The Unforgettable Class of 2020
The class of 2020’s legacy, by students and admin.
The Class of 2020 might have had their senior year cut short, but that doesn't mean they haven't made an impact.
2020 marks the year for a lot of big changes and big firsts. In the middle of a pandemic, seniors in high school and secondary schools across the world found their very last year in high school cut short. But even with the sudden end to their high school careers, Jesuit seniors and the teachers that taught them won't soon forget the many memories, ups and downs, failures and successes over the last four years.
Here's what those very people had to say about the legacy of Jesuit's class of 2020.
Resilient – Ria Debnath
Compassionate – Claire Langley
Talented – Isabella Perscecetti
Energetic – Alyssa Knudsen
Community – Jack Kelley
Resilient – Hannah Stream
Family – Courtney Pedersen
Resilient – Conner Langely
Exceptional – Helen Ratcliff
Exceptional – Helen Ratcliff
Unforgettable – Grace Hershey
Entertaining – Ella Nelson
Strong – Jaden D’Abreo
Favorite Memory from Jesuit.
Claudia Poteet
Saying hi to everyone in the halls even when you’re not super close to them.
Ana Pacheco
Pilgrimage campfire.
Jaedina Bayking
Pilgrimage and swaying at mass
Chris Beardall
Walking at the Pilgrimage, at the very end of it, where we all walked with our arms around each other’s shoulders
Lizzie Dronkers
Walking the last mile of the pilgrimage.
Vinh Pham
Pilgrimage!
Kyra Lang
Walking the last mile of the pilgrimage.
Ria Debnath
Twilight parade – a valiant effort to bring some cheerfulness to pretty bleak times
Courtney Pederson
Encounters!
Sudeeksha Yadav
Pilgrimage.
Claire Langely
“Got my Mojo working“
Alyssa Knudsen
Senior pilgrimage!
Jack Kelley
NME 18 and 19 as a leader.
Hannah Stream
Mass at the pilgrimage.
Molly Morris
Screaming at everyone in a tent at five in the morning to find my socks for me.
Helen Ratcliff
Pilgrimage.
Grace Hershey
Off campus lunch with my friends.
Helen Rocker
Prep period.
Ella Howe
Going on and leading OWE.
Sammy Goodman
Getting ready for dances with my friends
WHAT PEOPLE ALWAYS REMEMBER ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2020.
Parthav Easwar
Quarantine, lanyards, and how much smarter we were compared to all the other classes.
Ana Pacheco
No graduation.
Chris Beardall
Although we weren’t perfect we are all that we had.
Lizzie Dronkers
Corona.
Kyra Lang
How strong and loud we were.
Ria Debnath
We didn’t have first semester final freshman year or second semester final senior year.
Courtney Pederson
Our spirit and willingness to bring change.
Sudeeksha Yadav
Honestly they’ll remember the two canceled finals.
Conner Langely
Having our first and last finals cancelled.
Alyssa Knudsen
Our unity and resilience.
Hannah Stream
The car parade.
Helen Rocker
Our athletic and academic achievements.
Grace Hershey
Cancelled finals freshman and senior year.
Sammy Goodman
Quarantine, no graduation, no prom.
Jaden D’Abreo
Exceptional athletics.
The Class of 2020, by admin.
What legacy do you think the class of 2020 will have on Jesuit?
Paul Hogan
Perseverance, tenacity, love, care for one another. To be honest, I think the longest-lasting
legacy will likely be the recent Instagram descriptions of the experiences of our young women of color. Those have been a heart-wrenching wake up call. I hope we can do much better in the future.
Khalid Maxie
Unfortunately, I believe the narrative about the class of 2020 will be overshadowed by all things COVID-19. Hopefully, the aforementioned things will shine brighter through the collective the impact 2020 graduates will have on institutions and individuals.
Ken Potter
The legacy of the class of 2020 was their ability in the face of adversity to show the strength and unity that goes way beyond the walls of Jesuit High School. When digital learning took place, when all co-curricular activities were cancelled, the class of 2020 showed the determination and strength to carry on and make the best of an unknown situation. The love they have for one another and the integrity they show in finishing what they started is what makes the class of 2020 special. I will forever be grateful for the lessons they have taught me and how they continue to show the true spirit of Jesuit High School.
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
Racial discrimination amid COVID-19 pandemic
When speaking on the government’s plan of action facing the beginnings of the Coronavirus epidemic, President Trump referred to the virus as the “Chinese virus,” striking pushback and outcry from many. With criticisms from Americans, news outlets, and even WHO officials, many argued the President’s words were damaging to Chinese American communities and only further encouraged xenophobia (CNBC).
When responding to a comment asking if his wording of the virus was offensive, President Trump responded, “It’s not racist at all” (CNBC). However, not long after did the President choose to stop using “Chinese virus” to refer to COVID-19.
The virus did indeed begin in China. However, does this give a pass for the possible discriminatory and xenophobic implications of calling COVID-19 the “Wuhan” and/or “Chinese” virus?
“I think some people are placing blame on Chinese people for the virus because it is an easy fix,” said senior Marissa Dea-Mattson.
“In a time like this, with a lot of turmoil, people want to place blame and attack others… Yes, it did orginate in China, but it affects all groups of people, regardless of sex, ethnicty, and age.”
The hardships that have occurred due to the outbreak, such as job insecurity, cancellations and more, leaves plenty of desire for blame to be placed.
Many Chinese and other Asian restaurants suffered business losses before COVID-19 shutdowns in the US, and internet memes saying things like “some idiot in China who ate bat soup…” are prime examples of the discriminatory attitude many have taken towards Chinese and other Asian people.
“The leader of our country and others are playing into the idea that [COVID-19] is the fault of one group of people,” Diversity Director Melissa Lowery said.
“That blame is not accurate or factual. It’s a feeling, and an opinion.”
“We usually don’t call other viruses by where they originated,” said sophomore Ché Lowery.
“It’s an excuse to be racist. Asian people are already victims of racial discrimination, and this puts even more of a target on their back.”
Blame and labeling the virus as “Chinese” creates an unneeded space for racial discrimination and xenophobia that only creates divides and tensions in a time where unity is needed the most. Being wary of the biases presented can help begin to squash discriminatory attitudes and lessen its effect on the Asians community in the future.
However, Asian Americans aren’t the only racial minority group being affected by COVID-19.
“Some communities which are disproportionately being affected by coronavirus are communities of color, especially Black Americans, because of health equity and lack of access to quality healthcare,” said senior Sudeeksha Yadav.
“And, US territories like Puerto Rico are experiencing colonialism-like symptoms of no aid from the US government and tourists continuing to vacation and spread disease to native residents.”
The presence of discrimination and the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 in communities of color calls for attention and remedies from American citizens. In a time of uncertainty and anguish, the dehumanization of certain groups due to race and other bias is uncalled for and needs to end. The only way to truly begin to lessen the emotional toils COVID-19 is taking on people around the world is to practice empathy and unitization with all of the people of the world, regardless of race.
“If someone blames China or other Asians for originating COVID-19, I would tell them that yes, it did start in China, but it has been affecting everyone from all over the world,” said Dea-Mattson.
“Because we are dealing with so many globalized cases, it is wrong to be targeting people based on their outward appearance. Placing stigma on people will not stop this illness but rather cause hatred and violence.”
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
Wondering what to watch?: Your guide to the best shows to watch during quarantine
A brief guide to some of the best TV to watch during social distancing.
Picture this: School has just been cancelled for over a month, and you’re feeling lost on what to do. You are sitting at home, staring at a family picture you think you look bad in, so bored that you’re thinking about what would happen if you decided to jump start the Purge. Suddenly, you remember the overabundance of streaming services your family has, and you rush to the TV and grab the remote. Then you freeze. You think, “do I check out an old Disney Channel show on Disney+? Do I try to watch Breaking Bad to seem nuanced on Netflix? Do I finally start Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu because everyone tells me it’s amazing and I know I have to watch it but I feel a little behind because I never read the original book so will I even understand it?” Eventually you shut off the TV and decide to take your fourth nap of the day.
The streaming service world is a hard, unforgiving world. If you are anything like me, the overwhelming amount of content on all streaming services, especially multiple streaming services, leaves me feeling tired just from 5 minutes of scrolling. TV shows are especially hard, because it’s not only a commitment but there are Just. So. Many.
So, I’ve decided to compile a list of the best TV shows to watch on the big 4 of streaming services so you can finally have some peace of mind. And because you need a new commitment. I know it’s scary, but it’s time. You got this.
I Am Not Okay With This: A show about some teens and some superpowers and some crazy situations. It’ll surprise you and confuse you all at the same time. But it’s great! It also has very short, easy-to-digest episodes for you Tik Tok users out there who can barely pay attention to any video longer than 20 seconds. Go crazy! Hey, it even has the kids from It!
Schitt’s Creek: If Eugene Levy’s eyebrows aren’t enough to draw you into this show, it’s witty writing and hilarious cast will. Focusing on an uber-rich family who loses their house and wealth and goes to live in a motel they bought, the comedy is all of the ridiculous fun you’d expect. Also, it’s Canadian. And everyone loves Canada! Just wait until you hear them say “sorry”.
Russian Doll: I have nothing to say except that this is the best show on Netflix, period. And it’s much better if you don’t know the plot. Do yourself a favor and watch it.
The Circle: Like reality TV? Like to hate on random people you don’t know in real life? Want to see a Black Mirror episode without the scary stuff? This is the show for you. Watch a bunch of really beautiful people try to win a popularity contest and try and figure out how they aren’t getting bored living by themselves.
Star Trek: Because you deserve it. I don’t care who you are, but the classic Star Trek show is the most relaxing thing you can watch. It’s so great. The very definition of an oldie but a goodie.
Mr. Robot: You know, the one with the guy who looks like he needs to catch up on sleep? Spoiler alert: he does. If you like hacking and intense camera angles, this is the show for you. It’s smart and quick and will make you wish you were better with tech. It had plenty of twists and turns to keep you awake even through the parts when they are just talking about IT. I don’t get it either, trust me.
Fleabag: Remember that show that kept winning all of those Emmy’s? Turns out, it is just as good as everyone says! Phoebe Waller-Bridge is just her comedic genius self, and her character wanders through London trying to figure out what to do with her life while a bunch of random people keep popping up. The show is both funny and slightly depressing. It’s perfect! Also, you’ll wonder why no one has names and wish you could give them some.
Hunters: This one’s weird. But if you miss Logan Lerman as much as I, get on it. A bunch of people decide to hunt down a bunch of Nazis living out in New York. It’s a lot, I agree, but dang if it isn’t entertaining. It’s also based on a true story, which makes even weirder and crazier. Check it out.
Modern Love: For all you romantic people out there, this one’s it. It’s an anthology series about people falling in love. It’s pretty feel-good and will make you feel extremely single. But that’s okay. The right person will come along eventually. In the meantime, if you want to cry over fictional character’s relationships, watch this show.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Need I even say anything? This is one of the few shows that you can hit a random episode of and not be confused or frustrated because you didn’t watch any of the previous ones. If you are thinking of committing a crime out of boredom, this show will talk you out of it. It’s gross, it gets pretty sad, but you’ll keep watching it anyway, because you’re weird like that.
Community: Wondering how to fill that hole in your heart when The Office is removed from Netflix? This is the show for you. Centering around a group of community college goers, it’s one of the funniest and sweetest shows out there, with one of the best casts in a sitcom to date! It’s just so good!! Can you tell I’m biased?! Also if you want to see a young(er) Donald Glover… ahh, what am I talking about, of course you do!
Wu-Tang: An American Saga: For rap and history fans, this show portrays the lives and rise to fame of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan. It’s such good TV. Even if you don’t know anything about the Wu-Tang, do yourself a favor and learn. Bring Da Ruckus!
Looking for Alaska: Remember that book you read in 7th grade that you thought you were super cool for having? Well, it’s a show now! And even though it’s just as corny as you remember the book being, it’s also a heartfelt nostalgia trip back to the early 2000s. It’ll make you giggle, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you say “wow, I thought John really did something when I was 12.”
Atlanta: Yes, this is the second time Donald Glover has appeared on this list and I ain’t sorry. Atlanta is about, well Atlanta. It’s one of those shows that’s so wacky that I can’t really explain it. It’s one of the most well-made, clever shows out there though, so do yourself and favor and give it a shot. And stay woke!
Suite Life of Zack and Cody: The best show Disney ever put out. And that’s on 2000s haircuts! No, you definitely aren’t too old to watch it. There’s nothing that puts a smile on your face like Suite Life. It’s perfect. I have no critiques. It’s what every show after it strives to be like.
Wizards of Waverly Place: It’s just as good as you remember! The outfits are just as wacky as you thought! You’ll still wish you were a wizard! Selena Gomez is a queen! There’s nothing to not love about this show. The intro song is straight up everything. If there’s any show to revisit it’s this.
Hannah Montana: If you don’t want to see Miley Cyrus in her tangled wig, you are lying. The show holds up. It’s fun, it’s a great time passer, and it’s the really good kind of nostalgia. And Every. Song. Slaps.
High School Musical: The Musical (The Series): It’s so cute. If you are a die-hard HSM fan, you’ll love it. Featuring Teens Singing At Inappropriate Times, Teens Having Beef With Eachother, Teens Who Definitely Shouldn’t Be Dancing In This Situation. It’s a fun time, even if it isn’t the original.
The Mandalorian: Whether or not you understand or appreciate Star Wars… it has Baby Yoda in it. And it may be an old meme, but he never gets less cute. It’s worth it for him. Do it for Baby Yoda.
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
International trips cancelled for Jesuit this summer
Concerns over COVID-19 led the the decision to cancel Jesuit international trips.
Service and exchange trips cancelled amid COVID-19 outbreak
Written by Jayla Lowery
The ongoing health crisis known as COVID-19 has led to the cancellation of international service and exchange trips for Jesuit students this summer.
Worries over the spread of the virus from traveling and close contact from these trips led to the decision, which was announced this week via email. All international service trips, such as Courts for Kids, and exchange programs to countries like France and Mexico have been cancelled for 2020.
“We had kids going to France and going to Spain… normally we would have alerted students about their selection into these programs this week… but a lot of the places kids are supposed to be going are currently hotspots for the virus,” said Jesuit Principal Paul Hogan.
“We were thinking, what would happen if a chaperone or a student got sick [while in another country]?”
“There was a lot of thought and conversation [that went into the decision] considering the amount of people involved,” said Christian Service Director Angela Casey.
“We had two international service trips planned for this summer… the border immersion and the Courts for Kids trip in Guadalajara. We were in the process of selecting teams… but the decision was made [to cancel the trips].”
In addition to international service trips, all international exchange programs have been cancelled for the summer as well. Students who hosted an exchange student for the year will be unable to visit their students in their respective countries.
Sophomore Nathalie Ayotte was preparing to visit her exchange student Margaux in France over the summer when the news broke.
“I was really upset, but I saw it coming,” said Ayotte on the cancellation.
“I was hoping it would get postponed instead of cancelled… It really sucks that our goodbye wasn’t a goodbye for now, but a goodbye forever. Some people can visit in the summer, but it’s very unlikely all of us will be able to see them again.”
Sharing her disappointment are students who applied for the international service trips for their service requirements over the summer. Sophomore Ché Lowery had applied for the border immersion over the summer, and was looking forward to the possible opportunity.
“I applied because I wanted to do a service project that was out of my comfort zone… so I was pretty disappointed… but I understand why.” said Lowery.
“With our service trips, we’re working with populations that are already vulnerable and may not have access to sanitation,”said Casey.
“The possibility of carrying something highly contagious into one of those communities is a huge concern.”
For students who had planned on these service trips, Casey suggests looking into other local service opportunities like The Portland Plunge or camps like Stand By Me and Mount Hood Kiwanis Camp.
While the future remains uncertain for the cancelled trips, the administration stands by their decision. The rapid spread of the virus remains too high a risk for the trips to happen this summer.
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
Senior Reflections: Important Assignment or Unfair Hassle?
Student and teachers hold different perspectives on the importance of senior reflections.
Now a few weeks into the second semester, seniors enrolled in AP Literature are now being assigned their senior reflections. The assignment, a tradition for Jesuit seniors dating back to 1997, is a reflection prompt given to every senior in their senior English classes. Seniors are asked to reflect one or two of the 5 areas of the Profile of a Jesuit Grad at Grad and on their time at Jesuit as a whole.
“The senior reflection project was created as a way of student’s multi-year experience at Jesuit,” said Principal Paul Hogan.
“It’s always good for people to reflect back at the end of an experience and look at its impact on one’s life,” said Admissions Director Erin DeKlotz.
“Jesuit asks students to look at how Jesuit has personally impacted them these last four years.”
The inception of the project came from former Jesuit principal Sandy Satterberg in the late ‘90s. The reflections were designed to be a gift for seniors during graduation. A book containing the graduating class’ senior reflections are handed out to students during graduation practice.
Senior reflections are meant to create a space for students look back through their years at Jesuit in a meaningful, thoughtful way while keeping on the Profile of the Jesuit Grad at Grad in the forefront of their minds.
“The senior reflections are meant to be a time to step back and reflect on your growth,” senior and sophomore English teacher Megan Mathes said.
“Students are encouraged to pick one area of the Profile of the Grad at Grad that has come to deeply matter to them.”
However, there appears to be a discrepancy between how students view the project versus the staff. For some seniors this year, the assignment has proven to be more of an unwanted challenge rather than a chance for thoughtful reflection. With the timing of when they have to write and different interpretations of the reflection’s purpose, many students are finding themselves at odds with the reflection.
“I didn’t really know what to reflect on because I felt like the guidelines weren’t that clear,” said senior Iman Irving, who wrote her reflection late December.
“The timing also felt strange, because I still felt like a junior when I wrote it.”
“I feel like it’s purely a marketing tool for Jesuit,” said senior Parthav Easwar, who recently completed the assignment for his AP class.
“I felt swayed to only reflect on the good, when a reflection is supposed to include both good and bad experiences.”
However, teachers and administrators seem to stress that the senior reflections meant for students.
“The Senior Reflection book is not a marketing tool for Jesuit; we print about 340 each year—one for each senior, and the rest for faculty and staff who request it,” Hogan said.
While Mrs. DeKlotz is in charge of picking out quotes to show potential students who are interested in Jesuit, she says that the reflections are not supposed to be a marketing tool.
“I read through every reflection and a lot of them move me, sometimes to tears,” DeKlotz said. “The assignment is not purely for marketing at all. By reading the reflections, we get a holistic sense of how our seniors have been affected by Jesuit, and the reflection is meant to be a gift for seniors at the end of their time with us. Those of us who work at Jesuit can learn a lot by listening to what our seniors say has been important to them during their 4 years.”
Further, Mathes argues that the senior reflection is not the best place for criticism of Jesuit.
“Maybe there is a need for a second reflection in order for students to fully express their thoughts and feelings about their experiences that maybe don’t fit into the assignment,” Mathes said. “Although, I would be sad if a student couldn’t take the time to reflect on their own growth. It should be a celebratory thing.”
The miscommunication between staff intention and student perception suggests a need for more clear guidelines that spell out the gift students are meant to give themselves through the reflection. Timing for the paper could also be pushed back in order to allow students to get as many months as a senior under their belt as possible in order to be able to properly reflect.
In the meantime, seniors can look forward to receiving their classmate’s reflections come graduation. And for seniors having difficulty completing the assignment, Mathes and senior English teacher Maureen Milton encourage recalling a meaningful experience that occurred at or because of Jesuit and go from there.
“Find a story that manifests an element of your experience of the Profile,” senior English teacher Maureen Milton said.
“The reflection is supposed to be a residue of the person you were at Jesuit.”
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
The Slow Rush by Tame Impala (Review)
Tame Impala’s musical creativity disappoints in the best way.
The album cover for The Slow Rush by Tame Impala, as reviewed by Jayla Lowery.
The much anticipated follow-up project to 2015’s Currents, The Slow Rush is Kevin Parker’s 4th studio under the musical persona Tame Impala. Greg Calbi, Steve Fallone, and Glen Goetze joined Parker on mixing and producing, and the album was released February 14th, 2020.
Showcasing Tame Impala’s ability for both new-wave sounds and post-modern funk, The Slow Rush shows off what we already know about Parker’s musical style: he’s inventive and he’s different, but also a tad predictable.
On The Slow Rush, Parker’s signature style turns out to be his own worst enemy. There’s only so much postmodernism to be had before boredom and predictability begins to occur; and the unfortunate reality of Parker’s expertise on unique psychedelic sounds means the excitement of the album’s genre-bending tunes fade after the first few tracks. The songs on the new album disappointingly sound all too similar to those on Currents, and the project’s production doesn’t add anything to what we already know about Parker’s musical range.
But the album’s weakness is also its biggest strength. Tame Impala’s distinctive blend of rock, pop, electronic, and funk is the only one of its kind and continues to go musically where other similar artists do not. There’s a good reason Parker remains one of the most successful producers in the modern music industry, and The Slow Rush only confirms his talent for wonderfully anomalous sounds. Further, its pensive writing fits its title perfectly and buttresses Parker’s musical voice and talent for storytelling.
Highlights of the album include Breathe Deeper, which jolts the album back to life with its inclusion of drums and fun piano riffs, as well as the uptempo and exciting Lost in Yesterday. The single Borderline is back and better than ever, and it’s updated production revamps it to be even more slick and fun than when it first appeared.
The lows of the album occur in the beginning and towards end, where songs like One More Year and Instant Destiny bleed together far too much. The length of the song Posthumous Forgiveness doesn’t lend it any favors, especially when the second half of the song far exceeds the quality of the first. The albums last four songs drag on far too long, and their lengthiness and similar compositions make for a rather uninteresting end to the album.
So is The Slow Rush bad? No, not in the slightest. But the album’s unique sounds are all unique sounds we’ve heard Parker produce before. The foil of having such an exceptional album like Currents is that when the same thing happens again, it’s not as exciting. The Slow Rush keeps Parker’s inventive musical style alive while not giving us anything new to chew on. As solid and thoughtful as it is, it’s been done before. And unlike Currents, there’s not a single track Rihanna could cover with ease, and that in itself is the biggest disappointment.
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
Circles by Mac Miller (Review)
Circles’ thoughtful lyrics and sweet melodies send Mac Miller off in a near-perfect way.
“Circles” album cover of courtesy of Warner Records.
Following his 2018 death at age 26, Circles is Mac Miller’s final project in the music world to date. The album was in its early stages of post-production when Miller passed, and was finished by producer Jon Brion and released by Miller’s family.
Pop-rap with a touch of indie-soul, Circles is both dreary and uplifting, culminating into a gorgeous yet saddening posthumous release for the late Miller. From uptempo beats on songs like Complicated to the dismal lyricism of songs like Good News and Woods, Circles beautifully blends the trials and tribulations of Miller’s life with his unwavering optimism.
Good News appeared January 9th, setting the tone of the record with its sleepy production and weary yet earnest lyrics. Miller vocalizes his difficulty expressing his authentic feelings to his family and friends: “Good news, good news, good news/That’s all they want to hear/No, they don’t like it when I’m down”. But the song is also quietly optimistic, with Miller spending the last verse looking to the future with hope. The verse’s idealism makes for one of the most tragic moments of the album in the context of Miller’s untimely passing.
The album’s earlier tracks are the most similar to Miller’s more boppy songs on projects Swimming and The Divine Feminine, with lighthearted beats and fun melodies through songs Complicated and Blue World. A smoother track in the form of Hands bears resemblance to some of Miller’s slickest tracks from his last two LPs.
Miller’s cover of Everybody’s Gotta Live transforms 60’s rock band Love’s hit into a somber think piece, accompanied by some of Miller’s best singing in his discography. Another moment that displays Miller’s singing skill occurs on Hand Me Downs, where he is joined by Baro Sura on a bluesy record that showcases Miller’s knack for effective hooks and expert blending of both his rap and singing talents.
Combining the best sounds of his two most recent LP’s and some of the musician’s best writing to date, Circles is a thoughtful and loving gift from Miller and crew that is well worth everyone’s time. Miller not only left the world with his hardships through this album, but with his bright, dazzling hopes for his future. On Circles, Miller’s aim isn’t for listeners to focus on the melancholy feelings of the record; instead, he prompts them to retain the joy of knowing the future is brighter on the other side of suffering. It’s an accomplished project and a perfect final farewell for Mac Miller, securing his legacy as one of the brightest lights in the modern music world. “We can only go up,” he raps on Woods; and indeed, we can.
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
Public Transportation
OPINION
Transportation raises questions and answers at Jesuit
Written by Jayla Lowery
Nearly 500,000 school buses travel to and from schools on a daily basis, bringing over 25 million kids to school each day (www.74million.com). Passengers range from kindergarten to high school seniors, and classic yellow school busses are a common symbol of school for many students across the country.
Jesuit does not currently have a bus system available for all students, and since students come from a range of areas, a bus system would be challenging to create.
“The practical reality of Jesuit is that students come from around 30 different zip codes areas,” Principal Paul Hogan said. “It would be difficult at best to have any sort of equity in transportation for all students.”
But what are the effects and implications of not having a reliable busing system at Jesuit?
Currently, Jesuit has a small school busing system in the form of the St. Andrew Nativity bus, which transports alums of the middle school back to Northeast Portland. If not filled with alums for the day, the bus is open to other students who live in the Northeast area.
But besides the Nativity bus, Jesuit has not had an all-school bus system since the ‘70s. With students living as north as Vancouver, Washington and as west as North Plains and Forest Grove, Jesuit students come from far and wide on a daily basis. Such distances make it difficult for many students to find transportation in the first place.
The most popular and common form of transportation to Jesuit is cars. Most students catch rides with their parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, or drive themselves.
Senior Anna Niedermeyer frequently carpools to and from school despite living less than 10 minutes away.
“My parents usually drive me to school since I can’t drive, and I carpool back home pretty much every day,” Niedermeyer said.
Other students like Jaedina Bayking live far from the school, and often rely on public transportation to get to and from school.
“Sometimes getting back home from Jesuit on the bus takes forty-five minutes to an hour.” Bayking said.
“I tried not to take the bus to school because I was scared of being late. Buses are really unpredictable.”
When it comes to carpooling, the question of environment friendliness is unavoidably raised. Without a school mandated bus, students spend large amounts of time in cars and in traffic. While clean energy vehicles exist, students without energy-efficient vehicles emit higher levels of carbon into the atmosphere.
“Our biggest carbon footprint by far is the driving and parking,” Hogan said.
“Idling is a big issue. There’s a large backlog on Beaverton-Hillsdale highway,” said Jennifer Kuenz, Associate Director of Ecological Justice & Global Networking and Physics Teacher.
Further, not all students have the resources or privilege to transport themselves to school via car, or even leave directly after school ends. Students without cars may have to wait up to forty minutes for a public bus or stay at school for hours waiting for a parent or other ride to pick them up.
With so many reasons to create a bus system, it would seem like an easy decision— but it’s not that simple.
Securing Jesuit buses to transport kids to and from school would be expensive for students and be difficult to procure for the mass array of extracurriculars and distances.
For private schools like OES, which has a bus system for students, families pay upwards of 1200 dollars to fund school buses.
“The cost of trying to serve all the areas students are in are huge and would definitely cause tuition to go up,” Hogan said.
The sheer amount of different cities, events and activities Jesuit students live and participate in decreases the likelihood of a bus system that could encompass all students.
But even despite these complications, should Jesuit employ an all-school bus system at Jesuit?
The answer is unfortunately complicated; as efficient as it might prove to be, Jesuit’s large student body population would prove challenging for creating a school-wide bus system.
With the existence of the St. Andrew Nativity Bus, and the Beaverton Transit center right down the street, faculty have come up with potential ideas for alternate transportation for students without cars.
Some of these ideas include school wide bus passes and shuttles that go to and from the Beaverton Transit center.
“Portland Public offers bus passes to all of their students. Since that is a government funded program, we can’t get those, but it would be great if we could begin advocating for all members of Portland Public to secure those,” Kuenz said.
“It would be great if we could get a regular shuttle somehow going to the Beaverton Transit center. The last school I worked at had a regular shuttle going to and from the train, so it would be great if we could make that happen here,” Hogan said.
For the time it takes to realize some of these ideas, there are many ways students and faculty can work on more environmentally conscious. Some of these ways include biking or walking for Jesuit members in the neighborhood, carpooling, or taking the bus or other forms of public transportation.
Advocating for more Jesuit involvement in public transportation for students is also important for this topic. With the student body voicing their different ideas and providing support, Principal Hogan and Ms. Kuenz’s ideas could be a reality.
In the meantime, shifting transportation methods in order to be more environmentally friendly is an important step towards reducing Jesuit’s carbon footprint as well as encouraging the school to look into school wide transportation methods.
“There needs to be a culture shift. Its an awareness.” Kuenz said.
Put yourself and/or you carpool on the Jesuit carpooling map and check out available carpools now available on the student portal at www.jesuitportland.org.
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
Seasonal Affective Disorder
WELLNESS
Seasonal Affective Disorder impacts many during the winter season
Written by Jayla Lowery
With winter just about to kick in, Oregonians are about to face the state’s darkest and rainiest season. For some, this weather comes with a toll on their wellness, particularly in the form of SAD.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a depression disorder and is activated due to a lack of sunlight, typically beginning in late fall and carrying through the winter. Around 10 million people in the US experience it every year.
“Seasonal affective disorder is common in a lot of places in the northwest,” said Health teacher Liz Kaempf.
“People will have mild to extreme depression during the wintertime. People might sleep all the time, or overeat, or have a hard time concentrating.”
Seasonal depression has the same symptoms and effects of typical clinical depression. People with SAD are often left with low energy, losing interest in activities, having mood swings, insomnia, and general feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness.
While clinical depression typically lasts throughout the year, symptoms of SAD are tied to one or two specific seasons.
Senior Bella Small faces acute tiredness and minor depression during late winter.
“Winter after the holidays, it gets easier for me to get stuck in sadness or depression when its cold and dreary every day. Every day feels more routine and monotonous,” said Small.
However, SAD also takes place for some during the spring and summer months.
“There is actually a summer version of SAD that occurs,” Health teacher Ms. Asp said.
“It’s definitely not just winter and fall.”
For almost 10% of people who experience SAD, summertime might bring on symptoms of depression due to longer and warmer days. A combination of disrupted schedules, body image anxiety, and heat contribute to summertime seasonal affective disorder.
For those who experience SAD during the wintertime, science finds many possible causes of seasonal depression. Changing melatonin and serotonin levels contribute to symptoms of depression from people experiencing SAD in the winter.
“Melatonin is the natural hormone our brain makes that induces us to feel tired. So, during the winter months, where we’re not getting enough sunlight, our brain will secrete more melatonin, which makes people extremely tired,” Kaempf said.
“The serotonin in your brain drops during the winter too.”
Research also cites a disruption of the body’s biological clock due to a lack of sunlight as a common cause of SAD.
Heading into the bulk of winter, students experiencing SAD can have a hard time juggling school, jobs, family and friends, and activities during the fall and winter.
But what can students who face SAD do to help themselves?
One thing experts suggest is light therapy, which comes in the form of UV lights that expose the body to rays that help regulate its internal clock. The light mimics outdoor light and can help regulate moods and promote sleep for those facing SAD.
Other healthy behaviors, such as exercise, a balanced diet, and having a steady schedule can help ease SAD symptoms. It is also encouraged to see a doctor or therapist about your SAD symptoms.
“Find someone to talk to,” Asp said.
“With depression, it can be hard to go to your friends. If they can’t wrap their head around it, they might say something like “it’ll get better.” But for a person who's depressed, they really can’t believe that. Talking to one of our school counselors here is a really good place to start, and they can provide you with options and further help.”
With a large stigma on mental health, and especially on SAD, it can be hard for people to ask for help. But experts uphold that speaking to someone about feelings experienced from SAD are one of the best ways to ease symptoms.
“Friends are really the best way to get out of that depression for me,” Small said.
“Don’t feel any shame about it. We stay so quiet on mental illness because we think we should be able to overcome it,” Asp said. “Many people go through it, and if we are able to talk about it more, it begins to take away some of that secrecy and shame.”
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Helpline: 1-800-622-4357
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741
More on seasonal depression at: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad.htm (HelpGuide.org/SeasonalAffectiveDisorder)
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
December Coffeehouse Cancelled
Jesuit’s annual Christmas-themed Coffeehouse has been canceled for this year. Senior Danny Murphy made the call on Tuesday and it was announced to the school during 6th period announcements.
The decision was made due to scheduling conflicts and a lack of space. Placement testing occurs this Friday until 6:30 in the Gedrose Student center and the Black Box will be unavailable due to rehearsals for the Freshman Ensemble.
“In short, Jesuit over-scheduled itself,” Murphy said.
“Additionally, several members of Coffeehouse committee are involved in the production of Freshman Ensemble, meaning it would have been impossible for them to help us set up.”
The Christmas Coffeehouse takes place on the first Friday of every December due to the December Co-ed Encounter and the start of winter break. Therefore, the next opportunity for a coffeehouse won’t be until March, right before spring break.
Students who signed up to perform Friday will be given priority to perform in the next two Coffeehouses.
The next Coffeehouse will be on the last Friday before Spring Break.
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
Pride and Prejudice
Jesuit Drama's modern re-imagining of Pride and Prejudice
Written by Jayla Lowery
Jesuit Drama’s first show this year is Pride and Prejudice, set to open on November 7th. This is the first time the program has performed the show.
The play centers around a young woman named Elizabeth and her endeavors with love, status, and morality, as well as her relationships with family and her love interest, Mr. Darcy.
The production features senior Eoin McDounagh and junior Mackenzie Jaimes in the lead roles with drama teacher Elaine Kloser directing.
Playwright Janet Munsil’s adaptation of the story caught the eye of Kloser, who had been searching for an engaging adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel for years. The script had been performed as an off-Broadway play in 2016.
“I think Pride and Prejudice purists are going to appreciate the show because the storyline is there, but it is adapted in such a way that it moves and feels contemporary,” Kloser said.
Jesuit’s reimagining of the show will feature a minimal set, one that cast members and Kloser find unique about their production.
“The set is different than other renditions,” Eoin McDounagh said, who is playing Mr. Darcy.
“We’re using a pretty minimal set without a lot of props and pieces, which is a different spin than what others might have seen.”
McDounagh and his fellow lead, Mackenzie Jaimes, have both enjoyed their time crafting the show. Jaimes is playing the protagonist of the story, Elizabeth Bennet.
“Rehearsals are fun, as well as getting to know what kinds of things they did in that era,” Jaimes said.
“Seeing everything come together with the costumes and the sets will be so exciting.”
Immersing themselves and learning about the time period of the book has been an important part of the process for the cast and crew. Pride and Prejudice was written and takes place the early 1800s.
The production is set to have a rehearsal at an antique home in Portland next week.
“We’ve gotten to do a bit of studying up on how to age a person and how to carry themselves differently,” said Kloser.
“To get someone who’s wearing tennis shoes to carry themselves across the room as if they’re wearing a gown or slippers… it’s a lot different than what we’re used to in contemporary society.”
Kloser and the cast are also excited to bring the history and context of the early 1800s out on stage for their audiences. The time period’s ideas on love, marriage, and gender are expected to be new for some audience members.
“We get an opportunity to educate the audience on the 1800s and what life was like, especially for females. They didn’t have a lot of rights, and they didn’t have a lot of education, and they often had to marry who they were told to,” said Kloser.
“I do like this story because Jane Austen was ahead of her time, and making a statement on how women need to control their own destinies.”
Despite the show’s tweaked adaptation of the classic book, many Jane Austen fans are excited to see the school perform the show.
“This is going to be perfect for Jesuit drama. Because it’s an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, I think it’ll be a lot more comedic and modern and fast-paced, and it's going to be a lot of fun.” Senior Helen Ratcliff, who grew up watching the 1995 BBC adaptation of the novel, said.
The cast and crew are looking forward to opening night and are excited for people to experience the show.
“We’ll be really focusing on the power of the story and what it’s trying to say,” Kloser said.
“I’m excited for an audience to see the hard work these students have done.”
Pride and Prejudice will open on November 7th and will run until November 10th.
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
The pressure to “fix everything” should not lie on Gen Z
The pressure to “fix everything” should not lie on Gen Z
Social pressure upon one of the youngest generations to repair society's problems is unwarranted– and doesn't help to solve anything.
Written by Jayla Lowery
Generation Z, or the people born between 1997 and 2010, were recently the subject of an Affinity Magazine article titled “Gen Z is Here, and They Are Going to Fix the World’s Mess.” Affinity’s article continues a trend of calling upon Gen Zers to provide remedies for today’s societal and economic problems.
But is it fair to place such pressures and socialital responsibility upon Gen Zers?
Generation Z is known as the technological generation, and are the first to grow up immersed in technology and the Internet. Gen Zers are known to have gotten their first phone before their 12th birthday. They are found to spend 15.4 hours a week on their phones, as compared to the generation before them, millennials, who are at about 14.8 hours a week (Visioncritical.com).
Gen Zers are the most ethnically diverse generation in US, and make up 27% of the population. Gen Zers were found to get a majority of their news from social media apps like Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.
Naturally, social media has transformed the way Gen Z receives news. Due to various social justice-centered accounts and easy-to-share posts, Gen Zers tend to be more socially aware and inclined to activism than their older generation counterparts. Gen Zers tend to be in universal agreement on topics such as climate change and legalized marijuana (BusinessInsider).
This does not necessarily make Gen Zers more liberal; in fact, Gen Z is often found to be split almost evenly between liberal and conservative ideologies. Issues regarding gun rights and immigration are more divisive within the population.
However, conservative Gen Zers are found to promote diversity and are more likely to argue for LGBTQ+ rights than conservatives of older generations (BuisnessInsider.com)
All of the signs point to a revolutionary generation, one that comes as idealized savior of the political and social issues currently plaguing America. It’s easy for older generations to point to Gen Z to right the wrongs the last few decades have created. But does all of this praise result in the stepping back of older generations in attempting to solve these problems as well?
A common narrative often presented is that baby boomers wrecked the economy, and Gen Zers are here to fix it. This story, however, makes it easy for baby boomers to proclaim the younger generations as heroes and avoid the responsibilities of participatory activism.
Millennials and Gen Zers have been steadily increasing their voter participation, jumping from 20% in 2014 to 36% in 2018, a record high for young voters. This number is expected to increase in the following election.
Prominent social activists are shown to be young people. Swedish girl Greta Thunderberg, 16, is one of the world’s most prominent and outspoken environmental activists. After the mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, thousands upon thousands of kids walked out of their schools, the largest event mobilized by teens since the Vietnam War.
The stories of young people’s activism tend to be heavily featured in media, with stories of social media and marches such as the Climate Strike displaying the political action of young people.
But where does this encourage participation and action from baby boomers and Gen Xers? It doesn’t— and that is an issue.
Although there are many effective and famed activists from the boomer and Gen X’s generations, the burying of their stories further the idle attitude held by members of older generations. With such a heavy emphasis on the activism of Gen Zers, older generations are seemingly given a pass to sit back and observe as opposed to participating in social and political activism with their younger counterparts.
Social change doesn’t happen with some people taking the backseat. If baby boomers and Gen X see things they want changed, it takes their voices along with Gen Zers to promote their ideas to the government and beyond.
And, it isn’t hard for this ‘next generation’ attitude to get passed into Gen Z. In the future, Gen Z could easily say they’ve put in their time and pass the responsibility onto the generation after them. And this could go on to the next generation, creating a cycle of passing a torch that will ultimately go nowhere.
Older generations might avoid responsibility for issues of society by placing high expectations on younger generations. If baby boomers wrecked the economy, why not get involved and help fix it? By looking to Gen Z’s to fix older generations mistakes, baby boomers and Gen Xers avoid culpability; and, they imply all change must happen in the future by young people, and not now by people both young and old.
But why does this torch of social change and activism need to be passed? The truth is, it doesn’t. Sure, it may be the easiest thing to do, but it’s the least effective. If baby boomers and Generation X want change, they need to participate as well. The battle for an improved society should not be fought by certain generations alone.
It takes an effort and leadership from the generations before Gen Zers to provide effective change to the problems that need to be fixed. So no, it’s not just Gen Z who is going to “fix the world’s mess”— it must be all generations, together.
Jayla Lowery is a current senior at Jesuit High School. She enjoys biking, reading, swimming, music, daydreaming, watching movies, and writing mediocre...
