aw
February 2016
rint
Volume 15, Issue 3
Payton Broadway Gems III: Tradition emerges Players perform in Normal By CATHERINE CONLEY Staff Writer
By IZZI EINHORN Staff Writer
On January 7, the Payton Players cast and crew of “1984” embarked on a trip to the peak of teenage Illinois theater-- the Illinois High School Theater Fest (IHSTF). “1984,” Payton Players’ most recent production, was selected weeks prior for the honor of being a featured play in the fest, so the cast and crew packed up the set and their bags and headed to Normal, Illinois. Over the course of the threeday festival, the group attended workshops spanning from sketchcomedy writing to vocal tuning to jazz dance. When it came time for “1984” to perform, the theater was filled to capacity, and festival workers even had to turn hopeful audience members away. “Theater fest was fantastic!” said Mr. Wasielewski, producer of “1984” and trip chaperone.
...the cast and crew packed up the set and their bags and headed to Normal, Illinois “Having the opportunity to share their passion with 4,000 other students from around the state is a truly unique experience for our students… ‘1984’ was a huge success, and the Opening Ceremonies and the All-State production of “Rent” were absolutely phenomenal. Payton students appeared in all three productions...we were everywhere! A well-deserved congratulations to the cast and crew of all the performances.” Overall, from stagecraft to sellout, IHSTF was a smashing success.
Congratulations to the newest Grizzly!
Payton’s production of Broadway Gems III premiered on February 4 and ended on a very successful note on February 6. The production featured soon-to-be graduating seniors who were the founding cast members of Broadway Gems I in 2013 and have participated in all three compilations of Broadway’s biggest hits. As a spectator to all three of the Broadway Gems productions over the last four years, I have been lucky enough to watch it grow from somewhat of an experimental production to an emerging Payton tradition. The show has also progressed behind the scenes and has become an almost completely student-run production with the help of Ms. Johnston. “Every piece was chosen and choreographed by a cast member,
which made it very unique and true to us as a group,” said Claire Seymour ‘16, who has participated in all three Broadway Gems production. “Everyone was really proud of what we created.” The selection of pieces was one of the strongest components of this year’s show, featuring a wide selection of iconic Broadway musicals. The mix of styles fit together well but were different enough to keep the audience engaged and awaiting more. Humorous numbers such as excerpts from “The Little Mermaid” and “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” kept the audience laughing between powerfully moving numbers from musicals like “Les Miserables,” topped off with dazzling dance numbers. The fact that these were self-cast and
Dance numbers and musical favorites were highlights of this year’s Broadway Gems from February 4 - 6. Photo by Mario Wiggins choreographed by students made the variety and quality of the pieces especially impressive. It is evident that this show has become important to all of those involved in its development. As the founding cast members gradu-
ate in the Spring, hopefully this tradition will be carried on by the newer members in the coming years, solidifying the show as a Payton classic.
Seniors need realistic alcohol education By ALEX LEFAUVE & PAUL HAYES Staff Writers Payton’s current alcohol education tactic has been to refresh seniors’ curriculum taught during freshman year and prepare them for college. This program has some important points, but does not prepare students to be safe with alcohol in their future. If alcohol were classified as a drug, it would fall under the Class A category for its addictive and harmful qualities. It shares this category with drugs like heroin and cocaine. Being able to interact in an alcohol-saturated society is extremely important for students: especially seniors who are about to enter a new lifestyle and wave of independence in college. The lesson plan currently in place and recently administered through everfi.com to seniors covers the science behind alcohol (Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC), different types of alcohol, etc.), but it completely misses the social knowledge that should come with it. Consent is not covered to any recognizable extent and addiction is barely talked about. These
subjects are extremely important and should take center stage over the amount of calories in a drink or if the presentation is colorful enough. (Something that was asked in the exit-questionnaire.) Problems with both addiction and consent can potentially impact people for their entire lives, and these topics are given only a couple of seconds of attention. 88,000 people die each year die from alcohol-related causes and 13% of college students reported that they fall in the “heavy drinker” category according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; that’s one in seven people. Yet the alcohol module’s only advice on how to help those who need it most is “tell their parents.” This advice in itself isn’t that great either. Sometimes lack of a stable household can lead to these problems or exacerbate them. Instead, alcohol programs should provide ways for students to help themselves or others suffering from alcoholism. Many schools, like Payton, have great counseling departments who can help find information about rehab
programs and how to get involved with them. This information should be made available in alcohol education courses. This program did not take the presence of alcohol in student’s life seriously enough. It treated the subject with an abstinenceonly approach, which is harmful as it leads to more ignorance about the topic. Alcohol is not simply something that can be easily avoided in students’ lives. A survey from the NIAAA shows that around 60% of college students had consumed alcohol in the past month alone and with the high rate of Payton students going to college, this abstinence education becomes pointless. A much more effective type of program should be one that shows how to drink alcohol responsibly and how to react if either you or someone you know gets into a situation with it. Alcohol plays a major role in our society. It’s part of the culture and how to interact with it safely should be taught at every school. Its prevalence should be taken into account and abstinence should not
Seniors take everfi.com’s alcohol education program. Photo by Alex LeFauve be the only option provided. Options for future seniors could be programs that cover a wider range of topics that more specifically pertain to college, open discussions with both teachers and counselors to have an experienced viewpoint, and closed discussions between peers that could let students be open with each other and get insight from the people they interact with everyday. Implementing these would lead to a well-rounded alcohol education for all students and teachers involved.
See Inside Payton People of Color enrichment ..... p. 2 College rejection advice ..... p. 3 Pedro the Dog revealed ..... p. 4 Music review ..... p. 6 Sports ..... p. 7
2 OPINION
PAW PRINT February 2016
PPoC is newest Payton enrichment
Walter Payton College Preparatory High School 1034 North Wells Street Chicago, IL 60610 phone: (773) 534-0034 fax: (773) 534-0035 www.wpcp.org paytonpawprint.com @PaytonNews Principal: Tim Devine Assistant Principal: David Adamji
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Paul Hayes Julia Huebner Matthew Mata Nadiyah Pate
LAYOUT EDITORS Vivian Gasca Camille Grandjean Hannah Lowenthal Quinn Mankowski
PHOTO EDITOR Annie Y. Jiang
SECTION EDITORS
Distribution and Exchange: Matthew Mata, Paul Hayes Politics: Julia Huebner Sports: Nadiyah Pate
PAW PRINT STAFF William Baker Bison Carcelli Allison Cho Catherine Conley Annabel Doerr Isabel Einhorn Kila Goodwin Juliana Iturralde Elena Johnston Jack Knabe Alexander Lefauve Claire Luning Quinn Mankowski Grace McDermott Thomas McKeon Luis Palacios Richard Piper Julia Porter Tristan Rinholm Cole Robbins Ben Smith Prince Roy Stephenson Joe Walsh Abigail Wolfe
FACULTY ADVISOR Michelle Mowery mlmowery@cps.edu
By NADIYAH PATE Editor-In-Chief If the Payton community could be admired for only one thing, it’s the students’ ability to hold meaningful, in-depth discussions about society and the world. Enrichments allow Payton students to meet with each other in safe spaces. In these spaces, students can discuss current events, share personal experiences, and provide support for one another. Payton’s newest enrichment that combines all the above is Payton People of Color, or PPoC. PPoC is an enrichment created for students of color to have a safe space to discuss identity, society as a whole, and society at Payton. Topics of conversation include, but are not limited to, microaggressions, the “n-word,” and the confederate flag. The social dynamics of Payton have also been discussed, with questions being raised about whether or not Payton is a truly “diverse” school, and what it means to be diverse and inclusive. Payton People of Color was created by Jessica Osemwengie ‘18, Chi Chi Okwu, and Dr. Bauer, Payton’s newest administrator. Chi Chi Okwu is a pastor at a Chicago church and leads and mediates all PPoC discussions. The Paw Print sat down with Chi Chi Okwu to discuss her involvement with the enrichment. Paw Print: “What prompted you to lead PPoC?” Chi Chi Okwu: “Dr. Bauer ... told me that she had been talking to some of the students who wanted a safe space to talk about what it’s like being a person of color here at Payton. One of my big passions
is trying to help different organizations and groups understand not only what it means to be diverse, but to also be inclusive. I love having discussions about race, and I love having discussions about the tensions of race, especially in diverse environments. Dr. Bauer called me and asked if I would be willing to facilitate the enrichment, and I told her I’d love to.” PP: “What do you like most about the enrichment?” CO: “I love the authenticity of the students. They share their stories: the good and the bad. They’re not afraid of having two different opinions in the room, and discussing it and challenging one another respectfully. Honestly, the level of intelligence when it comes to race, I’ve never seen that in high school students before; it blows me away. I remember our first session, we started breaking down the levels of aggression within the school, and it was in a way that would have been something I would read in a textbook. I love the level of dialogue that we get to have.” PP: “Do you think the enrichment has an impact on the students who attend?” CO: “When you’re in an environment where there is tension, you have to find people who share the same experiences with you. There’s something powerful about knowing ‘I’m not the only one,’ and I think that’s what PPoC provides. From my observations, it’s a place where people feel united in their struggles, triumphs, and their pain. This is really important when we’re trying to figure out how to become a more inclusive environment. People who are be-
ing oppressed have to have some sort of outlet, or else it can become very destructive, and I think that if we’re looking to go towards a place of wholeness and healing, that you have to have spaces like this.” PP: “What is something you want students of color at Payton to know?” CO: “I want students to know that their story and their voices matter, that there really can be change, and that they are capable of creating that change. I’ve never seen a group of students that I believe in more, that give me more hope that an environment can change, than I do here. I hope that in these spaces that people begin to not just reiterate stories, but they begin to tell a new story of what Payton could look like. I want them to know that they’re valuable and worth the fight. Every student here has value. To have a student say that they feel like they threaten other students just by being who they are, that’s not an inclusive environment. What we want is for everybody to be themselves and be accepted, included, and to know that they’re just as valuable as the person sitting next to them.” Jessica Osemwengie ‘18, helped develop PPoc along with Dr. Bauer and Chi Chi Okwu. The Paw Print sat down with Jessica to gain insight on her feelings toward the enrichment.
Dr. Bauer and Chi Chi Okwu discuss plans for the next PPoC enrichment. Photo by Nadiyah Pate to discuss race issues specific to the Payton community and cause positive change.” PP: “What's been your favorite topic of discussion thus far?” JO: “My favorite topic thus far is the lively discussion we had about the Confederate flag. At this particular session we had people on different sides of the argument, that created a passionate conversation that continued outside of the enrichment.” PP: “Do you think having this space has helped you in any way?” JO: “I think this space has made an impact so far by giving groups who are marginalized by race a forum to share their experiences. Payton's People of Color is open to everyone who wants a safe space to discuss race and ways to improve relations within Payton.”
Paw Print: “What prompted you to want to start this enrichment?” Jessica Osemwengie: “My friends and I wanted to start this enrichment to create a safe space
Payton People of Color is held on Thursdays during enrichment, and welcomes anyone who enjoys having passionate, respectful conversations about race and identity.
On being white and attending PPoC By JULIA HUEBNER Editor-in-Chief I am a white woman, and I enjoy attending Payton People of Color (PPoC). This should not be laudable nor condemnable, although it might be perceived as both. According to its description on Selenium, PPoC is “open to anyone interested in having a safe space to discuss issues related to race, culture, and identity specific to Payton” (see above article). Not surprisingly, the majority of students at PPoC are people of color … so why am I there? To be honest, after graduating Payton, I’ll most likely forget the majority of Calculus theorems and APUSH factoids (sorry, Dr. T and Mr. V). But years after receiving my diploma, I’ll never forget the difference between being uneducated and ignorant. Being “uneducated” is a matter of opportunity: education is defined as learning of new skills in a formal setting. “Ignorance,” however, is much more intentional: while the facts might be available to you, an ignorant person might choose to ignore them for a number of rea-
sons. Payton has ensured I’m not uneducated; I must ensure I’m not ignorant. It was because of this distinction and simple curiosity that I attended my first PPoC meeting in early January. Although I still have much more to learn, I’ve realized a few key points after a handful of meetings: Safe Spaces Have Their Benefits The entire concept of safe spaces has been crucified by the media for stunting free speech and being a playground for “coddled infants,” according to the New York Times. On the contrary, the conversation at PPoC is mature and topics discussed by students are often impossible to solve. From my experience, the “safeness” of PPoC allows for vulnerability to discuss shared experiences, not an opportunity to villainize white people. Race-based safe spaces are not dissimilar to support groups meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous: both give patrons a place to gather and empathize with those who have experienced
similar struggles. PPoC is not Discriminatory Although the title advertises to a specific demographic, PPoC is in no way discriminatory. First, it’s simply illegal to offer a class at a public school that excludes a specific race, gender, etc. But legality aside, white people are not dissuaded from attending PPoC (or any other race-based safe space at Payton, in my experience). The first time I attended PPoC, I worried that I would receive the weird, sideways “you shouldn’t be here” glance. The whole idea is now laughably self serving: the only one who seemed to be apprehensive about my presence was myself. Listening > Speaking Technically, anyone of any race is allowed to contribute in all enrichments. However, as a white person, PPoC is simply the wrong place to trumpet my own beliefs and experiences. Attending such groups necessitates self-awareness: just because I can contribute, doesn’t mean I constantly should. Ultimately, it’s not about me: I
consider myself a guest, not a core member of PPoC and don’t find anything wrong with that premise. Don’t Try to Earn an Ally Badge I don’t go to PPoC to receive my culturally-aware star for the day. I know that attending a handful of meetings by no means makes me an expert on the struggles of people of color. On the contrary, I believe that there is no number of meetings, events, or rallies I could attend that could truly allow me to empathize with the struggles of people of color. I don’t know what it’s like to be pulled over for driving while black. Unlike Crystal Valentine and Aaliyah Jihad in their piece, “To Be Black and Woman and Alive,” I don’t know “brands of hydrocortisone by heart” nor have a “Pinterest board dedicated to lemon juice recipes for lightening skin.” But that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t try to be an ally. It’s a goal I’m working towards, and attending PPoC has helped me to walk a half-step closer to that goal.
PAW PRINT February 2016
FEATURES 3
Senior: ‘We regret to inform you...’ By CAROL CASUAL Staff Writer It’s that time of year again. Payton seniors who applied for early decision letters are constantly checking their e-mails and refreshing them to read, “Congratulations!” Instead, many see “we regret to inform you....” These “few” words can hurt students more than a heartbreak or the death of a fictional character on television. Countless hours spent studying for exams, writing perfect essays, taking AP exams, participating in extracurriculars, and scoring high on the ACT, makes the college admissions process seem like one big lie. While some students are being accepted to recognized Ivy league universities, others are still waiting for that college acceptance, particularly at their “dream college.” Many students are told that if they do not attend one of the greatest universities in the world, they won’t succeed, feel content, or fit in. In reality, this is not true. Every student will fit in some-
Every year, Payton students get accepted into universities all over the country, some moving less than ten miles, others moving over two-thousand miles away from home. Photo by Carol Casual where, whether or not the college they choose to attend was a top choice college. Here are a few reasons why students shouldn’t take college rejection letters to heart: 1. It’s about what you do, not where you go. While getting an excellent college education may be ideal for a successful career path, graduating from Stanford University or
College advice from seniors
By JULIANA ITURRALDE Staff Writer January 15 marked the end of the college application process for most Payton seniors. As any senior can tell you, applying to college can be full of high stress and anxiety. Nevertheless, there are many ways to keep such stress at bay. Here’s some advice from seniors on how to keep the application process as relaxed and simple as possible. “Start by doing simple college searches on Naviance to see what schools match your interests and test scores. While you’re looking at schools, make sure you don’t feel compelled to only apply to ‘elite schools’. Except for Ivy Leagues, the top 100 schools are all at the same level.” -Ysanna Gonzales ‘16
“Do it early! Don’t leave any of your applications for the last minute.” -Alicia Maynard ‘16 “Manage your time well and be hyper aware of deadlines.” -Paul Moreno ‘16
Harvard doesn’t guarantee future success. Many successful people started at community colleges. Steve Jobs actually “attended De Anza Community College,” according to Huffington Post. Steve Jobs didn’t need to attend Harvard university to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world. Students need to consider that “where they go is not who they
will be.” Lots of colleges offer hundreds of opportunities and these aren’t colleges that have a 5% acceptance rate. 2. It’s not personal. Most elite and well-known colleges have a limited number of seats for incoming freshmen. Most colleges receive “many more applications than available seats,” according to U.S. News. Among a pile of applications, every student is one of thousands of others who applied. 3. Listen to advice from an admissions officer. Jim Miller, an admissions officer at Brown University, admitted that he rejected a student just because of his personal essay. According to thedailybeast.com, he said, “There was a really strong candidate we didn’t admit because he had an enormous amount of profanity in his personal essay. He had a string of F-bombs that was pretty remarkable. I am not opposed to profanity and sometimes it can work. But every third word doesn’t work. Otherwise, he
would have gotten in.” Some students from Payton may get a perfect ACT score and a 4.0 gpa, but if their personal essays don’t meet up to an admission officer’s expectations, they can expect a rejection. Personal essays matter and some admission officers may just not like certain personal essay stories. Getting accepted to an excellent and recognized university is a reward for four years of hard work. However, getting rejected from a top choice college shouldn’t hurt forever. Life goes on. Getting rejected from a top college is just the beginning of another journey, not the end of one. Students should stay positive and focus on the many opportunities ahead of them. Everyone can reach their future goals. Ultimately, it’s not about the name above the door: as Tom Lehrer put it, “Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.”
Loop Link bus relieves stress By CLAIRE LUNING Staff Writer
All true Chicagoans have ridden the bus downtown during rush hour. It is an experience that is woven into many commuters’ daily lives: the stress of waiting in the bitter cold for the bus to come, spotting it creeping toward you block by block, and thinking, “I will never get where I want to go.” If this has ever been you, 2016 brings good news and a dash of hope for public transportation. Recently completed, the “Loop Link” bus will speed up bus travel in the loop with new lanes and improved stations. According to the Loop Link website, the new addition “will improve traffic flow by bringing order to congested streets.” The new system consists of bus-only lanes in a two mile “corridor” on Washington, Madison, Canal and Clinton Streets that connect Michigan Avenue and the West Loop. On these streets, one lane of traffic will be marked in red and dedicated to buses only. The new transportation system will hopefully improve the experience of both car and bus drivers -- say goodbye to a bus cutting you
A bus pulls into the new Loop Link station. off or having to wait behind a bus for minutes. Additionally, bus stations will also improve, featuring 150-foot glass awnings for commuters to wait under to escape the elements. Functionality is not the only benefit of the new and improved infrastructure. “I like the structure of it, it’s pretty,” said Gabrielle Roitman ‘17. Loop link doesn’t just benefit bus commuters: bikers also have
Photo by Claire Luning
a new, well-marked lane. A green bike path will be created between the bus lane and the pedestrian sidewalk, protecting bikers from car traffic and making the commute safer. Jillian Bowman ‘16 thinks that the concept is “so cool and I want more for the city.” As of late January, the Loop Link is still under construction. For more information and maps of the future system, visit brtchicago. com.
Seniors can get stressed by the college process. Photo by Elena Johnston “Don’t apply to schools because your friends are applying.” -Devon Elmore ‘16 “Instead of looking for a specific school, start by looking at programs. You can narrow down your options that way.” -Kat Jankoviak ‘16 “Don’t overthink it.” -Luis Collado ‘16
“Some colleges post their essays prematurely so that students can start on them over the summer. I highly recommend that you get a head start because it saves you a lot of time and stress during the school year.” -Alexis Peters ‘16 “Don’t compare yourself to other people.” -Favian Tirado‘16
Payton students and teachers walk in to school together after a demonstration on February 17. Photo by M. Mowery
4 FEATURES
PAW PRINT February 2016
On Campus: Mizzou students rally for change By NADIYAH PATE Editor-in-Chief When asked by African-American students what he thought systematic oppression was, Tim Wolfe, Former President of the University of Missouri Systems said, “systematic oppression is because you don’t believe that you have equal opportunity for success.” In October, students at the University of Missouri, also known as Mizzou, began protesting racist events that had gone unpunished by school administration. A par-
The University of Missouri is currently undergoing change to promote equality, safety, and justice throughout campus. Photo by Nadiyah Pate
ticular group of students called Concerned Student 1950, took a peaceful, yet forceful approach to evoke change within their campus. On November 2, Mizzou graduate student Jonathan Butler began a hunger strike that he announced he would not end until President Tim Wolfe resigned for failing to respond correctly to racial incidents on campus. A week later, Wolfe resigned as the UM System President, after Mizzou’s football team refused to participate in any football-related events until Wolfe resigned. The school’s chancellor, Richard Loftin, resigned as well. With the two resignations came both positive and negative responses. Some students began to threaten Mizzou’s African-American student population. The intimidation ranged from social media posts promising to shoot Black students, to Black students being harassed by other students yelling racial slurs. Fearing for their safety, many African-American students evacuated campus and did not attend their classes the next day. Thankfully, the university was able to apprehend the student making the
mass shooting threats. While visiting the University of Missouri, I had the opportunity to sit down with senior Lauren GiwaAmu and ask her about her experiences with the recent tension. Nadiyah Pate: “Have you ever felt unsafe on campus?” Lauren Giwa-Amu: “In my three and a half years here I had never felt unsafe on campus, but I honestly did feel unsafe during that time. It was simply based on a smaller portion of students that were resistant to the change that was happening on campus. So I feel like I can look on the situation, take a step back and say in my three and a half years this has been great, but a small portion of it didn’t go as I planned.” NP: “What’s your outtake on the events that occurred on campus?” LGA: “The way I portrayed these incidents is that yes, I think that racism and these type of things are happening everywhere on campus, but I think we have students here at Mizzou that are courageous enough to be vocal about it. I think we just kind of started this movement about being vocal about inequality on college campuses.”
NP: “Have you ever experienced any racial incidents at Mizzou?” LGA: “I have not personally experienced racism against me. However, our current student body president is a Black, male, and he recently wrote a Facebook post about issues that were happening on campus. Someone was in a pickup truck drove past him and screamed the n-word at him. I can’t really imagine how I would feel if that happened to me. And I think that it’s sad that that happened.” NP: “What is Concerned Student 1950, and what are their goals?” LGA: “Concerned Student 1950 is a group of students, I believe there is [sic] 11 of them, and ... I saw them ... at the homecoming parade when they stepped in front of President Wolfe’s car. Their main goal is just to advocate for equality on campus for all students of all races.” NP: “How do you think the media handled the situation?” LGA: “The media was our best friend and our worst enemy in the situation: best friend in the fact that had the things not gotten national attention, I’m not sure how quickly the university would’ve
acted on change. It was our worst enemy in that I worry sometimes about how things were portrayed, and how incoming families might feel based on things that have happened.” NP: “What are your hopes for the campus as things change and evolve?” LGA: “I honestly think that this was an important experience for me to have during my time here. I think that through it I learned that I have a voice, and I’ve learned about the things that are important to me and important enough to speak out on. So I guess I would say that I hope that all students learn that from the situation, instead of just seeing it as an inconvenience, something that’s scary, or anything like that. This was a really great learning experience. I also hope that people are more conscious and more aware in general. There are certain things that I’ve learned here about inclusivity, and equality. Just things like making sure you aren’t using terms that offend people, and making sure that you’re creating an environment that is welcoming and inviting for people. So I hope people learn that as well.”
A day in the life of Pedro the dog By BEN SMITH Staff Writer Paw Print: Tell us a little bit of background information about Pedro for those that don’t know him. Mr. Galson: “Pedro has been living in room 210 since 2008. He won’t reveal where he came from, but I have some theories. One theory is that he is in witness protection. He has not said ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to that, which leads me to believe that that’s probably the case (I’m not sure what the crime is.) It could have been a white collar crime or maybe the typical dogeat-dog scenario with one of those bad dog park experiences. He doesn’t say much though about his past because he rarely leaves the room. I think because he wants to be protected.” PP: Does he have any hobbies? Mr. Galson: “Math. He came in with a lot of math experience, I think more so than I did when I came into the school. Maybe he was sitting in on Mr. Karafiol’s KAM class because he’s very good at analysis and proofs, but not so hot on the technology side. He doesn’t care for the Nspire.” PP: Well you know, they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Mr. Galson: “Well yes and no. Pedro has proved to me otherwise. He’s a big yoga guy. He can contort into all different positions. He has this turtle move where he can bring his appendages, including his nose, inside himself. It could be a protective skill from back in his criminal days. Maybe he was even a former Navy Seal. I didn’t pay attention to whether or not he was in the classroom when Osama Bin Laden was assassinated. I have no
idea. I look back at big events like 9/11, invasions, and drug busts and I guess I should pay more attention. Maybe it would reveal a little bit more about what he does when I am not here.” PP: What are three words you would use to describe Pedro? Mr Galson: “Plush, brown, and decisive. Look at his eyes. Those aren’t eyes. If you really stare deep into them, there’s not a hint of questioning. His beliefs are very square. He doesn’t reveal much, but he doesn’t waver.” PP: Does Pedro want to live in 210 forever? What are his aspirations? Mr. Galson: “Like most things in our lives, relationships are fleeting. You have to appreciate them while you have them. Whether one day he finds someone in our class or finds another home, I try to do my best to protect him and feed him and give him comfort when he needs it. He has disappeared, but he always comes back. Like a stray cat that you feed in the alley. He could get run over by a car, another family could take him. I don’t know how long our relationship’s going to last, but I’m okay with that.” PP: Does he have any role models? Mr. Galson: “I hope I am not his role model. I fear for the rest of his life on this Earth if I am. I think that if he could tell the truth and speak from his gut, maybe he would talk about former students in math circle or the custodial staff that cleans the room.” PP: Has he talked at all about what
he does over the summer? Mr. Galson: “No, [but] sometimes I ask him. I was wondering if he hibernates or leaves 210. I have never taken him home with me. I brought a couple friends in to provide him some company, but he’s pretty much shunned all of them [including- The Care Bear, the unicorn, and the other beanie babies.] He flat out ignores them. At first I took it personally and my children thought it was pretty rude, but I’ve learned to accept who he is. I put him in a drawer over the summer to protect him from the cleaning chemicals that they use. This dog is like Houdini. He’s never in the drawer when I get back. This summer, I found him in the math office. It makes me wonder what else he does. I wonder if he’s the one that’s been putting my answer keys on the internet.” PP: Any accomplishments or big moments for Pedro during his time at Payton? Mr. Galson: “I think his biggest moments have been his level of attachment to students who come into 210. He’s a people dog. He enjoys being held and being thrown across the room. I think his big accomplishment isn’t what you think of as humans, but as a dog, it’s his level of connection with us.” PP: Does he mind being thrown across the room? Mr. Galson: “I’ve seen him act pretty aggressively when dropped, but I think there are other students there that will be able to protect him … besides getting dirty, well, he cleans himself like most dogs. So I don’t think he minds being
Pedro, Mr. Galson’s dog, may have a secret life. thrown, he thinks it’s kind of fun. When you’re sitting on a desk all day, wouldn’t you just want to be tossed in the air? It could be a good Pre-Calculus projectile motion problem. So, yeah, he’s cool with that.” PP: Does he have any pet peeves? Mr. Galson: “Disrespect. Straight up. Sometimes people look at Pedro and say, ‘What is he, a lab?’ Straight up. Look at Pedro. A lab? Talk about disrespect. I had a student once call him a cat and that was it. The rest of us wouldn’t let that student touch Pedro. Not even come near him. When it was time for that student to talk, Pedro wasn’t thrown over to that student. The other thing I realized is that he came with no tag. Notice, his tag is missing. In terms of DNA for a plush dog, this is all you’ve got. There’s no DNA inside. His country of origin? How much he costs?
Photo by Ben Smith
No idea. Is he a beanie baby? I’m not sure. We don’t really know and that leads to mystery, and I think we’re all attracted to mystery. There are people and beings in our life that we don’t necessarily know everything about, but it makes it more interesting.” PP: Is there anything that you and Pedro want to leave us with? Mr. Galson: “He likes getting dressed up. He’s worn some ties and some party hats and students who care about him give him presents that he can wear, like bling. He likes bling. Pedro and I are close, but I still don’t know if he’s a Cubs or a Sox fan. He hasn’t revealed anything. He wasn’t even interested in the World Series this year or the lead up to it. But he also didn’t care about the White Sox when they were doing well, so I don’t know. Maybe he’s into cricket or even a big golfer.”
PAW PRINT February 2016
NEWS/OPINION 5
Dance dazzles duos By JULIANA ITURRALDE AND IZABEL CEDENO Staff Writers
Patrick and Spongebob, Beyonce and Jay Z, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Batman and Robin. What do all these things have in common? They’re all famous duos. Payton students had the chance to bring the second half of their own duo to Payton’s first annual Duo Dance. The Duo Dance on February 19 was a hit. Flashing lights across the dance floor and lanterns suspended from the ceiling added to the thrilling energy of the night. The request-a-song opportunity was used endlessly throughout the night, allowing duos to share their favorite songs with each other. Contrary to last year’s cancelled dance, more than 160 people came out to the dance to have fun and to help support the senior’s prom. Thanks to the senior steering committee and DJ Emilio Araujo ‘16, students had a blast dancing all night with their “partner in crime.” Photos by Matthew Mata
Do you know all the holidays in March? By ALLISON CHO Staff Writer
Have you ever hated your name? Wanted to eat a lot of noodles? Or just really like Bunsen Burners? You can celebrate all these things and more in March, which happens to be filled with many lesser-known holidays. Celebrating these smaller holidays can give you that positive boost you need as the days get colder and the school days, longer. Here are five underappreciated national observances you should add to your calendar: March (all month): National Noodle Month The National Pasta Association (ilovepasta.org) has named March the official month of noodles. Many people enjoy eating noodles during this month in celebration, whether they be homemade or from a restaurant. Last year, many restaurants had National Noodle Month specials, such as Tesori’s weekly noodle dishes and MAK: Modern Asian Kitchen’s Beijing noodle special. These offers are usually announced at the beginning of March so be sure to keep an eye out.
OffCampus app born at Payton By BEN SMITH Staff Writer Are you an underclassman who is tired of the same old lunch every day? Are you a senior who has had their off campus lunch privilege revoked? Well, it is your lucky day. With the new OffCampus app, developed by three Payton graduates, students now have the opportunity to get food from anywhere around school without leaving the building. Here’s how it works: students
can register as either a User, who orders food, or a Partner, who delivers food. Partners can see orders that have been posted by Users and choose which ones to pick up. Delivery fees are small, which is a plus for Users. The system works well for Partners as well, as they can pick up multiple orders within their lunch period, increasing profits. Currently, OffCampus is only
offered at Payton, but founders are looking to expand to other schools. The app itself stems from the Payton administration’s senioronly off campus lunch policy. Thanks to the hard work of Payton alumni, OffCampus is bringing a taste of Old Town and River North to all students. For more information, including how to bring OffCampus to your school, visit www.eatoffcamp.us.
March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day Ever wondered what it would be like if your pet had thumbs? Even if you haven’t, this day is dedicated to contemplating all the crazy things pets would do with thumbs. Created by wellcat.com’s Thomas and Ruth Roy, this holidays is celebrated by pet lovers worldwide. Many enjoy making lists or videos of what they believe their pets would do with opposable thumbs, like hitchhiking or using a can opener. March 6: National Frozen Food Day Frozen food has long been a part of America’s food culture ever since Clarence Birdeye’s discovery of the “flash frozen food” technique, which freezes food quickly to keep it fresh and flavorful. In 1984,
Photo courtesy of Kropsoq President Reagan said, “Now, therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 6, 1984, as Frozen Food Day, and I call upon the American people to observe such day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” These “appropriate ceremonies and activities” are usually interpreted as including as much frozen food as possible in your meals on March 6. March 27: National Joe Day Have you ever wanted to change your name? National Joe Day is known for being the holiday for people who dislike their name and want to try something different. There are two ways to celebrate national Joe Day: you can change your name specifically to Joe, or to any name you prefer. Feel free to throw away your old name and become a “Joe” with everyone else for a day. Call your friends Joe, call your dog Jo -- even your dad can be Joe. March 31: Bunsen Burner Day Any student who has taken chemistry has probably heard of, if not used, a Bunsen Burner. The Bunsen Burner was created by German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen. He was born on March 31 in 1811, so Bunsen Burner Day celebrates not only his lovely creation, but his birthday as well. A common way to celebrate this holiday is to learn more about Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen, like how he almost killed himself from arsenic poisoning.
Don’t complain about the late winter break By GRACE MCDERMOTT Staff Writer When the schedule for the 2016-2017 Chicago Public School year was released in early January, many were surprised when they noticed that next winter break will not officially begin until Christmas Eve. There seemed to be a feeling of entitlement among students: that we deserve the week off before Christmas, and have always assumed it was automatic or natural. While there was no single protest, hallways were littered with small-talk and exchanges about the topic, in which almost every student could be heard saying: “Did you hear about next year’s break? It doesn’t start ‘til so late!” But is the scheduling change
really that bad? For many, it might not be. For parents of younger children at CPS elementary schools who celebrate Christmas, they will have more time to prepare for the holiday cheer while their children are occupied in school. The break’s greater extension into January will also allow families who often stay home for the holidays a chance to get away, based on increased travel fare on the days bookending the 25th. Additionally, our two week hiatus is called “winter break” -- and not “Christmas break” for a reason. There is no reason that winter break should be centered around Christmas. Jewish students, for
example, are allowed an excused absence for religious holidays, but all CPS students do not enjoy these days off. At Payton, a school which prides itself on its diversity, there is quite a bit of uncalled for frustration over the new, late break. Students who identify as Christian, including Mikayla McIlrath ‘17, were upset about the timing. “I always spend Christmas with my extended family, and school ending so close to Christmas will make it difficult to get out there in time,” she said. Hannah Sudworth ‘17 added, “I won’t have time to buy gifts for my family, or be able to get into the Christmas spirit because I’ll be
Snow falls in downtown Chicago as CPS students relax during this year’s winter break. Photo by Grace McDermott too stressed and concerned about my studies.” Students who don’t celebrate Christmas were apathetic about
the December 24 start. “I don’t really care,” said David Kaplan ‘17, a Jewish student, regarding the late start to break.
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PAW PRINT February 2016
‘Sour Soul’’s jazz adds depth to hip-hop sound
By COLE ROBBINS Staff Writer BadBadNotGood, stylized as BADBADNOTGOOD, is a Canadian trio known for the instrumental recreations of popular hip-hop tracks. They became famous on the internet in 2010 after releasing a video on YouTube of the group performing some of the infamous rap collective Odd Future’s music. Odd Future frontman Tyler, The Creator saw the video and helped it go viral. BADBADNOTGOOD released their debut album on the music streaming site Bandcamp in 2011, and the project included renditions of music by hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest and rapper Waka Flocka Flame, along with several other Odd Future tracks. Ghostface Killah is a 45-yearold rapper who garnered immense popularity as a prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved widespread success with their album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” in 1993, Ghostface Killah went on to pursue a solo career.
Paw Print: What is your overall opinion of the project? Tomer Tur-Kaspa: “I really liked ‘Sour Soul’ because I really enjoy hip-hop, and I think that Ghostface Killah is one of the best artists in the genre. I also think that BADBADNOTGOOD is one of the best instrumental groups today. Overall, ‘Sour Soul’ is a really good album because it showcases what makes both Ghostface Killah and BADBADNOTGOOD great.” PP: What about the blending of jazz and hip-hop works on this project? What doesn’t work? TT: “I think these two styles work well together because Ghostface
By COLE ROBBINS Staff Writer
Ghostface Killah is most known for being a member of Wu-Tang Clan. Photo by Niklas Hellerstedt, Göteborg & Co via Wikimedia Commons Killah’s deep voice pairs very well this album? with the many of the intricate, TT: “1. Six Degrees jazzy beats that BADBADNOT2. Street Knowledge GOOD supplies. That being said, 3. Ray Gun” some of the instrumental work, specifically the more uptempo My Take: instrumental segments, seem to “Sour Soul” is one of the better clash at times with his delivery.” albums that I have heard this year. The jazz work of BADBADNOTPP: “Do you enjoy the solo work GOOD gives a depth to this project of ghostface killah and BAD- that is not often seen on hip-hop BADNOTGOOD? Do you prefer albums. For example, instead of this project over their individual the entirety of the tracks revolving ones?” around Ghostface Killah’s verses, there are multiple jazz interludes TT: “I do very much enjoy Ghost- in which the three members of face Killah’s individual projects BADBADNOTGOOD perform because of his deep voice and without Ghostface’s vocals. smooth-sounding rhymes. I don’t Killah’s lyrics are interesting if really listen to BADBADNOT- not incredibly captivating, and he GOOD because they only produce is still able to produce the aggresinstrumental songs, and that is sive flow that has always been a generally not my favorite type of part of his repertoire. music. I can’t say for sure whethHe is no longer in his prime, but er I prefer this album over other Ghostface Killah has certainly not Ghostface Killah projects, but I lost his rapping abilities. really enjoyed this project because it was a collaboration between a My Three Favorite Tracks: great rapper and a talented instru1. Six Degrees (feat. Danny mental group that complemented Brown) each other very well.” 2. Street Knowledge (feat. DOOM) PP: If you had to choose, what are 3. Stark’s Reality your three favorite tracks off of
Caution: Spoiler alerts ahead By PRINCE ROY STEPHENSON Staff Writer With every major TV event or movie coming out of the entertainment industry, there is a mad dash to either be a part of the cultural phenomena like “Breaking Bad” or to hide from the possible problem associated with grand entertainment events. Of course, I’m talking about spoilers. With the release of the newest “Star Wars” movie (see below), avoiding any type of knowledge only found by watching the film are plastered on every forum, social media, or even in the lunchroom at school.
worthy of a story on the 9 o’clock news, but a PSA directed towards those who take it upon themselves to ruin something for no real reason other than their own amusement may at the very least cause them to rethink their motives. What’s the solution? With the internet being a place for people to freely speak on things important to them, there is no way to govern over it without sacrificing that free speech itself. The only way for these types of spaces to be relatively spoilerfree is for them to be personally governed. By having a personal
Heard or read any spoilers lately on the internet? Photo illustration by Prince Roy Stephenson Having anything spoiled, from the important names to specific major plot points, taints the viewing experience and can cause the viewer to have preconceived notions about the episode or movie. For some reason unknown to me, some people see it has their duty to submit others to this spoilers. Some of these spoilers are almost impossible to avoid with the internet housing these types of people. On the internet there are really no overarching guidelines that relate to problems like this. There is really no way to combat a problem like this anyway, so why am I talking about? A problem like this isn’t exactly
system like this in place, everyone becomes responsible for their internet-based actions. Of course, this is really no better than the honor code. Why is this important to the masses at large? Honestly, the way I see this problem is rooted in multiple experiences of having things spoiled for me by those on social media, not realizing or caring for that matter, that their tweet or instagram post of an important scene of the movie can ruin something as simple as a summer movie. Really this is a way for me to stop a similar experience from happening to others.
The Force has finally awakened
By RICHARD PIPER Staff Writer On December 18, 2015, history as we’ve known it was changed forever. On this day, the longawaited, seventh installment of the Star Wars film franchise premiered, entitled “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The last time we saw “Star Wars” in theaters was “Revenge of the Sith,” which debuted ten years ago in 2005. In these ten years, fans of the series have both condemned and defended the prequel trilogy, which explained the backstory of the original trilogy’s titular villain, Darth Vader. All the while, there has been growing clamour for a return to the fun and magic of George Lucas’ first brainchild, “A New Hope.” When the seventh episode was finally announced in December of 2013, fans across the world were ecstatic. People hoped for the return of the original cast, includ-
ing Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. Now, two years later, the wait is finally over: “The Force Awakens” is here with a bang. As the seventh episode of the series, “The Force Awakens” follows the events after “Return of the Jedi,” which debuted in 1983. Since then, the galaxy has once again fallen into a state of unrest. The sinister forces of the Empire have been resurrected as the First Order by the film’s central villain, Kylo Ren, who is played by Adam Driver. The film follows the story of Rey, a lonesome scavenger from the desert planet Jakku, who is played by Daisy Ridley. Trouble soon finds Rey as she crosses paths with First Order stormtrooper turned fugitive, Finn, played by John Boyega. By chance or fate, the film’s he-
roes come across the one and only Han Solo, played by none other than Harrison Ford, and his furry co-pilot Chewbacca, played by the seven-foot-tall Peter Mayhew. Han and Chewy help Rey and Finn evade the grips of the First Order and eventually come to aid the efforts of the Resistance. Their journey takes them all across the galaxy, and they even run into some familiar faces, including Carrie Fisher’s fearless character, Leia Organa. The film has gotten stellar reviews since its release, with praise for the performances of the new actors, the stunning visual effects, and the return of the original cast. Many fans, however, have criticized the film for relying on nostalgia to please fans of the series, accusing director J.J. Abrams for crafting a story and plot elements too similar to that of the first “Star
Wars” film, “A New Hope.” Abrams and Lucasfilm surely have have nothing to worry about, as “The Force Awakens” has earned $1.85 billion in record time, topping Avatar as the highest grossing domestic film in cinematic history. Nonetheless, “The Force Awakens” has grown to be more than a mere 30 year sequel. Oscar Issac, who portrays Poe Dameron, the film’s best Resistance X-Wing pilot, stated in an interview that “The Force Awakens” has become a cultural phenomenon. “The Force Awakens” is the perfect balance of drama and excitement. While the special effects have upgraded from detailed models to high quality VFX, J.J. and company have managed to capture the fun and indescribable elation of “A New Hope.” There are definitely lots of
hints to the original trilogy scattered throughout the film that will please diehard fans, but this never distracts from the film’s story. The plot of this installment flows naturally from “Return of the Jedi,” while still managing to introduce a number of of new heroes, villains, planets, and most of all, mysteries. While I will not mirror the evil of Kylo Ren by spoiling too much of the film, I will say that this film is, without question, worth your time. Whether you are a die hard fan of “Star Wars” or haven’t even seen one of the series’ films, “The Force Awakens” delivers on so many levels. You are guaranteed loads of action, special effects, loveable (and hateable) characters, an emotional rollercoaster of a story, and most of all, an experience you can share with all other viewers.
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SPORTS 7
Pay-to-play in girls volleyball explored
By JULIANA ITURRALDE Staff Writer CPS officials are currently investigating parent and student complaints of a “pay to play” system within the CPS girl’s volleyball league. These complaints are from Whitney Young parents and students who claim that they were either cut or benched because they no longer played club volleyball where their coach, Jamie Walters, works. This club, formally known as Powerhouse, was owned by Payton’s very own girl’s varsity volleyball coach, Joel Anderson. Anderson denies a pay-to-play atmosphere, telling CBS 2 Chicago that only some of his players attend his club. Paw Print reached out to former volleyball players for their experiences involving the relationship between club and school volleyball. “Most girls on the team played Powerhouse,” Meredith Sonnenfelt ‘15 said. “I made the choice to switch from Powerhouse to a different volleyball club my senior year, and I wasn’t cut for switching clubs, but there was definitely a stigma against players who didn’t play Powerhouse. It felt like I was forced into feeling like I let the team down or wasn’t pushing myself enough.” Despite any discomfort from making the switch, Sonnenfelt as-
sured the Paw Print that she “had a fantastic four years in the Payton volleyball program.” Although most of Payton’s volleyball players believe that the team was a worthwhile experience, there are some, such as Lila Ammarell ‘16 who did not share this sentimental feeling about her time on the varsity team. “I loved volleyball; I looked forward to every practice and every game before I quit club. After I stopped playing at Powerhouse, everything changed.” Amarell was forced to stop “playing club sophomore year due to financial reasons” and came back the following season to what Ammarell recalls as “the worst season of my life.” Ammarell said, “I felt like the coach was deliberately being harsh to diminish my confidence on the court.” Despite both positive and negative attitudes, players who did not play Powerhouse agree that they did not have the same leeway as players who did. “Pretty much all the top athletes in the city now play club, and it has changed the dynamics tremendously over the past four years,” Joel Anderson told the Chicago Tribune. These new dynamics can greatly benefit anyone who can pay the 1,000 to 3,000 dollar fee that club requires.
Girls bowling has spirit to spare
Club offers numerous opportunities in college scholarships and it can lead to a more competitive, intense, and skillful volleyball game. “Here at Payton, Joel gives players playing time strictly based on talent,” Quinn Mankowski ‘17 said. “He plays the best girls, and his decisions are only determined by skill of the player.” While this system is beneficial to some, students such as Ammarell who cannot afford to pay for club often find themselves at a loss. “The current pay-to-play investigation is primarily focused on inner-club drama full of loyalty, attitude, and rule breaking problems,” according to Sonnenfelt. Socioeconomics can play a huge role in success within a sport. “Blaming the problems student athletes face on the expensive realities of high school volleyball can no longer be acceptable,” Lila Ammarell explains. This problem isn’t a local one either. “I’m still close with a lot of people in the suburb I grew up in, and I can tell you pay-to-play is an issue for them as well. If you don’t do club, you’ll get cut.”
Girls basketball: Principal’s Cup a hard-fought game
By WILLIAM BAKER Staff Writer As 2016 begins, the rivalry between Northside College Prep and Walter Payton College Prep is stronger than ever. Northside has always been our top academic competition. Each year, there is a constant battle as to who claim the bragging rights of a higher school ranking. Though there is always academic competition, a secondary rivalry has added fuel to the high school fire. On January 5, the Payton and Northside girls varsity basketball teams vied for the annual Principal’s Cup. You could feel the tension in the air, especially because Payton won the game last year and was determined to keep its lead. The game started off slow but soon Payton secured a lead. Each teammate showed great sportsmanlike conduct while still hustling for their respective teams. Payton held onto their lead until the end of the second quarter. At that point, #24 of Northside rebounded a missed shot, scoring a one point lead before halftime. By the beginning of the third quarter, Northside climbed to a six
The Lady Grizzlies advanced to the regional semis beating Austin Poly 39-33 as Grace Hauser ‘18 controls the ball. Photo courtesy of Payton Boosters Twitter point lead. it wasn’t enough to retain the lead Payton senior Elena Johnston from Northside. responded by scoring two baskets, #24 continued to hammer the bringing Payton within four points boards with outside shooting from of a tie. Northside’s point guard, who Payton and Northside scored helped sustain the lead throughout intermittently throughout the rest the third and fourth quarter. of the quarter. Northside finished off the game Northside finished the quar- 50-39, winning the Principal’s ter with four point lead (32 - 28). Cup. Payton’s varsity kicked off the For Payton basketball fans, fourth quarter with aggressive de- there is always next year. fense and offense, but in the end
By ALLISON CHO Staff Writer On January 11, the girls bowling team played their second game of the new year against William Howard Taft High School. The game started at 4:50 at Waveland Bowl. The Grizzlies started out strong during the first half of the first game, but lost the lead by the time the game ended. Although Taft won 3-0, Vanessa Tran ‘18 scored a 159, the highest score from the girls bowling team that night. Despite the loss, the girls aren’t shaken. They have never been ones to back down from a challenge, fearlessly playing against other schools like Lincoln Park,
Lane, Jones, and Von Steuben. “Those who think bowling isn’t a sport are the ones that bowl with bumpers,” said team captain Jamyah Hawkins ‘17. But their team spirit doesn’t end at the last strike; they continually support each other from the sidelines each game as well. With two games left until the end of the conference, results are unpredictable. But one thing is certain: the girls bowling team will play with confidence like they always have. As Coach Escobar so eloquently put it: “Let’s roll.”
Payton bowling scores another strike. Photo courtesy of Payton Bowling Team.
Boys bowling has striking success By Bison Carcelli Staff Writer
Despite their striking success, Payton’s bowling team remains one of the most underrated sports teams. In the past, students have overlooked the boys bowling team as a trivial sport. However, in recent years the team has gotten more serious and has been able to reap the benefits of a more serious program. Going 18 and 3 this season, Payton’s boys bowling team was able to clench their first conference win and were able to surpass everyone’s expectations. Paw Print: How has the team done this year? Brandon Taylor ‘16, Team Captain: “This has been the best year for the team since I’ve been at Payton. This is the first year that we won our conference.” PP: Would you say that you guys were underdogs? BT: “Not really. Last year was our breakout year, and we finished second in our conference, beating three really good teams along the way. Last year we caught everyone by surprise, but this year everyone was ready for us.” PP: What do you think changed these last two years to make a
more successful team? BT: “Really just putting forth the effort to get better. We started practicing a lot more during the season and tried to make each other into better players. We had a goal and we wanted to accomplish it, no matter how much of our time and energy it took.” PP: Where do you guys practice? BT: “We practice at Habetler bowl and Waveland bowl. Those are the two places we have all of our games, outside of Regionals and Sectionals.” PP: What was the most exciting part of this season? BT: “Qualifying for sectionals as a team. This was the first year we had a chance to compete for a spot in sectionals, a place that we’d never been before. Placing second in our regional was the best moment because we realized that our hard work paid off.” PP: What would you say to anyone thinking of trying out? BT: “If you want to have fun and become friends with a good group of people then this is the team for you. It’s a team where you don’t have to be great starting out. If you want to work to get better then I say come on out.”
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PAW PRINT February 2016
Hacking it up
By BISON CARCELLI & PAUL HAYES Staff Writers When walking through Payton on any given day, there is a strong possibility that you may come across a game of hacky sack. Payton has see a recent surge in the popularity of hacky sack, with Broadcast class even making a movie about it. There are many Photo by Pavel Ševela via who are wondering why there has Wikimedia Commons been a spike in both student and tempt to keep the “hack” off the ground for as long as possible. faculty interest. Because there isn’t a proper Hacky sack debuted in the 70s and has since become more popu- way of playing hacky sack due to lar, especially in recent years. Cur- the many versions adopted over rent math and hack enthusiast, Mr. the years you may see many difEspinoza, has been playing hacky ferent versions of the game being sack ever since high school and played. Its versatility provides much has noticed a significant increase in the number of students who enjoyment for players. Hacky sack play, especially in the last “two or can be played in almost any open area and can accommodate a sizethree years.” The physical hacky sack is a able number of players. Even though the hack may fall crocheted footbag, usually filled with beads, sand, or dirt. Hacking out of style sometimes, it will alengages a group of people who at- ways return.
Nuclear Throne is a fun and quick game By JACK KNABE Staff Writer
Published by “Vlambeer” developed by “Vlambeer.” Available on PC and Playstation.T op down action arcade shooter roguelike with optional Co-op. Science fiction post-apocalyptic. Early access release October 11th, 2013. Full release December 5th, 2015 Have you ever tried destroying a three-headed robot dog that spins in a flurry of bullets with a wrench made of gold all the while you were a four-legged, one-eyed trash can? If not here’s the perfect opportunity to try it. Nuclear throne is a fast-paced pixelated top-down shooter featuring twelve playable characters, a large variety of weaponry, and dozens of unlockable items and character skins. Depending on how you play, you can get reasonably far in a run in a short time reaching the last major world in about ten minutes. Supposing you do manage to make it through an average of 14 levels over seven areas and a boss of bullet hells, there is a way to “loop.” Looping is not a new thing when it comes to fast-paced games with randomly generated areas either, and it’s usually done very well. Nuclear Throne has a decent sense of progression, and you will be able to get progressively better if you keep playing. A slight problem: Even though you may have gotten better at the game that doesn’t mean your luck has. The game is based off of RNG (random number generator), which sets up where you spawn in a level, how that level is structured (terrain, enemies, and supply chest), and what items and perks you can get
so some of these factors are easier to manage than others. Easy to manage: It’s relatively easy to manage what perks you have for how you play and what items you get and get pretty far in the game with those perks, but it’s a bit more difficult to manage a thick field of bullets when the only place you can dodge them is currently exploding when you’ve just spawned or well...in general. The game works well, and sometimes it just depends on how you play. How you play it most certainly is going to be affected by which character you choose. Out of the twelve available, each one has a unique ability and two modifying perks to that ability as well as varying stats such as fire rate of weapons, their base health, or how much ammunition drops from enemies so there is plenty of variability. Fast-paced: The combat is fast-paced, but it is also reasonably responsive and very satisfying once you have right perks and equipment allowing you to clear levels very quickly and progress to the next one without dying in a variety of ways Proper equipment will not fully prevent the loss of limbs, bodily fluids, mechanical subsystems, or hurt feelings. Use with caution and ask your doctor if a long arms, laser brain, and energy sword build is right for you. Fun and quick: Nuclear Throne is a fun, quick, and very replayable even when an interdimensional swat team completely ruins the existence of your little virtual fishman.
Resolutions with Ms. Ashley
By JULIA PORTER Staff Writer Whether it was across the ocean, within the hemisphere, or around the city, Paytonites counted down the remaining seconds of 2015 with throbbing hearts and tingling excitement. 2016—those numbers that you’ll struggle for months to write in your assignments’ headings— are the opportunity for a clean slate and the potential for new milestones. In order to achieve the most fulfilling twelve months as possible, many individuals set goals for themselves in the form of New Year’s resolutions. Most resolve to make large lifestyle changes, spanning from working out to financial management to better nutrition to relationship improvements. As the month of March begins, it is important to know how to tailor such Januarygoals so that they actually. . . work. When Ms. Ashley, Payton’s AP Psychology teacher, was asked her stance on New Year’s resolutions, she said that the result can either provide the goal-setter with a high self-esteem boost and improve productivity, or the result can prevent accomplishments by instilling the goal-setter with a sense of failure. “Much of the research suggests that by the following year the majority of people have failed (Journal of Clinical Psychology). One of the key reasons behind this failure is that people set unrealistic goals for themselves which then
What did you resolve to change in 2016? Photo by public domain.com via Wikimedia Commons makes them feel impossible to obtain.” This year, as many begin 2016 with a New Year’s resolution, it is critical that they assess the achievability of such a task. With goals too big, people may become discouraged and not only fail to accomplish, but become discouraged and regress their behavior. So what are the credentials for a New Year's Resolution that has a realistic shot at success? “Challenging but doable is the way to go when trying to change habits or set personal goals. Here is the key: if you want to keep your resolution, set one realistic, specific goal and stay focused on it. For example, if you want to improve your tardy to school issue, instead of saying ‘perfect at-
tendance for the rest of the year!,’ set a goal of being on time for advisory for one month. This allows you to celebrate the accomplishment and form a new habit. In fact, you should reward yourself with a Starbucks at the end of each successful week! It will be easier to move forward from there. It is also important to allow yourself to slip up - recognize that you missed the train and that today you will not make advisory. They key is to not let the slip-up prevent you from moving toward your goal,” Ms. Ashley advises. In twelve short months, Grizzlies will miswrite the “2017” on the header of each paper, but hopefully they will do so feeling accomplished after a successful New Year’s resolution.
Hundreds of students enjoyed the food and activities at the annual Wellness Fair on February 12 at Payton. Photos by M. Mowery
Sudoku