The Ritan

Volume Eighty-Two. Number Two.

John McNicholas--friend, classmate, Ritaman

February 28, 2011

A Student Publication of
Saint Rita of Cascia High School
7740 South Western Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60620
by Craig Sabath
As we all know, our fellow Ritaman John McNicholas passed away on Janu-
ary 7, 2011. He battled an inoperable brain tumor for over nine months. A very cou-
rageous battle it was, with John shedding only one tear at the very end.
John was a 2009 graduate of Christ the King Grammar School in Beverly. He fol-
lowed his father’s footsteps and joined us all here at St. Rita. “He would go to Rita
games from the time he was five,” John’s mother, Amy, said. “He really understood
the whole idea of love, tradition, the legacy there.”

In This Issue
How has St. Rita changed
over the last 50 years? p 2
John was very active while here. He played on the freshman football team and was
halfway through the baseball season when he was diagnosed with the tumor. Despite
the pain from the tumor, John went on to excel on the golf team his sophomore year.
Many of the coaches here at St. Rita recognized the strength and determina-
tion John showed while here. Athletic Director and head Varsity baseball coach Mike
Zunica was one of them, “For the little time he spent with us, he had a great impact on our high school, our
baseball program and our student body for the way he handled his illness.” Zunica went on, “He is definitely a
hero of mine for the rest of my life.”
Putting action behind his words, Zunica says the school plans on doing something special in the near fu-
ture to keep John’s memory alive. John’s parents have already established the John McNicholas Pediatric Brain
Tumor Foundation to help fund research in hopes of eradicating the disease.
John’s athletic achievements could be traced to his time at Christ the King where he excelled at football,
basketball and baseball. His trainer Brad Leshinske spoke volumes of his dedication. “Athletes and kids like
him don’t come along too often,” said Leshinske. “He was always smiling, cracking jokes and always was will-
ing to learn and be taught how to do things properly. On a personal side, he was one of my favorite athletes. His
determination and drive to not only be a great student but also a great athlete was second to none.”
Despite his age, St. Rita President Fr. Tom McCarthy said he matured into a true Rita Man. “He was
such a gentleman, respectful, involved,” Fr. Tom said, echoing Zunica’s sentiments. “He wanted to respect ev-
eryone and was always striving to do better. He was a normal kid, but he did things the right way.”
John did indeed live the normal life during his final months. John attended Lollapalooza, Sox games and
the Stanley Cup Parade. “His attitude was, ‘This is the hand that God dealt me; I can either be sad or live my
life and hope things work out,” Amy said.
John’s spirit, courage, perseverance and enthusiasm for life are traits we all should strive to gain.
“He was a lot stronger than I ever thought he could be,” John’s father Ed concluded.

City gets first new mayor

St. Rita Scores Big on
Entrance Exam
of your lifetime p3
by Jonathan Eskra

St. Rita has had another successful year recruiting young
men from grammar schools to be part of the best academic, athletic,
extra-curricular and spiritual experience. On Saturday, January 8th, a
total of 282 eighth grade boys made St. Rita their choice for testing.
This was St. Rita’s largest attendance at an entrance exam
in 7 years and an astounding five percent increase over last year. In
a hard economic time St. Rita is very proud of this turnout. In fact,
St. Rita was the only all boys school to increase its testing number in
each of the last three years.
The Cutler Conundrum But why does St. Rita continue to increase the number of
students every year, while other schools are declining? “Hard work
p 7 among a lot of people getting the good word about St. Rita out to
people,” believes Fr. Tom McCarthy.
Perhaps the most important choice in a young person’s life is
where they attend high school, so what makes St. Rita so special.
“The tradition we have and our excellent academics, athletics
and extra-curricular activities,” Fr. Tom says. “Also things like
shadow days, open houses, and even a new official St. Rita High
school Facebook page help students receive information about
St. Rita. The New Facebook page will include anything from
upcoming activities to scores of recent sports games.”
People come from distant suburbs to other to come to
St. Rita and receive an Augustinian education. “I think that is
what makes us special. Our Ritamen pass other schools to come
to us. When you fill the school with people who want to be here
wonderful things happen.”

THE RITAN

STUDENT STAFF: Max

Kurucar, Joe Ruiz, Craig
Sabath, Jonathan Eskra,
Stephen Gregory, Oscar
Mascorro, Danny O’Keefe,
Ed Roland

JOURNALISM
INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Tim
Baffoe Fr. Tom greets test-takers on their way toward their first step to being Mustangs.
 Page 2
NEWS February 28, 2011

St. Rita: Then and Now

By: Danny O’Keefe
A lot has changed over the past fifty years in the United States. As time went on styles changed, new ideas were accepted, technology improved, and the figure heads
of our society changed over and over again. The cost of a gallon of gas in the early 1960s was around 27 cents. You could get a new car for about $2,600 and the average
new house could be bought for just over $10,000 more. These days you can find a new car for an average of $29,000, a new house for around $236,000, and a gallon of
gas goes for $3.25. John F. Kennedy was the president and 3,500 American soldiers were sent to Vietnam. Today, Barrack Obama is our first African American president
and our soldiers have been withdrawn from Iraq. The American Heart Association linked heart disease and death to smoking while today, five decades later, people still
do it. Back then, Hurricane Donna killed 50 people in the Florida and New England area, and now, we are dealing with the
major oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Back then The Twist was the newest dance craze but these days all the kids want to do is
The Stanky Leg or learn how to Dougie. The original The Parent Trap was the popular movie, but we have our 3D movies
dominating the box office. The answering machine had just been invented then, and now people are constantly sending texts
with their cell phones.
It seems as if everything has changed in the past five decades. But how well has St. Rita held up during this test of
time? Well, to begin St. has managed the great feat of keeping the school and family intact for 106 years. The school has re-
located from the campus on 63rd and Claremont to its current location on 77th and Western, gone through 11 principals since
Mr. John E. McLaughlin left in 1962, but has still managed to hold onto the tradition and core values it has had from the very
beginning.
Life at St. Rita was still very different though. Students, for one, were much more plentiful with 540 seniors in the
class of 1960. That is more than half of the entire student body currently attending St. Rita right now. Those students were
not wearing a St. Rita polo and khaki pants to class, but dress shirts and ties. The school was not yet pronouncing itself as a
college preparatory high school because it had a technical course
with basic classes such as Electricity, Aeronautics, Mechanical and
Architectural Drawing, Automotives, Refrigeration, Metal Shop, and Wood Shop. There were also Business,
Science, and General Courses that prepared students to go on to higher education. Now students are placed into
the Augustinian Academy for gifted students, the Mendel Academic Program which is college preparatory, or
the Villanova Academic Study Center for students that need more individual academic attention based on their
entrance exam scores. Summer school is usually considered a bad thing now, but then St. Rita would boast of
having the largest summer school enrollments of students looking to gain extra credits. In 1960 more than 900
students attended.
A 1960 alumni and retired St. Rita teacher Mr. Norbert Lasky told how, “ 50 years ago the majority
of the teachers were Augustinian priests.” Told a 1960 alumni and retired St. Rita teacher Mr. Norbert Lasky,
“parents that were going to pay the tuition for a Catholic school expected education to come from a priest.”
When asked about class difficulty he agreed, “Classes were harder back then because the class sizes were so
much larger then.”
Another alumni, Hank Castillo from Class of ’61 said, “There were hard and easy classes, but if you wanted a good grade you had
to put effort in.” Mr. Lasky also said the disciplinarian was “feared by students” and Mr. Castillo agreed “today those punishments
would be considered brutal.” Chuck Zeman ‘68 summed it up saying, “You screw around, you get hit.” But things have lightened
up over the years and punishments are taken care of with writing assignments, detention, or a trip down to the Dean of Men.
Sports are such a huge necessity to St. Rita then and now. They bring the St. Rita family and community together all to cheer on
the beloved Mustangs. In 1960, the varsity football team ended their season with a loss to the Catholic League Champs, the Fen-
wick Friars. This year we were knocked out of the playoffs by Lake Zurich. Then, the senior varsity basketball team took third in
the league. Our basketball team is about midseason with a 6-10 record. Track was also a popular sport in the 60s and still is today.
The varsity baseball team then held a record of 17-8-1 while today baseball will begin in the spring. The bowling team then was
extremely popular. They were capable of fielding 74 teams. Although Rita still has a bowling team today they could not compete
with the amount of players they had in the past. Tennis although very popular in the 60s has been replaced by hockey, lacrosse,
volleyball, and soccer. Intramurals were played then and continue in the school year of 2010-2011.
Rita’s colorful band was a very popular extracurricular activity in the 60s. Today, Rita is known for hav-
ing a terrific band program. While now students will either eagerly wait for the newest episode of Glee or
absolutely despise it, in the 60s Rita had their very own Glee Club. Student Council would create a new project every month to better the students
or school then, now our student government is consistently active in the schools activities. It was very popular to be in the Sanctuary Society to be
an altar server during mass then, and now there are a select group of students who volunteer to serve mass. Fathers Club and Mothers Club were
meeting then and have not stopped. The Drama Club put on Murder in the Cathedral and The Nazarene in 1960, this year we will be putting on
Arsenic and Old Lace. An organization we no longer have called For God and Country was established in 1960. The yearbook of 1960 says the
club was created to “preserve our freedoms and to fight Communism and Socialism through the spread of knowledge about those evils.” Other lost
clubs were the debate club, speech club, and photography club. However, they were replaced with the chess club, Spanish club, Math team, Scho-
lastic Bowl team, video games club, stock market club, Hispanic culture club, and the Natir, our satirical newspaper. In the good old days we had
the Rooters cheering on our athletic teams, but today we have the Mustang Maniacs. Both then and now the Mustang cheerleaders build up school
spirit to help lead our teams to success.
A lot has changed over time. It would seem that almost everything has changed from the teachers and students, the campus, the classes, and the
clubs and sports teams. But, when you take the time to look at it we have held on to a lot also. We still practice the core values of Truth, Unity, and
Love. We receive a great education while being taught how to be a true Rita man. We are guided in our faith under our teachers and all the priests
and Augustinian brothers around us. And we have held on to the family atmosphere that makes St. Rita different than all the schools competing
with us.

Jasica family rewards Henrichs family

by Jonathan Eskra
The 4th Annual Joseph J. Jasica Art Scholarship is a completion among St. Rita Students to cre-
ate a piece that represents St. Rita. The program was founded by St. Rita alumni Mr. Raymond Jasica
’55 and Mr. Robert Jasica ’57, in memory of their brother, Joseph, who was a 1952 graduate.
With a total of eight contestants only two are chosen to receive the scholarship worth 500 dollars. Nick
Henrichs (St. Gerald) and his younger brother freshman Charles Henrichs (St. Gerald) submitted the
winning entries. Nick’s drawing was entitled “Mustang Pride.” Nick said, “I chose to draw a Mustang
because it is truly a symbolic figure of our school’s pride, in not only who we are, but in everything we
do.”
Charles drew the Augustinian cross. “I chose to draw this cross because it represents our Augus-
tinian community. Each freshman receives an Augustinian cross, and ever since I received my cross I
have felt a sense of pride every time I wear it. It makes me feel closer to everyone in the school, like we
are all one family,” said Charles. The other contest participants were presented with a commemorative
glass keepsake. Those students were seniors Dan Clancy (Mt. Greenwood), Rudy Comeaux (St. Dorothy)
and Nick Zych (Peotone Junior High); juniors Maximilian Esterhammer-Fic (Clissold) and Sean Esposi-
to (Fierke) and sophomore Jeries Nino (Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School).
The awards were presented by St. Rita Principal Mr. Brendan Conroy, President Fr. Tom Mc-
Carthy, O.S.A. ’83, art teacher Mrs. Robyn Kurnat, and scholarship coordinator Ms. Martha Dion. Also
present for the ceremony were Mr. Raymond Jasica, his wife Jeanine, Mr. Robert Jasica and Mrs. Karen
Omastiak, daughter of Joseph and mother to Ritamen Mark ’08 and Brian ’11 (St. Bede the Venerable).
 Page 3
NEWS February 28, 2011

New mayor not a Daley occurrence

By: Craig Sabath
On September 7, 2010, long-time Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley announced that he would not run again for re-election. “I’ve always be-
lieved that every person, especially public officials, must understand when it’s time to move on,” Daley said. For me, that time is now.” Daley, whose
wife has been battling cancer, called the decision, “a personal decision, no more, no less.”
Whatever the reason, Daley’s announcement put the city in flux. Since 1955, a Daley has been mayor all but 12 years. People outside of Illinois
just don’t understand it. The mayor and his father, Richard J. Daley, “were arguably the two most powerful, most important local elected officials in the
history of the United States,” says Dick Simpson, who chairs the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Political Science department. “Many people think
the job of Chicago’s mayor is more important than the job of governor.”
That may in part describe why so many people want the job. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, and
U.S. Representatives Jesse Jackson Jr. and Luis Gutierrez were the biggest names who at first considered running. However, for the February 22nd
election, only Rahm Emanuel remains. Emanuel is now widely considered the front-runner in the race.
Emanuel, who stepped down as Obama’s Chief of Staff, has been widely accused of being a political insider and being overly-ambitious. Luis
Gutierrez said the only reason Emanuel wants to be mayor is, “Because he can’t be speaker of the House.” But, in Chicago politics, name recognition,
political connections and money often decides who gets elected. U.S. Representative Mike Quigley explains, “You have to be viable, have a lot of re-
sources and good name recognition because it’s a close, short race.”
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle echoed Quigley’s sentiment. “Petitions have to be in less than 90 days,” Preckwinkle stated. “While
12,500 signatures are required, you’d better collect 40,000 or 50,000 because surely there will petition challenges. That requires an affective organiza-
tion, and favors those with high name recognition and a good deal of money in their political campaign chest.”
Despite the difficulties of running for mayor, five other candidates have emerged: Miguel del Valle, City Clerk of Chicago and former Illinois
State Senator; Gery Chico, former Chief of Staff to Mayor Daley and former chairman of the City Colleges of Chicago; Carol Moseley Braun, former
U.S. Senator from Illinois; Patricia Van Pelt Watkins, a non-profit administrator and activist; and William “Dock” Walls III, former aide to Harold
Washington.
As all the candidates seemed to have settled, on January 24th, 2011, Emanuel was taken off the ballot by the Illinois First District Appellate
Court. He was deemed ineligible to race because, according to the court, he hadn’t lived in Chicago for the required year before the election. Emanuel
took the case to the Illinois Supreme Court who, in a unanimous decision, put Emanuel back on the ballot.

A January 28th FOX News poll showed Emanuel to be the clear front-runner with 52% of the vote. Chico came second with 14% and Braun third with
11%. According to Chicago electoral rules, if none of the candidates has 50% or more of the vote, a run-off is to be held soon afterwards. As a result,
Emanuel’s 52% specifically is very advantageous.
The Huffington Post, however, reported on February 5th that Gery Chico, having gained the endorsements of multiple unions and both the Police and
Fire Departments, solidified his second-place position in the polls. As a result, he has become Emanuel’s biggest threat to office. Chico has cut Eman-
uel’s lead down to 20%, thereby him below the 50% threshold. According to The Huffington Post, “Current polls place Rahm in the 40-45 percent
range.” While the numbers may not seem to be on Chico’s side, they provide plenty of opportunity because, at this rate, Emanuel will fail to gather at
least 50% of the vote and Chico will keep his second-place spot. “Chico must surely count the new polls as a good sign, if not a full-blown surge,” The
Huffington Post concludes.
Emanuel capitalized off a large and diverse opposition. Chico and Del Valle split the Hispanic vote while the Black vote was divided amongst
Braun, Wells, and Watkins. Emanuel garnered more than enough of the black vote, as a result. While the Southwest side of Chicago rallied behind
Chico, Emanuel dominated almost everywhere else and won with over 50% of the vote, preventing a run-off. Say hello to Mayor Emanuel, everyone.

Rita should move again...into the 21st century!

By: Danny O’Keefe
“Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.” – Chinese Proverb. Many schools in the area and around the nation have begun to incorporate
technology in the classroom, whether it be laptops, iPads, computers, or Smart boards. There are some schools that use technology in certain classes and some that use them all day in
almost every class. These schools have students carrying small bags that have everything they need for their classes including
books, writing utensils, assignments, and projects most kids could not imagine being assigned in their classrooms. While the aver-
age student today juggles multiple textbooks, workbooks, spirals, writing utensils, and their various assignments, these particular
privileged students simply place their laptop or iPad into their bags and walk to their next class. Sophomore Tom Moran agreed, “It
would be nice not having to carry around all our books. Even going home with a laptop instead of having to pack up a backpack
would be a lot easier.”
Although it would seem these schools and students really have the life some question how necessary or even positive their dive
into technology could really be. Parents and school boards wonder if the laptops in the classroom would really be a positive way to
keep students engaged in their studies while also preparing them for future jobs, or if it would simply cause distractions, encourage
plagiarism, and offer opportunities for cheating. So we can do nothing other than weigh the pros and cons of bringing technology
into our day to day lives as students.
The greatest use for technology in the classroom is research. Imagine a classroom in which a teacher could present a class with a
topic of discussion and after five minutes of students scrolling down the pages of Google or Yahoo, be able to contribute what they
were able to find in those short minutes. And I think it is safe to say that a student would be much more likely to retain information
from an article they had found and read themselves than if they were to listen to a teacher drone on about a subject they have taught
for years and years. Not only would it keep the students engaged but it would also help everyone including the teachers educate
themselves more from each and every new piece of information that was found.
Students would also be able to work on projects and accomplish writing assignments in an everyday class instead of being forced to wait until they were at home where they have the
proper materials and information to get the job done. The only way for students to accomplish these tasks in school without a laptop or other similar piece of technology would to have a
teacher schedule time in a computer lab and hope by the time he class has been escorted to the lab, logged in, and settled down they could accomplish anything productive. As if we do not
have enough going on outside of school such as sports, clubs, and jobs, a little time to relax could really help refresh ourselves between each six and a half hour school day.
One thing that seems to be a constant threat against using internet based technology in the classroom is cheating and plagiarism. It would be easy for students to send each other
emails or instant messages during classes. And it would be even easier for students to copy and paste from articles and simply steal someone else’s work. However, just how cheating in
the classroom now through cheat sheets, passing notes, or copying is against school policy, those same rules can be instilled in a school that uses technology. There are also programs that
students’ papers can be put through to ensure they were not plagiarized. These solutions would help maintain the same policies that most schools have already against any form of cheat-
ing.
Anon once said, “Schools should be a mirror of a future society.” Being able to familiarize yourself with new software and increasing your knowledge of computers could help
students in a working environment for their future careers. Odds are when we are out of college and searching for a job most if not all of our jobs will be incorporating technology into our
everyday career. So, being able to get hands on training now will really increase our ability to stand out when applying for these jobs in the future. Isn’t that what our education is sup-
posed to be doing?
There are also parents that might not like the idea of such a constant access to the internet. There are things on the internet that can be considered inappropriate and vulgar that par-
ents don’t want their children to be looking at, especially at school. To prevent students from viewing this material the administration can restrict what is allowed to be viewed and what is
not. This ensures that the internet is used strictly for school and research purposes.
All in all, I feel that instituting technology in the classroom is a positive thing. Although there are some things that would need to be done to make sure it was being used positively
I feel the outcome could be really beneficial to any student’s education. There would also be skeptics, but what change does not have skeptics behind it. If technology could allow students
to accomplish things that could never be done without it I do not see why anyone could be opposed to the idea.
Page 4

So who are these new faces in the Guidance Department?

by Stephen Gregory

Perhaps you have noticed a few new people when you are entering the Guidance offices with that green slip in your hand. Miss Kathleen Mixan is an
intern in the Guidance Department, and she is also St. Rita’s Head Volleyball Coach as well as Paintball Club Moderator. Mr. John McCarthy is also
interning in the Guidance Department.

Stephen Gregory: What troubles went into getting the paintball club and what are your hopes for upcoming events?
Kathleen Mixan: It wasn’t much, I just called got the date and the equipment fee waived. All the kids had to pay for was the paintballs. Currently, I’m
working on having another event March 12/13. We are trying for four more events.

SG: How does St. Rita’s guidance center compare to other programs that you have experienced or
been a part of?
KM: Here it fells more like a family and its that kids are a little bit more outgoing here. Everyone
knows each other.

SG: How has St. Rita welcomed you and made you feel comfortable during your time here?
KM: I feel like I’ve been working here forever, but I just started this year.

SG: What is the state of our volleyball program and how would you compare it to other programs
that you have been a part of?
KM: Right now I’m trying to recruit more and more guys. We are going to be really good this year. We have a lot of guys coming back and hopefully
we will have a freshman team this year unlike last year. The outcome looks pretty good right now. Compared to other programs like Mother MacAu-
ley, we I also coach, we aren’t as established yet but trough fundraisers, camps, and other things we will get there.

SG: What words of advice would you give to the St. Rita student body as we approach the full brunt of our second semester?
KM: I would say whether in school or in sports, because I feel that over half the school plays sports, give 110%. There is no reason to do something
unless you give it your all. Go big or go home.

Stephen Gregory: What was your inspiration to take up a career in guidance?

John McCarthy: My goal was to pursue a career where I could impact young adults and create a helping atmosphere. The role of the counselor al-
lows us to impact young adults and make them into better overall people. Character is one of the most important traits for success in life. At St. Rita,
the faculty and staff instilled these values into me. I would like to pass along these values to students at the high school level.

SG: How has St. Rita welcomed you in your brief time with us?

JM: St. Rita has welcomed me with outstanding warmth. St. Rita is special based upon the hard work of alumni, faculty, and staff. I am grateful for
the opportunity to attend St. Rita and be a small part of the success of this great secondary school. Students need to embrace St. Rita and understand
that there is no better place than St. Rita. Each student is given an opportunity for success and the skills for success after high school.

SG: Do you have any words of advice for the student body as we are faced with the full force of the second semester?
JM: Strive for excellence in everything that you do, and believe in yourself. In addition, please show respect to your fellow classmate. Once you
leave St. Rita, people will not remember your class rank, athletic achievements, or extracurricular activities; however, students will remember how
you treated them and your character.

SG: In one sentence can you describe the St. Rita community?
JM: The St. Rita community is strong and loyal!

New class schedule comes with potential new classes

by Ed Roland

With the time to choose classes for next year approaching, it has been decided that there will now be seven classes in a day. There would be
no zero hour classes with the new schedule. TDT would also be eliminated from the day, and even possibly one of the four lunch periods. There is
nothing officially set about the new schedules, but decisions should be made sooner than later over them.
Along with the new schedule, there is also talk about a lot of new elective classes that are being considered. With the extra class in the day,
there will be an extra spot for another elective. This change came from the Archdiocese mandate of eight semesters of Theology class. There are doz-
ens of new classes that are being considered, here are a few.

Accounting
Web Design
African American Literature
Chicago Authors
Irish and Irish American Literature
Shakespeare’s Plays
Graphic Design
Introduction to Sports Medicine
Fitness and Nutrition
Earth Science
Chemistry in the Community
American Politics and Religion
History of Chicago
Church History

These electives would be offered to tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders next year. With the surveys that got passed around earlier this
month, many students already know what classes that they want to be put into next year. Although one might have chosen a certain class, they may
not get into the class depending on the class size and teacher recommendation.
 Page 4
Technology February 28, 2011

Glasses-free TV
Remember when you needed to wear blue and red glasses to see a movie in 3D?
It was rather annoying. How about the amazing upgrade to the new RealD glasses?
These were better due to the fact that they look like a normal pair of sunglasses. How
about watching something in 3D without glasses? Well, several companies have suc-
cessfully achieved this already.

You may be wondering why these displays aren’t on store shelves. One word--
price. Unless you’re willing to pay an excess of $6500 for a screen, then you’re going
to wait a while. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES for short) 2011, a handful of
companies such as Samsung and Mitsubishi have released prototypes of these displays
and they were nothing short of impressive, however, the release date of these amaz-
ing screens are yet to be determined. “For the foreseeable future, watching 3D TV will
involve using glasses,” said John Revie, vice president of home entertainment at Sam-
sung Electronics, to CNET.com. “That’s because while the capability to watch 3D TV
without glasses exists, it is at a low resolution and the panels are expensive.” Toshiba will offer two sizes - 12 inches and
20 inches. -Photo courtesy of Toshiba
Many people believe that 3D is going to be the new way people
watch everyday TV and movies. This will not happen anytime soon as
it can cause unwanted side effects such as temporary loss of depth per-
ception, headaches, and disorientation. Samsung Australia offers this
warning: “Viewing in 3D mode may also cause motion sickness, per-
ceptual after effects, disorientation, eye strain, and decreased postural
stability. It is recommended that users take frequent breaks to lessen
the likelihood of these effects. If you have any of the above symptoms,
immediately discontinue use of this device and do not resume until the
symptoms have subsided.” This varies from person to person, though.

This doesn’t mean 3D is bad. It just means that one should
manage his or her time watching 3D media. If you can only handle
ten minutes of 3D, then I would suggest only watching 10 minutes
and then stop. If you are a person who can tolerate 3D for an extended
period of time, then you will be excited when these wonderful new
displays are released.
Designed for the advertising market, this 50” monitor can display stereo 3D without
requiring viewers to wear glasses. -Photo courtesy of tomsguide.com

Top Apps of February 2011

One must admit, smart phones are becoming more and more popular by the day. The top
smart phone on the market is the iPhone. The reason for this is the abundance of applications
that can assist their users in almost any task. Here are the top 5 apps for this month:

1) Teamviewer Price: Free (Pro version available for $99.99)

Have you ever forgotten to e-mail a homework assignment from your PC? Ever
wanted to start up your favorite movie or song for when you get home from school?
Then this is the application for you. Teamviewer allows you to remotely control
your PC straight from your phone.

2) Trapster Price: Free 3) Pandora Radio Price: Free

Trapster is a free app that alerts you as you
approach speed traps, red light and speed
cameras, police check points, accidents, and
other roadway hazards.
Pandora Radio is your own free personalized radio
now available to stream music on your iPhone.
Just start with the name of one of your favorite
artists or songs and Pandora will create a “station”
that plays their music and more music like it.

4) Wikipedia Price: Free 5) WebMD Price: Free

The free app does exactly what you’d This app is perfect for anyone who cares about
expect it to do: access Wikipedia. The only their health. Feel sick? Use the symptom checker
downside is that it runs slow. to see what could possibly be wrong. This app also
includes medicine information and first aid infor-
mation on the go.
Page 6
Entertainment February 28, 2011

You should get

stung by
The Green Hornet
by Max Kurucar

T h e G re e n H o r n e t w a s r e l e a s e d i n t h e a t e r s o n
January 14th. The movie is a remake of the 1940
c l a s s i c f i l m a n d t h e T V s e r i e s o f t h e 6 0 s . 2 0 11 ’s
version follows Britt Reid(Seth Rogen) and his aide
Kato(Jay Chou) as they become the Green Hornet
and his masked assistant and begin to fight crime
d i s g u i s e d a s g a n g s t e r s . Wi t h B r i t t R e i d ’s f a t h e r ’s
death Britt is left to inherit all his money and his
position as the editor of the The Daily Sentinel
n e w s p a p e r. Wi t h a l l h i s w e a l t h K a t o i s a b l e t o b u i l d
the sickest gadgets and weapons that he installs in
B r i t t ’s 1 9 6 5 C h r y s l e r I m p e r i a l . T h i s c a r i s a p i e c e
of work. It has slick looks and it packs a punch
under the hood. The Green Hornet and Kato use
their sweet car and kung-fu abilities to battle the
r u t h l e s s C h u d n o f s k y, t h e m a f i a w a r l o r d o f t h e c i t y. Seth Rogan (right) and Jay Chou star in the explosive action-comedy.
Wi t h S e t h R o g e n t a k i n g t h e l e a d y o u ’ r e i n f o r s o m e (Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures)
laughs along with some sick action scenes. The gad-
gets in that car are easily the coolest thing you’ll
ever see. The movie is rated PG-13 and you might
not want to bring the whole family due to some pro-
fanity but it is a great film nonetheless. If you like

The Script following

in footsteps of U2
by Max Kurucar
Talent just doesn’t stop pouring in from Europe, especially Ireland. First
there was Bono from U2, and now The Script is stealing the scene. The members
of the band are Danny O’Donoghue with vocals and guitar, Mark Sheehan with
lead guitar, and Glen Power with drums. Released this last January on the 18th
was the band’s second studio album entitled Science and Faith. It’s been a hot on
the billboards with its first single, “For the First Time”. Their whole album has
a unique sound that just keeps you listening. The band brings new and enjoyable
music to the table. Another up and coming track from the album is called “Noth-
ing.” It combines soft guitar riffs with a fun chorus and is a great song to listen
to at a party, in your car, or anywhere. If you haven’t heard of The Script you can
check out their website, www.thescriptmusic.com, for tour dates and to see what
this band is all about. And if you haven’t gone and bought the CD, either from a
music store or online, I suggest you head on out and pick it up.

Second Album by The Script, Science and Faith

ATTENTION FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES,

AND JUNIORS!
• Do you like what you see here in The Ritan?
• Do you have an idea for something that needs to be in here?
• Does photography, Photoshop, and/or graphic design interest
you?
• Do you enjoy various types of writing?
• Do you have opinions that the St. Rita community should hear?
• Do you have pride in St. Rita High School and want to make it
the best it can be?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you should consid-

er joining The Ritan, which is currently produced within
February 28, 2011 Page 7

Does Jay Cutler deserve sympathy or a smack up side the head?

by Ed Roland

After the Bear’s 21- 14 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, there
were many questions revolving around the team. Key players like center Olin Kreutz, punter Brad
Maynard, and safety Danieal Manning becoming free agents, and whether or not head coach Lovie
Smith deserves a contract extension. But the most important of all questions was what was wrong
with Jay Cutler. With his phantom knee injury in the first half, Cutler was on the side lines as the
Packers held the Bears and eventually won the game.
How did he get hurt, how bad is it, and why is he doing nothing to make it better. Everyone
has there own opinions, but the Bears have the answers. The Bears organization was slow to respond
to any of these questions. After the game, Lovie Smith differed not to answer questions about his
quarterback or just simply stated, “I don’t know.”
Over the next week or so, answers came. It was determined that Cutler had sprained his MCL.
The MCL, or medial collateral ligament, is a muscle stabilizer of the knee. Quarterbacks can easily
be injured here because they stress the muscle when setting up for a throw. However, Cutler was hit
while trying to shovel pass the ball on the first play of the second quarter. He was hit in mid air and
was sandwiched between #79 Ryan Pickett of the Packers and the turf. Cutler decided to keep playing
through the second, but was told to sit early in the third quarter.
Even while on the sidelines, Cutler didn’t look to be in pain, or complaining, or really do-
ing much of anything. He put on a coat, sat on a heated bench, and let a couple team doctors look at
him. He didn’t seem to be in much pain at this time. There were reports that came out that Cutler had
received a pain killer over half time. It was determined that he couldn’t properly put weight on his left
leg.
While on the bench, Cutler did help. When Todd Collins sat down after showing a sad perfor-
mance, Cutler did help him go over the plays he missed up on. And, after coming off the field with two touchdowns, he went over to view the plays
with Caleb Hanie. Cutler did smile, but he didn’t walk. He spent the rest of the game on the bench.
After the game, Cutler was attacked. While addressing the media, he said that he felt he could have kept playing but it was decided that he wouldn’t
go back on the field. Even if Cutler was healthy enough to eventually return to the game, Lovie Smith made that impossible for him. Smith had made
too many quarterback substitutions in a single quarter to allow Cutler to return..
When many people, especially with in the NFL started labeling Cutler as a quitter, the Bears came to his rescue. Safety Brian Urlacher said that the
NFL players that made comments about Cutler were just jealous that their season was already over. Bears GM Jerry Angelo stated, “We stand by him
(Cutler). Nobody’s perfect. His play isn’t perfect. He’s not perfect. There’s not a person in this room or in this league that is, either.”
Cutler’s defenders weren’t just from Chicago. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who lost to the Green Bay Packers in the Super
Bowl, said in an ESPNChicago.com interview, “People are going to attack you for whatever reason if he’s hurt or not. I think he just needs to keep
his head up and stay focused on what he needs to do to get healthy and get ready for another season because that’s all he can do is to get ready for the
next day and the next season.” Ben’s right, Cutler needs time. He was given one year and he made a total transformation form his first year with the
Bears. Give him another and be ready to see even more from him next year.
In terms of slap and pat, Cutler deserves a pat on the back. He did the best he could. It was a better season than the one he had before. The Bears will
hear about this all the way through next season. Anytime Cutler gets hit, this will be brought up again. Cutler will never live this down until he wins
a Super Bowl, or is completely wrecked in a game and gets up as if nothing happened. The Bears made a statement that they’ll be back next season,
and ready to get back to the playoffs again.

Skating Mustangs seek to defend two titles

by Oscar Mascorro III

The State Champion Mustangs are back. Led by

Head Coach Craig Ferguson, the Skating Mustangs
look to repeat as State Champions.

Last season was the first State Championship for

the Skating Mustangs since 1982, almost thirty years
ago.

With the season behind them, the Skating Mus-

tangs hold an astonishing record of 37-14-8. They have
exceeded expectations with a second place finish at
the Loyola Invitational, a First Place finish at the St.
Edward Invitational. Yet all these accomplishments are
dwarfed by the presence of the State Championship
trophy.

With such a productive last season, the Skating

Mustangs are under pressure to reach the same heights
as last year. With the tear they had of the Catholic
League, it looks like a repeat is in the near future.

Not only do they look to repeat as State Champions, but they also look to four-peat as Kennedy Cup Champions.
Winning the Kennedy Cup Three years in a row is an amazing accomplishment, but four years in a row is there goal.

They have only a few games left, and then come the State play-offs.
Page 8
MUSTANG SPORTS February 28, 2011

Mustang basketball wrapping up fun

regular season on the hardcourt
by Oscar Mascorro
St. Rita basketball fans were
excited that Head Coach Gary
DeCesare was back again coaching the
Varsity Mustangs, assisted by Justin
Domingo, and Rashay Russell.
The season has not gone the
way DeCesare and his players had
hoped, though.
After losing on Senior Night
versus rival Brother Rice, their record
stands at 9-14, 4-7 in the Catholic
League, after being ranked No. 10 in
the SouthtownStar preseason poll,
“We’re right there,” DeCesare
told The SouthtownStar. “But that’s the game, that’s life. You become better people, better players by going through adversity.”
St. Rita did not lack for shining moments, though. Season highlights so far have included two wins over St. Joseph, one
on a buzzer beater by senior Luke Berry, and a dominant victory over Augustinian rival Providence Catholic.
Health has been a problem for the Mustangs all season. The Mustangs have had very few games with a complete team. Tim
Gorski missed almost a week of practice at one point due to illness. Also, A.J. Avery has been bothered with an injured wrist
for the better part of the season. Excuses were certainly never used by this team, though, and despite being banged up they have
fought hard all year, even losing six games by five or less points.
On the bright side, the Mustangs are a very young team. Only five of the fourteen players on this year’s roster are seniors,
meaning the future of the program should be filled with solid experience. The team sports two promising freshmen as well in
guard Dominique Matthews and forward Victor Law.
Even with the outcomes to many games not being ideal, Coach DeCesare is still confident in his players and wants to pre-
pare his players for their futures. “I want to be able to open up some doors to college for kids,” DeCesare told the SouthtownStar
. “I can bring some recognition to players and help them get to college for free.”

CONGRATULATIONS
TO ALL OF OUR WINTER
SPORT ATHLETES ON
SUCCESSFUL SEASONS!

Rita bowlers roll along to another fun season

by Oscar Mascorro
Coach Dan Carroll had high expectations for the Bowling Season.
“I thought we had some capable returning players, and I was excited about
the teams’ opportunity to compete,” said the head coach of the Rolling
Mustangs.
While the season had its ups and downs, what about the progress the
team made throughout the season? “I don’t think there’s any question that
we improved throughout the course of the season,” said Carroll. “Whether
they improved as much as they wanted to... that depends on their own per-
sonal goals.”
Even with a finish in the middle of the pack in the Catholic League,
Coach Carroll is extremely proud of his bowlers. “I was very satisfied with
that finish. Our whole Varsity Team returns next year, and basically the
kids tried their best and were good sports. That’s what’s important.”
The Bowling Season may have just ended, but Coach Carroll is
already looking forward to next Season. “All five of our Varsity Bowlers Jr. Dave Ciciora looks to strike as Jr. Chris Ciciora
are returning next year, four of which will be Seniors, so I think we have and Mustang teammates look on
a strong chance to do well. As long as they try their best and display good
sportsmanship.”