advocate devils’
HINSDALE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL HINSDALE, ILLINOIS ISSUE 85 11.20.12
WHSD Radio
Students broadcast radio programs Page 15
Multiple sport athletes Page 22
National ranking falls Page 20
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Devils’ Advocate November 20, 2012
Profile: The Devil Page 14
Cover Story: WHSD Radio Page 16
Profile: Ms. Krucoff Page 15
Opinion 5
Staff Editorial:
6 6 7
Cheers and Jeers
8 9
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Legalize it?
Snap Thought Battleground:
How should welfare be reformed?
Bucket List:
Betsy Morgan rocks out in Chicago
Advographic: Black Fr iday
Contents
News 10 11
News Briefs Sports News Briefs
Feature Focus
20 22
Central ranking
The end of the of multi-
sport athlete?
Profiles
24
ity Ping: 12 Personal Students celebrate
The Lookout
Thanksgiving alternatively
13
Carl Lamoureux:
Multi-instrumentalist hones his talents
27 28 29
Teacher Strikes:
What caused the CPS strikes?
City Scene:
Elmhurst
Music review Upcoming Game
11/16/12 2:20 PM
letter from the editors
staff editorial staff editor in chief
Thanksgiving is here. Soon you will have gobbled up those last scraps of turkey and scarfed down the last crumbs of stuffing. If I know you as well as I think I do, you’ll need some reading material for when you lapse into your inevitable food-coma. I happen to believe that the November issue of the Devils’ Advocate is that reading material. Instead of plugging the wonderful content you will find in this issue, such as a profile of our beloved (and mysterious) Devil, and story on the oft forgotten WHSD Central radio, and many festive goodies, I’d like to take a moment to shout out all of the things that I’m thankful for. I’d like to thank 2 Chainz for being a continuous and reliable source of entertainment. I’m also thankful for HCHS, which provides the medium for the staff to print this magazine monthly. Most importantly, I’m thankful for you, the reader. Thank you for reading, and keep it real.
Evan Lee
managing editor Sarah Renehan
section editors
Analisa Bernardi • Dan Cruwys Paxton Gammie • Erica Heidler Hannah Kapelinski • Julie Kanter Erik Maday • Betsy Morgan Caroline Sudduth • Laren Lofchy
advertising manager Sarah Renehan
advisor
-Evan Lee, Editor in Chief
mission statement
Devils’ Advocate strives to provide its readers with a diverse forum for reporting and sharing information. It is a student-run, school-funded newsmagazine published monthly. Devils’ Advocate wishes to provide fair and balanced reporting on events by working with students, teachers, and the community. It strives to inform, educate, and improve the atmosphere and student body of Hinsdale Central High School.
contact information Devils’ Advocate 55th and Grant Streets Hinsdale, Illinois, 60521
sgrady@hinsdale86.org (630) 570-8361 Cover photo by Angad Ravanam
more news online at hcdevilsadvocate.com
Sue Grady
writing staff
copy editors
Anais Carell • Joji Syed Laren Lofchy
writers
Smirti Kanagat • Kevin Gaffney Zena Ibrahim • Justin Yi Maddy Bellman • Gracie Dunn Molly Leahy • Kathryn Cua Mark Schmidt • Riyah Basha Caitlin Reedy • Libby Morris Paige Pielet • Chetna Mahajan Max Cornell • Adam Smith Ana Carell • Isabella Anastassoff Mariam Ardehali
photography staff photo editors
Ankit Aggarwal • Nick Kopp Angad Ravanam
photographers like us on follow us on facbook twitter @hcdevilsadvo
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Saba Imran • Amani Malik Danah Atassi • Corinne Casper Margot Wagner • Mark Schmidt Anya Patel • Maddie McCormick Joe Griffin • Johnny Campbell
11/16/12 2:20 PM
Opinions
Staff Editorial
Reefer sanity
Marijuana restrictions go up in smoke
M
ary Jane. Astroturf. Purple haze. Primo grass. Dank nugz. Ganja. Chronic. Mezza. Wacky tobaccy. Reefer. Loco-weed. Or, more familiarly, weed or pot. A rose by any other name would smell just as pungent—and just as illegal. But for the first time in this country, Joe Law in Colorado and Washington no longer considers a smoking doobie to be a contributor to the scent of crime. Amendment 64 and Initiative 502 in Colorado and Washington respectively have mostly legalized the production, possession, distribution, and consumption of marijuana for people older than 21. This is the first time that any modern nation has removed a ban on for-profit production, distribution and possession of marijuana for non-medical purposes, and it has now raised the question of legalization amongst many circles, from the legislatures of other states to the Devils’ Advocate room. No other states have yet come out with an opinion on whether or not cannabis will be legalized, but the Devils’ Advocate has made a decision: we believe that Washington and Colorado have the right idea. The debate for the complete legalization of marijuana has been going on for ages, and it’s easy to see that Americans as a whole are moving towards a more permissive view of marijuana use. The shift has been most noticeable amongst members of government, but that’s not surprising: if cannabis can be sold legally, then it can be taxed legally as a way of raising more revenue. The potential profit from taxing marijuana sales is often touted as the best reason for its legalization. In fact, both Amendment 64 and Initiative 502 states that an excise tax will be placed on any marijuana sale, and people who wish to grow and distribute cannabis must pay for licenses and renewal fees. Seeing as Colorado and Washington are two of the 49 states that have a debt that is greater than 10 percent of their GDP, these profits would be a big help in reducing that debt.
Another reason for the legalization of the reefer is the sheer amount of people who are incarcerated due to marijuana use, production, distribution, or possession. This places a good deal of strain on the justice system and contributes to the issue of overcrowded jails and the cost of prosecuting every person who has broken a law relating to cannabis. This was the reason that prompted marijuana legislation in a place a bit closer to home. This June, the Chicago City Council approved an ordinance decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis. Instead of being criminally charged or incarcerated, people found holding below 15 grams of marijuana will be fined between $250 and $500—putting more money into the government’s coffers instead of putting more strain on the taxpayers’ wallets. Both of the aforementioned reasons have to do with putting money into our economy and the government’s reserves. But a very large reason for the legalization of marijuana has to do with keeping drug money out of the hands of certain organizations: domestic gangs and, though not of this country, the violent cartels south of the border. Making marijuana legal for American citizens to produce and distribute ensures that cannabis users are no longer reliant on groups that routinely murder innocent citizens, which takes power from them. Mexico is considering legalizing marijuana for this very reason. The final and most relevant reason for legalization is that the current laws against marijuana use simply don’t work. The prohibition on cannabis has been just as successful as the brief prohibition on alcohol in the Thirties, i.e. not successful in the least. Just like the speakeasy-frequenters back in the Thirties, people will use marijuana no matter what the current laws are. The government might as well take the hint.
This editorial is the consensus of the Devils’ Advocate editorial board.
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Opinions
SNAPTHOUGHT Q. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?
Cheers & Jeers Cheers to the first snow. Now wearing Uggs is justified. Cheers to the Mr. Hinsdale Pagent. How can we nominate Mr. Wilbur?
A. The neverending abyss that is the human mind... Anthony Wayne, ‘13
Cheers to Texas trying to secede. We don’t need you and your big hats anyway. Cheers to Parent Particpation Day. Now we know where you get your genes from. Cheers to the basketball season starting. Let’s get weird...again.
A. Being together with my family.
Abelino, Staff
Jeers to not getting Veteran’s Day off. How am I supposed to pay repects while I’m sitting in pottery class?
A. Being literate, pizza, and wifi.
Becca Ford, ‘14
Jeers to the impending food comas.We’ll be sleeping off that 4,000 calorie Thanksgiving for the next week. Jeers to the new Star Wars Movie by Disney. Quit messing with our favorites, Hollywood. Jeers to no shave November. If you’re going for your Chris McCandless costume, you are a month late. Jeers to the unsual cockiness in freshmen this year. There is a pecking order you need to follow.
A. Yellow Vitamin Water.
Vlad Lyazkowski, ‘13
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BATTLEGROUND
Opinions
Should welfare be reformed? LIBERAL
ggarwa
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Adam Smith
ggarwa Ankit A
Ankit Aggarwal
Ana Carell
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ost rationally thinking people would agree that the United States stands on the precipice of fiscal disaster. Federal income revenues are stagnant and congressional spending is completely out of control. But if those problems weren’t enough, peoples’ dependency on corpulent government welfare programs is on the rise. Since President Obama took office, the number of people on food stamps alone has increased by 47% (www.washingtonpost.com). And furthermore, President Obama has just recently repealed the bipartisan welfare reform law created by former President Clinton and a Republican Congress. During the 1990s, President Clinton and then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich saw that government welfare programs were getting out of control. Legislation was passed that limited the time one could be on welfare, and required the recipient to attempt to find substantial work. But by repealing this law, and thereby extending a potential person’s time on welfare to three years, President Obama has taken away those peoples’ incentive to become productive members of society. By allowing people to collect free money for longer periods of time, incentives for finding a job will quickly diminish; why work when you can get paid for free? Indeed, nine states (including New York, Massachusetts, and California) have welfare programs whose yearly payouts equal more than a teacher’s average starting salary (www.cato.org). And by not forcing the welfare recipient to even attempt to find a job, complacency will surely run rampant. The dutiful taxpayers who support these welfare programs certainly work for their living. And if a person receiving welfare is able to work (providing no mental or physical handicaps bar them from working), there is absolutely no reason at all why that person shouldn’t be actively looking for a job. If these changes to the welfare policy aren’t reverted soon, America’s economic standing will be seriously weakened. Trillions will be spent on nonproductive programs whose costs only increase with time. On a more philosophical note, the repeal of Clinton’s welfare reform breeds economic dependency; it benefits neither the welfare recipients nor the people who fund them, and should thus be reversed.
Devils’ Advocate • 7 • November
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uring his first term, President Obama extended unemployment benefits to help Americans cope with the effects of the recession. Welfare, or assistance to the poor, is a system in which the government aids the poorest members of society in providing for basic needs. Federally funded welfare in the United States began during the Great Depression. The welfare programs, as part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, helped Americans to feed their families, survive unemployment, and find housing. In fact, welfare can be granted in many forms, including unemployment benefits, child care assistance, food stamps, and health care. In 2009, when President Obama first signed the extension of jobless benefits into law, unemployment in the US had just topped 10 percent for the first time since 1983—unemployment compensation was needed more than ever. Unemployment benefits are money given to people who are jobless by no fault of their own. They aid the national economy by increasing an unemployed person’s ability to spend, thereby improving consumer confidence and adding funds to the economy. Yes, the number of people who receive welfare has increased under President Obama. It is not because our president is dedicated to handing out government money, though, but because we are in a recession. Our society has accepted it as a duty to help our most vulnerable members, and this assistance, this welfare, should be increased in the years when unemployment greatly exceeds eight percent. Although the poorest members of our society are not at fault for a recession caused by poor bank loans and risky Wall Street trading, they are the ones who suffer most. Opponents of welfare will tell you that expanded assistance is a waste of government money. However, even after President Obama’s reforms, only about 10 percent of the federal budget is spent on welfare, and with even less spent specifically on unemployment benefits. More than double that is spent on defense. If we are looking to cut our debt, we should not siphon dollars away from an already meagerly-funded program. According to a poll conducted by the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center, two-thirds of Americans believe the government does not provide enough assistance to the poor. But when asked about welfare, half believe the government provides too much. In other words, we must rid welfare of its negative connotations, and focus on its true purpose--to help the poorest members of society.
CONSERVATIVE
Column
Betsy’s bucket list
#3
Go to a concert in Chicago
T
here are a few things that everybody knows about Chicago. It’s windy here, we get a lot of snow, our politicians lie, and we have really good hot dogs. But one of my favorite parts of being a Chicagoan is that we have really, really good music. Chicago is known for being the home of alternative vibe (Fall Out Boy, Eddie Vedder, Wilco, and the Plain White T’s), plus a good amount of rappers who call Chitown home (Kanye, Lupe Fiasco, Common). This past month, I got to see a local Chicago band called The Hush Sound at the semi-
legendary House of Blues, cementing my status as a full-blooded Chicagoan. My friends and I were early enough to grab dinner at Dick’s Last Resort, a classic restaurant two minutes from the House, where I got called spawn of Satan by a Nikes-wearing priest waiter, and almost knocked down a string of Christmas lights with my paper hat. Whoops. When it started getting dark, we finally tossed the hats, said goodbye to our new priest friend, and walked the last leg of the race to the concert hall. After we made our way through a pretty sizable crowd in the floor section and nodded our heads to the beat of the mediocre opening band, The Hush Sound came on to the cheers of the 1,200 people who bought tickets. If I had seen them in Minnesota or New York or Japan, it wouldn’t have been the same as seeing them in their hometown. The music probably would have been the same, and unfortunately, so would the opening acts. But something about sharing the Chi-town experience made it
by B etsy Morg an a little more special. They talked about their favorite parts of the city, where they went to school, their families. Everyone there was connected in the brotherhood of Chicago, and suddenly the space between the back of the floor seating and the stage didn’t seem so big. They were playing music, we were listening, but we were all at home. The best part about a concert at your home base is that even though I didn’t know anyone there, and even though we were from different hometowns and were different ages and different people, we were all there for the same reason. We all paid 30 bucks and trekked from Union Station or paid through the nose for valet parking to enjoy the same music in the same place, right over the Chicago River near where it empties into Lake Michigan. There are a few things that are sacred about our city: the food, the music, the wind. But none of that is important without the people who live there, or in the ‘burbs like us, and I’ve never felt prouder to call myself a Chi-towner.
What's next? Cutting down my very own Christmas tree... outside with a real saw.
Be t
sy
M
or ga
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Betsy checked another item off of her bucket list when she went to see the Hush Sound at the House of Blues.
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Opinions
Greenback friday Estimate
00,000 $ 52,4d 0Bla0ck,0Friday Sales
Accor ding to Big R esear the Nationa ch, co l Reta year, nsu il F an percen d will spen mers spen ederation and d t $45 t of co $ 5 2 .4 b n major industr sumers will billion. Belo illion last bu y, from m w is w h ore th with most co y products an one from e at nsume ach industr rs buy ing thin y. gs
42.1%
33.6%
20.2%
14.3%
Jewlery and Bling
Home Related Furnishing
Toys and Games
Videogames, DVDs, CDs
Clothing and Accessories
52.7%
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Newsfeed
news feed
Feasting Facts
Thanksgiving word search
Black Friday Family Feast
Football
November
Turkey
Pie
Potatoes
Stuffing
Gravy
88%*
of people eat turkey on Thanksgiving
Putting on a show
Parents catch a glimpse of a day in the life of a student by Katherine Kiang Adapted from hcdevilsadvocate.com
C
entral hosted its annual parent participation day Wednesday, Nov. 14. While many parents looked forward to this day, most students did not. According to a survey, 71 percent of students did not want their parents attending parent participation day. One reason why students are against parent participation day is because they don’t believe that it creates an accurate representation of daily life in school. They think that teachers create a different classroom atmosphere around parents. “I think that teachers act differently [on parent participation day] so parents have good views of the teachers,” said Ashley Yelton, senior. “It’s a little biased. Teachers want to make it look like their class is the best or the most fun,” said Liz Keller, freshman. Students also see their peers acting differently, and they don’t think that students can interact normally with parents around. “You can’t talk to your friends in the hallway because you are with your parents,” said Regan Serwat, sophomore. However, the main reason that students do not want their parents coming to school with them is that they believe their parents will embarrass them. “They don’t have social filters, and they say stuff that they shouldn’t,” said Shelby Long, sophomore. Alanna Wong, sophomore, has experienced this
46 million** Bridget Gilmore Parents were encouraged to observe their students. Some students agree with it, others dislike the day.
type of embarrassment. “My mom calls me ‘baby’ and ‘honey.’ It makes me feel embarrassed around my peers,” said Wong. Some students however, did want their parents to come, and see it as an opportunity for their parents to glimpse into their lives. “It’s cool for our parents to realize what we do,” said Madeline Engelking, senior. Neverless, in the end, students often had little say in whether their parents came for the day or not. “My mother always goes whether I want her to or not,” said Elyssa Hawkins, junior.
suburban.dictionary YOLO
acronym
1. You only live once 2. Advocate definition: A less classy way of saying Carpe Diem (seize the day)
turkeys eaten over Thanksgiving in 2011
SALE
$398.62***
amount the average holiday shopper spent on Thanksgiving weekend *history.com **eatturkey.com ***cbsnews.com
Devils’ Advocate • 10 • November NOVEMBER2.indd 4
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ATHLETICS ON TWITTER
Girls cross country finishes 11 in state
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fter not qualifying for state last year, girls cross country placed 11th at state this year. Last year was the first year girls cross country didn’t qualify for state in 11 years. They were the regional champions. However, this year they were able to qualify for state again, but the team’s ultimate goal was to be top 10 in state. “Although 11th may not sound good in a school where state championships seem to be a monthly occurrence, we were proud of our 11th place finish this year because we overcame a big disappointment from last season and didn’t get down on ourselves and dedicated ourselves to move forward,” said Jill Hardies, senior. “We ran our best races at state and [the girls] walked away feeling good with what they accomplished,” said Mr. Mark McCabe, girls cross country coach. During the season many of the girls had to overcome injuries and illness. In the state competition
Hardies had to run on her stress fracture and tendinitis that she developed at the end of the season. Hardies placed 8th in state and ran 12 seconds faster than last year. “Everyone Hardies competes in the IHSA state final in Peoria, worked hard she led the Devils with a ninth place individual finish. all year and was a highlight because everyone there’s not one stepped up and pushed through the day in which we didn’t do what huge pressure of state, and most of us we needed to do to be the best ran really good races,” Hardies said. we can be,” Hardies said. The McCabe is excited for what lies girls pushed themselves to the ahead next year because many of limit every day and also did the girls that ran in state this year little things such as eat right will be coming back next year. and getting to bed early. Doing The girls that ran at state this these things would put them at year were seniors Jill Hardies, their peak for races. Katie Gelman, and Becky Ventura. Some highlights of their season Becca Marcotte, junior; Sophie were beating LT and DGN by a significant score, which is something May, sophomore; Emma Sullivan, freshman; and Sarah Brennan, they didn’t accomplish last year. sophomore also ran at state this year. “I also think the state meet itself
Girls volleyball ends successful post-season by Stephanie Kelly (adapted from hcdevilsadvocate.com)
A
courtesy of Meghan McDowell
fter winning the sectional championship against Hinsdale South, the girls varsity volleyball team ended their season with a loss at the supersectional against Mother McAuley. “This is hard because you never want to end a season on a loss,”
said Meghan McDowell, a senior captain for the team. “But, I’m so proud of how far we’ve come. Turning in my Central jersey and never wearing it again will definitely be tough.” According to McDowell, Central because the team was nervous. Mother McAuley is ranked in the top twenty nationally, and that did not go unnoticed by Central’s players. “We made errors that we hadn’t been making. It’s disappointing, but it is what it is.” The volleyball team endured Senior Meghan McDowell hoists the sectional a series of championship plaque. The Devils made history, losses during placing fifth in state.
November.indd 8
their regular season, but they were able to make it far in their post-season. “We just got tired of losing, of disappointing ourselves, our families, and our fans, and of constantly feeling like we could do better. Especially the seniors. So, we stepped up our leadership and how we played,” McDowell said. In doing so, McDowell and her teammates learned important lessons. “I’ve realized that everything is possible, I’ll take that into club and college volleyball,” McDowell said. “Our team was bad during the regular season, but we made history during the post-season. It’s been four years since the volleyball team has gone that far. Having great teammates who want to work hard is better than having super-athletic players who don’t.”
Ankit Aggarwal
by Anna Konstant (adapted from hcdevilsadvocate.com)
Thanks to everyone for all the support these last 4 years. Time flies and I can’t believe it’s over #hcxc #illmissit
@JillHardies
Final OPRF 27 HC 24. A Red Devil team who never quit and gave us all a lot to believe in. Congrats 2013s on bringing it for 4 years!
@hcfootball
Guys are having a great week of training. The grind has begun! Believe in your goals, train hard, and expect the best!
@reddevilwrestln
Bunting enjoys the Big House: Hinsdale (Ill.) Central junior tight end Ian Bunting has toured the Midwest this fall.
@TheWolverineMag
@hcfootball lineman Nick Piker @dah_daddy visits Minnesota @ GopherSports
@Pioneer_Press
11/16/12 2:45 PM
Prof ilesiles Prof
Cornucopia of traditions
Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated by all people living in America by Molly Leahy
T
hanksgiving, the one day a year when Americans Profilesare given permission to gorge themselves on homemade delicacies and give thanks to their loved ones. It’s a holiday that is as American as the Fourth of July. However, not everyone celebrates this American tradition. Julie Green, junior, was born in Canada.Newsfeed She has been on a green card her entire life in America; however, her family still celebrates Thanksgiving. “I’ve lived in the U.S. the majority of my life, so I grew up celebrating American Thanksgiving,” Green said. “We still do celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving which is Columbus Day, so I have two Thanksgivings every year.” Julie enjoys both thanksgivings equally, and doesn’t mind celebrating the holiday twice in the fall. She believes that celebrating twice a year Feature Focus allows her to spend more time with her family, which she really likes. “I love everything about Thanksgiving; it’s my favorite holiday, which is why I’m so happy I have two of them. I just love all the food and dessert and everything. I always eat so much,” Green said. Green explains that two Thanksgivings are also similar. “Basically r Sto ry getting together and everything is the same in terms Cove of food and family stuff, the only difference is the date,” Green said. While some people, like Green, celebrate Thanksgiving even though they’re not from America, Anya Patel, sophomore, and her family do not. Although Anya was born in the UnitedThe States, Lookout her parents are from India. “My family is from India so we celebrate a different holiday,” Patel said. “We also don’t have a lot family around where we live, so it wouldn’t be the same fun as bonding with all your cousins and grandparents.” Her parents have lived in the United States for 25 years, but Anya’s family still practices Hinduism, a religion that is mostly concentrated in India. During the time when most people are celebrating Thanksgiving, Anya is instead celebrating Diwali, a Hindu holiday. Thanksgiving is a day filled with the most delectable food, from Grandma’s traditional gravy to the country’s best pumpkin pie. Just like Green, Patel loves the food items, and sometimes wishes her family would participate. “I love food, so I think it’d be really fun to eat for five hours straight!” Patel said. Thanksgiving has been a tradition since the founding of America and is enjoyed by nearly all. Whether the day is spent with family or traveling, Thanksgiving is a special day that marks the start to a spectacular holiday season.
Nick
Devils’ Advocate • 26 • November
Kopp
Profiles
No strings attached
Carl Lamoureux explores different styles and instruments by Libby Morris
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arl Lamoureux, senior, can’t get enough of music. He is involved in Central’s orchestra and jazz band, plays the cello, guitar, piano, and sings. Lamoureux has been playing the piano ever since he was six years old. “My mom’s a piano teacher, so I picked a lot up from her,” said Lamoureux. Although he first started out with piano, it’s not his favorite instrument. That position goes to the guitar. “In fourth grade, my friend picked up the guitar, so I just decided to play too because I thought [since] he was doing it, it [would be] awesome. I’d always wanted to do it,” Lamoureux said. He started playing the cello in fourth grade as well. Right now, Lamoureux is in a folk band and a rock band. He met all of his band members in the Central music program. They try to get as many gigs to play in as possible. “Recently, we’ve played at this benefit at a church for friends and family,” he said. Music is a huge part of Lamoureux’s day-to-day existence. He couldn’t imagine his life without it. “I guess I wouldn’t really know what to do after school; when I have free time and I’m not doing homework, usually I’m playing guitar,” Lamoureux said. He has the occasional jam session with his guitar up in his room, and, as a dedicated musician, he practice every single day. Jeff Wirtz, orchestra director and the Music Department chair, notices that dedication in Lamoureux every single day.
“[Carl] is a tremendous role model. He is so talented, so dedicated, and such a great musician. He has so much fun playing and creating music. In terms of behavior, playing positions, and technique, he is right there,” said Wirtz. According to Wirtz, one of Lamoureux’s most admirable qualities is his ability to keep a smile on his face. “Whether it be playing guitar, whether it be playing cello, whether he’s playing jazz or classical; whatever the case may be, he has a smile on his face,” Wirtz said. Lamoureux enjoys jazz and classical music for different reasons. “I love all the music we play. I love both [jazz and classical]. I listen to more jazzy stuff on my iPod, but I love playing classical music,” Lamoureux said. Because of his deep passion for music, Lamoureux is thinking about a possible career in the music field. “I think it’d be great to do something with music production,” he said. With his college search, he’s making sure that wherever he goes has music classes and programs available. Wirtz believes that Lamoureux has what it takes to make it in the music world. “He could easily become a professional musician, if that’s what he wanted,” said Wirtz. Lamoureux’s one word of advice about music? “Immerse yourself in it.” He’s clearly in the right place at Central. As Wirtz said, “he always enjoys what he’s doing.”
Devils’ ils’ Advocate Advocate •• 1313 •• November November Dev NOVEMBER THE REAL DEAL.indd 5
Angad Ravanam 11/16/12 2:28 PM
Profiles
The Devil
Working the crowd into a frenzy by D. Justin Yi
W
e all see him. He runs around and lets loose during pep assemblies and sporting events. In a competition for school spirit, he wins without a doubt. The Red Devil got a makeover along with the rest of the school this year. Bright red, newly muscular, and bigger than ever, it reflects Central’s new motto: “a new look, but still classy.” In addition to the new costume, a new person inside it was needed as well, and he has to be completely anonymous. Many know what the role of the mascot is during the assemblies, but few know that he also has duties outside of spirit activities. “[The mascot] helps to organize some of the events,” the Devil said. Some of this organization includes thinking about where the mascot should enter during assemblies or sporting events to get the most enthusiasm out of the crowd. Not just anyone can be the mascot however. He has certain characteristics that make him special. “The Devil needs a lot of school spirit-the feeling of being part of the school, relating to the kids, getting the kids excited about the moment, and most importantly, being a leader,” the Devil said. Many students enjoy the Devil and get excited when he makes an appearance. “He gets me super amped during the assemblies,” said Shelby Long, sophomore. “He adds schools
“There’s a lot of tradition behind the Red Devil, and what it brings about from Hinsdale Central.” me,” the Devil said. The person who wears the suit is a closely guarded secret. Only a few people in the building knows who it is. On the job, the mascot sees many things, including the strong community of students. “I see that the school is very proud that we have a Red Devil as a mascot, you see the togetherness of the school, that people are proud to be Red Devils, and it’s just a good feeling overall to help out.” “I would probably do it again in the future,” the Devil said. “You can go crazy and no one would even know who you are.” So, can you guess who is under the costume?
Devils’ Advocate • 14• November November.indd 6
To see the Devil in action scan below.
Nick Kopp
spirit and I think he’s awesome overall.” But, the Devil likes to think that he represents something more than just a mascot at Central. “When you see him in the hallways or on the floor, the Red Devil has a lot of meaning and tradition; I think there’s a lot of tradition behind the Red Devil, and what it brings about from Hinsdale Central. After all, Central is a great school,” the Devil said. Being the mascot also comes with the perks of fame. “It’s almost like being a celebrity at times. When I’m around, people always try to shake my hand or high-five me, and the little kids always want to get a picture or a hug with
11/16/12 2:53 PM
Profiles
g
Ms. Sybil Krucoff’s bulletin board in room 215. She has accumulated artifacts from all over the country as well as a collection of student artwork.
More than just a wall
Angad Ravanam
English teacher’s board tells the story of a career and life by Mariam Ardehili
M
ost bulletin boards in high school classrooms are usually quite dull. One can find posters with ubiquitous quotes by Twain, Ghandi or Einstein, and there most often are some lame attempts by teachers to make their boards meaningful by putting up a school supplies themed border or “How to Avoid Fragments” poster. One teacher’s board, however, takes bulletin boards to a whole new level. Ms. Sybil Krucoff, English teacher, has decorated her room for the past few decades with student artwork and souvenirs from her road trips to 41 of the United States and Canada. The room carries a special meaning for her and many of her students. Beginning her Central career in 1980, Krucoff has been preserving many souvenirs from her multiple road trips with her boyfriend, “the Farmer,” and her dog, Moo. Most of these items end up on her famous bulletin board. “It’s a collection of things you just pick up on the way. Each little item has a story behind it, something to talk about. It’s about us, it’s about people, it’s about America,” Krucoff said. “Every single one of these things has a special meaning for me.” “I believe in seeing America, and seeing what America has to offer,” she said, “And to do that you gotta get on the back roads because you never know what’s gonna be at the next historical marker or catchy thing.” There are many pictures of students’ vacations on her board, as well
as her own. One of her items on the board is a Nebraskan buffalo sculpture made entirely out of barbed wire. The sculpture is the size of a real buffalo, using 4.5 miles of barbed wire. Later on, during the same vacation, at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, she got the experience of seeing real buffalo. She hangs student artwork as well and reserves a special section for it, including a ripped up dollar bill. “I don’t know what he was thinking, but I think it made a statement,” Krucoff said. “This one means a lot to me. When I taught sophomore honors, this was a painting that some girls did about surrealism. It had to do with the boys behaving badly on the island in Lord of the Flies. One of the girls, Margot, passed in her late 20s because of a terminal illness, so it has a very special meaning to me,” she said. Krucoff ’s care for her students is shown everywhere in the room. Whether it is their postcards, or the coconut a student sent to her from Hawaii, it is obvious that many students respect and admire her as a teacher. Krucoff will be retiring this year after 32 years. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with my bulletin board. I mean, obviously it has to come down...maybe it’s served its purpose. Maybe I’ll put it down in my basement. Or maybe we could burn everything; it would be very symbolic.”
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Cover Story
On air:
with 88.5 WHSD
Angad Ravanam
NOVEMBER THE REAL DEAL.indd 8
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Cover Story
Ankit Aggarwal Seniors Ryan Lowe, Zane Habib, and Harold Martin talk about the weather while on air.
Students use school radio to explore interests by Caitlin Reedy and Gracie Dunn
W
ith her playlist and talking points in hand Lizzie Kramer, senior, heads into the radio room to host her show with her partner Sara Otto, senior, for two hours. On channel 88.5 WHSD the girls will entertain listeners with their favorite songs of alternative 90’s and indie music. Hosting a live radio show representing Hinsdale Central is a great way for the girls to do what they love, sharing their taste in music and talking. Hinsdale Central’s radio club offers students the chance to host their own radio show for anyone to hear. The club is exclusive, and shares a station with Hinsdale South. Members have almost complete freedom to do what they want, talk about what they want, and play what they want. Hosting a live show means the students only have 20 seconds to edit what they say if something slips out by accident, which means there are no do overs or second chances when hosting a show. In a sense, radio club is not even a
club. Meetings are in the beginning of the year to plan logistics, and from there kids have their own show and work with the managers, never interacting with other club members. “Personally I do it because it’s fun and something I like to do...I like sharing my taste in music with other people and I like talking, so it works,” said Kramer. The members are dedicated to their shows and providing a good image of the high school radio station, while at the same time having fun playing their music and getting their views out to people. Zach Manta, senior, also feels the need to introduce people to artists that don’t get the sameamount of attention as some. “I’ve always been annoyed with music generally played over the radio, shallow ‘Top 40’ type stuff without a lot of meaning or artistry behind it,” said Manta. Like any other club, radio club attracts new members through signs and announcements. Representing Central
and providing a good show for their listeners is taken seriously in this club, and not everyone makes the cut. Multiple members plan on majoring in radio at a university and hopefully hosting a show as their career. To be accepted in the club, students prepare a sample of what their future show would be like, and perform it in front of the club sponsors, Alex Hipskind and Robert Russo, as if they were talking into the microphone being heard by hundreds of listeners. They also are given a fake public service announcement to read. Finally, they are given a random topic to spontaneously talk about. If Russo and Hipskind like what they hear, they accept the student into the club and they are given their own show. The club is very free; they meet as a whole about once a semester to organize the time slot schedule and talk about issues they run into while hosting their diverse shows. Some radio club members
Devils’ Advocate • 17 • November NOVEMBER THE REAL DEAL.indd 9
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Cover Story
Devils’ Advocate • 18 • November NOVEMBER THE REAL DEAL.indd 10
that our nerves just kind of went away,” Tandle said. Tandle and Lauren Nyczak, both a senior and a manager of the radio station, have had their own radio show since they were sophomores. What they and other radio hosts really enjoy is having the ability to really do whatever they want on their own show. “It’s very free, it’s nice that we have a lot of freedom to be creative and some people makes really cool mixes,” said Kramer. While music is playing, the show’s hosts have the opportunity to relax and do homework. At first, most members are a little nervous that they will mess up and say the wrong thing, but after awhile it becomes second nature. During a show like Kramer and Otto’s, there is a casualness to the talk, but at the same time they want to keep it interesting. Radio continues to go on after high school. It is possible to get a major in radio and some colleges have radio clubs and other activities that students can participate in. Hosting a radio show offers students the chance to express their opinions and tastes in music, but they are also putting themselves out for criticism from listeners. Despite this fact, members are eager to participate in Radio Club and do what they love.
Angad Ravanam
make up their show as they go along. “We literally just make up on the spot what we are going to say. Maybe we’ll think for a couple seconds while a song is playing about what our topic is going to be, but usually we just use our imagination,” said Nina Tandle, senior and radio host. Most students co-host their shows, but some chose to go solo. At the beginning of the semester, the club managers have the members sign up for what time slots they would prefer for a 2 hour show, Wednesday through Saturday, Central’s time share of the channel. During the school days when members aren’t able to host their show, they have music playing throughout the day. Afterschool, however, the hosts submit their playlists to the managers to be approved to go on air and make sure they are clear of profanities and to help keep the show well organized. Whoever is hosting the show at the
time want to remind their audience that they are listening to a high school run show. “There are definitely expectations we have to meet, but it’s not rigid. It is not like you have to do a show like this, it is very a kind of make it your own attitude, which is nice,” said Kramer. Every fifteen minutes listeners are reminded that they are on 88.5 WHSD Hinsdale Radio Central, so keeping things appropriate is very important to club members. Shows in the past have been kicked off for various reasons, whether it was irresponsibility from the hosts, or once to many inappropriate comments. Freedom of speech is encouraged, but radio hosts follow strict guidelines when talking about students at Central. No disrespectful or insulting words can be said about another student on live air. Even when talking positively about another student, radio hosts are forbidden from saying the person’s last name. Members come into the club with their ideal show in mind based on their own personal preferences. Kramer and Otto’s show is a variety show: they play 3 or 4 songs, and then talk for a couple minutes about whatever they are interested in. Other students do all different kinds of shows and play all different kinds of music based on what they enjoy the most. Somehow, few of the hosts get nervous talking in front of the microphone. “We’ve done it so much
11/16/12 2:28 PM
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Feature Focus
Central teeters off its pedestal School wide goal aims to increase enrollment in AP classes by Zena Ibrahim and Mark Schmidt
B
y both of Central’s entrances, bright red banners hang on light poles and boast the school’s success and top national rank. Given the 2011 Newsweek ranking of 69th in the nation, these banners have a fair share of school pride to announce. However, this year’s ranking tells another story. Newsweek ranks schools using several different weighted categories. Graduation rate, college enrollment rate, and number of AP tests given per student, all make up of 75% (equally split) of the total ranks. The remaining 25 percent of the score is divided up into 10 percent for both AP test score and SAT/ACT score, and the final 5 percent is given to the number of AP courses offered. Newsweek then compiles information from schools around the nation and gives each school a score. In 2011, Hinsdale Central received a score of .877, placing it 69th. In 2012, however, Hinsdale Central received a score of .799, placing it 177th in the nation. Looking at each specific category, the most significant change is in the number of AP tests given per student. In 2011, it was 2.9 tests per student on average, but in 2012 it dropped significantly to only 0.7 AP tests per student. For the past few years, it has been a school goal, as well as a district goal, to increase the number of AP students. Regarding this ongoing objective, Mr. Michael McGrory, principal, explained the motives and outcomes. “It prepares students for college level courses, also potentially enabling students to get college credit while they’re in high school. One of the other top reasons is helping students get into colleges. It really benefits kids. Particular colleges are looking for students to take AP courses,” McGrory said. However, some students seem to believe that another factor also played a role in encouraging an increase in AP students: getting a higher national rank. Julian Kanagy, junior, realizes that the ranking was and still is partially gauged by the number
of AP students, and explained his belief that this serves as a minor motive. “I think the competition with other schools isn›t as important, but our school definitely wants to be challenging, regardless of other schools,” he said. Rana Hamadeh, senior, agreed that rank is a factor as well. “Clearly, the school is only doing it for its rank because the ranking isn’t looking at the students’ success or failure in the classes. It just looks at how many students try to challenge themselves and take the AP class,” Hamadeh said. Similarly, Dana Ahdab, freshman, also agreed, but explained that the school’s effort to encourage more students to take AP classes isn’t necessarily harmful. “I think it’s definitely a factor. Even though our ranking is high, we want to keep maintaining it,” she said. “I think that it’s a good goal for the school.” Despite these claims, McGrory explained that the district hasn’t considered national rank when encouraging more students to take AP classes. “For us, that wasn’t really a big motivation because we already have so many kids that take AP courses,” he said. “We were looking more for the students that maybe haven’t taken an AP course. Because we do really well comparatively as far as the number of students taking AP courses already.” Mr. Christopher Freiler, AP European History teacher, explained that the amount of students taking the AP tests across the nation has grown significantly. “The absolute number of AP exams has skyrocketed, and nationally a lot of states have jumped on the AP as a way to reform their curriculum to add more rigor,” he said. Ahdab described how she was already able to observe the efforts to get more students involved in the AP program. “Well, my world history teacher told us that they were planning to introduce AP World History to freshmen, and that it’s because many other high schools have AP courses open to freshmen,” she said. On the subject of new AP history classes, Mrs. Jessica Hurt, department chair of
Banners outside Central boast statements from Newsweek Angad Ravanam
Devils’ Advocate • 20 • November NOVEMBER2.indd 8
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Feature Focus
social science, said, “As far as additional AP classes, we already have a ton. We gave over 1,000 AP exams from just history last year.” Specifically regarding creating an AP World History course, the department still hasn’t confirmed any option entirely. “AP World is definitely an option, but it’s not something we’re looking at for next year. Certainly, World History Honors is a fabulous course. But we’re always looking for the best course to challenge students. So, right now world history is what we’re working with,” Hurt said. Despite the lack of an AP World History class, 24 world history students took the AP World History exam last year. Some students worry about the rigor of an AP curriculum and if students can manage it. “In 2011, from these statistics, I think it’s safe to assume that the school pressured kids into taking AP classes and exams who simply couldn’t handle it. So yes, I do believe there is a direct connection,” said CJ Jacobs, sophomore. Jacobs also explained that the pressures of ranking seemed to motivate Central to raise the number of AP students and that this goal was acceptable if the students were prepared to challenge themselves. “If a kid would not be successful in an AP class then there is no reason for a teacher to encourage them to take one; that’s where it could potentially get
harmful,” he said. Still, McGrory considers the school’s goal a success, considering how many more AP students there are. “Our numbers keep growing, so we feel like we’ve been very successful over the last few years. Our numbers last year were the highest ever not only for AP courses but AP exams. It’s really, actually, over the last 10 years, increased pretty dramatically,” he said. Although the numbers have risen significantly, Freiler finds issue with the way the rankings work. “I think that all institutions whether they are high schools or colleges pay attention to these kinds of rankings,” he said. “The problem with them becomes that they’re just quantitative over one measure.” Jacobs disagreed both with the methods of the school to increase its rank and with the ranking system. “It’s not necessarily the school’s fault because it’s Newsweek and corporations like
them that are pressuring by ranking for schools to put more students in AP classes,” he said. Freiler also explained why increasing AP students shouldn’t even be a major concern for the school. “I wouldn’t just say that it’s the best thing for us to always increase our numbers. I think in general, we’re known as a school that strives for academic excellence, and one of those ways is for AP, but I don’t think that’s the only way to measure.” Overall, Hurt agreed, stating that schools cannot be accurately ranked except through holistic analysis. “I think that we sometimes get caught up in ranking,” she said. “But at the end of the day, schools are not factories. We’re dealing with humans. We’re dealing with students and learning. So, for students to be greatly judged based on AP scores and numbers, we wouldmiss so much more of what Hinsdale Central really is.”
Ranking of high schools according to Newsweek Number of AP tests given per student
College enrollment rate
25%
Number of AP courses offered
25%
5%
ACT/SAT scores
10% 10%
25% Graduation rate
AP test scores
Devils’ Advocate • 21 • November NOVEMBER2.indd 9
Adding an AP World History course to Central is being considered Angad Ravanam
11/16/12 2:43 PM
Feature Focus
Hanging up the jerseys
Growing time commitment forces multi-sport athletes to make a decision by Kevin Gaffney Isabella Anastassoff
I
t’s early in the morning, and Thomas Shawaker is already tired. He has already played an hour and a half of basketball and is removing his gear. However, he isn’t going home yet-he now has football practice. Sometimes practices overlap, and Shawaker risks missing important tips that might help him in the coming season for basketball or securing a starting spot in football. He is just one of the many athletes that faces problems with competing in multiple sports and is considering making a choice to give one up. Central has always prided itself in having athletes who excel in multiple activities. However, many of these sports are becoming more and more competitive, and almost all of the programs have extended seasons to include preseason or summer camps, making it a year-round commitment. This has made it more difficult for students to play more than one sport, resulting in students dropping one or more extracurriculars because of the higher time commitment. Extended programs have made it virtually impossible for athletes to attend all the camps and preseason practices if they play more than one sport. Attending more than one summer camp does not allow for enough rest because there are only ten-minute breaks between two to three hour camps. If an athlete plays three sports during the year, during the summer, they play anywhere between 6 and 12 hours per day, with only about thirty minutes to rest and recover.
Athletes become overworked, exhausted, and frustrated by the time the last camp ends, preventing them from developing at the same rate as the rest of the team. A lot of multi-sport athletes would rather overextend themselves than consider quitting one of their teams. Students feel guilty for dropping a sport, yet are left with no other option. Darby Moran, senior, is committed to playing Division II soccer next year and originally played basketball as well. However, with the increased time commitment and growing pressure to win, she had to pick between the two. She chose soccer. “I practice year round with my club team, Team Chicago, out of the Naperville area. I play with them in the fall and winter, then with the Hinsdale Central team in the spring. I go back to team Chicago for state regionals and nationals. We practice as a team a total of six hours a week and have games or tournaments pretty much every weekend,” Moran said. By quitting basketball, Darby has been able to dedicate her athletic career to soccer and play year round. Another athlete, Jeremy Drexler, sophomore, also decided to give up football to focus more of his time on baseball. “I had to go to sports after school and then use whatever time left that night on homework. It was hard to get work done for classes and just got really stressful and hard to manage. Now I am more relaxed and have more time to focus on school, baseball, and the things
I like,” Drexler said. Sports have not only become more timeconsuming, but more competitive. The pressure to win at regional, sectional, and state levels has grown due to the recent successes by many teams. The boys golf team recently won the state championship. Tennis is one of the most successful sports in the school’s history, for both boys and girls; the girls varsity team has won state six times in the last eight years, and the boys varsity team has won state seven times in the last eight years. The girls volleyball team also made history this year, winning its first sectional title since 1977. Every player on the team plays year round. Lauren Fuller, sophomore, believes that the success can be partially attributed to the team’s effort. “There has to be the highest level of intensity coming from both the players and the coaching staff,” Fuller said. “This year especially, we had a great coaching staff and great players who bonded well and all wanted to win.” Rachel Lenderman, a senior on team, said, “We worked hard together and came together as a team. We practiced every day for three hours after school.” Fuller and Lenderman agree that most of the volleyball players on varsity, themselves included, play Members of the boys varsity basketball team run a play in practice. The team has been practicing together frequently since early summer. Mark Schmidt
Devils’ Advocate • 22 • November November.indd 4
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volleyball year round, which makes it difficult to pursue other sports. “I practice two hours three times a week for club volleyball, but other clubs practice for four hours a day four times a week,” Lenderman said. The competition is tense between the clubs, and clubs prefer athletes to be focused on one sport. “I used to play soccer. It was my main sport, but I had to give up soccer for volleyball,” Lenderman said. Rugile Valiunaite, a sophomore on the girls varsity tennis team, said, “It’s pretty tough. I try to play three hours a day, but sometimes I can’t because of school or homework. I also play tournaments pretty much every weekend, and it usually lasts all weekend.” Traveling out of state every weekend for tournaments and practicing at least 10 hours a week has made Valiunaite help the varsity team win a number of victories and has made her a valuable player on the team. Another reason that students are being forced into specializing in a specific sport is a desire to participate in activities other than athletics. They feel that by doing more than one sport, they would not have time to be a part of a club, volunteer to get service hours, or just hang out with friends. Priyanka Kadari, a sophomore on the girls tennis team, said, “I couldn’t possibly play more than one sport. I play tennis about10 hours a week, and I have six clubs. If I played another sport, there would be no chance I could keep up with everything and school.” However, despite all of the benefits of focusing on one activity, there are downsides to participating in only one sport. With athletes training for one sport year round, this has increased the risk of athletic injury. Playing only one sport forces the athletes to constantly use the same muscles year round. The lack of cross training makes athletes more prone to overuse of certain muscles in the body. There are also students and administrators who feel that there is more of a benefit to being a multisport athlete instead of focusing on one particular activity, and that the pressure can be adequately dealt with. Mr. Dan Jones, athletic director, believes that coaches want to share their students. “Athletes must remember they don›t need to be at all workouts for each sport in the summer,” Jones said. “They can work out a schedule that works for the athlete and the different teams they are working out for.”
Mark Schmidt
Feature Focus
Members of the boys swim team do pushups in a preseason workout. Despite boys swimming being a winter sport, these frequent workouts began in early fall.
Jones also said that athletes who play two or three different sports tend to be more prepared for pressure situations and have less of chance to burn out or lose interest in sports altogether. Mr. Nick Latorre, head boy’s basketball coach, agrees that playing multiple sports is better for kids. Latorre said, “It’s sad that kids have to make a decision at such an early age.” Participating in multiple sports provides drive for the athletes and allows them to improve the handling
sacrificed a lot to be a three sport athlete, but sports are what I›m passionate about so I wouldn›t trade a second,” she said. “I›d like to think I›m doing the impossible by being a three sport athlete, but it has been a pretty smooth ride.” However, there are many athletes that don’t necessarily agree with Wasz, Jones, and Latorre. Nick Jung, sophomore, played both football and basketball as a freshman and participated in the summer camps for both sports. Jung said, “I feel there was a conflict because when kids would show up only fifteen minutes late for football coming from basketball the coaches wouldn’t be too happy about it.” Lenderman said, “If you didn’t go to the camp you had a harder chance of making the team.” In the end, it is becoming inevitable that more and more students will specialize in one sport. Whether it be due to stress from practice time, summer camps, or staying fit year round, people are tending to spend their time on one sport so they can concentrate more time either doing schoolwork, spending time with friends, or participating in other non-athletic school activities. There are some students, like Wasz, who are able to handle all of these problems and still manage to do other things that they enjoy, but this type of athlete is becoming rare. It is possible that the days of the multi-sport athlete will come to a close.
“It’s sad that kids have to make a decision at such an early age.” of their schedules, something Latorre said would help kids in the long run. He reiterated that as long as there is good communication between coaches and players, there is nothing stopping students from participating in multiple sports despite possible overlaps with summer camps, and in rare cases, practices. Emily Wasz, junior, also considers playing more than one sport more beneficial than specializing in one specific activity. Wasz, who has been a varsity athlete in three different sports the last two years, says that her coaches have been extremely supportive and f lexible when it comes to her different sports. “I›ve
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Feature Focus
Strike for their right
Profiles
Newsfeed
Profiles
Opinions
Heated negotiations among teacher associations led to an uprise of strikes across America by: Kathryn Cua and Chetna Mahajan
A Cover Story The Lookout
ON STRIKE
fter 10 months of unsuccessful negotiations, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Teachers Union failed to come to a consensus on a fair contract, leaving 350,000 Chicago students out of school. The morning of Sept. 10 2012, thousands of Chicago Public School teachers, dressed in red, flocked the crowded streets of an already bustling city. The congregation of educators set up picket lines, initiating the first day of an eight day long strike. When drafting their new contract, the teachers included numerous requests. However, not all requests met common ground with the Chicago Board of Education (CBE). For example, though the teachers were satisfied with their healthcare plans, the CBE called for modifications, including freezing all employee health care contributions and increasing family contributions and emergency room co-pays. The CBE also created a new teacher evaluation system that reflects a value added
ON STRIKE
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ON STRIKE
s
n
Feature Focus
model. This system requires teachers show that they added value and showed growth in a student’s performance from when he entered the class to when he leaves. The tool used to measure value- added is the state standardized test like an ISAT. However, there was strong opposition to the system as it failed to take into account social factors that are beyond an educator’s control, such as poverty or exposure to violence, all of which would impact the students’ test scores. The teachers, however, were able to successfully bargain the new evaluation system out of the final contract. One request that the board and teachers agreed upon was a 16 percent increase in pay over a period of four years. Though the CBE and teachers were in agreement, the public was outraged. The average CPS teacher salary is $69,470 to $76,000 a year. In addition, the mayor successfully fulfilled his campaign promise of lengthening the school day. These added hours without more pay coupled with teaching in school that have crumbling walls or no current textbooks, left teachers with a long list of grievances. The story is not the same at Central. The school has a learning environment equipped with a new air conditioning system and general renovations, a reasonable student-teacher ratio, and a staff of educators who have access to plenty of resources. The teacher association of District 86, Hinsdale High School Teacher’s Association (HHSTA), has been around since 1957 and has an active role in any contract negotiations. The closest HHSTA has come to striking within the last couple of decades is heated negotiations. “I seem to recall there was a very contentious negotiation. I don’t think the teachers struck. There was talk, and then it was averted. I remember hearing that the realtors got involved and stepped in a little bit because there was some concern about property values going down if a strike happened,” said Valerie Ruth, social studies teacher and HHSTA treasurer.
The newest contract with teachers was signed in 2010 and runs through 2014. According to HHSTA leaders, a strike is not likely to happen anytime in the near future. “I have been in the community for 20 years, and at least four or five contracts have been negotiated and there wasn’t a strike on any of those. In the last four or five contracts, it is clear that [the administration and the HHSTA] have come to an agreement,” Ruth said. However, should the nature of teaching at Central ever be proposed with new methods of teacher-evaluation such as those brought up during the strikes in Chicago, academics would be drastically different. “There are some serious changes proposed that have really changed the nature of what teaching is and the teacher student relationship, and that’s sort of the academic control of what teachers have,” said Mr. David Lange, English Department chair. “One really big one is holding teachers accountable for student growth. That’s already in the law, but how that’s done can be done well or can be done in a very punitive, horrible way where at Central we would lose so much that’s good about the individual teachers we bring here.” In creating this sort of “lockstep system” where teachers are dictated what to teach and how to teach it, students can lose all of the quirks that teachers can bring to the curriculum. “Our school board and administration is great because they allow teachers to teach. They hire us to be professionals and make our decisions based on what we have in class rather than having some overlord, big brother tell us what to do,” said Mr. Christian Korfist, history teacher. With a strong board and administration, Central has historically been spared from the devastation of teacher strikes. “Strikes are very difficult on communities and cause kids and teachers and parents hardship, so teachers aren’t interested in doing that,” said Michael Palmquist, English teacher and vice president of the HHSTA. “A cause of strike would have to be pretty significant. Teachers would have to feel that they have no other options.” Likewise, Lange said, “Teachers really have the long term interests of the place at heart mostly because teachers, unlike any other job, are locked in for 35 years. They don’t care about short term gains, but more long term gains in lots of different ways for kids.”
Angad Ra
vanam
Devils’ Advocate • 26 • November
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City scene by Smirti Kanangat
Elmhurst
Elmhurst, IL is a western suburb of Chicago located in both DuPage and Cook Counties. With a population of over 46,000, Elmhurst is slightly larger than Central’s neighboring suburbs. It is situated north of Oak Brook, near Villa Park and Lombard. Like our neighboring suburbs, Elmhurst has a very comfortable environment. Home to many families, Elmhurst is clearly a great place for kids to grow up in. Parks like Helmut Berens and nearby forest preserves offer perfect sites for an afternoon outdoors. The beautiful Elmhurst Library offers a nice and quiet place to spend some time. Downtown Elmhurst, particularly Spring Road, is filled with many quaint local shops such as boutiques, a bakery, a flower shop, and restaurants all centered around the City Centre Plaza and a pristine fountain. Downtown also includes the newly restored York Theatre, as well as a nearby bowling alley. Spring Road is also the home to the town’s local seasonal parades, such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Elmhurst Pet Parade.
Situated on 483 Spring Road is the cozy yet elegant Roberto’s Ristorante and Pizzeria. Roberto’s is a local traditional Mark Schmidt Italian eatery. Whether in search of a light and fun lunch with friends or a large formal evening dinner with the whole family, Roberto’s environment will serve the occasion. With Tuscan murals gracing the walls, Roberto’s interior is probably the most impressive feature of the whole restaurant. That is not to say that the food itself was not delicious. As an appetizer, we ordered the Large Garlic Bread, which sufficiently kept our mouths full until we received our entrées. The menu contains all the items expected at a traditional Italian restaurant. From the Rotolo Primavera to the Fettucine Alfredo, all the typical pasta dishes were covered, and all at a reasonable price. It all sounded so delicious that we couldn’t wait to dig in, but it took quite a while for our entrées to be delivered. That could possibly be attributed to the fact that it was the weekend though lunchtime wasn’t too crowded. The Baked Mostaccioli was just delicious and the portions for all the dishes were more than generous. The staff was reasonably pleasant, and with the overall atmosphere created by the interior design and savory traditional Italian dishes, Roberto’s Ristorante and Pizzeria is worth the trip!
Elmhurst, the York Theatre is the movie theater that serves those in the Elmhurst area. The York is one of the Classic Cinemas, which Mark Schmidt are theaters that are set up in a historic theater style. For those who enjoy old-fashioned, quaint places to hang out, this theater is perfect. Upon entering, with the old paintings on the tan walls and large windows, we instantly got the old-fashioned feel of the place. The staff was extremely friendly, and though the ticket area may have been slightly cramped, the overall atmosphere of the theater was very friendly. The theater was remodeled recently, and so the place is very clean as well as old fashioned. There are 10 screens and each theater is pretty small, so it’s not as crowded as a regular movie theater. Due to the recent renovation, the sound systems worked well, not too loud like most franchise movie theaters. Finally, in keeping with the old-timey style of theater, the best part of all was the price of tickets. While regular theaters usually charge over eleven dollars just to see a regular movie, movies at the York are eight dollars, six dollars after six p.m. The York is a nice break from the typical big-name theaters. The theater is charming and friendly, and is the perfect place to go whether with family, friends, or on a date. The pleasant atmosphere of the theater fits in perfectly with the overall charm of Elmhurst.
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The Lookout
Upcoming Concerts Macklemore 11/28 House of Blues Ray Lamontagne 11/30 Chicago Theater
Alabama Shakes 12/1 Riviera Theater
Hoodie Allen 12/8 House of Blues
Carrie Underwood 12/12 United Center Punch Brothers 12/13 Vic Theater
X
marks the spot
Follow these steps to find a X hidden somewhere around Central. Bring the X to the Advocate room (249) to claim your special prize. The X will be hidden after 8th period. Congratulations to Peter Heneghan for finding last month’s X!
Step 1: answer the riddle
Step 2: bring your answer to the room pictured Step 3: return the X to room 249 and claim your prize Angad Ravanam
Music review: Psychedelic Pill Neil Young and Crazy Horse by Ma Cornell
Japandroids 12/13 Metro Of Monsters and Men
12/16-12/17 Riviera Theater
Andrew Bird 12/20 Fourth Presbyterian
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self-titledmag.com
Neil Young’s Psychedelic Pill does exactly what it intends to do – it offers modern listeners a glimpse back into the heyday of rock ‘n roll, the 1960s. While it is successful in achieving its purpose, Psychedelic Pill seems to lack a central inspiration, a problem that plagues its longest tracks, “Driftin’ Back” and “Walk Like a Giant.” Still, hearing the epic-length jams is a fresh respite from the typical three minute pop rock songs that own the music industry today. I must warn you: do not listen to Psychedelic Pill in only one sitting. Clocking in at nearly one and a half hours, Psychedelic Pill is a body of work that needs more than a listen or two to be appreciated. The open guitar solos of “Driftin’ Back” and “Ramada Inn” serve as great driving music, lasting long enough to accompany the listener to the grocery store and back. The endurance and power coming from the distorted guitar overcomes the lack of direction of the individual songs nicely.
Psychedelic Pill should not be the focus of your attention, but rather the backdrop to the task at hand. Psychedelic Pill also struggles to provide the listener with enough variety in tempo or tone. Of the nine tracks on the album (one of which is an alternate take on the title track), only “For the Love of Man” takes a break from the energetic guitar and drums that dominate the music. Consequently, it is one of the most enjoyable tunes on the record, even if it indicates larger problems with the record itself. With Psychedelic Pill, Neil Young and Crazy Horse gather together much of the original material they created during the recording of Americana earlier this year. In doing so, they expose twenty-first century listeners to a fifty-year-old style of music, untouched by today’s production norms. Psychedelic Pill may not be the most varied record of the year, but it is one of the most enjoyable.
Devils’ Advocate • 28 • November 11/16/12 2:29 PM
The Lookout
Boys basketball
Red Devils prepare to take on the Dukes of York by Paige Pielet
Mark Schmidt
Senior Evan Blust tips in a shot during a scrimmage. One of the team’s returning varsity players, Blust will help lead the team December 15 against York.
T
he varsity boys’ basketball team will play York on Dec. 15. Since last year, York and Central have had a close rivalry. The Red Devils won at the home game (77-44) Dec. 2, 2011, but lost their away game (64-75) against the Dukes on Jan. 27, 2012, making the two teams evenly matched. Head coach Nick Latorre said, “It’s going to be a very competitive game.” Jared Eck, senior guard, explained that they are familiar with York’s team and its strength. “It will be a hard fought game. York has a very strong scorer,” Eck said. The “good scorer” he mentions is David Cohn, a senior guard from York. “There are a lot of bad sentiments from last year’s games. We want to beat them badly,” senior shooting guard Alec Hutcherson said. He is referring to a game on Jan. 27 of last season when Cohn scored 47 of York’s 75 points. Limiting Cohn’s scoring could be the difference between a win and loss. “We know it’s possible to stop him.
December
01
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1:00
varsity boys swimming vs. Naperville Central
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If we do that we should be in a good position to win the game,” Hutcherson said. “It will definitely be one of the better games of the year.” Last season, the team worked well together. “We are trying to replicate that with the varsity newcomers,” Eck said. The team chemistry is bound to vary due to graduated players being replaced by new varsity members. “Last year’s team had its own personality. I don’t know how this team is going to pan out,” Latorre said. A challenge that every team faces is filling the spots of experienced varsity team members who have graduated. “We have guys coming in that can help fill those roles,” Blust said. With many returning players, and last year being such a success, the bar has been set high for the current team. “The goal is to compete at the highest level and reach our full potential,” Coach Latorre said. Along with each player’s personal goals, the team hopes to win a
December
05
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6:00
jv girls gymnastics vs. Downers Grove North
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07
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6:00
varsity wrestling vs. Oak Park-River Forest
conference championship this year. Blust wants to make a deep run in playoffs. “I believe we have the talent and the ability to do it,” Blust said. Similarly, Hutcherson said, “We’d like to do some damage in the playoffs. The ultimate goal is playing a super sectional in our own gym.” However, Central is at a disadvantage; many of the players are coming off injuries from other sports. “The team is a little banged up from football season. Right now our biggest obstacle is to get everyone healthy so that everyone can make it to practice and continue to improve,” Latorre said. Hutcherson recognizes this obstacle as well. “We have 17 guys on the roster and some days we only have 10 practicing. It’s tough coming together as group with different lineups out there everyday,” Hutcherson said. The team is already mentally preparing for the York game. “One thing is for sure,” Blust said. “We will be prepared when we play them.”
December
11
A
5:30
sophomore girls basketball vs. Oak Park-River Forest
December
20
A
4:30
boys jv bowling vs. Morton
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afterthought
I was in the Cayman Islands with my family over the last spring break when I took this picture. Every night my family and I would go down to the beach and watch the sunset, and I would take pictures. That particular night the sky was especially vibrant and the sea reflected this very well. I tried to capture that with my picture. -Mark Schmidt
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