Friday, May 14, 2010

Woman eats her way to 1000 pounds

By Sydney Murray
     Seven hundred fifty dollars a week, $39,000 a year, to help fight global hunger could greatly help out many people of the world, but instead, Donna Simpson of New Jersey, decides to spend it on food for just herself as she tries to reach her goal of weighing 1000 pounds and becoming the fattest woman in the world.
     As Simpson grew up, she always had weight issues because her mother always cooked big meals. At one point, she tried to lose weight, but had trouble because her thoughts constantly turned to food. Eventually, she decided she no longer wished to try and fit in with other girls and was happy when she gained her weight back.
     Simpson currently weighs in at 604 pounds. She has two children, ages fourteen and three. When her daughter was born three years ago, she became the heaviest woman to ever give birth. It took a team of thirty medics to get Simpson through the birth.
     Many people want to point fingers at Simpson, saying she is disgusting and lazy and following an absurd dream, all of which are, in many ways, true. The saddening thing, though, is that some in our society are actually helping and encouraging her to reach her goal of 1000 pounds. Many people pay to watch her stuff her face with food. Some have sent her food, and one man even gave her his credit card number so she was never without "enough" food.
     Simpson is constantly saying “I’m not harming anyone” when, in reality, she is greatly harming herself and even possibly American taxpayers. According to FoxNews.com, “Obesity causes a minimum $1,429 increase, or 42 percent in medical costs. Research shows lifestyle choices and behaviors drive 87.5 percent of the cost for health care claims.” Aside from herself, she also has two children she is neglecting to think about. Her young daughter could very well lose her mother soon if Simpson doesn’t change her lifestyle.
     Many people around the world already bash Americans for how much the food they eat, waste, and throw away. Simpson is currently consuming six times the amount of food she should each day. This food could be put to much better use rather than contributing to her gluttonous lifestyle. Around the world, one child dies every six seconds from malnutrition. According to The United Nations World Food Program, one dollar could feed five children every day. Even if Simpson still spent $100 dollars a week on groceries, she would still be able to feed 3,250 poverty-stricken children every week with the $650 dollars she would save. It seems Simpson, as well as many in our society, need to get their priorities straight and realize what is truly important in this world.


Ms. Laake to Serve as New Principal

By Sydney Muray
     “Mercy is the only school where I've ever considered being Principal.” Ms. Diane Laake, currently an assistant principal at Mercy, was recently announced as the new principal for the 2010-2011 school year.

     Ms. Laake has been a member of the Mercy community for thirty-one years, as both science teacher and assistant principal. “I am excited about the opportunity to be a new kind of role model for our students. The charisma of Catherine McAuley has always been a source of inspiration for me and the "Mercy values" are a great way to focus and live your life! “
     With the ending of Sister Nancy’s time as principal also comes the ending of a tradition that has been in place at Mercy since its doors first opened, having a Sister of Mercy as principal. “I am particularly honored to be the first lay person to serve in this role,” says Ms. Laake. “I am taking over the reins of an organization that is in great shape-Sr. Nancy has done an excellent job these last 20 years!
     Although the job as principal can be stressful, Ms. Laake is looking forward to it. “I can't wait to spend more time with the staff and especially the students in new and creative ways. I look forward to promoting increased dialogue with everyone, to hear more specifically and personally what our collective hopes and dreams and goals are for Mercy, and to find ways to make it happen!”
     Ms. Laake is also involved in many activities outside of Mercy. “While I am deeply committed to serving Mercy and know that this job will take even more time than I currently give, I am committed to not letting it take all my time. I even told the selection committee that my commitments outside of Mercy - especially those related to my role on the Board of Franciscans Network, working with various human rights and social justice projects - are very important to me. I also believe that being involved in programs and places outside of Mercy will help me be a better leader. Broad and divergent exposure brings new ideas, a deeper understanding, and more opportunities for growth and progress.”
    Ms. Laake hopes to keep the tradition of Mercy alive during her years as principal. “It's the spirit of Mercy, the extraordinary students and staff, our phenomenal opportunities and programs and the overall mission of our school which is to educate and empower young women in a Christian, value-centered environment -- this is where I feel inspired to continue to serve.”

Westside opposes 'Champions' closing

 By Maggie Kissinger

     The popular westside restaurant 'Champions' closed Saturday, April tenth. The owners of Champions lost their lease after a successful seven year run because of the owner of the land's desire to put in a new business. Westsiders are not only missing its famous food, but also the tasteful location it offered many families, sports fans, and community fundraisers.
     A Facebook group entitled "Westsiders for Champions Bar & Grill" was created just days after Champions announced it was closing. The creator of the group intended for it to be an outlet for westsiders to voice their opinions about the restaurant being closed. Many westsiders have voice their concern over what will replace Champions. The landowner has spoken with the owners of Champions about using the space for a Family Dollar store, but it is yet to be confirmed if the landowner will follow through with that.
     Westsiders are worried the loss of Champions and replacing it with a family dollar will lower the community standards and attract less desirable clientele to the area. Many complain there are already enough Family Dollar stores on the westside. There are ten Family Dollar stores on the westside of Cincinnati, not including the store that is rumored to replace Champions, out of 26 total stores in Cincinnati. One of those Family Dollar stores is only two blocks away.
     Along with the concern of the new clientele Family Dollar will attract, westsiders are concerned with the number of stores that have been closed over the years. Many empty buildings line the westside including the previous site of World Market in Glenway Crossing, and the still empty Pier 1 Imports in Western Hills Plaza. These businesses were failing, but Champions was thriving, making people more concerned for the interests of the westside. Many people agreed that places like Champions help communities thrive and grow, not Family Dollar stores or anything similar.
     Among those sad to see Champions close is co-owner Bill O'Conner. "I'm sad to see it go. A lot of jobs will be lost. We did a lot of community events and fundraisers, from grade schools to cancer awareness. It is unfortunate, I would have liked to stay but there's no choice."
     O'Conner did state that relocation is under a lot of consideration. "There is a strong possibility that it will be close by," he says. However, specific plans have not been established.




Track Coach to take over at St. Ursula

By Maggie Kissinger
     Mother of Mercy's Head Track and Field coach, Dan Bird, will take over as Head Coach of Cross Country and Track and Field at St. Ursula Academy next fall. After St. Ursula's Cross Country and Track and Field coach quit this past fall, Coach Bird received a call asking him to take over at St. Ursula.
     "They had talked to me about coming in as the head coach for this year's track season, but I decided that leaving Mercy mid-year wasn't the right thing to do," Coach Bird says about being contacted by St. Ursula."
     At the beginning of this school year, Coach Bird knew this was going to be his last year at Mercy as coach. "I figured that my time at Mercy was coming to an end. I just knew that it was time to go," he says. Coach Bird had decided that he would be leaving Mercy in the fall, before St. Ursula contacted him.
     "It was very coincidental that St. Ursula contacted me when they did. I wasn't even looking. I had a gut feeling I might be asked, I was on the short list of coaches," says Coach Bird, "I'm not leaving for a better school, I love coaching at Mercy, I just wanted to continue coaching after I left Mercy and that's when St. Ursula called me."
     When asked if this is going to hurt their current season in any way, every athlete and Coach Bird responded that it will not. "I don't think it will affect our season. We already won three meets, two of which were back to back," says four year track runner, Erica Lovell '10. Captains Anna Ahlrichs '10, Emily Maly '10, Dani Thiemann '10, and Samantha Buschle '10 talked to the team after Coach Bird announced his decision to the team, telling them not to dwell on it and to make this year his best.
     Coach Bird wants to make this season his best, too. "I'm really focused on this track team. We have 50 people on the team this year, and this is the first year that I've been here that we've won back to back meets. I'm not even thinking about St. Ursula."
     The track team was very upset upon hearing the news. "It is a big tragedy for the team. Mostly, everyone is just more confused," says Lovell. While the team is focusing on this season, upon hearing Bird's decision, the juniors began to worry for next year's season without having the coach they've known and learned from the past three years. "It's kind of nerve-wrecking that he won't be here next year, but we gotta make the best of our senior year and be leaders to the underclassmen," says Sarah Strawser '11. "It's going to be a tough transition. It'll be weird without Bird, it'll be a whole different atmosphere. He makes everything fun - serious, but fun," says Jackie Meyer '11.
     Though there is still a lot of disappointment, the team supports Bird in his decision. First year track runner, Erin McBreen '12 says that she's very sad Bird is leaving, but is happy he found a job he can enjoy as much as the one he has now. Olivia Meinhardt '10 takes inspiration from Young Money to find the words to describe her feelings, "I'm excited for him. 'I hate to see him go, but I love to watch him leave' to pursue other things."
     "Ursula is a huge rivalry," says Lovell about Bird's switch, "but he has to do what he has to do. I like Coach Bird and I want him to be happy."
     Coach Bird said that sprint coach, Renee Hein, will most likely take over as head coach for Track and Field next year. Bird will be taking pole vaulting coach, Dan Bird, Jr., with him to St. Ursula but the decision on whether the other track coaches will stay at Mercy or leave with Bird are yet to be determined.