Brophy Roundup

AIA continues to loosen Guidelines to play winter sports

By: Nicholas Williams THE ROUNDUP The Arizona Interscholastic Association has loosened its COVID-19 restrictions multiple times since the beginning of the year. However, at the moment, it doesn’t seem like it will be enough as Brophy basketball, wrestling and soccer have all been delayed. The AIA uses cases per 100,000 in the county to determine whether or not schools are allowed to play sports. This metric only pertains to starting…

NBA makes commitment toward racial justice, civic participation

By Griffin Winter ’21 THE ROUNDUP When the NBA restarted in the bubble, they made a major commitment to both racial justice and civic participation in the upcoming election. On Aug. 23, a man named Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back by the police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Following that event, the Milwaukee Bucks went on a strike in the 2020 NBA playoffs in order to call attention…

Flu season adds complications to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

By Ridge Peterson ’21 and Max Tiffany ’21 THE ROUNDUP There is no overstatement for the tragedies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that swept through the nation this year, and more concern is growing now that the flu season is starting to take its course. While COVID-19 has been Brophy’s main area of concern for the past eight months, the upcoming flu season presents similar challenges due to the similarities…

Supreme court critical to future of country

By Carl Justice ’21 THE ROUNDUP After the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court suddenly became a massive part of the 2020 election. The controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s appointment of Amy Coney Barrett has been a major part of the news cycle for weeks and will likely continue to be one for a while, regardless of the outcome. And while the Supreme Court may seem incredibly distant…

Theatre for Social Change inspires change through the arts

By Nick Pecora ’21 THE ROUNDUP Brophy’s Theatre for Social Change, helmed by student leaders Jackson Bernreuter ’21 and Steven Watson ’21 alongside faculty moderator Ms. Carolyn Wright, is set to begin its second year of work on Brophy’s campus. The club, which was formed last year by Ryan Breuer ’20 with the help of Ms. Wright, is composed of individuals who have a genuine drive to inspire change and…

Pac-12 postpone college football over COVID-19 worries

By John Wichterman ’23 THE ROUNDUP Around this time, University of Arizona and Arizona State fans would be bickering at each other, tailgating before games, and getting ready for a new college football season, but after the Pac-12 decided to postpone their season, this won’t happen for a while. On Aug. 11, the Pac-12 conference presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to postpone their fall football season after consulting with athletic…

Local journalism critical to communities, needs support

By Carl Justice ’21 THE ROUNDUP Local publications have been going out of business at an alarming rate. A report by Penelope Abernathy, a professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill explained that 2,000 publications had gone away in the past fifteen years. This is almost one fourth of the 9,000 that existed before the sharp downturn. Unfortunately, the decline in local newspapers has left many communities vulnerable. The…

Advocacy Club builds community, promotes conversation on online platforms

By Nathan Wise ’21 THE ROUNDUP The Brophy/Xavier Advocacy Club has expanded its community-building efforts online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the uncertainty of the pandemic brought about difficulties to continue its collaborative efforts of raising awareness in marginalized communities, the student-led group created an Instagram account to resume its advocacy efforts digitally. Biplove Baral ’21, tasked with sharing posts on Instagram, explained how the club has…

Sun Corridor becomes Brophy’s new internet service provider

By Xander Welty THE ROUNDUP At the end of the 2019-2020 school year, Brophy’s contract with its old internet provider ended which meant we had to find a new internet provider. The winner of the bid to be Brophy’s new internet provider was a company called Sun Corridor. Mr. Mica Mulloy ’99, the assistant principal for technology, explained that, “We get our internet connection using a federal discount program called…

Brophy making changes to retreats over safety concerns

By Mark Rossbach ’21 and Jude Unrein ’23 THE ROUNDUP Given the group health restraints that come with living in a pandemic, retreats, a major part of Brophy formation and community, have had to adapt to ensure the safety of students and staff. Some of these adaptations include reducing the number of retreatants, changing the location of some retreats to on campus, and limiting overnight retreats. Normally, the swim team…

Football enters phase 3, set to play October

THE ROUNDUPBy George Anton ’21 The moment that school shut down last March, the conversation began as to how and when athletics would be able to return. Since then, Brophy has pieced together a three-phased approach to bring athletes back to practice and competition. Phase one began with athletes practicing in groups less than 10, spaced out and without equipment. Phase two permits athletes to congregate in groups less than…

Moran tackles second year as editor in chief, looks to lead staff towards success

By Nick Zalle ’23 THE ROUNDUP Editor in Chief of The Roundup, Jackson Moran ’21 took the time to discuss his background on The Roundup, the process of moving up the ranks on a newspaper, and the roles and responsibilities that Moran has as Editor in Chief. Moran joined The Roundup as a sophomore looking for something new that intrigued him. During his time as a sophomore, he wrote upwards…

Large Public Businesses Take Loans Meant For Small Businesses

Photo composite by Garret Van Wie ’22 | Small Businesses are struggling to stay in business during the COVID-19 lockdown By Garret Van Wie’22 THE ROUNDUP Shake Shack is returning a 10 million dollar federal loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), designed to help small small businesses with financial difficulties. In a statement during the signing of the bill that created the PPP, Trump called the bill, “historic” and…

The Blanket Drive’s Impact

Photo composite by Garret Van Wie’22 | A homeless man sitting in a clean, white room. By Garret Van Wie’22 THE ROUNDUP 37% of of the 25,800 Maricopa County’s citizens experiencing homelessness are families and the rates of families going through homelessness have only been on the rise in recent years. Each year around December, Brophy puts on a blanket drive for the Phoenix Rescue Mission Charity which helps homeless…

Taking theater down the Wright path

Photo by Quentin Dunnigan’22 | Ms. Wright Prepares a Lesson Plan for upcoming periods By Quentin Dunnigan ’22 THE ROUNDUP Were you born in-state or out of state? Out of state. I was born in New York State. Growing up what were your favorite classes and out of school hobbies? I always loved English, so reading and writing. I had this really cool class in sixth grade that was called…

H2O Club seeks to raise awareness of global water issues

Photo by Nick Pecora’21 | Members of the H2O and F. A. M. E. Clubs serve “Broncoffee” before school on January 29, 2020. A portion of the proceeds will be put towards earthquake relief for Puerto Rico. By Nick Pecora ’21 THE ROUNDUP Soon, experts on water-related issues from around the state will converge on Brophy’s campus for the annual Summit on Human Dignity, which hopes to provide a yearly…

Chess and Esports: Do They Deserve a Banner in Robson Gym?

Photo by Garret Van Wie ’22 | A chess board with a controller replacing a fallen chess piece shows their similarities. By Garret Van Wie ’22 THE ROUNDUP Chess and esports fans may soon begin to question why their awards and achievements are not displayed on the gym wall, next to the tennis team’s or basketball team’s. Oxford Dictionary defines sport as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in…

Kobe Bryant: a lasting legacy throughout sports

Photo courtesy of WikiCommons | Kobe Bryant’s memory lives on even outside of basketball and sports in general. THE ROUNDUP By Reid Shniderman’20 Kobe Bryant, former Los Angeles Lakers superstar and prominent figure in the National Basketball Association (NBA), died on January 26 this year in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA. His thirteen-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant as well as six family friends were on board, none of whom survived.…

Damning the Gila River

Photo by Adrian Munguia’20 | Dried up Gila River bed on the reservation The ROUNDUP By Adrian Munguia’20 “Actions have consequences.” This is a phrase we hear often, those consequences can affect not only us but others as well. Damming the Gila River is a great example of actions affecting others, even an entire people. In the 1870s the Gila River was dammed. The dam caused the water flow to…

The Mandalorian is a Wild and Fun Ride, with its Flaws

Photo courtesy of Disney+ By Jack Olsen ’21 THE ROUNDUP *Warning this review contains mild spoilers for later episodes in “The Mandalorian”* “The Mandalorian” was one of the biggest breakout shows of 2019. It was released with the launch of Disney+ as its star series and hit hard with its new audience. “The Mandalorian” follows Din Djarin, a Mandalorian bounty hunter working after the fall of the Galactic Empire. After…

Black History Month Festival to be held at Brophy

Photo provided by Brophy Media | Brophy will host a Black History Month Festival on Feb. 08, 2020. The ROUNDUP By Nicholas Williams ’21 Brophy is hosting a Black History Month Festival for the first time ever. It is on Saturday, Feb. 8 from noon to 4 p.m. This event is anticipated to be one of the largest Black History Month celebrations in all of Phoenix. “As an African American…

Water Bottle Companies Pro Con

Illustration by Victor Beck’20 | Multiple water bottle companies stomp out possibility of monopoly By Ryan Middlemist’20 THE ROUNDUP The industry of bottled water has taken America by storm. With over 80 brands of bottled water in the US alone, these companies produce a massive supply of bottled water across the world. The large industry has forced companies to compete for better prices while also keeping the prices down on…

Rainwater traps vital to Arizona, could save thousands

Photo by Reid Shniderman’20 | A rainwater harvester can contain thousands of gallons of water, giving it the potential to serve as a water supply for a long period of time. The ROUNDUP By Reid Shniderman’20 In recent times, the state of Arizona has seen a significant increase in rainfall. On October 2, 2018, what was perceived as just another seasonal storm caused 2.36 inches of rainwater over a 24…

Baseball team hopes to build off successes, shortcomings of last season

By Nick Pecora ’21 THE ROUNDUP Photo by Nick Pecora ’21 | Head baseball coach Mr. Josh Garcia ’07 instructs the team during afternoon practice on Jan. 14, 2020 The Brophy Broncos baseball team has been preparing all year for their upcoming season, which will begin with their first preseason game on Feb. 26. The team’s preparation for this season includes lifting weights before school twice a week and on-field…

Pro AirDrop; easy, fast, efficient

Illustration by Reid Shniderman ’20 |In the fall of 2018, the administration dismantled Airdrop on all new school issued devices. By Reid Shniderman ’20 In a world of constant change, sharing information and detailed work between people has evolved over the course of human history, starting with the carrier pigeon. These ways of communication have adapted as time went on, changing to easier methods such as telephones, telegrams and radio.…

2020 Tokyo Olympics add new sports

Photo courtesy of the Olympics | The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Committee breaks boundaries by adding five new sports. By Ridge Peterson ’21 THE ROUNDUP The International Olympic Committee has added five new sports to the games this upcoming year. Which will be held in Tokyo, Japan from Friday, July 24, 2020, to Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. The new sports include karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing. While those sports are…

Wrestling Preview

By Tynan Schwartz The Roundup Coming off of Cesar Alvarez ‘22 winning second and Thomas Derr ‘19 making it to quarters at Freakshow 2019 the wrestling team is off to a great start with Head Coach Mr. Wayne Catan and Coach Mr. Jose Leyba ’94 have high hopes for this year. With the preseason training being difficult and the in-season training being even more difficult, Mr. Catan hopes to train…

Church Of Jaelen House Basketball Team Ignites Brophy Fans

Photo by Raymond Link’20 | The Church competing at Talking Sticks Resort Arena for the League Final Game. By Jacob Cross Mayhew ’20 Over the past three months, a new sports team has emerged on Brophy’s campus. Not the esports team, not archery nor quidditch, but several Brophy students’ YMCA recreation basketball league team, “The Church of Jaelen House”. “One day me and Asher Josephs [’20] were talking about making…

Music tells cultural stories and histories, heals

Photo by Mark Rossbach ‘21| Dethie Sarr ‘Pape’ Diouf teaches students how to play the Sabar drums in the Black Box Theater. We often think of music as a simple form of entertainment — a mere harmonization of vocals and instruments to express emotions. However, music has the potential to be so much more than that. For some, music connects people to a culture, a history. Music captures not only…

The End of the Skywalker Saga

Photo courtesy of Star Wars Celebration | The “Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker” cast at Star Wars Celebration. Photo by Star Wars Celebration By Griffin Winter ’21 and Nick Pecora ’21 THE ROUNDUP On Dec. 20, 2019, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” will release to audiences around the globe. “The Rise of Skywalker” will be wrapping up the sequel trilogy which started in 2015 with the release of “The…

The Questionable Rise of Mobile Gaming

Photo illustration by Victor Beck’20 | A photo illustration of a mobile gamer playing candy crush. By Quentin Dunnigan ’22 Around the late 2000s, mobile games gained much popularity, becoming more accessible and more frequently used. Now, almost every phone or other portable device has one or more video games installed. Video games have been around since 1958 when physicist William Higinbotham and created the first video game, “Pong.” Since…

Teacher’s Pet: On the Shores of Education

Photo by Adrian Munguia ’22 | Mr. Jon Shores engages in a class discussion in his fifth period History of the Catholic Church class. How long have you taught at Brophy? And what was your favorite year teaching? This is my 20th year teaching. My most memorable year here was with the class of 2004, which was my second year teaching here at Brophy. I don’t know why, but that…

The Importance of Online Safety in the Digital World

Photo courtesy of lyncconf.com | Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat are among the most popular iOS apps that teens use in 2019, however, potential problems may arise. By Kaidan Linse ’20 THE ROUNDUP A recent case in Tempe, Arizona serves as a warning as to what can happen if teens are not careful in the digital world. Steven Anthony Spoon, a 34-year-old man, posed as a girl on Snapchat, a popular…

Interfaith dialogue creates awareness of diversity

Photo by Hunter Franklin ’19 | Rabbi Bonnie Kopell and Azra Hussain address members of the Jewish Student Union. By Eric Lindholm ’19 THE ROUNDUP Recently, interfaith dialogues and events on campus have been successful in spreading awareness and fostering student engagement in connecting different faith traditions and forming more informed and conscious students. The Jewish Student Union (JSU) had an interfaith event on March 18th where two esteemed leaders…

Bengston selected as Man of the Year Finalist

Photo by Victor Beck ’20 | Andre Bengston ’19, finalist for The Roundup‘s Man of the Year award, poses for a photo outside of Romley Hall. By Hayden Welty ’19 THE ROUNDUP Andre Bengston ’19 has been chosen as one of the three Class of 2019 Man of the Year Finalists. Mr. Mike Welty ’83, who taught Bengston as a sophomore in Advanced Placement Seminar, said that the best thing about…

New Jesuit Mr. Gonzales brings personal approach to service

Photo courtesy of Brophy | Mr. Gonzales gives a speech to students in the Great Hall. By Victor Beck ’20 THE ROUNDUP Mr. Marcos Gonzales is a new member of Brophy’s faculty and seeks to promote a culture of healing and transformation for everyone on campus through his work in the Office of Faith and Justice. Before coming to Brophy, Gonzales worked in Los Angeles at Homeboy Industries as a…

Animation club uses different methods to work on a common goal

Photo by Carl Justice ’21 | Nathan Zonn ’21, Rajveer Walia ’21, and Dean Kobs ’20 work on animation during a meeting. By Carl Justice ’21 THE ROUNDUP At the beginning of the year, two different animation clubs were created at Brophy. Dean Kobs ’20 created a club with Mr. Steve Smith ’96, and Nathan Zonn ’21 and Rajveer Walia ’21 created a club with Mr. Cooper Davis ’10. Once they were asked to band together, the…

Brophy Student Theatre, Write Life Club produce, perform original theatrics

Photo courtesy of Sarah Fox ’19 | The cast of The Bronco Room, a BST original sketch comedy show, on opening night. By Jackson Moran ’21 THE ROUNDUP Brophy Student Theatre (BST) collaborates with the Write Life club in order to present creative shows and programs on the Brophy artistic stage. The two clubs work together to make authentic student written, produced, performed and directed theatre. Membership between the two groups…

Red Dead Redemption 2, a promising prequel

Screenshot by Ryan Loo ’21 | John Marston riding his horse in Red Dead Redemption 2. By Ryan Loo ’21 THE ROUNDUP Making its debut over 8 years after the release of the first Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 has met, and surpassed, all expectations. Hours after Rockstar Games dropped the long-awaited sequel, it became a fan favorite, being nominated for game of the year, and going on…

Fossils fuels degrade Earth’s environmental cycle

Illustration by Reid Shniderman ’20 | Oil pumps and drills not only emit air pollution when burned, but also can cause disasters such as oil spills. By Frankie Pastor ’19 THE ROUNDUP Let’s face the world’s reality – it’s in danger. We have negatively changed the world’s climates by our use of fossil fuels. Sea levels and temperatures are rising, the poles are melting at unprecedented rates, and climates in…

Tie tradition serves as a part of Brophy history

Photo illustration by Raymond Link ’20 | Brophy ties have been required for Mass since 1993. By Alex Cannella THE ROUNDUP Brophy went through a rebranding year when Father Edward Reese S.J. took over as president in 1993. This idea of rebranding the school’s insignia would spark the creation of the Brophy tie. Before 1993, Brophy students were free to choose any tie they wanted on mass days. There was…

Magnum’s striking character, Kung Fu skills gain international attention

Photo by George Anton ’21 | Andre Magnum ’21 performs a Kung Fu pose outside of Brophy Hall. By George Anton ’21 THE ROUNDUP Andre Magnum ’21 is a sophomore who blends in with all Brophy kids, except maybe for his fiery red hair and his 6’4 body frame. What most people don’t know about Andre is that he is a professional athlete in Kung fu, has won countless competitions, and…

Wade becomes new head Athletic Trainer, provides needed care

Photo by Jackson Moran ’21 | New athletic trainer, Mrs. Danelle Wade, works on Patrick Grindey ’20 in the athletic training room. By Eric Lindholm ’19 and Jackson Moran ’21 THE ROUNDUP This past year, the Sports Medicine and Athletic Training department was bolstered by the addition of new staff to satisfy the expanding sports landscape at Brophy. The program, originally headed up by Mr. Chris White, added Mrs. Danelle…

Winter sports season capped off with soccer championship

Photo by Hunter Franklin ’19 | Connor White ’19 sprints past his defender. Photo courtesy of Jaime Hidalgo | The varsity soccer team posing with the state championship trophy following their victory. By Carl Justice ’21 THE ROUNDUP Brophy’s winter sports season wrapped up in February with soccer and basketball playoffs and the wrestling state championship. Soccer finished the year as state champions with a win over Hamilton in the…

Athletes committing to play college sports all over the country

Photo by Mr. Jake Kelly ’09 | The committed athletes gather in the Great Hall to sign their National Letters of Intent. By Luke Odden ’21 THE ROUNDUP On February 6, 2019, Brophy student-athletes signed their long-awaited commitment letters to colleges spanning the country to continue pursuing their ambitions as student-athletes at the collegiate level. 13 Brophy student-athletes, including Marques White ’19, Deric Hall ’19 and Elisha Brooks ’19, committed…

Carpooling builds students sense of community

Photo by Victor Beck | Jack McGrath ’20 and Sifraz Shah ’20 pull into the south lot before morning rush hour. By Peter Warner ’19 and Victor Beck ’20 THE ROUNDUP Carpooling possess positive and negative qualities, and creates bonding among students on campus. To be able to park on the Brophy campus and get a parking sticker, students are required to have a carpool. Therefore, carpooling is a very…

Phoenix Council votes to expand Valley Metro to South Central

Photo by Hunter Franklin ’19 | People get ready to board the light rail going north bound on Central Ave. on Feb. 28, 2019. By Frankie Pastor ’20 THE ROUNDUP The Phoenix City Council voted on Sep. 26, 2018, to extend the Valley Metro light rail to South Central Phoenix. According to AZCentral, the project is estimated to cost a total of $1 billion. AZCentral also reports that the city…

Science fair winners celebrate success and reflect on projects

Photo by Juan Sanchez ’20 | First place winner Daniel Noon ’20 stands by his first place winning project. By Carl Justice ’21 and Juan Sanchez ’20 THE ROUNDUP The science fair wrapped up on Thursday, February 21 with the winners in each category going to the state championships. First place was a tie between Bryan Gopal ’19 and Daniel Noon ’20. Noon’s project was a computational radiation shield program. Second place…

Students do not let Type 1 diabetes interfere with passions

Photo by Jackson Moran ’21 | Diego Avocado-Garcia ’21 checks his blood sugar during lunch. By Jackson Moran ’21 THE ROUNDUP Brophy has many students on campus whose diabetes permeates most aspects of their routine. Diabetes affects over 200,000 people under 20-years-old in the United States, according to Beyond Type 1, a nonprofit that educated people on Type 1 diabetes. Diego Acevedo-Garcia ’21 is one of these diabetic students. Born in…

Eclectic music options engage aficionados, encourage expression

Photo by Hunter Franklin ’19 | Three members of the band play the guitar at Mass in Robson Gymnasium. By Peter Warner ’19 THE ROUNDUP Different clubs and bands on campus allow students to express themselves through music. There are many different music clubs and bands on campus. One of the clubs is the Rap Club, run by president Ari Anderson ’21. “I think that the atmosphere in the Rap…

Rock reborn at the hands of alternative musicians

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons | Rock band Greta Van Fleet performs in their signature Led Zeppelin rock style. By Cooper Parson ’20 THE ROUNDUP With pop music being dominated by mostly synth heavy rap tracks, the rise in rock music is surprising to say the least. Rock music never really left the scope of popular music. Contrary to popular opinion, anyone who is a fan of alternative music would hear rock-esque…

Tik Tok polarizes student body between fans and haters

Photo Illustration by Hunter Franklin ’19 | Brophy student watching popular Tik Tok-er, ryannyancosplay, in her iconic “Hit or Miss” video. By Ryan Loo ’21 THE ROUNDUP Tik Tok took the United States by storm on Aug. 2 when the Chinese company, ByteDance, merged with the popular lip-syncing app, Musical.ly. It became an immediate hit, quickly claiming the title of the Apple Store’s most downloaded app in the world in…

Freeman discusses travel, love for birth country

Photo by Vipul Dua ’20 | Ms. Freeman teaches to one of her Honors Spanish classes in Brophy Hall. By Vipul Dua ’20 THE ROUNDUP Teacher’s pet interview with Ms. Rosalinda Freeman, Spanish Teacher Mr. Smith’s question from last teachers pet: If you could put any two historical figures together for a lunch, who would they be and what would they talk about? Thomas Jefferson for sure because I am…

Hetman, Hopkins look to lead team to strong showing this season

Photo by Raymond Link ’20 | Brophy runner Kenny Fitzgerald ’20 runs during a meet last season. By Xander Welty ’21 THE ROUNDUP After a finish in the top half at the state meet last year, the Track and Field team is looking for a strong showing in this upcoming season. Varsity Head Coach Mr. Bill Kalkman said that he would love to see the team perform well in early season events…

Players, administration prefer student section to cheer not jeer

Photo by Raymond Link ’20 | Mason Koko ’19 motivates the crowd during the Hoopcoming basketball game on Jan. 18. Luke Odden ’21 THE ROUNDUP Are Brophy students coming to sporting events to cheer or jeer? Students that were in attendance at the Hoopcoming game last year know how intense the game can get for the players and the fans. What can start as a cheer for intentions to cheer…

Volleyball looks to succeed using teamwork over talent

Photo courtesy of Brophy Volleyball | The varsity volleyball team prays before a game. The team recites the “Hail Mary” before each game. By George Anton ’21 THE ROUNDUP With many talented players departing the Brophy volleyball program last season, the varsity team now looks to achieve success through teamwork. Although the varsity volleyball team lost in the quarterfinals last year, they still had several talented players that left to…

White rejoins basketball team, announces football commitment

Photo by Raymond Link ’20 | Senior Guard Marques White ’19 holds the ball to waste time in the Hoopcoming game versus Hamilton on Jan 19. 2019. By Vipul Dua ’20 THE ROUNDUP On the Monday before the basketball season started, Marques White ’19 sat down with head coach Mr. Matthew Hooten to discuss his decision on whether or not he was going to play basketball this season. “So…

Baseball squad expects forward leap, strong leadership

Photo by Hunter Franklin ’19 | Lionel Robert ’19 throws in the practice bullpen at Brophy’s Opus Field on Jan. 22, 2019. By Carl Justice ’21 THE ROUNDUP The Brophy baseball team is looking forward to next year, where they hope to continue on their upward trajectory in wins from last season, where they finished with a 14-17 record. Last year, the Brophy baseball team advanced to the quarterfinals…

Brophy prepares for upcoming summit on health

Photo by Noah Lederer ’21 | The Office of Faith and Justice’s display for human dignity stands in the Octagon on Jan. 16, 2019. By Noah Lederer ’21 THE ROUNDUP Every year, Brophy hosts a summit discussing relevant topics amongst the community and this highly anticipated couple of weeks is coming up from February 25 to March 6. This year, the theme is set to be “The Search for Health:…

OFJ hopes to promote faith in clubs, designates patron saints

Photo by Jackson Moran ’21 | The wall of patron saints outside of the SAC depicts the patrons of numerous clubs. Jackson Moran ’21 THE ROUNDUP Last October, as the Catholic feast day of All Saints Day approached, the Office of Faith and Justice (OFJ) sought to bring the lives and message of the saints to clubs. Wanting to get people more familiar with the saints, the OFJ decided…

12 Blind Buccaneers navigate the coast of Puerto Rico

Photo courtesy of Mr. Marc Ashton | Adonis Watts readies his oxygen masks as he prepares to “snuba dive” about 15 feet below the surface. Eric Lindholm ’19 THE ROUNDUP Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence as 12 blind students independently operated sailboats for a week-long adventure of a lifetime. Imagine being on a sailboat, battling the gusting winds, attempting to steer the ship against high waves…

Musicians are inadequate role models for audience, songs have problematic messages

Photo by Miami-Dade County Jail | Rapper Lil Pump after being arrested in Miami, Fla. By Jackson Moran ’21 THE ROUNDUP Many modern musicians, through actions and lyrics, have failed to be proper role models for young people in today’s culture. Rappers, in particular those who make up the genre of “Gangsta Rap,” are often toxic influences on children, as their lyrics can be violent, profane and laden with…

Bioethics club highlights the importance of asking difficult questions

Art by Victor Beck ’20 | A comedic depiction of the first ever cloned sheep and its ethical controversies. Victor Beck ’20 THE ROUNDUP The newly installed Bioethics club pushes students to thoughtfully think and debate the morality behind many biotechnological advances. Club leader, Ari Mehta ’20, wants to turn the Bioethics club into a safe place where students can debate and assess the ethical morality to many topical technological advances.…

Gordon’s passion of rock climbing takes him to competitions all around the world

Photo courtesy of Gordon Family | Clay Gordon ’20 climbs during finals of Montreal Championship in October 2017. By Victor Beck ’20 THE ROUNDUP Clay Gordon ’20 is a nationally ranked athlete and uses his passion of climbing as a way to relax and unwind. He’s been climbing since he was very young and has always needed to balance school and climbing. “I’ve been climbing for almost ten years now…

The Legacy of Congressman Ed Pastor

Ed Pastor (right) with his wife and grandson at Brophy Grandparent’s Day on May 2, 2018. By Frankie Pastor ’20 THE ROUNDUP The Honorable Ed Pastor is known as a political trailblazer and public servant, I was blessed to have him as my Tata (grandfather). Congressman Ed Pastor was born on Jun. 28, 1943, in the small mining town of Claypool, AZ, to a housekeeper and copper miner, Margarita…

Students, staff excited for new Robson look

Photo by Noah Lederer ’21 | Two newly installed televisions hang in the entryway to welcome visitors to the Robson Gymnasium. Noah Lederer ’21 THE ROUNDUP Over the summer and the beginning of this school year, Brophy upgraded the Robson. Brophy began planning these improvements around December of 2017 because they felt as if the Robson wasn’t up-to-date with the rest of campus. Mrs. Sherri Stephens, director of facilities and…

Brophy plays its part in environmental sustainability

Photo by George Anton ’21: The solar panels on Robson Gymnasium installed in 2001. George Anton ’20 THE ROUNDUP As schools around Arizona work to be more sustainable, Brophy has done so by implementing resource conservation programs to limit the amount of electricity and water the school uses. With all of the lights, the forever-drenched winter lawn, and the air conditioners often running, it is easy to question if…

Classwork competitions question student engagement

Photo by Raymond Link ’20 | A group of students engage in a friendly micro competition through the use of “Kahoot!”. By Juan Sanchez ’20 THE ROUNDUP While some teachers such as Mr. John Damaso and Ms. Breanne Toshner utilize macro competitions in their respective classrooms to promote engagement of the course material, Mr. Seamus Walsh is generally against classroom competitions if done incorrectly. Mr. Walsh, Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs, describes classroom competitions in two…

Robotics Team bring creativity and innovation to campus, implementing inclusivity and community outreach

Photo by Hunter Franklin ’19 | Members of the robotics team gather to work on their most recent remote-controlled robot. Eric Lindholm ’19 THE ROUNDUP The Brophy Robotics team has become a staple figure on campus, providing fun at football games with their T-shirt shooting robot and also taking great strides in their technology, leadership, and investment for the future. For Senior leader Richie Hernandez ’19, his love for…

Tennis Team ready to compete nationally, lead by ideals of team first

Photo by Raymond Link ’20 | Andrew Chong ’21 serves in a practice session. By Eric Lindholm ’19 THE ROUNDUP The Brophy Tennis team has a pedigree of success in Arizona, and this year, the team looks to test their strengths nationally with their acceptance to the Newport Invitational. The team has a unique dynamic this season, with the top two players on the team being a Freshman and…

Sneakers divide community: obsession or expression?

Photo by Raymond Link ’20 | A number of student’s shoes lay together stacking up to create a parody on the large amounts of money sneakerheads spend on shoes. By Ryan Loo ’20 THE ROUNDUP High school is a crucial time for the development of kids’ sense of identity and self-expression. Clothing and personal style choices offer one of the most readily available and visible ways for students to…

Early exit from playoffs leaves Brophy lacrosse motivated for season ahead

Photo by Raymond Link ’20 | Senior Lacrosse Player Tommy Moore ’19 sets up to pass in a game against Arcadia High School on April 20th, 2018. By Vipul Dua ’20 THE ROUNDUP The varsity lacrosse team is looking to pick up from where they left off last season after ending their run in the quarterfinals of the state tournament last year. The lacrosse team finished the regular season…

Job board offers jobs, internships for students

A chart created by George Anton ’20 that gives an outlook on the current situation for employment amongst Brophy students. By George Anton ’20 THE ROUNDUP The Brophy faculty and staff launched the school’s new job board on Oct. 18, 2018, allowing students to apply for jobs or internships in the Phoenix area. Last spring, Mr. Bob Ryan had the idea of creating a resource for students who were…

Raising Cane’s coming to North Central Phoenix, students excited

Photo by Raymond Link ’20 | A new Raising Cane’s restaurant is under construction and is set to open Nov. 13th on 7th Street in Central Phoenix. By Jack Davis ’19 THE ROUNDUP Raising Cane’s, a popular nationwide chicken eatery, has expanded to North Central Phoenix and is currently under construction. The restaurant, which is just a short drive from Brophy’s campus, will soon open up. The future convenience in…

Faculty Calls for Stronger Faith, Personal Accountability amidst Sexual Abuse Scandals within Catholic Church

This article is in no association with Brophy’s Parish or community. By Eric Lindholm ’19 THE ROUNDUP The Brophy faculty calls for students and Catholics to remain steadfast and prudent in their faith as the Church faces sexual abuse scandals that have engendered harm and broken trust in the Catholic and international community. During the last couple weeks, the world reacted to reports of 300 predator priests accused of sexually…

Strong offseason progress and new lineups prepare Brophy Soccer Team for another successful year

Photo by Hunter Franklin ’19 | Carter Clemmensen ’18 dribbles down the field on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. By Eric Lindholm ’19 THE ROUNDUP Though falling short in the state championship final, the 2017 Brophy varsity soccer team racked up a number of accomplishments and provided a memorable year in the program, most notably earning the ranking as #1 high soccer team in the nation and posting a commanding…

Coffee and taekwondo: pastimes of Paul Cassidy

Photo by Camden Andl ’19 | Paul Cassidy ’19 cleans up after making a pressed cup of coffee in Lake Pleasant on a school camping trip. By Victor Beck ’20 & Alex Cannella ’19 THE ROUNDUP Paul Cassidy ’19 has been a staple in the community for many years being a driving force in organizations like STUCO and Brophy Culture Project.. Aside from being the three-time winner of Poetry…

Morris transforms challenging disease into unstoppable courage

Photo Courtesy of the Morris Family | Diego Morris ’19 claps behind as President Donald Trump signs the Right to Try bill. By Eric Lindholm ’19 THE ROUNDUP Imagine having to move from your own country, not a refugee fleeing war or as an immigrant seeking a better life, but because of a rare illness, which has an antidote that is forbidden by your own government. Welcome to the story…

PRO: Handwritten notes enhance memorization and comprehension

Photo by Noah Lederer ’21 | Joey Schillinger ’21 writes his history notes in his composition book on Oct. 4, 2018. By George Anton ’21 THE ROUNDUP Taking notes is extremely beneficial to students who are trying to learn what is taught to them and memorize it for later. As technology enhances, there is now the option to take notes on a computer, rather than to write them down…

CON: Online notes create effective system, paper notes detrimental to success

Photo by Noah Lederer ’21 | Max Tiffany ’21 works on his online notes during his fourth period flex on Oct. 1 By Noah Lederer ’21 THE ROUNDUP Many people on campus rely on online notes to have easily accessible documents that can be pulled up from almost every technological device. On the other hand, paper notes can be destroyed and ruined or even lost. When I first…

Reddit thread turns Kolbe’s musical passion into career

Photo by Saul Rascon Salazar ’19 | Jack Kolbe ’19 (right) practices his guitar while sitting alongside artist Jelani Aryeh (left) during a sound check before a performance at a SoFar Sounds event in San Diego, CA. By Joey Bottini ’19 THE ROUNDUP At the beginning of his sophomore year, Jack Kolbe ’19 began producing music as a way to productively fill a load of free time that had opened up after…

Teachers say coffee creates community in classrooms

Photo by Victor Beck ’19 | Mrs. Ashley Doud hard at work accompanied by fresh cup of coffee. By Victor Beck ’19 THE ROUNDUP Going through the day, teaching class after class, experiencing the constant fluorescent lights, can lead teachers to feeling drained. The presence of coffee machines in there rooms offers up a beneficial relationship between not only the teachers, but the students as well. Mr. Steve Smith’…

Sophomore rapper Lil Guac releasing album Oct. 7, hoping to wow listeners

Album art by Charles “Charlie” Fallon ’21 | Diego “Lil Guac” Acevedo Garcia presents his debut album. It drops on Oct. 7. By Hayden Welty ’19 THE ROUNDUP With his interest in rapping beginning last Christmas, Diego Acevedo Garcia ’21 said he is going to release his first album, entitled Diabeto, on Oct. 7 via the music sharing platform called Soundcloud. When Acevedo Garcia started writing lyrics down around…

YMCA recreational basketball grasps the attention of seniors, strengthens community

Photo by Gianna Beck ’19 | YMCA teams 3’s and Dubs and DTD3CS play each other on Sept. 15 at the Christown YMCA By Alex Cannella ’19 THE ROUNDUP One of the most popular events Brophy does in the community is the intramural sports tournaments. YMCA basketball takes that intramural experience and expands upon the idea of fun-based competition. Over 35 seniors have registered to be a part…

Ribakare named Man of the Year

Photo by Hunter Franklin ’19 | Sebastien Ribakare ’18 (right) converses with a fellow student outside of the Brophy Student Activity Center. By Matthew Zacher ’18 THE ROUNDUP It is easier to list what Sebastien Ribakare ’18 is not involved in than to say what he is, but his friends and teachers say Ribakare’s disdain for the spotlight is what makes him most honorable. Despite being involved in Big Brothers,…

Brophy finishes spring play ‘Peter and the Star Catcher’

Photo by Graham Armkencht ’18 | “Peter and the Star Catcher” serves as the prequel to the fairytale Peter Pan. By Peter Warner ’19 THE ROUNDUP “Peter and the Star Catcher” stars Jack Keeton ’19 as Peter in the prequel to the classic fairytale, Peter Pan. “Peter and the Star Catcher” is a story of how Peter Pan and Captain Hook came to life, as well as showing their backgrounds. It…

Rascon uses artistic ability to promote campus advocacy and culture

Photo by Manuel Mata-Flores’19| Saul Rascon’19 talks to Charels Gbekia’19 about student council taken on Friday April 13th, 2018. By Victor Beck’ 20 THE ROUNDUP Saul Rascon Salazar ’19 has been a continuous student leader in the Brophy community since his freshman year. He is apart of numerous clubs such as Brophy Advocacy Club, Brophy Culture Project, Photo/Video club and Student Council. He contributes his gifts of design and photography…

Jesuit identity weighs as an important influence

Photo by Josh Spano ’18 | A statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola stands in front of the Brophy Tower on April 16, 2018. Since the inception of Brophy in 1928, many Catholic symbols are seen throughout the campus. By Hayden Welty ’19 THE ROUNDUP Sitting in most classrooms on campus, it is hard to miss the obvious signs of Catholicism––from portraits of Jesus to variegated crucifixes. Although there are about…

Michael’s moves out, The Corral is reinstated

By George Anton ’21 THE ROUNDUP On Nov. 9, M Culinary Concepts, known on campus as Michael’s, left Brophy after providing the main food service on campus for 14 years. The Corral, the school’s original food service, has been reborn to offer students more food options for affordable prices. The change began when students came back to campus this Fall. In line with the school’s AMDG protocols, the Facilities Department…

STUCO turns virtual for student interaction

By Augie Walters ’21 THE ROUNDUP In a school year where social gatherings have had to be eliminated from the typical curriculum of bringing the Brophy student body together, the Student Council has had to adjust their activities to become more socially distant. The council normally prides themselves on creating special sceneries and a vibrant atmosphere for dances like Homecoming with more than two thousand students. “Student council is appointed…

Damaso’s connections with English websites benefiting students

By Augie Walters ’21 THE ROUNDUP Everyone who has been a part of Mr. John Damaso’s ’97 AP English Language class in the past few years has used Membean to help improve vocabulary in their everyday lives. Now, at the same time, Mr. Damaso is implementing a new website into class discussions called Parlay which cultivates participation in class discussion to help stimulate the learning of all. He has been…

Studio Art class paints democracy-themed mural in Quiet Room

By Nick Pecora ’21 THE ROUNDUP The AP Studio Art class, along with faculty members Mr. Cooper Davis ’10 and Mr. Marc Kelly ’86, have begun painting a mural in the Quiet Room located off the Steele Activities Center. The mural, which is being painted as part of Brophy’s Day of Democracy, heavily features the colors red, white, and blue along with the phrase “WE THE PEOPLE” written in large…

Students participate virtually in Brophy’s Day of Democracy

William Gruwell ’21 and David Albelais ’22 THE ROUNDUP Roughly 1200 students, according to Mr. Pete Burr ’07, participated virtually from their home through ThriveCast on Brophy’s Day of Democracy to become further educated on democracy in the United States. ThriveCast is an innovative online platform with the goal of informing students on certain topics through reading, quizzing and reacting to different political issues such as climate change, the combination…

Election signage outside the Brophy polling location

Brophy polling site open to public

By The Roundup Staff THE ROUNDUP Polls opened at 6 A.M this morning and Brophy is now a designated polling site for all who are welcome. Brophy is open all day until 7 P.M when the polls officially close in Arizona. This is the first year that Brophy is a polling site. “We are not a democracy without the ability to vote,” said Mr. Pete Burr ’07. “We can’t claim…

Electoral college builds unity in an imperfect system

PRO/CON By Nathan Wise ’21 THE ROUNDUP The “shock” of the 2016 election, an election in which Hillary Clinton was expected to win more swing states and ultimately carry the electoral college, continued a national debate about whether or not the electoral college should decide the presidency. It was argued that like other countries, the presidential election should be decided directly by the people, instead of electors who are selected…

Electoral college mitigates value of countless votes

PRO/CON By Carl Justice ’21 THE ROUNDUP On or before Nov. 3, millions of Americans will submit their ballots for the 2020 election. As they submit their ballots, many focus on their presidential selection. And, while voting is definitely important, especially in down-ballot races, individual voters often have little to no say over who wins the presidency because the electoral college is an inherently unfair institution. It makes some voters’…

Presidential debates outdated, counterproductive method of comparing candidates

By Nick Pecora ’21 THE ROUNDUP Though once a unique opportunity to hear both presidential candidates articulate their positions and debate those policies with one another, presidential debates have devolved into little more than a competition to see who can produce the best 30-second sound bite possible. During the 1960 presidential election, Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon met for three televised debates. This was the first…