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SXU Walks for Life

Are you running too much?

El Capitan storms SXU

Softball looks Dominant

SWAG Hosts Biology ConferenceJake AlleruzzoNews Correspondent

The Students Who Achieve Greatness, or SWAG, program hosted a research conference at Saint Xavier University on April 1. The conference allowed high school biology students who were tutored by the Tri-Beta Executive Board to present their research on topics ranging from breast cancer to asthma.

The students tutored were from Corliss High School, a CPS school located on 821 East 103rd Street in Chicago. Students participating in the program were tutored for two hours on a weekly basis that started in Fall 2013. The program was first introduced by Senior Biology/Pre-Med major Jessica Munoz, who sought to create an opportunity where high school students could openly speak to college students on educational topics.

Collection of Test Tubes The Xavierite

SWAGpage 2

Ms. Scarlet and Mr. Gray: Found! On Thursday, April 3, Felicia Tempel and David Sode were crowned this year’s Ms. Scarlet and Mr. Gray at the pageant. Back in 2012 the Ms. Scarlet and Mr. Gray pageant began by combining the Student Activities Board’s talent and fashion show. To participate in the pageant first students need to have at least another full academic year at Saint Xavier. Students must also have a minimum 2.5 GPA and be in good academic and behavioral standing, all of which is looked at by the University’s Dean. Another part of the application requires that each applicant write an essay about one of Saint Xavier’s core values that they feel they exemplify, as well as why they want to be either Ms. Scarlet or Mr. Grey. Those who participate in the pageant must be prepared to work and be dedicated to the amount of time needed for practices. All nine of this years contestants put in a required four hours of practice each week for two months. There were five female participants,

Catlyn HicksSenior News Editor

including: Brittany Brunson, Felicia Tempel, Brenda Navarro, Lauren De Sagun, and Amanda Dziallo. The four male participants were: David Sode, Jeremiah Guthrie, Marvin Fourte, and Justin Mark. The pageant was broken up into four different phases. The first phase was the business phase where contestants dressed in either their best business attire or in relation to their major. During this phase they each stated their name, contestant number, any major(s)/minor(s), and then explained why they chose their major(s)/minor(s). The next phase was the Night on the Town where contestants dressed in clothing that they would wear going downtown on a first date. In this second phase, contestants talked about their hobbies, interests and then their involvement in the community, both on and off campus. This was followed by a talent phase.

Felicia Tempel and David Sode after crowning Pageant Coordinator: Samara Lynch

Pageantpage 3

The goal of the program is to give these high school students an overview of the college experience and put them on track to continue their education at the collegiate level. The decision to tutor students from Corliss High School came from Taneesha Rolland, director of the Student Success Program at Saint Xavier University. Rolland had recommended that Corliss High School be used for the program based on her familiarity with the school.

This choice set in motion a sequence of events that have allowed numerous students from Corliss High School to be tutored by some of the brightest minds at Saint Xavier University. Munoz highlighted some of the clear changes she saw in students participating in the program when she

Page 2 The Xavierite Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Call773.298.3380Fax773.298.3381E-mailthexavierite@yahoo.com

Write

The Xavierite

Saint Xavier University

3700 W. 103rd StreetChicago, IL 60655

Staff:

The Xavierite

Editor in Chief Becki Brown

Deputy Editor in ChiefBrittany Klyczek

Senior News EditorsCatlyn Hicks

News EditorDavid Rodriguez

Senior Viewpoints EditorBrian Laughran

Viewpoints EditorBridget Goedke

Senior Features EditorLauren Dwyer

Senior Sports EditorTim Carroll

Sports EditorFrank Markasovic

Business ManagerJanna Eudave

Copy EditorsZhana JohnsonDamone GriffinBrittany Klyczek

WebmasterNicole Callsen

PhotographerLinda Hamed

DesignerKatie Liesen

CorrespondentsJake Alleruzzo Zachary HeppnerZhana Johnson

Director of Student MediaPeter Kreten

Front page photo credits:Jessica Munoz, letsmove.org, The Xavierite, SXU Athletics

SWAGfrom page 1

Walk For Life Event To Be Held At Saint XavierJake AlleruzzoNews Correspondent

Saint Xavier University will be holding the Walk for Life event on Saturday April 12 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. The goal of the event is to raise awareness as well as funds to support or-ganizations in Chicago that provide the basic necessities, education, and healthcare to the under-privileged. The event was created by Saint Xavier University Senior Biology/Pre-Med major Jessica Munoz. Munoz was inspired to create the event during high school when she took part in a Relay for Life event in her local community, this event made her value events that were aimed at bringing the community together for a common goal. When she arrived at Saint Xavier University, Munoz was surprised to find that no such event was present at the university. After waiting until she gained more clout at the university, Munoz began to discuss hosting such an event with her friends. Finally, in her senior year Munoz was able to gain approval to host the event and get support from the many students, clubs, and faculty on Saint Xavier’s campus. This involvement from the campus community is what Munoz believes will really make the event a success overall. Many students have spent a great deal of time helping to coordinate and setup the event that will be a colossal endeavor. The Walk for Life event itself will feature many club and student sponsored activities going on during its seven hour runtime. Some of the events Jessica highlighted were live paintings, a flash mob dance, and open mic performances. There also is

a planned volleyball and basketball match that will pit Saint Xavier students against the faculty of the university. “The goal is to get people to stay longer at the event and become actively engaged with fellow students and faculty members,” stated Jessica as she explained the importance of having so many activities setup for the Walk for Life event. Walk for Life is also aimed at earning proceeds that will be donated to the organizations that benefit the underprivileged in the Chicagoland area. These organizations include the Port Ministries Clinic a basic health care provider for the poor and homeless, El Valor an organization aimed at providing programs

to those with disabilities, and Kiva Loans whose non-profit work focuses on micro-financing those who are in the most need. All of these organizations are active within the city of Chicago and provide countless people with opportunities and benefits they desperately need to survive. The money made from Walk for Life will be donated to these groups, but Munoz encourages that people also take the time to donate on the event’s webpage, www.sxuwalk4life.myevent.com. Event creator Munoz believes that the

Walk for Life Poster Jessica Munoz

Walk for Lifepage 3

stated, “After weeks of working with them we discovered an impressive change in their attitudes. They were no longer fighting in class and they were very focused on their school material.” This impressive turnaround by the students participating gives hope for Munoz that the program is having a profound impact on the students participating in the weekly tutoring program. As well, Munoz hopes the success of the program will continue even after she has graduated from Saint Xavier University. The presentations shown at the conference were all done by the students who were tutored in the SWAG program. Each presentation shows the meticulous work and dedication put in by the high school students of the SWAG program who have grown to better appreciate the biological sciences. The conference itself also served as a great opportunity for SWAG students to become better familiarized with Saint Xavier University. The high school students who attended the event had the opportunity to speak with a Saint Xavier admission counselor and tour the Chicago campus. As the academic year comes to a close, it does not mean the SWAG program will be going away anytime soon. New Tri-Beta President Maria Pittos plans to continue the tutoring program in the upcoming Fall 2014 semester in order to allow more high school students to take part. The hope that Munoz has is that the SWAG program will become a staple of the Tri-Beta group and allow for scores of local high school students to gain inspiration towards their pursuit of higher learning at the collegiate level.

COUGAR WEEKEND EVENTS

SXU Baseball game vs. Purdue-Calumet (Ind.)3:30 p.m.Ferrell FieldSXU Athletics

SXU Softball doubleheader vs. Trinity International University (Ill.)3:00 p.m.SXU AthleticsSXU Softball Field

Spring Formal - 7:00 p.m. check in at 5:00 p.m. McGuire HallWillis TowerSponsor: SXC

Walk 4 Life6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Shannon CenterSponsor: Campus Life, Schmitt

Scholars & Res Life

SXU Baseball game vs. Roosevelt University (Ill.)

1:00 p.m.Ferrell FieldSXU Athletics

SXU Softball doubleheader vs. University of St. Francis

(Ill.)12:00 p.m.

SXU Softball FieldSXU Athletics

Women’s Prayer Group Time: 11:00 a.m.McDonough Chapel Sponsor: Mission and Ministry

SXU Softball doubleheader vs. Cardinal Stritch University

(Wis.)12:00 p.m.

SXU Softball FieldSXU Athletics

Friday, April 11th Saturday, April 12 Sunday, April 13

BET’s Sunday Best – Jamal Michael Lewis

4:00 p.m.Butler Reception RoomSponsor: Black Student

Union

Palm Sunday Student Mass and Social

Time: 8:00 p.m.McDonough Chapel

Sponsor: Mission and Ministry

Page 3The XavieriteWednesday, April 9, 2014

event will allow for students and faculty members to be able to have a dialogue of substance about real world issues at the event, and she hopes it does happen the night of April 12. The amount of faculty and clubs helping to make the event possible are numerous. Clubs and groups such as the Tri Beta Biology Honor Society, Service Club, Mercy Students for Peace and Justice, Unidos, and the Muslim Student Associa-tion are helping to make this event a success. Many individuals on campus have also helped bring the event together, such as Esther Sanborn from Campus Ministry and Colleen Sehy who is in charge of Schmitt Scholars. With an overwhelming amount of support from the Saint Xavier community it seems destined that Walk for Life will be an exciting and interactive event for Saint Xavier students and faculty. When April 12 comes up it is more than worth your time to attend Walk for Life in order to gain awareness of some of the challenges that the poor and disenfranchised face, as well as find ways to help those in need.

Lastly, there was the Formal speech where the female contestants wore formal evening gowns and the male contestants wore tuxedos. Pageant Coordinator Samara Lynch explained that for this phase, “I gave each contestant a core value and they made a speech about how they embody that core value and what it means to them.” There were several judges for the pageant. They included President Christine Wiseman, Lawrence Prentice, an academic advisor here at Saint Xavier, Christie Khalid, Hall Director of Regina Hall, Ariana Rosado, a Saint Xavier alumni, and current Saint Xavier student Juvey Estrada. When asked the affect she feels that the pageant has on participants Ms. Lynch stated, “Personally, I feel the Ms.Scarlet and Mr.Gray pageant: helps contestants to overcome any shyness, display their talent, give the SXU community a feel of who they are, their values, and their wonderful contributions to the world and this university. I also think the pageant help contestants to get to know themselves on a deeper level and open the doors to other student leadership on campus.” When asked about the pageant Male Development Coordinator Charles Alexander said, “The pageant requires that contestants work hard if they want to do well. It goes beyond just talent and incorporates contestants’ speaking abilities, energy, attire, and overall the way that they present themselves.” Pageant winners Felicia Temple and David Sode will spend the next year representing Saint Xavier as Ms. Scarlet and Mr. Gray to the universities community and beyond. This includes hosting the Scarlet and Gray awards, making an appearance

at the Taste of SXU, give back to the community, as well as make appearances at different SXC events.

It looks like our newly crowned Ms. Scarlet and Mr. Grey have a busy year ahead of them. Look out for the next issue of The Xavierite and learn more about our pageant winners.

Pageantfrom page 1

Walk for lifefrom page 2

SXU Rethinks University HousingDavid RodriguezNews Editor In Spring 2014 the Department of Student Affairs at Saint Xavier University announced that it would keep the university apartments open, despite plans in 2013 that stated the university wanted to close all off campus housing by Fall 2014.

Junior Saint Xavier University student Brandon Simoes said, “I’m glad they are keeping the apartments open, it gives me other options besides the halls in the Quad.”

It seems this decision has received a positive response, especially among upperclassmen that are hoping to obtain an apartment.

This reopening of Pacelli Hall comes with the upcoming arrival of international students at Saint Xavier University during the 2014 fall semester.

Pacelli Hall will be opened to accommodate these international students.

Katy Thompson, Associate Dean

SXU Residence Halls The Xavierite

of Students and Director of Residence Life, said that “it is quite possible that the international students could fill Pacelli Hall but at minimum, we anticipate enough demand from this group to open the building and have at least 75% capacity in the building- which will make for a robust community.”

When asked about the future of housing at Saint Xavier University Thompson said “I can imagine that as we welcome this first group of international students to campus, we will also begin more

intentional conversations about the future of housing as well.”

Thompson continued: “We do plan to maintain our current leases at the Riviera Apartments for the upcoming year. This is in part due to the demand that new International students will bring to the housing system.”

For more information about University Housing, please contact Residence Life at (773) 298-3977 or visit their office located in Rubloff 110.

Page 4 The Xavierite Wednesday, April 9, 2014

V IEWPO INTS

Letter to the Editor Policy

Here at The Xavierite we try to voice to opinions of the student body and university. However, if you feel you would like to voice your opinion directly, send a Letter to the Editor. Send an email to thexavierite@yahoo.com with “Letter to the Editor” written in the subject line. If you are a student you must include your full name and major. If you are a member of the falcuty/staff, you must include your full name and title. Editors may be printed at the eidtor’s disclosure and may be edited if they include profanity, libel or do not otherwise meet ethical standards of journalism.

ByTheXavieriteStaff

The Cougar PulseAre You Running Too Much?

A new study coming from the American College of Cardiology may challenge what you have previously believed about running. Running is something that is always associated with a healthy lifestyle. Running is a great way to burn calories and to get the recommended two and a half hours aerobic exercise we are supposed to have per week. But how much running is too much? This study focused on 3, 800 participants over the age of 35. They reported their weekly running averages, information about their cardiovascular health, and use of painkillers. Almost 70% of the participants reported running more than 20 miles a week. Researchers found that those who ran more than 20 miles a week don’t live as long as those who run less than 20 miles a week. These long-distance runners were actually found to live as long as people who don’t run at all. I am not saying that you should throw away those running shoes, because this research study simply showed that there is a correlation between running extremely long distances and a lower-life expectancy. This correlation does not imply causation. The researchers were unable to pinpoint exactly what lowers their life expectancy, and are continuing further

research on this topic. With all of this in mind, moderation is key. Instead of running 20 miles a day, you would be better off changing your routine and broadening your fitness plan. This may include a day of bicycle riding or even strength training. This study in no way denounces running as something that is bad, it is merely stating that there is something wrong with running long distances and it must be further analyzed. In 2012, Mayo Clinic did a study that found that excessive training could actually cause cardiovascular damage. This damage can be anything from scarring to even enlargement of the heart.

Dr. James O’Keefe, a cardiologist at the Mid America Heart Institute, says that “You can do light to moderate exercise as long as you want. We’re genetically designed for that kind of activity... We’re just not designed to run 26 miles at a time.” The topic of running too much and the risks associated with marathon running has been a popular subject as marathons continue to be all the rage. Henceforth countless studies have been done to look into this topic, and this is just the most recent study to make national headlines. As always, it is important to look at a wide variety of studies as it is difficult to isolate the risks associated with excessive

running from our other lifestyle choices. At the end of the day no one knows your body like you do and your doctor. Therefore you should consult with your doctor before you cut some miles off your run or decide that you want to run over 20 miles a day. Regardless of your decision, running is a great source of exercise and there are certainly a lot more harmful activities out there than running too much.

Areyouarunner?

Giveusyourthoughtsina

LettertotheEditor!

Sendusanemail:thexavierite@yahoo.

com

WewanttohearyourViewpoint!

RuleslistedbyStaffEditorial

Zachary HeppnerViewpointsCorrespondent

How much should you be running? letsmove.gov

Last week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its new findings on Global Warming. To put it quite bluntly, the news is not good. In fact, their new report supports that global warming is indeed real and not just a good theory, as its disclaimers would say. It may come as no shock to some readers that our climate and weather has become more severe over time. However, there are always those scientists who say that there is not enough cause to believe that the phenomenon known as global warming is in fact a real thing. Most commonly the scientists who detract from climate change say that there needs to be more time to investigate climate change to see if we actually need to do something about it or if humans actually have anything to do with global warming. Many news segments that ran the story of the ICPP’s new findings also included a small tag at the end featuring the opinions of the detractors.

Scientific findings should always be debated. That is, of course, how you test to see if the findings are indeed true and not a work of speculative fiction. We understand that. But, at a certain point, the logical part of our brains should kick in and say, “Maybe there is something going on here….” Every living organism on this planet affects another. Is it not logical to assume that all the waste product that humans put into the air is the cause of some event in our environment? We know that C0

2 contributes to

the destruction of our ozone and even contributes to what is commonly referred to as the greenhouse effect. Al Gore may not have been entirely right when he put out his Nobel Prize and Academy Award-winning film An Inconvenient Truth, but at least he never turned a blind eye to the logical conclusion that human activity is playing role in the great ecodrama known as climate change. There is a certain level of ignorance in those news features that run the counter

science with the stories that talk about global warming as a truly occurring event. At a certain point, though, we have to say with certainty that the world is round, the solar system truly does revolve around the sun and not Earth, and that climate change is a phenomenon that is occurring and humans are playing a role within it. The question is then always raised as to what we can do to slow climate change down. Average people can always try to cut down the use of their individual emissions. For massive change, however, big businesses and our government will have to get behind the movement as well as the governments and businesses of India and China. And before that happens the naysayers will have to stop saying nay and simply follow through to the logical conclusion that humans are in fact contributing to climate change and that our climate is in fact changing. But the more we waste time with petty arguments, the deeper trouble we dig ourselves into.

Climate Change Report Brings Bad News

Page 5The XavieriteWednesday, April 9, 2014

The Crusader of SanityOne Last Rant About the Internet (Deluxe Edition)

I am beginning to think that the members of The Xavierite have some sort of vendetta against the Internet. Only last month, a colleague of mine named Lauren Dwyer (our Features Editor and my sometimes-arch-nemesis) wrote a piece blasting the site Buzzfeed.

Last week, Bridget Goedke – our very own Viewpoints Editor – wrote an article in which she expressed concern/disdain for a new app called Tinder.

For those who read “The Crusader of Sanity” on a regular basis, you know that I am also no stranger to complaining about people online who use the Internet as a source to criticize the likes of others and to destroy people’s self-esteem on message boards.

I think I’ve about summed up my feelings of the online world that seems to be taking over more and more of our lives.

The Internet is a land of extremes. More often than not, the internet becomes a place where something is either the best thing ever created or it is the worst thing ever created.

Look up any movie on imdb.com and what you will find is a congregation of movie nerds ready to defend or destroy a film with words at any cost.

Go on Buzzfeed and “read” (if you can call scrolling through GIFs with captions reading) an article (if you call GIFs with captions articles) that tells you why your generation’s toys were the best or why the generation before yours had better stuff.

Consider this scenario: a Martian comes to Earth and decides that he will judge humanity based upon what he sees on the Internet.

If he is pleased, then humanity can live. If he is displeased, then we will all perish in a “War of the Worlds”-style invasion. I wouldn’t take that bet. I’d probably just tell the Martian not to waste his time and to just destroy Earth and all its inhabitants to make way for a Martian race that is much less obsessed with the internet.

To find the ugliest of humanity is not hard. Do you want to see people engaged in the most ineloquent debates ever recorded?

Simply go to a message board on Redditt and witness some of the most inflamed rhetoric in the history of human speech over the most mundane topics of conversation.

Want to see people get so upset over a movie or TV show that they result to insulting and mocking those who disagree with their opinions?

That should only take you about 10 minutes on most IMDB message boards.

Do you want to see how truly shallow the depths of human connection have become? It’s an app called Tinder.

Do you want to know how obsessed with watching people make fools of themselves so that we can feel better about ourselves?

Search “Best Fail Videos” on Youtube.In all of this, I feel that I must be fair.

There are people on these websites who

use them for their intended purposes – to entertain, to educate, to learn and (mostly) to communicate.

These people are few and far between, in my observation. But, they deserve to be defended. They should always be separated from the internet antagonists.

To make a comparison, the internet has become much like our television news media. Are you a conservative? Watch Fox! Are you a democrat? Watch MSNBC!

The Internet has found a way to speak to those who only want to hear certain messages.

Are you nostalgic for shows like Clarissa Explains it All, Boy Meets World and Full House? Odds are you get sucked into those “Why TV from the 1990s was the Best!” articles on Buzzfeed and the articles and websites that are like them.

I must admit, I get sucked into those articles sometimes as well.

I am not above feeling extremes of anger, happiness, confusion and humor that the internet caters to so well and I find my own attention being grabbed by said articles that I find floating around Facebook and other social networking sites.

With this article I do not mean to be a great accuser. It’s fun to go online, look stuff up, talk with friends and goof around.

But, the Internet is where people seem to be most comfortable blasting the most extreme sides of their personality into cyberspace for all to see.

Now, given the choice between an individual shouting their rage online on a message bard or focusing their efforts into becoming a Travis Bickle-esque avenger who

transforms into a killing machine to quench their most extreme animalistic needs, I would certainly rather that an individual chooses the former option as opposed to the Scorsesian latter.

Though I don’t seem to know why people can’t just let their feelings be their feelings and need to plaster them over the world.

The sad truth of the matter is most people don’t care about how you feel. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it’s true.

Most people don’t give a damn about what you ate for dinner, what you thought of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (which was awesome, by the way) or how stressful your finals week has been.

But, when we put it online and see that other share our pain we feel better. The same goes for the petty nonsense as well. We take comfort in knowing people hate something as much as we do or simply share similar feelings.

Just remember, that in seeking these people out we divide an already divisive society even further and we can thank the Internet for that.

Now, I’m not going to end this by saying, “Go play outside, kids! Make new friends and have your own adventures!” I realize that we are a little too far-gone in the other direction to say anything like that and people won’t listen to that stuff anyway.

But I hope that if you’ve read this much copy already, then I hope you will part with this: what’s online can never match the connection of real-life human interaction.

It may mimic it, it may even seem like it, but online interaction will never be as

enveloping as a face-to-face conversation. Not only that, but these conversations

teach you how to communicate like a human being and not some punk hiding behind a keyboard.

Author’s NoteI apologize for the longer-than-usual copy.

This one just seemed to get away from me.This article was also something of a vanity

project. I hadn’t been published in print for the last few weeks.

We’d been short on space and I don’t really mind being printed online (which may sound irionic given the context of this article).

But, alas, it was time for me to return and I wanted to strike back with a vengeance.

It has been a long time since Viewpoints has ever printed a full-page article (though, without the picture, pull-quote and directionary note at the bottom this really wouldn’t be a full-page article) and I wanted to try something that we haven’t done in a very long time.

Yet, I spent so much time on this article as I want to know what you, the reader, thinks of the content of this article.

Please write a “Letter to the Editor” and let us know what you think.

Directions for writing such a letter can be found within the editorial box on the previous page.

Thank you for reading and thank you even more if you choose to take up the challenge and decide to write us a letter to give us your feedback.

Don’t be afraid to say that you agree or disagree.

Viewpoints is meant to represent the opinions of the student body. We would love to hear from you directly.

There is no better way to do that than with a Letter to the Editor.

As always, thanks for reading and giving a crazy man with a computer and an opinion the time of day.

Respectfully,Brian T. Laughran

Looking for Bridget and her column?

Check out the middle spread she worked on

this week!

“Most people don’t give a damn about what you ate for dinner...or how stressful your finals week has been. But when we put it online...we feel

better.”

Brian LaughranSeniorViewpointsEditor

The Internet has found its way into almost every facet of our lives. But how are we living online? sxc.hu

Page 6 The Xavierite Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Brenda NavarroSophomore, Nursing

What instruments do you play?I play the guitar and the viola.

Which one is your favorite?The guitar, for sure.

When did you start playing and singing?I started playing the guitar my freshman year of

high school. And singing, I’m not too sure. I’d say probably my freshman year of college.

Do you have any formal musical training or have you

taught yourself?I’ve taught myself to play the guitar and I

haven’t had vocal lessons or anything like that.

What was the first song you learned to play on the guitar?It was Beauty in the Breakdown by The Scene Aesthetic. That was the first song I

ever learned.

What famous musicians are you influenced by?Mumford and Sons, for sure. That’s my favorite folk band.

In what ways do you showcase your talent here at SXU?Well, [at] the pageant, I did that. I did do one open mic night.

What advice would you give someone who is just beginning to learn to play the guitar or sing?

Once you get into the guitar you can’t stop practicing because you just want to get better. So it’s just like a natural thing that comes to you because you are

never going to want to put the guitar down.

Marvin FourteJunior, English secondary education

What instruments do you play?My first instrument was harmonica, then I moved over to the ukulele, now I’m currently playing guitar.

I know how to play piano, as well as the kazoo.

If you had to pick a favorite which would it be?I’m always going to love the harmonica. It’s been rough because different audiences have taken it

differently, of course. But it’s the instrument that got me started in the music that I love.

When did you start playing?I started playing two years ago, not many people know that. I’ve been playing harmonica for three years to be exact, I’ve been playing guitar for two years as well, but I didn’t get big into guitar until

about year ago.

Do you identify with any specific genre of music?Well around here I’m very much so known as the blues and jazz guy, but I know how to play many different

things because those types of music are simply the roots of everything else we know and love.

Which famous musicians are you most influenced by?I am definitely influenced by T-Bone Walker when it comes to guitar and Howlin’ Wolf when it comes to

stage presence and delivery.

In what ways do you showcase your talent here at SXU?Well, I founded an organization known as SXU Community Music in which we host open mics monthly.

What advice would you give someone who is just beginning to learn your instrument?I would say be patient because we all come to it in different ways and we all have different struggles with it. Whether it be the callouses on our fingertips or how big our hands are, we need to get past those smaller challenges to get to the music we want

to make.

Page 7The XavieriteWednesday, April 9, 2014

Casey PappJunior, communications

What instruments do you play? I’m originally a bassist, I’m a bassist at heart. I play the acoustic guitar, electric

guitar, I dabble on the drums just cause I think its fun and you might hear me trying to mess around on the piano every now and then too.

If you had to pick one of those, which one would say is your favorite? Bass, hands down. I love the bass, it’s my favorite.

When did you start playing? I got my first guitar for Christmas when I was in fifth or six grade I think.

Do you have any formal musical training or did you teach yourself? I took like two or three guitar lessons in seventh grade. I’ve started to learn how to read chord progressions off of sheet music through working at

church. But no, I’ve mostly taught myself.

What was the first tune or song you learned how to play?Lady Madonna by the Beatles. That or Blackbird by the Beatles.

Which famous musicians are you must influenced by?Victor Wooten, Flea, Paul McCartney, Les Claypool, Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Tool, Sublime, Nirvana, The Beatles, Eric Clapton,

Deftones, Matisyahu, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

What would be your favorite song to play or sing at the moment?I can’t really pick a favorite, I’ve got so many. But usually when I pick up the guitar the first song

I’ll play will be something like Blackbird, or I’ll strum a few chords from something like Boss DJ by Sublime.

In what ways do you showcase your talent here at SXU?Well I participate in the various open mics that we’ve had and I also like to participate in the music

ministry over at church on Sundays, I love doing that.

What advice would you give to someone who is just learning to play the guitar or sing?I would tell them to remember that your instrument is a toy. I think it’s just way more fun if you think of it as a toy. When I first got my guitar in sixth or seventh grade it was just a fun thing that I did and I

happened to practice a lot and get pretty good. But have fun with it, don’t try so hard.

Joe WilliamsSophomore, Elementary education

What instruments do you play?I play guitar, bass, drums, and piano. I sing and I can play some string instruments like cello and

violin.

When did you start playing?I started playing guitar late freshman year in high school and then I started singing at the end of

my senior year in high school.

What was the first song you learned how to play?It was something by Rise Against, I don’t know what. I just know a lot of them.

Do you identify with any specific genre of music?Not entirely. I listen to a lot of different stuff, but I guess I would

say what I play would probably alternative and punk.

Which famous musicians are you influenced by?I love Rise Against and the singer from that. And I really love City and Colour.

Those are kind of my two favorites.

In what ways do you showcase your talent here at SXU? Whenever there’s open mics I go to those and choir stuff which is a class.

Do you plan to incorporate music into your career?Most definitely. When I graduate, I plan on teaching grade school level but having the music concentration will allow me teach music at

that age if I want to, but it will mostly be like general education. But I do plan on doing music on the side.

What advice would you give to someone who is just beginning to learn to play an instrument or sing?I don’t really know. I would say, I’ve learned as much as I have just because I wanted to. If you can’t figure something out just keep

trying because that’s what I had to do. If you like it enough you’re going to keep trying. So, just do what you want.

Interviews and Photos: Bridget Goedke and Lauren Voytal, Layout by Lauren Dwyer

Page 8 The Xavierite Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Jaw-Dropping Moments From The Walking Dead’s Season Four

Winter Soldier a Win/Win

Zhana Johnson

Features Correspondent

Zhana JohnsonFeatures Correspondent

It has been four seasons since Rick Grimes awoke in the hospital to find his world had morphed into the stuff of nightmares. Friends and family have been lost to the virus. The gang has been torn apart but brought back together with a few additions. While the wait for season five has just begun, we’ll count down the top four WTF moments of season four of AMC’s The Walking Dead. Massive spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t caught up yet, put your hands up and back away slowly.

“Diet Soda and Pig’s Feet” (4x13) One of the great things about the second half of the season was that we were able to see much softer, vulnerable character moments. Of the several touching dynamics that arose during the big separation, the Darryl Dixon and Beth Greene pairing was arguably the best. While on the run and forging a sweet bond, the two come across a funeral home and decide to stay there for the night. While enjoying the momentary quiet and dining on a candle lit canned good meal, all hell suddenly breaks loose as one comes to expect. In the midst of the ensuing heart pounding, zombie slaying chaos, it appears that Beth is kidnapped by a mysterious vehicle which leads the audience to believe that both the house and the zombie attack were a trap. Darryl chases after the car, which has his last shred of hope, for miles in a sweaty fit of desperation. When he realizes it is long gone, he goes all Charlie Brown and mopes in the middle of the rode. He has lost his sense of purpose too many times not

to finally give in.

“Look at the Flowers, Lizzie” (4x14)On the road are Tyreese (it’s amazing that he survived as long as he has considering what happens to black men on TWD), Carol (the merciless mama bear that killed Tyreese’s boo and whose exile was a wtf moment in its own right) and sisters Lizzie and Mika. Tearing a page straight from Of Mice and Men, the build up for the wtf moment in this episode has been bubbling for sometime. Even when the group was in the relatively safe confines of the prison, Lizzie was putting the lives of everyone in danger because she did not understand the full extent of the walkers’ soullessness. The episode feels like a montage of everyone, including her little and more likable sister Mika, slapping her on the hand. When she loses her head over Carol straight up killing her walker bestie and goes out of her way to feed mice to wounded zombies, it is apparent that the girl is gone. Suspicions of her burgeoning meltdown are cemented when she goes full Shane

(pinned after Rick’s former best friend and professional psychopath), killing Mika and threatening to do the same toRick’s baby girl so that she can have walker playmates. But then again, kids have a history of screwing up majorly on this show, so, no surprise there. The final hammer falls when Carol decides that Lizzie is too crazy to live around other people, so she takes her out to a grove, humanely shooting her down. Talk about tough love.

“Those Who Arrive, Survive”(4x16) After the devastating mid season finale, the entire latter half of season four was dedicated to getting the patch work family back together. The final episode saw the group making their way to the shady sanctuary of Terminus. Although, before they arrived, it was revealed that the group that Darryl joined after Beth’s disappearance was hunting down Rick for retribution. They catch him, his son “Carrrl” and the mysterious Michonne unawares and what happens next is one of the best albeit darkest moments of the slow finale.

When the wily men believe they have the group cornered, Darryl intervenes and Rick tears the throat of the leader out with his own teeth when he thinks he is about witness the cruel raping of his teenaged son. Even when it seems like they have won the battle, Rick viciously takes a knife in hand, soaking himself in the blood of the man that attempted to have his son, leading to one of the longest over kills of the series. However, not to be outdone, the final moments of the finale are spearheaded by the discovery of suspected cannibals within Terminus, and the herding of all the major players into a cage like cattle. Not quite the reunion viewers were hoping for, but, as Rick’s last words indicate, a few man eating newbies isn’t anything they can’t handle.

“We Get to Come Back” (4x08) After months of hopeless wandering, violent mood swings, empty threats and throwing enough shade to cloak a football field, The Governor finally made good on his promise to destroy Rick’s group and drive them from the prison after a depressing first attempt. The Governor’s demise, at the hands of Michonne, came swiftly and deservedly after the brutal beheading of patriarch Hershel Greene. The episodes prior to appeared to be chugging along, so when Rick’s tense bid for diplomacy quickly dissolves into a firefight between the two camps, the audience embraces the welcome change in tempo. This is the ultimate wtf moment because the loss their heart and moral guide is what drives them from their place of complacency at the prison and what ignites further character developments and plot surges.

While it sounds trivial, there is no word that quite encompasses the spirit of Captain America: The Winter Soldier other than cool. It is not only a good superhero movie but, its own, Winter Soldier is a great action film with political themes that tie in to both the past and present.Winter Soldier is, hands down, without contest, the best Marvel superhero movie to come out of the cinematic universe pack. Forget the first Iron Man, forget The Avengers. From the trailers, of course, it could be inferred that it isn’t as light and joke filled as the other MCU movies to date, but this installment did exceedingly well at balancing comedic elements with action sequences—in fact it would be a lie to say the Joss Whedon brand humor was missed this time around. Usually (as per Thor: The Dark World) it has a habit taking you out of the moment, but everything kept right on moving and at an adrenaline filled, heart pounding pace. I was not at all a fan of Captain America: The First Avenger, its tone or execution of several of its integral characters. That dislike for Steve’s character carried over to The Avengers. However, I felt much more inclined to sympathize with him in this installment. I was so proud of him and the rest of his team when the credits rolled. And the post and mid credits scenes didn’t

feel like an obligatory gimmick either. Returning members Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johannson are better than ever. Anthony Mackie delivers a solid performance that echoes a youthful Will Smith. Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier is a stoic killing machine with a conflicted moral compass, striking all the right emotional chords with the storm in his eyes when words are out of reach. Marvel movies of late tend to mistreat their villains (unless you happen to be everybody’s favorite fallen prince of Asgard) or fumble their execution entirely. While the mere mention of the Mandarin debacle of Iron Man 3 tears friendships apart and the milquetoast insertion of Malekith into Dark World still has fans mystified, all hats go off to Robert Redford for not getting caught up in the melodramatic flourishes these personas are given to. He brings a much needed seriousness and gravity to Alexander Pierce. Even the henchmen aren’t simply faceless throwaway jerks. They are jerks with a heavy screen presence, but jerks nonetheless. In short, none of the characters are wasted. Most surprising are the intense action sequences and choreography. The level of violence in Winter Soldier is uncharacterstically grim and impactful for a MCU movie, although it is gripping. It’s a shame we can’t clone the directors and put them to work on movies in the next phase. What a world that would be.

Cap is back, and this time it’s personal forbes.com

Just out for a stroll comingsoon.net

16th century Peru is a dangerous place to be. Rebels are attacking the palace of the Viceroy, Don Medigua, and the mysterious El Capitan is the culprit behind it. Just to complicate things, we soon discover that Don Medigua and El Capitan are one and the same, and this whole thing is Don Medigua’s plan to keep himself safe in his new position as Viceroy. How can one man keep up the charade that he is two different people leading opposing sides of the same battle? Is there a happy ending for everyone? You will have to find out for yourself. This weekend, Saint Xavier’s Opera Workshop Production will be performing El Capitan, an operetta by John Phillip Sousa. There are three chances to see this show. Thursday, April 10, will be a special

Becki Brown

Editor in Chief

performance for high school students at 4:00 p.m., and reservations are required. There are two public performances at 7:30 p.m., one Friday, April 11, and one Saturday, April 12. All performances are in McGuire Hall in the Warde Academic Center. General Admission is $10, Admission for seniors and military is $8. Admission for SXU Staff, Faculty, and Students is free. Thursday’s performance is $3 for students. Sophomore Kevin Christensen plays Don Medigua/El Capitan. Junior Katherine Heffron plays his wife, Princess Marghanza. Sophomore Joseph Williams plays Cazarro, the former Viceroy of Peru. There are many other Saint Xavier students, as well as alumni, performing in the operetta. The cast is under the musical direction of Dr. Jan Bickel and the theatrical direction of Pr. Carolyn Brady Riley.

For tickets, reservations, or more information, please call (773)298-3421.

El Capitan Storms SXUDon Medigua (Kevin Christensen) and Princess Marghanza (Katherine Heffron). The Xavierite

Page 9The XavieriteWednesday, April 9, 2014

Need Advice?Go to surveymonkey.com/s/TWJLF3J to

send in your anonymous questions!

Make maintaining relationships a priority this week. Keep your friends close, Aries.

Aries 3/21-4/19

You may have a setback this week, but you need to address the problem head on to fix it.

Taurus 4/20-5/20

You may hear from an old friend, Libra. They may need help, but proceed with caution.

Libra 9/23-10/22

Is there is something bothering you, Scorpio? Talking about the problem is the first step to solving it.

Scorpio 10/23-11-21

Now is a great way to start a new hobby or pick up an old one. Give yourself some “you time,” Gemini.

Gemini 5/21-6/20

Those around you may be in a bit of a mood. Give them some time, and they will come around.

Sagittarius 11/22-12/21

Patience is a virtue, Capricorn. Make sure that you remember to think things through before you act.

Capricorn 12/22-1/19

Work is stressing you out this week, isn’t it, Cancer? You’ll soon be past it and on to grander things.

Cancer 6/21-7/22

Expect to get great ideas this week, Leo. Make sure you write them down so you don’t forget them.

Leo 7/23-8/22

Take things with a grain of salt. Not everything that everyone says can be trusted, Aquarius.

Aquarius 1/20-2/18

Things may be confusing right now. Don’t worry, Virgo. If you stay flexible, you’ll be able to get some clarity.

Virgo 8/23-9/22

Today is a good day to get work done, but be careful that you don’t work yourself too hard.

Pisces 2/19-3/20

Sodoku

Solution:

1. frloswe _______2. enihsnus ________3. sorriahwesrn __________4. yzeerb ______5. ratsee ______

Word Scramble: Spring!

Solution: 1. flowers 2. sunshine 3. rainshower 4. breezy 5. easter

Before Chicago was “Chiraq”, it was so my playground. I loved staying outside while the sun would pound,On my skin and enhancing my dark, pure melanin. Getting mosquito bites at night, and getting scars from riding my bike. Red light!Green light! An intense game of tag or “it”, Would go on till everybody just quit. Learning to turn Double Dutch, Or the swings being too hot to touch. Buying chips for 25 cents and icys for 50. Not wanting to go inside, unless you had to pee. Fingers stained red from Hot Cheetos, Moving on to the bag of cheese Doritos. Pretending bikes were cars and racing down the street, Or being too clumsy landing on concrete. Not afraid to get dirty or untamed,Girls playing hand clapping games. There was always kids on my block, My mama would call me inside by 8 o’clock. Every summer I’m reminded of my childhood and how it was so good. The summer isn’t just a season that comes by once a year, It’s my inner kid’s memories that are sincere. No matter how old I get or how much life passes me by, I’ll always love summertime chi.

Summertime ChiByDaneeshaTillman

Do you have poems that you would like to share with the world? Submit them anytime to thexavierite@yahoo.com and you

could see your work in print!

Dear Lauren, Whenever my friends and I go out, they are always on their cell phones. We end up staring at our phones more than we talk to each other. How can I help break this habit with my buddies?

Sincerely,Blinded by Technology

Dear Blinded, Cell phones have absolutely taken over our social interactions and it’s really dreadful. Did you know that you cannot make real connections with other human beings through cell phones? Yes, it’s true. We actually have to talk to each other face to face in order to form real friendships. Maybe you have heard of this technique before, but some people like to play a game where when they go out to eat with their friends or

family. Everyone puts their cell phone face down in the middle of the table. Whomever picks up their phone first, has to pay for everyone’s meal. That game is a great way to trick people into letting go of their electronic devices for an hour or two. Another option is to just be honest with your friends. Have an open discussion with them and tell everyone that you feel like their phones are a major barrier between everyone. Simply just ask them if they could just enjoy the

company of the people they are with instead of focusing on what people are doing on Facebook or Twitter. If they respect your friendship enough, hopefully they will be willing to give this a try. Remind them that if they are not actually present in the moment, then they will just forget the good times that you are having. Good luck and remember to always listen to Lauren!

Page 10 The Xavierite Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The Final Days of the 2013-14 NHL Regular-Season Are Here! Three Games Left for Hawks!Frank MarksovicSports Editor

Do you feel that? Ah, yes. It’s the tension in the air as the final days of the 2013-14 NHL Regular-Season are approaching. Next week only 16 teams will be continuing their season as they vie for the single most sought after trophy in the game, the Stanley Cup. The 2013-14 Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. With few games left, teams across the league put forth tremendous effort to earn the best possible playoff seed available, if at all. In Chicago, the Blackhawks have little to worry about when it comes to making the playoffs. The Hawks have earned their playoff berth and, as mentioned in previous articles, are now fighting for home ice advantage against the Colorado Avalanche. This is because the No.2 seed (currently the Colorado Avalanche) and the No.3 seed (currently the Chicago Blackhawks) in each division across the NHL will play each other in the first round of the playoffs. However Colorado or Chicago performs in their last few games will determine which team will gain the favored home-ice advantage. The Chicago Blackhawks need to win out their last three games for a chance at earning the No.2 seed. The Hawks have played 79 games so far this season and have earned 105 points. However, they still trail the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs have only played 78 games and have earned 107 points thus far. With

a game advantage on Chicago, the Avs are at the advantage. If Chicago wins their last three games they can earn a total of six points, giving them a possible total of 111 points. If Colorado were to lose at least two of their last four games, which is highly unlikely but possible, the Chicago Blackhawks, given that they earn all six points possible, would then attain the No.2 seed in the Central Division. However, regardless of which team gains the home-ice advantage, this series will most definitely be a great one! Though the Avalanche have had numerous down years in the recent past, Coach Patrick Roy and his coaching staff have done a tremendous job of turning the franchise around. Aside from this playoff matchup, there have been some developments in terms of the No.2 Wild Card seed in the Western Conference. The Dallas Stars have recently taken a hold of the No.2 Wild Card seed. The Stars have a one-point advantage over the closely trailing Phoenix Coyotes. Both Dallas and Phoenix have played 78 games so far this season (as of 4/7/2014). The only difference is that Dallas has 87 points and Phoenix has 86. As predicted, this race for a playoff berth will come down to the very end. Though it is too early to tell, given that anything can happen in the NHL, I still believe that the Dallas Stars will hold on to this lead and will clinch a playoff berth. If this competition between Dallas and Phoenix truly come down to the last game, NHL fans will be in for a treat. This is because the last game scheduled for Sunday, April 13 for both

Dallas and Phoenix is…each other! Yes, Dallas and Phoenix will play each other for the last game of their regular-season and possibly for the rights to a playoff berth. Stay tuned to this contention as the Western Conference finishes up the 2013-14 Regular-Season.

Blackhawks News

Last week was a relatively positive week for the Chicago Blackhawks. With a few injured players returning, the Hawks had an all around better week compared to last week. The Hawks played only three games in the last seven days but have capitalized on each game. The Blackhawks started their late success as they defeated the Minnesota Wild in a shootout. Though Minnesota has already basically claimed their playoff spot, they showed no lack of play against the Hawks. The final score resulted in a 3-2 shootout victory, which gave the Hawks the two points they needed and Minnesota one point, which they also need. Next up was the familiar, ex-Western Conference foe, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Though the Blackhawks have a great track record against Columbus, the Jackets proved a tough opponent. The Blue Jackets had lost their last 12 games against the Blackhawks prior to this confrontation and would add one more as the Blackhawks bested the Jackets in regulation. The final score was 4-3, Chicago. Lastly, the Blackhawks faced off against the Western Conference leading St. Louis Blues. This matchup, along with their

previous matchups, would prove to be very exciting for any hockey fan. Chicago and St. Louis share a very heated and physical history together as each team more or less despises one another. This game did not disappoint. The intensity levels provided from each team added a playoff-like atmosphere that improved the viewing minute by minute. Ultimately, the Hawks bested the St. Louis Blues after a physical and strenuous match in what resulted as a 4-2 Blackhawks’ victory.

Frank’s Three Stars of the Week

1st: Jeremy Morin

2nd: Ben Smith

3rd: Patrick Sharp

Morin: Jeremy Morin has also contributed well as of late for the Hawks. Morin was called up to help fill a role in light of the injuries dealt to the Hawks. Well, he has done just that. Morin has scored 2 goals and added 2 assists in his last 3 games. He has played phenomenally.

Smith: Ben Smith has really stepped up lately. He has 3 goals in his last 3 games and has no doubt been a key player in the Blackhawks’ lineup as of late.

Sharp: Sharpie has had a tremendous season. He continues to lead the Blackhawks in scoring as is also 8th in the NHL for points, 9th for goals, and 2nd for shots. Sharp has scored 2 goals and 1 assist in his last three for the Hawks.

Photo Credit: sportslogos.net

Men’s Track & Field Opens Outdoor SeasonFrank MarkasovicSports Editor

Recently, the Saint Xavier University Men’s Track & Field Team opened up their outdoor season. The outdoor season was kickstarted at the Ted Haydon Invitational. This event was hosted by the University of Chicago on Saturday, April 5, 2014. This event was successful for the Cougars as they notched a few highlights. Among those highlights, junior John Stancato (Manhattan, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) won the 100-meter dash. Stancato not only won the 100-meter event, but he also finished third overall in the 200-meter dash. Stancato recorded times of 11.33 for the 100-meter and 22.53 for the 200-meter. In addition to Stancato’s success, junior Janis Pastars (Ogre, Latvia/Cameron Un i v e r s i t y ) won the 1 5 0 0 - m e t e r event. P a s t a r s recorded an i m p r e s s i v e time of 4:01.24. A l s o , freshman Abel H e r n a n d e z (Alsip, IL/S h e p a r d ) f i n i s h e d second in the 5 0 0 0 - m e t e r run. Hernandez’s recorded time was 15:26 for

the 5000-meter run. Coach Ed McAllister was overall happy with the Cougars’ performance. He had this to say regarding this event, “Many of our guys haven’t competed in five weeks, so it was good to see where we were after a long, cold winter.” He also said this about the abovementioned athletes, “Stancato looked strong, as did Pastars. Hernandez proved that he is able to handle the longer distances. Overall, we are where we should be right now.” The next event for the Men’s Track & Field Team will be held in Romeoville, IL. The event is the Chicagoland Championships. This event will be held this weekend on Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12. Stay tuned for more developments as the Cougars look to improve their outdoor season!

Stancato is ready. SXU Athletics

Men’ Golf Team Places in Top Half of TournamentTim CarrollSenior Sports Editor

The Saint Xavier Cougar men’s golf team finished the Ashford University Invite in fifth place on Saturday and Sunday. The 11-team tournament, played at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, Iowa, was tougher on the second day than the first for most of the Cougars. They finished with a combined team score of 302 on Saturday and 303 on Sunday, which does not see like much of a difference until individual scores are examined. Senior Brendan Ryan was the best player for the Cougars. Ryan went 73-75 to lead the team. The second best golfer on the first day was first-year Mark Kluk, who shot a 75. His fortune did not last into the second day, though, as he added another 14 strokes to

Saturday’s score for an 89, not good enough to qualify for the team score on Sunday. Junior Kyle Bahnick was Mr. Consistency for Saint Xavier. He shot a 76 on the first day and a 77 in round two. While those three golfers got worse to varying degrees on the second day, the other increased their efficiency. Senior Kirby Brown was good on Saturday with a 78, but he really got his swing going on Sunday when he made his way around the course, which is no easy feat given that it played to just under 7,000 yards. Senior James Kerr had the most drastic improvement from Saturday to Sunday. He cut nine strokes off his Saturday score to improve from 86 to 77. Cougar men’s golf will continue on Friday and Saturday with the Bethel Spring Invite at Blackthorn Golf Course in South Bend, Ind.

Ryan fired a 73 and a 75 to lead the Cougars to their fifth-place finish. SXU Athletics

Page 11The XavieriteWednesday, April 9, 2014

SUMMER SESSION 2014EARN THREE EARN THREE CREDITS CREDITS IN THREE IN THREE WEEKSWEEKSMAY TERM (MAY 12 - 30)

For more information, visit goto.sxu.edu/summer.Admitted students in the School of Education must have their advisor’s approval in order to register on CLAWS. All other students do not need this approval to register for summer, but should check with their advisor regarding course options.

Summer at SXU is accelerated, affordable and convenient. You can’t afford to miss out.§ Choose from over 30 courses

§ Many classes include unique off-campus experiences

§ Housing and meal plans available

Earn 3 credits in 5 or 8 weeks in June and July§ June Term: June 2 – July 2§ 8-week Summer Term: June 2 – July 26§ July Term: July 7 – Aug. 8

Page 12 The Xavierite Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Cougar Softball Looking DominantDamone GriffinSports Editor

Finally, after the dramatically cold weather passed, SXU women’s softball finally got on the field on the first day of April. Even though winter ended before Apr. 1 the cold weather decided to stick around and try to end the hot streak of the Cougars. After 12 games got canceled or postponed the Cougars finally took the field for the first time since their fantastic Florida trip, which saw them go 14-2 to start the season. They played CCAC opponent Robert Morris University in their first home game of the season. It took a couple weeks to get back on the field but SXU picked up right where they left off, beating Robert Morris in both games of the doubleheader 8-0 and 6-0. SXU outhit Robert Morris 22-4 between the two home games. Sophomore pitcher Nicole Nonnemacher improved her record on the

year to 7-1. She pitched seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and gave up only two walks and three hits on the afternoon. Nicole also helped out her own cause by going 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Junior left fielder Katie Sears led the Cougars by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Senior pitcher Megan Nonnemacher had another great pitching performance, striking out three while only walking one en route to giving up no runs in five innings of work to also improve to 7-1. Senior right fielder Katie Houlihan was impressive at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. RBI doubles by first-year third basemen Franschesca Graffeo and senior pinch hitter Ariel Hinton broke the game open. After the sweep No. 4 SXU took on Calumet College of St. Joseph on the road in a makeup doubleheader from Mar. 25. The Cougars dropped the first game 4-3 for their first and only loss since losing to Marian University (Ind.) on the Florida

trip back on March 15. Nicole was not as impressive in this outing, giving up the walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. She struck out eight but gave up seven hits and two earned runs in six innings of work. It was uncharacteristic outing for her as normally she pitches lights out. She has a 0.40 ERA on the season. Sears, Houlihan and first-year shortstop Savannah Kinsella recorded the 3 RBIs for the Cougars during the game. In the second game the Cougars recovered from the walk-off loss to win in nine innings 3-2. The senior Nonnemacher pitched another strong game--nine innings with 10 strikeouts, four hits and two earned runs. The game remained scoreless until the ninth inning after it was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double. Nonnemacher stepped to the plate as a designated hitter and delivered an RBI single that scored Sears. The big hit proved to be the difference as the Cougars picked up a nice win to split.

Two more games against Trinity International University got postponed on the schedule after the split with CCSJ. The Cougars had to settle for going on the road to Clinton, Iowa, to play Ashford University in another doubleheader. SXU dominated once again with another sweep by scores of 2-0 and 9-0. Meghan pitched the first game, striking out 8 and allowing only two hits and zero earned runs. Her sister was just as impressive in striking out 10 with no walks and three hits. The amazing pitching duo held Ashford to just five hits in two games and one walk. Sophomore second basemen Kasey Kanaga was great at the plate in both games, registering four hits, three runs, two walks and an RBI. Sears scored two runs and an RBI, finishing 2-for-4 on the afternoon and Hinton chipped in two more hits and an RBI. SXU has a home doubleheader against Trinity Christian College on Thursday at 3 p.m.Nicole Nonnemacher is a clutch pitcher and hitter. SXU Athletics

SXU AthleticsNo. 4 SXU is off to another great start

Home Baseball Sparks Hot Cougar Swings, PitchesSeason on Upswing Since Home Season Began

Tim CarrollSenior Sports Editor The Saint Xavier Cougar baseball team won six of their last seven contests, all of which came against conference opponents. Saint Xavier has improved its overall record to 12-16 with a 7-3 record in conference play as of Monday. Last Tuesday the Cougars picked up a real and moral victory behind a walk-off double in the first game of a doubleheader against the University of Saint Francis (Ill.), then picked up a decisive 15-5 win in game two. Since then, Saint Xavier has not looked back.

Home Baseball Heats Bats The doubleheader that would appear to be the turning point of the still early season for the Cougars coincided with the first home baseball Saint Xavier played this season. It was cold and very windy, but that did not keep the Cougars from getting the bats to heat up in an 8-7 win in seven innings and a 15-5 win in eight innings. The first game of the doubleheader was tied up at 6-6 after six innings of play. Saint Francis pushed across a run in the top of the seventh to give themselves a one-run lead. The Cougars got some help from the Saints of Saint Francis on the first at-bat of the final inning. Sophomore shortstop Alec Barnhart reached on an error by the

first baseman, who had been the designated hitter for the Saints until that inning. Two batters later, senior right fielder Chris Klein lined a single to put two Cougars aboard with one out. Controversy followed. For the second time in the ballgame, with the winds swirling, a popup was lifted over the head of the shortstop. For the second time, despite the fact that the shortstop was drifting, the umpire on the bases called an infield fly. When the ball dropped in safely, senior first baseman Thomas Keating was called out, though the infield fly did still allow the runners to advance. After first-year designated hitter Bryan Polak was hit by a pitch, it came down to the bases loaded and senior left fielder Brad Myjak at the plate. Myjak, who had struggled offensively through that point in the season, worked

the count to 3-1 before crushing a pitch deep to the gap in right field. Barnhart scored the tying run and Klein scored the winning run on the walk-off hit. Myjak kept hitting in the second game of the doubleheader, which was scheduled for nine innings. He picked up two more RBI for the day on a home run to right field. He was by no means the only Cougar who succeeded offensively. Barnhart led off the same inning, the

fourth, with a homer to right field of his own. The Cougars wound up with four runs in each of the second and fourth innings.

Trinity Trojans Trounced The Cougars then met with the Trinity International University Trojans for a home-and-home weekend series that consisted of a game at Saint Xavier on Friday and a doubleheader of what were technically home games for Trinity International but were played at Saint Xavier on Saturday. The Cougars took the sweep against the struggling Trojans, who came into the series with a 4-13 overall record with a 1-4 mark in conference play. The first game ended in a slaughter rule after the seventh inning with the Cougars up 12-2. Starting pitcher Scott Vachon looks to be getting on a roll. He picked up his second victory of the season, going all seven innings

and giving up just two runs (one earned) on eight hits to go with nine strikeouts. Myjak was again a spark for the Cougars. With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Myjak scored Barnhart and Klein on a two-out triple to right center. Another homer from Barnhart in the bottom of the sixth helped the Cougars get into slaughter rule territory. Saint Xavier would go on to win both games of Saturday’s doubleheader with scores of 9-4 and 6-2, respectively.

Looking Ahead Saint Xavier’s only loss in the last seven games came in the first of a doubleheader makeup game at Trinity Christian University on Monday. The Trolls beat the Cougars 5-2 before Saint Xavier eked out a 5-4 win in game two. In the very early part of the season, the Cougars were finding creative ways to lose, whether it was via nearly-good-enough hitting or pitching. Since the Saint Francis doubleheader, however, the Cougars are finding creative ways to win, and they hope that will continue as they have a doubleheader at Calumet College of Saint Joseph today. The Cougars’ next home game is Friday at 3:30 p.m. against Purdue University Calumet at Ferrell Memorial Field.

@TimCarroll_XAV

Barnhart found his power stroke so far this season. SXU Athletics