AKRON, OHIO 44306 JANUARY 23, 2007 Singer Lily Allen

Singer Lily Allen
ARCHBISHOP HOBAN HIGH SCHOOL ONE HOLY CROSS BLVD. AKRON, OHIO 44306 ISSUE NO. 9 JANUARY 23, 2007
Myspace.com/musiclilyallen

!Staff Editorials
‘Michelle’s Law’ unfairly targets teenage drivers
One of the most
anticipated events of
one’s teenage years,
being able to drive, is no longer
as simple as it once was. With
the passage of the discriminatory
Ohio House Bill 343,
nicknamed “Michelle’s Law,”
drivers under 17 can have only
one passenger in a car unless in
the presence of a parent.
Understandably, inexperienced
teenagers have restrictions that
adults do not, but these
additions to Ohio’s current laws
go too far.
The bill gained momentum
after a push from Ray and
Debbie Sanderbeck of Medina,
whose daughter Michelle was
killed in a car accident in
March, 2006. Michelle, a 15year-old
sophomore at Medina
High School, was one of four
passengers in a car that lost
control and hit a wall. The bill
was signed Jan. 4 by former
Gov. Bob Taft.
Another limitation is the
curfew between 1 and 6 A.M. for
drivers under 18. Michelle’s
law will cause police to unfairly
profile drivers who look
underage, putting them under
the microscope when they are
bound to make errors. Besides
the discriminatory nature of the
law, there are other issues. A
clause makes allowances for
Notre Dame fails to deliver for the ninth year
2
Sorry, no parking
spots left!
For the ninth consecutive time the Notre
Dame Fighting Irish have lost their bowl
game. This year it was an embarrassing
41-14 loss to Louisiana State at the Sugar Bowl.
The losing streak only continues to bring the
realization to Notre Dame fans all across the
country that the team is not what it once was.
The Irish went 10-2 during the regular season,
but with only one win over a ranked opponent,
Penn State, at home. However, against other
ranked opponents, they got thumped 47-21 by
11th-ranked Michigan at home and manhandled
“There ... all
better!”
emergencies and for teens
coming from work, but because
there is no definition of an
emergency, stories are easy to
fabricate and difficult to check.
Car pools to and from school
are convenient ways for
teenagers without cars or
drivers licenses to commute
with a minimum of hassle.
Transportation will become a
major issue for students and
their parents now that many
will be unable to get rides with
friends. Besides simply going to
school, many teens drive to and
from athletic events and
activities together. High school
parking lots, already packed,
will need to organize systems
that distribute limited parking
spaces to an increasing number
You see,
officer, there
was this gorilla ...
Easy on
the bumps!
Shut up!
You’re gonna get
us caught!
of drivers. The law complicates
the way teens get to school,
which will undoubtedly have
negative side effects.
Lastly, an amendment
states that anyone 18 or under
convicted of a moving violation
loses all driving privileges for at
least six months, except when
in the presence of a parent. The
Ohio General Assembly apparently
has forgotten that teenage
drivers are the least experienced
and will make mistakes on the
road. The former law, which
required underage traffic
offenders to appear in juvenile
court, was more than enough.
A reduction in accidents would
be ideal, but a poorly planned
crackdown on teenage drivers is
not the answer.
at third-ranked USC, 44-24.
In the last two seasons, Notre Dame has lost
to USC twice, Michigan once, Ohio State once
and now LSU, all top 10 teams. Despite this
abysmal showing, Notre Dame remains a media
darling, with an exclusive contract with NBC
Sports. The team continues to land lucrative
bowl games no matter how poorly it does.
Notre Dame undoubtedly has one of the
biggest fan bases in the country. But the time
has come to stop giving the university undue
preferential treatment.
Editorial cartoon by Kevin Contrera
Copyright © 2007
• CSPA Gold Medalist
• NSPA All-American
• Quill & Scroll Int’l First Place
• NOSPA Golden Flash
• GLIPA Buckeye
Online: www.my.highschool
journalism.org/oh/akron/hoban
e-mail: hobanvisor@yahoo.com
Voice: 330-773-6658 ext. 249
Fax: 330-773-9100
School site: www.hoban.org
The Visor subscribes to the ASNE/
MCT Campus high school news
service and to APStylebook.com.
Signed letters for publication are
welcome. Mailbox is in the main
office. Unsigned editorials represent
the consensus of the editorial
board. Signed opinion represents
the views of the writer only.
Editor-in-chief
Dwayne Yates
News Editor
Andrew Bluebond
Sports Editor
Pat Justice
Features Editor
Maureen Bulgrin
Activities Editor
Nicole Beck
Exchange Editor
Brian Krinsky
Cartoonist
Kevin Contrera
Staff Reporters
Katie Alto, Kathleen Davey, Zrinka
Dzeba, Adam Gale, Matt Green, Matt
Jordan, Jennifer Joseph, Josephine
Landenberger, Andrew Licking, Mike
Rohrbach, Ben Spoonster-Wessel
Adviser
Brother Joseph LeBon
ON THE COVER:
! British singer Lily Allen is
among seven persons chosen
by the Visor as ones to watch
in 2007. Story on pages 6-7.
THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007

Question 31 an attack on America’s poor
As students fill out applications for
federal student aid, they may give
little thought to question 31 about
drug convictions. For most of us, a simple
check in the no box gets the job done, and
we move on. For others, it is the difference
between receiving a higher education or not.
Students with drug-related convictions
are ineligible for federal student aid, and
sadly, they are often the ones most in
need. A strong correlation exists between
poverty and crime, and drug convictions
are no exception.
Over the years, sociologists have
struggled to find a correlation between drug
use and poverty. While some attribute that
to an inability to obtain accurate information,
others argue there simply isn’t one.
Confused? You might be if you didn’t catch
the subtle difference in wording. Impoverished
Americans may or may not be more
likely to use drugs, but they are certainly
more likely to be convicted.
When the “crack boom” hit in the
1980s, President Reagan set the precedent
that would ultimately doom the War on
Drugs. He pushed for mandatory minimum
sentences for crack cocaine users
New stem cell discovery holds promise
With all the scientific progress in
stem cell research, the morality
of destroying live embryos has
always been a major issue. However, a
recent discovery by Dr. Anthony Atala of
Wake Forest University may have broken
the impasse of morality and science.
Atala reports that he has discovered a
new class of stem cells harvested from
amniotic fluid and the placenta, both
currently discarded as waste after birth. This
class could be harvested without the
destruction of embryos. Atala has concluded
that these new stem cells may
actually be superior to embryonic stem cells.
He found that unlike embryonic cells,
amniotic cells did not grow out of control
and lead to tumors.
While Atala and his team still have a
lot of research to do before they discover
the full potential of these new cells, this
advance in stem cell research is exceptionally
promising.
and an attack on inner-city drug use.
Because crack was considerably cheaper
than powder cocaine, it hit poorer communities
hardest. And so it began, the War
would be fought in the poorest neighborhoods,
though they may not have been
any more likely to be using drugs.
Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and
Bush all failed to change the minimum
sentencing requirements and the locus of
the War. For over 20 years, the poor have
been convicted more often and have
served longer prison terms than wealthier
people who have broken the same laws.
While this by no means proves a
government conspiracy against the poor, it
does reveal a sad reality about America’s
financial aid policies. Question 31 is a
remnant of the failed War on Drugs. Like
mandatory minimums, exclusion from
financial aid is probably not a deterrent
against crime. Instead, it promotes crime
by denying young men and women a
chance at higher education.
Of course, it is easy to say drug users
and dealers have no right to federal student
aid. The argument seems convincing now,
but 20 years down the line we won’t be any
I am irritated by those who criticize
this study as being inferior to embryonic
stem cell research (ESCR). My initial
response was “well duh!” ESCR, while
still a relatively new field, has had the
time to be tested by scientists globally. It
has simply been around longer; therefore
it is more advanced.
I have also heard the opinion that
scientists have already begun to exploit the
value of embryonic stem cells and should
concentrate on furthering that field rather
than searching for a better alternative. “We
have already studied embryonic stem cells,”
they say, “and are aware of their usefulness.
Stop clouding science with morality.” I can’t
understand this attitude that likens amniotic
stem cell research to beating a dead horse.
I don’t get how we can possibly hope
to keep the two separated. Everyone, no
matter how liberal or conservative, has
some set of moral principles, some lines
that can’t be crossed. In a society where
!Opinion & Commentary
by Andrew
Bluebond
further along than we are today. According
the Center on Crime, Communities and
Culture, making higher education more
available to the poor is America’s best
chance at reducing violent crime and federal
welfare expenditures. So giving America’s
poor, including drug users, a chance at a
college degree isn’t just the thing right to do,
it is a sound investment.
The Office of National Drug Control
Policy reports that the federal government
spent about $19 billion on the War on Drugs
in 2003. By contrast, only $12.7 billion in
Pell Grants was given for the 2003-04
school year. While countless economists
have called U.S. drug policy a failure, few
are arguing that more education for
America’s poor will not reduce crime.
I don’t know about you, but I am
ready to stop funding two wars at this
point. I already have the first step
planned out: Scratch question 31.
by Maureen
Bulgrin
technology is opening new medical
possibilities every day, how can we keep
our values and our morals from affecting
scientific advances?
Here we have a chance to skew that
line that some are unwilling to cross. The
benefit of stem cell research is incomprehensible.
But at what price? True, the
ability to eliminate diseases like cancer
and Parkinson’s is an incredibly hopeful
prospect. Still, how many embryos must
be destroyed to achieve this goal? If Atala
and his team have discovered a way to
uphold the sanctity of human life in both
respects, we should invest more resources
into advancing this study rather than
criticizing it for its novelty.
THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007 3

!School News
Student committee explores ways to implement honor code
BY KATHLEEN DAVEY
Text messages, layered note cards, filling
in more than one bubble and Ts
that could also be taken as Fs are
cheating techniques most teachers and students
are aware of. Dishonesty on tests,
quizzes, sink-or-swims, and even homework
is often heard of and gossiped about.
Although the honor code has been a part
of Hoban for two years, only this year was
a student group created to be involved in
interpreting and understanding the code.
How frequent and
accepted is cheating?
The honor code committee,
a group of 20 to
30 seniors, was formed
to find out the truth
about cheating and
work with advisers on how to create and enforce
rules to promote academic integrity.
Amanda Viau, a member of the committee,
hopes the meetings and efforts of the
group are appreciated by both students and
teachers.
“The point is to get the student body involved,”
Viau said. “We want students to
understand that cheating undermines your
integrity. It’s not just against school rules.”
With the help of faculty advisers Mary
Bulgrin, Kevin Hillery and Dr. Mary Anne
Beiting, the students try to find the most effective
way to inspire students behave honestly.
The committee meetings often result in
4
A: “I resolved to not have a
senior slide, but so far that
hasn’t been working out so
well.”
—Erin Capitena ’07
“We want students
to understand that
cheating undermines
your integrity.”
—senior Amanda Viau
a variety of ideas and proposals. Already the
committee has adopted and administered a student
survey to find out why and how often
Hoban students cheat. The survey results will
be analyzed and compared to other schools,
then the results will be presented to the students
by committee members.
Two weeks ago the committee took the
next step in its plan to make students better
appreciate and understand the honor code. Bill
Considine of Children’s Hospital, Judge Linda
Teodosio of Juvenile Court and the Rev. Norm
Douglas of Heart to
Heart Communications
spoke at an assembly
on the value of honesty.
Seniors Mitch Kolesar
and Karli Hamad gave
presentations that expressed
the student experience with the honor
code. They discussed cheating and its consequences
and were willing to share personal
experiences with their fellow students and
teachers. The next day committee members
visited English classes to gather opinions about
their actions so far.
At the assembly, student council president
Kevin Contrera introduced the idea of
displaying a letter for every week the school
has no reported incidents of cheating. When
the word HONOR is completed outside the
central office, the student body will be rewarded.
Fridays will become Hoban T-shirt
days until the end of the year.
Voices in the Crowd
Q: What was your New Year’s resolution?
A: “My New Year’s resolution
was to be more positive about
myself rather than always
thinking negatively.”
—Jasmine Sampson ’08
COMPILED BY MAUREEN BULGRIN
A: “I really want to work
harder for football and get a
job.”
—Laymon Carter ’09
Karli Hamad gives the student perspective
on the honor code at an assembly Jan. 12
A: “I resolved to get better
grades and work harder in
school. So far I’ve kept it.”
—LeAnna Gelesh ’10
THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007
Photo by Micah Kraus

Hoban chips in
to help art teacher
BY ANDREW LICKING
The Good Samaritan has walked right
into Hoban and is now affecting students
and faculty alike.
Last summer, art teacher Margot
Eiseman was diagnosed with cancer. She
has been receiving treatment at the Ireland
Cancer Center in Cleveland. This has caused
her to miss all of the school year thus far.
On top of her illness, Eiseman was in a
car accident last September, in which she
broke six ribs, significantly slowing the frequency
of her chemotherapy treatments.
Despite this setback, Eiseman was declared
cancer-free last month. She will soon
receive her final chemo treatment, after
which she will recuperate at home.
Fellow art teacher Micah Kraus, along
with members of the art club, have taken
an interest in helping Eiseman. They went
to her house to rake leaves earlier this year
and intend to go back to shovel snow and
do other chores to help.
Kraus gives much credit to his students.
“The kids began this whole thing,” he
said, “daily bringing cards, little gifts and
asking to help.”
Kraus encourages volunteers to help
Eiseman, though he intends to take a select
number of students at a time.
“We’ll do this several times,” he said. “I
don’t want to overwhelm her with a lot of
students.”
Long-term substitute Jill Fortman has
been teaching Eiseman’s classes.
“I know she misses her students,”
Fortman said. “But she is in a position where
health and family are number one.”
Also, since September, receptionist Janet
Karson has organized a group of faculty
members to cook meals for Eiseman and to
deliver them each week.
“This way she doesn’t have to worry
about getting tired in the kitchen,” Karson
said. “I think she appreciates the meals and
also the camaraderie.”
Eiseman is grateful for everyone’s efforts.
“Knowing that my friends at Hoban are
cheering me on has made a huge difference
as I fight this fight,” she said. “Thank
you, everyone, for your thoughts and
prayers.”
BY ZRINKA DZEBA
Sophomore Stephanie Klettlinger had
the opportunity to learn about different
cultures when she participated in
the Youth Employment for Success (YES)
Mural Project last summer.
Klettlinger and her sister Deanna, an
eighth-grader at St. Matthew School in Ellet,
first became aware of the mural project
through another area program, Coming Together
Akron.
“I found out about the mural from my
sister, who’s in Coming Together Akron, and
it sounded really interesting,” Klettlinger
said.
Coming Together Akron and the Akron
Arts Alliance copartnered with Summit
County Executive James B. McCarthy’s YES
initiative in July 2006. Approximately 30
students in middle and high school participated
in the summer project.
“There were students from all over, from
different area public schools and even foreign
countries,” Klettlinger said. “Meeting
so many new and diverse people was great,
and I made many friends.”
The students involved in the program
painted a 9x200 foot mural on the Art Space
on Akron’s East Market Street to celebrate
multiculturalism. Teens from Akron, as well
as Mexico, Laos and Korea took an active
!School News
Stephanie and Deanna Klettlinger helped with this mural on the Akron Art Space. The
work is on display on East Market Street in downtown Akron.
Student helps out in Akron mural project
rôle in painting the mural, under the guidance
of Kirk Mangus, a Kent State University
art and ceramics professor.
“[Mangus] sketched the mural on the
wall, and we were told what color to paint
it,” Klettlinger said.
The program, created through a grant
from the National Endowment for the Arts,
encouraged area youth to explore and embrace
different cultures. YES was one of 135
small programs throughout the nation that
received $10,000 grants to extend the arts
to the community. Area businesses, like
Home Depot and Sherwin-Williams, donated
art supplies to the three-week project.
The opportunity for self-discovery was
also presented to the participating students
through a $679 grant from the Vernon Odom
Fund of the Akron Community Foundation.
The grant gave participants a chance to research
their own cultural heritage and paint
self-portraits. Art instructor Marcie Bircher
helped the students with this extension of
the project, and the portraits went on display
in the fall.
Klettlinger was glad to participate in the
learning experience.
“I loved seeing how people, even if they
are from totally different backgrounds, can
get together and do something as fun as
painting a mural.”
THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007 5
Photo by Larry Klettlinger

Cover Story
Nancy Pelosi
1st Woman Speaker
BY JENNIFER JOSEPH
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who
has been in the House of Representatives
since 1987, became Speaker on
Jan. 4. Pelosi’s inauguration brought
many firsts—first Italian American, first
Californian and first woman to hold
such a position.
As Speaker, the Democrat ranks second
in the presidential line of succession
following the vice president. No woman
has ever been closer to presidency.
Before pursuing a political career,
Pelosi was a stay-at-home mother of
five. And though she came from a
Maryland political family, it wasn’t until
1976 that Pelosi ventured into politics.
Pelosi has climbed the political ladder
and served as House Minority Leader
in 2002.
With a reputation for liberalism,
Pelosi is pro-choice, supports embryonic
stem cell research and favors protecting
civil liberties.
If the recent completion of her 100hour
plan, accomplished within the first
100 hours of office, is any indication,
Pelosi will continue to make history.
Barack Obama
Fresh Face
BY RACHEL BROOKS
A Columbia University and Harvard
Law School graduate, Sen. Barack
Obama is gaining much attention
throughout the United States and the
world alike. The Illinois Democrat was
elected to the United States Senate in
2005 and has taken preliminary steps
toward a possible presidential run.
Arguments have been made that
America isn’t ready for a black president
and that his running for office will not
be accepted kindly by some. But after
being featured on the cover of the Oct.
23, 2006, issue of Time, it is agreed that
Obama is probably “America’s hottest
political phenomenon.”
Obama favors stem cell research
and opposes same-sex marriage. It is
a tough and personal choice on
whether or not to support this young
and popular politician.
“If you’re walking down the right
path and you’re willing to keep walking,
eventually you’ll make progress,”
Obama has said. Maybe he will take
his own advice on his journey toward
the White House.
Lil’ Wayne
“Best Rapper Alive”
BY DWAYNE YATES
Since the release of The Carter II at
the end of 2005, Lil’ Wayne, aka Weezy
F. Baby, has been arguably the hardest
working artist in the music industry.
Trying to live up to the self-imposed
title “best rapper alive, since the best
rapper [Jay-Z] retired,” he’s put out a
string of mix tapes and has been featured
on songs with artists from
Cam’Ron to Robin Thicke. Most recently
he’s shown up on Fat Joe’s
“Make it Rain” single and Nelly
Furtado’s “Maneater” remix.
Though mix tapes are not official
studio albums released by a record label,
they feature material that is almost
all original and fresh.
Wayne’s pace was slowed when he
was arrested on drug charges in late
August. Even with this mishap, the
collaborations and mix tape releases
paid off in his favor. He was recently
named one of the men of 2007 in
Complex magazine. With the release
of The Carter III in March, this year
could make Lil’ Wayne the biggest
name in rap music.
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6 THE VISOR JAN

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UARY 23, 2007
Tom Sizemore
Comeback Kid?
BY NICOLE BECK
After a stint in rehab and a new
reality TV show, has-been actor Tom
Sizemore is ready to make a comeback.
The series, Shooting Sizemore, begins
after his return from rehab and
chronicles the everyday doings of the
Saving Private Ryan and Heat star. We
watch as Sizemore heads to court to
appeal the assault conviction on his exgirlfriend,
Heidi Fleiss.
Sizemore told the Los Angeles
Times he did the series as a public service,
to teach people about the perils of
substance abuse. The series features
home video taken by Sizemore before
his rehab—doing drugs and spiraling
out of control in fits of rage.
Sizemore claims to be broke and
homeless, yet he manages to afford collagen
injections and swanky hotel rooms
in Santa Monica. His actions do not make
the audience pity him; they only make
him appear pathetic. Many ask, “Could
Sizemore become a star again?” With
over 24 film and TV projects since 2004,
the possibility is certainly there. America
will just have to wait and watch.
Daniel Radcliffe
Promising Actor
BY MAUREEN BULGRIN
Best-known as the bespectacled teen
wizard Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe is
exploring new ventures in 2007.
The release of Harry Potter and the
Order of the Phoenix is scheduled for
July 13. However, the movie is only
part of the 17-year-old British actor’s
up-and-coming career.
Radcliffe has said in interviews that
he worries fans will remember him only
as Harry Potter and is eager to make a
new name for himself. In August, he
will play Maps in an Australian film
called December Boys.
Also, Radcliffe will star in Peter
Schaffer’s Equus, a play about a stable
hand and his obsession with horses. The
rôle has sparked controversy, as Radcliffe
will appear in a nude scene.
Finally, Radcliffe will star in an ITV
drama series, My Son Jack, set in post-
World War II.
It is likely that through his continued
participation in other rôles, he can
continue his acting career long after the
Harry Potter flame has been extinguished.
Photos: Fair use
Tadd Fujikawa
Athletic Phenom
BY PAT JUSTICE
Hawaiian golf sensation Tadd Fujikawa
may be one to watch in 2007.
At a mere 5-foot-1, just 16 years
old, Fujikawa is the best young golfer
to hit the circuit since Michelle Wie. He
stole the show from Wie in their own
backyard, Hawaii’s Sony Open, by
making the cut and finishing five under
par for the tournament. His performance
was good enough for a 20thplace
finish that would have earned him
$50,000 at professional status. He became
the youngest golfer in over 50
years to make a PGA tour cut.
Fellow Hawaiian-born golfer Wie
stands a whole foot taller and can bomb
it past him off the tee. But the important
thing is he made the cut, and Wie
has failed to do so in her first seven
attempts. Fujikawa, nicknamed “the
Taddster,” may not hit it as far as most
professionals, but his game is impressive
at such a young age, especially
without a coach. With many sponsors
eager for a bright, young phenom,
Fujikawa is certain to earn exemptions
to various other PGA events this year.
7

!School News
Student teacher from France assists in World Cultures classes
BY JOSEPHINE LANDENBERGER
Traveling to a foreign
country to teach would
be daunting to some.
Fabrice Robardey, however,
wasn’t worried. Robardey is a
teacher from France visiting the
United States and specifically
Hoban.
“I was excited to come to
America,” Robardey said. “I’ve
always loved the United States,
and I have some relatives here.
It is my first time in America.”
Robardey is a Fulbright
Scholar. As part of the program
he will take part in an exchange
program called “Teachers in
Training.” He is living with a
host family in Akron. The program
was inaugurated this year
by the French and American Departments
of Education. There
are 21 young French teachers
taking part in the program.
8
Bulletin Board
Troubadours present Winter One-Acts
THE HOBAN TROUBADOURS presented
four one-act plays Jan. 20-21: Candid Shots,
Amelia Once More, The Still Alarm and Your
Life is a Feature Film. They displayed various
theatrical genres, from comedy and absurdity
to tragedy and suspense.
JUNIOR ANDREW LICKING will be honored
as an Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America
Jan. 28 at Messiah Lutheran Church.
TALENT SHOW tryouts will be held at 3 tomorrow
and Thursday in room 126.
THE THIRD OHIO MATH LEAGUE test will
be administered Jan. 30 during 10th period
and after school in room 229.
SOPHOMORE STEPHANIE KLETTLINGER
received a $1,000 scholarship from the
Knights of Columbus Charity Foundation.
She was one of eight recipients from Catho-
“The reason why we will
spend three months in America
is to improve our English skills
and knowledge of the U.S. Educational
system,” Robardey
said. “This way next year we
will teach part of our classes to
French students in English in
‘élite’ classes.”
In France, he
teaches sixth- and
eighth-grade history,
geography and civics,
which are similar to
our World Cultures
classes. At Hoban
Robardey has sat in on World
Cultures teacher Greg Milo’s
classes. He will teach at Hoban
for six weeks, beginning in the
end of February.
The program is also aimed at
rekindling brotherly and friendly
relations between the U.S. and
France, which have suffered since
the Iraq war. The Fulbright Scholars
recently spent five days in
Washington, D.C., for a field trip
where they visited the U.S. State
Department, the Department of
Education, the Library of Congress,
the National Gallery and
various memorials.
“I’ve always loved
the United States, and I
have some relatives here.
It is my first time in
America.”
—Fabrice Robardey
Traveling is nothing new to
Robardey. He has traveled to
seven European countries as
well as Cambodia and now the
United States.
Robardey grew up in the
eastern part of France in an area
called Franche-Comte. He
speaks French, English, German
lic high schools in the Diocese of Cleveland.
Fourteen Hoban students applied.
ENGLISH TEACHER Laurie Freund and husband
Eric welcomed their new baby Jan. 18 at
5:30 P.M. Lucinda weighed seven pounds, one
ounce and was 19 inches long.
SOPHOMORE RETREATS will be Jan. 30-31
at Holy Family Church in Stow.
HOBAN’S SOCIETY for the Preservation of
Ohio History will make a trip to the Summit
County Historical Society Wednesday at 3 P.M.
THE MISSION TRIP to Monterrey, Mexico, had
its return trip delayed by ice storms in Texas.
The group, which left Akron Jan. 10, returned
safely to Ohio Jan. 17.
SENIORS LINDSAY BARTKOWSKI, Maureen
Bulgrin, Dan Dario, DeAnté Johnson and Otis
and Spanish and also knows
some Italian and Polish. He
studied these languages in
school. Robardey’s hobbies are
of the artistic background.
“I’ve been singing baroque
and classical music since I was
11,” Robardey said. “I’m also
interested in architecture, especially
in the 18th century of
France, and I’ve started a Ph.D.
in contemporary history, which
deals with religious issues in
France.”
Robardey has found his experiences
here to be fruitful.
“I’ve been learning a lot since
we arrived,” Robardey said.
“First, I speak English all day
long. [Second,] we also have a
four-week seminar at the University
of Akron, including the study
of the U.S. education system.
Third, we meet many Americans,
who are so outgoing.”
Sophomore Kenzie Nothnagel and junior
Katie Jenks played in Amelia Once More,
one of the Winter One-Acts last weekend.
Stallworth and juniors Will Fleming and Ellis
Thompson were honored as top athletes in
Summit County by the Touchdown Club at Guy’s
Party Centre Jan. 15. Dario was also honored
as Defensive Player of the Year.
SEVEN STUDENTS heard Dr. Mark Allman,
an ethicist and researcher on contemporary
moral problems at Merrimack College, speak
on “Postwar Justice: The Smoke Clears,” a
discussion of issues in the war in Iraq.
THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007
Photo by Mary Anne DeCenzo
Compiled by Andrew Bluebond and Dwayne Yates

Trailers lead viewers to believe
‘Primeval’ is something it’s not
BY NICOLE BECK
When I first saw the
trailer for Primeval,
I knew I wanted to
see it. The movie promoted itself
as being “Inspired by the
true story of the most prolific
serial killer in history.”
Oh good, a serial killer, I
thought to myself. It must be a
horror movie. I was in the mood
for a gory, bloody horror movie,
so I figured I would give it a shot.
Yet as soon as the movie began, I
was immediately let down.
Primeval is not a horror
movie by any means. In fact,
the film isn’t even about a killer
human. It’s about a crocodile
named Gustave that eats the
people of a remote African vil-
BY ANDREW BLUEBOND
While the terms “adult”
and “fairy tale” do
not usually go hand
in hand, director Guillermo del
Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth defies that
logic. By merging the horrors of
1944 fascist Spain with the wonderful
visuals of an ancient underworld
kingdom, del Toro creates
a unique movie that is per-
lage.
A crocodile? Are you kidding
me? I would not call a
crocodile a serial killer by any
means. I would call it an animal
that eats people. The croc
wasn’t even frightening, and
the lack of blood and gore made
me question Primeval’s place
in the horror movie genre.
I wouldn’t have been so
angry about the misleading
advertisements for Primeval if
the film had actually been interesting.
The acting was just
as bad as the plot. Dominic
Purcell, of Fox’s Prison Break
fame, plays the disgruntled
producer in need of a story.
With the help of his cameraman,
Orlando Jones (you know
haps one the best in years.
The movie tells the story of
Ofelia, a young girl who travels
with her pregnant mother into
war-torn Spain after Franco’s victory.
They meet Captain Vidal
(Sergi Lopez), the father of the
Ofelia’s future sibling. Vidal is a
dark, evil leader who soon becomes
the villain of this fairy tale.
Near Vidal’s outpost is a
!Entertainment
Orlando Jones and Brooke Langton try to escape the jaws of
Gustave in in Hollywood Pictures’ Primeval.
him from the old 7-Up commercials),
and an animal enthusiast
(Brooke Langton), the motley
group sets out to uncover the
killer. Some of them are
chomped on by the huge crocodile,
then the remaining mem-
stone labyrinth in which Ofelia
ventures, where she finds Pan,
a half-man, half-goat, who reveals
her unknown identity.
Ofelia’s body is filled with spirit
of Princess Moanna, a lost girl
from the underworld from which
Pan comes. He tells her she will
have to complete three tasks if
she wishes to return to her kingdom,
and she eagerly agrees, as
any child would.
The movie is not one for
children. It is filled with terror
and horrible imagery that might
even give a grown man nightmares.
But it isn’t overly gory.
It is what one would expect from
a movie set in the brutal 1940s.
Pan’s Labyrinth is a transcendent
masterpiece. The visual
effects and sound draw the
viewer into the story. Del Toro’s
film is something of a fusion of
his past works. It is a mix of
the visuals of Hellboy and the
antifascist elements of the
Devil’s Backbone, with a touch
bers of the hunting team go
home. Not exciting.
Don’t see this movie; don’t
even wait to rent it. Wait until
the movie comes to TV—even
then, you’ll probably find yourself
changing the channel.
Though not commercial, ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ well worth seeing
Doug Jones plays a fantasy character in Pan’s Labyrinth.
www.movies.yahoo.com
of physical surrealism. Don’t
wait on this one to reach your
local video store unless you
have a massive home theater.
This is perhaps the best Spanish
film since Y Tu Mama
Tambien, whose Meribel Verdú
appears in this film as a rebel
sympathizer. Although the subtitles
may turn off some viewers,
they should reconsider. The melodious
sounds of Spanish add to
its fantastic nature. After all, who
would find a faun speaking English
anything but childish?
The number of people likely
to see an adult fairy tale is limited,
especially if it is in Spanish
and only playing at a few theaters.
Nonetheless, Pan’s Labyrinth
is a sure nominee for
Academy Awards in numerous
categories including directing,
screenplay, visual effects and
acting. It is hard to say that it is
anything but the favorite to win
the Oscar for best foreign language
film.
THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007 9
www.movies.yahoo.com

Sports News & Opinion
Caltech ends losing streak, but Cavs atop the East is misleading
Students of the California Institute of
Technology now have more to
celebrate than a breakthrough in
their NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Their men’s basketball program has ended
a 207-game losing streak against Division
III opponents.
For a team that hasn’t won a division
game since 1996, the Caltech Beavers
defeated New York’s Bard College in
convincing fashion 81-52. Ending the
losing streak was big enough; now they
must end a streak dating back 21 years in
the Southern California Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference. The losing streak tallies
at 249 and counting. Good luck, Beavers!
Switching gears to the NBA, I worry
about the Cavaliers this season, even if they
are sitting atop the Eastern Conference.
I worry because the top two teams in
the East would be fighting for the last few
playoff spots if they were members of the
BY JOSEPHINE LANDENBERGER
After starting the season
well, the girls swim
team continues to improve.
In the Christmas Invitational
Dec. 16, the relay team, consisting
of sophomores Kathy Toth
10
by
Pat Justice
and Jessica Stewart and freshmen
Lindsay Mayors and
Katherine O’Donnell, took 27th
in the 200-meter medley. They
also broke the two-minute mark,
a team goal.
O’Donnell swims the backstroke
portion of the medley re-
Freshman Katherine O’Donnell practices conditioning laps in the
Akron Jewish Center pool.
Western Conference. On the recent West
Coast road trip, the Cavaliers came out
with a 3-4 record. The problem was that
these wins came against teams with losing
records.
I’ve been a longtime Mike Brown backer,
but have recently had doubts. I respect the
fact that he has coached on a title-winning
team under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio.
It is known that Brown is a defensiveminded
coach and is trying to engrain the
theory into his young Cavaliers.
I know that, but he’s missing a big piece
of the puzzle with his coaching schemes.
Swimmers concentrate on improving their personal times
Photo by Debbie Stwart
lay. Swimming since she was
4, she previously swam at the
Portage Country Club.
O’Donnell has placed first in the
100-meter backstroke several
times. She has also set some
goals for the season.
“I’d like to get my time for
the 100-meter down to 1:04,”
O’Donnell said. “And I’m hoping
to get to state.”
Although this is the first
year of swimming for many of
the girls, coach Amy Hovan is
impressed with the strides the
girls have made.
“I have noticed a tremendous
amount of improvement
with each swimmer,” Hovan
said. “The girls are learning
what the sport of swimming is
all about and learning the four
different strokes.”
Coach Chris Lugo agrees
with Hovan.
“The team is growing stronger
each week,” Lugo said. “But
we like to focus on improved
times rather than team wins.”
Cleveland is in desperate need of an
offensive identity. The Cavs cannot simply
rely on LeBron in isolation, waiting for a
screen from Anderson Varejao. If the
success of an NBA team is based on winning
championships, I worry about the Cavaliers’
chances if they continue as they are now.
Everyone has seen what LeBron can
do in the open court. He’s electrifying.
James is by far the hardest player in the
NBA to stop in transition.
So why aren’t the Cavaliers utilizing
this ability?
I agree with Brown’s philosophy about
how defense wins championships, but
they must score and score often if they
want a fighting chance in the playoffs.
Mike Brown, you have roughly four
months to transform the Cavaliers into a
team that Western Conference opponents
would fear to face in the finals, and your
time starts now. We are all witnesses.
Toth is one of the first-year
swimmers. She swims the
freestyle portion of the medley
relay. She also personally placed
first in the 50-meter freestyle in
the Cuyahoga Heights meet.
“Both of our relay teams
won in the Cuyahoga Heights
meet,” Toth said. “And we
qualified for the Canton Invitational,
a big step for us.”
That is not the only big step
for the team. Friendships have
also been formed through joining
with Our Lady of the Elms.
“They all seem like one big
team, which is awesome,”
Hovan said. “They all cheer for
each other at the meets, they
practice with each other in the
same lanes and they help one
another.”
Aside from personal goals
set by the individual swimmers,
the team also has a few goals.
“We hope to get a couple of
our relay teams out of our sectional
tournament and into districts,”
Lugo said. !
THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007

Seniors all place
at recent Bill Dies
Invitational tourney
BY BRIAN KRINSKY
With strong showings at the Bill
Dies Invitational and Chippewa
Invitational, the wrestling team
heads into its final home match this Thursday.
At the Chippewa Invitational Jan. 5 and
6 the team finished fourth out of the 19
teams, and five seniors placed in the top six.
Blake Zedar placed sixth in the 119-pound
weight class, Kevin LaJudice and Rob
Ondracek both finished third in the 215 and
heavyweight classes respectively.
LaJudice expressed the importance of
leadership.
“When we were freshmen we looked up
to the seniors, so now that we’re seniors we
want to be motivation for the younger guys,”
he said.
Senior Steve Stetz competes for the puck
against a player from Cardinal Mooney. The
Knights have their final game away against
Lakewood at 6:15. The club’s record is
currently 3-9.
Photo by Scott Scalf
Photo by Scott Scalf
Rudy Armocida placed second in the
145-pound weight class, and Craig Blike
won three out of his four matches by pins to
win the 140-pound weight class.
Coach Ralph Paonessa was impressed by
his senior wrestlers.
“I think what made me happiest was that
all the senior wrestlers placed,” Paonessa
said. “They have been good leaders this
entire season.”
At the Bill Dies Invitational at Firestone
!Sports
SPORTS SPOTLIGHT
Athlete: Senior Craig Blike
Sport: Wrestling
Data: Won Chippewa Invitational for the
140-pound weight class. Finished
runner-up in the Hudson Holiday
Classic.
Quote: “As a team, we are talented and
could make it deep in the playoffs.
Individually, I have a tough weight
class, but if I wrestle as well as I
can, the possibilities are endless.”
Senior Craig
Blike struggles for
a takedown of his
140-pound Triway
opponent at the
Hoban Dual-Meet
Invitational.
the team came in 17th out of 38 teams. Blike
finished third, going 6-1, and Armocida finished
fourth, going 4-2. Other wrestlers who
did well were junior Andy Veverka with three
wins in the 135-pound class and freshman
Steve Chiarappa, winning two matches in the
130-pound class by pins, and freshman Joe
Schindel with two wins at 152 pounds.
This Thursday is Senior Night, and the
team has its final home match at 7. The
Knights face Manchester, then Firestone.
Athlete: Sophomore Rachel Tecca
Sport: Girls basketball
Data: Has an average of 13.5 points
per game, 10 rebounds per
game.
Quote: “Playing with Tenishia is great
because you know she’ll always
get you the ball. If we can keep
our intensity on defense and stay
confident, I think we can do well
in the playoffs.”
THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007 11
Visor photos by Dwayne Yates
Compiled by Pat Justice

Varsity Sports
Girls basketball is on a win streak heading into Walsh game
BY MATTHEW JORDAN
Most teams with a 11-
2 record are playing
at their full potential.
Senior Erin Orsini thinks the
girls basketball team is not one
of these teams.
“I always think there is room
to improve,” she said. “Hopefully
in our last nine games we
will be able to gel together.”
Head coach Tracy Miller
would like to change things offensively.
“We have to improve our
half-court offense,” Miller said.
“We are an up-tempo style
team, and teams try to break us
down and not let us get into our
fast break set.”
The Knights will have a
chance to work together tomorrow
against rival Walsh Jesuit.
In the latest Associated Press
state poll for Division II, the
Warriors are ranked number one
overall.
Miller explained why he
thinks Walsh is number one.
12
“They have six or seven players
who play very well together,”
Miller said. “We are going to have
to play one of our best basketball
games to beat them.”
Walsh head coach Don
Smith has similar respect for
Hoban.
“Hoban has a great tradition,”
Smith said. “They have an outstanding
coaching staff and overall
very high quality players.”
According to Smith, junior
Brianna Segerson and senior
Johanna Zaccari are Walsh’s returning
starters and cocaptains.
Orsini is excited to play the
Warriors.
“Walsh is the big game for
us,” she said. “It is always a
close game with Walsh, no matter
who is playing on either
side.”
Sophomore Nikki D’Amico is
Not having much luck, boys hope to beat Warriors for third year
BY ANDREW LICKING
Halfway through the season, the
boys basketball team is now 4-6
overall and 2-3 in the North Coast
League.
After a 15-point loss at Buchtel Dec. 5,
and a five-point loss to Youngstown Ursuline
Dec. 12, the team rebounded with a decisive
14-point victory at home against NCL
opponent Cleveland Central Catholic.
This win did not get the team over the
hump, though. It lost its next four games to
St. Peter Chanel, South Urban, Holy Name
and Padua Franciscan. The games against
both Holy Name and Padua were down to
the wire and decided by 2 points each.
Since then, the Knights have won two
games, against Lake Catholic and East by
12 and 7 points, respectively.
Junior guard Mitch Dorfman thinks that
as a whole, the team is showing progress.
“We started off slow, but now we have
Senior Tenishia Benson (center) receives congratulations from
Heather Armbruster, Shantel Lawler, Erin Orsini and Kerry Hocevar
on signing with the University of Cincinnati.
“We started off slow,
but now we have begun
playing as more
of a team.”
—junior Mitch Dorfman
begun playing as more of a team,” he said.
Senior guard Nick Casto, who has started
to see some significant minutes of late,
thinks the team is making strides in the right
direction.
“We had a rocky start to begin with, but
things are shaping up,” he said. “We’re
working hard every day trying to turn the
season around. As of right now, we’re looking
to win some big games.”
This Friday at 7:30, the Knights will defend
their two-game win streak in what is certain
to be a big game at home against Walsh.
Historically, the Walsh game has been
impressive. Whether it was last year’s domi-
Photo by Mary Anne DeCenzo
optimistic.
“We haven’t won [against
Walsh] for a few years,”
D’Amico said. “Hopefully we
can win this year.”
On Martin Luther King Day
weekend, Hoban participated in
the Classic in the Country IV at
Berlin Hiland High School. This
statewide minitournament attracts
scouts from all over the
country and is a preview for the
state tournament. Hoban defeated
the Green Wave of
Greenville convincingly, 76-39.
Orsini was impressed by the
Knights’ play against Greenville.
“[The margin of victory]
wasn’t because Greenville was
that bad,” she said. “We just
played well on both sides of the
ball.”
Hoban is going into the
Walsh game riding a eight-game
winning streak. These wins include
convincing victories
against Holy Name, St. Thomas
Aquinas, Padua Franciscan and
Youngstown Ursuline.
nation by Hoban or the Knights’ 20-point
comeback two years ago, the game’s recent
history does not disappoint the Hoban fan.
Dorfman talked about the team’s preparation
for the game.
“We’re focusing on our effort, making
sure we are hustling and working the ball
around to get everyone involved,” he said.
“Walsh is a rivalry game, and all rivalry
games are tough.”
According to Dorfman, the team will also
try to control Walsh’s bigger players in the
paint. To do this, the team will look toward
sophomore Brian Slack, who averages over
10 rebounds per game and has six blocks this
year, and senior Mitch Kolesar, who has five
of the team’s 13 blocked shots in the season.
Dorfman believes wholeheartedly in a
strong home-court advantage.
“It really pumps you up for the game
when you come out and you see the place
full of people,” he said. !
THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007