The Podium

Eric Eaton ‘11 When an artist brings his or her A game, nothing can stop them. Lupe Fiasco brought that on "Words I Never Said". It is hip-hop activism, but Fiasco is skilled at making heady subjects be absorbed with ease. Lupe is fast and slick, offering shots at the political left and right with equal conviction. Lasers, Fiasco’s third album, shows a lot of rage but seems to be preaching at times.             Tracks such as "Break the Chain" and "I Don't Wanna Care Right Now" feel like filler, contributing little of the Chicago artist's humor and topical satire.            Fiasco hasn't been afraid to talk about the label drama behind the making of Lasers, both to the press and on the album. "Have you ever had the feeling that you was being had?" Fiasco asks on "The Show Goes...

JC Moritz ‘11 In Egypt there were cries and cheers as the military took control from the ousted president Hosni Mubarak. However, students at McMahon were less than  optimistic about the news that cancelled their long planned trip to Egypt this spring.                        The Arabic program, the newest of the three programs offered in the Center for Global Studies, was planning a return trip to Egypt this spring for students    hoping to hone their speaking skills and learn first hand about a culture that is increasingly prevalent in the news.             The trip was to include an excursion to many of Egypt's main tourists attractions such as the  Pyramids, as well as a week long   ...

Kateri Duffey ‘11As a fan of theater, I was entirely engrossed in Brien McMahon’s mash up of Broadway shows in “Way Off Broadway”.             I attended the Friday night show which drew a crowd, all of whom walked out with smiles.            The night was comprised of four popular Broadway shows, which appealed to a variety of tastes. With narrations in between songs, the audience was able to understand the premises of all four shows.            The astonishing voices on stage as well as the enchanting music of the orchestra was amplified by a lack of scenery. The special effects, lighting, and fog added all the visual stimulation needed. Julia Gallagher (‘11), starring as Elphaba in “Wicked,” displayed the most enchanting and...

Financial aid is generally not available for undocumented students and illegal aliens. The majority of all student aid, including Federal Student Aid, requires the recipient to be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident (green card holder) or an eligible non-citizen. McMahon’s Center for Youth Leadership students were once again all ears and voices in Hartford for issues that will affect the lives of millions here in Connecticut. As Brien McMahon’s students shuffled through the majestic marble floors of the state capital, heads turned, drawing attention, and at times garnering a clap here and there all the while addressing serious social issues. As one representative pointed out at the ending of Gina Caputo’s (‘11) testimony, “and you’re a high school student!” drawing sheer astonishment from the crowd.             Several states including...

Fast Food with a Concious Connecticut Avenue’s newest store is receiving a lot of hype at McMahon. The Chipotle restaurant, which opened up in lot formerly occupied by IHOP, serves overstuffed burritos at a great price.            Any restaurant that opens with fast, cheap and good food within a mile of a high school is bound to do well, and Chipotle is no exception. After school the lines can be out the door, however at most other times the wait is more manageable.             The small menu consists of steak, pork and chicken burritos, as well as carnitas and chips. The burritos cost between six and seven dollars, however portions are large enough to make you more than full. Another perk about Chipotle is their mission to serve “Food with Integrity”, this means animals raised on...

During the past seasons, BMHS football hasn’t been very strong.  Looking back into the history of the program, however, the word “lose” was non existent.  Every team in and out of the league knew and feared Brien McMahon.   The end results of those years were multiple FCIAC championships and a state championship  in 1994 (final was record was 12 : 0). Coach Albano’s goal?  To revive the old days into the present.        AJ himself is an alumnus of Brien McMahon.  But for the past five years, he had been the defensive coordinator (under former Senator coach Rob Trifone) for the Blue Wave in Darien.  “It feels great to be back [here]” Albano said.  “Especially because now I get to coach a long side with some very good friends of mine who have been around the game all their lives”.  Among the new additions...

The nation has been in an uproar about the so-called “ Ground Zero Mosque,” but have we gone too far?            The “Ground Zero Mosque” is neither at ground zero nor is it a mosque. The proposed plans are for an Islamic cultural center, Cordoba House, not a mosque. According to the official website of Cordoba House (www.cordobainitiative.org), the building will include an area for prayer on one of its 15 floors, but it is not strictly a mosque. Plans also include a basketball court, swimming pool, and banquet hall, and a number of community based programs and activities will take place that will be open to everyone. It is also not at Ground Zero; it is two blocks away. When the media refers to Cordoba House as the “Ground Zero Mosque” it gives the idea of a huge mosque right on top of where the Twin Towers stood, when in fact the Ground...