troy Davis was not spared the death penalty. After hearing all of the evidence, I personally believed he was innocent. Sadly, Troy is not the only one who needs fighting for. I recommend that everyone check out the Innocence Project. They are dedicated to trying to help free the wrongfully convicted through DNA evidence and reform the justice system. Amnesty International is also a great organization to keep up with human rights. In his last message to the world, Troy Davis said “There are so many more Troy Davis’. This fight to end the death penalty is not won or lost through me but through our strength to move forward and save every innocent person in captivity around the globe. We need to dismantle this Unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country.I can’t wait to Stand with you, no matter if that is in physical or spiritual form, I will one day be announcing, I AM TROY DAVIS, and I AM FREE!” If this man can fight until the end, so can we. We can try to keep this from happening again. Sign petitions. Get out in the streets. Let lawmakers know that we will no longer stand for innocent lives being taken away.

Troy Davis, who was executed last week. Photo: internationalpeaceandconflict.org

VIEWPOINTS


Our human dignity and decency is slowly dying. This is largely due to the 24/7 ratings-hungry media, where dissolute, undeserving behavior gains attention and encouragement. The Casey Anthony trial, where a woman was accused and controversially acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, brought my attention to this. It is a sad fact that countless children are murdered each year, and the media rarely, if ever, focuses on them. So why did they narrow in on the Anthony trial? It seems to me the reason was that this trial had all the makings of a reality show: a lying mother who cares more about partying on the weekends than about her little daughter, a perplexing mystery as to what happened to the little girl, and a dysfunctional family. The media outlets knew that this was a recipe for ratings success and covered this story intensely. Toward the end, people were following this like a soap opera, and Casey Anthony became as recognizable to Americans as the president. It is hard to write this, but I am afraid that the media made the story of this murder trial so gripping, that it actually became entertainment for some, even as they were outraged by the murder.

Indeed, all that seems to matter anymore is entertainment. Hence, you have ordinary people thinking they can become famous by doing something stupid. They are encouraged by the fact that they can become famous. In October, 2009, a man sent a helium balloon into the atmosphere and alerted the media that his little son was trapped inside. An international manhunt ensued. When the balloon landed, no boy was inside. It turns out that the boy had never been trapped inside the balloon; he had been in his home the whole time. His father had fabricated the story to gain national

attention—and he did. Thirty six year old Nadya Suleman, also known as the “Octomom,” is probably the best example of somebody being rewarded by the media for recklessness. In 2008, despite a serious health risk, Sulemon requested that eight embryos be implanted in her through in-vitro fertilization. In January 2009, she gave birth to octoplets. She not only endangered her life, but also her babies’ lives through this extremely risky procedure. Despite this, she was rewarded by huge media attention and the prospect of her own reality show.

Life as a Reality Show News networks, however, cannot take all of the blame for this, even though they are the ones who highlight these loons. The garbage aired on stations like MTV and VH1 creates a favorable atmosphere for the nurturing of stupidity and decadence. “Jersey Shore,” a show worth less than cat litter, is a fine example of this. The characters of the show have become famous for absolutely nothing. They contribute nothing to art or society. In fact, they make society worse through their shamelessly promiscuous and dissolute behavior. “Jersey Shore” and shows like it send a message that people can become famous for doing nothing but acting like trash. In essence, these shows set a standard for entertainment that the news networks and, finally, ordinary people, try to capitalize on. Thus, television media as a whole has created this culture of brainless entertainment, and people love it. Hence, even though there was justifiable outrage and seriousness surrounding the Casey Anthony trial, there was an element of entertainment for some that should not have been present. I hope people can realize this and wake up. That will force the media to change too and not turn everything into a reality show. Unfortunately, I feel things will get worse before they get better.

[email protected]

By Tony BaraDeputy Editor in Chief

This is where Mike the Situation belongs. Photo Photoshopped by: The Xavierite

“They give a poor perception of real life to the audience. They are a bad influence on actions.”

Carla Valenzuelafreshman International Business student

Campus PollDo you think reality shows have an impact on how people

behave?

Patrick Kelsosophomore nursing student

Kelly Cody-junior psychology student

Mike Sexton-junior psychology student

“They are ok in certain circumstances. It gives people something entertaining to watch. It’s nice to see people living on the edge, acting crazy sometimes.”

“I don’t think they have an impact. People will do what they will do regardless of what they see on TV.”

“Reality shows demonstrate how disconnected we are from the real world. It’s unfortunate how some viewers try to base their likes off of fools.”

“They’re terrible for society. They play on immediate emotions without offering any intellectual enrichment. A waste of time.”

Ray Mcelheny-sophomore psychology & philosophy student

“I don’t think they depict reality. They distort it for entertainment purposes.”

Shantelle Rapp-freshman nursing student

I am a senior B.A. music student at Saint Xavier. I am writing this letter because I could not agree more with the Editorial The Xavierite published in last week’s paper. It got me thinking about school spirit in general at SXU and here are three points I could not stop thinking about. 1) The Fight Song. At any university, college or even high school, what is the one song that might sound cheesy, but gets the crowd pumped up for their home team? A school’s fight song. I remember in high school the fight song was like our battle cry. All the teachers, students, parents, friends, family, and rest of the community knew the fight song word for word and some people would even sing along with the marching band at football games. Here at SXU, the fight song is pretty non-existent. Yes we have a fight song but the point I’m making is that most students do not know the words or even what the fight song sounds like. I am four years removed from high school and I still remember every word to the Brother Rice fight song and how the melody goes. I am going into my fourth year and I still do not know the words to the fight song and I only know the melody because of how much I play it at football games with the marching band. I bet that I am not the only student who does not know the words to our fight song either. I believe that students should be encouraged to learn the words to their school’s fight song. Wouldn’t it be something to hear the Cougar fans singing the fight song with the marching band at football games or even at a Homecoming pep-rally? 2) Pep Rally This leads me to my next point pertaining to more of a homecoming theme. Why was there no pep rally this year for the football team? To me, this shows a bit of complacency with SXU. This year should have been the year of all years to have a pep rally. For the first time in SXU history, we have a sports teams with a #1 ranking in the NAIA. Why would you not have a pep rally when your team is placed first in your division? This says that

the students, faculty, fans and school as a whole is pretty complacent (as stated above). I say that because the Cougars have not lost a home game at SXU in about 3 years. I believe the school expects a win every home game so there is no sense of excitement about supporting the Cougars (except for the extreme die hards). SXU should have been promoting a pep rally for the Cougars since the beginning of the school year. In college sports, the pep rally is an amazing thing. The fans come out to support the football team, the marching bands support the team and plays tunes, and the cheerleaders cheer on the team and pumps up the crowd. I remember in high school the homecoming pep rally was so much fun! There were events and games to that got the student body into the team and the point is to get the school pumped up. That’s like saying LSU is the #1 ranked team in the NCAA, but it’s not going to have a pep rally. 3) Homecoming events One event I believe could get student pumped up is to have a dunk tank in the Cafe where students can dunk their favorite professors and maybe (if she is willing) be able to dunk their beloved president, Christine Wiseman. Think about how many students would line up at that possibility. Plus, President Wiseman would be prefect because she would taunt the students and poke jokes and make everyone laugh. Also, an idea I got from LSU’s website is the concept of a “Spirit” wall. We should do this and have a wall where students can write on the wall and sign it. This would help promote school spirit and get students pumped up.

Thank you very much,Ricky

Lett er to the Editor: What Homecoming?

Disagree? Agree? The Xavierite wants your opinion. Write a “Letter to the Editor” and get your voice heard! Email us at [email protected]. *All writers must include their names. Students should also include their year and major. Staff must include their position.


Wow, so many boats! That’s a Chicago

dock for you.

Buckingham Fountain looks so cool! And

check out the skyline!

So many people at the Chicago

Air Show!

Features Chicago

Cheat Sheet

You are a college student, and therefore, probably kind of poor. That is a terrible thing since Chicago is right in your backyard. Chicago is a city worth exploring, but it can be difficult on a budget. Especially when you are not aware of all the hidden gems the city of Chicago has to offer. That’s where we come in!Spread across the table here are many helpful guides for you, chosen with love from a number of students on The Xavierite staff. Want to get out and enjoy the city but don’t know your Sears Tower from your John Hancock Building? (And don’t tell us how it is technically called the Willis Tower because we refuse to call it that.) Check out the cheat sheet we’ve made for you and go from clueless to classy.Maybe you don’t want to drive or pay all those ridiculous parking fees. Getting around Chicago is as easy as picking up a public transport schedule. Good thing we’ve got one for you right here!Want to make sure your trip is well worth the money you have been carefully hoarding? Check out the list of websites we have picked for you. Each one is sure to help you find just what you are looking for, and at the right price.Maybe free, or at least cheap, is more your style. Well, let your eyes drift over to our section on Chicago’s upcoming free and cheap events.Why are tourist traps so popular? Because they are pretty darn cool, that’s why. Do not discount them; be a tourist for a day and enjoy some popular places.Feeling adventurous? We went ahead and broke down Chicago into four quadrants so you can find something to do no matter where you go.It is okay, you do not need to thank us.

Chicago on a Budget

SouthBest Pizza: The Original Vito and Nick’s Restaurant is located at 8433 South Pulaski Road just

15 minutes north of the SXU campus in the Southside’s Ashburn neighborhood. This pizzeria has

been around since 1949 and has been featured on the Food Network’s TV show, “Diners, Drive-ins,

and Dives”. Vito and Nick’s is known for their house special thin-crust pizza .Be warned, Vito and

Nick’s is old school and only accepts cash.

Roller/Skating Rink: Most rolling and skating rinks cease to exist anymore, which makes

Fleetwood Skating Rink special. The rink is located at 7231 West Archer Avenue only 30 minutes

northwest of the SXU campus. Fleetwood Skating Rink has been offering skating fun for over

55 years. The rink is open Wednesday-Sundays at various times. The cost to skate ranges from

$7-8 depending on which days you decide to go. For a full list of times and costs, visit Fleetwood’s

website at www.fleetwoodrollerrink.com.

Arts/Entertainment: The Beverly Arts Center located at 2407 West 111th Street offers a world

of art for the Southside. The BAC offers classes in art, music, dance, and theater for people of

all ages. In addition, the BAC provides weekly recitals, concerts, theater productions and special

events featuring local and national performers. For a full list of classes offered and production

times please visit the BAC’s website at www.beverlyartcenter.org.

Credits

Chicago on a Budget - Kane McKeown

Free Stuff in Chicago - Janeen Wilkey

Helpful Websites - Mike Catania

Top Five Tourist Attractions - Jake Cashman

North - Macy Zamudio

East - Kane McKeown

South - Mary CraneWest - Tony BaraPublic Transportaion - Gen Bonadonna

Cheat Sheet - Becki Brown

Home to the United Center (Where the Bulls play)Go international by visit ing “Little Italy” and Greektown.

Contains the historic Hull House. Founded by Jane Adams in 1889, it was America’s first settlement house for immigrants.Study at the University of Illinois at Chicago (just kidding ; we want you to stay at Saint Xavier)

For all you fans of Poland, visit the Copernicus Center, which holds a variety of Polish events all year.

Oprah Winfrey used to film her show here, in Harpo studios.

West

Just like the other areas of Chicago, the north side is full of many attractions. The north side is

most famously known for being the home of the Chicago Cubs. So, while having a trip up north,

don’t hesitate to stop by Wrigley Field to watch a game. Baseball is one of America’s most treasured

past times and there’s no better place to enjoy it more than while cheering for one of Chicago’s

most loved teams at Wrigley Field.

Besides catering to baseball fans, the north side also has many attractions for environmental

enthusiasts. Nature lovers can go to the Chicago Botanic Garden and view the city’s collection

of colorful, exotic plants imported from different parts of the world. Animal lovers can go to

Lincoln Park Zoo and see its large array of creatures. From the ape house to the bird house,

visitors can enjoy strolling through the zoo’s many areas of amusement. Best part? Admission

into the zoo is free.

So, whether it’s eating some Chicago-style hotdogs while enjoying a game at Wrigley, walking

through the beautiful pathways of botanical gardens, or gazing with awe at some of nature’s

most wonderful creatures; Chicago’s north side attractions are bound to please its visitors.

North

-“The Loop”- the downtown area of Chicago

known for its famous historical commercial

center-about 16,000 people live in the Loop

-It is unknown where the term “Loop” came

f rom , bu t there are se vera l spe cu lat ions

including cable cars’ turning loops and the Union

elevated railway loop.

-The Loop is part of Cook County

-The Loop is the center of what most people

consider downtown Chicago

-You can get to any part of Chicago from

the Loop


on a budget! Navy Pier: As the name implies, Navy Pier is a former Naval base right on Lake Michigan. Just a brisk walk from the Red Line train, it boasts a 150-foot Ferris wheel, contains restaurants ranging from Bubba Gump Shrimp to Billy Goat Tavern to upper-scale places such as Riva Café, and even holds special events such as Cirque De Soleil. With dozens of novelty shops lining it and its gorgeous view of the skyline, Navy Pier is the number one stop for tourists in Chicago.

Sears Tower SkyDeck: For the price of $17, tourists can look out from the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower and onto the entire Chicago Metropolitan area. At the top of the tallest building in North America, all of the marvel and decorum in Chicago is breathtaking. And for the daring, there is the dizzying view straight down from the “The Ledge”, a plexi-glass box extending from the building’s 103rd floor. A Cubs Game at Wrigley Fie ld: Not taking into account baseball allegiances, the atmosphere inside Wrigley Field during a Cubs game can best be likened to an Irish bar on Saint Patrick’s Day, or a Mexican bar on Cinco de Mayo. Regardless of how many years in a row the team itself has lost, the fans always come out and enjoy themselves. Grab a bleacher seat and enjoy the scenery, because the Cubs are probably losing. Mil lennium Park/ The Art Inst itute: Tour ists of ten stop off at Millennium Park, and take pictures of themselves in “CloudGate”, a giant metallic, bean-shaped sculpture in the middle of Millennium Park. In the spring through fall, free concerts of every genre are held regularly in Pritzker Pavillion. If it is winter, tourists are able to ice-skate on Michigan Avenue. And, on the first and second Wednesday of every month, admission to the nearby Art Institute of Chicago is free. Water Tower: For the hybrid tourist/shopper, Water Tower Place is the Mecca of tourist attractions. Named after one of five buildings that survived the Great Chicago fire, it houses 100 different stores and all major names in fashion, such as, Armani Exchange, Coach, and Macy’s. This building puts the “Magnificent” in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

Top Five Tourist Attractions

CtaTrackerThis site is fantastic to know where every bus is at every moment in time. If you need to

catch a bus or have an event and would like to know what time you need to be at a stop, then

this site will come in handy. You can also download the App on your Android or Apple phone.

Google MapsMost people know this site, yet don’t seem to use it when they need to. One of the best

ways to navigate your way around an unknown area is to have a map by your side. But

this is the 21st Century and no one carries a map around. This is where the smartphones

can help. Just use your Map App to find where you need to go.

GrubHub.comAll you have to do with this site is type in your location, and it will give you restaurants

near you. They also can narrow down the search by having you type in what type of food

you would like to eat and asks if you want it to be delivery, pickup, or to just dine there.

They also rate the places as well and you can read reviews of the restaurant as well.

UrbanSpoonThis is a great site to see most of Chicago’s restaurants to see food critic’s reviews, menus,

and the phone and address of where the places to eat are.

GroupponAll you have to do is sign-up and you will receive a few deals a day via email. Then you can

purchase the deal at a discounted price from 30%-90% off. When enough people purchased

the deal, then it will become active. Since Grouppon has a large membership base and

the low number of people who have to purchase the deal for it to tip, the odds of deals to

become active are very high. When it becomes active, then you can claim it at the specific

place you want to use it.

Helpful Websites

We all know that there are plenty of fun activities here at SXU, but have you

ever gone to downtown Chicago to have some fun? Well do not worry if you have

not because we found some fun and free events you should check out this month.

For all the music lovers out there, check out JazzCity on Oct. 7. Come and hear

Mulligan Mosaics Big Band at 7 P.M. at Grant Crossing Park (7655 S. Ingleside

Ave). To learn more information about JazzCity, or to look at upcoming events,

check out chicagoparkdistrict.com. If you want to go to a festival that is close and fun, than check out Germany’s

Best & Oktoberfest. This event is going on daily until Oct. 10 at Navy Pier. Their

hours are Sun-Tues 11am-9pm and Wed-Sat 11am-10pm. Finally, for all you movie fans and Halloween lovers, the Chicago History

Museum is showing The Silence of the Lambs and The Shining on Oct. 12 and 26,

and both start at 6 P.M. We recommend that you get there early to get a good

seat. The Chicago History Museum is located at 1601 N. Clark St.

Free Stuff in Chicago

So Many MuseumsIf you have the money, spring for a CityPass. For just $59.00, you can visit the

Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, The Art Institute, and the Museum of Science

and Industry. Or, if you check out ExploreChicago.org, you can find the list of dates

detailing the days it’s free to get in!Millennium ParkFree music shows, constantly changing public art, food, and it is a really nice place

to just relax and take in the whole city. And when winter comes around, you can

even go ice-skating!

Chicago French Market – On Randolph & ClintonThis is a street level European style marketplace that caters to your every need.

Light snacks, dining, drinks, take home groceries, and even trinkets can all be bought

here. It’s a real experience for those open market aficionados.Buddy Guy’s Legends – On East Balbo Avenue & South Wabash AvenueMaybe you’re the type of person to really appreciate a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

inductee’s restaurant and concert house. There are always some shows going on here,

and there are of course food options. And on a few Mondays, listed on BuddyGuy.

com, you can pay just $10.00 to enjoy an all ages jam session.

East

All Photos are courtesy of ExploreChicago.org and Chicago-L.org

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park

is so awesome!

What a great view of the Museum of Science and

Industry from the Osaka Japanese Garden!

Take the red line. Perhaps one of the best qualities of

living and going to school in a city of Chicago’s size is

the ease of access to public transportation at basically

any point in the city. Saint Xavier is located in the

southernmost portion of Chicago, a 20-minute bus ride

from the 95th/Dan Ryan stop. From there, you could

head to the northernmost parts of the city in just 66

minutes. Don’t let others persuade you otherwise--get

out there; see the beauty Chicago is offering. Explore.

You won’t regret it. But really, don’t let people tell you

otherwise.

Transportation


Nearing the tail end of September, official invitation letters have been distributed from Student Government and the Office of Campus Life for SXU’s first-ever Family Weekend, which will be held during the weekend of Oct. 21-23. This three-day event, which aims to provide more of a complete family-friendly environment, will showcase a number of aspects of Saint Xavier life over a three-day period. Please be sure to RSVP in a timely fashion for this new SXU tradition!It is up to the outstanding student body at Saint Xavier to turn this budding idea into a full-fledged, yearly occurrence. Family Weekend, brought about by student complaints that there were simply not enough engaging on-campus activities on the weekends, was created by the Student Government to show students and families alike truly what it means to have a memorable, engaging time at SXU.

NEW MEMBERS Recently, the Student Government Association made a series of additions to its already committed staff of workers. At press time, the names of the three newest members were not available, but in the very near future you will get the chance to know them as they serve the SXU community. SGA is here for you! Let your voices be heard. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns do not hesitate to stop by the Student Organizations Center outside of the cafeteria to talk to a Student Government member. You can also contact us via email at sga.sxu.edu. Want more SGA updates? Become our friend on Facebook and have SGA be just a click away.

Study Abroad at SXU

In Praise of Paperback

By Janeen WilkeySenior Features Editor

Doesn’t it seem like there is always a commercial for the Kindle or the iPad? Or that people seem to rave about them? Well I want to know where the commercials praising good old paperback or hardcover books are. Sure, Kindles and eBooks are nice and sleek and can go everywhere with you, but does that automatically make them better than paper books? No. Traditional books are still superior, and here are some reasons why:

Cost. According to amazon.com, the brand new Kindle costs $114. That is just for the Kindle, you have to pay extra for the books. Do you know how many books you can buy with $114? Regular paperback books are definitely cheaper. Plus, what happens if the Kindle breaks, gets wet, or gets lost? The cost for a new one adds up.

School. For those of us who have to bring in outside books for class know that is a good idea to highlight or underline. Yes, there are ways to highlight and mark pages in a Kindle. However, that takes time. With a book, you simply take a pencil, pen, or highlighter and mark the passage, and than fold the page down so you can find it later. Updating. Eventually you will need to upgrade the Kindle; it is the same with any other technology. The latest models are usually always superior. Books last for a long time. You don’t

have to toss a book out if the binding gets old or the cover tears a little. You patch it up and it is as good as new. Jobs. This is one that could go either way. With Borders stores closing all over the place, people are losing jobs. If we close all the bookstores and the publishing companies, even more people will lose their jobs. Social Interaction. Technology is making us antisocial. It’s true. You can’t have a conversion with someone about the book you are reading if they can’t see what you are reading. The conversions that can start from a simple book discussion are fun and insightful; let’s not lose those. Plus, you cannot loan a friend a book on the Kindle. Feel. Sometimes it is just nice to hold a book in your hands, feel it, turn the page, and smell the new book smell. Kindles are sleek and cold. You can’t feel the page with a Kindle. Eyesight. A Kindle may not look or seem like a computer screen, but it is. People sit and look at computer screens all day long. Our eyes need rest from the glare, so give them a break and open a book. Now, I am not saying that Kindles and eBooks are a complete waste of time. Some people really like them. I am just not one of them. On the sad day when paperback books are outdated and do not exist, everyone will have a Kindle. Until than, let us enjoy our paperback books. There is the main reason they have lasted for so long.

[email protected]

Janeen fi ghts the e-Book fad

ample for this four-month stay, to the other end of the spectrum, of scheming all of my “life time” travels around Europe; an diligent, yet remarkable opportunity to visit fascinating parts of the world! Nevertheless, I had to develop self-efficacy skills that would ensure my academic success in this foreign country. Most importantly, it “opened” eyes to the scope of multiculturalism; an elusive perspective shift that comes from a deeper, more critical cultural immersion experience includes empathy—the ability to see things from another point of view and evaluate situations not just an American student. I learned a lot more about myself during these four months than I ever did in my twenty one years living at home because of the unique space in which I learned, experienced, and spent exploring other cultures abroad. It was an “evaluative” proves that made me challenge myself on a higher level; to be patient, because good things really do come to those who wait. My advice to my fellow SXU peers is to challenge yourself. Part of success, both personally and academically is being able to “admit” and overcome your weakness because at the end of the day, these weaknesses make us “stronger”, as it was in my case. Studying abroad made me “step “out of my comfort zone as I was able to confront these challenges throughout my time overseas. It was not something that

Study Abroad at SXU

In this biweekly section, SXU students who have studied abroad or are currently overseas will write testimonials on their experiences with the purpose of providing a glimpse into the exotic and always strange world they are learning about. If you have studied abroad and are interested in contributing to this section, please email us at [email protected]. For more information on studying abroad opportunities at SXU, please contact Colleen O’Hara, director, Center for International Education at [email protected]. Emails are welcome and encouraged.

Study Abroad at SXUStudy Abroad at SXUStudy Abroad at SXU

‘Fast-paced rollercoaster’ known as Spain

By Esmerelda SanchezFeatures Contributor

Studying abroad makes one conscious of our weaknesses, strengths, our capabilities; it makes one create an identity for oneself. During the first week of my arrival in Spain I was experiencing culture shock symptoms; I was literally on the “other side” of the world. I thought to myself, “Was study abroad really the right choice for me? Independence, self-efficacy, and a stronger mentality in regards to intercultural development, are a few of the many important characteristics that strengthened me overseas. Even though I was given a certain level of guidance by my home stay family, I was in fully responsible of my actions; this fast-paced rollercoaster, bolstered my decision making, enabling me to truly “grasp” autonomy as what I understood it to be. On one end, I had to manage my money spending “appropriately” as it had to be

happened instantaneously; it took time, but I’m happy that it happened the way it did because it made me the way I am today. I’m not afraid of challenges; I embrace them. As you can see, the power of study abroad was immense for me; but this is not the case for every student who decides to embark on this journey because we are each different individuals. However, I do guarantee that every student who has studied abroad changed in some way; with new perspectives about life. It seems like it was just yesterday, I was walking around the Alhambra, watching bullfights on the kitchen television with my host parents, going out for tapas with

my friends, traveling all around Europe, “camping” at airports waiting for our future destination; never wanting to go back home! What I enjoyed the best about studying abroad was being able to meet life-term friends that I will forever cherish. Being surrounded by such a positive environment, made my study abroad a remarkable experience that cannot be simply described within the context of this passage. “I am the living experience of what I have seen and lived, I am the countries I have traveled too, I am what I decide to be; I am Granada, Spain.

GRANADA SPAIN• located at foot of Sierra Nevada Mountains• populati on of 236,982• University of Granada, well-known throughout Spain• mayor-council government type

Granada

Esmerelda Sanchez in Spain. Photo: Esmerleda Sanchez

SGA Message: Updates at SXU

Warm wishes from the Student Government Association as autumn approaches! This year, just as every year, the members of SGA are working diligently to enhance your experience at Saint Xavier. So far we are working on the following:

UPDATE: NURSING STUDENTS AT THE ORLAND PARK CAMPUS Members of the Student Government Association have been in contact with the corresponding faculty and staff members attached to the School of Nursing, Orland Park Campus, and various transportation-related officials. We, that are involved in SGA and those involved in the discussions for classroom planning, value student involvement, and seek mutually beneficial solutions in the future.

PRINTING COSTS AT STUMP LIBRARY Student Government Association has conducted an investigation involving rumors that printing costs in the Stump Library have increased, and we are delighted to announce that, contrary to the rumors, printing costs have actually decreased. Whereas in the past, the price of printing one page was 10 cents, one page will now cost seven and a half cents with the Library’s new duplexing system. The duplexing system is a way of conserving the use of paper printed on a daily basis, and should reduce waste, as well as save money for those who print frequently.

FAMILY WEEKEND: ONE MONTH AWAY

By Brian Robin Executive Vice President of Student Government


No Longer Just A Dream

Last Friday was the Heritage Ball. Students spent the night dancing and having fun with their fellow St. Xavier students downtown at the Chicago Cultural Center. This might have been the highlight of the night for most of the Ball’s attendants, but I had bigger plans. Several of my friends and I paid a short visit to Millennium Park. While we were there, we visited several of its main attractions. We splashed around in the Crown Fountain. After several minutes of playful frolicking, we realized that our feet were starting to go numb. Even this watery amusement was not the highlight of my night. It was something much better. Much bigger. Much shinier. That night was the first time I saw Cloud Gate. Since 2004, I had wanted to see this metallic masterpiece which Chicagoans have lovingly nicknamed “The Bean”. I had been growing extremely frustrated with the fact that I still had not experienced this piece of Chicago culture. Luckily, my time had come to complete this long anticipated quest. I had also been looking forward to taking the stereotypical “Bean reflection” picture. I did not take into account that I went at nine o’clock at night, so the only picture I was able to manage was somewhat blurry. However, I like my blurry picture. It captured my first visit to Millennium Park. My first visit to Crown Fountain. My first visit to Cloud Gate. My first realization that this piece of Chicago culture is no longer just a dream of [email protected]

By Becki Brown Features Editor

Tweetsof the week

The Xavierite Staff has searched through Twitter for the perfect tweets...

“Happy 15th anniversary to @FoxNews. Wait, @FoxNews is a 15-year-old? That explains so much!” @TheDailyShow (Jon Stewart) Sept 19

“Why do people say “story of my life”? My life had a story. Actually, several novels. Your story is more a joke book.” @Lord_Voldemort7 Sept 21

“I’m not upset about the Facebook redesign at all. Mostly because I still use friendster.” @StephenAtHome ( Stephen Colbert) Sept 22

“Palestinian Authority submits application for U.N. recognition of statehood.” @cnnbrk Sept 23

“18- to 24-year-olds average 110 text messages per day (via @Techland)” @Time Sept 20

Wellness Corner There are many pitfalls when eating out at restaurants or fast food joints that can sabotage our diets. There ARE healthier choices however you just need to look a little closer at the menu! The easiest way to cut back on the calories when eating out is to cut out the extra fat. Try to ask for sandwiches without mayo and dressings. And don’t forget to replace those sugary beverages with a nice glass of cold water!

Eat This!: 1 English muffin no cheese with a small OJ Not That!: 1 McGriddle, large sweet tea and hash brown

Eat This!: Grilled chicken salad with Light/low fat dressing and a piece of fruit Not That!: Crispy chicken salad with ranch dressing

Eat This!: 6 inch whole wheat turkey sub with mustard and no cheese with baked chips and water Not That!: 12 inch meatball sub with potato chips and a medium Coke

For future health, nutrition or fitness questions, email [email protected]

Kelly Devine, MS, RD, CSSD, LDNBoard Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics www.kellydevinenutrition.com

Student Picks

Sky Wrightjunior, psychology

Jose Serranofreshman, criminal justi ce

Christi ne Otrembiaksophomore, music educati on

Top 5 Albums Top 5 TV Shows

Late Nights and Early Mornings-Marsha Ambrosius. It has a smooth, neo-soul feel to it, and Marsha is from London.

Now or Never-Tank. This is without a doubt my life story wrapped up into one album.

My Favorite Things-John Coltrane.It really tells a story. I really enjoy when an album can go beyond great music and have deeper meaning.

Kind of Blue-Miles Davis. You can’t go wrong with Miles Davis, and Kind of Blue is the best.

Confessions-Usher. This album is musically insane. Also, I played it all the ti me from when it came out in 2004 unti l 2008.

Family Guy. Family Guy is really funny. Peter is so outrageous, but he makes me laugh.

That 70s Show. It’s a show about teenagers, which makes it relatable. They were in high school and then went off to college just like me.

Scrubs. Not only is Scrubs a good show, but it also presents a lot of real problems and some very useful soluti ons.

Two and a Half Men. This show teaches you about life. What you should (or shouldn’t) do when it comes to family, friends, and love.

American Dad. American Dad reminds me a lot of Family Guy. Stan is like a more responsible Peter.

Top 5 Disney Movies

Mulan. I love the story of Mulan, a woman who took on an enti re army of Huns, some of the fi ercest men of that ti me, and saved China.

Lion King. Lion King recently came to theaters. I was so excited. Everything about it is just amazing. It’s all around wonderful.

Fox and the Hound. Tod and Cooper form an unlikely friendship despite what others think, and they’re so adorable.

Beauty and the Beast. Beauty and the Beast has so many great songs, and I love the morals that it teaches.

Toy Story. Every ti me I watch Toy Story, I feel like a kid. Someti mes that is just what I need.

Revenge Is The Word On the Street

The hot new show on ABC this fall is, Revenge. It takes place in the beautiful sea side city of Hampton but there is a dark side to this white sand paradise. Emily Thorne is a young woman who returns to the scene of her father’s betrayal with a blazing determination to avenge him, at any cost. Immediately the show starts off with a glamorous engagement party with no expense spared only to turn into a murder scene. The rest of the show is set five months back to the first day Emily Thorne returns to the Hamptons. Emily wastes no time in tearing apart the people who wronged her. Smiles with icy stares, hand-shakes like knives and angel-faces hiding demons. Oh and poison soup, my favorite. Welcome to Revenge. Now after talking about the premiere’s juicy plot it is time to move on to the wonderful aesthetics of Revenge, this show really sets its self apart from other drama/reality programs in artistic matters. In recent years producers and directors have been pushing the “real” look, meaning that the image should look as if being observed by the naked eye, so there is no fun with colors, bland character, uninteresting sets and boring camera angles. Revenge blows this all away with vibrant colors within every scene, a stunning array of clothing styles, dazzling locations and dramatic cinematography. Color is imperative when setting the mood visually for the audience but also in illustrating a character’s mind set. If the scene is covered in a warm color, say red, we subconsciously feel a sense of change, action or violence. Same thing happens when

people wear certain colors, take red again, red is often seen as the color of the antagonist in our culture because it displays bravado, and it grabs your attention, it is also the color of blood. Revenge uses a pallet of solid white, red, blue and black for dress and set which gives the show a very clean and classy look while making a statement. TV and movies were created to give a means to escape normal everyday life, in order to do this they take the audience to places never seen before or to different times in history. Sadly this creative aspect has come under siege in the “reality” craze and now the networks just up-play normal life functions; a show for pawn shops really? Revenge, however, takes the audience to this beach side paradise where each house is a pearly white mansion. It truly is a beautiful show with no shortage of escape from the mundane. The cinematography is also very nice because it gets up-close and personal with characters, throws in a pinch of slow motion for spotting details and a few artistic sequences. Best of all, no shaky over the shoulder shots! So you don’t feel like you’re in an earthquake. Revenge is truly a beautiful show with a juicy story to tell. Be sure to catch it this fall on ABC, Wednesdays at 9p.m. Enjoy!

By Grant Vargas Features Contributor

Grant reviews ABC’s new show Revenge

Get ready for some juicy Revenge with ABC’s new show. Photo abc.com


By Greg PilafasSports Editor

WWE Ratings at Low Point

I have been following the WWE for the majority of my life and I cannot get over how the WWE has continued to decline as far as quality is concerned. If you have watched the WWE over the past few months or so, so much has happened over that time. When I first started watching the WWE, they were in the ‘Attitude Era,’ and over the past couple of years the WWE has been in the ‘PG Era.’ The WWE has shifted from a smash mouth, in-your-face kind of product to a boring kind of predictable product. Also, the WWE is slowly bringing back superstars of the ‘Attitude Era,’ including guys like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. The attitude era was around 1997-2003, which featured a lot of graphic matches like ‘First Blood,’ where; the first person to bleed lost the match. This looks to be an effort on the WWE’s part to bring back the time when the WWE was really awesome to watch. These guys were two major superstars that really brought fans in to watching the WWE. Now over the past three or four years, the WWE has been in the ‘PG Era,’ where if a guy starts bleeding, they will end the match. The PG Era features such superstars as John Cena and Randy Orton. Ever since the PG Era has come around, the ratings have really dropped for the WWE and they have lost a

lot of viewers. The main thing that causes WWE’s ratings to drop, according to the WWE, is because of the holidays and Monday Night Football when most people are not tuning in to Monday Night Raw or Friday Night Smackdown. The actual reason for the ratings drop may be because the product they are putting out has been subpar to say the least. The rating for the September 12 edition of WWE’s Monday Night Raw was at one of the lowest points since 1997(bleacherreport.com). This rating drop is mostly due to the fact that Monday Night Football is back on, but there may be another factor that is making ratings drop as well. The new COO (Chief Operating Officer), is now Triple H and Vince McMahon has been given the boot. Triple H made a great move by making Monday Night Raw a Supershow that now features both Raw and Smackdown superstars. This should have been done a long time ago, because I know that a lot of people like to see both shows’ superstars on Smackdown and Raw, me included. It spices things up a bit and allows all of us WWE fans a chance to see everything the WWE has to offer. There has been a match already announced for next year’s Wrestlemania that will pit current WWE Champion John Cena against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for the WWE title. This match will be a clash of the “Attitude Era” vs. the “PG Era.” This match-up will be super-hyped up and the WWE has already announced that

The Rock will be competing at the Survivor Series pay-per-view on November 20, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Early rumors are that both John Cena and The Rock will be on the same team and the WWE could have a lot of play with that match. Another match that has been discussed for next year’s Wrestlemania is CM Punk vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. It seems that the WWE is just trying to have the match-ups as the “Attitude Era vs. the PG Era,” which could be very intriguing. CM Punk has really broken down the barrier of the PG Era, where he went on a

ten-fifteen minute rant on why the WWE is headed downhill. After that long rant it looked like CM Punk would be suspended and possibly even fired for his actions, but John Cena would stand up for him and defend CM Punk’s decision. A huge portion of the WWE Universe is now behind CM Punk after what he has done to change the WWE. Punk is starting to make the WWE ‘fun again.’ Whatever the WWE is doing, they need to change things up a bit and to get

CM Punk has been a huge part of the WWE breaking down the ‘PG Era’ Photo: bleacherreport.com

A Perspective on Women’s Roles in Sportswomen. Athletes are major role models for children. They are what they strive to be like. Women athletes are important in society because they help bring a positive view for all girls. Media is not all to blame; it is society also. Sports have always been male-dominated and it is hard to see otherwise. Slowly society is becoming more accepting of women athletes but there will always be struggle.

By Jessica OgleSports Contributer

Being a woman in sports is not as easy as it is for men. My name is Jessica Ogle and sports have been a part of most of my life. I have been involved in basketball, soccer, track and field, golf, softball, and volleyball. Being on different teams has built my love for sports. Women and sports are not usually a combo most guys see in girls. For them it is rare for girls to know their sports like they know their fashion. Because of the little amount of faith men have in girls knowledge of sports, women are seen as the underdogs. Female teams are shown l i t t le appreciation in the professional world. For a WNBA player in 2011 their salary stacks up to be $852,000. For a NBA player, the highest paid player is paid $25 million. Media coverage of women teams is lacking. Only 5 percent of media is received to women. Women usually resort to sex appeal to get noticed in the sports’ world. Because most viewers are men they achieve their success by modeling not just their athletic skills but also their bodies. In order for professional athletes to gain their accomplishments and a decent salary media is a must. I believe if women athletes were praised on their talent and skills, than more girls would be encouraged to be strong, motivated

Women need to be strong and hold their ground to get through the tough world of sports. Not only is being a women athlete hard but being a fan is also difficult. Now that the football season has come guys are ready to build their fantasy teams together and enjoy their Sundays. Women are not typically big on watching football. They are stereotypically shown to be an annoyance and to be never around during the game day.

For men it is hard to believe that there are women out there that do enjoy Sunday football. More and more women are getting involved in sports and enjoy watching them too. Now they are sitting right next to the guys during games. Women can contribute to conversations and state their opinions well about sports. So guys, don’t be alarmed when you see a couple of women in your favorite sports [email protected]

to receiver Courtney Johnson. Towards the end of the fourth quarter the second string Cougar offense got back on track, especially the offensive line led by veteran right tackle Anthony LaBanca and right guard Moe Perez. The Cougars scored two rushing touchdowns off this right hand side for their

from page 12FOOTBALL > first points since the second quarter. Sean Bryce had the first touchdown run of seven-yards, and Cole Midgett had the second touchdown run of nine-yards. The final score was Cougars 49, Trojans 14. Corey Wennmacher was the standout player on the offensive side of the ball with seven receptions for 130-yards with two

touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball Mike Prosser had seven total tackles, two for a loss, a sack, blocked field goal, and two quarterback hurries. The Cougars now look towards their next game in Fort Wayne, Indiana against the number two ranked team in the nation the University of St. Francis Cougars.

There has always been a huge rivalry between these two teams and this game has a little bit more of an reward to it. If the Cougars want to win this game they will need to limit their turnovers and establish the run early on in the game. The SXU Cougars have beaten the USF Cougars twice last season, and look to continue their winning streak this season.

page 11WWE >


By Vinnie HughesSenior Sports Editor

Sunday night’s game between the Bears and Packers was not just sloppy, it was embarrassing for both teams. There is something that I have noticed over the last three or four years about our Bears team. There are two different teams that show up on Sunday. The team that dominates every aspect of the game, or the team that gives up at the end of the first quarter. This past Sunday, it was the not-so-good Bears team that showed up. If not for Urlacher’s and Peppers’ phenomenal defensive plays, there was absolutely no spark in the Bears’ offense what so ever. And as for Cutler and that Bears offensive line, well, we all know how that goes when things aren’t clicking for them. But for me, this is not just about the Bears. This is also about how bad the Packers played. Yes, they won by ten points and had an okay defensive performance. However, they have not had one good game all year long. Although they are 3-0, it does not mean they are playing well. Their defense has been torched in all three games, which was their anchor to winning it all last year. They too, just like the Bears, had no offensive spark. Sadly enough, besides the opening drive for Green Bay, the most interesting thing that happened in the game was the punt return for a touchdown by Bears WR Johnny Knox. This particular play was called back for a so-called “holding” call that was on #29. However, there was no number 29 on the field. The Bears had their opportunities to capitalize, but just could not get anything

going. Plus the very controversial call in the end of the third quarter knocked the wind out of the Bears. When Packers CB Charles Woodsen completely re-routed Bears WR Devin Hester, which would have been a touchdown if not for the blatant pass interference on Woodsen. However, the refs for some reason decided not to throw a flag. This action really fizzled the only spark on any of the drives the Bears had to get within three points of the game.

After halftime, the game was at a stalemate. The only fun watching in the second half was watching the Bears defense start making QB Aaron Rodgers uncomfortable, which lead to making bad decisions. That is the only time in the last 8 games Rodgers has shown any sign of frustration with his team, which is good for the Bears to see that they can rattle him. The moral of the story here is that neither team played well. Obviously the Bears

offense did not show up at all, but as always, the defense did. The Packers, in my opinion, played worse than Chicago. They have shown more holes in their team than any other team in the NFL. That hole that they have is the hunger to win. They have no drive. The interview before the game stated that Rodgers is playing with no pressure or urgency. Is he for real? Just because he won a Championship doesn’t mean he can retire as a great Packer. No offense Rodgers, but Manning and Brady after they got their first ring never said “Hey I got my title I am just going to coast from now on.” Winning one should want you to win more. That is the factor that separates Rodgers from the elite. Attitude.

Em”Bear”assing

Bears QB Jay Cutler shakes hands with Packers QB Rodgers after the game. Photo: Espn.com

Textbook Rental at SXU Campus Bookstore

Save more than 50% by renting your textbooks at SXU Campus Bookstore this fall!

The Textbook Rental Program is made possible by a grant awarded to the University by the by the U.S. Department of Education Fund for

the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

To find out if a rental option is available for your course, visit the Campus Bookstore’s website at bookstore.sxu.edu

• Convenience • Accuracy • Availability

from page 10WWE >

some new storylines in there and possibly some new faces as well. I am a huge John Cena fan, but it seems that he has the WWE Championship way too often. The WWE needs to be like UFC in a way where any person can win on any given night. I would love to start seeing some huge upsets and some guys win some championships that have been around for a while. I know that the WWE does not want to even acknowledge the UFC as any sort of competition to them, but they are definitely rivals. Some former WWE superstars are shifting to the UFC side and they are looking great on UFC. The WWE is losing viewers and I really hope the WWE gets back to being exciting again as even I, as a fan of over ten years, has really started to lose interest in the WWE. Triple H is slowly but surely making the WWE really awesome once again, but we need some changes around the WWE very soon.


SPORTS

Homecoming and Home CookingBy A.J. PaapeSports Correspondent

By Greg PilafasSports Editor

The Saint Xavier men and women’s Cross country team are both off to a fantastic start. The women have had two races and the men have had three races to start off the season. To begin with the women, they are ranked number twenty-five overall in the NAIA. They have had two races already and came in second place both times. The women were led by the strong running of senior Rachael Dean. Dean has finished both second and third in the women’s two races so far. The women’s first match-up of the year on Sept. 3 was at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC). The women would finish second behind only Loyola University (IL.) and would beat out such teams as DePaul University, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, UIC, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Northern Illinois University. In the women’s second race of the season on Sept. 9, the women would finish second again this time behind number seven ranked Olivet Nazarene University. Out of the seven teams that competed in this race in Bourbonnais, IL., Rachael Dean finished in third-place out of all the runners with her race time at 18 minutes and 54 seconds, which is equivalent to six minutes and five seconds per mile. Ashley Shares also finished in the top-ten with eighth place her time was 19:19.42. Also placing in the top twenty was senior Jackie Ott who took twelfth place in this match-up with a time of 19:26.54. The women will take a few weeks off before returning to the track when they head

to the Sean Earl Invitational at Montrose Harbor in Chicago. The race will take place on Oct. 1, and the match-up is scheduled to begin at noon. As far as the men’s cross country team, they have had three meets already and have placed fifth, third and twelfth respectively in the three match-ups. They are off to a great start so far this season and will look to build on their early success in the coming weeks. In the men’s first meet of the season they placed fifth on Sept. 5, at the UIC home opener in Palos Heights IL., at the Horsetail Slough course. Sophomore Brian Corcoran finished in second place for the Cougars with a time of 20:44 over the four-mile track. On Sept. 9, the men finished in third-place at the Midwest Classic hosted by Olivet Nazarene University. Senior Matt Rychel finished in sixth-place overall in a field of ninety-one runners he finished with a time of 26:29 over the 8,000 (8K) meter course. In the men’s most recent meet, they finished in twelfth place out of thirty-two teams down in Normal IL., at the Illinois Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships held at Illinois State University. This meet featured the best that the state of Illinois had to offer and sophomore Brian Corcoran finished in seventeenth place in a meet that featured 332 runners. In an interview with sophomore Shane Kenney, he said “I started running in seventh grade to get in shape for basketball actually which is the whole reason I got in to running. I started winning my races and I said I’m kind of good at this and then I ran throughout high school at Chesterton High School in Chesterton, Indiana.”

“In high school I won several individual and team medals, and I’d say the most rewarding was my senior year when my team was state runners-up getting second place in the state meet in Indiana. That was pretty awesome.” “Saint Xavier offered me a pretty nice scholarship to come here and I thought it was the best option for me to come here,” said Kenney.” “We were a very young team last year and we got fourth in conference, but this year I feel that we are really progressing and we definitely want to make it to Nationals this season. I think we have a really good

shot. Individually I just want to give the team everything I have and to contribute in any way possible. I think if everyone does that we are going to be successful,” Kenney said. “We got a few more runners this season in addition to the runners we already had so that helps not losing anyone from last year. “ The men’s next meet will be on Saturday, Oct. 1, down in Louisville, Kentucky. The men will take this weekend off, but next week they will be ready to go at 10a.m. down in Kentucky.

[email protected]

Improvement in Cross Country

Senior Rachael Dean took third overall at the Midwest Classic. Photo: SXU Athletics

The Saint Xavier University Cougars defended their number one ranking in the nation last week versus Walsh University with a huge 55-30 victory. The Cougars second game after obtaining the number one ranking was on homecoming night against the Trinity International University Trojans. Over the last couple of years the Cougars have absolutely dominated the Trojans. The last time these teams met was in the 2010 season at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field where the Cougars handed the Trojans a 62-6 loss. The Cougars looked to continue their winning ways against TIU. The Cougars running game took a hit before the game even started, senior running back KJ Franklin was inactive on homecoming night with a banged up knee. Due to the injury to KJ Franklin, second year running back Nick Pesek got the start and veteran Sean Bryce saw increased playing time. The Cougars struggled to establish a running game early on in the game, they had a net of 14-yards. The Cougars did have one rushing touchdown, Nick Pesek started off the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run.

This touchdown run would be the only points in the first quarter by either team. Less than 20 seconds into the second quarter the Cougars scored on a seven-yard touchdown reception from Jimmy Coy to Shane Zackery. The Cougars now took a two touchdown lead over the Trojans. This touchdown was the first of four in the second quarter. 80 seconds after the Coy to Zackery touchdown, defensive lineman Ryan Miles intercepted a Trojan pass at the 49-yard line, broke towards the sideline, and returned the interception back for the third Cougar touchdown on the day. This was the first defensive touchdown scored by the Cougars in the 2011 season. In the last six minutes of the first half Jimmy Coy had two touchdown passes, both to Corey Wennmacher, the first a twenty six yard reception, and the second a thirty yard completion. The Cougars scored 28 points in the second quarter, and that is the most the team has put up in a single quarter in the 2011 season. The third quarter of the game was also a notable quarter for the Cougars, this was the only time in the season that the Cougars had been held to zero points in a single quarter. In the third quarter the Cougars offense could not get back on track weather it was the first string offense or the second string

offense. The only scoring play in the third quarter was a fifteen yard touchdown pass from TIU quarterback Morgan Hall to receiver Nigel Pinson. This touchdown was very significant because this was the first touchdown TIU has scored against the Cougars in the last six

years. The Trojans continued their scoring in the fourth quarter. To star t of f the scoring Trojan quarterback Morgan Hall threw his second touchdown pass of the game, ten-yard pass

Junior Corey Wennmacher makes one of his seven catches Saturday. Photo: Rob Huizenga

page 10FOOTBALL >

september 28th, 2011

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