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Volume 53, Issue 1

Friday, September 13, 2013

The voice of Prospect since 1960

ROSPECTOR

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Generation iPad By Erin McGovern

Associate Editor-in-Chief After being initiated into the Prospect community with performances by the cheerleaders and Poms, freshman Josh Damasky finished his day of freshman orientation by waiting in a seemingly endless line in the new Knights Erin Learning Center. His wait was rewarded after he scanned his ID and was handed a district-labeled, white plastic bag with handouts, cords and, of course, an iPad. Damasky was one of the 529 freshmen who received their own iPads this school year, marking the first class ever in PHS history to give every student their very own device. “It was really exciting to be handed my own iPad,” Damasky said. “It took off a lot of the stress of starting freshman year because I didn’t worry about being late because of my locker or losing anything.” While it may seem that the new implementation was as simple as handing the students their school-owned device, there were several programs running over the summer to help prepare for freshman curriculums to go digital for these pilot programs. According to Instructional Technology Coordinator Carla Zvonek, Prospect teachers wrote proposals as early as last year describing why they felt their class would benefit from the induction of an iPad and then pitched and presented these to the superintendent and his cabinet. The requests were then processed by a panel of district members from each District 214 school and then granted based on the quality of the proposal and the amount of success that each class was projected to have based on goal

sheets created by the teachers. After what Zvonek termed “exceptional” proposals, several Prospect freshman classes, such as Biology and language classes taught by Mike Aldworth, Leigh Sapp and Lyn Scolaro, among others, were granted a spot in the iPad program. By the end of the grants, over 80 percent of the freshman class had been given iPads; however, this presented the problem of now about 20 out of 26 freshmen in each non-pilot class lacking this technology. Seeing the benefit in having mobile devices in the hands of every student, Prospect made the decision to give all of the class of 2017 this technological opportunity. To pay for the original iPads granted, Prospect chose to draw from their “budget neutral” desktop computer fund and purchase iPads instead of replacing one set of lab computers as previously done every year. To pay for the remaining 20 percent of freshman iPads, the technology center used the funds in the building technology budget managed by Technology Systems Supervisor Rudy Gomez to seal the deal. All in all, the final total amounted to about $160,000 and a fresh start for freshman curriculums. “Financially, it works out really well, but the real question became, ‘What can teachers do if every student has an iPad?’, and that is what drove the decision to provide this opportunity and learning experience for all freshmen,” Zvonek said. And, just as the administration planned, the iPads are making a significant impact in their

See iPAD, page 2

graphic by Ian Magnuson

15 Sports

Construction saga continues Summer updates bring new renovations By Eva Schacht News Editor

NEW FLOW: New water fountain fillers were installed on August 24. According to Associate Principal Greg Minter, the fountains were added to enhance students’ experience at Prospect. (Photo by Rich Futo)

Heading into a new school year means a completely fresh start. New clothes, books and binders can give a major facelift to a person’s image. This is also true for Prospect; new cosmetic projects are done every year, even though students may not notice them. This year, however, some updates might have people talking.

Community room construction Over the summer, Prospect’s community room was completely renovated. The old, green carpet was replaced with new, laminate floors. According to Associate Principal Greg Minter, there was usually an odor in there from the food used for various events, and the carpet would have to be cleaned regularly to keep it fresh and clean smelling.

See UPGRADES, page 3

News

September 13, 2013

prospectornow.com

iPAD: New technology revolutionizes learning atmosphere CONTINUED from front page new homes with the class of 2017. Freshman biology teacher Paul Schoenbeck is happy with the new methods of teaching that are now possible with the iPads, but he admits it is a learning curve with its share of bumps in the road. “At times, it can be a struggle to get everyone on the same page, but it’s a work in progress,” Shoenbeck said. “Ultimately, it makes the material more engaging and brings class to an interactive level for both the student and teacher.” With every student in his class now having the internet at their fingertips, Schoenbeck’s students have been able to watch TED talks and then create their own versions based on class discussions, edit them and email them to him with just a few clicks of the keyboard. As much as it has been a redesign for the teachers in these pilot programs, it has been a lifestyle change for the students and technology department staff. For the students, this new opportunity has come with responsibility that relies heavily on the honor code, While devices such as these have been used as toys outside of school, in school they need to be treated as tools

for learning and not easy access to social media. “Students have to realize, ‘I have basically a giant cell phone in my hand and my teacher isn’t going to tell me to put it away, so I have to be responsible for myself to make sure that I’m doing the right thing with it,’” Schoenbeck said. Damasky agrees that the iPads can be a potential distraction for many students, but having this privilege is curbing the temptation that would normally drive students off task. “The freedom of it is that we can have games on [our iPads], but most kids are respectful enough to not be a distraction during class when we know we’re supposed to be doing school stuff,” Damasky said. For Zvonek and the technology department, the implementation of an entire grade-worth of iPads has made fundamental changes in their responsibilities, including their interactions with teachers and students. The technology help desk in the library now must address the daily problems of username changes, inability to connect to wifi and purchasing apps needed for various classes. With the addition of Apple TV to the classrooms, the ability of students to wirelessly project their work

onto classroom screens has not only generated unprecedented efficiency, but also required Zvonek to give classroom talks about digital citizenship and not using the iPad as a means of distraction to peers or other classrooms. “The concepts of being respectful with what you have and having the maturity to use it wisely are all concepts you can now apply to the digital world,” Zvonek said. “It’s this cooperation I’m talking to the freshman about now, and the way they are used will affect the continuation of this opportunity in the future.” Spanish teacher Ryan Schultz has created his own system during class to ensure that his students will now see iPads as potentially permanent school learning tools and not places to play games during school hours. When students aren’t using their iPads to present or complete other class activities, the iPads must be closed and put away. “It’s frustrating at times to see it being used for such a great presentation and then see another student in the corner playing games and having it be a distraction,” Schultz said. Despite needing to remind students from time to time to stay on task, Schultz looks forward to seeing the iPad program grow in years to come. According to Zvonek, the

implementation of the iPads for an entire class is something the Prospect administration hopes to continue in the future, giving each class iPads to carry with them until they graduate and thereby creating a fully equipped student body. This process went hand in hand with the creation of the Knights’ Learning Center, which has incorporated these iPads into an area of peer tutoring and technology assistance and added another aspect to the jobs of the technology department. The talk of changing the library had been going on for a few years, and with the news that all freshmen would get iPads, it was time to coincide new technology with a new area to learn. With the ability for students to tutor each other one-on-one in an adaptive new setting and assist with class work using the iPads, the teachers and technology department are excited for what the future will hold. “The process requires a lot of changes, and any kind of implementation like this is going to be a learning experience,” Zvonek said. “But ultimately what makes it the most worthwhile is seeing the impact the iPads have on our students’ education and knowing it will only keep growing from here.”

Chinese students going the distance Rolling Meadows students travel to Prospect instead of video chatting By Shannon Smith Features Editor

Senior Natalie Bueno, along with four other students from Rolling Meadows High School, would squeeze in front of two desktops every day to receive their AP Chinese lesson from Prospect’s Chinese teacher, George Kang, over video chat. This is the first year Chinese 4 and AP Chinese are being offered in the district. Instead of having the Rolling Meadows students travel to yet another school, a video chat system was used to teach the Rolling Meadows students virtually. Both the Rolling Meadows and Prospect students in Chinese 4 and AP Chinese have been traveling to and from John Hersey High School for the past two years. According to senior Kelly Cunningham, this was a huge inconvenience. Because the class could only be one period of the day, during her junior year, Cunningham had to leave gym early and arrive late to lunch. During her sophomore year, she went to Hersey in the morning and came back late for gym. In an attempt to accommodate both Rolling Meadows and Prospect students, Kang

decided to try out a video chat system to teach the lesson. He used a program called Webex. It seemed like a good solution at first, but there has been multiple technical difficulties that have consumed a large portion of the class period. “We spent a lot of time messing around with technology and trying to get it to work, which isn’t fun,” Cunningham said. “And you don’t learn as much. [Prospect and Rolling Meadows] should have figured it out before the year started.” According to Cunningham, Kang and Bueno, the classes had issues with getting the volume and video to work. Also, because the Webex program only allows three users at one time, the five students from Rolling Meadows had to share two computers. This system made learning difficult for students at both schools. Kang had to sit in front of the computer in order for the students at Meadows to see and hear him, which in turn made it difficult to teach the Prospect students. “It [was] cool that they [were] doing new things, but it was also really inconvenient,” Cunningham said. “And I think it would need to be worked out first, especially because it’s an

OoVoo ooVoo is a free instant messaging, voice and video chat website for registered members. Free Features: -video chat and messaging between 12 people at a time -send files to any ooVoo contact -video messages about to 100 minutes long

VIDEO CHATTING: AP Chinese students sit in class on September 6 while Chinese teacher George Kang video chats with the other AP Chinese students at Rolling Meadows. This was the last day before the Rolling Meadows Chinese students started to travel to Prospect. (Photo by Mary Kate Moloney) AP class. It’s suppose to be really content-heavy, and we haven’t gotten as far as we should.” Although Cunningham doesn’t think the class has gotten very far, Kang doesn’t think the technical difficulties have delayed them because all the material they need is accessible online. Also, since the class only has 12 students, having five of them at Rolling Meadows made it difficult to do group activities like the other language classes. “It’s just awkward [having

a small class] and prevented us from doing a lot of group work,” Cunningham said. However, Prospect and Rolling Meadows had a backup plan. If the video chat system did not work, the Rolling Meadows students would travel to Prospect for the class. On September 4, the students decided to try traveling instead. Their reasoning was a lack of classroom interaction along with the challenging learning environment caused by the technical issues. Kang agrees with this de-

Skype Skype is an instant messaging and video chat program made by Microsoft Skype Division. Free Features: -telephone calls between pairs of people - conference calling -group chats with emoticons

cision because having face to face contact with the students is more beneficial. The Rolling Meadows students traveled to Prospect for the first time September 9. Cunningham agrees with the decision to have students in the same classroom. “Unless we can get teachers to have two separate [AP Chinese classes], I think traveling is the best choice because it’s a lot easier to teach when everyone is in the same room,” Cunningham said.

Webex Originally founded under the name ActiveTech a free service with video chat and instant messaging. Free Features: -document sharing -discussion forums

prospectornow.com

September 13, 2013

News

Construction combats congestion

Mt. Prospect road updates to allviate stress for students, staff after long inconvenience

By Shreya Thakkar News Editor

Senior Stephanie Kies has grown accustomed to construction delays at Prospect and on Northwest Highway on her way home. “[The construction] is a real inconvenience because I have to go underneath the underpass, and I’m not allowed to make left turns during the hours that I’m going to and from school,” Kies said. “So you have to go further down, which, even though it is only a couple of streets, still makes a difference, I think. And it takes longer going underneath the underpass.” The construction on Northwest Highway, in front of Culver’s and the underpass, is another construction project by the Village of Mount Prospect, along with the current Kensington construction. The construction on Kensington, which, according to the village of Mount Prospect, started in April 2013 and is forecasted to end in early November, consisted of adding a center turn lane and a bike path -- for safety reasons.

Over this seven-month-long construction season, Associate Principal Greg Minter, whose job is to communicate construction updates to Prospect students and families, has not encountered any big problems. Before the construction began, Minter had expected lots of delays on Kensington, but he believes there haven’t been as many as anticipated. The project cost $3.3 million and was paid by the state of Illinois and the Village of Mount Prospect. According to Minter, District 214 came up with the idea to create a separate exit through the staff parking lot. This exit will not be only used for the staff, but also for buses and anyone turning right onto Kensington. The exit should alleviate traffic by the stoplight, a popular entrance and exit. For that to happen, the district paid the Village of Mount Prospect $25,000. Kies is looking forward getting to use the exit in the staff parking lot, which will be finished soon. The path has already been made, and only the final touches are left. She believes that it will help improve

BUS BACKUP: Afterschool traffic from the stoplight on Kensington causes delay. Traffic moves slowly because of over-congestion and having to wait for buses to turn. (Photo by Rich Futo) traffic because students won’t have to wait for for the busses to make their turns at the signal light. Math teacher Karen Kanupke is also awaiting the staff parking lot exit to be in use. Kanupke has to leave right after school to pick up her kids, but she has to wait until 3:20 p.m. to avoid the after-school traffic. However, once the exit is finished, she will be able to leave when she wants. “I think [the new exit] will make a huge difference,” Kanupke said, “A lot of the conges-

tion [at the signal light] will be alleviated.” Not everyone views the construction as an inconvenience. Culver’s and other businesses have seen an increase in customers due to the construction. According to Larry, who was not allowed to give his last name, Culver’s has had a slight increase in business from the construction workers and hopes to to have more customers when the construction is finished. Larry, a high-school student, has worked at Culver’s as a crew chief for three-and-a-

half years and is in charge of crew workers at Culver’s. Larry believes that once the construction is finished, Culver’s will have an increase in customers from nearby jobs because the construction won’t cause so much delay. Although it is hard to remember a time without the construction, Kies can’t wait to see the end. “I’m looking forward to being able to get around faster without all the annoying construction traffic,” Kies said.

UPGRADES: New but only known by few students CONTINUED from front page The community room is one of the few meeting rooms in the school that can fit anywhere from 50 to 75 people. The renovation felt pertinent to remove the odor so events could continue. The new laminate is the same price as carpet or tile. The renovation roughly cost about $4,000 and was district-funded.

Water fountain fixation Walking up to the water fountain outside the Knights Learning Center, one might notice a difference in its appearance. The new water fountains were installed August 24. According to Minter, there will be four more coming throughout the year: one on each floor and one in the field house, however, they won’t all look exactly like the one on the first floor.

They will all have the water bottle filler but will look slightly different. The price is $1,000 each due to labor, parts and new plumbing needed for the fountain itself. The idea came up last year during a principal’s advisory meeting, and Prospect agreed because the idea was very environmentally-friendly. Prospect, Buffalo Grove and Rolling Meadows are the only schools in the district with the new water fountains. “We want [the water fountains] to enhance everybody’s experience here,” Minter said.

Deans distribute locks Since day one, rumors have been flying around the P.E. wing that locks will be distributed by the deans and that the system will be stricter. According to Dean Mark Taylor, this isn’t the whole truth. Although Taylor did create the software for the new distribution sys-

WALKING INTO NEW TERRITORY: New community room floors were replaced over the summer due to an incessant odor, according to Associate Principal Greg Minter. (Photo by Eva Schacht)

tem, the deans are not really involved in this process. The system changed because the old system was too long and complicated. According to Taylor, in years past, students would “hand write” the combinations and locker numbers on an index card when gym teachers would distribute locks during the first week of school. Due to different variables that must be taken into consideration, the distribution of locks with the old system sometimes took up to a week. Now, with the new software, the locks will be distributed automatically, and lock combinations and lockers will be randomized by the computer. “We now know with the click of a button who’s in what locker,” Taylor said.

there were even a few courts where people couldn’t play on them, simply because the cracks were so bad. “These new courts are amazing,” Paxton said. “You have a lot more room to move and work. They’re a lot cleaner, and the balls bounce faster and harder when they hit the ground.” According to Rathe, the previously red and green courts are now blue and green to imitate the U.S. Open courts. The hardest part about the renovation was avoiding conflicts with the tennis summer camps that Prospect held. Luckily, the courts were redone after the camp was completed, but at the girls’ first practice, there was still pavement on the ground. The courts are finally finished, and will last for 5 West Campbell St., Arlington Heights 847-749-3529

Tennis courts resurfaced Construction seems to be a popular trend around Prospect. The continuing Kensington project won’t be completed until the beginning of the second quarter, but construction just ended on the tennis courts. Over the summer, the tennis Grind courts were resurfaced due to major cracks and overall wear and tear. The entire project was district-funded. According to JV girls’ tennis coach Brad Rathe, the district puts the resurfacing project on a cycle. Every few years, a different school’s courts get resurfaced. Some courts had become so bad that if a ball bounced on a crack, it would go flying, potentially changing the entire game. Luckily, the tennis balls were the only casualties as a result of the cracks. According to junior Kate Paxton, a member of the JV team,

Daily and

Grille

Opinion September 13, 2013

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Privacy settings don’t work on parents Parents invade social media, violate students’ private life During her freshman year, an er found a drawing that gave away or condition of being free from being anonymous junior’s parents started my friend’s little brother’s plans to observed or disturbed by other peoreferencing Instagram ple. commit suicide. posts and Facebook staOddly enough, even minors have I don’t blame my friend’s tuses that she’d never mother for what she did, the need –– if not the right –– for this. told them about. When but the circumstances there Giving us our privacy allows us to their comments became weren’t normal ones. The take responsibility for our actions, a weekly occurrence, the boy who almost killed him- and when our parents trust us, it junior realized that her self had been bullied at helps us trust them. parents might be paying The worst that the junior’s parschool for almost a year leadmore attention to her ining up to the incident, and ents found was some profanity and ternet activity than she he’d recently switched to a unconcerning selfies, and their inthought. medication that had the po- vasive actions caused more damage Two years later, her Caroline Binley tential to increase suicidal than good. parents continue to Opinion Editor Newsflash for the paranoid parthoughts. check her Facebook evIn most cases, snooping ents of the world: most of us arery week for anything inapparents would be just as pro- en’t drug addicts, gang members or propriate (a.k.a. the occasional “bad” ductive if they took a lighter to the mentally unstable, and I think you word that’s about as shocking as the physical manifestation of our trust would’ve noticed a pentagram or two fact that Miley Cyrus isn’t a good and respect for them and laughed if your kids were getting into devil role model), even though she barely while it turns into a gross and un- worship. updates her Facebook because of her necessary pile of ashes. The deep, dark secrets hiding in parents’ actions. Not to mention that it’s rude. At the depths of our computers aren’t Just like the National Security the risk of shocking the Obama ad- really that deep or dark, and they’re Agency, parents have a habit of over- ministration, let me remind you of rarely worth prying into. stepping boundaries when it comes the definition of privacy: the state to our privacy. They check our Facebooks, Instagrams, Twitters and more in a pointless invasion of our privacy. I understand their desire to snoop –– if I ever have kids (and manage to get past the “My life is over!” part of things), I’ll probably be tempted to poke around too –– but that doesn’t make it a good idea. A lot of stupid things, like communism and homework, seem great at first glance. That’s not to say there aren’t legitimate reasons to poke around. If you find a bag of weed in your kids’ room, fine. Check their browser history. But finding a bag of weed and looking for one are two separate things. (Don’t worry. I doubt there’s any weed to find anyway.) GOING TOO FAR: My mom logs onto Facebook to check on her kids’ internet With reasonable cause, snooping around can save lives. I watched it activity. These invasions of privacy are becoming more common with the rise happen when my best friend’s moth- of social networking. (Photo by Caroline Binley)

From the desk of Veronica Holloway

The Staff

Staff Ed

Syria conflict shrouded in ignorance On Saturday, August 31, President Barack Obama spoke to news telecasters throughout the world about the Syrian government’s alleged use of chemical weapons against its own people. Within his address, the president not only confirmed that he is prepared to Against For confront the Syrian government Voting results of the Prospector staff in regards to this editorial. with military action, but in addition insisted he is willfully waiting for an approval from Congress before doing so. With such a monumental decision being discussed and debated throughout the country, we often find ourselves questioning our own views on the issue. We tend to approach these kinds of situations with a “right vs. wrong” mindset but seldom remember the larger gray area in the middle. Without acknowledging the full scope of the situation, students risk stating unsupported opinions on such an important topic. We, The Prospector, believe that the public should focus on becoming well-informed on these situations rather than paying attention to the sensationalized media hype sold throughout the stories. Much like it is impossible to solve an equation without all the variables, an educated opinion cannot be fully developed without its facts. Instead of focusing on whether Congress’ final decision on striking Syria is right or wrong, ask and search for the answers to questions we have yet to address. What are the costs? What are the benefits? What other nations are willing to help? Have we faced similar situations before? If we do not ask and answer these questions with a sense of urgency, we risk remaining ignorant and unaware as a society. The Syrian situation is only one example of the importance of being well informed, though. As high school students and community members, we are surrounded by policies and social issues that spark debate within our lives every day. As children, most of us find ourselves nodding our heads and following the opinions and perspectives that our parents set in front of us. But as we grow up into young adults, it is our responsibility to explore our own values and beliefs as individuals. This year, with half of the students at Prospect carrying iPads and having a world of news at their fingertips, there is no excuse to remain uninformed of world events. So although it is far easier to chase the feeling of our natural instincts and reactions, as we continue to grow and witness conflicting discussions and dilemmas it is our duty to look for the differentiating perspectives. Pursue all the necessary information, insist on paying attention to every detail and demand that your sources are credible, then make your decision.

ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Jack McDermott

IN-DEPTH EDITORS Aungelina Dahm Abby Sunu

VISUALS EDITORS Rich Futo Cassidy Selep

NEWS EDITORS Eva Schacht Shreya Thakkar

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Grace McKay

ADVISER Jason Block

COPY EDITOR Ellen Siefke

OPINION EDITORS Chris Kivlahan Caroline Binley

ASSOCIATE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Andi Hayes Erin McGovern

FEATURES EDITORS Khrystyna Halatyama Mary Kate Moloney Shannon Smith

SPORTS EDITORS Peter Fusilero Molly Mueller Devin Prasad

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nabi Dressler MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Schoessling

BROADCAST EDITOR Lauren Miller

Mission Statement The primary purpose of the Prospect High School Prospector is to report news as well as explain its meaning and significance to our readers and the community. We, the Prospector, hope to inform, entertain and provide a school forum for the unrestricted exchange of ideas and opinions.

ONLINE EDITOR Spencer Ball

The Prospector is published by students in Journalistic Writing courses

Some material is courtesy of MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service. Advertising For ad rates, call (847) 718-5376 (ask for Kelly Schoessling), fax (847) 718-5306 e-mail or write the Prospector, 801 West Kensington Rd., Mount Prospect, IL 60056, prospectornow@gmail.com.

Letters to the Editor Drop off letters to the Prospector in the box in the library, in Rm. 216 or email letters to prospectornow@gmail.com. All letters must be signed. Limit letters to 400 words. The Prospector reserves the right to edit letters for style and length.

Opinion

September 13, 2013

prospectornow.com

Rape jokes no laughing matter

TAKE TO THE STREETS: Pro-Choice advocates gather in Raleigh, North Carolina to protest the state’s new abortion restrictions. Protests both for and against a woman’s right to choose are becoming more and more common, with no end to the debate in sight. (Photo courtesy of Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

Abortion sparks debate We live in an era of social sides of the spectrum, the entire change. Whether it be about civil topic of an “abortion debate,” let liberties, economic policy, or even alone one led by men, seems almost legalizing weed, there ludicrous. are good causes to rally If we were to see it around wherever you clearly, as a government look. Or so it would seem. attempting to gain control In reality, many social over one of the most perissues have their outsonal human functions, comes all but decided. we would see an attack on For example, despite relipersonal liberties of near gious protests, it is a near Orwellian proportions. certainty that we will see There are so many difnationwide laws allowferent viewpoints, factors ing gay marriage – or at Chris Kivlahan and circumstances that least an identical type of Executive Opinion it’s near impossible to civil union – within the Editor look at the issue head-on, next 20 years. and the difficulty of makAs tumultuous as these times ing a decision on the morality of may be, the time for most revo- abortion is one more reason that lutionary activism has come and the right to choose should reside gone. with the mother. Yet, the blemish on the bright It’s impossible for the governfuture of civil liberties is abortion. ment, the church or anything else It was meant to be resolved in 1973 to pass a blanket judgement on the by Roe v. Wade, but the battle for a moral justifications for every powoman’s right to choose wages on. tential abortion. Abortion is becoming less and And yet, this is exactly what less legal by the day. According some are trying to do. to Time Magazine, approximateConsider a 13-year-old girl, ly one in 10 abortion clinics have raped by her stepfather. This sitclosed their doors since 2011. uation is disturbing and hard to This comes on the heels of out- think about, but all too possible. spoken cries by both supporters The body of a 13-year-old is much and detractors and nearly 200 re- more vulnerable to complications cent laws limiting the ability of in pregnancy that would endanger clinics to open or perform abor- the life of both mother and child tions. than an adult. Taking a step back from the Is it not within the rights of this politicising, propaganda and emo- girl and her family to make the detional appeals conducted on both cision that she is not physically,

emotionally or mentally capable of delivering a baby, much less raising it? When abortion is brought up for any reason other than concerns about the life of the mother, the question becomes, “Why not deliver the child, and put it up for adoption?” This seems like an elegant answer, but when we look at America’s adoption system, we see that the adoption defense is flawed at best. According to childrensrights. com, the average child up for adoption spends three years in foster care, with a 20 percent chance of being trapped in the system for five or more years. Another argument, if it can be called that (as it is no more than an attack on pro-choice individuals) is that advocates for choice “like” abortion, yet the argument for a woman’s right to choose is just that: not an argument for abortion, but an argument for choice. Our generation will be the ones electing the politicians that determine the fate of abortion in America; we will be the ones picketing outside abortion clinics, and we will be the ones in charge when this debate ends. For now, all we can do is keep fighting to make sure our government knows that the right to determine the outcome of a pregnancy lies with nobody but the mother herself.

Feminist and Jezebel blogger Lindy West appeared on W. Kamau Bell’s FX show “Totally Biased” on May 31 to argue against comedian Jim Norton on whether rape jokes were acceptable and funny. West argued that rape jokes contribute to a society that believes that rape jokes, and potentially rape itself, are acceptable. Norton, on the other hand, disagreed and claimed that rape jokes are funny as they are just another part of comedy and don’t actually harm anyone. However, what’s interesting is the amount of backlash West received after her appearance on Bell’s show. West responded to hundreds Andi Hayes of angry comments towards her Associate Ediappearance on the show with a tor-in-Chief video, reciting comments from users that said things like West was bitter she was too fat to be raped, along with countless threats. With these threats, it is easy to see that there is more that lies beneath the shell of “harmless comedy”. If society didn’t have a problem with rape, then why did West receive so many angry threats of rape and violence? If society was so accepting of rape jokes as harmless, then why did West’s disapproval of rape jokes offend so many people and cause them to react in such harsh ways? Rape jokes are much more than jokes. Even if your intentions are completely harmless, you’re still perpetuating the idea that making fun of rape is acceptable. You thinking rape jokes are OK contributes to a society that thinks rape jokes are OK, and that societal view of rape jokes lessens your reaction to actual cases of rape. This attitude advances a societal view of not taking things like rape seriously. It’s not acceptable, and it never will be. According to rainn.org, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, 207,754 people are victims of sexual assault every year, and the fact that someone’s arguments against rape jokes are simply brushed off as “butt hurt” shows how insensitive society has become to actual atrocities. You may say, “Oh my God, just because I said a rape joke doesn’t mean I’m a rapist or will ever be one.” That’s great, but victim-targeting rape jokes perpetuates the misogynistic world we live in. Maybe that’s a little dramatic, but maybe it’s not, considering 44 percent of rape victims are under the age of 18. As adolescents, rape does affect us, whether directly or indirectly; one out of every six women deals with an attempted or completed rape in her life, according to rainn.org. Treating women like objects is no joke. The same goes for jokes offensive to any other races, sexualities or religions, but it is up to us to make sure that we do not become consumers of the very things we protest and realize that many jokes go much further than the punchline.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger I would like to reveal that joining the incredibly and my writing took twice Prospector was the worst—and best— as long as my classmates due to my perfectionism, all leading to major sleep decision of my life. As another school year gets under- deprivation. way, students will make decisions about All this stress made me hate writing their extracurriculars and electives for more and more to the point of swearthe year. Most students choose electives ing sessions in the middle of the night. to further pursue their interests and Believe it or not, I still abhor writing to hobbies, while others might want to this very day, despite writing countless join activities to bolster their stories. However, as I prematurecollege resumes. ly moved to a new school in Likewise, two years ago, a new country this summer, I was a freshman trying out various options. I was quite I was able to take a new perunsure of what I would be spective on my brief two getting myself into after deyears at Prospect and see the ciding to take Journalistic big picture. Writing for the Prospector Writing 1, hoping to somehow improve my horrific middle was painful, but in retrospect, school writing. I realized doing something I was fine for the first cou- Brian Park I hated made me a stronger ple weeks of class, but then Guest Columnist person. Most people decide to only everything became a nightfocus on their passions and do mare. Everything went wrong the moment what they enjoy, but if you never have I joined the paper—as a major procras- the motivation or courage to step into tinator, I wasn’t able to meet deadlines, uncomfortable territory and face your upcoming interviews stressed me out fears, you will never be able to solve the

problem or change for the better. If you hate running or aren’t fit enough to run more than a mile like I used to be, train yourself for a half-marathon or even a full marathon. Even I was amazed when I transformed into a half-marathoner this summer. Looking back, it was an incredibly emotional journey that changed my outlook on life. I can tell you though, even if you take the initiative, it’s going to be tough. You’re going to struggle and face rough obstacles and adversities, but it’s how you handle them and triumph over them that will change you. It’s the journey of who you’re becoming that is more important than what you will be able to accomplish. Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not saying to devote all your time to what you don’t enjoy. Still pursue your fields of interest, but every time you study or do something that seems unnecessary or uninteresting, know that it will add up in the long run. Take the first step to change your identity, and then you will be able to achieve the impossible.

GOING THE DISTANCE: This summer, I completed my first ever half-marathon. As a lifelong non-runner, training was hard but in the end doing something I hated made me a better person. (Photo courtesy of Brian Park)

prospectornow.com

September 13, 2013

Features

Beyond the classroom: getting involved All the extracurriculars of Prospect Art Club..................................Mr. Pruc Bass Fishing Club.............Mr. Schaap Book Bites....................Mrs. Sylvester Class of ‘14.......................Mrs. Myers Class of ‘15......................Mrs. Collins Class of ‘16.......................Ms. Tantillo Class of ‘17.............Mr. Hammerstrom Cricket Club......................Mr. Karcher DECA..............................Mrs. Fortuna ................................Mr. Hennig Ebony Club........................Mr. Meyers Environmental Club.............Ms. David FCCLA (Family, Career, Community, Leaders of America)..........Mrs. Collins French Club........................Mr. Russell GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance)..........................Mr. Seemann Guitar Club............Dr. J. Kyp-Johnson ...........................Mr. Taylor International Club...............Ms. Carroll Intramural Bowling...............Mr. Troyer JAMM (Anime Club)............Ms. Kruse Italian Club........................Ms. Scolaro Knights Under No Influence.......................Mrs. Stoltz Knights’ Way...................Mrs. Fortuna ..........Dr. J. Kyp-Johnson LINK (Leading Incoming Knights)...........Mr. Seemann National Honor Society......Dr. Thorton Peppers “Pep Club”.......Mrs. Fonsino Principal Advisory Committee......................Mrs. Dowling Robotics............................Mr. Schaap ............................Mr. Fonsino Roundtable......................Mr. Andrews Service Club..................Mr. Jacobson Spanish Club.....................Mr. Schultz Student Athletic Training Aides ......................Mr. Guth Student Council................Ms. Scolaro Student Exchange..............Ms. Carroll Tech Crew...........................Mr. Erbach Theater Angels...................Mr. Morton Underground Spirit Club ............Mr. Sebestyen .............Mr. Mirandola Ultimate Frisbee..........Mr. Camardella Young Life............................Mr. Taylor Zoo Club.......................Mr. DelBoccio .........................Ms. Genitoni

Programming club thrives with student leadership By Khrystyna Halatyma

Executive Features Editor Senior Rick Hallman started the programming club because of his personal interest in computers. He imagined the club to be a collaborative team environment where students would gather to work on complex programming projects. This turned out not to be the case. When a hopeful 25 students showed up to the very first meeting during Hallman’s sophomore year, he realized not many of them knew much about programming itself. During the next few months, participation waned, and the club faded into Prospect’s history. But Hallman was not one to give up. He tried again and succeeded, starting the first programming meetings in the middle of last year with math teacher Michael Grasse as the sponsor. The main objective of the club is to get students interested and knowledgeable about programming and C++, the programming language. “Other than teaching students the language,

Club name

ultimately we’d like to come up with something useful,” Grasse said. “It’d be something teachers can use...apps that could be educational or to help around here, like a Prospect app.” According to Grasse, the main leader of the club is Hallman. Hallman takes on the leadership role and guides the members through their weekly meetings. To help teach students the basics, Hallman was loosely going off published course notes from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “I’m pretty hands-off, so it’s nice to see students teaching and helping other students,” Grasse said. “[That’s] definitely the best part for me.” “I just like seeing that people are interested,” Hallman said. “It encourages me.” Hallman encourages anyone who is interested in the computer sciences to join the club. A rapidly growing field, it’s one of Hallman’s major hobbies. Senior Brenna Milligan is one of the club’s members who wants to major in Computer Sciences.

Where/when do they meet?

International Club

Thursdays in the College and Career Center

Knights Under No Influence

Once a month, typically Wednesday or Thursday in room 208

Gay-Straight Alliance

Every other Tuesday after school

Main leaders? Seniors Fatima Eldes and Shar Ayrempour

Mrs. Stoltz Junior Quinn Stewart

TAKING CHARGE: Senior Rick Hallman uses open course notes from Massachusetts Institute of Technology to teach students about C++ computer language for Programming Club. (Photo by Rich Futo) Walking into her first programming meeting not quite sure what to expect, Milligan hoped to get a taste of the field before entering college. She was relieved when Hallman started from scratch, explaining the basics of computer programming and C++. According to Milligan, a lot of students in the club have been programming things since they were kids, whereas she has never tried it. “It was really good, [and] Rick’s really good at teaching,” Milligan said. “It’s cool how he’s running

Main purpose? To expose the Prospect community to different cultures

To provide students with an opportunity to do something fun on a Friday night that doesn’t involve anything illegal To create an alliance between gay and straight students for human rights. Fight homophobia at schools

it, so it’s a student-run [club]. I’m excited to learn.” One of the other things Milligan liked was the relaxed atmosphere. Questions were shouted out at any point and gave Milligan a chance to catch up on the skills members had learned last year. “If I like it so much, maybe other people have the same mindset,” Hallman said. “I want to get people programming.” “It’s a good atmosphere; we’re really laidback,” Grasse said. “We’ve got some really smart people that can teach [students] how to program computers.”

How many members?

Biggest event?

Why should people join?

Varies with each meeting, around 15

Thanksgiving Feast. Students bring in meals to share from their own cultures

A lot of students found each other through the club and now they’re a a big group of friends

About 20 Depends on the day, open for everyone

It’s an organizaRed Ribbon tion that’s based Week, but around students every month is a new event having fun and hanging out

To help students create a safe environment for everyone to feel comfortable in school and to get awareness about global issues

Day of Silence

Guess the Teacher

Each issue there will be five facts about a mystery teacher. Tweet @ProspectorNow with your name and guess to be entered in a raffle for a $10 Chipotle gift card that will be raffled off every two issues.

I am a twin.

2) I won a national sorority award.

3) I am a Bears fan.

1993

2013

Staff: Then and Now Counselor Rachel Brill

4) I teach in a male-dominated subject. 5) I graduated from Prospect.

As sweet as Home

In-Depth

September 13, 2013

Executive In-Depth Editor Three hours outside of Guatemala holds 10 kilometers of a rocky mountain road leading to the house of a family who had just lost a 6-year-old son. There was no running water or electricity, and the floor was made of dirt. Over the door hung old and broken CDs because their shiny appearance was the only form of decorations the family had. Reverend Linda McCarty, as well as other volunteers of the Faith in Practice organization, sat with the boy’s parents and his four brothers and sisters with a pot of rice milk and an open fire inside the home to grieve together over the death of this child. “We talked about their son, who had become a big part of my life,” McCarty said. “We were three people who came from very different circumstances, and yet we were crying and laughing over this one little guy.” This patient was one of many whom McCarty has helped and grieved for

throughout her three years as Once she got into college, a volunteer and six additional McCarty came into her eleyears as president and CEO of ment. She went to Valparaiso Faith in Practice. and DePaul University during Due to her inspirational and the late ‘80s and most recently motivational work, McCarty is graduated from University of Prospect’s 2013 Distinguished Chicago in 2004. Alumna, and will be honored At first, McCarty thought at homecoming corshe wanted to be onation. a lawyer. Despite McCarty moved this, while workto Mt. Prospect ing in a law office, from Indiana at the feeling of not the end of the first fitting in and not semester during being part of the her freshman year. crowd came back. During her time at It made her realProspect, she was ize practicing law very unsure of wasn’t what she herself and wasn’t wanted to do. part of the popular McCarty was Rev. Linda McCarty around 36 years old crowd. However, she rewhen she finally members distinctly that in her felt God calling her to pursue graduation ceremony in 1980, her true passion in life. her U.S. History teacher Tom “I got to the point in my life Roberts came up and shook where I realized, ‘What am I her hand when she was walk- doing, and what am I doing it ing off the stage. for?’” McCarty said. “I wanted “I will never forget that,” to spend my life living more McCarty said. “The small fully. The best way I could do things people do really matter that was to take a leap of faith to you, especially when you and trust that He had somedon’t feel like you fit in very thing in store for me that I well.” needed to figure out.”

As a result, McCarty was a chaplain, a pastor and had a variety of leadership roles within many different companies. She started as a volunteer non-profit pastor and translator in February 2004 at Faith in Practice and has been there ever since. One story that has stuck with McCarty was when she saw one child thank a surgeon from Faith in Practice for fixing his father’s hernia that he had for six or seven years. The child came up to the surgeon and said, “Thank you so much because now we will be able to eat.” His father couldn’t work to support his family because of the immense pain. “It’s things like that that show what we do,” McCarty said. “But it’s not what I do, it’s what we do together. I’ve never had one boring day. It continues to challenge, grow and humble me. It doesn’t really get any better than this. I am enriched by the poor of Guatemala, and that is really a great thing.”

Homecoming: blast from the past

By Abby Sunu

Michelle Dowling

In-Depth Editor

Teri Buczinsky Located between a chicken farm and a corn field in Turner, Ore., Cascade High School held its annual homecoming celebration in 1978 with English teacher Teri Buczinksy on court. Her school had similar traditions as Prospect, such as the pep assembly. “[Homecoming] wasn’t nearly as cool and formal and fancy as what they do here,” Buczinsky said. The football game was a pretty big deal in this country town, as the whole community would come, filling the entire stadium. At Buczinsky’s homecoming game, instead of walking out to the field, the court rode around the field in Corvettes. Overall, Buczinsky’s homecoming experience was very enjoyable.

19 8 19 7

Sometimes safe is the most dangerous thing you could do. don’ t n’ t mean s e o d t a Th . ro cksta r become a

It just means that there are people that have a great talent and a great heart and passion for something, but they often times don’t listen to it because they feel like doing what is more conventional and what people expect of them.

You ha ve to lo ve harder an d trust more. It’s about th e people; it’s ab out your jo urn e y. It’s not about the house or the car or all the ‘nothings’ that make you think you’re safe or successful. p as a rew ed u fin ed c s y ll a e We r w e de on how do believe it.” y t ie c o s lly s. I rea succes - Reverend Linda McCarty

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Monday, September 16

Hall Decorating: 1:00-4:00 p.m. Classes and clubs

Coronation Assembly with Distinguished Alumna Presentation: 2:10-2:50 p.m.

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Although the queen of our school, Principal Michelle Dowling did not win homecoming queen at Hersey High School in 1983, she was still able to take part a part of homecoming court, actually relieved not to have won. “I was really shy, so I was kind of nervous actually,” Dowling said. “I didn’t really like the attention; I felt a little self-conscious.” Dowling found out she was nominated for court at a school pep assembly and later that week got to attend another assembly to find out the results. The coronation assembly was held at night as the court dressed up and walked over a bridge. “I was worried I was going to trip,” Dowling said. Other events included a big parade that went through the community. Students decorated their cars, and the court rode in convertibles. The parade ended at the football field before the game. The court would drive up, and each court member would meet their parents; the king and queen would present the game ball. “It was fun,” Dowling said. “Homecoming was a lot like it is here, a lot of activities [and] a lot of spirit.”

Sunday, September 15

By Aungelina Dahm

‘80 grad awarded Distinguished Alumna

u long. Yo o “Life is t l o n’ t fee Listen to your should passion an d you ure. hea s s e r r p rt. Do not act much out of fear, bu t act out of lo ve . , an d don’ t ld lo ve to do u o w u yo nt. Lo ve what an accounta e b to d ee n u fear that yo rrated. e; safe is o ve af s e Don’ t b

Histor was on his senio High Sc during th coming, announc sembly, queen w “It wa inated,” voted, so it was pretty cool that peop that.” Cohen was not disappointed he did events took place during that week. T parade that went through the whole t everyone participated in it before the that night. “I think [homecoming] is a big dea Cohen said.

2013 Knightime

Tuesday, September 17 Wednesday, S Seniors: Toga Tuesday Juniors, sophomores and freshmen: Crazy Hat and Hair Day Lunchtime: Cotton Candy Machine

Neon Day

Staff: Blue S Juniors: Yellow So Freshmen: Red Lunchtime: Pucker Guess the Skittles

Bonfire Dance: 8:00

ecoming could be September 13, 2013

Nicole Stoltz

At Saint Viator High School, the former poms squad captain and current English teacher Nicole Stoltz was a homecoming queen nominee in 2002. “It was exciting, and it was an honor to represent not only the school but to be a representation of the poms squad,” Stoltz said. There was a formal assembly, similar to the coronation done at Prospect where the homecoming king and queen were revealed. However, Stoltz wasn’t dressed up like the other nominees because she had just performed a poms routine, so she attended the ceremony in her leotard and pants. “I just remember standing up in front of the whole school, and all the girls were standing next to each other and holding hands,” Stoltz said. “I’m sure it looked very dramatic at the time.” Although the ceremony may seem intense, the homecoming king broke the tension by pretending to trip on the stairs leading to the stage, and as he fell, his face was covered in fake blood. However, the teachers did not find this joke as amusing as he did. As for the nominations, the king and queen were determined completely by student voting, which resulted in some being nominated “as a joke.” By the end of the week, parents would donate their expensive convertibles to the court as they rolled up during halftime.

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Jason Cohen

ry teacher Jason Cohen homecoming court or year at Wheeling chool in 1986. Similarly, he week of home, the nominees were ced during a pep asand later the king and were crowned. as an honor to be nomCohen said. “People ple nominated me for

dn’t win, as other The town held a big town on Friday, and e football game later

al at any high school.”

John Camardella

John Camardella may now teach history at Prospect High School, but he first made history at Hersey High School. For the first time ever in 1998, there was a tie for homecoming king between Camardella (pictured left) and Ryan Bell, another student. The two both got their own crowns and shared the victory. Hersey also had traditions such as the coronation ceremony like most high schools. “Looking back, it’s not something you ever ask [for],” Camardella said. “You’re pretty much just put on the court and people vote on it. So you’re pretty much just an outsider as the whole process goes down, but we do look back on it and laugh.” At the end of homecoming week was the football game, and the court winners drove around in cars during halftime. Even though Camardella experienced a very different homecoming than most would, he recognizes the differences of Prospect’s homecoming compared to Hersey’s. “Don’t get me wrong; Hersey is still great, but the tradition at Prospect is a lot more intense than it was at Hersey,” Camardella said. “I just felt much more tradition-filled here with the knight, royalty and everything [Student Council advisor Lyn] Scolaro does really makes it special.”

es Schedule

September 18 Thursday, September 19

Seniors: Orange phomores: Green

Lazy Day Lunchtime: Karaoke

Powder and for Prizes

0-9:30 p.m.

Jacquelin Gronski

Dominique Davis

At Johnsburg High School in 2002, during the Friday football game before homecoming week, each member on homecoming court was given a sparkler. The sparkler that lit up determined the winner, and the holder of that sparkler was math teacher Dominique Davis. “At the time, it was great; it was fun, and I was honored,” Davis said. “But now I find it a little embarrassing to say that I won.” The following week, Davis got the opportunity to ride in a parade that the whole town attended.The town also took part in attending the football game as the whole court got announced; the king and queen would wear their crowns as they walked down with their parents.

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In-Depth

200

At Buffalo Grove High School, special education teacher Jacquelin Gronski was nominated to be the 2003 homecoming queen. “It’s one of those feelings that you just can’t describe because you’re so excited, and you feel honored to be nominated by your peers,” Gronski said. “Back then, teachers didn’t nominate. It was your peers, so I felt very lucky and privileged.” Gronski found out she was on court at her school pep assembly. Everyone on court got a chance to be on the announcements and participated in a ceremony on a Friday, where the winners were announced. Instead of the homecoming game taking place on a Friday night, the game was the next Saturday morning because the high school did not have stadium lights. The day of the game, the court drove around the track in convertibles and waved to the crowd. “I think, too, being on court, you just pay a lot more attention to homecoming, and you see what a really big deal it is just from another perspective,” Gronski said.

Game-changer: end of tradition By Abby Sunu

In-Depth Editor Thirteen years ago, one of the most anticipated events at Prospect High School began. Knightgames was brought over by Student Council advisor Lyn Scolaro, who got the idea from her own high school experience. Scolaro attended an allgirls Catholic high school, and each year the senior girls would compete against the seniors from the all-boys school across the street. This “battle of the sexes” inspired Scolaro to create a similar version at Prospect. This year the tradition ends. The administration decided to cancel Knightgames due to last year’s inappropriate behavior from the grade levels. “If [the students] really like something and they really want something, maybe their actions were a sign that it was a time to change to something new,” Scolaro said. Scolaro started noticing the students’ behavior escalating around four years ago. Knightgames became more intense as the students got out of control to the point where “it was no longer fun for anybody.” Senior Sam Souza agrees with Scolaro that the behavior was out of hand, but she disagrees with the adminis-

tration’s decision to get rid of Knightgames as a whole. “Last year’s Homecoming was out of control, but I don’t think we should get it taken away because of one class,” Souza said. Junior Grant Miller was recognized all over the school and social media by the tag #MillerWon after controversy broke out at last year’s games. Miller was the reigning champ for musical chairs, winning his freshman year, and was determined to carry on the win for the class of 2015. “It was fun and cool,” Miller said. “Being a freshman, you don’t really win anything, so it was kind of cool to win something...we knew what we were doing, so we had a lot of high expectations and a chance to have a lot more fun.” Miller was in the final round against ‘13 graduate Maggie Devereux. When the music stopped, the chaos began, and Miller pulled the chair from under Devereux. Some accused Miller of cheating, but the sophomore class had his back as they broke out chanting his name. The sophomores were outraged as officials sided with Devereux for the win. Miller acknowledges that this situation could be a leading factor to the discontinuation of Knightgames, but he still disagrees with adminis-

tration’s decision to cancel the games altogether. “I think [the administration] thought it was pushing the school apart, as in separating the classes, but I don’t think it made a big difference,” Miller said. Both Miller and Souza believed there was some benefit to Knightgames, because it brought school spirit and energy from the student body. Scolaro, conversely, thinks the benefit has been helping students to recognize their “out-of-control behavior.” “[I feel] pretty bitter about not having Knightgames this year because it’s senior year, and that’s what you look most forward to,” Souza said. “I think it was a good way to have some fun during homecoming,” Miller said. “I think a lot of kids look forward to it, and now there’s not that one thing in the middle of homecoming week that kids are looking forward to.” Although students may seem to think Knightgames was the biggest part of homecoming week, the reality is there is much more to it. “Knightimes is a time to celebrate our school [and] the alumni that come back,” Scolaro said. “…[On Color Day], we have everyone celebrate their classes. You’re still supposed to celebrate classes under the umbrella of the knight, and somehow, that has gone away.”

Friday, September 20

Saturday, September 21

Pep Assembly: 2:23-2:50 p.m.

Knightimes Dance 8:0011:00 p.m.

Big Blue Friday

Varsity Soccer vs. Glenbrook South: 4:30 p.m. Varsity Football vs. Schaumburg: 7:00 p.m. Lunch: Eye-black giveaway

At the door tickets: $20

Features

September 13, 2013

prospectornow.com

Substitute and teacher blend curriculum By Kelly Schoesslling Managing Editor

As a freshman, Aly Kobler has started to get a feel for her daily schedule and classes as a high schooler. Similar to Kobler, her fellow freshmen are beginning to learn about the tics and habits of high school. Only Kobler has a special situation that sets her apart from a vast majority of the others. Kobler will be switching from a long-term substitute, Andrew Waple, to her official teacher, Michelle Fonsino, halfway through her first semester. Fonsino began the new school year on maternity leave but beforehand had already chosen Waple as her substitute after receiving his name as recommendation. According to Waple, although the paperwork to become a short-term or longterm substitute is the same, the process is completely different. “To get a job, you have to know people, you have to get a little lucky, and you have to be skilled,” Waple said.

TEMPORARY TEACHING: Long-term substitute Andrew Waple watches over his class. Waple has been teaching in place of Michelle Fonsino during her maturnity leave. (Photo by Rich Futo) Waple also explains searching for a long-term position as a substitute is extremely different, because the work is much more intensive and consistent. However, Waple isn’t the only one to recognize a distinct difference between the two jobs. Likewise, Kobler believes her experience of having Waple as a long-term substitute differs completely than her experiences with short-term

substitutes. “Because I’m a freshman, it feels like he is my teacher because all my [other] teachers are new,” Kobler said. “But usually it’s easier to get used to long-term [substitutes] because they get to know you, [and] they learn your name, rather than when you have a different substitute each day.” Kobler also states that having a long-term substitute creates a lighter and more comfortable atmosphere.

Therefore, the students in class are more willing to speak up in class. “[The substitutes are] more relaxed because it’s not their class,” Kobler said. “They’re teaching [the class], but they’re not like the teacher who’s been there for so long and has their rules already set in.” Although Waple is only here temporarily, he still finds it imperative to fine tune the details within his classes to benefit the students. “There are lots of little things that you want to get right, like how to run the class,” Waple said. “Like whether students can keep tests or whether you collect them after you review them, the amount of time students have to do homework or how homework is graded.” However, Waple did not have to spend as much time worrying about the curriculum. “It’s nice that a lot of the lessons have been made for you.” Waple said. “As teachers say, ‘We don’t reinvent the wheel.’” Walper credits the organization to Fonsino. “She did a lot of work to get me what I needed, and it was

really just my job to go through with it,” Waple said. Although Waple devotes a lot of his time paralleling his teaching style to Fonsino’s, Kobler is not worried about adjusting to the change. Kobler explains that since all students already handled several different teaching styles within a day, the transition between Waple and Fonsino should not be overwhelming. She does admit that it’ll be odd for her and her classmates to eventually receive a new teacher they have yet to meet. “Everybody in the class will be used to each other by then, but I think it’s going to be more weird for [Fonsino] than anybody else because [the students] know the dynamic of the class,” Kobler said. Despite these details, Waple still remains focused primarily on preparing his students for the upcoming switch in atmospheres. “You want to make sure that the transition from one teacher to another is as smooth as possible for both the students and the teacher,” Waple said.

Haunted House People who enjoy being scared until they cry should go to the “Basement of the Dead” haunted house on Friday the 13th. Basement of the Dead was named ‘top voted haunt’ in 2012 by Haunted House Chicago. This haunted house used to be a laundry company in the 1940s. In 1965 the boiler blew up, scalding two employees, Al and Imus. They insisted on getting revenge. A couple years later some of the laundry’s employees went missing, and their body parts were found in the river near the drainage pipes according to their website. It is believed that Al and Imus captured the employees and murdered them in the sewers. “Basement of the Dead” is located on 42 W. New York St., Aurora. The doors open at 7 p.m., and admission is $18.

Myths People who are nervous about Friday the 13th should make sure to not cut their hair because it is believed to result in death of a family member. Children born on this date are said to be cursed with an unlucky life. Avoid funeral processions, as they are omens of your own death.

Phobias Triskadekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. This word comes from the Greek stems “tris,” meaning “three,” “deka,” meaning “ten,” and “phobia,” meaning “fear.” People with this phobia refuse to use the number 13. Friggatridkidekaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th and comes from “frigga,” the name of the Norse goddess after which the day Friday is named. According to Dr. Donald Dossey, a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of phobias, eight percent of Americans still have superstitions about Friday the 13th.

#13

Friday the 13th

Many consider the number 13 very unlucky, and people are not willing to take chances with it. Many large buildings, such as hospitals and hotels, will not have a 13th floor or even a room numbered 13. Some airplanes don’t have an aisle 13 and airports don’t include a gate 13. Midway airport does not include a gate 13, instead they have A11 and A15 or B11 and B15. Also, in many cities you will not be able to find a 13th street.

History

By Mary Kate Moloney Features Editor

Every year there is at least one day that lands on Friday the 13th, and today happens to be that day. Friday the 13th is infamous for being an unlucky day where people avoid anything and everything that is the least bit dangerous. Along with the unlucky connotation that comes along with this date, there is a lot of backstory.

The superstition of Friday the 13th allegedly began because of biblical stories. Some say Jesus was crucified on Friday the 13th, Eve ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday and the Great Flood began on a Friday. Also Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest at the Last Supper.

“Friday the 13th” The 1980 Paramount Pictures movie, “Friday the 13th,” is a horror film that takes place at a summer camp where Jason Voorhees drowns in the lake while nobody notices. On Friday the 13th, he seeks revenge on the camp, murdering counselors and starting fires, even with the warnings the camp is reopened. This film has turned into a multi-million dollar franchise that has spawned 12 films.

Dates In 2013 there will be two Friday the 13th’s, one in December and one in September. In 2014 there will only be one Friday the 13th, and it will fall in June. 2015 will have three, in February, March and November.

prospectornow.com

September 13, 2013

Features

New senior adjusts to environment

By Nabi Dressler Editor-in-Chief

Senior Jessica Kim is looking forward to getting snow this winter. “I like my snow,” Kim said. “I got a lot of snow in Kazakhstan, but not in Georgia.” Kim was born in Incheon, South Korea. At 10 months old, she moved to Los Angeles. She then moved to Jessica Kim K a z a k h stan when she was 6 years old. She briefly returned to L.A. when she was 12 and then moved to Suwanee, Ga., where she lived until August 2013 before moving to Mt. Prospect. According to Kim’s counselor, Todd Soderwall, being a new student as a senior is a rarity, as transferring after junior year is “probably the most emotional time that you can have someone make a move.” Kim’s history of frequent moving stems from her father’s profession. He’s a Christian pastor. The Kim family moved to L.A. so Kim’s father could learn English, attend seminars and eventually get his pastoral degree while working parttime at a fast food place to help support the family. Kim’s father was both a missionary and the head pastor of his own church, Kazna Church, in Kazakhstan. The Kim family was the only non-Kazak family in the area so they learned Russian, but Kim can only remember Russian greetings. While in Kazakhstan, Kim attended a private school specifically for missionary kids, which meant everyone spoke

in English, allowing her to maintain her understanding of the language. Her family then returned to L.A. They were a part of a missionary program called Global Partners, which found them an empty home in a suburb outside of Atlanta. This allowed them to live there practically for free. There, her dad was an associate pastor in the large Korean Community Presbyterian Church (KCPC). However, her dad always felt that he would leave this church since he wasn’t the head pastor at the KCPC, and eventually, he felt that his calling was leading him to Illinois. He got an opportunity to become the senior/head pastor of Dasom Community Church in Des Plaines, so he visited the church this August. Its representatives voted him in a few weeks later. Since the school year was fast approaching, Kim and her parents moved promptly to Mt. Prospect to the apartment purchased specifically within Prospect’s boundaries so she could attend this school. Her father had researched nearby high schools and concluded, based on online ratings and reviews of the school, that Prospect was the best choice for Kim. At first, Kim was opposed to moving, mainly because her boyfriend, Joseph, who lives in North Carolina, would be farther away, but in time got used to the idea of moving to a new place once again. “I’m sure there’s a reason I moved here,” Kim said. “Complaining about it isn’t going to help anything.” Kim was a little worried about academic changes because she knew the curriculum here would differ slightly. For instance, her old school split up AP Literature and AP

Lan-

KICKING IT IN KAZAKHSTAN: Senior Jessica Kim (far right, front) poses with her friends in Kazakhstan. Kim, a new student at Prospect this year, lived in Kazakhstan for six years during her childhood because her father was a pastor and missionary there. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Kim) guage into two years of one semester each; first semester was AP Literature, and second semester of that same school year was AP Language. Soderwall talked with En-

Since she has moved frequently, Kim’s family is a big part of her life. She has two older sisters: Susan, 23, works at a bridal shop in Georgia and will reunite with Kim and her

I’m sure there’s a reason I moved here. Complaining about it isn’t going to help anything. - senior Jessica Kim

glish and Fine Arts division head Adam Levinson to make sure her senior English classes could be configured the same way, which they were. Besides the academics of transferring schools as a senior, there is the social aspect.

Transferring to Prospect 101: Graduation requirements Graduation requirements apply to transfer students just as they do to all Prospect students. “Counselors feel the pressure when a senior comes in because there’s no margin for error,” guidance counselor Todd Soderwall said. “They have to get everything they need to graduate with our requirements, and so when you analyze the transcript, you really have to make sure that you’re careful.” If a student has scheduling conflicts that prevent him/her from getting his/her graduation requirements in to graduate on time, he/she may be able to take an online equivalent course as an independent study, but Soderwall has never had a student for which this was the case. If it’s impossible to get the requirement (which is very unlikely to happen), Principal Michelle Dowling has the power to waive requirements. However, according to Soderwall, it’s extremely rare, and he’s never seen any students get a graduation requirement waived, even if they transferred later in their high school careers.

parents after graduating from college next year, and Candy, 21, is an optometrist assistant who will move to Mt. Prospect in October. Candy will also try to attend college here because she lost the opportunity to go to Georgia Tech after spending a couple of years in South Korea after high school. Other than Candy’s trip to South Korea, Kim said her family has never been separated for such a long time before. At least at school, socializing wasn’t a concern for Kim. “I just told myself, ‘You know what, I’m really good at adapting in general, in terms of friends and academically,’” Kim said. Prospect also helps students adjust socially, depending on both the transfer student and

the timing. “If [new students] come in before the beginning of the school year, when things are pretty hectic anyway, we figure everybody is to some extent new, [and] the classes are all new,” Soderwall said. “If it happens anytime during the school year, then we try to get one of the office runners to show them the ropes a little bit, show them how to get through the lunch line... because it’s the little things that you don’t want to not know.” So far, Kim has noticed that Mt. Prospect is similar to Suwanee but has some distinct differences. Her old town had a larger Korean presence and had different stores like Kroger, a retail chain store. Her old school was more ethnically diverse. It also had different types of clubs; Kim wanted to join riflery, which is a club where students get rifles and practice shooting, a club that isn’t available to her here. Overall, the moving hasn’t negatively affected Kim. “I just feel kinda normal,” Kim said. “I’m nonchalant about everything. Life goes on; 10 years from now we’ll look back, and we won’t care as much. I’m starting to get used to my apartment. It’s not a big deal.”

Who Knows You Better? The subjects Bobby Frasco

The boyfriend Jill Brinati

Stephanie Kies

The best friend

What was her prom dress color last year?

Favorite place to go What’s her number What’s her shoe size? What’s her birthdate? one college choice? for lunch?

Taupe

Chipotle

Eight

September 23

Taupe

Chipotle

Eight

September 23

White with blue sparkles

Chipotle

Seven

September 28

Favorite concert?

Western Michigan Country Thunder

Dayton

Lollapalooza

What is her favorite ice cream?

The results

Cookies and cream

Winner

4 Cookies and cream

Cookies and cream

Entertainment

September 13, 2013

prospectornow.com

An app a day keeps the doctor away iPads have become integrated in Prospect this year. Chances are, you either have one for a class or have access to a tablet or smartphone that allows you to download apps. These educational apps can help make your life as a student easier and can make that science homework a bit more enjoyable. By Nabi Dressler Editor-in-Chief

Khan Academy

Khan Academy brings back memories of the countless hours I spent during my first three years of high school trying to learn–– and then relearn––math and science topics. Khan Academy holds an easily accessible collection of thousands of educational videos made by graduates from schools like MIT who are more than qualified to cover subjects like Algebra II and chemistry. I used the graphing videos to prep for my algebra classes; the videos cover any and every type of graphing you’ll learn in high school. Although most videos are math/science-intensive, there are also some humanities-related videos. All these roughly 10-minute videos are easy to understand and can serve as help on homework or a concise review before a quiz. If you find yourself trying to graph quadratic functions and can’t quite remember that day’s lecture or just took bad notes, simply go to this app.

Flashcards+

Flashcards are the go-to way to study when you’re forced to memorize a bunch of stuff in a short amount of time. This app is pretty self-explanatory. Its best feature is that it is synced with Quizlet, so all you have to do is a quick search for your pesky Word Within a Word lists and download any sets you need. The app’s database also allows you to browse a vast collection of flashcard sets from around the world, including greetings in countless languages. You can also add your own deck without the inconvenience of having to sign into or create an account.

EarthViewer

I have to admit EarthViewer provides some very interesting science. With the slide of a finger, you can go back in time to view what the Earth looked like in different time periods, all the way back to the Cambrian era. Look at the progression of the oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Read a simplified explanation of the greenhouse effect, mass extinctions, plate tectonics and more. If this kind of stuff is applicable to what you’re doing in your science class, use this app as a reference or just marvel at the undeniably cool interactive globe.

TED

Smithsonian Channel

PDF-notes

You’ve probably (hopefully) watched a TED talk in one of your classes at some point. TED talks are fascinating speeches given by unique individuals, including freelance poets and renowned scientists to spread innovative ideas, share autobiographical stories of their roots and their life struggles, analyze social issues and more. Pertaining more to high school, there are also TED talks that simplify economics in ways that anyone can understand and offer explanations of the world’s current affairs.

History is the best subject, so get an extra dosage of it with this app. Access the Smithsonian Institute’s roughly 46-minute documentaries of everything from Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination to air disasters. There are also much shorter videos featuring geese, the Grand Canyon and more. Studying ancient Egyptian culture in your social science class? Watch a few quick videos about it through this app to take a break while still staying on task, or watch these videos for fun in lieu of aimlessly wasting your time on social networking sites all weekend.

This app is perfect for reading eBooks. Just purchase/download a PDF of the novel you’re reading in your English class (if that’s OK with your teacher) and open it with this app. PDF-notes is easily maneuverable and is perfect for saving virtual sticky notes/annotations to the PDF. You can bookmark certain parts of the text and also write directly on the PDF, so it can be used for homework assignments, too. If you just want to read something you downloaded from the Internet, this app serves that basic purpose as well.

Fall play an interactive experience By Gracie McKay

Entertainment Editor During a trip to New York for his 10th wedding anniversary, Fine Arts Coordinator Jeremy Morton brought two plays to read with him. After reading and enjoying one of the scripts he made note of its title but then set it aside while he inspected other various stories. However, none of these scripts could beat that first play he read, “Exhibit This!” This year, the fall play will be extremely different than previous years’ shows. “Exhibit This!” will be an interactive set of comedic scenes that will take the audience out of their comfort zone and out of the theater. What makes the show unique from other one-act shows from years past is that “Exhibit This!” will feature scenes that all have one theme in common: art. All scenes will feature a large wooden frame, resembling a frame used for artwork. There will also be art galleries built throughout the school to replicate the feel of an art museum. Many of the scenes occur within the frame, with students portraying characters from famous paintings such as “Sunday a la grand jatte,” “King Tutankhamun” and the “Mona Lisa.” These scenes have characters that interact with the art itself, and in many cases, the art comes to life. Instead of the traditional theater seats, audience members will be guided on a tour throughout the school to resemble an art exhibit, where different art pieces, or scenes, will be located at

places throughout the school such as the art room, commons and cafeteria. The audience’s “theatrical experience” will be brought to an end like a normal art museum with a “gift shop” of art. The art is created by students in the play and will be available for audience members to purchase. Audience members will be allowed to pose in a photobooth with a frame to take their picture as if they were art. Morton thought of the unique setup after he brought his daughter to an art museum for the first time and watched her light up when interacting and exploring the different pieces. “It got me really excited about doing experience theater versus just a theatrical piece, and when I read the script, I enjoyed it,” Morton said. “And I don’t like to do things the easy way, so I wanted to recreate space and try to make this museum come alive.” For Morton, directing a show is always a challenge, but the process of directing “Exhibit This!” brings forth a certain type of intricacy that differs from his past directing experiences. “Not only do we have a lot of different pieces going on, but now we’ve got to put them in different locations,” Morton said. “It’s not only recreating a script, but also creating spaces, which makes this complex.” However, for Morton, the process for picking the actors for the show was no different than before. “You always want to look for people who are going to tell good stories,” Morton said. “A good actor is an amazing storyteller.” Not only is taking on this year’s fall

MAKING ART: Stage crew members construct a wooden frame for the fall play, “Exhibit This!” The play will take place throughout the school instead of just in the theater, creating an interactive art experience for viewers. (Photo by Andi Hayes) play a new experience for Morton, but it is also very different for the actors involved as well. Senior Dana Lasswell, who will play a role in both “Exhibit This!” and this year’s second fall play, “Almost Maine,” can especially see the play’s original qualities because she’s involved with both scripts. “It’s a different kind of abstract kind of theater, which is a lot different from the other show, ‘Almost Maine,’ which is much more grounded and real,” Lasswell said. Lasswell particularly enjoys being involved in “Exhibit This!” because of the relationship she gets to share as an

actor to her audience. “It’s such an interactive audience this year,” Lasswell said. “It’s so different from any other show I’ve ever done.” Sophomore Nina Gary is also excited to be in a very unique show like “Exhibit This!” where the actors will interact heavily with the audience. Gary says the show will be “very difficult, but very worth it.” The show will be a unique experience in more ways than one. “People should come see [the show] because it is going to be nothing like they’ve ever seen before at Prospect,” Gary said.

Sandwich Smackdown! Firehouse Subs opened its fifth Illinois location August 17 on the corner of Elmhurst and Kensington roads. With various sandwich places located just around the corner (quite literally, across the street) from Firehouse Subs, I decided to check out and revisit some of the area’s most popular sandwich chains to see who serves it up the best.

Jimmy John’s

By Andi Hayes

Associate Editor-In-Chief

If you’ve ever been to Jimmy John’s, you know the deal. They make their sandwiches fast, freaky fast to be exact, with a friendly and easygoing staff always ready to help. Additionally, Jimmy John’s features the best price of all the sandwich places, $4.50 without tax. My discretion with Jimmy John’s sandwiches, however, is the bread they use for their sandwiches. Any type of sandwich, whether it’s a Plain Slim, 8”, club or Gargantuan, uses the same thin white bread.The problem with this bread is it barely holds the few things they put in the sandwich itself. This causes it to sometimes fall apart or have all of the toppings fall out of the bottom of the sandwich. Jimmy John’s has a fun atmosphere, though, with stickers saying things like “free smells” and “vote for Jimmy” pasted up all over the store. Perhaps one of Jimmy John’s’ most underappreciated features are their chips. From jalapeño to my personal favorite, salt and vinegar, the Jimmy John’s chips are the best thing to top off your meal.

BEST PRICE!

Product: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Price: 9/10

Overall Score: 8/10

FIREHOUSE Newly opened, Firehouse Subs greets you as soon as you walk in with firehouse decor: Dalmatian-patterned tables, oxygen tanks and even fire helmets and suits donated by the Mount Prospect Fire Department itself. Manager and co-owner Berin Patel says this makes the Firehouse franchise different from other sandwich places, noting that the company also gives back to the community by donating to the local fire and police departments. As for the food, it’s a little pricy considering it costs around $8 and all sandwiches automatically come with mayo, tomato, lettuce and mustard. The Hook-and-Ladder sandwich was all right; the lack of choice of toppings and lots of bread got me to rate the sandwich 6.5 out of 10. Cramped s e a t ing made the meal a little uncomfortable for me. The sandwich-making process did take a little longer than I was used to, as you didn’t walk the “sandwich artist” through making your food like other places. The sandwich took approximately eight minutes to make, which, if you’re at lunch, is precious time. However, Firehouse did just open up, so I’m sure with time, the sandwiches will be made at faster speeds.

BEST LOCATION! Product:6.5/10 Service:7.5/10 Atmosphere:8.5/10 Price: 5/10

Overall Score: 6.5/10

Jersey Mike’s

Jersey Mike’s is a newer addition to the array of sandwich shops in the area, opening up in 2010 with the rest of the Randhurst Village. There is no special decor to greet you at the door, but its basic atmosphere serves its purpose as just being a good sandwich place. Jersey Mike’s offers cold and hot sandwiches, which boast freshly grilled meat and melted cheese. While Jersey Mike’s might be one of the pricier places to get just a sandwich (around $7), it’s worth every penny. Unlike other places, Jersey Mike’s uses thick, substantial bread to keep everything in and not falling out. Additionally, Jersey Mike’s packs their sandwiches to the fullest out of all the sandwich places, not being skimpy with their meats and cheeses and not loading the sandwich up with chopped lettuce. This, paired with the fact that Jersey Mike’s slices the meat right before they put it on your sandwich, helped this sandwich earn itself 9/10.

BEST PRODUCT! Product: 9/10 Service: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Price: 6/10

Overall Score: 7.5/10

INNER!

Potbelly

If you’re looking for a sandwich place that is nearby and isn’t strictly sandwiches, Potbelly is not your place. Perhaps what makes Potbelly such a great place to get a sandwich isn’t just the sandwiches, it’s the fact that you can get so much more than a sandwich there. While you have to venture out to either Rolling Meadows or Des Plaines to get your Potbelly fix, the travel time is worth it. Potbelly boasts better bakery items than Panera (yes, I said it) like cookies, dream bars and ice cream sandwiches. Potbelly even has made-to-order smoothies and milkshakes, soups and salads. What’s nice about Potbelly is that even if you’re not looking for a fancy soup or salad, there is still a ton of variety for your sandwiches, like the Mediterranean or the Pizza sandwich. Another cool feature of the Potbelly menu is the “Skinny” sandwiches––sandwiches that are made on “thin-cut” bread and all under 350 calories. The Wreck, and all other Potbelly sandwiches, use hearty bread to hold in a substantial amount of meat and cheese while still having enough room to hold your favorite toppings. What makes Potbelly the winner is not just the plethora of choices, but also the quaint and comfortable atmosphere with vintage photos and posters as well as an old rustic wooden feel. Let’s not forget that a sandwich costs $4.60 without tax, trumping any concept of a “five-dollar footlong” that ever existed.

Product: 8/10 Service: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Price: 9/10

Overall Score: 8.5/10

What’s your favorite song right now? “‘Earthquake’ by Diplo because it’s the song for my Poms dance.” -Sarah Greising, freshman

“‘Here Comes the Sun’ by George Harrison because I’m a Beatles fan.” -Dylan Cessna, sophomore

“‘Requiem’ by Avenged Sevenfold because it’s very melodic and it’s from their new album.” -Connor Sheehan, senior

“‘Running Out of Moonlight’ by Randy Houser because whenever it comes on the radio it’s my jam. ” -Clare Nolan, sophomore

September 13, 2013

prospectornow.com

Sports

Girls’ tennis bonds during practices By Molly Mueller Sports Editor

Seniors Lauren Saiki and Christina Santiago both love Fun Friday practices, a tennis tradition in which everyone dresses up according to a theme (see Fun Friday Dress Up Themes) and then plays tennis-related games such as “Around the World” and “Minute to Win It.” Their favorite Fun Friday memory happened two years ago after losing a tough match to Buffalo Grove. The team had been undefeat-

RED WHITE AND BLUE: Teammates senior Tori Bruno, sophomore Caroline Trefelner and sophomore Janeta Yancheva pose for a picture during a Fun Friday practice. Last Friday’s practice on Sept. 6 had a red, white and blue theme. (Photo by Rich Futo)

ed before the match and instead of dwelling on it the next day, they had a Fun Friday practice. “We just decided to go crazy and dress up all weird.” Saiki said. “Our coaches, [Mike McColaugh and Cathy Fortuna], had big afro wigs on, so it was really fun.” These Fun Friday practices along with pasta parties and team sleepovers have brought this year’s team closer than ever. “I love just hanging out with the team,” Saiki said. “We eat a lot of food and we just have a lot of fun. It’s a good time to play tennis and also a good time with friendships.” “It’s a good group with good attitudes, and it’s a close group,” McColaugh said. “They like to have fun and practice hard at the same time. They enjoy each other’s company and enjoy being out here.” And practicing hard has paid off. The Knights started off their season with a 5-2 win over St. Viator. They hope to continue the season by doing well in the rest of their matches along with winning all four of their tournaments. The biggest goal, though, is to win the MSL East and possibly the whole MSL, along with qualifying as many players as possible for state again. The Knights have three returning state qualifiers along with six returning varsity to round out their team. According to Santiago, the JV team is also very strong, and that contributes to the overall attitude and success of the team.

More than a game I was just sitting there on the computer watching Jabari Parker hoopmixtapes on a school night in March. If you don’t already know, he was the number two ranked player in the country, a McDonald’s All-American and a four-time consecutive IHSA 4A state champion. Parker played for the Nike Mac Irvin Fire, one of the most well known travel basketball teams in the country. The program was founded by “The Godfather” of Chicago basketball, McGlother “Mac” Irvin. That night I thought I’d take a chance. With covering a Chicago Bulls game and winning a superior medal at the national journalism convention early in my sophomore year, I thought I built up some credibility. So I took out my phone and with a 140 character limit tweeted at Mike Irvin, head coach and son of the great Mac Irvin. I didn’t expect a quick response, but by surprise he followed me and then messaged me to call him the next day. I told him at the time I just wanted to film a little video of practice, a minor tournament and get a few interviews in with players and coaches. I had no idea that this would turn into a documentary. I drove down to Morgan Park High School, located on the southside of Chicago, with a tripod

ACE!: The tennis team plays a game during a Fun Friday practice. “We are working really hard to make those [Fun Friday practices] as awesome as possible so all the team feels included as one big group instead of three seperate groups,” senior Alex Wilson said. (Photo by Rich Futo) “We have a really positive outlook on the season,” Santiago said. “We think that we are going to be a strong team this year.” “Every year we say that we have three goals and that’s to improve throughout the year, to be playing our best tennis at the end of the season, to keep working on being better competitors, to teach the girls how to compete and to compete hard, and last but not least, to have fun,” McColaugh said. “Those are our three goals every year, but we want to win some matches along the way too.”

Fun Friday Dress-Up Themes •

Red, white and blue theme

•

Black Out theme

•

Tie Dye theme

•

White Out theme

•

Neon theme

•

Mismatch theme

in one hand and a camcorder in the other. Walking into the gym, I was a little intimidated. All eyes were on the short Filipino kid who looked like he shouldn’t be there. After I got my camera all set up, I got a big hug from Nick Irvin, the head coach of the 16U Mac Irvin Fire and I felt a little bit more at ease. After the practice I got the chance to sit down with Parker and Jahlil Okafor (the number one player in the country class of 2014) to do an interview. While talking to them I realized that they were just regular kids, not two cocky celebrities that you couldn’t get a quote from. I began to travel with the team during the spring, but when June rolled around I started working with the Nike Chi-League, a progam that took place at Whitney Young High School. The people involved in the league were all former and current NBA, oversea and college players who grew up or played in Chicago. Through this league, I got to know a lot of former Mac Irvin players and other great Chicago basketball players. I got to know guys such as Shawn Marion, Jeremy Pargo, Antoine Walker and Bobby Simmons. NBA players who I used to be starstruck by were now individuals who I could talk with whenever I needed them. As a person, the experience I went through taught me that you should never be afraid to talk to anyone even if he or she is a high-profile person.

When you see someone you look up to and admire, don’t be afraid to go and talk with them. After Chi-League was over, I traveled with the Mac Irvin Fire to one last tournament in Las Vegas. Every time we took the bus to the arena for their games, I had to sit down next to people like John Groce (head coach of Illinois) and Dane Fife (assistant at Michigan State) and I began to talk with them about recruiting. It’s hard to believe that at any point, they might need me to go down to the city to help scout someone for them. I can’t say it enough: it’s crazy. From my experience, my message to all people is to not be afraid to talk to anyone because that one person might change your life forever. Communicating and building relationships have gotten me to where I am today. I also understand that with all of these connections and recognition comes a responsibility. I know that I live in Mount Prospect where there isn’t much negativity going on and that I should have no worries, but the truth is I am worried. With so many inner-city kids who have reached out to me and I’ve connected with, I feel I need to help them. Every chance I can get, I will drive the 40 minutes because I know I can make an impact. I have used the game of basketball as a vehicle to help these kids and I refuse to let them down.

Illinois coach John Groce and Peter Fusilero

NBA star Carmelo Anthony and Peter Fusilero

Friday, September 13, 2013

SPORTS

On page 15...

Executive sports editor Peter Fusilero shares his experiences traveling and working with the travel team Mac Irvin Fire and working with Nike’s media.

Soccer adjusts to inexperience By Devin Prasad