Oracle vol 52 issue 1 oct 4 2013 1

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 109 Glenview, IL

the Oracle

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

GLENBROOK SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

4000 W. Lake Ave, Glenview, IL 60026 VOLUME LII , ISSUE 1, OCT. 4, 2013

theoracle.glenbrook225.org

MAKING

HOMECOMING

HISTORY Student council moves football game to Friday LAUREN BENSON

staff reporter

PAINTING PRIDE: After painting their designated window at Northbrook’s Caribou Coffee, Glenbrook North student members of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) club smile in front of their freshly painted display. Members include junior Alison McDonald, senior Emily Komie, junior Lexie Rand, senior Joel Schleicher, junior Jordyn Keller and junior Nicole Beibrach (from left to right). After several complaints from Northbrook community citizens, Caribou Coffee removed the homecoming decoration. Photo courtesy of Lexie Rand

Caribou washes off GBN’s GSA window paint AARON ACH

asst. news editor MADISON O’BRIEN

co-features editor As a tradition and part of the runup to GBN’s homecoming dance, which took place on Sept. 28, 12 of North’s student clubs “painted the town,”signing up to decorate windows of Northbrook’s local businesses.

Northbrook’s Caribou Coffee vol-

unteered as one of the businesses whose windows would be decorated by clubs such as Poms, Global citizens Club and Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA); the coffee shop approved the clubs that were assigned to their windows.

Painted on the afternoon of Sept.

23, GSA’s decorations consisted of rainbow colors in addition to symbols that represent lesbian, gay and transexual relationships. After receiving various complaints from members of the community, Caribou re-

moved GSA’s decorations on Sept.

25, according to senior Joel Schleicher, member of North’s GSA. “It’s our hope that all of our guests feel welcome in our coffeehouses,” Megan Fraboni, Caribou Coffee’s local public relations representative, said in an official press release. “Unfortunately, the actions undertaken by the Northbrook store team were not in alignment with our executional standards and policies; however, we take full responsibility of these actions.”

Caribou employees were directed not to comment on the situation.

Although some have acknowledged that the decision made by Caribou’s management was not necessarily demonstrative of the entire company, customers—students in particular—have taken action to stand up for what they believe is right, Schleicher said.

“I know students that have gone into Caribou and expressed their dis-

See GSA page 4

Police, fire departments to gain access to security cameras CAROLYN KELLY

co-news editor Access to South security cameras may be shared with the Glenview Police and Fire Departments if an agreement is finalized to allow first responders access to the cameras during emergencies, according to Dr. Michael Riggle, District 225 superintendent.

Patrick Shuster, Glenview police sergeant, said that access to the cameras would not be used for routine situations, they would only be used in emergencies where a view of the building would help first responders coordinate a response plan.

“Regular police calls for service are not what it’s used for,” Shuster said. “Just those emergency situations where knowing the exact location of a possible offender or of a fire would help direct our response better, so that we can get in there and take care of whatever the emergency incident is as quickly and safely as possible.”

South Principal Dr. Brian Wegley

news

2

ERIKA’S LIGHTHOUSE

said that the idea for the agreement arose from discussion about improving South emergency response capabilities.

“I think that if we had a situation like that, one of the questions we would ask would be, ‘did we do everything we could to keep the people we care about in this building safe?’”

Wegley said.

First responders’ access to the cameras would help to keep South students and staff safe by improving their cooperation with South in an emergency, according to Michael Meier, South police liaison.

“In regards to when an emergency […] does happen, with regards to me being a police officer, having my radio and being able to talk directly to dispatches, I’m expecting that they would be able to talk to me and in real time be able to see on the school cameras what might be going on [that] they can report to officers who’re com-

There are 40 security camera locations on South’s campus.

See CAMERAS page 3

Graphic by Cormac O’Brien

opinions features a&e

7

BURGERFI REVIEW

The date of the Homecoming football game was changed to Friday evening from Saturday afternoon by student and administrative council last May, according to Dr. James Shellard, student activities director.

Shellard said this change was mainly brought about by Johnny Cowhey, a varsity football player, who argued for having the football game, and all other athletic games that usually happen on Saturday, earlier in the week.

Cowhey explained that athletes with games on the Saturday of Homecoming often missed out on Homecoming events such as the Pep Rally, street dance and parade in order to participate in games.

“If they had the game that Friday night, they would be able to participate and they would be able to use Homecoming to its fullest,” Hannah Schiller, student council secretary, said.

Cowhey said he was asked to organize a group of students that supported his idea before presenting it before student council.

“I started talking to students,” Cowhey said. “I tried talking to Jeffrey Mathew, our student body president, and other students to see what their opinions were, and I would say probably 90 to 95 percent of other students agreed with me.”

However, Cowhey admitted his idea was unpopular with many of the members of student council when first introduced.

One example of apprehension was senior Sydney Kiwaiko, student body vice president.

Though hesitant at first, especially about breaking tradition and timing of the Pep Rally, Kiwaiko eventually became a propenent of the change.

“While we still had many concerns, we believed that with enough planning and dedication from student council, we could truly make it the best homecoming yet,” Kiwaiko said. “We are all hopeful and excited for this change. We like to think of it as the year of ‘starting new traditions.’”

10

SLUTWALK CHICAGO

17

MARCHING BAND

sports

18 MEN’S SOCCER

2

news Google 1:1 transforms Glenbrook education Oct. 4, 2013

CHARLOTTE KELLY

co-news editor AARON ACH

asst. news editor Google Chromebooks were distributed to all District 225 freshmen, sophomores and juniors as part of the district’s first one-to-one (1:1) technology initiative at the beginning of the school year.

The Chromebooks were tested during a pilot program last spring and emerged as the best device for large-scale distribution, according to Ryan Bretag, director of instructional technology.

Kim Kiraly, family and consumer science teacher, took part in the pilot and said Chromebooks were a smart decision for the district.

“You can do a lot of rote learning on [a tablet] versus a laptop that would allow you to do more production,” Kiraly said.

The District 225 Board of Education approved the device as part of a two-year lease, according to Principal Dr. Brian Wegley. At the end of the two years, students may be able to purchase the device for $1, pending Board approval, according to Dr. Michael Riggle, District 225 superintendent.

Riggle said the goal of the two-year lease was to ensure that South can stay on top of everchanging technology. After two years, the district will re-evaluate how the Chromebooks worked, potentially look at other devices and make a decision as to how to progress, according to Bretag.

Devices are rented for $25 the first year and then for a maximum of $118 the second year. The low cost for the first year is due to a Board contribution to ensure that the initiative started effectively and teachers and students had time to figure out how to best use the device, according to Riggle.

“I felt the first year that we needed to build capital for these devices, because not all of our teachers would be ready right off the bat to use this device fully,” Riggle said. “It gave us a more relaxed environment for [the beginning].”

Kiraly said that the administration has allowed teachers more independence with the implementation compared to the more controlled environment of the pilot last spring.

The Chromebooks were introduced to create a more collaborative and engaging classroom setting, especially through Google Apps like Google+ and Google Drive.

These Apps allow students to connect with classmates and receive more efficient feedback from their teachers, Wegley said.

In an Oracle-conducted survey of 55 teachers, 84 percent said they used Google Drive for handouts, papers, and other uses. Matthew Bertke, world language teacher and department technology adviser, said that Google Apps enhance students’ educational

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BLUE AND CHROME: In the IMC, students collaborate using their Chromebooks. No longer limited to the computer labs, freshmen, sophomores and juniors can access the internet and Google Apps anywhere in the school through their devices. Photo by Cormac O’Brien experience.

“There are a lot more resources and a lot more tools for the underclassmen,” Bertke said.

Most teachers recognize the educational power Chromebooks provide, as 80 percent of teachers surveyed would choose to continue using Chromebooks; however, 67 percent also acknowledged the potential distractions that immediate access to technology poses for students.

“Most of the time it’s not a distraction, it’s actually much more beneficial, but there are rare instances,” Bertke said. “It’s no different than someone just staring off into space; you just have something to stare off into space with.”

Most students surveyed feel the addition of Chromebooks has been useful to them. “[A]s long as it is efficiently incorporated into class, I enjoy using it and I think it can be very effective,” freshman Cindy Yang said.

Aside from the occasional freeze-up or abnormal glitch, the devices have proven to be reliable, according to Bretag. Only 30 percent of students surveyed reported having experienced problems with the device. The only repeated issue has been the failure of some devices to automatically connect to the new Wi-Fi hubs that were installed in each classroom over the summer.

Bretag said the issue is being addressed with random checks in classrooms. Bertke thinks similar issues are simple to solve.

“They’re pretty easy to fix. You can just turn it [on and] off [and] within 30 seconds it turns back on,” Bertke said.

More common problems are user-based, like forgetting to charge the device or forgetting to bring it, according to Bertke. Bretag believes that students have to become accustomed to the fact that Chromebooks aren’t the most durable devices, and hardware malfunctions often come from wear-and-tear on the device.

The majority of staff surveyed feel that the benefits of incorporating Chromebooks into the cur-

riculum outweigh the difficulties.

“I think that it’s been really great this year, there haven’t been a lot of bumps,” Bertke said.

“I think that it’s going to be an important technology that once we all kind of get a feel for how it works, especially as we transition to the block, it’s going to be really helpful to do more activities that--especially in language--enhance communication and get people talking in a bunch of different ways instead of just words out of the mouth.”

Bretag believes that while the implementation of Chromebooks is an important step to create a more modern classroom, it is only an entry point into the 1:1 world.

“As the world evolves, devices are devices and will change,”Bretag said.

“For us, who knows what the next device will be? But a lot of it is not directed [toward] the device...It’s more about what the student experience is that we are all striving for. If students... have been creating and collaborating, they should come right in here and be looking to do the same thing, regardless of the device.”

“There are a lot more resources and a lot more tools for the underclassmen.”

-Matthew Bertke, world languages teacher and department technology adviser

Erika’s Lighthouse rallies for depression awareness

RICHARD PEARL

co-web editor

Each issue, the Oracle features a club’s recent accomplishments.

South club Erika’s Lighthouse continued its mission to “bust the stigma” of depression with the Rock and Rally Walkathon on Sept. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.

According to Club Sponsor Lisa Richardson, the walkathon was designed to help promote the club and raise money for the organization, which in turn provides materials to the club at South. In addition, she hopes the walkathon stimulates conversation about depression.

“It really is about creating a conversation

and making [depression] public,” Richardson said. “In public, if people are talking about [depression], the less uncomfortable they’ll be. That’s always been the idea behind it.”

The Walkathon started in Hubbard Woods and was a little less than three miles long. The walkathon went through several North Shore communities and had chairs, tables and local band “Triple A” set up at a gazebo near the starting point.

According to Richardson, roughly 50 South students attended the Walkathon last year. This year, Erika’s Lighthouse used Facebook and Twitter to promote the Walkathon and encourage more people to walk.

Rema Abu-Hashim, a student leader for Erika’s Lighthouse at South, believes the Walkathon is important even for people who aren’t members of Erika’s Lighthouse.

“When people do a walk, they feel like they have contributed in some way even if it’s as simple as walking,” Abu-Hashim said. “Everybody likes to feel like a part of something and doing this [Walkathon] really helps make our ELH community that much bigger and better.”

CAMPAIGN OF COMPASSION: Speaking at the Rock and Rally Walkathon, Ginny Neuckranz, founder of Erika’s Lighthouse, promotes awareness for adolescent depression. Neuckranz’s daughter Erika suffered from depression and committed suicide in 2004. Photo by Tommy Hagerty

news 3 Springfield passes laws for students’ safety Oct. 4, 2013

Tanning bed usage banned for teens under 18 GEORGIA ARVANITIS

CAROLYN KELLY

staff reporter

co-news editor

A new state law passed Aug. 15 has banned tanning bed use for anyone under age 18 starting Jan. 1, 2014, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Daniel Biss, ninth district state senator, voted to pass the law. According to Biss, the law is a reasonable improvement in public health.

“There is a very significant amount of evidence now that the long term health consequences of using tanning beds at a young age are really significant,” Biss said.

According to the Tribune, tanning in an indoor bed can raise the chances of having melanoma, the most fatal skin disease, by 75 percent. Tanning under the age of 25 doubles the risk.

According to Ellie Foley, South Cure Club leader, teens use them to meet unreasonable standards in appearance regardless of risk.

“I think there’s a whole image that teenagers have to conform to and part of that image is being tan,” Foley said.

The South girls tennis team participated in the Long Grove Heritage 5K Run/Walk to raise money for melanoma and the organization Skin of Steel.

Skin of Steel is an organization that supports research and aids those affected by melanoma. They wore Skin of Steel T-shirts and layered on sunscreen in support. According to Head Coach Kathryn Nicolotti, the new law is a huge step in the right direction.

“I think that it is really important for young women to embrace the skin that they’re in, [...] and our standards of beauty [need to] shift,” Nicolotti said.

Despite the risks of skin cancer, some teens oppose the law. Freshman Sami Schneider acknowledges that tanning beds are dangerous, but believes that teens should be able to use them.

“I believe that it is their decision to make, even if it’s not a healthy one,” Schneider said.

According to Sachi Ishida, South alum and daughter of the founder of Skin of Steel, Susan Steel, education is the key to fighting melanoma. Ishida believes that educating people on the effects of tanning on their body will help prove that it is extremely dangerous.

“There’s enough research and evidence at this point to show that tanning beds directly correlate with melanoma,” Ishida said. “Being someone who has been directly affected by it, I would never want somebody to go through that.”

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION SOUTH UNDER SURVEILLANCE: From his computer, Michael Meier, South police

liason, can view all of the school’s 40 surveillance cameras at once. Photo by Wyatt Richter

CAMERAS, continued from front page -ing to help,” Meier said.

Despite the cameras’ advantages, Wegley, Shuster and Meier said that they hope the cameras will never need to be used.

“If it’s an incident [where] we’re activating it, it’s an incident we’d prefer not have happened,” Shuster said.

According to a memorandum of understanding between the school and the police and fire departments, certain protocols would have to be followed for activation of the cameras. The police and fire departments would have to contact a South authority in order to receive permission to activate the cameras, or if they are unable to make contact, must inform the district superintendent within 24 hours of activation.

Riggle said he understands concerns for privacy that the cameras pose and wants the community to be comfortable with the agreement.

“I think it’s important for stu-

Catastrophic accident insurance required for IHSA athletes

dents, staff and the people in the community to know that, yes, we have a camera system, and here’s how it’s going to be used when you have an emergency, and if it’s not an emergency, then the police are not going to be accessing it,” Riggle said. “It’s not going to be used in any way that’s a violation of students’ rights, and we’re meeting the kind of the transparency that the community deserves in something like this.”

Wegley said that only he and the Dean’s Office can currently access the cameras. Riggle said that South cameras are only for passive surveillance, which is different from constant, active surveillance.

“We’re using those cameras to be able to better protect our own property, to go back and look at situations that were maybe not good for our students, see who was involved—that’s passive surveillance,” Riggle said.

The Board is awaiting further deliberation before voting to approve or reject the memorandum.

After a new law passed mandating every Illinois High School Association (IHSA) athletes receive catastrophic accident insurance, all District 225 students are now covered by catastrophic insurance, according to Principal Dr. Brian Wegley.

Wegley said the district chose to cover the entire student body to prevent errors in identifying IHSA athletes and because it is relatively inexpensive to insure all students.

The coverage will also protect students who receive catastrophic injuries in non-athletic activities, according to Hilarie Siena, assistant superintendent of business for District 225.

“The district had to make a decision whether it was going to insure only those [athletic sports] that were sanctioned by the IHSA,” Siena said. “Because that’s very difficult to determine for example, dance is sanctioned, but drama is not. So what if we had an injury, say during the V-Show? It would be very difficult to insure one student and not the other, so the Board of Education approved to purchase this insurance on all of our students.”

According to Siena, the cost to cover IHSA athletes was $8,044, while the cost to cover all 4,875 students was $10,725.

The district’s coverage will apply to any student participating in or traveling to events or activities sponsored by the school, but will not cover pre-existing conditions or accidents that occur outside of a school context, according to Michael Riggle, District 225 superintendent.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the law was inspired

by Rocky Clark, a running back from Eisenhower High School who became paralyzed in a football game in 2000. Clark’s family lacked the insurance to cover his resulting medical expenses, and after his death they fought to ensure that other families would never have to experience the same worry.

Laura Fine, seventeenth district Illinois representative, said she supported the bill in the House and appreciates the insurance as a parent of two gymnasts a sport with a high risk of injury.

Anna Nowak, mother of Calie Nowak, attack on the varsity girls lacrosse team, felt mixed feelings about South’s coverage.

“On the one side, I am grateful to [South] to go above and beyond to purchase that on behalf of all students; on the other hand, it concerns me...because I think it reminds me how dangerous the sport is,” Anna said.

Anna said girls lacrosse has a high likelihood of concussions due to rough play and a lack of requirements for players to wear protective gear. Yet according to the IHSA website, lacrosse is not an IHSA-sanctioned sport, and Calie would not have been considered for coverage under the law.

“It’s hopefully something that will never have to be used,” Fine said.

4

news New brew: local coffee shop replaces Caribou Oct. 4, 2013

raffle ticket -- you’re actually entered to win a TV, and all of the money we staff reporters are raising for that is goThe Glenview Grind, a locally- ing straight to [the fund]. owned coffee shop, opened Sept. 1 We’ve already raised a lot.” at the intersection of Waukegan and The money donated to Glenview Roads, replacing its predethe fund goes to local famcessor, Caribou Coffee. ilies in need of food and a Although not registered with the home. Sister Paulanne was state as a non-profit organization, The very grateful when she was Glenview Grind states on its website informed of The Glenview that it plans to donate all profits “to Grind’s plan to donate to support local community organizathe fund because the need tions and events.” Owner Perry Man- for help in the community dera, a Glenview resident himself, has is large at the moment, acset a goal to give back to the communi- cording to Sister Paulanne. ty through the business. All revenues, “We have been paying including Mandera’s personal earn- people’s rent, helping them ings, will be donated to local youth or- keep their home, helping ganizations and other charitites. them have enough food,” “We are going to take the profits Sister Paulanne said. “It’s from The Glenview Grind and put really a tough time… and [them] back in the community, spon- people can’t get help… I soring baseball teams, sponsoring feel very strongly that [the hockey teams, sponsoring youth orgachurch] has a responsibility nizations,” Mandera said. “We want to to help people in need, and give [them] back into the community that would come under the because that’s who is supporting it.”

‘Needy Family Fund.’”

In addition to profits from sales of In addition to its focus coffee and food, The Glenview Grind on charity, The Glenview will raise money through monthly rafGrind has a communityfles, according to Mandera. The mon- based environment inside ey from these raffles will be donated to the shop itself because it is DAILY GRIND: At The Glenview Grind, South students Grace Cox (left) and Clay Satherlie (right) take three customers’ orders as they look over the new a different organization every month. a local business, according menu. According to owner Perry Mandera, the Grind’s menu is improved compared to the one Caribou Coffee offered. Photo by Cormac O’Brien The Glenview Grind is first partnering to Mandera. Mandera rewith Sister Paulanne’s ‘Needy Family hired all of the employees Fund,’ which is run by Our Lady of who had previously worked at CariGSA, continued from front page town Chicago Caribou Coffee location. pany located in Schiller Park, accordPerpetual Help (OLPH), a Glenview bou who are already familiar with the -appointment [and] anger to managechurch and school. community. According to Mandera, Zebrin believes that this is a result of ing to Mandera. They also have high ment, students who have posted on the fun, relaxed atmosphere inside quality pastries and baked goods from “Currently, we’re doing a fundraisthe staff that had lost their jobs because Caribou Coffee’s Facebook wall and of the Glenview Grind, which differs Maeir’s Bakery in Morton Grove, Maner for OLPH... for Sister PaulAnne’s of the closing of Caribou Coffee had many students who have posted their from the quiet, peaceful environment dera said, which many customers have ‘Needy Family Fund,’” Samantha been victims of corporate America. support for the LGBTQ community that Caribou had. enjoyed so far.

Duda, Glenview Grind employee, said.

“We brought the [employees] back on their Facebooks,” Emily Komie, Although many customers enjoy South junior Jack Schiltz confirms “You enter a dollar, [and] you get this because of the friendliness, the profesNorth’s GSA president, said. sionalism,” Mandera said. “The learn- the social environment, some students the quality of food and drink.

Kerry Galson, District 225 English Despite the presumed improved ing curve was easy, they knew the cus- see it as a downside because they can teacher, wrote a formal letter of comdrink quality, tomer base. It’s a real nice place where no longer study plaint to Caribou “to raise [her] conin the coffee many people still everyone gets along real well.” cerns that either local policy or corposhop, as they preferred Caribou The environment of The rate policy or… an individual’s bad Coffee over The Glenview Grind is some- had been able decision had an impact.”

Glenview Grind. thing that some custom- to at Caribou.

“That bad decision made a differ“I think According to an ers see as an advantage ence in people’s lives and I just wantit’s a more Oracle-conducted over larger, corporate ed to draw attention to that fact.” social envisurvey of 220 stucoffee shop chains.

According to Matthew Bondy, coronment than dents, 75 percent “I love that it feels president of North’s Global Citizens somewhere to go for a quality time to of students prefer The Glenview Grind like a communityclub, in response to negative feedover Caribou. based business, not a study,” John Tallis, South junior and back from customers and Northbrook opening day customer, said.

“I liked Caribou better because the big chain of places like residents, Caribou removed the other According to Mandera, besides the people there seemed a lot nicer and inCaribou did,” Karen Talclubs’ decorations, including Global atmosphere, another difference beviting- plus [it had] a better drink selis, opening day customer, Citizens club’s painted window, on tween The Glenview Grind and Carilection,” Nina Hood, a South freshman said. “It makes you want to Sept. 27. Bondy expressed frustration bou Coffee is that the coffee that The and frequent Caribou customer, said. be [t]here.” with Caribou Coffee’s removal and Glenview Grind offers is of higher So far, business at The Glenview the message it sent to the community.

Grind has been very good, according quality than the coffee that was offered The entire Journalistic Writing class con“I was absolutely disgusted that tributed to writing and reporting for this to employee Mike Zebrin, who former- at Caribou. They have a signature cof[Caribou Coffee] attempted to eradifee blend, locally roasted by a com- story. ly worked at a recently closed downcate the message of the Gay-Straight Alliance—a message of hope for societal harmony between all people regardless of their sexual orientation,” Bondy said.

Komie also expressed disapproval of Caribou’s decision.

“This Caribou was my ‘go-to’ spot for the past year,” Komie said. “I was hurt that one of the places that I used ® ® to love so much is now forever tarnished by blatant discrimination and 333 S. Milwaukee Ave. (just south of Dundee Rd.) Wheeling IL 60090 • (847) 459-1900 intolerance. [...] I greatly wish that...

6363 N. Milwaukee Ave. (at Devon & Nagle) • Chicago IL 60646 • (773) 763-0660 [Caribou] would have thought more before they acted, and the situation would not have come to this.”

Stephanie Jackson (name has been changed to protect identity), a North junior who came out as bisexual be*All Credit Cards Accepted cause she felt supported by the community’s objection to Caribou, ex*Save $2.50 When You Buy Any Sandwich Without Superfries pressed her feelings of isolation when she first heard about the situation. *Add Any Size Soft Drink For $1.00 “[The message is saying], ‘Sorry, but we aren’t really ready for you • Open late 7 days a week. gays to be fully accepted here,’” Jackson said.

• Same friendly family owners since 1948.

However, Jackson believes that the • Internationally famous food & roadside response from Northbrook and surExpires 12-31-13 rounding areas expressed support architecture. and respect for those in the LGBTQ • Classic carhop service - order by speaker community.

“These are the types of messagand eat in your car. es that help kids like me come out, • Catering for meetings & parties at your because we see how pro-gay some straight people are, and it gives us place or at Superdawg. more confidence,” Jackson said. “The positives from the community’s reaction definitely outweighed the negatives from Caribou’s actions.”

JORDAN SPALDING & KATRINA LAZARA

“It’s not corporate... we can do what’s in the customers’ best interest.”

-Mike Zebrin, employee

Drive-In

SUPERDAWG SUPERNEWS

20% OFF

any purchase with coupon

www.superdawg.com

editorial

The editorial expresses the opinion of the majority of the editorial board and not necessarily that of the publisher, adviser, school administration or staff.

Oct. 4, 2013

5

Students, guardians: use PowerSchool sensibly Letter from the editors-in-chief The Oracle Editorial Board is well aware that South is an academically competitive environment. However, with the easy grade access due to PowerSchool, we would like to remind guardians and students that grades are susceptible to change and should not be the cause of rash punishment nor discouragement.

We would like to make sure that guardians are using PowerSchool in a way that benefits their child’s performance and well-being.

PARENTS: South adopted a new online grading system, PowerSchool, in place of HomeLogic. Like past years with HomeLogic, South provided parent logins aside from student logins.

It has come to our attention that it is common practice for some guardians to check their students’ grades online on a regular basis. Though it is healthy to be involved with your student’s academic life, constantly checking PowerSchool may add unnecessary pressure on them.

The goal is that by senior year, guardians no longer check up on their student’s grades regularly, Principal Dr. Brian Wegley said. Similarly, the Parent’s Association has urged parents to use these web resources “as a tool, never as a club.”

While we understand that each guardian must employ a different philosophy depending on the needs of their

student, it is in every student’s best interest to practice independently monitoring their own grades before they leave high school.

Grades are not the most important aspect of a high schooler’s experience.

Although a student may be getting low grades, we would like to emphasize the ability students have to change them.

If it is still early in the quarter, one low grade will weigh heavily on the overall grade. It may be shocking to see a low grade on PowerSchool, but guardians must understand that grades can change drastically in a short period of time.

We are not encouraging guardians to be hands-off when it comes to students consistently getting low grades. Instead, we’d like to stress the importance of an understanding relationship between guardian and student. In any situation, communication is key. It is a guardian’s responsibility to listen to their student’s explanations of grades with patience and open-mindedness in order to encourage progress rather than punish unsatisfactory performance.

Overuse of PowerSchool on the guardians’ end may encourage students to focus solely on the grade rather than learning. Instead of saying, “Why do you have such a bad grade in this class?,” frame it as, “What can we do to improve your understanding of this subject?”

A student should feel comfortable approaching their guardian with problems concerning their grades, not intimidated.

STUDENTS: Like guardians, students shouldn’t be alarmed by low grades at the beginning of the year. Checking PowerSchool constantly may increase anxiety, especially early in the quarter when there are fewer grades in the grade book.

Freshmen especially must understand that getting low grades early in the quarter won’t determine your end result in a class. There is a stark difference between middle school classes and high school classes, a disparity that can often take a few months to get used to.

For students, PowerSchool should be a tool to keep a tab on assignments and gauge how well you understand the course material. If you catch yourself logging in every five minutes to check if your teacher put that last test grade in, you’re over-using that tool and stressing yourself out.

Although it’s important to stay on top of your grades, checking PowerSchool sparingly will allow for more focus on the content itself rather than the scores.

As students, you are ultimately in charge of your grades and have the power to change your final grade in a class.

Let low grades push you to try harder next time and then move on. If you need help in a class, South has resources such as TLC tutoring with teachers or students. A student’s time at South is too short to be micro-managing grades on PowerSchool.

“Dad, I can hear you hovering.”

is published monthly by students at Glenbrook South High School, 4000 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL 60026.

The opinions expressed in the Oracle are that of the writer(s) and not necessarily of the staff or school.

The Oracle neither endorses nor rejects the products and services advertised.

editors-in-chief Julia Jacobs Camille Park news editors Carolyn Kelly Charlotte Kelly opinions editors Claire Fisher Sally You features editors Elisa Kim Madison O’Brien a&e editors Shea Anthony Kali Croke sports editors Rachel Chmielinski Breck Murphy

JULIA JACOBS & CAMILLE PARK

editors-in-chief Readers, Welcome to what is sure to be a story-filled year.

The Oracle, which is comprised of 27 editorial-board members, 42 writers, four photographers and one adviser, exists first and foremost to facilitate a connection between our school and the larger community. We present this issue of the Oracle as the first of seven snapshots of the action and excitement this year at South.

The beauty of being a school newspaper is that we need not feel pressure to sensationalize because of financial worry. For some publications, page-hits has become priority number one.

For example, on Aug. 26, CNN’s top story was “Miley Cyrus twerks it out at MTV VMAs.” The first thing readers saw when they opened the CNN site was Miley and her foam finger rather than updates on the chemical weapons attack in Syria that took place just five days prior.

As a school-funded newspaper, those are the kind of decisions that the Oracle is immune to. As a result, we can operate with the tenets of quality journalism as our first priority. In some ways, we have more freedom than national publications to print the stories that we feel are most important for you to read, and we recognize the responsibility that comes with this privilege.

Because words have the power to incite very real emotion, understand that we never aim to stir up controversy for controversy’s sake. If one of our reporters asks you for an interview, it is never to violate your privacy but rather to understand your perspective on an issue of importance.

Sometimes we will expand our coverage outside the walls of South and even the boundaries of Glenview and Northbrook. For example, in this issue, we covered SlutWalk, an event that took place in the heart of the city of Chicago (pages 10-11). When we cover a story like this, it is because it speaks to an issue that is applicable to the people of our community.

Other times, we may cover a topic a world away, like columnist Chris Callahan’s piece about U.S. involvement in Syria (page 5). Stories like this one are important simply in their significance to the world.

A new goal this year is to bring more color to our stories by creating at least one multimedia feature per issue --that refers to a video, podcast or photo slideshow. These projects will be featured on our website. In this way, we are moving with the tide of New Media to supplement our traditional print publication.

As a reader, you are an integral piece of this puzzle, a key player with the ability to make what we do more effective. There are a few things you can do to accomplish this.

An interview is a way to make your voice heard on an issue you care about or even a rare chance to talk exclusively about yourself.

For students especially, one thing we can promise is that around a certain time each month, you will be bombarded with surveys. At lunch, when you are in the cafeteria, we will ask you to take a survey. On Facebook, when you are scrolling through your Newsfeed, we will ask you take a survey.

Rather than a burden or an annoyance, we urge you to see these surveys as a chance for you to establish your presence in South’s student body. The more people who take our surveys, the more reliable our statistics are. The more reliable our statistics are, the more you learn from our stories.

We urge you to actively participate in the conversation about our school and beyond. Have a story that you think deserves coverage? Tell us. Have thoughts on a story that we published? We want to know.

You can’t claim that we lack the proper mode of communication; you can contact us by emailing gbsoracle@gmail.com or individual reporters, tweet us @GBSOracle, message our Facebook page “The Glenbrook South Oracle” or employ an age-old method of communication: come to Room 246 during the school day to speak with us personally.

As students, we are still in the process of perfecting our journalistic skills. However, we see our role in the school as more than just an extracurricular activity. We promise the utmost attention to accuracy, and in turn, we hope you will trust us to deliver the news most important to you.

web editors Lauren Durning Richard Pearl Kelsey Pogue Inaara Tajuddin illustrations editor Nimisha Perumpel photos editor Wyatt Richter asst. news Aaron Ach asst. opinions Dani Tuchman asst. features Hailey Hauldren Calli Haramaras Addie Lyon

asst. a&e Lauren Frias asst. sports Hannah Mason asst. photos Marley Hambourger Cormac O’Brien adviser Marshall Harris gbsoracle@gmail.com “The Glenbrook South Oracle” @GBSOracle @gbsoracle

6

opinions

Oct. 4, 2013

Living with parents who don’t speak English

Military intervention unnecessary in Syria CHRIS CALLAHAN

columnist SALLY YOU

co-opinions editor When I was 4 years old, I was sent off to preschool with a typical Asian bob cut, a really hard-to-pronounce Korean name and the stereotypical habit of holding up the peace sign whenever someone took a picture of me. As a naive 4-year-old with limited English, when my fellow preschoolers giggled and pointed at me, I thought it was because they took interest in me. Reflecting now, I think it’s safe to say they were just making fun of me.

Thirteen years later, I’ve redeemed myself and succeeded in assimilating into the norm of an average American teenager, and so have my younger siblings. My parents on the other hand... it’s like they never left South Korea.

Maybe it’s because my family has always lived in a neighborhood full of Koreans, but they have yet to speak and understand English.

Consequently, not only have I been making phone calls to Comcast and American Express to complain about bills since the fourth grade, it has also been my job to write checks and fill out patient forms at the doctor’s office.

Whenever I brought my parents take-home letters from school, they glared at the chunks of foreign characters in utter disgust and eventually started disregarding them altogether, leaving me responsible for reminding them of important dates.

Up until my freshman year, I was forbidden to play any American music in the car because my parents couldn’t understand anything and felt “left out.”

Imagine listening to old Korean music and K-pop during road trips and the embarrassment I went through whenever I gave a non-Asian friend a ride.

My mom, who doesn’t even call me out of school when I’m sick, once dragged me to court for a ticket because she needed me to translate for her.

But I have to admit, there are some benefits I’ve acquired from living with parents who don’t speak English.

I’ve maintained a native tongue in the Korean language which has allowed me to communicate and interact with diverse groups of people.

My relatives have connected me with programs where I have taught English to kids in Korea, and I’ve also found it easier to understand and experience the Korean culture because there lay no communication barrier.

I’ve become more independent because my parents worked long hours by taking on jobs in physical labor due to a lack of English-speaking abilities; thus, I’ll probably struggle less when I’m off at college in terms of household chores and getting my schoolwork done.

Despite the countless number of phone calls I miserably made and freedoms I gave up for my parents, the advantages that I gained by moving here make me appreciate them for immigrating to the U.S. even without speaking a word of English.

The recent Syrian conflict has ignited a lot of controversy. This debate has largely focused on the legitimacy and wisdom of intervening in the conflict based on the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons.

Chemical weapons, however, should not be the basis for military interventions - the distinction between such weapons and conventional forces is blurry and arbitrary.

But first, a little background. In the midst of the Arab Spring uprisings of early 2011, the people of Syria followed the lead of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and others to protest their oppressive government. In April 2011, the Syrian military was deployed to quell the uprisings, but the war spread nationwide and has been steadily growing more violent since then.

The UN estimates that the death toll reached 100,000 this past June, and tens of thousands of protesters have reportedly been imprisoned.

The recent controversy was triggered this spring when rumors abounded that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s administration was in possession of or had used chemical weapons, which led President Barack Obama to declare a “red line” over the use of chemical weapons - meaning the U.S. would have to intervene.

But why does the use of chemical weapons change the reality of the battlefield or the reasons for trying to stop the conflict? The distinction between chemical and conventional weapons in the context of the Syria crisis is, at best, arbitrary and, at worst, counterproductive.

The Economist also reported that around 1,500 people were killed in the worst chemical weapons attack

ac

orm yC ic b

rien

O’B

ph

Gra

this August. That’s (let me get out my calculator) 1.5 percent of the people that have been killed in the entire war - the vast majority of whom were killed with conventional weapons.

The uproar over the use of chemical weapons is just a way to justify a weak intervention way too late in the game and to save face with the war hawks who have been pushing intervention from the beginning. David Rieff of The New Republic described how the proposed strikes were too small to actually change conditions on the ground, but they were large enough to mollify warmongers and small enough to keep most of the activists quiet.

This is especially true when the kind of strike Obama proposed would have been counterproductive.

According to Ezra Klein of the Washington Post, a limited strike

would at best take out Assad’s chemical weapons but also intensify his campaign against civilians with conventional weapons in retaliation. Statistically, according to Klein, leaders subject to international intervention in civil wars respond with more severe attacks against civilians in order to regain control over the conflict.

The common argument is that chemical weapons are indiscriminate civilian-killers, so they justify a harsher response. But let’s be real here - thousands of civilians have already been killed, wounded, or displaced. The method with which that is done is irrelevant.

Just several weeks ago, the U.S. and Russia reached a deal whereby the Syrian government would turn over their chemical weapons to Russian control, and the U.S. would effectively take military force off the

table.

Even though a strike is not imminent, it’s important to understand the implications of chemical weapon use for the U.S. and the international community.

The U.S. should have either committed itself to full-on regime change and actually changed the conditions on the ground or simply have stayed out. Either way, the nation at large needs to reconsider its approach to chemical weapons. They should not be the basis for weak, politically motivated interventions that distract from the real conditions on the ground.

Casual use of ‘slut’ must end; it desensitizes female gender

EVAN SAWIRES

columnist Several weeks after Miley Cyrus’s infamous Video Music Award (VMA) performance, the Internet is still abuzz. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t call her performance well done. In fact, I would happily bleach it from my memory along with “Grease 2” and most of seventh grade.

Yet the constant flinging of words we’ve heard to describe Cyrus (like “slut”) only serve to highlight the glaring double standard we seem to have developed as a society. For example, even in the sea of criticism of Cyrus’s performance, there’s one part that seems to have stayed relatively safe from the wrath of the Internet: Robin Thicke. From the dancing and clothing to the foam finger, the entirety of the VMA performance mirrored the “Blurred Lines” music video.

From a feminist point of view, I have a problem with this. For one thing, the song is called “Blurred Lines,” and there are lines like “I know you want it / But you’re a

good girl.” The entire story is about how the object of his affection never says she “wants it,” but he’s gonna go ahead and give it to her anyway in a predatory fashion.

Thicke and his posse take on very predatory roles in their treatment of the women in the video, whose voices are never even heard in the song.

All of this is rape culture: the extremely prevalent attitude in our culture that normalizes and excuses sexual violence. Slut shaming, the control society tries to place over sexuality through shaming people for it, is probably the most popular face of rape culture in our daily lives.

During trials last year for a rape case in Steubenville, Ohio, CNN Anchor Poppy Harlow lamented how hard it was to see “two young men that had such promising futures, star football players...[watch] their lives [fall] apart”, after they were convicted of rape.

This is not an issue confined to celebrities and the news, however. Here at South, I hear “slut” and similar insults flung around on a daily basis.

I recognize the benefits that come with freely using the word “slut.” It desensitizes us to the behavior that gets someone labeled as one. That’s what SlutWalks, a protest march for victim blaming and slut-shaming, do when they gather people to reclaim the word and reclaim their right to safety regardless of how they choose

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION to express themselves.

While I personally am a huge fan of the message of safety and acceptance SlutWalks spread, I am not a fan of the word “slut” itself. We’re using it as a way to police each other’s sexuality, something that we can all agree is no one’s business. In many schools, dress codes are implemented to save boys from distraction, which only serves to worsen the divide.

If we really want to create a world of equal acceptance, we need to respect femininity as a whole, “sluts” and all. While few people still believe

Photo by Dani Tuchman

that women are intellectually inferior, it’s so deeply ingrained that it’s simply evolving into different forms of prejudice like slut-shaming. Just listen to yourself talk about other people for a day; you might be surprised at what you hear.

reviews

BurgerFi fries up natural fast food option DANI TUCHMAN

Oct. 4, 2013

7

Glenview Grind coffee carries on Caribou legacy

RACHEL CHMIELINSKI

asst. opinions editor

co-sports editor

Am I in heaven? Nope, it’s just BurgerFi—the juiciest burger you’ll ever bite into. With the almighty appearance of its exterior in mind, BurgerFi brings much more to the table than what you ordered.

Welcome to Glenview’s newest comfort food restaurant situated at the intersection of all-natural burgers and hot dogs and absolute deliciousness. If the greasiness of a burger joint keeps you from enjoying fast food, listen to this. BurgerFi dishes out hormone/antibiotic free grass-fed angus beef for healthconscious foodies. Even better, they manage to perfectly salt fresh-cut fries to meet your taste buds’ highest expectations.

After passing the cozy seating area outside, I was surprisingly bombarded with loud music from the moment I stepped in the door.

Luckily, the clean and rustic atmosphere made up for the fact that I had to raise my voice to carry a conversation over Ozzy Osbourne’s screams.

You’ve probably heard the saying: “Life is short. Eat dessert first.” Well, it might be time to dismiss your love for the adequate soft serve ice cream handed out daily at village favorite Dairy Bar. Instead, substitute your craving for one of the 12 different flavors of frozen custard shakes and “cows” that BurgerFi has to offer.

My personal favorite, the “Orange Cow,” otherwise known as the beloved creamsicle, blends the perfect

COMFORT FOOD: BurgerFi, the new “sustainable” fast-food joint in Glenview, serves up a variety of hamburgers, frozen custard treats and fresh-cut fries. Photo by Wyatt Richter

ratio of orange soda and creamy vanilla custard to create a mouth-watering masterpiece of flavors. If this cow isn’t your go-to frozen treat, BurgerFi serves up your typical, and might I say unexciting in taste, vanilla and chocolate milkshakes.

Now for the main course. I have had many hamburgers in my lifetime, and although there are many aspects that go into making the perfect bite, I believe the folks at BurgerFi have struck recipe gold.

Even though the patties are relatively small in size, they’re packed with flavors that not even the Krabby Patty can match. The burgers are juicy. They’re seasoned perfectly.

Their quality meat puts [the] hamburger above Meatheads’ & Epic Burger’s combined.

They’re not overcooked. And their quality meat puts BurgerFi’s hamburger above Meatheads’ and Epic Burger’s combined.

To make them stand out even more, you can order “Green Style.”

What is this you might so sullenly be thinking? Well, instead of a bun (they offer white or multigrain), BurgerFi gives you the option of encasing your burger/hot dog with a crisp (and I emphasize crisp) lettuce wrap.

Continuing with this vegetarian theme, I decided to take a chance on the VegeFi Burger, made from a type of grain called quinoa. At first I was skeptical, but the flavors packed into this patty are fresh and incredibly tasty to say the least. I can definitely see myself returning for another round of this vegetarian option in the future.

Now for the negatives: BurgerFi

is insanely overpriced. Your regular burger and fry combo costs almost $9 with tax, and this doesn’t include your choice of beverage from one of their two touch-screen soda fountains. Compared to Meatheads, the BurgerFi burger is smaller yet costs three dollars more.

Overall I give BurgerFi a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. Although the food was delicious, it was difficult to shovel out nine dollars for a burger and fries.

However, I will say that if you’re in a hurry and you need a quick yet satisfying meal, BurgerFi is a great option.

“The Spectacular Now” depicts real-life relationships

CLAIRE FISHER

co-opinions editor If you’re looking for a coming-ofage film to laugh and cry with, bring a couple of tissues and head to the theater. “The Spectacular Now” is a fresh angle on the age-old story of two teens that fall in love and find themselves in the process. With a touching storyline, a reflective look on life and great acting, this movie is definitely worth your Saturday night.

Sutter Keely and Aimee Finecky are almost finished with their final year of high school, ready to move on with their lives - well, at least Aimee is. Sutter capitalizes on the mantra “live in the now,” and while that lends him a carefree persona, it means that he has no plan for his future and is terrified to see high school end.

The film begins when Sutter, the typical life of the party with a drink in hand, is dumped by his girlfriend, Cassidy, for a boy who has a much brighter future than Sutter. Thus, life as Sutter knows it begins to fall apart.

To cope, he gets extremely drunk and consequently falls asleep on someone’s front lawn.

The following morning, he is wo-

ken up by Aimee, up early and running her mother’s paper route. Sutter sees Aimee, a quiet, makeup-less “good girl,” as another opportunity to “live in the now,” and have fun.

In reality, he is slowly falling for her and simultaneously creeping closer to the end of high school and the great unknown.

The great thing about this movie is that Sutter and Aimee are not the cliché and romanticized “comingof-age” teenagers that are found so often in this genre, but simply two people you could probably find in the South cafeteria. The movie is a vignette of their lives, and while I found it slow and surfacey at first - they drink, g o to parties, and “fall in

Photo from impawards.com

love” - a depth is found as the story progresses. As in real life, it takes a little while to get past the surface.

When the plot does get deeper, the results are heartbreaking and thought provoking. As the movie reaches its climax, we find out that Sutter’s life is not as simple as he’d wish it to be: issues with his father have led him to become a bonafide teenage alcoholic, and he’s extremely scared to face his actions and take responsibility for his life.

Eventually, everything that Sutter teaches Aimee about embracing “the now” in her own life, from taking up drinking to standing up to her mom and insisting on going to college, comes back to him as

she starts to form her future and asks him to be a part of it. Sutter is forced to face his destructive habits when he sees them seriously hurting the people he loves, and ultimately himself, and we get to follow along.

This film is a reflection of real life and the consequences we, as flawed humans, create for ourselves. There are a few parts of the movie that, because of this realism, I found infuriating, like Aimee’s too-forgiving meekness and the couple’s romance that develops too rapidly. But hey, we’re just human and sometimes we make mistakes; “The Spectacular Now” recognizes this and gives us a dose of our own reality.

In a way, I was so excited for this movie and had heard such great things about it that I was let down just a little. But I think my expectations were unfairly high; the realistic storyline and impressively natural and captivating acting in “The Spectacular Now” makes this a refreshing and thought-provoking comingof-age film. Take a look into the lives of Aimee and Sutter and reflect on the truths they tell us about our own lives while enjoying a good movie in the process.

After hearing early this year that 80 Caribou Coffee locations had been purchased by Pete’s Coffee and Tea, coffee lovers scrambled all over Glenview in search of a new, delicious coffee shop.

This was devastating to scores of diehard Caribou fans, myself included, because Caribou wasn’t just a coffee shop; it was a place to hang out, do homework and be a part of the Caribou community.

After what seemed like an eternity but was actually five months of a coffee shop-less downtown Glenview, the Glenview Grind opened its doors in September. Caribou fans rejoiced (or at least I did) that Glenview was receiving a small, independent coffee shop.

The best part? A lot of the same employees from the original Caribou are working at the Glenview Grind. The employees are part of what gives this place its charm. Every time I walk in, I’m greeted with a smile and friendly faces behind the counter.

However, the décor is new. Caribou had a nice cozy feel, with couches and small tables to study or hang out with friends in. The Glenview Grind successfully keeps that cozy feel but adds an open, modern element. Sadly, the fireplace is gone. Otherwise, though, the new look is well done. You still get a really great vibe the moment you walk in.

It’s slightly on the pricier side with a large coffee at $2.40 compared to a $2.25 coffee at Starbucks, but the experience makes every penny worth it. The rest of the menu varies greatly; there is something for both coffee and baked goods lovers.

Despite the variety of drinks, however, there’s some inconsistency in the taste of each drink. They are definitely not the same quality across the board.

The S’more is one of the more delicious drinks I’ve ever tried, with the delicious chocolate and surprise marshmallows sitting on top, and the Pumpkin Latte blows away both Caribou’s and Starbuck’s equivalent. But I didn’t have the same reaction with the Frango mint; it was just okay at best.

To judge fairly, I put the specialty drinks aside and focused on their black coffee. By far it was better than Starbuck’s oven-roasted coffee but still not close to Caribou’s. The Glenview Grind’s specialty drinks were better than their straight coffee.

With every fiber of my being I wanted to love this place. As a person that walks into coffee shops for everything but specialty drinks though, I didn’t like it as much as I wished I would. Although, if you want a unique and cozy environment to work, the Glenview Grind is definitely the place to be.

BEST CUP: Pumpkin Latte

Ingredients: Pumpkin espresso steamed milk

8

features

Oct. 4, 2013

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION

Students take part in drug abuse among teens at music festivals HAILEY HAULDREN

asst. features editor At the Electric Zoo festival held this past Labor Day weekend in Randall Island, NY, two deadly ecstasy overdoses prompted officials to cancel the final day of the festival, according to The Daily News.

In addition to New York, illegal drugs have proven to be problematic in the music festival scene in Chicago as well. According to article published in the Huffington Post, at least 10 felony drug charges were made at the Lollapalooza festival this summer in Grant Park.

Drugs seem to have been connected to music for decades, and some South students reflect on their experiences using drugs at music festivals.

Junior Jessica Davis* has used drugs at music festivals.

Davis said her drug of choice at music festivals is ecstasy, which is a drug that is commonly referred to as “molly.”

Although Davis acknowledges her responsibility in taking drugs at festivals, she said peer pressure also plays a factor in the decision to use drugs.

“When you hear the term music festival, you kind of just assume drugs will be there,” Davis said. “Drugs and music festivals kind of go handin-hand.”

According to an Oracle-conducted survey of 160 South students, 80 percent said that they or someone they know has used drugs at a music festival.

Similar to Davis, senior Tommy Snyder* has used drugs at numerous festivals and believes students choose to experiment with drugs at music festivals.

“I think that part of the reason that people who have never used drugs before start to use them at festivals is because of the hype,” Snyder said.

“I also think that during this age, a lot of kids are very experimental and want to try different things. Most people think when they’re at a festival, given that they have a whole day, they think

it’s safer to experiment with drugs there when in reality it’s not.”

According to sophomore Adam Mitchell*, students are more likely to use drugs at a music festival because of how common they are at the venue. “[Drugs] are all around you at music festivals, so it makes it seem like it’s okay to use them,” Mitchell said.

Once she makes the decision to consume drugs, Davis describes the feeling of being high at a festival as a more carefree experience than being sober.

“The vibe [at festivals] is different when you’re not sober,” Davis said. “You’re with all of your friends, having a good time, forgetting about stuff and just listening to music, not thinking about anything else.”

Like Davis, Snyder also says his drug of choice at music festivals is ecstasy. Snyder says that being under the influence of ecstasy at a music festival transforms the experience and how the music affects him.

“Music just feels like an exaggerated force that runs entirely through my body [while under the influence of ecstasy],” Snyder said. “Ecstasy in general turns a festival from just an experience into a full-body experience.”

Despite his choice to use, Snyder does recognize the dangers that come with using drugs at festivals.

“Even if the danger [turns out to be] miniscule, [...] you still have the other possible dangers, like overdosing or dying,” Snyder said.

According to teens.drugabuse.gov, drugs such as “molly” can cause dehydration through vigorous activities in a hot environment, such as summer festivals. “Molly” also interferes with the body’s ability to regulate its temperature and possibly cause hyperthermia which can lead to serious heart and kidney problems, or even death. When drugs are taken in high doses or within a short time period to maintain the high, high levels of the drug in the blood stream can increase the risk of sezures as well.

According to Davis, when purchasing drugs at

a music festival, buyers need to be aware of what exactly they are purchasing to avoid potential dangers.

“You never really know what’s in [the drug],” Davis said. “You’re not positive that it’s what you want. There is a chance that you can buy something that doesn’t work or you can buy something that knocks you out.”

Davis said that she is conscious of the dangers of using drugs at music festivals, but she uses them despite the risks.

“I definitely think about [the dangers of drugs] before I use,” Davis said. “But when it comes down to it and I’m standing there with it in my

hand, in the back of my head I’m saying ‘no,’ but in the moment I’m thinking, ‘just go ahead.’”

Though junior Ryan Chang* admits to smoking marijuana at music festivals that he has attended in the past, he believes that certain drugs are more dangerous to consume at music festivals than others.

“I think that using drugs such as molly or drinking alcohol is dangerous at music festivals,” Chang said. “[Even though] I do not think smoking weed at festivals is dangerous, [...] I do not depend on drugs to have a good time at festivals. I can still enjoy [the festival] without them.”

*Names have been changed.

According to teens.drugabuse.gov, drugs such as “molly” can cause dehydration, hyperthermia, serious heart or kidney problems, seizures or even death.

Sources: www.drugfreeworld.org, stopthedrugwar.org, miamioh.edu/campus-safety/drug-free/sanctions-laws, www.drugtestingnetwork.com, www.new.com.au, www.usatoday.com, www.caron.org, www.bayarearehab.com

Graphics by Wyatt Richter

features

Oct. 4 , 2013

9

South recognizes Meyer for outstanding passion, integrity CHARLOTTE KELLY

co-news editor AARON ACH

asst. news editor John Meyer, U.S. History teacher, was named Distinguished Teacher for 2013 at the May Honors and Awards assembly.

According to Stacy Flannery, fellow U.S. history teacher, the passion and unique qualities Meyer brings to the classroom to engage students and push them is what makes him a deserving recipient of such an award.

“For him, coming to work isn’t work,” Flannery said. “[...] It’s almost like spiritual practice, like it’s in his DNA. [...] He is not one of those guys who says ‘thank God it’s Friday!’ It doesn’t matter what day of the week it is for him. [Teaching] is something he really, really enjoys. There is something about it for him that is a type of play that everybody gets to benefit from.”

The Distinguished Teacher Award is an annual award given by the GBS Parents’ Association, started in 1984 and is presented at the Honors and Awards Assembly. The process is solely studentbased, as students nominate classroom teachers for the award every spring. According to the Parents’ Association, a distinguished teacher is one who, along with displaying a mastery of their subject material, “inspires a lifelong passion for learning.”

Meyer has been at South for 18 years, ever since he left Bennett Academy in Lisle, Illinois after teaching there for 10 years. On top of teaching two classes of U.S. History at the regular level and U.S. History in the Glenbrook Academy of International Studies, he has been a Peer Group adviser for 17 years, and was the head coach of the varsity boys basketball team from 1998 until 2006.

While coaching, he accumulated the most wins in South basketball history.

Meyer said the students as well as the teachers at South inspire him to continue teaching.

“I think we’re fortunate that we get to hire very good people here at [South],” Meyer said. “[…]

The end result is you have a lot of great teachers to work with. I think that’s stood out to me along with the students. If you have great students and great teachers, it’s going to be a fun job.”

Meyer’s former students, the graduated Glenbrook Academy class of 2013, took an active role in nominating Meyer for the honor. They had Meyer as teacher during their junior year and spent two weeks in Germany on a study abroad program with him, according to Faith Savaiano, Academy class of 2013 graduate.

“Through those experiences a lot of us got to know him and his family very well, and [Meyer] became a mentor in many aspects of life for a lot of my class[mates] [...] We were really motivated to secure him Teacher of the Year,” Savaiano said.

Savaiano believes Meyer’s most important lessons were not only in history, but in humility, responsibility and leading by example. She describes him as always being available to offer ad-

vice and support.

“Whether it was dealing with a stressful day of Peer Group, recovering from capsizing a canoe in Germany or just having a rough day, [Meyer] was there to help me with any and every problem I ever had,” Savaiano said.

The idea of leading by example is one of Meyer’s standout characteristics, according to Joy Cooper, Peer Group adviser. She believes this positively affects both his colleagues and the students whom he teaches.

“He’s definitely not someone who is going to say one thing and do something else,” Cooper said. “[Meyer has] taught me not to compromise my beliefs. He’s taught me to fight for what I really think is right.”

In addition to his strength as a leader and the integrity he brings to the classroom and Peer Group HISTORY AND HUMILITY: Through lecturing, humility and inspiration, John Meyer, U.S. History teacher, gains recognition after 18 years of environment, Cooper teaching. According to Stacy Flannery, fellow U.S. history teacher, and many of his students, this recognition was well deserved. Photo by Janie Kahan believes that Meyer’s care for his students fuels the Peer Group program.

“He genuinely believes in the power of kids to Widner believes Meyer’s strength as a teacher positively influence other kids,” Cooper said. lies in his ability to ask questions and strong lecBen Widner, fellow South social studies teachturing ability. er and Peer Group adviser, agrees with Cooper.

Atticus Hebson, former U.S. history student Meyer and Widner have known each other since and current Peer Group leader, agrees with WidWidner was in seventh grade, when Widner had ner and believes Meyer’s teaching has changed Meyer as a teacher and basketball coach at Benhis views of the subject. nett Academy. Widner “He’s influenced me to become a better person believed Meyer influin all aspects of life, and instilled in me a passion enced him both when for history that I hadn’t known before,” Hebson he was a student and said. now as a colleague.

Flannery believes another important attribute “I try to model of Meyer’s is humility, which he displayed after myself after the idea winning the award. that you don’t take a “He really recognized that his greatness as a class period off, you teacher was a product of a lot of contributions plan for everything, from others, and that speaks to me of something I you prepare for evlove about him, which is humility,” Flannery said. erything, you work Meyer conveyed such humility in his descripthrough everything tion of his approach to teaching and goals he has and that’s the way for himself.

[Meyer] conducts it,” “The Teacher of the Year Award was very nice, Widner said. but you don’t set goals for that,” Meyer said. “[...]

Widner remained I just want to be the best teacher I can be every Meyer’s student day [...] It’s the coach—the competitiveness—in when he student-taught for Meyer at South and me that wants to be the very best. The way I look was an assistant basketball coach during Meyer’s at it is that […] I want to win every day in the run as head coach. Widner has since become head classroom and have it be the best class it can be.” coach, and believes Meyer helped him get there.

His enthusiasm and leadership are all recog“He did teach me a lot about how important nized by Widner as qualities that allowed him to that [position as a teacher and coach] is and how win the Distinguished Teacher award. you can make an impact on someone,” Widner “[Meyer’s win] was deserving as the award said. could ever be,” Widner said.

“I just want to be the best teacher I can be every day [...] I want to win every day in the classroom and have it be the best class it can be.”

-John Meyer, 2012-2013 Distinguished Teacher of the Year

Yunsu Yu experiences new culture through Japanese exchange program DANA SIM

staff reporter

CULTURAL COMFORT: Despite being nervous of the cultural differences between herself and the students at Eastern Takata Junior High School in Rikuzentakata, Japan, senior Yunsu Yu quickly became friends with Japanese student, Hina. Photo courtesy Yunsu Yu

Imagine traveling to Japan, away from home for 18 days, traveling to two different locations. You meet people, gain new experiences and are surrounded by a different culture.

Senior Yunsu Yu did just that over the summer.

The Japanese Exchange and Training Program (JET) offers exchange programs for high school students. JET created the Memorial Invitation Program (MIP) in memory of two American English teachers who died in the Tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Every year, JET MIP offers a scholarship to 32 students in the United States for an exchange program to Japan. Yu was nominated and was the first to be accepted from South.

“I was really shocked when I got accepted,” Yu said. “Like nobody really expected it.”

According to www.jflalc.org, JET encour-

ages students to study Japanese and take part in exchange programs. JET also encourages creating stronger bonds between two different cultures, according to Yu. “Even though we didn’t know each other from before or speak the same language, we were able to connect over the simplest things,” Yu said.

From July 9 to 23, Yu visited Osaka and Tohoku. The latter suffered heavy damage from the 2011 tsunami. Yunsu visited schooling institutes to learn Japanese and also got to visit several other schools. Yu said she experienced a strong difference between the cultures of the US and Japan.

“They’re really open-minded to like everything,” Yu said. “So even though you’re a stranger, they’ll go up to you and be like ‘Hi, good morning.’ They’ll just start conversations with you. […] Here, people are always busy with their own things.”

Yu first heard about the JET program through her Japanese teacher Yasuko Maki-

ta. After a well-written essay and a Skype interview, Yu was accepted into the program.

Makita was thrilled.

“We just jumped,” Makita said. “When she got the message, she came to me after school [and said] ‘I got it!’ We just were joyed.”

Yu was the only student that got accepted from the Chicago area, but quickly became friends with the others in the program from around the United States, some of whom she has continued to stay in touch with.

“I think I gained a lot of insight and [saw] how powerful a human being is,” Yu said.

“When someone reaches out their hand to you or even [gives] you a simple smile, they’ll make you more comfortable. I encountered that in one of the elementary schools in Japan.

I was really nervous because my speaking was really bad and I didn’t know what to expect, but this student, a fifth-grader, she just gave me the biggest smile ever […] I think that really impacted me and how to go about this trip in Japan.”

SlutWalk Chicago protesters make statement JULIA JACOBS & CAMILLE PARK editors-i n-chief At Daley Plaza in Chicago on Sept. 7, hundreds sat cross-legged on the pavement like one gigantic kindergarten class during story time. Their eyes were glued onto the woman at the microphone, attention rapt.

To an outsider, it might have seemed like there was a dress code, or rather, a lack-of-dress code.

There was little distinction between what men and women wore. Some men wore fishnets, pleather vests and platform shoes like women. Just like men, some women walked around topless.

This was Chicago's second annual SlutWalk.

The message: how a woman dresses is never a reason to commit acts of sexual violence against her.

The SlutWalk movement started in April 2011 in Toronto when a policeman suggested that if wom-

en don't want to be victimized, they shouldn't dress like sluts, according to Phaydra Babinchock, director of SlutWalk Chicago. This comment sparked a series of protests around the world in which men and women expressed their contempt for sexual violence and the rape culture.

At the edge of the crowd, 20-year-old Sarah Fox (name has been changed to protect identity) wore a white Tshirt with "rape survivor" written in blue marker. At a frat party one year ago, Fox, then a student at Northern Illinois University, was slipped roofies and gangraped by eight of her male peers. Initially, Fox kept the assaults to herself.

"I was really alone for a long time," Fox said.

According to Jodi Raphael. one of the speak-

ers at SlutWalk and author of a book called Rape is Rape, there has been no increase in rape reporting since the 1990s. One of the reasons a victim chooses to not report a rape is that they fear they will be blamed for putting themselves in the situation or prompting the attack, Raphael said. This idea exists under the umbrella of "slutshaming," or, colloquially, the "she was asking for it" phenomenon.

"Through history, the women have always been blamed," Raphael said.

"Even in stories in the Bible, women are always the seducers. It's almost like we're wired in this way."

When she started counseling a few months after she was raped, Fox only remembered one out of eight of the assaults, she said. As time went on,

"Through history, the women have always been blamed."

-Jodi Raphael

she remembered more and more about that night and blamed herself less and less. Fox said that SlutWalk is about finding unity with hundreds of fellow survivors and supporters who understand that the victim is never to blame.

Two of those supporters were sisters Molly and Emily McQueen. Although neither of the sisters is a victim of sexual violence, both still consider themselves to be victims of slut-shaming.

"I've been stopped in jeans and a hoodie and somebody asked 'how much?'" Emily said. "I don't think there's a girl that doesn't, at some point, experience slut-shaming. It's part of our lives and that's why it sucks."

Although 30-year-old Emily didn't realize it when she was a teenager, her exposure to slutshaming dates back to high school. she said. People used the word "slut" to degrade a girl for anything from dressing provocatively to being sexually active with multiple people.

SLUT-SHAMING (v) : embarrassing, insulting or otherwise denigrating a

girl or woman for her real or extrapolated sexual behavior, including dressing in a sexual way, having sexual feelings and/or exploring and exhibiting them. (definition from an article written by Soroya Chemaly in the Huffington Post)

Slut-shaming in High School At South, slut-shaming exists behind the scenes, junior Emily Horvath said. Mostly, it exists in the whispers shared between friends when they pass by a girl whose shorts strike them as too short or whose shirt exposes too much of her midriff, Horvath said.

Other times, a rumor may start about a girl

"hooking up" with multiple guys that spreads person by person through the interconnected web of social groups and activities. The "slut" label is often slapped onto someone without much thought, Horvath said.

But for senior Jenna Brown (name has been changed to protect identity), the more times she was called a "slut," the harder it was to shake off the label.

In middle school. Brown became the "go-to" girl for her male friends to have their first kiss. As her girl friends shunned her for her behavior, the boys continued to send her text messages on Friday nights, expecting that she comply with their requests.

"I became the slut of our friend group and [the boys] thought they could come to me when they wanted to hook up," Brown said. "I knew that,

and I hated that, but at the same time I knew it meant that I was wanted."

For Brown, there were two choices: keep up her "easy" reputation or lose her friends. As an insecure middle schooler, Brown chose the former.

But in high school. she immediately saw the error in her thinking and sought a new social circle.

Despite a new identity, in the eyes of her middle school friends, she is still thought of as a "slut."

11111111111111

SLUTWALK CHICAGO: Making their way down Michigan Avenue, SlutWalk participants (left and above right) try to attract the attention of the city in order to spread awareness about rape culture and slut-shaming. Wearing a teal heart on her chest to signify that she is one of the oranganizers, Vera Mikrut (bottom right), introduces the next speaker to protesters gathered at Daley Plaza. Molly McQueen (opposite page), 27, raises her sign in protest of the pervasive slut-shaming and rape culture that occurs in the media and in regular everyday life. PhotosbyWyottRichter

about widespread slut-shaming, rape culture

The Male Perspective There are no male "sluts," sophomore Troy Wilson said. Only "bailers" or "players" or guys with "swag." At South, guys are often congratulated for promiscuity while girls are shamed for it, Wilson said.

In general, the reputation for girls at South who dress provocatively or choose to "hook up" with many people is 100 percent negative, sophomore Clayton Ni mz said. If one of his male friends were to express interest in dating a girl like that, it's customary to issue a warning, something like, "Look out dude, she's slutty," Nimz said.

"If a guy wants to hook up with a girl, he doesn't want to be just another guy that hooks up with her," Nimz said. "It's a pride thing, like, 'I got her and you guys didn't.'"

Wilson ultimately supports how a girl chooses to dress or behave, as long as she isn't hurting herself or others, Wilson said. Although there is certainly a standard for public decency, there is no reason a guy should feel inclined to yell slurs at women on the street or from a car or in the hallway; that kind of harassment indicates stupidity and senseless macho-ism, according to Wilson.

"If she says, 'I'm comfortable this way,' then good for her," Wilson said. "She can live how she wants. She can do whatever she wants."

If a girl breaks the trust of her partner by being promiscuous with other people, Wilson would step up to tell her that what she's doing is wrong, forming his words methodically and sensitively. But when Wilson hears students calling his friends "sluts" or spreading rumors about their sexual lives, he is quick to reprimand them .

At SlutWalk Chicago, men attended as allies or victims of sexual assault themselves. Steve Adler, prevention education specialist at Rape Victim Advocates (RVA) in Chicago and a SlutWalk speaker, recognizes how difficult it can be for men and women to defend victims of rape and slutshaming: the women are targeted as "sluts" and the men as "fags," according to Adler.

"We need to break out of the 'man box' and support survivors of sexual violence," Adler said.

"We need to be allowed to be vulnerable, sensitive and caring. We need to be able to speak up against sexism, homophobia, and transphobia without our 'maleness' being called into question."

However, at South, girls tend to use the word "slut" just as much, if not more, than guys, Horvath said. According to Raphael, women slutshame other women to convince themselves that

they are in control of their situation; if sexual assault can be blamed on what the victim wears or how much she drinks, it's easier for women to feel that rape won't happen to them.

One solution Raphael suggests is that parents encourage their daughters to report sexual violence and to not feel ashamed. For young men and women, Adler advises looking inwards at the beliefs they hold surrounding gender and sexuality and question why they hold said beliefs.

"The movement to end rape and other genderbased violence was started by people who weren't necessarily aligned with any formal organizations," Adler said. "Forty years ago, rape crisis and domestic violence centers didn't really exist. [ .. .J These were people in their communities who saw a problem and rallied together to voice their concerns and make an impact."

Katharine Johnson is a freshman in college who is notorious for getting extremely intoxicated at parties and sleeping with boys on a whim. She goes to parties every other night, and at one of the parties, Katherine meets an attractive sophomore, Geoffrey Day. They've been drinking the entire night and become very flirtatious with each othe[ She's wearing her favorite outfit: a see-through crop top with a brightly colored exposed bra and a tight, black elastic mini skirt. Both intoxicated, Geoffrey and Katherine go up to an empty room together. She knows her friends left early and she thinks she should leave soon too, but Geoffrey convinces her to stay. They're about to have sex, but Katherine becomes unconscious. Geoffrey continues to be sexual with her even though she is unable to communicate with him.

The Oracle asked South students ...

WHO'S TO SLAM E? SHE SAID ...

- "Both: she was being really promiscuous the whole evening but also he shouldn't have had sex with her because she didn't give permission." -Junior girl - "It's her fault for getting drunk but it's not her fault for being raped while intoxicated." -Junior girl - "A girl can look hot without getting raped." -Junior girl

HE SAID ...

- "It's a little bit [her fault], but not really. When you wear those types of clothes it's kind of implied that you want to be noticed but that doesn't make it okay for him to do stuff to he[" -Senior boy - "If you're going to get yourself drunk with another guy, it's not surprising that he would try that." -Senior boy - "Dressing like that is not the problem, having sex with a bunch of guys ... that kind of behavior [makes her a slut]." -Junior boy

YOU RESPOND: What's your take on this scenario? Share your thoughts at theoracie.glenbrook225.org

12

features

Oct, 4, 2013

New clubs add diversity, unique activities to South NISH ASOKAN & CONNIE HOEKSTRA

staff reporters

Tea Club Tea Club meets Wednesdays after school in Ceramic Teacher Kurt Webb’s classroom. The new club, started by seniors Alex Canary and Zachary Bauer, aims to bring tea to South students who do not know a lot about tea or do not get the opportunity to drink a lot of it, according to Bauer.

“The culture that people bring from their cultures is really interesting [when discussing tea],” Bauer said.

The goals for Tea Club, according to Bauer, are to create a place where people can learn about tea, talk and share their ideas. On their second club meeting with the help of Sponsor Kurt Webb, Tea Club made tea cups out of clay so that each member would have their own cup to use.

“I thought […] people should have their own cups,” Webb said. “The first time [we met] we had people drinking out of Styrofoam cups and paper cups […] and it didn’t fit well with an intimate sharing kind of experience.”

It may seem a little unusual if you’ve never had tea as a part of your life, but Tea Club is a unique environment with a chance to meet new people, Webb said.

GHANA GHANA, an acronym for Giving, Helping And Nurturing Anloga, is a new club at South that will be raising money to send aid to the community in Anloga, Ghana. The new club, started by juniors Madison O’Brien and Jane Brennan, will meet Monday mornings at 7:30 a.m. in the foods room.

“In Anloga there is an orphanage and child rescue center [...] and they both definitely need financial aid, and new clothes for the kids, and school supplies, and things like that,” O’Brien, who travelled to Anloga on a community service trip this past summer, said.

The club plans to hold different events to raise money for Ghana like bake sales, school supply drives, and events where participants can make, sell and buy Ghanaian bracelets, according to O’Brien.

“I hope [members of the club] realize the world is bigger than Glenview,” O’Brien said.

“That there is a lot that we can do to give back to other places since we are so fortunate and lucky.”

Recording Club Multiple moveable cases, filled with music-recording equipment is what Aaron Wojcik, assistant band director, has pictured for South’s new recording club.

According to Wojcik, he started the club with help from his electronic music class. The club will give South musicians the opportunity to record professionally. “[The club will be] providing the students at South an opportunity they don’t usually get, which is studio time in a professional environment,” Wojcik said.

Recording club will begin in mid-October.

HOSA According to hosa.org, 120,000 students were members of the Healthcare Occupations Students of America in 2009.

Until this year, South had no HOSA program until Guidance Counselor Randall McGraw and sophomore Jeremy Joseph teamed up to create one.

According to McGraw, his goal for the club is to help students find a future career well-suited for them.

“One of the things that I certainly want to try to do is to help people find their niche in life,” McGraw said. “Many of our students are interested [in healthcare occupations and] I think this offers them an opportunity to broaden their horizons.”

McGraw also hopes to have the HOSA club fundraise for a specific cause that is to be determined.

HOSA meets Mondays after school in the SAC conference room.

Special Needs Sports Club Junior Peter Stellas, who worked in a special needs gym class throughout middle school, still carries on a relationship with the kids he worked with over three years ago. Today, Stellas and two other friends, juniors Austin Nowlin and John Tallis, want to create an opportunity similar to the one Stellas had in middle school.

In order to achieve this, Stellas, Nowlin and Tallis created a new club: the Special Needs Sports Club. According to Tallis, the goal of the club is to get GBS sports teams involved in spending a day doing activities with kids with special needs at South. At the same time, Stellas hopes the club will bring all students at South together as a community.

“It’s a great way to meet people and have people realize that the special needs students aren’t that different from us,” Stellas said. “Their personalities are not that different.”

The club is still in the early stages, and according to Tallis, and an official starting date has not yet been determined.

Book Club

A1 Auto Club

South’s new Book Club meets every other Wednesday in the IMC classroom. Started by seniors Kaitlin Lambert and Susie Hawkes, Book Club aims to get more students involved with books through discussions and activities, according to Lambert.

“It’s different from school reading because we let the students choose what book that they want to read,” Lambert said.

The first book selected by the club to read is Divergent by Veronica Roth, which is about a dystopian alternate universe. According to Lambert, she thought it would be a good idea because the movie rendition comes out in May. “We don’t want to make there be deadlines because that seems too much like school,” Lambert said.

According to Lambert, the Book Club will read different books each month but not assign specific chapters to read each time. Additionally, they will play games, go on field trips, watch movies and eat a lot of food.

As a new teacher, Automotives Instructor Sean Reisdorf has wasted no time making his mark at South. Reisdorf made the decision to start an Automotives Club. According to Reisdorf, he has run similar clubs at previous schools he has taught at. His goal for the club is to give students more time to practice what they have learned in his automotives classes.

“The way I teach my curriculum, there is not always a lot of time for students to work on their own cars in class,” Reisdorf said. “I [created] the auto club so they have a chance to work on their own stuff and practice on their own vehicle what they have practiced in [the automotives classroom].”

Reisdorf hopes to get the club involved in some sort of charity that includes car safety for the Glenview community. Meetings will start soon and will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

features

Oct. 4, 2013

13

Peer Group engages more students than before; looks forward to future

NAME GAME: Senior Charlotte Kelly leads her Peer Group in a get-to-know-you game called Name Slap, where the players have to say a name of someone else in their group before the “tagger” in the middle tags them. “I didn’t know a lot of the kids before I started Peer Group and a lot of the kids didn’t know each other, so it’s been really fun and exciting to see them become friends and us become closer as a group,” Kelly said. Photo by Wyatt Richter VICTORIA SUNKEL

staff reporter At the beginning of the year, freshmen are faced with a choice: whether or not to join Peer Group. While freshmen contemplate this decision, senior leaders recruit as many freshmen as possible, and teacher coordinators plan for the future of South’s high school integration program.

According to John Klasen, Peer Group coordinator, the purpose of Peer Group is to help freshmen make a smooth transition into a new school setting. “[Peer Group is] technically the only transition program we have at the high school,” Klasen said.

Senior Leader Alison Tye said the program gives freshmen the opportunity to learn from the seniors in a fun environment.

“At the beginning we do name games or competitive games,” Tye said. “Sometimes we do discussions

about school and about making the right choices regarding drugs and alcohol.”

In addition to the activities, freshman Sarah Wojick said she enjoys Peer Group because it gives her a chance to meet new people. “ P e e r Group is a place where you can go to get away from your friends and talk with other people,” Wojick said.

According to freshman Sam Langenbach, most freshmen in fifth period lunch have chosen to participate in the program.

“The cafeteria is pretty much emp-

ty on [Peer Group] days,” Langenbach said.

Langenbach said she is happy to attend her Peer Group meetings. On the other hand, other freshmen were not so eager to sign up.

According to an Oracle-conducted survey, many freshmen choose not to sign up for various reasons.

“I have choir, so I already have a half lunch,” freshman Michael Kirby said. “I wouldn’t have time.”

According to Tye, the process of recruiting freshman by pairing up with another leader and visiting the East Cafeteria was very successful this year. Tye claims there were so

“[Peer Group is] technically the only transition program we have at the high school.”

-John Klasen, Peer Group Coordinator

many freshmen signing up that they eventually had to turn some students away.

“Once one kid signed up the entire table would sign up,” Tye said.

John Meyer, Peer Group coordinator for 18 years, claims Peer Group attendance this year has been very successful. “[Enrollment has been] really good, really high,” Meyer said. “Our groups are all between nine and 12 kids. Ten is our perfect [number], so we’re a little bit over, frankly. Ten used to be the cap, but the last few years, we’ve had such

ugh Valid thro

Sean Morrison sean@energytees.com 847.770.5541

12/2014

high interest we changed it to 12.”

Meyer has high hopes for the future of Peer Group. As South is switching to block scheduling next year, he hopes to be able to expand the program to have groups meet daily and during every period.

“We’ll have a 90-minute block,” Meyer said. “The first 45 minutes our seniors will plan and evaluate before and the next 45 minutes they’ll actually see the freshmen. In some ways it’ll be better because they’ll plan and then they’ll get to carry their plan out right away.”

14

features

Oct.4, 2013

TIMELESS TRAVELERS:

Pictured far left, James Shellard (left) and expert climber Steve Beck (right) celebrate making it to the top, reaching a total altitude of about 7,000 feet. Pictured top right, Shellard (left), Mark Ferguson (middle) and Steve Beck (right) pose for a picture. Pictured bottom right, James Shellard traverses through the Cascade Mountains. Photos courtesy of James Shellard

Shellard, Ferguson challenge Cascades, create series of misadventures KELSEY POGUE

web editor From getting their rental car towed to having a near-death experience, TV/Broadcasting teacher Mark Ferguson and Dr. James Shellard, student activities director, went through the adventure of traversing through the Cascade Mountains in Washington.

Shellard and Ferguson have been friends since Shellard first started working at South in 1990, according to Ferguson. “[Shellard and I] have been close and we have done a lot of climbing together, a lot of mountains together, a lot of outdoor adventures together,” Ferguson said.

According to Shellard, this time they went on a traverse, which is a hike through mountains with the option of climbing addtional mountains, if desired. According to Ferguson, they went up to about 7,000 feet and stayed at that altitude for the duration of their trip.

“We’re not in a national forest, we’re not in a national park, we’re [in the] back country,” Shellard said.

Shellard and Ferguson were startled starting on the first night, which Shellard describes as a dangerous one.

“The first night there we had this huge lightning and thunder storm,” Shellard said.

“Winds that were probably 50, 60 mph. The tent was being blown sideways, and I had to put my knees up against the side of the tent to have it not collapse.”

Their adventures had only just begun. The plan for their second day was to go through a moun-

tain pass, but they were unable to because the snow bridges were too thin, Shellard said.

“When you walk across the snow bridge there’s a concern you’ll fall through it,” Shellard said. “And if you fall through it then it’s a really long fall, even if you’re roped in. It’s very dangerous, so we didn’t feel safe there.”

They tried another pass, but the snow bridges there were too thin, so they climbed down the side of the glacier and tried to go up on the side next to the glacier. There was a lot of rock fall and loose rock, and it was very steep so they had to belay a lot. When they got to the top, they headed south along the ridge line and approached a buttress, or an outcrop on the rock, according to Shellard.

“As Ferg was coming around that outcropping of rock, we were all carrying 40lb packs, he slipped and fell backwards and spun around and grabbed onto some rock, but his feet were hanging off the edge of a 500-foot drop,” Shellard said.

“It was a near-death experience, and nobody likes to see, or hear, or feel those, so it shook us awake a little bit just seeing that this was a lot more than we bargained for.”

At that point, they decided that maybe this was not the best climb for them to do, Shellard said.

“We were taken by surprise by how challenging the terrain was,” Ferguson said. “We thought we would be walking fairly much on level ground. It was very daunting [...] the kind of situation where if you had a misstep, you would die. It was that dicey at times.”

They then turned around and came back down, according to Shellard.

“As we came down the rock field, that’s when I took my pack off and dropped it down like a foot, and since it was steep, [my backpack] took

a weird bounce and fell into a crevasse,” he said.

According to Ferguson, the crevasse was about 30 feet deep, and they thought they had lost the pack. “[Losing the pack] was horrifying because our tent was in it, the keys to the car, his wallet, I mean it was like, ‘Oh my God, if we don’t get this backpack out we’re in really deep trouble,’” Ferguson said.

Fortunately, there was a third person and friend with them, expert climber Steve Beck, who could rappel down and retrieve the backpack, according to Ferguson.

“It took about an hour, but we slept well that night,” Ferguson said.

On their third night, they went down to Kool-Aid Lake and there was a lightning storm again, according to Shellard. At this point, they had decided it was a better idea to turn back and not complete the five-day traverse.

“We had this near-death experience, we had my pack falling in a crevasse, we had these two thunder and lightning storms,” Shellard said.

“And then on the way down when we got out, there was a mud slide that happened an hour after we left the park, that sealed everyone in there for 24 hours after us. [The mud slide] made the news, made the headlines—we missed it by an hour.”

Ferguson and Shellard both believe they made the right decision by turning back and not risking their saftey.

“It was just a series of misadventures,” Shellard said. “And when climbing and on my trips, I don’t want an adventure, I want it to be boring.

Because usually an adventure means that something went wrong somewhere, and this was quite an adventure because we had a lot of things that went wrong.”

However, they both enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the glaciers.

“My favorite part was the first night when we got to KoolAid Lake, where we cooked dinner and were just out there in that stillness and hearing the water running from the melting glaciers, and just being out in the world and just looking out and seeing this magnificent view of the Northern Cascade Mountains,” Shellard said.

While he enjoyed some parts of the trip, overall Shellard said he would not want to try the traverse again. However, Ferguson said he might like to take another crack at it. One aspect they enjoyed most was the time they got to spend together.

“I think that the camaraderie of climbing with people and hiking with people and doing activities that push you physically, mentally are awesome,” Shellard said. “And I would encourage everyone to try and put themselves in a situation where they challenge themselves and have an opportunity to grow working with people that you love.”

“[It was] the kind of situation where if you had a misstep, you would die. It was that dicey at times.”

-Mark Ferguson, TV/Broadcasting teacher

Eco Gym offers greener workout as first ever human, solar powered fitness center CALLI HARAMARAS

asst. features editor Open 24 hours a day, Eco Gym, the first ever human and solar powered fitness center, prepares to open up Oct. 1. Using state-of-the-art fitness machinery, electricity is produced from each workout, fueling the gym.

The more each member works out, the more power they’re producing for the gym, and the less they pay. Eco Gym is located at 2847 Pfingsten Road. ”If you average a lot of scan-ins in a month for workouts, you can get memberships potentially free,” Chris Wersal, general manager at Eco Gym, said.

Along with being energy efficient and resourceful, Eco Gym’s purpose is to provide results for their members, according to Wersal.

“Often people will join fitness facilities that are $12 a month, knowing they’ll be members for awhile and get zero results,” Wersal said. “That’s what our model is to give people results and to be that missing link between what they want to achieve, and

actually achieving them.”

Accompanying advanced machinery, Eco Gym offers multiple different classes: indoor boot camp, core camp, tabata circuit training, yoga and zumba classes. “[We] have more to offer than just four walls of ceiling and equipment,” Wersal said. “We actually have substance to our memberships, we have substance to our gym.”

Eco Gym offers the combination of fitness counselors and trainers, and provides a sense of community. According to Wersal, all staff members have a degree in the field or have a masters certification in personal training.

With already over 500 memberships, according to Wersal, Eco Gym is open for all ages. Whether it’s training for a sport or leading a nutritional lifestyle, Eco Gym can provide assistance to all high school students.

According to Kay Sopocy, head of the Physical Education Department at South, governing a healthy lifestyle should become a habit because there are many benefits.

“Any facility that’s trying to make people better and more fit is definitely a benefit,” Sopocy said. “I think [Eco Gym] is great. The more facilities we have hopefully the more people will work out. […] I hope with the concept [Eco Gym] is running under, that they’ll be successful.”

Junior lacrosse player Nonie Anderson finds Eco Gym important in leading a healthy lifestyle. Anderson said that it should be taken advantage of.

“At South there’s an awesome weight room to use for free, but if [students] workout at odd hours, probably really early in the morning or later in the evening, [students] should [go to Eco Gym],” Anderson said.

According to Wersal, the diversity of Eco Gym can assist South students in achieving success.

“What’s important in high school is how people are doing in their sports, activities that they do, hobbies, things like that, and with our general membership we can help out with that,” Wersal said.

GOING GREEN: Located at 2847 Pfingsten Road, Eco Gym plans to open Oct. 1. According to its website, Eco Gym will have “such a positive environmental impact of each workout, you won’t find a more rewarding and exclusive health club anywhere in the world!” Photo by Wyatt Richter

a&e

Oct. 4, 2013

15

GBSTV alumni launch film production company 554 Collective

professionally with friends.

“We all learn from each other,” Kahan said. co-a&e editor “It’s basically the go-to group. If I ever needed a film crew or someone to bounce ideas off of, I go Starting a film production company only to them. Just a group of people who can always be a few years after graduating high school there for each other and rely on each other.” seemed like a natural creation for the group of 2013 graduate John Paul O’Rourke agrees with nine GBSTV graduates. After working closeKahan about being a part of such a close and ly with one another during their years in the devoted group of friends and co-workers. television program at South, the group’s According to O’Rourke, right now strong friendships ultimately prompted the members of 554 Collective them to rejoin this summer and embark on are enjoying learning from and their first business venture together. relying on each other’s skills Whether it be working on music vidand creativity as they continue eos, filming promotional videos for Tto make films together. shirt companies or aiding in the produc“Nobody joined with pure tion of a feature film, the members of the intentions to make money company 554 Collective have been tak— that’s not what it is at all,” ing their first steps into the professional O’Rourke said. “It’s about a world. For 2012 graduate Peter Lyngso, group of people you can call starting the company was an obvious on whenever you want, and if decision after acknowledging the bond one day that turns into a [lebetween the veteran members of the gitimate] company, I think that television program at South. would be awesome.”

“554 Collective is a number of things, According to Lyngso, in the which is what is cool about it,” Lyngnear future the company will so said. “It’s a club in that it’s a group be taking the next big step in of people with common goals, intermaking their business more ofests and passions, but also a company ficial. where the group can benefit from each “We’re going to try to estabother’s skills. So much of filmmaking is lish ourselves as a limited licollaborative and it just seemed natural ability company, meaning we to have a group of people who are alwould be a professional busiways there to help you out with whatness intended to make profit ever task.” and pay taxes,” Lyngso said. “I Mark Ferguson, head of the television think this legitimacy is the natprogram at South, introduced the memural next step to a more profesbers to the production industry through sional level which is where we ON LOCATION: 2012 graduate Peter Lyngso, middle, checks the camera monitor as 2013 grad Kevin Mathein, right, helps the actors on set of his classes, where students learn to shoot ultimately want to be.”

Smoke in the Air. 2012 grad Connor Smith, left, oversees the process of the production as director of his first feature film. 554 Collective worked on and edit short films. Like Lyngso, FerguThe company plans on taklocation to help Smith complete his movie this summer. Photo from 554 Collective Facebook Page son saw the unique capabilities in each ing such measures sometime 554 Collective member as TV students. in the spring. For now, while “Everyone in [554] Collective is withSouth,” Smith said. “We owe a lot of our expe“It’s strange because we’re all friends taking members of the company are currently attending out question exceptional artists, exceptionally riences to what we were doing [in high school]. on this business venture together,” Lyngso said. separate schools, everyone is anxiously awaiting good at what they do and passionate about what I think it all comes back to where we met and “There’s a lot of pressure not to let the group free time during breaks and over the summer to they do,” Ferguson said. “They all have very where we [started] together, and now it’s a way down because you don’t want to have to nag one work on new projects as a group, according to Kastrong talents in cinematography and editing but for us to extend what we had at GBSTV to the proof your friends. It can get a little strange in that han. offer different points of view and different perfessional world.” sense but it’s part of what creates the dynamic of “We have lists and lists on our computers of spectives for each other.”

Although the members of 554 Collective have working with people you’re close with.” ideas that each one of us want to do,” Kahan said.

According to 2012 graduate Connor Smith, worked together for many years in high school, According to junior Janie Kahan, the only “We just need the time to do it. We might sepaFerguson’s TV program also had great influence it is sometimes challenging to separate their busimember of 554 Collective who has yet to gradurate for a little because of work or school, but I on the company’s name. ness relationships with their personal relationate, these close relationships make the company always know in the future I will always have 554 “554 is the room number for the TV room at ships, according to Lyngso. work well despite difficulties they face in working Collective.”

KALI CROKE

meet the collection of

Peter Lyngso Photos from individual Facebook pages

JP O’Rourke

Janie Kahan

Connor Smith

16

a&e

Oct. 4, 2013

Smelyansky incorporates music in every aspect of her life MOLLIE CRAMER

staff reporter Yo-Yo Ma, Judy Garland and junior Stephanie Smelyansky all have one thing in common: each have had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. According to Smelyansky, music has always been a huge part of her life, and her passion and involvement in the Campanello Children’s Choir led her to that famed stage.

The Campanello Children’s Choir is a competitive choir that performs around the Chicagoland area and in different parts of the country. Smelyansky sings in the concert choir and is an assistant teacher and piano accompanist for the younger choirs. “[Campanello Children’s Choir] made me more patient, more competitive, very determined and a bit of a perfectionist because I’m so used to practicing one thing over and over again,” Smelyansky said. “[...] It’s also been really good to learn leadership because once you get older, it’s your responsibility to help the younger kids in the choir.”

When Smelyansky was 5 years old, she went to see one of her friends perform in the Campanello Children’s Choir and was immediately inspired to join.

“I’m a really extroverted person, and I’m also very competitive,” Smelyansky said. “So seeing my friend who was older than me on stage, I was like, ‘I wanna be just like him. I wanna be better than him!’”

In 2012, Smelyansky went with the concert choir to perform at Carnegie Hall. She described performing at Carnegie Hall as the greatest honor for any classical musician. The weeks leading up to the performance, Smelyansky spent every free second learning her music.

“I was so excited just to see the hall and was thinking, ‘Oh my god I made it, this is everyone’s dream to perform here,’” Smelyansky said. “We almost had a full house, my name was on the pro-

gram, it was unreal. This doesn’t happen to the average person, and I felt so blessed to be there.”

According to Stephanie’s mom, Anna Smelyansky, Anna also tried to incorporate music in their lives, as soon as Stephanie developed a greater appreciation for music. When Stephanie was younger, her interest was sparked by the concerts her mom took her to.

“When we traveled in the car I mostly had my classical channel on the radio and she sort of grew up with that and was introduced to more and more types of music,” Anna said.

According to Stephanie, her choral director, Marianna Kosaya, has also had a huge influence on her. She describes Kosaya as someone who pushes her to her limits and always tells her the truth.

“She wants perfection and it makes me work so hard in everything I do,” Stephanie said. “People make fun of me because I’ll take a pencil in the middle of the day and just start playing; I’ll hum to myself during class because I want to be perfect because she demands perfection and it’s just so inspiring to have someone demand such a high level of you.”

Kosaya said that Stephanie is one of her best students and recognizes her strong passion for music.

“Last year she was supposed to play [piano] in front of an audience and she wanted to stop, she wanted to escape,” Kosaya said. “[I told her] it’s not about yourself, it’s about the music that lives in you.”

Stephanie thinks of the concert choir as a closeknit family.

“We all have this love of music, so the best bonding experience is when someone will sit down at the piano during our breaks and start playing a song, and then, one person will start singing and three other people will spontaneously start harmonizing,” Stephanie said. “It’s just like a family because when we sing all of us blend

“[...] I feel like I’d be losing myself if I lost music.”

-Stephanie Smelyansky

Fall play tackles intense themes

are working with some of the TLS students, both to raise awareness [for people with disabilities], and so I asst. a&e editor can play someone who is mentally challenged with more accuracy.”

According to Barber, actors put A loud clank echoes around the auditorium in hours of work into the production as a single spotlight illuminates the room. Acof the play itself including daily retors and actresses take their positions. A startling hearsals and memorization of quiet settles in the auditorium. As one actor opens lines. Barber holds high exhis mouth, the audience is plunged into a whole pectations for her students, other dimension, a world as real as the acnot only to better their pertors make it. But before any of this is posforming skills but also to sible, South students in the fall play work better themselves as actors relentlessly to make it happen. in general.

This year’s fall play, “Flowers for Al“I expect the students to gernon,” showing from Oct. 23-27, debond as a group [and to] bepicts the story of come a little family,” Barber a man’s strugsaid. “I expect them to work gle with a menhard [and] to work together tal disability as a family towards a comthought to be cured through mon goal.” experimental brain surgery.

According to senior Zack According to Director Beth Ann BarBauer, who plays the role of ber, “Flowers for Algernon” was not only neurosurgeon Dr. Strauss, seechosen for its multiple roles or popularity ing the cast come together as a among younger audiences but also for the family and the topic of the play strong lesson in the play that all people influenced his decision to try should be aware of. out.

“I think that the message [of the play] “You’re with [these] people is a really good one, that we are all huevery day, so you build close mans, no matter what our differences relationships with everyone,” are,” Barber said.

Bauer said. “The play itself did Given the sensitivity of the content, intrigue me. It’s a play that isn’t Barber said that she harbors some fears so much [...] in the past, but more for this year’s play. contemporary. It is also a very in“I don’t want anyone to think in any teresting subject. It’s definitely way, shape, or form that we are [...] maknot a play that’s very cliche, so I ing fun of people with disabilities,” Barthink people like that.” ber said. “In fact, [I want people to think] According to senior Alex Cathe opposite, that everyone is unique nary, who plays Charlie’s moth[...]. If anything, I want to raise awareness er, Rose Gordon, it is hard to [that], no matter who we are [and] no matmove on when the play comes ter what we are, we should embrace and apto an end. preciate everybody.”

“It’s kind of depressing,” According to senior Atticus Hebson, who Canary said. “It’s like this plays Charlie Gordon, a man with a mental world that you’ve lived in, that disability, this role was one of the harder roles you’ve worked so hard to build he has had to play in his four years in theater up, [...] is destroyed, literally, by at South. breaking down the set after the “So far, I do [enjoy my role],” Hebson said. final performance. You return “It’s kind of a difficult role [...] because I have the costumes, take off the maketo be able to play someone who is up, and there’s a piece of you mentally challenged for part of that’s gone, and you’ll never the play, and then play someone ACTING OUT: Senior Atticus Hebson get that back. [That] is really who later could be considered practices his lines during rehearsal. He the beauty of theater, but it’s one of the most intelligent people performs the role of Charlie Gordon. hard [to get accustomed to].” [in the play]. [...] [The cast and I] Photo by Marley Hambourger

so well together.”

According to Stephanie, sometimes it becomes very hard to balance everything.

“I’ve missed a lot of school events like school dances [or] games I’ve wanted to go to for rehearsals [and] concerts, and sometimes I’ll come to school with three to four hours of sleep after a concert night.”

Although the concert choir performs classical music, Smelyansky enjoys all kinds of music. Along with being a singer and piano player, she also plays the clarinet and ukulele, she said.

“I have to listen to what I’m going to perform and have an appreciation for it,” Stephanie said. “I have classical music on my iPhone, but right next to it is a screamo band.”

According to Aaron Wojcik, Stephanie’s band director and electronic music teacher, music is a part of who she is and it defines her as a person.

“She may not know how to play every one of the instruments, but she seems PIANO PERFECTIONIST: Junior Stephanie Smelyansky plays piano melodies to be able to pick up most for her young audience from the Campanello Children’s Choir. She provides the things, and that’s some- choir with a piano accompaniment. Photo by Marley Hambourger thing she’s developed,” Wojcik said. “Stephanie’s a end her music career. person who has the talent. She could probably go “I just want to make sure it’s still there because walk out there and put on a fairly decent rock beat it’s always been such a big part of my life and I if I asked her to.” feel like I’d be losing myself if I lost music,” StephAccording to Stephanie, she wants to pursue anie said. science in college, yet she doesn’t ever want to

LAUREN FRIAS

Hair Salon and Spa HOMECOMING SPECIAL $7 eyebrow threading (save $5) $45 on any updo or style (save $20) $35 manicure/pedicure (save $20) Student haircuts: $30 for girls, $15 for guys $15 off any facial of your choice

1344 Patriot Blvd 847-729-0800 www.scruplessalonspa.com

a&e

Oct.4,2013

17

Marching band moves forward, grows as a group

SHEA ANTHONY

co-a&e editor It’s halftime on South’s home turf and the football fans quiet down to watch the show unfold.

After Poms ignite the crowd, the South marching band, dressed in blue, white and gold takes the field. Led by the three Drum Majors, Joe Lee, Bridget Nelson and Jack Kramer, who conduct the band, the roughly 160 participants begin in a rigid formation. All at once, they begin to sway.

From there, they continue to march in a tight, patterned structure while playing their instruments. This show is a demonstration of control, cadence, and practice; it epitomizes what band is all about.

According to Band Director Greg Wojcik, marching band is both a graded class and an extracurricular activity that focuses on performance and competition.

“Marching band is a class, but what we do on Tuesday and Thursday nights is put all the bands together,” Wojcik said. “[…] Grades are based off of performance at the contests and their participation, making sure they’re at the football games and stuff. The most important [thing] to me is their musicality and how well they perform.”

The guard is an extension of marching band that adds the visual element to the show, according to Guard Captain Julia Albano.

“We do a lot of dancing,” Albano said. “It’s very dance-heavy because that’s what marching shows have been moving towards over time, [...]

This year [the show] is going to mainly consist of rifles, flags and a lot of dancing because [the theme] is ‘Visions of Argentina.’”

Recently, the marching band’s performance content has shifted away from easy pop sounds and has begun to focus on a more symphonic style. This stylistic change was put into place to make band more educational and to help the group compete at a higher level, according to Aaron Wojcik, assistant band director and son of Greg Wojcik.

“By adopting the symphonic [style of] music and putting it on the field we’re actually approaching a little bit more of a difficult task because we have more complicated music that we’re playing, [and] more complicated concepts that we’re throwing out there from an educational standpoint,” Aaron said. “It’s competing at a higher level with our material.”

Because the material is challenging, a lot of practice is required to get the music down. The members of band spend a lot of time together, which lends to the tight-knit reputation of the group, according to Emma Yonkers, trombone section leader.

“We’re all best friends,” Yonkers said. “’One band, one family’ is what we say.”

Greg insists that this community feeling extends beyond the walls of the band room and into South as a whole.

“I look at [the band] not as a contest band, I never have,” Greg said. “I look at [the band] as a support for Glenbrook South and for our community. […] I really feel we need to support our football team, our school, our basketball team, all the sports organizations and of course, the school environment.”

This year’s group has key qualities that con-

MAKE SOME NOISE: Drumline members Nick Niznick, Gary Zucker, Ethan Stillman, Neal Schweighart, Jonathan Thomas, and George Tantchev perform during the halftime show of a home game against Niles North while the guard dances in the background. According to Guard Captain Julia Albano, the guard adds life to the marching band’s music by providing colorful visuals to entertain spectators. Photo by Wyatt Richter

tribute to productivity, according to Lee. “Definitely this year I think all of the members have a lot more energy and they show more commitment than previous years,” Lee said.“Through this, we are able to get a lot more work done.”

Both Aaron and Greg believe that leadership is another strong quality of this year’s band.

“I think our strength is leadership,” Greg said.

“When we put this band together we have a unique sound, balance, blend and all that other stuff, so this band is really a fine band.”

This unique sound is made possible by the large number of people that participate in band.

According to Erika Peterson, mellophone section leader, this large number adds to the experience

of the group.

“It’s really cool when your team isn’t just 12 players,” Peterson said. “You see the same faces, you’re familiar with everyone’s faces, but you still have the opportunity to meet new people all the time, which is really cool.”

The band program was voted most improved band in their conference last year, according to Yonkers.

This improvement would not be possible without the many opportunities that band has to offer, and students should take advantage of these opportunities and get involved with the band, Aaron said.

“We have so many different levels of programs here,” Aaron said. “[Seventh period] we have an

“I look at [the band] not as a contest band. I never have. I look at [the band] as a support for Glenbrook South and for our community.”

-Band Director Greg Wojcik

Gra info cophic by Corm mpile d by S ac O’Brien hea A nthon y

exploratory instrumental program where, if you don’t know an instrument, you can come in and learn. Anyone is eligible for this class. […] We’re always open, our doors are always welcoming. If you don’t want to learn an instrument, we have guard, we have drumline; there are so many opportunities that are all open to those who want to participate.”

Band is not only a platform for learning music but also aids in the development of important life skills, according to Peter Roberson, trombone section leader.

“You learn really great social skills not only with friends, but with time management, efficiency, performance standards, how to practice, how to perform and how to work hard,” Roberson said.

According to Yonkers, band is a valuable experience that goes beyond just the activity itself.

“I would definitely say being a part of something this amazing [has impacted me],” Yonkers said. “The things that we do truly are really cool at the end when you put it all together [...] It really is a community, we struggle together, we win together [and] we lose together.”

sports 18 Men’s soccer aims to sc re conference title Oct. 4, 2013

HANNAH MASON

asst. sports editor The men’s soccer team is aiming to win conference this season after amassing a record of 8-2-5, according to senior captains Luke Pilliod and Peter Campbell.

South started their season with a 3-2 victory against Schaumburg and then earned another victory Sept.7, beating Libertyville 1-0. “[Libertyville] was ranked top 10 in state, and we beat them on their own field, which was nice,” Campbell said.

For the first time in 14 years, the Titans beat Maine South 3-2. The game started out with a goal by GBS, but within a minute Maine South scored, tying the score 1-1. Senior captain Kurt Roemer scored the second goal for the Titans about 10 minutes in, giving GBS a 2-1 lead, according to Campbell.

“We all went crazy [when Roemer scored] and mistakenly dropped back on defense, which put us under a lot of pressure,” Campbell said.

Maine South tied things up at 2-2, but the Titans were able to get a free kick in the final minutes of the game, allowing senior defenseman Michael Hanches to head the ball and set Campbell up for a

bicycle kick for the winning goal.

“I’m looking at the ball thinking, ‘how am I going to get this thing in the goal?’,” Campbell said.

“In half a second I [decided] that I [have to] bike this. I hit [the ball] as it was falling down and as I fell to the ground I looked back and saw it go into the back of the net.”

Head Coach Paul Agombar feels that the team has been good at controlling the ball and adjusting to different field conditions.

“Going back a couple of years, [the team was] playing in the stadium after football and band. It was very difficult to pass the ball to each other because the fields were really muddy,” Agombar said. “Since we have got the turf, we have been able to adapt to a different style of play and keep possession of the ball.”

LEGENDARY LUKE: Setting up Agombar believes a key aspect of the for a header, senior Luke Pilliod team is their communication. goes for the attack. Pilliod has been “The example of leadership on the playing varsity since his sophofield is always important, and all the more year. Photo by Wyatt Richter way through all the seniors have done a good job,” Agombar said.

According to Campbell, he considers himself a very vocal player and can be distinctly heard when playing a game and from the sidelines.

“The yelling is constructive criticism; it’s not just yelling to yell,” Campbell said.

Pilliod believes there are a couple of things the

“I know we can win conference, but it all comes down to if we are on the same page.”

-Captain Luke Pilliod

HIGH SCHOOL

MATH

team still needs to improve throughout the season, such as keeping the ball in the air and consistency.

“It seems like every other game is a good one, and then we go back to playing like we did at the beginning of the season,” Pilliod said. “We [also] need to get better at loose balls and our headers.”

According to Campbell, the team has had to overcome some obstacles such as injuries in the last few weeks. Some injured players included Pilliod at the beginning of the season with a pulled quad and senior defenseman Josh Just with torn. As a result of Just’s torn ACL, senior Evan Salathe has been starting in his place. “[Salathe] has been playing unbelievably this season,” Campbell said. “He is probably the most improved player from the beginning of this year, and he’ll be key especially stepping up into a new position.”

Key members of the team this season include the other two captains, Roemer and senior Kosta Brkovic in the middle and on defense, seniors Dan Schwartz, Omar Duran, and Salathe, according to Pilliod. There are also two sophomores on the team this season, Perry Adamopoulos and Javier Ayala. “[Roemer and Brkovic] do a great job in the middle and set the tone for our team,” Pilliod said. “Javier is doing a great job as well; he is only a sophomore, but you can’t tell by the way he plays.”

Pilliod hopes that not only can the team win conference but also make it down to state.

“I know we can win conference, but it all comes down to if we are on the same page on the day of conference games and [are] playing well,” Pilliod said.

Pilliod believes the team is capable of a lot and that will show as the season unfolds. South plays next tomorrow against Lake Forest Academy.

Homework Resource Center Graphic by Kali Coke

The Oracle’s monthly Q & A with South alums who particpate in college athletics

Contac t us n today to lear ur o ut o ab more ion ss se . hr 1FREE, ol for high scho math help!

Algebra 1 & 2 Plane & Analytic Geometry Trigonometry Pre-Calculus Calculus Our High School Math Homework Resource Center provides a place where high school students of all levels drop in to work on their math homework while having access to our Mathnasium instructors for assistance.

High School Math Homework Resource Center is open: 7:00pm–8:00pm, Monday–Thursday

Mathnasium of The Glen In the Glen Town Center 2650 Valor Drive, Glenview, IL 60026

(847) 998–0900

theglen@mathnasium.com www.mathnasium.com/theglen

Jennifer Zucker, South graduate of 2012, played starting pitcher for the GBS softball team. Currently, Zucker is playing softball at Beloit College and majoring in Chemistry.

Over the summer, Zucker was asked to participate in the Maccabiah games in Israel.

RACHEL CHMIELINSKI

Photo courtesy of the Zucker family

co-sports editor

did you first become Q: When interested in playing softball? started playing Tee A: “Iballfirstin preschool, and ever since then I kept asking my parents to sign me up for different leagues.”

was it like playing in the Q: What Maccabiah games you were chosen to compete in this summer?

Maccabiah games [were] one A: “The of the greatest experiences of my

life. I met people from all over the world including Brazil, South Africa, Israel, Canada and others. We played seven games in total and I pitched three of them. We went undefeated, only one run was scored against us, and we won the gold medal.”

did this past Q: How season go?

didn’t have as good of a A: “We season as we hoped last year but it was still a great time. I also broke the school’s strike out record and threw a no-hitter.”

Q:

Do you intend to continue playing softball after college? and beyond.

do you think of Beloit’s Q: What A: “After college I don’t know if softball program?

I’ll be playing softball. It all depends on how the future plays my team here. We have A: “Igreatlovechemistry out. Playing softball in college is and they are some of the nicest girls I’ve ever met. My coach is also great. She knows so much about the game, and she is such a sweet woman.”

a wonderful experience and I’m so glad I’m doing it. I love my school and my team. I couldn’t be happier right now.”

sports

Oct. 4, 2013

19

Olympic Committee enforces Russian anti-gay law

RACHEL CHIMIELINSKI

co-sports editor The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia will soon be upon us. An event that brings the world together for two weeks, or at least, that is the intent.

“The Games themselves should be open to all, free of discrimination,” Olympic Chief Jacques Rogge said. So what about Russia’s most recent anti-gay law? The thinly veiled wording of the law doesn’t directly state this position, but the de facto practice is full force harassment of gays to the point where they only feel safe by concealing their sexual orientation in fear of recrimination.

The law is written as banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors” which was enough incentive for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to look no further and turn a blind eye toward what really happens on the streets of Russia.

It is likely that gay Olympic athletes will feel the sting of this law as Russia will be on their best behavior. However, the IOC will forbid any athlete from showing opposition to these policies from doing so. They hid be-

hind Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter that states, “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

A completely understandable rule, it sets up a “leave your worries at the door” type of environment. It allows the whole globe to stand united.

But publically supporting LGBTQ rights is a completely different situation than Rule 50 aims to cover.

There are rules and then there are human rights concerns, and human rights can never be compromised.

Article Four of the Olympic charter states, “The practice of sport is a human right. Every in-

dividual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”

The IOC is based on equality and tolerance.

They should be leading the charge against this outrageous situation.

Instead, they have yet to act against these laws.

They have stood by and enforced them, threatening disqualification for athletes who fail to comply with these laws. They won’t even allow their athletes to wear rainbow pins.

The IOC is taking a stand against athletes trying to tear down the walls of discrimination, athletes just trying to show their support. Coming together as a representation of world community is part of what the Olympic spirit is about.

So how does an organization that creates Article four turn around towards and enforce a law that disagrees with every single one of those principles.

Athletes should not have to walk into a competition when they are not allowed to fully be themselves, let alone where their own organization is not on their side.

Tennis team star enters final year all conference, she has been our team’s MVP and she won sectionals her sophomore and junior year,” Nicolotti said. “Last year she led the team to a sectional title for the first time in 20 years and finished 9-12 in the state tournament, so she was second team all state last season.”

Following her many accomplishments, Ryba continues to set goals for herself and her team. “[One of my goals for this season] is to go further at state this year,” Ryba said.

“I haven’t gotten past the fourth round yet, so I want to do that. And as a team I ACED: Little Caroline Ryba starts winning from age ten as she sets want all of us to qualify [...] up for a shot. Ryba started playing with encouragement from her and for us to win sectionbrother and has been playing for eight years now. Photo courtesy of Caroline als again […] because we won last year for the MADISON O’BRIEN first time in 20 years, which was huge, so if we could do that again it’d be a great way to co-features editor leave South.”

Ryba’s position as captain this year gives her All four years of her high school career, senior a larger leadership role, allowing her to hopeCaroline Ryba has been South’s number one sinfully make those goals a reality, according to gles player on the varsity tennis team. According Nicolotti. to Ryba, she began playing tennis when she was “This year as a captain, it has been really nine years old and immediately fell in love with fun watching her take a more prominent leadthe sport. ership position on the team,” Nicolotti said.

“I love [tennis] because it’s individual, so “She always leads by example, she’s a beautiyou’re playing for yourself and you don’t have ful tennis player, she’s a class act when she’s teammates relying on you,” Ryba said. “You on the court, she’s very modest, and at the don’t have to rely on teammates.” same time, just a really smart player.”

According to Kathryn Nicolotti, varsity tenSenior Megan Kay, varsity tennis co-capnis coach, Ryba has had many accomplishments tain with Ryba, echoed some of Nicolotti’s throughout her tennis career at South. thoughts. “[These past three years] she has been named

“[Ryba] is honestly one of the most hard working girls I know on and off the court,” Kay said.

“She is also very kind and such a good leader because she is very respected and reaches out to everyone on the team.”

According to Ryba, she is looking forward to her last season with her teammates, but she is also looking forward to playing tennis at the University of Minnesota next year.

“I think I am really going to miss high school tennis,” Ryba said. “It will be really sad to not come back and play for the team next year because it has just been so much fun, but I look forward to being at Minnesota also.”

Nicolotti explained that Ryba will definitely be missed next season.

“She’s the first player that I will have coached her entire high school career, so I will certainly miss having her on the team, and I know that the girls will too,” Nicolotti said.

SERVE UP: Revving up for a serve, Ryba concentrates on winning the point . This is Ryba’s fourth and final year playing first singles for South.

Photo by Marley Hambourger

Must See Home Games: Football vs. New Trier Oct. 11, 7p.m.

Volleyball vs. New Trier Oct. 15, 6:00 p.m.

Swimming vs. Niles West Oct. 4, 5:30p.m.

Tennis vs. Stevenson Oct. 4, 4:30p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Lake Forest Academy Oct. 9, 4:30 p.m.

Soccer vs. St. Patrick Oct. 10, 7:00 p.m.

20

sports

Oct. 4, 2013

Football off to a strong start early on The South football team started their season with four straight victories, but ended that streak with a loss to Maine South on Sept. 27.

BRECK MURPHY

co-sports editor With an overall record of 4-1, South’s football team entered their conference play with confidence and high hopes, according to Head Coach Mike Noll.

“Our conference is really talented,” Captain Brett Laurie said. “Week five [was] our first conference game against Maine South. They have had 60 consecutive conference wins, so we [wanted] to break that streak for them.”

Contrary to their hopes, the team fell to Maine South 42-21 Sept. 27.

Of the other games they have played thus far, the team is content with where they stand. The Matea Valley game is one that stands out for Noll and the players as being particularly successful in dominating the offensive end.

“We had three running backs rush for over 100 yards that game,” Noll said. “That’s never happened [at GBS], ever. We needed to run the ball up to get the game under control because our defense was having some trouble in the first half.

We were able to do what we needed to do to get the game under control.”

Although the team is pleased with the way many aspects of their game is evolving, they realize that there is work to be done and they cannot be satisfied just yet, according to Laurie.

While there are several juniors contributing this year, the team is fairly senior-dominated with many returning starters from last season, according to Noll.

“It takes good seniors and good senior leadership,” Noll said. “The juniors always start out learning what varsity football really entails, and then they tend to make a lot of progress in the middle of the season. We have a number of juniors who are contributing on both sides of the ball right now.”

Adding to their strong senior class this year is a unique strength of a solid kicking and punting game. Senior Omar Duran is returning for a second year as the team’s kicker, and the punting has been the responsibility of senior Cody Carroll, according to Noll.

While the season is still young, Laurie

already has many memorable moments. Laurie, who will finish out his four years of football at South this season, remembers a specific moment from the Metea Valley game.

“We were in the huddle and we weren’t doing too well on offense,” Laurie said. “We were all trying to support each other, and I realized that [it was] awesome to be out there with my best friends.”

As for the rest of the season, their schedule for the next two weeks includes Evanston and New Trier, both competitive opponents, according to Noll.

“Those [two] weeks are going to bring out the best and be very challenging for us,” Noll said.

“What I’d like to see, is for us to play our best football in the next [two] weeks and then I’d like to see us peak in November.”

Tonight Evanston Township Away 10/11 New Trier Home 10/19 Waukegan Away

VANQUISHED VIKINGS:

Playing against Niles North, the South football team takes a victory 46-7. The week four win brought them to 4-0, but the team is now 4-1. Photos by Wyatt Richter

10/25 Niles West Home

Graphic by Marley Hambourger

Returning players serve as foundation of team success HANNAH MASON

asst. sports editor

After placing 4th in state last year, the women’s tennis team is aiming to place in the topthree in the state this season, according to Head Coach Kathryn Nicolotti. Nicolotti believes that having returning top players such as senior captain Caroline Ryba and junior Annie Emme will both play a large role in achieving this goal.

So far the girls hold a record of 10-2. The team took home a first place win at the Fremd tournament on Sept. 14, in which Emme won in the first singles bracket. The Titans also beat Maine South on Sept. 19, winning all of their individual matches within the overall match.

Another important win the team has ac-

quired thus far was on Sept. 10 when they beat GBN 6-3.

“The girls came out on top,” Nicolotti said.

“Last year we were super close with them too, and ended up losing. It was a huge accomplishment for us.”

According to senior captain Megan Kay, throughout the heat and rain the team has managed to come closer together.

“We had a big tournament rained out, and you can’t really work around that, but that gave us an opportunity to [bond] as a team,” Kay said. “It’s [also] been really hot, so we just try to drink a lot of water at practice. We had one team actually cancel because it was just too hot to play.”

Key members of the team who will be important for the state tournament this year include Ryba and Emme for singles and juniors Martina Dragoytchev and Jessica Chepurda for doubles, according to Kay. “Having those four girls back is really exciting for the team and hopefully will help strengthen the team for the season,” Nicolotti said.

According to Nicolotti, the team has set a lot of goals, as seen on their page on the GBS website.

One of those goals includes communication. Kay believes she and her doubles partner, junior Breck Murphy, have been really emphasizing this.

“We always try to pump each other up and have fun because sometimes you just get so down on yourself,” Kay said. “We always try to smile, and if one of us gets a bad shot [we] high-five after every point. [We try to] just stay positive, because I feel that has an influence on how you play.”

Another goal the team has been trying to achieve is trying to have every player not double fault in at least one match, according to Nicolotti.

“It’s more of trying to get the first serve in and if you don’t have a strong second serve that you are confident in,” Emme said.

South’s team also succeeded in raising money for the organization Skin of Steel, a charity that aims to raise awareness and money for skin cancer research. The girls sent a starting goal of $1,500 but

“We always try to pump each other up and have fun because sometimes you just get so down on yourself.”

-Senior Megan Kay

SONNEBORN TO PLAY: Ready to receive the ball,

junior Emily Sonneborn sets up for an ace. This is Sonneborn’s second year on the team and is playing number three doubles. Photo by Marley Hambourger

exceeded that goal and have raised $2,000 for the organization thus far, according to Nicolotti. “[The team] ran a 5K [for the organization], a n d the girls m a d e it their goal to all run,” N i c o lotti said.

“They all ran it, and three of them placed.”

Kay believes that in order for the team to be successful this season they will have to bond really well, something they have already been working on.

“At practices we are all making an effort to warm up with different people and [the] older kids are looking to reach down to the freshmen who are on varsity,” Kay said.

The girls will be playing a home game against Stevenson today, Oct. 4.

KAY KILLS IT: Warming up in practice, senior captain Me-

gan Kay finishes her swing. Kay is on the number two doubles team with junior Breck Murphy. Photo by Marley Hambourger