By: Estrella Herrera

Photo from CNN.com

On April 15^th, 2013, tragedy struck the city of Boston during the annual Marathon, part of which was being held in memoriam of the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre.  At 2:50 pm a bomb went off near the finish line. Approximately ten seconds later a second one followed. The area was swarmed by police officers, medics, and anyone willing to help carry and care for the wounded. The area was soon after cleared and is now sealed off to the public. All remains will be confiscated as evidence in the investigation. The disaster left 3 dead and over 100 people injured. Of the two people dead was an eight year old child who watched his father participate in the marathon. Recent reports claim that over 141 people are in the hospital. 17 of those people are in critical condition, about 25 are in serious condition, and a fair few people have had limbs amputated.

The event is currently under investigation. Everyone participating in or in any way involved with the marathon is being questioned. Although no one has been arrested for these acts yet, the White House has proclaimed it to be an act of terror.  President Obama addressed the nation and vowed that “Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.” This event has not only sparked fear in the entire country but has created a worrisome environment for the policemen. Officers are now more vigilant than ever and are trying to prepare for any more suspicious behavior that they might experience with in upcoming events that involve huge crowds and lots of security issues.

This tragedy has shocked the nation. Ms. Celentani, a Dominican teacher of Religion, English, and head of Campas Ministry said that the best thing to do is to pray. “We pray not only for those who have died but for those who have survived, for they will live with these fearful images that will scar their minds in which their lives will be changed. We pray that peace will come to the people and to the world.”

Picture from CNN.com

By: Keegan Hollrith

The summer of 2013 brings Milwaukee’s main attraction of summer, the world’s largest music festival; Summerfest.  This 11 day festival features great food, shopping, a party on the lake front, interactive exhibits, and plenty of live music. 

Summerfest began in 1968, when the Mayor decided the community of Milwaukee needed to come together.  By 1970, they moved from downtown Milwaukee to the abandoned 15-acre Nike missile site. The beginning stages were made of wooden platforms raised on concrete blocks. Since then the 75 acre grounds have become a symbol of Milwaukee and are a main attraction on the lake front.

This year’s headliners at the Marcus Amphitheater include Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, John Mayer, FUN., Pitbull, Rush, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, New Kids on the Block, and Time McGraw.  The Free Stage lineup include bands like Imagine Dragons, Empire of the Sun, MGMT, AWOLNATION, The Mavericks, Switchfoot, Grouplove, Silversun Pickups, and many more. Don Smiley is to thank for all the new band gigs, he has also been open to accepting a new increase in salary.  He has had a 175% increase in pay for the last six years, he will not share is pay but he believes he still getting underpaid.

There are more than 40 food vendors on the grounds; they can satisfy all our food needs. From doughnuts, to spaghetti, to ribs and many more, it offers a great array of food for all ages. Overall Summerfest is a great place to enjoy your summer nights during the hottest time of the year.

By: Ashiana Strong

On Wednesday March 27, 2013 the Supreme Court started an oral argument on the Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA. California’s Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, which excludes same-sex marriage. At one point California allowed same-sex couples to get married, but November 4, 2008 52% to 48% voters approved that the marriage should be defined as one man and one woman excluding same-sex couples. Couples that married before the act was barred are legally recognized as married, but those who want to get married after are not allowed.

Since the act was barred, couples that are in a “domestic partnership” are not allowed the same benefits as an opposite-sex marriage. When a husband dies, the wife gets federal benefits such as, social security survivor benefits, and or military benefits. If one was in the military and they were not straight then the widows or widowers do not receive the military benefits.

First I would like to say that this is my opinion. I believe that all couples, straight or gay should be able to get married. Everyone should be allowed that right. They should be able to name their husband or wife as their beneficiary when they die. They should also have the right feel as if their spouse would be financially stable if something was to happen.

Charlie Morgan, who is a Chief warrant officer in the New Hampshire National Guard, is dying of cancer. Since she is in the military her spouse would get survivor benefits. The thing is her spouse is a woman. They have a 5 years old daughter named Casey. She wants to make sure that her family will be provided for. If something does happen, she wants to know that they will be safe.

I believe that the LGBTQ community should have the right to marry. They should also have the right be recognized as a married couple. They should be able to raise a family and know that if something does happen to them; their loved ones will be stable financially. They should have the same rights as an opposite-sex marriage.

The LGBTQ community disagrees with the fact that President Obama repealed the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The federal law already prohibits discrimination on the basis of fended and sexual orientation. So if it’s illegal to discriminate against a gay or lesbian person, then why is it all of a sudden okay to choose whether or not a homosexual can fight for our country? Since when does our sexual preference have anything to do with dying for America? Last I checked my gender preference has nothing to do with my capability to fight in a war. For someone who just convinced the LGBTQ community to think about re-electing him back into the White house, Obama sure is going about this the wrong way. Maybe he is confused. Maybe he thought the LGBTQ community wanted him to serve a second term so that they can lose all chances of having any rights as married couples.

A protestor’s sign.

I’m sure that’s why they’re all protesting outside of the court house.

Just like the picture states no one voted for anyone of them to be allowed to marry, so why does the decision to allow same-sex couples to marry have to go through this long, over exaggerated process. Nothing should have to take this long. Either they are allowed or their not. Make up your mind and stop with this dramatic scene that is causing everyone to get upset. At the end of the day I believe all same-sex couples should be allowed the same benefits of the opposite-sex couples, because they are humans as well. As of right now, no decision has been made and the Supreme Court has until the end of June to come up with a decision.

By: Bridget Murphy

Photo Credit: Roughstock.com

On April 8th, the annual Academy of Country Music Awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This sold out event was hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, and the 3rd Annual Fan Jam held at the Orleans Arena, was headlined by Brad Paisley.

This year’s Awards had the largest audience since 1998, and led CBS to win that night’s top program in viewers and demographics. 

Top Awards this year went too:
Luke Bryan, Entertainer of the Year; this is the award given the most honor. Bryan had a record 1.1 million fans who casted their vote for him. 
Miranda Lambert, Female Vocalist of the Year; she also won for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year Jason Aldean, Male Vocalist of the Year: this was his first win in this category Little Big Town, Vocal Group of the Year; also won Video of the Year for “Tornado” 
Thompson Square, Vocal Duo of the Year; this was their second consecutive ACM Award win in this category Eric Church, Album of the Year; for his album Chief Florida Georgia Line, New Artist of the Year; this was their first ACM

This year, as always, all of the country stars came to perform on stage. These singers include, Hunter Hayes and Stevie Wonder along with Tim McGraw, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, John Mayer, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, The Band Perry, Jewel, Pistol Annie’s, and Lady Antebellum. 
Senior Mo Flanagan “Looks forward to watching the ACM’s every year. My favorite country stars of the night were Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Eric Church.”

By: Bridget Murphy

Photo Credit: National Public Radio (Npr.org)

Louisville beat Michigan 82-76, on Monday, April 7, at the Georgia Dome.

More than 74,000 fans cheered on the two teams, and in return they got to see an incredible battle on the court. This was Louisville’s third national title, after previous championships in 1980 and 1986.

Michigan started off the game with a speedy lead, even leading by double digits in the first half. But with Louisville’s overall stamina and more experience over the mostly freshman and sophomore lineup that Michigan had, they were able to take back the court.

Louisville went into the Championship with a number one seed, extending their winning streak to sixteen games. They were coached by Rick Pitino, who is to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Michigan went into the tournament with a number four seed, making their first appearance in the finals since 1993.

Valuable efforts from Michigan go to Trey Burke (the national player of the year) who had 24 points, and Spike Albrecht who had 17.

Luke Hancock, who came off the bench for Louisville, was awarded outstanding player of the tournament, scored a career high of 22, including five three pointers. Peyton Siva (18 points) and Chane Behanan (15 points) also deserve mentions for a game well played.

Louisville players celebrated their win with the team’s inspiration, Kevin Ware, who broke his leg in a horrific accident in an early tournament game. Pitino said of Michigan, “For a young basketball team, to play that well is absolutely fantastic.”

Michigan coach John Beilen said, “Louisville is a terrific basketball team. I have not seen that quickness anywhere, it’s incredible.”

Sophomore Mary Mansker said she “looks forward to the NCAA championship game every year. The games are always so competitive and fast paced, and Louisville played like a real Championship team.”

By: Madeleine Long

Photo Credit: onsecrethunt.com

1981 audiences were stricken – Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead revealed itself as a glory-seeking horror cult classic featuring carnage and claymation-effect death scenes like never seen before. Fede Alveraz’s remake, released on April 5th and more simply titled Evil Dead, brought in no less of a blood-thirsty audience.

Before The Evil Dead classic, there was a smaller prototype titled Into The Woods, simply created by fresh-out-of-film school director Sam Raimi as a tool to secure investors. Once a solid $90,000 was set under the name, The Evil Dead began production.

The Evil Dead tells the story of five college students on vacation during break to an unsurprisingly creepy, isolated cabin in the woods. It’s not long after they arrive when they stumble upon a voice recording that releases a curse; slowly killing off the kids one by one—and the remake does not stray far from that idea.
“Evil Dead, remake of the 1981 no-budget cult classic, robustly carried out its mandate,” details reporter for Slate, Dana Stevens.

“In it, characters’ hands are sawed off with electric carving knives, shot full of nails from a nail gun, infected with demonic viruses that cause their flesh to blister and boil, and in the movie’s climactic girl-on-demon battle—no, I won’t tell you that last hand story, not for fear of spoilers but because it’s just too gross to revisit.”

Alveraz’s Evil Dead carried over the iconic, gory, and near-comical clichés of horror that were known and loved by the cult following of the original; with a little more to offer.

“I always thought that ‘Evil Dead’ was a little campfire story that you tell at a camp to kids to scare them at night,” explained director of the original, Sam Raimi.

“I don’t think anybody thought it was a beautifully produced, theatrical experience. It was shot in 16mm, all the effects were done for a quarter, and I always thought it could be done in a big screen movie type way that was really high quality with photographic effects.”

Raimi admits that the film was amateur; referring humbly to himself as an “18-year-old kid writing that screenplay” and praising the remake for its innovative changes to the now-classic tale.

“Never mind the fact that part of The Evil Dead’s appeal – and its sequel, Evil Dead II – was its unrefined nature, its crudeness, its over-the-top performances, and perhaps most of all, it’s ridiculous, cheap-as-dirt special effects,” says Ben Moore of ScreenRant.

“The nice thing is the [remake] looks beautiful. The effects are ten times better than we ever had access to and the actors are all better than we were in 1979,” confirms Bruce Campbell.

“Granted, Sam Raimi is a mad genius, so we got a crazy result like ‘Evil Dead’ out of this amateur enthusiasm sort of thing.”

Opening Week Results in Losses for the Team

Ellie O’Neil

The 2013 season is underway for the Milwaukee Brewers after an opening day win at Miller Park, but the losses that quickly followed against the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks have fans worried of what’s to come for this team.

Photo from JSOnline.com

After a remarkable win in extra innings on Monday, April 1^st, on their home field at Miller Park against Colorado, the Brewers fell to their opponents the following Tuesday 4-8 loss and another on Wednesday, losing 3-7. Milwaukee then took on Arizona in another home stand, which resulted in the Diamondbacks sweeping the Brewers with three straight wins against the home team. After losing five of their six games, the Brewers traveled to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee came through with the win, with a final score of 7-4.

The Milwaukee Brewers have had to adjust to several lineup changings in their most recent games. Former National League Most Valuable Player, the Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, was absent from several games after dealing with neck spasms and pain while warming up with batting practice before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In addition, the Brewers closer, John Axford, has been replaced by Jim Henderson, after struggling to pull through for his teammates in finishing up the final innings of several games.

Photo from JSOnline.com

Many Dominican students enjoyed traveling to Miller Park over their spring break to watch the Brewers play. Junior Kyle Dlugopolski went to the Brewer game on Friday, April 5^th, and had been looking forward to watching his first game of the season. He said, “It was really cool being back at Miller Park again this year. Even though it was a lot colder than I’m used to during baseball season, and they lost to the Diamondbacks, it was just a lot of excitement. Brewer fans are the best.” Senior Calli Brauer hasn’t been to a game yet this season, but is looking forward to going to one in the future. Brauer said, “I’m a huge Brewer fan and always have been, so of course I’m going to support my Brewers this year.”