First introduced to basketball in sixth grade by his friends Radich has only been on the rise since. “High school basketball is much more competitive!” Radich stated. Only his second year into his high school basketball career, Radich has earned a glorious spot on the Junior Varsity team.

“Radich has proven to be leader not verbally, but through his actions. He doesn’t talk much but he lets his skills do the talking for him,” teammate Sean Regner said. Having major improvements from last years’ season, Radich seems to have a strong leadership attitude when on the court.

Despite the fact that he may be quite, Radich seems to always pull through and excite his teammates and the fans. “He puts all that he has on the court,” teammate sophomore Nikko McNeil said. “He always has that assassins mentality which puts our team in the scoring mode.”

Being a sophomore on junior varsity only gives Radich much more time to better his court skills, which will hopefully take him to the next level. As for his plans, “I just want to become an overall better player,” he said.

But it doesn’t stop there! Oh no, the mania has spread from bookshelves and onto movie screens, t-shirts, backpacks, mugs, action figures, and even cars (yes, there is an actual Twilight automobile). Whether you blame the craze on Stephanie Meyer or the mass of preteens feeding off of the new trend, it is clear that the vampire obsession has reached an overload.

Vampires are hardly a new subject to the realm of fiction. They have been present as far back as Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. Back then, however, vampires were portrayed as dark, brooding, bloodthirsty humanoids, not the pale, sparkly, pretty people we identify vampires as today due to the popular Twilight series.

Now, I admit, I was once a fan of Twilight— in the seventh grade.

Only back then, people ridiculed me for reading an “emo vampire book”. Now it’s super cool because heaps of 11-year-old girls think that the fictional Edward Cullen is hot.

In general, the Twilight series presents an abundance of unrealistic qualities. First of all, if the guy you liked told you he was a vampire, would you really be calm and believe him? No, you would call up your local mental asylum. Second, Meyer sends the wrong message to girls waiting for their “Edward” to come; no matter how hard you look you will not find a guy who will save you from speeding cars or sneak into your bedroom every night to stare at you while you sleep (which seems more characteristic of a serial-killer than a lover).

Lastly, why can’t Edward read Bella’s mind? Oh wait, I know why, it’s because she doesn’t have one! Seriously, Bella is a horrid heroin for girls to look up to: her name means “beautiful swan” (extremely creative), yet she’s plain and clumsy, lacks any admirable personality quality, and is exceedingly dependent on Edward, to the point where she almost kills herself when Edward leaves her.

I’m not going to lie, I appreciate Taylor Lautner’s godly six-pack as much as the next girl does (you really could melt butter on those abs), but it can get quite irksome when people get into quarrels over being “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob”, as if choosing a side bares any significance on the already-written storyline, or our lives (FYI: it doesn’t). Not to mention that the whole “vampires vs. werewolves” conflict was definitely bitten off of the 2003 movie Underworld.

If you want to read actual vampire literature, pick up a novel by Ann Rice. But until the trend is chewed up and spit out, these modern vampires will continue making Dracula roll in his coffin.

A couple weekends ago, I attended a program called Women of Distinction at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. I was only there for three days, but during my short visit I realized 3 things that college will leave you, take from you, or give to you, making me even more excited to get there.

1) Near or far, the environment will leave you surprised.
You’d probably laugh at the list of “must be worn” east coast inspired outfits I tried to put together, or the different classics I brushed up on, just to be sure that I would have good conversation fillers. You could even call me insane for spending hours reading page after page of College Confidential on what every prospective student should ask during a college visit.

I tried to be as prepared as I could for this opportunity, but my efforts were beyond fruitless. The only thing I got right was an umbrella. I had packed sweaters, coats, thermals, wool socks, scarves, fur caps, even mittens. Little did I know that every building on campus would have the heater on blast, leaving me desperately wishing for a T-shirt.

I don’t usually take showers at 2 am either, but I am guessing college has a way of flip-flopping schedules. My host, Mindy, definitely had the most odd daily routines. Napping in the afternoon, to eating breakfast at 12 after her first class, to being able to get dressed for a party in under five minutes – she never failed to surprise me. She left me with a bit advice, “Don’t expect anything.”

2) All identities will be taken away, no one knows you.
Most of my academic preparation was useless as well. When given the opportunity to talk to professors and provosts, I found myself in the most random discussions talking about the most interesting subjects. There was no way I could have known to familiarize myself in topics such as circadian rhythms or the struggle of the black writer.

At first I was intimidated by the newness of the situation, but I quickly realized it wasn’t as much about fact as it was about opinion. Coming in with an open mind led to the exposure of amazing concepts. I didn’t feel stupid, not for one second. I had no idea what narcolepsy was, but instead of being lost I was enlightened. It felt natural coming in with questions.

At college, no one knew me. They didn’t know what type of kid I was. I was just like everyone else there, and I guess the whole “I can be whoever I want to be” comes with going to any new place, but in college it’s almost expected.

Never in the world would I be caught at an Afro-Jazz dance lesson. But hey, no one knew that, so I went on chanting Swahili and Jamaican Patois while awkwardly contorting my ribcage.

3) College will give you limitless opportunities: social and academic.
West-Quad Story, a battle to the end between a female acapella group from Smith and a male group from the University of Connecticut blew my mind. Those students looked like they loved singing more than a fat boy loves cake. Watching the acapella group made me realize how many different things I could be a part of in college. There are so many more people and everyone pursues their interests.

I met people from 32 states during my stay, two from Hawaii, and some from Minnesota and Iowa. Everyone had such unique stories. There was almost nothing in common, and instead of freaking me out, I was more curious about their lives.

At college, everyone was here for the same thing; getting out in the world. There’s just something motivating about seeing people not a lot older than you talking about their futures with determination.

Whether they are waking up at 4 in the morning to go rowing on nearest river, or spending most of their free time in the lab transcribing tapes of child behavior, or just eating in the dining hall, they are taking advantage of what college has offered them.

I admit, Twilight’s one of my guilty pleasures – don’t judge me.

The storyline of a vampire and a human’s forbidden love can be pretty cliché, the actors of the movie may be a little below par, and I’m sorry that Stephanie Meyer completely screwed up your view on what vampires are – but these minor flaws couldn’t possibly outweigh the major success that the book and the movie have received in the past year alone.

It’s the captivating love story that draws readers in and brainwashes them into instant Edward Cullen fans. Twilight is about two teenagers in love and the obstacles that can get in the way of the relationship, which makes the basis of the story relatable to the female audience.

Enter Edward Cullen. The fictional sparkling vampire that almost every girl pines for. Why? He’s passionate, loyal, devoted…and not real. He’s the perfect boyfriend they’ll never be able to have, which makes them wanting more. Plus, you add in his relationship with Bella and bam! – there’s your classic love story.

Who cares if it’s unrealistic? It’s FICTION. It’s meant to completely encompass you in a world different than your own – with the reality of love and all knowledge of “real” vampires pushed aside.

Well, there’s the book, but once the book turns into a movie… and you get an explosion of everything Twilight! Usually when a movie version of a book comes out I don’t seem to enjoy it as much. But seeing the movie gave the characters a face and the most exciting, action packed scenes of the books come to life. Plus it doesn’t hurt that every single actor that was cast into the movie is extremely attractive. (Shoutout to Taylor Lautner…)

And if it’s so bad as some of you think it is, then that definitely explains why Twilight won “Best of Book of the Year” by Publishers Weekly, and peaked at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list.

The movies themselves are getting even more popular as time progresses. According to the Los Angeles Times, the midnight ticket sales for New Moon is $26.27 million. To top that, the recent release of New Moon smashed on the ticket sales of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince ($22.2 mil) and even the Dark Knight ($18.5 mil).

So here’s a quick solution for all you Twilight haters out there: if you don’t like the movie or the book – don’t watch it, and don’t read it. Simple as that! Might as well get used to it now, because gauging as to how successful New Moon is and with the anticipated release of the third installment Eclipse this June, you’ll be seeing, hearing, and watching fans go crazy over the Twilight Saga for years to come.

Games are supposed to be littered with bloody helmets, Richter-scale registering hits, and contorted bodies straight from the mind of Picasso. But as an avid football fan, I can tell that the sport is becoming more about contact, and not collisions. The game of organized violence and chaos that millions of Americans have loved for almost a century is becoming more civilized, and it makes for a lesser game.

In recent years, the NFL has passed a series of new rules and clarifications that limit the aggression with which its athletes can play. At the forefront of the issue is the protection of quarterbacks, who are recognized as the marquee players of the league.

Owners like the New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft aren’t shy about their concerns to reduce injuries to their stars.

“What makes [the NFL] special is special players. It’s like going to see a great movie and the star isn’t in the movie. It’s the same principle” said Kraft, in his support of stricter rule implementations to protect quarterbacks would-be tacklers.

I understand this mindset of league owners. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar beast, and owners want to protect their investments, especially the guys who help light up the scoreboards and sell tickets. I get that quarterbacks have always been the most defenseless players on the field because they can’t brace themselves for any kind of hit.

I also know that signal callers are grown men who willing signed up for this career. These rule changes are starting to accommodate the players, instead of having the athletes adapt to the chaotic nature of the game itself.

While the league authorities do have some legitimate concerns, their intents to make the game safer are actually diminishing the level of play. Stricter rules have made officials overly trigger-happy with the penalty flags. Simply grazing a quarterbacks’ leg has the potential to draw a roughing the passer call.

For their whole lives, these athletes have been taught to play with the mindset that every play is their last. And now these strictly enforced rules tell defenders to scrap that notion, and that they should hesitate instead.

In football, any moment of uncertainty can completely change the complexion of a game. As such, players are not rewarded, but punished for playing with the reckless abandon that has been embedded in their hearts.

Football is a stop-and-go sport; plays last for little more than fifteen seconds at a time. For that reason, some look down upon the game for its lack of excitement.  The appeal comes from seeing some of nation’s strongest, quickest athletes voluntarily sacrifice their bodies for the sole purpose of gaining one yard.

By making defenders think twice about how they approach their job, the gentler NFL is ripping away the soul of the game. My complaints don’t stem from come from some overly-macho attitude. Rather, they come from a fan’s legitimate concern for the identity and quality of the game.

I still love watching football, but it pains me to see a sport defined by physical and mental struggle be in danger of becoming a shell of itself.

Zachary DeCastro for the Explorer

The varsity Moreau football team defeated the Albany Cougars at home last Friday, October 9, 54-13.

Scoring started off early in the first quarter with an 80-yard run by running back Chris Allen for the Mariners. Running back Brandon Nugent finished off the drive with a 14-yard run for a touchdown.

In the second quarter, Mariner quarterback Adam Robinson connected with tight end Jeff Becker for a 35-yard touchdown to make the score 14-0.

The Cougars still had some fight in them. They intercepted a Robinson pass and returned it for a 55-yard touchdown. Soon after, the Cougars returned a punt for a touchdown, but the play was called back because of a penalty on the play. The Cougars, again, bounced right back and completed a 70-yard touchdown throw. With the extra point blocked, the Cougars brought the game close: 14-13 Mariners.

The Mariners countered with two touchdowns to end the quarter. Joey Fiandor, returned a kick-off for 90-yards. Wide receiver Brannon Pantoja, grabbed a 25-yard touchdown pass to end the half.

At the half, the Mariners lead the Cougars: 28-13

In the third quarter, the Cougars tried for a first down on 4th and 5. They were sorely disappointed when it backfired as Nugent flew in for the sack, which resulted in a turnover-on-downs.

The Mariners never backed down, lighting the scoreboard up twice more in the third quarter. A muffed punt recovery by Kyle Cardana led to a 4-yard touchdown run for Allen.

Allen would then make another spectacular effort with a 53-yard run, made possible through openings created by the offensive line. Nugent finished the drive off with yet another touchdown.

Finally, in the fourth quarter, Nugent scored his third touchdown of the night, completing Moreau scoring for the game. The Cougars conceived a last ditch effort with a touchdown followed by a two-point conversion, but that was not enough.

“We worked hard during summer and it all comes up to the defining moment of whether we execute our jobs right or we just come back even stronger,” wide receiver and cornerback senior Mark Nisnisan said.

This improves Moreau’s league record to 2-0. They are going to defend their undefeated record Saturday, October 17th, against the Panthers of St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley.

In previous years, the frosh retreats have been held off campus. Due to the needs of other departments, Campus Ministry had to hold the retreats in G-23.

Many of the current upperclassmen that have gone to other facilities for their frosh retreats believe that having the retreats at Moreau had significant drawbacks.

Senior Brian Tieu believes that outside facilities have special qualities. “The peace and serenity that they are able to achieve outside an environment that they relate directly to stress and work is essential to this primary experience with retreats,” Tieu said.

Senior Jun Oregana, a Campus Ministry Team (CMT) member, has a similar viewpoint. “The whole point of a retreat is to get away from school and be by yourself. The fact that we are at school means we are only getting away from our classes. We are not getting away from school in general,” Oregana said.

Senior Joseph Abenojar, a CMT member, sees the lack of space as an issue. “You are really cramped. People are tempted to talk with others that are not a part of their group,” Abenojar said.

Senior Jessica Gelico, a CMT member, disagrees. “ The location of a retreat does not really determine how great it will be. Retreats are about reflection so it doesn’t need to be in a certain place.”

The change in location of the frosh retreats was due to admission’s necessities. “The admissions office also needed to go out and do Moreau presentations earlier than previous years and needed the bus,” Campus Ministry Team Director Ann Tabora said.

Since the admissions office needed the bus earlier than past years, Campus Ministry needed to hold all the frosh retreats in August, September, and early October.

“I had to look for a facility that would accommodate all our dates, very close together, and that was a bit of a challenge,” Tabora said.

Tabora looked at 3 facilities but none could accommodate all the retreats. “Some classes had to go to one site because of the dates in their own calendar couldn’t accommodate all of them. This made it difficult to provide a common experience when the place wasn’t the same,” Tabora said.

Then came the possibility of holding the retreats at Moreau in G-23. Tabora believes that this change worked out well. “It proved to be really practical and convenient.”

A lot of money was saved. “Having the retreat here for the freshman, we saved almost six thousand dollars,” Tabora said.

In addition to money, time was another benefit. “We had a longer time with the freshman because it was right here. We didn’t have to travel,” Tabora said

However, Tabora admits that having the retreats at Moreau did have a disadvantage. “Where we used to go in Fremont, it was spacious, surrounded by garden, they could sit under a tree,” Tabora said.

In the past month, students have reported the in-house theft of personal belongings, including laptop computers.

On October 6 at around 4:30 PM, sophomore Meagan Blanchet got up from her seat in the library to get something from the vending machines in the breezeway, and left her backpack on one of the tables.  When she returned approximately three minutes later, she found that her laptop, which was stored in a case inside her backpack, had been stolen.

“At first, I thought that one of my friends was messing with me,” Blanchet said.  “Then I found out it was gone.  I was so mad!”

Soon after the incident, Blanchet sought out assistance from campus security and staff.  She was told whoever stole her laptop probably left campus soon after

“They even left the case sitting there,” said Blanchet.

After waiting several weeks for the laptop to resurface and using a loaned computer in the meantime, she eventually gave up hope of the computer returning and bought another one.

Because Blanchet purchased her laptop directly from Moreau’s technology program, it did not have any external identification, potentially making it more attractive to steal.  Loaned computers have bright red crime prevention stickers that are placed on the front cover in an attempt to deter thieves.

Blanchet’s experience has taught her a lesson she hopes the rest of the student body can put into practice before their valuables are snatched as well.

“I never thought this would happen but after, my view changed a lot,” she said.  “Now I really watch where I leave my belongings.”

So why do we do this? We wait until the very last minute to turn in our hours, maybe even to start them. Luckily, a new plan for Christian/Community Service (C/CS) hours is in the works to address just that – amongst other things – and we should all become a lot more familiar with turning in our service hours on time.

This new plan for C/CS is dubbed “Service Learning,” and the title certainly fits. “You do service, and it’s reflected upon in your classes. Before, during, and after, it’s woven into them,” said Father Tito Bonoan, supervisor of the current C/CS system.
In my time here at Moreau, I can say that that the experience of turning in hours close to or after the deadline is a fairly standard one. The idea of Service Learning is an innovative approach to getting us to not just complete our hours, but do so in an organized and constructive way.

While the principle of Service Learning isn’t unheard of (it is the concept behind our freshman year I-Searches), it’s an experimental step in a positive direction. “It’s new to a lot of the staff,” theology teacher Tony Rodriguez said. “It will be more work in some regards, but the payoff’s a lot greater.”

Having service hours more clearly related to class would really give a tangible reason to get them done on time, and would probably make the point of service a lot more obvious to us.
“Say there’s a Service Learning project that’s due and graded,” Assistant Principal Peter Shelley said. “You’ll get it done, instead of saying ‘I have all summer.’”

However, not all students realize the need for change with the current hours system. “It’s fine,” senior Austin Intal said. “They should just let us keep doing what we’re doing.”

But Intal stated he has only completed five hours to date. Service Learning plans to address that and would help give us that extra push to complete our hours on time.
Some students also enjoy the ample amount of time provided to catch up with the required paperwork. “It’s more convenient doing it over the summer,” junior Felicity Chen said. “It takes me a long time to write about it.”
Chen however, reportedly turns in more than 200 hours in one year alone, and probably wouldn’t be affected by a change in the system.

The hours handed in precariously close to the deadline also don’t seem to faze the higher-ups.  “It’s just typical teenager behavior,” Shelley said.
So why the big transition? Well, as Bonoan said, “The ideal is not to require it or mandate it, but to integrate it. That’s what it’s all about.”

After my four years of seeing people turn in their hours way too close to the deadline, I can confidently say that we need Service Learning.  It’s efficient, it’s engaging, and maybe we can finally stop getting those annoying text messages.