Huntley HS Voice December 2021 Issue

V the O I C E

December14, Volume 25, Issue 5 Huntley High School

Leave a legacy National Honor Society Adopt A Family event Adam Cramer: Sonic and sewing

CONTENTS

table of

Editor in Chief Ellie Armstrong Managing Editor Abby Panier Floating Editors Maggie Armstrong, Fiona Brady, Delaney Cairns, Zoe Emerson, Ally Jorgensen Photo Editor Syed Hashmi Marketing Editor Sandra Skiba Social Media Manager Lauren Schmit

EDITORIAL POLICY

EDITORIAL BOARD

STAFF

Staff Writers Olivia Archer, Hunter Brown, Lauren Courtney, Megan Curry, Marrisa Dsouza, Sara Gebka, Annaliese Harper, Christine Idowu, Chase Keller, Lael Malibiran, Mackx Mize, Ava Peters, Madeline Pomis, Ben Rocks, Lindsay Schaffter, Mira Terranova, Angel Wiley Photographers Donovan Doyle, Samantha Crase Adviser Dennis Brown

modern shakespeare model UN secretary thanksgiving forgotten if these halls could talk frozen musical wows junior dunks on varsity looking on bright side

NEWS

08

FEATURES

17

OPINION

20

SPECIAL

26

A&E

32

SPORTS

38

EDITORIAL

51

THE VOICE is an official student-produced medium of news and information published and produced every three weeks starting in October by Huntley High School News Media Production students (ADDRESS: 13719 Harmony Rd. Huntley, IL 60142). The Voice has been established as a designated public forum for student writers and editors to inform and educate their readers and to discuss issues of concern to their audience. It will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of The Voice is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself; its student editorial board and staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication.

Gifting warmth, growing hope

NEWS | environment

Environmental Club starts clothing drive

S. Crase

By Marrisa Dsouza

W

hat does a world of zero waste look like?

Cleaner air and water, more plants and trees, low levels of greenhouse gas production, and a healthier, sustainable way of life. The careless actions of mass modern production will not have huge effects on the recent generations, but soon enough, the more we produce and waste, the closer we get to living on an uninhabitable earth.

What can we do? How can we, such a small community, compared to the world, make a change? Even if we make small changes, they can still make a difference.

Currently, the Environmental Club is hosting a clothing drive right at our school. During school hours, you can drop off any fabric/clothing items into the bins located by Door 1 and Door 10. These clothing items will be donated to those in need.

“Donations can be any cloth item really but preferably no plastics and appliances. Belts, shoes, purses will be accepted too,” Environmental Club member and junior Karen Villanueva said.

Many people who are not as fortunate cannot afford or attain appropriate clothing during these colder months. Since the pandemic, many Americans are struggling financially.

The U.S. unemployment rate has risen, decreasing income for some families. Donating old clothes that are just sitting collecting dust is a great way to reduce waste and help someone in need this holiday season.

The club will also plant one tree for every bin completely filled. Another

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

S. Crase Members of the Environmental Club gather to tend and water the various plants inside the HHS greenhouse. way to help the environment is to help clean it by planting trees that will eventually reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Removing as much carbon dioxide as possible is very beneficial not only to the environment but also to our bodies.

Studies show that increased exposure to carbon dioxide emissions can cause central nervous system damage and respiratory complications to all animals and humans. Improving the atmosphere is beneficial to all life.

Additionally, the school that fills the most bins and donates the most clothes will receive a cash prize. This money could go towards newer soap dispensers in bathrooms.

The club members gather on Thursdays to pick up recyclable items that are carelessly left around during the school day. Members then clean and rinse the cups, bags, and containers they find. The club recycles all of the items they find through their spon-

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sors.

“The Environmental Club also provides more volunteering opportunities for members,” member and junior Caitlyn Letran said.

Helping clean up the school every Thursday can count for an hour and 30 minutes worth of volunteering. It is a great way to get involved and log some volunteer hours.

“This club allows you to make friends, get volunteer hours, and repurpose items around our school in many different ways,” Villanueva said.

Anyone can show up to a meeting at any time and instantly become a member. There is no super professional application process or recommendations needed to be accepted.

Clothing donations are going on right now and will not only repurpose clothing, improve our environment, and help families in need this holiday season, but it will benefit our school as well.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

NEWS | consequence

Crackdown on skipping class Increase in students skipping blended classes

By Lindsay Schaffter

W

hat are you doing here?

Are you supposed to be here right now? Where is your pass? These are all numerous things Huntley High School has been hearing for the past three months.

As many students know, there has been an increase of issues at HHS. We have been facing things like vandalism of our bathrooms, disrespect to staff, and physical altercations between students.

Another thing that is not as commonly talked about is the increase of students skipping class.

Blended learning classes are a major reason for this increase. When October rolled around and certain classes began blended learning, students had the opportunity to skip more.

Blended learning is a combination of online and classroom face-to-face learning. It gives students the ability to be more flexible with their schedule.

Blended students normally sit in the commons area, so the kids skipping do it as well. When supervisors question what they are doing, they just say they are in blended classes, and they would get away with skipping.

Dean checking a student’s ID.

D. Doyle DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

D. Doyle Students working next to the cafeteria.

This made it very hard for deans and supervisors to locate these students.

“So that’s why, for students, it’s easy to hide. It’s easier because people are already in the commons due to blended classes,” dean Alice Ohlinger said.

Many do not even know what the consequence for skipping class and being caught is.

Students have seen warning notes or even a detention pass every once in a while. They have also seen deans or supervisors walking the students down to the office. Many teachers also take notice that the kids are skipping using attendance.

“Multiple teachers have identified students that aren’t in the classroom by using attendance,” Robert Adamczyk said.

Little to none of the students and teachers know what happens after they are given that warning or detention pass.

It states in the handbook that loitering in washrooms, hallways, parking lots, or unauthorized areas is considered a level two behavior.

There are also level two consequences, which are a verbal warning, notifying your parents or guardians, going to a disciplinary conference, etc.

Although these are the consequences stated in the handbook, others believe that different measures should be taken.

“If someone sits down with them

4

and talks to them, asks them why they’re skipping, and helps them solve that problem, it could help stop it all together,” sophomore Bianca Quiroz said.

Students that do not skip all the time or maybe just skip a certain class do it because they are scared, stressed, or even nervous about that class. Many of them did not do the homework from the night before or need a break in general. While this is also true, there is still the issue of the kids that skip all the time for no good reason.

These specific students are the ones that are causing a majority of the skipping issue. There have been students skipping to smoke or do drugs in the bathrooms and even to just walk around the halls.

This is only around a handful of students out of the 3,100 at Huntley High School.

When asked how many students were estimated to be skipping a day and caught, the dean’s answer was 2-12. The students’ answers were more around 5-15.

While knowing this information, it tells us that there are more students skipping class and not being caught.

As we continue on with this school year, keep an eye on what you see, and when you see something, say something. By reporting irresponsible behavior, students can help not only the school continue to be successful but also the students.

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NEWS | consequence

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NEWS | closures

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NEWS | closures

Syrup’s sticky situation Eat at Syrup temporarily closes down restaurant due to COVID-19 outbreaks

By Christine Idowu

J. Habel Eat at Syrup’s storefront was emtpy due to its outbreaks of COVID within the staff, though it is currently open.

L

ast summer, a new brunch restaurant called Eat at Syrup was introduced into the Algonquin area. Eat at Syrup, or otherwise known as Syrup, has been a place of attraction and buzz due its popular coffees and its delectable waffles and pancakes.

Syrup’s restaurant in Algonquin is just one of three chains of Syrup.

The other two chains are in Aurora and St. Charles, Illinois.

Syrup has always been seen to be packed, especially during the weekends. The restaurant usually has a waiting list, sometimes ranging to be 45 minutes to an hour-long wait.

“Some days it would be super crazy, and there would be some days where we only had like 17 people on the waiting list, which was not a lot for us because sometimes the waiting list would get to the 30s,” said Ella Boeke, a former hostess at Syrup.

Syrup would be so busy that some customers would come near closing time expecting to be served, and the staff would still serve those customers, making the restaurant close late. Recently, Syrup had been temporarily closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks with the staff.

“The weekend before we closed down, I could tell that the hostesses were very few and there were definitely fewer servers and people in the kitchen,” Boeke said.

The cause for the outbreaks is

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

uncertain, but it is believed that the customers who were eating with their masks off could have potentially exposed the servers to COVID, which could have led to the outbreak. Most of the employees who had reported they had COVID were servers.

Senior Kyra Shaffer is a toaster at Syrup. Her job is to handle the food by preparing most of the menu’s sides. According to Shaffer, the outbreak started the week of Nov. 8, where a few employees were sick with COVID, but by Friday, Nov. 12 a message was received that the restaurant was going to be closed until further notice.

Syrup has worked closely with the McHenry County Health Department concerning the outbreak. The McHenry County Health Department did an investigation of the restaurant to establish how many employees got sick as well as who might have been exposed. Since then, Syrup has been thoroughly sanitized by the McHenry County Health Department and reopened on Nov. 16.

Since the reopening of Syrup, there have not been as many customers.

“The past couple of weekends have been slower than usual,” Shaffer said.

Before the outbreak, COVID guidelines at Syrup were not always met, since not all customers adhered to the mask mandates.

7

“A couple of times there would be customers who walked in with no mask and nobody would say anything,” Boeke said.

The CDC strongly recommends that when customers are not eating that they should wear masks, especially when social distancing is hard to maintain. In Syrup’s case, they followed the mandate, but other precautionary measures were not taken as seriously.

“For the most part we had a pretty good mandate, but they were not really advising us to wash our hands, use sanitizer, or check our temperatures frequently,” said Natasha Lama Plata, a former hostess at Syrup.

Since then, the owner and the managers of Syrup have worked harder to meet the recommendations of the CDC after being temporarily closed down. They have made sure to keep the restaurant well sanitized and enforce the various covid protocols.

The staff of Syrup are cleaning each table with a different rag, and are now cleaning everything thoroughly that came in contact with previous customers. They are encouraging people to be more aware of social distancing.

The management of Syrup is doing its best to make sure that everything is running smoothly, and to oversee the safety of their customers and employees from COVID. HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

NEWS | theater

S. Hashmi

Zachary Barnvos and Isa Kusiolek played big roles in the play. They are one of the two main couples of the play, acting as Lysander and Hermia, respectively.

Latest all-school play is a dream come true Cast of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” play puts on a Shakespearean classic

By Annaliese Harper DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

H

aving six weeks to practice shows is common, in both professional and recreational stage productions. Professional actors are given full days to practice shows, yet the cast and crew of Huntley’s production of “Midsummer Night’s Dream” have to work around school days and students working.

“It’s a lot of time commitment and learning lines,” sophomore Crystal Favila said.

This is not Favila’s first time on stage, as she performed in last year’s “Ghost Stories” as a witch. Favila’s acting credits were limited in high school because of the pandemic, yet she did every play possible in middle school and found the two very different.

“Middle school shows were more low-key, at least for Heineman. There wasn’t a lot of time commitment, there was just, overall, lower quality,” Favila said.

Each act has its own set of main characters, yet everyone was present in both acts.

While an actor may not have any lines in a scene, they have to be there for blocking.

Though, if the actor is quarantined, it gets harder to show up.

“One of our lead roles got COVID, so we did have to switch up the cast a little bit, but Ms. D and Alex, our director and stage manager, handled it well,” said Isabelle Griffin,

NEWS | theater co-president of the Thespian Troupe.

Eventually, it was tech week, the twoweek period in which the set has been built, the techs have been called, the costumes are on, and crunch time begins. All that is left are finishing touches.

“The scene where we’re moving and everything, it was daunting to block, but we got the hang of it, and it was like ‘This is now, this is where the fun part begins,’” senior Andrew Faber said.

What are the actors most excited for?

“Being able to perform on the PAC stage again,” Griffin said.

Though many Huntley-area theater fans can remember shows in the time since quarantine began, the plays were not in the PAC, the Thespian home turf.

“Ghost Stories,” which was performed in October 2020, was forced to happen outside, or not at all. The show went on for one night only before being forced off stage by heavy winds and heavy structures the second night.

A few weeks ago, “Deadman’s Cell Phone” posters lined the halls, yet the nature of the show confined the cast to the newly constructed Centennial Theater, otherwise known as the black box, for its simple design and dark interior.

For the first time since “Charlie and the

Chocolate Factory” in November 2019, high school students are able to grace the stage like it was before. Tech was in position, curtains were closed, and lights were programmed. The show was ready.

The audience streamed in, grabbing programs and claiming seats. After years of shows being introduced by former tech director Nathan Knapke, audiences were surprised by Faber taking over this show’s pre-show announcement.

The lights dim. The audience is met with silence. Most shows immediately begin with a song that sets the tone for the play, but an eerie silence meets the crowd as a single figure dances across the stage, investigating a record player.

A pink vinyl record lowers from the ceiling, and Moth, the lone fairy on stage, places the record and sets the machine to play.

“Pop Goes The World” by Men Without Hats bursts through the speakers. Gradually, fairies come out, having a dance party, as the plot is introduced.

The classic play takes place in the 12th century, but Huntley’s theater department changed the setting to the 1980s. Many students noticed the sign for the play, styled in a way reminiscent of the classic MTV logo,

see THEATER page 11

A herd of fairies carries Bottom (Ryan McNamara), with the head of a donkey, across the stage. Bottom served as comedic relief in the play.

S. Hashmi

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NEWS | volunteering

Volunteering and giving this holiday season with NHS NHS hosts its annual Adopt-a-Family event

By Lael Malibran

T

he most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner. The snowy white sky, cozy pajamas, hot chocolate, filled stockings, and the sizzling sounds of the fireplace all light up the mood for the coming holiday.

Yet, the most prevalent tradition is the time of giving as families run to an abundance of stores to purchase the perfect gift for their families and friends this coming holiday. To celebrate this tradition, the National Honors Society is providing an opportunity to shop for others beyond just their immediate family and friends and adding those in need on their list.

NHS is hosting an Adopt-a-Family event this coming holiday season.

Within the holiday of volunteering and giving, NHS members receive the chance to shop for individuals and families in need, and/or attend a “delivery event” at the Grafton Food Pantry on Dec. 8 or Dec. 16.

This impactful event is not only limited to NHS members, it is also provided for the entire district to participate. There are multiple ways for people to be included.

“You can either adopt an individual or family, or physically work at the event,” said Melanie Lyons, sponsor of NHS. This recurring event in our school has been a fairly popular opportunity as we approach the holidays.

“This is our eighth or ninth year that we’ve been doing it...our goal this year is to adopt 250 individuals. And if we go beyond that…that would be awesome,” Lyons said.

This occasion is one of four big NHS events and it has, by far, the most unique characteristics. Not to mention, it occurs during a spirited time of the year.

“This one is way different because it’s in the holiday season. And it’s a whole time of giving back to the community...This event is a week long and...it’s where the whole membership comes together, as well as the community...The aspect of its size and its impact reaching beyond the membership, but also the fact that it’s just a time of giv-

The goal of the event this year is to adopt 250 individuals and get as many people involved as possible.

D. Doyle

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

D. Doyle

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ing makes it different,” said Sunni Kwon, senior NHS president.

Each year this event takes place, many smiles light up on the faces of the individuals that receive gifts from our very own members of NHS and the district.

“First of all, we get people involved from the entire district. Second of all, it really has an impact on our immediate community. And I think that’s huge,” Lyons said.

To have a variety of people participate can really be a life-changing experience not only for the shoppers, but also for the receivers.

As we go on about our everyday lives, we fail to realize that there could be somebody struggling to retain their daily needs just minutes away from your home. By doing as much as adopting an individual can really make an impact on their lives.

“I feel like this has a greater impact on people who are less fortunate and are unable to celebrate whatever holiday they celebrate around this time of year,” said Olivia AlShayeb, senior NHS member.

“We can maybe make these people’s holidays brighter and we can get them the things that they need, that they maybe can’t afford...and even if you don’t have the money to buy for somebody else, you could always just donate your time. It’ll make a huge impact.”

The pandemic and other conditions of the world have really affected the citizens of this planet. Some may have sustained their finances, others may have not. Now with the world returning back to “somewhat normal,” it is up to us to create a positive change to those who have been affected.

With the help of this incredible event, we reach a few steps closer to a brighter light at the end of a dark tunnel for the less fortunate.

“If we all just do a little bit, we can make a big difference,” Lyons said.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

NEWS | theater

from THEATER page 9

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with the clothing and music doing much of the same.

Though the play continues with the classic Shakespearean language, the characters have many modern changes. Demetrius, at one point, throws a hand on his forehead, fingers styled in an L shape, mocking Lysander’s loss of Egeus’ favor.

For Titania’s lullaby, the fairies sing “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper, a song from 1983.

Bottom breaks into a very passionate cover of “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, which left the audience crying in laughter.

Throughout the play, Demetrius and Lysander, who compete for the friends Helena and Hermia, engage in petty squabbling and childish kicking matches, wrestling, both metaphorically and literally for love.

During the Friday night show, however, one of these conflicts led to Demetrius, played by Faber, losing his microphone.

“It was just something that was totally unexpected. Because we’re always kind of taught that if anything happens during a show, just keep going,” Faber said.

Working with the scene, Faber managed to stash the equipment where it would be safe, and continued with the scene. Viewers could tell the difference between his lines and his counterparts, yet his words were not lost, staying loud and clear, even when he was hidden from the audience.

“It was also a good learning experience on how to think on your feet and really keep things going, without the problem being obvious,” Faber said.

The problem ended up being fixed during intermission, though being unable to “wake” from his sleep, Demetrius was dragged offstage and onstage by a fairy while the rest of the main four lay still, calmly, with their own fairy companions.

Then came the resolution, as well as the famous inception.

“I might be a little biased, but my favorite is the actual ‘putting on the play.’ Not Midsummer, but Pyramus and Thisbe within it,” Favila said. “I play Moonshine, one of the actors in the play-within-the-play.”

After the performance and acting of the previous act, the audience is treated to a phenomenal disaster. Lines come out stilted, interrupted, and monotone. Characters stand stiff, visibly reminding their companions how to perform the show. Plot points are pointed out, and subtleties are unsubtle.

“We’re supposed to be terrible in that mini play, so it’s even funnier,” Favila said.

The audience definitely agreed. Every cast member lined up, took a bow, and smiled as the curtains closed.

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FEATURE | cafe

One coffee with a side of joy coming right up

By Hunter Brown

W

i t h the Raider Way Café coffee shop opening, employees are needed to run it.

Everyone is focused on the items but not on the people who make them.

No one really knows who they are or where they came from.

Wendy Spiwak, one of the baristas who makes the coffee, was working in the cafeteria before the coffee shop was even open. Other employees at the shop were also cafeteria workers, but there are workers who were previously a barista at places like Starbucks for example.

S. Crase

Barista serves up happiness at new café “I have been a barista, meaning a coffee bartender, in the past. It’s been a long time since I was a barista but when I applied to the district, I started in the cafeteria,” Spiwak said. “Then when the coffee shop was opening, they moved me over here with the coffee, [where] everyone has experience with coffee before.”

With the coffee shop being announced, the job would have another role someone would see when applying to the district. If someone wanted to be a coffee barista, they would need barista experience in the past.

When the coffee shop started opening, everyone wondered what would be on the menu and what type of smoothies or coffee would be available. People would also be hoping to try a drink they like at Starbucks, like an iced latte, which is really fun to make for Spiwak.

“I was really looking forward to any kind of latte or mocha,” senior Alyssa Seibert said.

The coffee shop mainly serves basic drinks and types of coffee, but there will also be new additions to the shop due to the upcoming holiday season.

“We need to keep it streamline because there are so many kids. With the holidays coming up, we will have holiday drinks like a peppermint hot latte, and I’m very excited for that,” Spiwak said.

With the workers making coffee for the school, their abilities have been very impressive with how fast they make the drinks. Even with the first few days when there was a huge line with everyone getting their first item from the shop.

“They’re really helpful, and they’re very generous by suggesting drinks,” senior Alicia DeCandia said. “They give you warnings when they’re low on a certain item, and I appreciate that.”

The workers at the shop are helpful, efficient, and often give suggestions to students who are indecisive about what to get from the shop.

“First time being there, I was having trouble figuring out what to get but the workers helped me out on what to get,” Seibert said. “I also really like how fast they make your drinks. I barely had to wait even though there was a huge line, and they managed to make the drinks fast.”

With the workers being really helpful, it makes the customers happy and has them coming back for more, which puts a smile on the workers’ faces.

“Everyone is really grateful that they’re getting coffee, and it’s been such a nice experience in the coffee shop,” Spiwak said. “We sell donuts, so that makes everyone happy [too].”

Raider Way Cafe employee Wendy Spiwak works diligently at her station.

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DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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Senior Adam Cramer began hand-sewing in 2018 and has since made over 50 Sonic-inspired characters.

S. Hashmi

ut

Adam Cramer’s super-Sonic sewing talent

FEATURE | sewing

Clients ‘gotta go fast’ to request custom

By Ellie Armstrong

P

oking the thread through the needle, Adam Cramer squinted in concentration.

The knots were the hardest part, but his dad showed him a trick.

He twirled it around his finger, threaded it downward, and pulled. He had a perfect knot to begin his first sewing project: a Super Mario Bros Super Mushroom. It took him the better part of a day as he followed a tutorial for five hours, focusing his attention on each painstaking detail. Three years and over 50 plushes later, the mushroom sits on a shelf in his bedroom as a time capsule of his passion.

“I felt accomplished. It was a big feat for me back then,” Cramer said. “My end product, it was really wonky, [but] it was the best thing I could do.”

Cramer, now a senior, picked up sewing from his dad, William Cramer, after watching him patch up ripped stuffed animals when he and his brothers were little.

“I was very surprised and amazed at how quickly [Adam] learned how to sew,” his mom Stephanie Cramer said.

His fascination with hand sewing grew as he watched YouTube videos and practiced with felt and loose thread to create small charms. Eventually, Cramer was ready to create something of his own.

“For me, [sewing] is very relaxing,” he said. “It’s like a detox from my day.

I can just sit down [and] sew away at any project I’m working on.”

For years, the lack of official merchandise for Sonic characters bothered Cramer, who has been an avid collector since being introduced to the fictional world in elementary school. At the Leggee book fair, a comic book advertising the video game “Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games” caught his eye.

“I started getting enthralled with his universe and his friends. It just got me so interested,” Cramer said.

Because some Sonic plushes cost upwards of $1,000, he decided to try sewing his own, beginning with a ‘90s Sonic design with rows of flat spikes.

“His progression, from when he first DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

started to now, is absolutely amazing,” said Ryan Cramer, Adam’s older brother and Class of 2015 alumnus.

“He’s taken great strides to be able to get to where he is today. I’m very proud of him for that.”

After making multiple other characters, including Tails, Cramer showed them off on his YouTube channel

For me, [sewing] is very relaxing. It’s like a detox from my day.

I can just sit down [and] sew away at any project I’m working on.

Adam Cramer

and received encouraging feedback.

Some comments admired the details, others the professionalism, but the one that stuck out to Cramer was a question: “do you do commissions?”

“I thought to myself, I could make this a living,” Cramer said.

In June of 2020, he began selling by making a Twitter account and labeling his Discord tag and YouTube profile with his brand name “Something Sonic Related.”

“I wouldn’t really call it a business, more so just a passion that I also sell stuff with,” Cramer said.

Over the past year, his skills have progressed to earn over $5,000 from selling to an international fanbase.

“I think it’s pretty amazing at 17 years old that he’s got such interest in his art,” Ryan said.

Prices for each plush depend on its size and complexity, averaging $35 for a 6-inch plush and $60 for a 12inch. Larger designs like Dr. Eggman cost around $150.

Cramer’s favorite plush, E-102 Gamma, is priced at $250. It is a replica of a 1999 Sonic Adventure plush, a limited-release and rare piece of merchandise.

Cramer knew his chances of collecting the plush were slim, so he made his own, creating his biggest and most intricate plush to date.

“I felt so proud after it, so relieved,” Cramer said. “I was just so happy with how it turned out.”

His sewing process begins when a Twitter follower expresses interest in a certain character or when he decides to make a friend or family member a plush.

During his sophomore year, Cramer sewed history teacher Erik Lachel a fish plush that he hangs from a hook in his classroom.

see SEWING page 16

S. Hashmi

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HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

FEATURE | sewing

from SEWING page 15 “It was always a pleasure having him in class. [His passion for sewing] is awesome,” Lachel said. “I know there’s a stigma like [sewing] is a ‘woman’s thing,’ but there are some [pretty great] male sewers out there. I think it’s cool.”

Once the design is decided upon, Cramer gathers supplies from Hobby Lobby, Joanne Fabrics, and Walmart, buying fleece for the majority of the plush, felt for the finer elements, and Minky fabric for fuzzy details.

While listening to various Sonic-game soundtracks, Cramer starts with the head, since it is the only part he needs a template for nowadays.

After cutting four diamond shapes, he forms them into a sphere. The face is created next with the eyes, irises, muzzle, nose, and mouth.

“He has become very detailed in how he puts his plushes together and how he communicates with his customers,” Stephanie said.

Once the base circle of the head is complete, Cramer adds external pieces including ears and spikes.

Next, he forms the torso of the body and attaches arms and legs.

Hands, feet, detachable clothes, and other details complete the plush. It takes time, dedication, and patience to build upon the skills he learned from his dad, but the end product is worth it.

In December of 2019, Cramer’s dad passed away. While he has struggled with the loss, he continues to sew as his dad taught him. He puts the work in to help others smile and enjoy the fictional universe he loves. “[My dad’s passing] helped me learn to try give myself a little more independence,” Cramer said.

Though his dad is not here to teach him new tricks, new knots, he instilled a talent in Cramer that he hopes to continue after high school.

Within the years since his passing, Cramer took the steps to become a prominent member of the Sonic fanbase and improve his own craft by using fleece, turning on commissions on Twitter, and promoting on YouTube.

“I know that Dad would still be proud of me today, [and that] helps me to move forward,” Cramer said.

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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FEATURE | clubs

Secretary of Model UN brings awareness to members Sahana Rajagopalan takes on leadership role

By Olivia Archer

I

magine researching any country in the world. There are so many to choose from, and many people do not know about countries such as Estonia, Guyana, or Nauru.

Model United Nations Secretary Sahana Rajagopalan helps people do just this and is ensuring that the club runs smoothly and according to the schedule for the school year.

Model UN is a club that researches countries around the world to understand their social injustices, culture, and economics.

Students then answer and debate questions regarding topics of their country. The club travels to different competitions where participants take turns answering questions and are graded against other schools.

Model UN has gained a lot of new members, especially underclassmen. According to Rajagopalan,

there are not many upperclassmen who are in leadership positions, such as herself.

“I just kind of expressed my interest,” Rajagopalan said. “[Mr. Swartzloff] asked me if I wanted to do it.”

Of course with her response as “yes,” Rajagopalan had some new duties to accomplish.

“I update the Haiku page, make sure everything is moving along, organize what’s happening, [and] keep track of who was there and who isn’t attending the meetings,” Rajagopalan said. “[It’s my job to] make sure everyone knows what they’re doing.”

The Secretary of Model UN club is an important role to fulfill. It is challenging to fill the shoes of a leader and become someone who can guide their peers toward success.

Some of these outcomes are not so recognizable. There are competitions and live debates, and Model UN creates well-spoken students and keeps them mindful of current issues around the globe. “[Members] debate, speak up, and demonstrate their opinion on it,” AP U.S. History teacher Todd

Sahana Rajagopalan works on her own research for her given country, India.

G. Watt

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

G. Watt

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Swartzloff said.

Rajagopalan, with help of the club president and vice president, is teaming up to create a fun environment to learn and speak their minds.

In fact, according to Model UN member Anthony Ciuleba, many participants bring food from different countries to share their culture and eat a treat.

“Every meeting, someone comes in with food. Most of the time it’s usually food from a specific country of origin,” Ciuleba said. “[At] the first meeting, we had food from Mexico.”

Everyone agrees that bringing cultural foods is beneficial and fun for club members. In addition, it continues the research of backgrounds for different countries. Model UN is also planning a holiday party for festivities to come together with more foods from across the world.

Besides the tasty treats, Model UN is a great opportunity for students who are looking to improve their presentation and speaking skills, coupled with debate and research. Rajagopalan ensures that members are included.

Though she plans on pursuing medicine, her newly learned skills will become useful for her in the future.

Model UN is accepting new members. Rajagopalan, Swartzloff, and Ciuleba all agree that more members would create more dynamics and new learning experiences.

“It’d be cool to fill up an entire classroom with representatives,” Ciuleba said.

The awareness of what is happening in the world beyond America is an important part of living among multiple cultures. With the help of Model UN and Rajagopalan as secretary, HHS students can stay up to date with worldwide issues.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

FEATURE | axolotl

The Morgans’ household zoo Junior cares for a multitude of exotic animals at home

By Lauren Courtney

I

n Illinois, roughly 50% of families own a pet, usually having one to two dogs or cats. But what about having about 30 pets of all shapes and sizes?

Junior Joy Morgan goes home each day to what the average student would call a zoo. She owns three parakeets, a rat, a painted turtle, a 10-year-old catfish, a Russian tortoise, a crested gecko, three cats, two axolotls ,and nearly 20 axolotl babies.

Each animal has a specific diet and some require constant monitoring and arduous caretaking, especially the axolotls.

“You have to do everything for them because the [axolotls] are delicate and dumb,” Morgan said.

Axolotls initially lived in streams and canals in Mexico, but because of climate change and pollution, they can no longer live in the wild and are currently only known to be found in captivity. Even the slightest changes can be detrimental to the health and safety of the axolotls.

Morgan often uses a chemical testing kit to ensure that levels of iodine and

Morgan and her rat Checker.

M. Vazquez DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

M. Vazquez Morgan takes care of all types of animals that require special attention. other chemicals are at a safe level. If iodine is too high, some axolotls have a small chance of morphing into salamanders.

“When breeding axolotls, scientists wanted to introduce the albino gene.

They took genes from tiger salamanders, which are a very similar species, but the difference is [that] tiger salamanders don’t stay as axolotls. When introducing that gene to axolotls, they have a very slim chance of losing their gills and may just become a normal salamander,” Morgan said. “So, it’s really important to know these things, or else your axolotl is going to change into something that breathes air and then drowns in its own habitat.”

Fungal infections in the gills are also common. Axolotls are susceptible to stress, which can hinder their immune systems and shorten their lifespans.

Unfortunately, many axolotl owners adopted them simply because of their growing popularity on social media sites such as TikTok and in video games, so they do not recognize or know about the intense care that goes behind the animals.

“A year after we got them, [axolotls] began to explode in popularity. They’ve been put in Minecraft [and] a bunch of other video games, and a lot of people probably don’t realize really how much work they are to take care of,” Morgan said. “The only gene pool of axolotls is the gene pool that is sold to people, so if people are taking really bad care of them, it not only hurts the axolotl but hurts the species itself.”

This issue not only affects axolotls but also other pets that are considered to

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be “out of the norm.” Taking care of all of her pets requires a lot of responsibility, which Morgan’s boyfriend Luke Wickman feels that she fulfills.

“I think a lot of the responsibility Joy has–and she is pretty responsible–comes mainly from how she was raised,” Wickman said. “To be an owner of all these pets you’ve gotta have a lot of responsibility, [and] I think she had it going in. It overall did increase a lot as she got used to taking care of [her pets].”

Due to the number of pets, they can also be relatively expensive to take care of because of their varying dietary and basic needs. Morgan’s mom, Lisa Franklin, especially knows about all of the money that goes into the animals.

“It has been difficult [to pay for the needs of the animals]. Running a private zoo is expensive. I probably spend $100 per month or so on all of the animals,” Franklin said.

Due to the intense care and stress that goes into her baby axolotls and other pets, Morgan feels that she will not be able to care for all of them, especially when the babies grow up. So, she plans to rehome some of her pets to others in the community.

However, before sending them off to their new families, she intends to make sure that all of the new owners will be responsible and ready to handle all of their needs.

“It’s really important to me that people are informed about their actual care and that before they get one they’re really going to step up to the block to properly take care of them. I just want them to be happy,” Morgan said.

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OPINION | holiday

Christmas... in November?

Holiday season starts sooner each year

By Lauren Schmit

T

he excitement of Christmas is a feeling that everyone goes through: the scent of hot chocolate and marshmallows amongst the crackling fire and cuddling up with a good Christmas movie chosen from the thousands of different ones, letting yourself dissolve into the season for giving.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas feels like it is coming closer than we think. In the season of wrapping gifts, cozy clothes, and festive lights, we get sucked up into buying gifts in time and making sure you check off everything from your to-do list.

Christmas season feels like it starts earlier every year. The sight of a white-bearded man in a red costume surrounded by little candy canes or mistletoe in stores comes as early as November or even October.

As time goes on, the holidays in fall such Thanksgiving and Halloween are not appreciated enough and have become a stepping stone to Christmas.

Within our school, a poll shows that 53% of students believe that the Christmas season should start earlier than December, and 47% percent believe that getting prepared for the Christmas season before December is too early.

“A lot of people focus a lot on just the gift portion of it, and it’s a crazy time for everyone. I think that people don’t like to realize a lot of the time that Christmas [is great for] spending time with family,” senior Allie Wentz said. “For this Thanksgiving break, I feel like it has been a crazy semester and many people really focused truly on what they’re thankful for, and that’s why I really like Thanksgiving. It’s a time to really focus on what we have been grateful for.”

According to Wentz, she appreciates spending time with people she truly cares about during this time. She has gone on vacations with family and friends during this season, and she finds more purpose to Christmas than its glitz and glam.

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

“Something I don’t like about Thanksgiving is a lot of people don’t really like to get that excited for it.

With family, it could be a lot, or especially this year with COVID-19 going on, getting together with family is sometimes an issue.

So sometimes you don’t get to see your family even though it’s Thanksgiving, which can be really hard,” senior Alyssa King said. “I just feel like in recent years, it’s been a lot more different for sure.”

According to King, corporations set up for Christmas really early, but it gets her excited a lot more than Thanksgiving or Halloween. The world hypes up Christmas a lot through the media and in stores. She believes that there are also many activities to do during this time rather than Thanksgiving activities.

There is also more stress with gift-giving rather than just spending time with your loved ones for Christmas.

“I feel like the months go by so fast.

The month of November is already over, and by the time we know it, December is going to be over. We don’t like to recognize holidays like Thanksgiving because we’re in preparation for Christmas,” King said.

“Christmas is hard on some people and I think the hype can frustrate them. However, for me, I love it!”

Chemistry teacher Allusion Tuleo said.

Lauren Schmit

S. Gebka According to Tuleo, she thinks that the Christmas season is worthy of hyping up, especially in a stressful time of finals and wrapping up the semester. It is a good distraction from reality, and it is great to celebrate these activities and have something to look forward to.

“I love everything about Christmas! The birth of Christ, the joy of the season, the lights, the trees, the music, the party’s, the family and friends! Even though I celebrate the religious part, I love that everyone can celebrate regardless of religion,” Tuleo said.

Sometimes everyone needs something to look forward to and all of the fun opportunities that come along with the Christmas season, but we focus so much on the future that we miss out on the holidays in the present moment.

Many holidays should be appreciated and recognized and not overruled by the popular vote because once people start to appreciate the little things in Thanksgiving, they will find that there is so much to be excited for.

These holidays go by fast, and if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Myers Brigg: INFP-T | One Word: creative

Lauren Schmit is a social media editor on The Voice. This is her second year on staff. Lauren spends her time thrifting clothes, watering her plants, and listening to her favorite music on her record player.

She will do anything if it is related to the sunset, sunrise, and nature.

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HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

OPINION | drinking

Students under the influence Students disregard long-term effects of alcohol abuse

A. Wiley

By Madeline Pomis

I

t’s a brisk Monday morning and the sun has barely risen over Harmony Road. I stumble out of my car anticipating the chaos at Huntley High School today. As my friends and I make our way to Door 1, we look down and notice an empty can of beer and a lime Whiteclaw that seemed to be aggressively shot gunned. I sigh and mumble under my breath “just a typical Monday at Huntley.”

Students showing up to school under the influence or hungover has become a prevalent issue on campus.

From sneaking alcohol in their water bottles, to showing up to first hour violently hungover, the entire issue is distasteful above all else. Being under the influence at school is not only bad for yourself, but it is a distraction to those around you as well.

“I’ve seen people including [relatives] get kicked out of school for drinking.” junior Taylor Trent said. “It’s something that can set you up for major problems for the rest of your life.”

Trent has seen alcoholism violently affect her family firsthand.

“Watching a [family member] go through what they did was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through,” Trent said. “I would never wish the brutality of alcoholism on anyone else, it’s a sickening thing.”

There is never a favorable outcome to drinking at school. Many students may do it to take the pressure off or

Madeline Pomis

ignore their problems, but that does not solve anything. Once the alcohol wears off, the problems are still there.

You can’t just irresponsibly drink them away. They will never magically disappear.

I would never wish the brutality of alcoholism on anyone else, it’s a sickening thing.

Taylor Trent

Not only is drinking on campus wrong, but it is also illegal. Being caught with alcohol in your system on school property can result in major consequences, not to forget the repercussions of being underage as well. It is not an unknown fact that you have to be 21 to legally drink.

Myers Brigg: ENFJ-T | One Word: swiftie

Madeline Pomis is a junior and a first-year staff writer on The Voice. She is a thespian, Link Crew leader, and FBLA member. Outside of school, Madeline loves to go to coffee shops, play music, and listen to Taylor Swift on vinyl.

Check out her vlog “The Cool Cup” on huntleyvoice.com!

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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Yet, students act blind to this rule and blatantly do it in public.

Not only is this illegal, but it is not smart and overall dangerous. Students do not realize the legal repercussions drinking on school grounds can have. When you are messing with the law, it is not just out of school suspensions and detentions. It is a vast amount of involvement needed from deans and campus officers to come to a verdict for an adequate punishment.

Drinking on campus may be perceived as fun and games for students, but for some, there is a huge underlying issue of addiction and obsession to the effects of being under the influence. Unfortunately, this is not discussed enough.

“Alcohol can be a huge dependency to high schoolers,” senior Izzy Griffin said. “We need to offer some sort of rehabilitation for students who have problems with it instead of just punishing them with suspensions.”

In Griffin’s freshman year, one of her friends came to school heavily under the influence of alcohol.

“I had no idea what was happening at the time,” Griffin said. “They ended up being taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. Afterwards, I felt awful that I wasn’t able to support them while it was happening.”

Griffin still thinks about this experience to this day, and wonders what kind of resources could have stopped

see DRINKING page 42 HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

OPINION | bathrooms

Three bathrooms for most students, none for others

T

hroughout passing periods, the halls teem with students rushing to classes, socializing with friends, or waiting in line for the bathrooms.

With only three bathrooms currently available for the students of HHS, the students endure a wait to use the restroom.

However, the few minutes of waiting for many students is nothing compared to having to wait the entire school day.

This is the case for many non-binary and transgender students at the school who prefer to avoid the uncomfortable situation of choosing what bathroom to use and deciding between possible harassment or confused looks.

Current solutions for this issue involve student-advocated accommodations and individualized policies.

“Typically, a student is comfortable enough to go talk with a counselor and [decide] if there are special arrangements or things that need to be made,” principal Marcus Belin said.

However, these special accommodations come with a price, as many students feel they receive unwanted attention and questions when using staff bathrooms.

“My friends get weird looks when [they] go into [the pod bathrooms].

[They] have to ask a teacher for the key. It’s just not comfortable,” junior Kennedy Ash said.

Huntley High School prides itself on being a large community that supports and encourages diversity within the student population. Such diversity is demonstrated through the growing population of LGBTQ students. With teachers adapting by asking for their students’ preferred pronouns and names, it only makes sense that the school itself adapts as well.

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

“It’s just that we need to be able to offer those resources to students because right now, it’s not really available,” Gay-Straight Alliance sponsor Allison Lewandowski said.

Lewandowski decided to co-sponsor the GSA club this year and has already learned a lot from the students and other people involved.

Prior to teaching history at Huntley High School, Lewandowski taught at Crete-Monee High School an Illinois school that has a genderneutral bathroom for the students.

Coming to Huntley, Lewandowski found that the lack of gender-neutral bathrooms at the school made it difficult for all students to feel completely comfortable during the day.

“I mean, even as early as last year, I can say that I find some students are very open and honest with themselves and who they are at school,” Lewandowski said.

This honesty and self-expression should not be hindered by not being acknowledged at the school, and part of that problem comes from the bathrooms.

“I think with someone who does not fit into the category of boy or girl, or only boy or only girl, a lot of the student body does not treat [them] equally, and there’s a lot of harassment in our building,” junior Sarah Christenson said.

Another problem comes from individuals needing to reach out to staff about special bathroom privileges. This forces students to share personal information that they may not be ready to share with everyone yet.

“We as a school can support them and their right to learn, and do so safely, but then also in a way that they can be themselves,” superintendent Scott Rowe said. “A lot of times, that’s not just wholesale

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It is time for Huntley to implement genderneutral bathrooms

By Maggie Armstrong change and for everyone in the world to know about.”

While each individual and situation may be different, it is hard to be in high school, talk about a topic like this with staff or counselors, and then have to ask for a key or get questioned when trying to go to the bathroom.

The high school’s belief that adding gender-neutral bathrooms would disclose students’ private information shows that it is not understood what students have to go through just to use a bathroom they are comfortable with right now.

“If a student is requiring whatever bathroom, they should not have to advocate and go out of their way.

It should just automatically be an equal playing field. I don’t think it’s fair to ask that of students who are already in vulnerable positions,” GSA sponsor Grace Sefton said.

While this seems reasonable, the current policy for student bathrooms stresses the importance of students reaching out to their counselors or teachers about certain accommodations. This policy of sorts is very vague, and most students are unaware there are even these options for them.

Huntley High School’s process forces students to take charge and come up with their own solutions.

Of course, the solutions need to fit the school rules and can not be too outrageous for fear of the community’s reactions.

“Part of the experience of being a high school student is learning to advocate because when you leave here, that’s what you’re going to have to do out there,” Belin said.

“And if that doesn’t exist, and we don’t help them create that here, you start to become very far behind because you have nowhere to go.”

It is one thing to teach students how to voice their opinions and speak up, and it is another thing to put students in a vulneable situation where they need to expose HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

OPINION | bathrooms

A. Wiley themselves just to receive access to a basic necessity: using the bathroom.

The concept of gender-neutral bathrooms is not brand-new.

Restaurants around the area have started converting their bathrooms into gender-neutral bathrooms, so preparing students for life after high school by not allowing them to feel comfortable using the bathrooms is not a realistic depiction of the “real world.”

There are also districts and high schools in Illinois, such as CreteMonee High School and District U-46, that have created gender-neutral or all-gender bathrooms with clear policies. On top of providing all-gender bathrooms in District U-46, there are also detailed guidelines to support transgender students.

District U-46’s guidelines were discussed in an editorial five years ago by The Voice about gender-neutral bathrooms. Since the editorial, HHS’ policy has not

Maggie Armstrong

changed at all. This is the unfortunate truth, and by keeping the same, short policy, HHS is worsening the situation and not solving the lack of equal access to resources for students.

Much of the high school’s concern about making all-gender

There is a lot of harassment in our building.

Allison Lewandowski

bathrooms at Huntley High School comes from the fear of backlash from the community and parents.

“The root for a lot of people is their personal feelings and political views, religious views, and things of that nature that start to compete with what we have to do,” Belin

Myers Brigg: ENFJ-T| One Word: passionate

Maggie Armstrong is a sophomore and floating editor on The Voice. In her free time, Maggie partakes in ballet, pointe, jazz, and lyrical dance classes. She enjoys reading historical fiction and spending time with family and friends.

Check out her vlog “Dance Break” on huntleyvoice.com!

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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said.

Every person has the right to their own opinions and beliefs. The school’s concern is valid because there will always be people who do not agree, but this should not keep the school from making a decision that is right for the students.

Creating a single-occupancy, all-gender bathroom at a high school has been done in schools and districts within Illinois. If Huntley is concerned about the process and how to make this major change without it failing, the school can use other districts like District U-46 as models.

People are going to have something to say about an all-gender bathroom at the school, but it is better to work towards equal access and representation now, and over time, students and the community will come to accept it completely.

As society modernizes, it is important the school does along with it, allowing all-gender bathrooms to become normalized.

“If you take it [from] a different perspective, it would be like walking into a building, and they only have a male bathroom,” Lewandowski said.

Huntley High School needs to look at this situation from a different perspective and show every student, cis-gender or not, that they matter.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

OPINION | supervisors

More sets of eyes are needed to keep Huntley High School safe

By Ava Peters

T

he lunchroom suddenly becomes louder than ever before as a fight erupts seemingly out of nowhere, and people scramble to record it with their phones, eager to see what will happen next. After several long moments, campus supervisors finally come running to break up the fight, and the lunchroom falls back into its normal chatter.

Before this school year, no one really paid much attention to campus supervisors, but now they seem to be a big part of conversations among the student body.

With the large population of students at Huntley High School adding up to over 3,000, the small number of campus supervisors cannot be expected to handle all the problems that are thrown their way.

“We’re so severely understaffed that fights do happen all the time.

I think the supervisors are trying as hard as they can, but because they are understaffed, it’s very difficult,” junior Carly Navas said. “There’s too few [campus supervisors] to take care of the big number of students in this school.”

HHS currently has 13 campus supervisors employed with two of them being part-time. There has been one full-time position that has been open all year, but it has yet to be taken.

There have been times when the school has been fully staffed, but this year there has been a significant shortage of campus supervisors, and the school has had a hard time finding replacements for the recent resignations of a few more campus

Ava Peters

A greater need for campus supervisors

supervisors.

“People don’t go into schools to [be campus supervisors].

Typically, you get a retired police officer that wants a couple hours to do either part time work or something in that nature, but with the industry of workers and coming into school and dealing with COVID-19, there’s a lot to consider,” principal Marcus Belin said.

“If you’re retired, you’re going into a place where COVID-19 exists with a large population of kids, and it’s very stressful.”

Unfortunately, many campus supervisors are hesitant to speak about this matter due to past misinformation and communications about their actions at HHS, so they were unwilling or unable to interview.

Even though they are a part of the school district, there are only a few emails of campus supervisors listed in the staff directory page, which is difficult to access if a student wants to reach out or ask questions to a supervisor.

Campus supervisors complete the same amount of training as any other staff member, and they are taught what to do when a situation gets escalated and how to properly restrain a student if things get physical.

Even though campus supervisors are equipped to know what to do when fights or problems arise, there are not enough to properly protect the school and the student body.

Myers Brigg: INFJ-T | One Word: creative

Ava Peters is a first-year staff writer on the Voice.

In her free time, Ava likes to read, bake and listen to music. She also loves anything relating to “American Horror Story” or “The Office.”

Check out her blog “Ava’s Arts and Crafts” on huntleyvoice.com!

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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S. Gebka

“I think that with a building this size, if we could double what we have and make it to 18 or 20, that would be amazing,” Belin said.

A lot of students give campus supervisors a bad reputation for being negligent and not responding to fights fast enough, but they cannot be expected to oversee and protect the student body when there are not enough of them.

“The overall goal [with the team of campus supervisors] is to create a new culture of not just being tough guys that are there to break up fights, but really to be that front line, personal, build-a-positive relationship kind of connection with, so that they are a trusted adult and advisor, and to have that confidence for kids to come up and interact with them,” associate principal Tom Kempf.

People should not blame campus supervisors for the fights going on but rather be more understanding as to why they are not able to respond to situations as quickly as some people would like.

“I think the position needs to evolve a little bit. It’s not security, and I think a lot of people think about security.

Like the bouncers at a bar or a concert, that’s not what [campus supervisors] are there for. They’re there to foster relationships with kids,” Kempf said. “Having a trusting relationship with an adult means you’re going to be willing to report something if you know something, or if you know a friend in need.”

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

OPINION | fashion

Convenience vs. comfort As cold weather approaches, is it acceptable to continue wearing shorts?

By Fiona Brady

A

s the days become shorter and the leaves fall off the trees, the warm weather of summer is swiftly replaced with the bone-chilling cold of autumn and winter.

T-shirts are swapped for sweaters, and sandals shift to sneakers and boots. You would think that shorts would be replaced with longer pants, but some choose to rock the summer look all year long.

For senior Sara Hursey, the question of whether or not to wear shorts in the winter is simply a no-brainer: absolutely not.

“I’m always dressed for comfort over style,” Hursey said. “I wear a lot of sweatpants in the winter just because I want to stay warm and not think about what I’m wearing throughout the day.”

According to Hursey, the purpose of clothing is to keep you warm, and to wear clothing that does the opposite of that in unforgiving weather is not the smartest choice.

Walking through the halls of Huntley High School, you can see that many students are wearing sweatpants or jeans, and most, like Hursey, tend to choose more comfortable fashions as the temperatures outside creep lower.

“It’s cold out. The school is cold.

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

S. Gebka I’d rather be comfortable,” Hursey said. “And I think pants are the way to do that.”

However, not everyone gravitates towards long pants once the temperature dips. Sophomore Tyler Hall sticks with shorts for the convenience factor.

“Mainly for us athletes, lots of times we change into shorts just because it’s a lot more functional for sports,” Hall said. “So just wearing shorts throughout the day makes life a lot easier and quicker.”

According to Hall, he tends to wear shorts rather than pants for about half of the week.

It is definitely easier to put on shorts one time at the start of the day and not worry about it again instead of having to deal with the hassle of changing back and forth, especially for athletes who have to

Fiona Brady

practice directly after school.

An issue that many others may run into is getting too warm during the school day.

“I overheat, so it’s a personal preference as well,” Hall said. “So instead of not bringing a jacket and things like that, I think just wearing shorts is a good medium.”

The convenience of choosing shorts in the winter is not enough to convince everyone. On the contrary, senior Kimberlynn Bjurstrom believes that cold legs are a no-go.

According to Bjurstrom, she would only wear a dress, shorts, or a skirt in the winter if she was also wearing long socks or tights in order to protect herself from the cold.

Additionally, Bjurstrom brings forward an interesting point regarding a reason behind the choice of shorts in the winter, specifically for the boys who wear them.

“Guys that wear shorts during the winter have a problem with toxic masculinity,” Bjurstrom said.

The argument of whether or not shorts are acceptable to wear in the winter lives on through factors such as convenience or the fact that it is simply too cold to not wear pants.

Those who bare their legs often claim they are immune to the cold, which is what Bjurstrom refers to in the sense of toxic masculinity and the refusal to submit to the cold weather.

If you choose to wear shorts in the winter, then good for you. If not, good for you as well. The only thing I ask with regard to clothing in the winter is: please, wear it.

Myers Brigg: INTP-T | One Word: kind

Fiona Brady is a floating editor on The Voice, and it is her first year on staff. In her free time, Fiona likes to read a lot of literary fiction and fantasy. She is involved with choir and musicals, and she also loves science.

Check out her vlog “Fully Booked with Fiona” on huntleyvoice.com!

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HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

halls

IF THESE They would say...

Grade Senior

Activities Link Crew, PE Leader, Model UN, Creative Writing Club

Favorite Movie “Luca”

Star Sign Aquarius

But they would not know...

I would definitely say I’m more of a cook than a baker, baking is like a science, and science is scary. But I’m an Asian American, so a lot of what I cook is cultural. There’s this one Filipino dish called lumpia and it’s basically a deep-fried spring roll. It’s something that I really like to make because when my parents were growing up, it was more like a treat. But it’s nice to make something that they enjoy. At first I hated cooking, it was a chore. I mean, it is a chore, it’s a lot of work. But over time it’s something that I grew accustomed to. It’s like, ‘oh something that I have to do, I might as well enjoy it.’

- Jimmie Soriano DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

photo by ellie armstrong interviewed by abby panier

26

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

COULD

talk

They would say...

Grade Freshman

Activities Golf, Softball, Silver Cord, SALT

Favorite TV Show

“Avatar: The Last Airbender”

Star Sign Cancer

But they would not know...

I paint and draw a lot. I have paintings of mine on the walls of my room. I like art in general, it’s a form that I use to relax. I think my favorite [art form] is actually something that was introduced to me this year through one of my classes. I really like subtractive things. I like getting my hands a little bit dirty and being able to scrape away at foam or clay. I do a lot of plants because they’re not living things. I find plants and mushrooms just so much easier [to draw].

- Taryn Rainey photo courtesy of taryn rainey DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

27

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

A&E | beauty line

Harry Styles pleases fans with new beauty line while on tour Gender-neutral collection “Pleasing” took media by storm

By Mira Terranova

E

veryone knows Harry Styles for his upbeat, trendy songs, immaculate fashion taste, and his passion for “treating people with kindness.” His popularity and fandom have been

rapidly growing since the One Direction era to his “Love On Tour” with fans vying for more from the star. We asked, and he delivered with his new beauty brand, “Pleasing.”

“Pleasing” has been in the works for months with hints from Styles himself through his recent outfits and interviews. On Nov. 14, the “Pleasing” Instagram account was created, revealing the new beauty lineup and overthrowing all the

Harry Styles performed the U.S. leg of his tour, “Love on Tour,” while “Pleasing” was announced during the same time.

(CC BY-SA 4.0)

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

28

rumors circling the brand. The Instagram biography revealed the slogan, “Find Your Pleasing,” leaving fans in awe of what was to come.

The first wave of products titled, Perfect Pearl, revealed on Nov. 15, included a set of four nail polishes, a dual-ended pen including an eye gel and a matte lip oil, and an illuminating facial serum.

Pre-order for these products came out that day in limited quantities. The products were quickly sold out by beauty enthusiasts and fans that same day.

One aspect of the brand that has been made very clear is that these products are designed to be gender-neutral. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to enjoy these products, which noticeably align with Styles’ music as well.

The design aspect for “Pleasing” has revolved around the use of pearls. Each name has a relation to the use of pearls, as Styles is oftentimes found wearing due to their classiness.

The Perfect Polish Set The main product promoted in the Perfect Pearl polish set includes a variety of shades that are meant to be presented either on their own or in combinations with each other.

The design of the bottle is unique with a huge, marbleized pearl on the tops of each bottle, representing the shade of the polish.

The four shades of polish each include their own unique name representing the pearl theme.

“Inky Pearl” is a pure black shade that appears to include a lot of shine, which lights up the dark feeling it gives off. “Perfect Pearl” is a basic shade of white polish and a classic and popular shade for nail lovers. “Granny’s Pearls” is a hot pink shade, which is no surprise for Styles’ collection, as he kicked off his “Love On Tour” in a dazzling hot pink look. The final shade, “Pearly Tops,” is a clearer, pearl-resembling HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

A&E | beauty line

shade that noticeably steps into the light and shines any nail look.

This set was available in the pre-order for a hefty $65 per set.

This is quite expensive for a fourpiece polish set compared to other brands.

However, for the design and thought put into the collection, Styles’ fans were falling for it right away, and it quickly sold out.

The Pleasing Pen This product is not something commonly found in a beauty shop, but it definitely gives off the unique feel that Styles clearly wanted for his collection.

The Pleasing Pen is a dual ended stick that can be taken apart for use of the two products included: a matte lip oil and an illuminating eye serum.

The matte lip oil is a clear shade gloss with a sweet, marshmallow flavor: a true necessity for anyone’s

makeup collection.

The design of the pen seems like a classic rollerball pen, which does not have the best application, but the gloss is advertised to dry quickly into a matte finish, which is not commonly seen with rollerball glosses.

The illuminating eye serum is a soothing gel meant to refresh under your eyes to create smoother skin.

The design is the same as the lip oil: a rollerball pen. Styles kept the same design on both ends, but it is not common to find a serum in a rollerball.

The Pleasing Pen was sold for $30, which is not awful considering there are two products.

Pearlescent Illuminating Serum The Pearlescent Illuminating Serum is a facial serum made to glisten skin either on the daily or to be used as a priming base for any

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DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

makeup look.

The design of the bottle is shaped like any normal serum bottle found in stores, but it has a collection of pearls found in each bottle.

The design and purpose of this product is interesting, as it appears to give a glowing finish to highlight anyone’s skin. Its formula appears to look like any other serum.

The serum is sold for $35, which is not too pricey for a skin product. This new lineup seems to be very promising for Styles, with fans adoring it and already asking for more.

The prices are a bit steep, but it could be worth it for not only the product but the design and theme that go along with the products.

People are expecting to see many more unique designs from this golden brand in the future.

Dave Splett

Master Groomer

29

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A&E | travis scott

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A&E | travis scott

Astroworld tragedy Many people dead after attending Travis Scott festival

By Ben Rocks

D

arkness seeps into every inch of the park, sweat drenched shirts being rubbed against one another with the urge to get closer to the sensation, Travis Scott. Bass reverberates through everyone’s chest.

The crowd on the verge of sensory overload. For some, it was the best night of their lives, however others, it was their last.

Let’s rewind.

The Astroworld Festival first came about from the rapper, Travis Scott, and his wildly famous album, “Astroworld.” The festival took place in his hometown of Houston, which now remains part of the Astroworld theme park. Initially, the festival was a single day and featured only hip-hop and rap artists.

The 2021 edition of the festival was planned to last two days. Entry would give access to; amusement rides, an arcade, several stages, and artists from multiple genres including Scott.

50,000 people attended the music event on Friday, Nov 5.

With this type of intensity, it was

Courtesy of D. Arellano December ISSUE 2021

no surprise there would need to be immense medical support.

Between it all, there were 2,500 safety and medical staff scheduled that Friday from Houston police, to a third-party medical company. That was later proven to not be enough.

The event itself started off like any other concert. Long lines, wristband entry, people jumping fences, and bathroom lines that never seemed to move.

The shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, with the constant discomfort of stepping over the $11 littered beer cans all with the aroma of marijuana encapsulating the park mixed with the intense feelings of euphoria. It was looking like it was going to be a solid two day event.

Scott’s headline went on stage at 9:30 p.m. playing notable hits like “Goosebumps” and “Antidote.” Mosh pits were seen in every direction.

Crowd surges causing concert-goers to never be in the same spot for more than one bass drop.

That extreme movement amongst the drug spiking, caused a quick turn of events. People all over the arena getting knocked down, if you were lucky enough to have people help you up then you would brush it off, and return to enjoying the concert like nothing ever happened.

However if you were not helped up, you were quickly bombarded with shoes from others moshing, along with lack of air creating compressive asphyxiation from the sheer density of people.

Police and medical staff quickly became overwhelmed and engulfed by the crowd trying to drag out those in life or death situations. It became so widespread that those with broken bones were no longer the priority.

All while people are still moshing and compressing to get closer to Scott, who was supposedly unaware of the situation at the time. It was safe to say that the concert became a warzone.

Emergency lights and sirens contradicting the front stage’s strobe caught Scotts’ attention. Music stopped, and shortly thereafter there on after there was a direct order to leave the prem-

31

Courtesy of D. Arellano ises as it had become unsafe.

Of the people who attended the concert,17 were hospitalized and 11 suffered from cardiac arrest. The night came to an end with 8 confirmed dead. Scott was informed of the situation, and he communicated via social media expressing his sorrows and lack of understanding during the fest.

Five days later a victim was declared brain dead.

Another victim was a 9-year-old, who had been in a medically-induced coma, died Nov. 14, bringing the death toll up to 10. Following the tenth death, Scott posted an apology video. The video was met with mixed emotions. Travis then vowed to pay for all medical related costs to help aid the families that lost their loved one.

Since the festival, the Houston police along with third-party investigators have been investigating potential factors that led to the tragedy with the hopes to help prevent anything like this from happening again.

Amidst all of the chaos, it reiterates that there is always an unknown level of risk when it comes to attending a concert.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

22 bby -

on

A&E | musicals

“Frozen” magic travels from screen to stage in Chicago The return of in-person musical theater thrills

By Ally Jorgensen

I

cannot simply let Broadway in Chicago’s rendition of Disney’s Frozen go. From the fan favorite songs such as, “Let it Go” and “Love is an Open Door” to the light work, effects, and the live music, this musical blew me away.

The musical, adapted from Disney’s 2013 film “Frozen,” originally written

by Oscar winner Jennifer Lee and composed by Oscar winner Kristen Anderson and Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award winner Robert Lopez, premiered on Broadway in 2018 after tryouts in Denver during 2017.

The Broadway musical started its US tour shortly after in 2019, but was halted because of the pandemic in 2020.

Lucky for musical lovers like myself, musical theatre is starting to come back due to the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine. In order to enter the theatre, every attendee had to show proof of their vaccination. The musical started up again on Broadway in Chicago mid-September of this year at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

For those who never got to experience the magic of “Frozen” growing up, the story highlights the relationship between two sisters, Anna and Elsa, and their journey of self discovery and sisterly love.

I saw the musical myself on Wednesday, Nov. 24 in Chicago with my family. I had not seen a live performance in over a year, so I was expecting a good time no matter how “good” the show was. It felt so nice to be back in those uncomfortable theatre seats once again and enjoy overpriced Skittles.

Right away, I was blown away by the special effects, stunning sets, costumes, and the adorable performances of young Anna (Victoria Hope

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

Chan) and young Elsa (Natalie Grace Chan). The light work and deliberate movements shaped the scenes along with the music, creating a truly magical experience. I recall a scene where young Elsa used glitter to emulate her snowy powers to entertain her curious younger sister. This was just one of the ways they were able to bring her powers to life. I didn’t know there were so many ways to represent ice and snow movements.

Aside from the set and effects, the vocal performances were particularly impressive. One of the more noteworthy performances being “Let it Go” featuring Caroline Bowman. Bowman has performed in multiple Broadway musicals, including Fame, Grease, Spamalot, Evita, Wicked, Kinky Boots, and currently the national tour of Frozen.

It is safe to say that this song was the peak of the show, and a fantastic ending to a slow first half. I will never forget the breathtaking costume change at the climax, where Elsa’s clothes flew away in the wind to reveal a shimmery, icy blue dress underneath. It was a jaw-dropping sequence to say the least.

In my opinion, Bowman’s vocals and songs prevented the entire musical

from being utterly disappointing.

When she was off stage, the playwrights seemed to rely on comedic scenes, which were filled with uncomfortable adult jokes.

I was visibly uncomfortable with a specific scene implying nudity and sexual relations in the song “Hygge.” The idea of the word ‘Hygge,’ introduced by the shopkeep, means cozy or comfortable. The attempt at recreating the infamous “big summer blowout” scene was just intolerable.

The idea was cute, but the execution was horrific.

Despite the discomfort I felt in some of the scenes, I was still hugely impressed by the performance of the song “In Summer.” F. Michael Maynie did a marvelous job portraying arguably the most lovable character in the franchise: Olaf the snowman. Maynie not only vocally performed well, but also kept the audience entertained with his Olaf puppet, which had full mobility, facial expressions, and even eye movements.

It is also important to mention the musical selections not seen in the original movie. One of my favorites being “I Can’t Lose You,” essentially an expression of Anna and Elsa’s sisterly love for each other.

Overall, it was an unforgettable theatrical experience filled with sensational special effects, stunning sets, costumes, and powerful performances. Regardless of the criticisms previously discussed, the musical was worth watching. It is a great way to experience theatre for both children and adults alike.

Loren Javier/ CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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A&E | musicals

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A&E | disney

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A&E | disney

Welcome to the magical world of the Madrigals

By Mackx Mize

L

ooking across South America, you would find a country filled with extremes. Tropic beaches fill the north and west. The deep Caribbean Sea meets the country, filling it with tourism.

Toward the east you can find vast grasslands with tall, dry grass. As you venture toward the middle of the country you will be abruptly stopped by the tall snow-covered mountains and volcanoes creating the infamous Andes. Traveling even farther down south the weather will drastically change into a hot and humid climate accompanied by the thick, green Amazon basin.

Welcome to Colombia, where the views are just as enchanting as the people. You can find stunning wildlife, a colorful culture, beautifully di-

©Disney S. Laput

Disney’s new charm “Encanto” available verse vegetation, and even a magical house with a mind of its own!

“Encanto”, Disney’s newest movie, features South Americas’ beautiful landscape as well as the diversity of its people and culture.

Mirabell, voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, is a 15-year-old girl. She finds herself struggling to find where she belongs after she is the only one in the Madrigal family to not receive a special gift like every other family member on their fifth birthday.

As trouble arises after one of the youngest Madrigal family members receive their gift, Mirabell selflessly sets out to save her family’s powers and prove to them that she is just as special as they are.

Encanto was directed by Byron Howard, Jared Bush, and Charise Castro Smith. They were happily reunited directing this film after working together on Zootopia. As the movie progresses we can see the utter talent and wit the three of them have, by truly making each and every character different and entertaining with their own sense of humor and personality traits, and it surely was not an easy task. The film crew created 10 original characters who each have their own gift as well as all playing quite significant roles in the movie.

If you are at first alarmed by the fact that you have to keep up with 10 characters, do not be, because the songs will help with that. The catchy and cultural music of the

“Encanto” soundtrack was composed

by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is well known for writing and starring in “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” as well as composing the soundtrack to “Moana”.

As the movie opens we are introduced to Abuella and how the Casita’s (the Madrigal’s home) existence came to be. From that home grew a village. As the young children of the town wonder about the family and their magical powers, Mirabell helps them get to know her family by introducing each of them in a catchy song.

This song is not the only time we get to experience the beautiful music of South America though. Thanks to Germaine Franco, we have a magically composed score, which the music composed to accompany the dialogue as well as adding sound effects.

Franco, who was hired by Disney, is now the go-to composer for music that does not originate in the United States. Franco was hired particularly because of the value she holds for creating a realistic backdrop for the country, and also being able to represent the deep rooted culture and history that country has.

The beautiful artwork and songs give a wonderful window into the culture of Columbia.

Disney once again created a fantastic and beautiful film, bringing more awareness to different cultures and emotionally bringing us closer to another fearless female leader.

©Disney

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

A&E | coffee

The right holiday drinks for

put

M. Curry

Which coffee shop has better holiday treats?

By Megan Curry

T

h e holiday season is officially here, coming in with joy and cheer. Everyone likes to start off the holiday season in a different way, whether it is putting out decorations early, baking some holiday treats early, or starting to pack for their holiday vacations.

No matter how you choose to start off the season, most people tend to do it with a peppermint-flavored drink in their hand.

Starbucks and Dunkin’ are two of the most popular chains for coffee and a quick bite to eat. With coffee shop culture booming in the past 10 years due to the newer generations, Starbucks and Dunkin’ quickly rose on the scene and provided us with the iconic drinks and atmosphere that we know and love today.

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

Both companies are no exception to getting into the holiday spirit, with the announcement of their new holiday menu items in late November.

Both Starbucks and Dunkin’ include peppermint classics and new creations for the season, so there is something for everyone at both locations. But which one has the better holiday delights for the season?

A couple of other staff members and myself decided to go out and try two drinks that both locations had, an extra drink from Starbucks and one other treat that each location offered to see which was the better pick for your holiday coffee run.

We decided to stop into Starbucks first and try their Peppermint Mocha, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte, and their Sugar Plum Cheese Danish.

The Peppermint Mocha is a great staple classic that never gets old.

With its intense peppermint and chocolate flavor, it will for sure get

36

you in the right mood for this season. As a hot coffee drink, the coffee aftertaste can get a little intense if this is your first time trying coffee.

The cold version of this drink, the Peppermint Frappuccino, is a great alternative to new coffee drinkers who still want a nice peppermint drink.

Overall, about a 7/10.

The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha is a classic for anyone who does not want any crazy flavorings but still wants to get into the spirit.

This drink is more suited towards coffee lovers, as the aftertaste is an intense and strong coffee flavor that can throw you off.

The flavoring was not present except in the first couple of sips. The cold version may be better suited for general coffee drinkers who still want to taste this treat. This drink is about a 5/10.

One of Starbucks’ newest drinks is the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. This drink is only served cold HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

A&E | coffee

you: Starbucks or Dunkin’?

M. Curry and it has cute festive sprinkles on top.

It tastes exactly like a sugar cookie with hints of vanilla frosting. This drink is jam-packed with sugar and best to have it in a smaller size so you do not feel sick.

This drink is perfect for new coffee people who want to still have a sugary drink. This drink is a solid 6/10 as someone who cannot handle a lot of sugar.

The Sugar Plum Cheese Danish is perfect for anyone who wants something sweet and savory from Starbucks. The sugar plum filling tastes perfect with the cheese and adds a sweet flavor overall.

The presentation is not the best, but it is a great item and is perfect if you are on your way to watch The Nutcracker ballet. I would give this an 8/10 and I would highly recommend it.

Dunkin’ Donuts also hopped onto the bandwagon of new holiday treats DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

and drinks by bringing in classics like the Peppermint Mocha and Toasted White Chocolate Mocha. They also came out with Cranberry and Orange muffins.

The Peppermint Mocha at Dunkin’ is not at all like Starbucks coffee.

The coffee at Dunkin’ does not go well with the syrup that much, as it overpowered the syrup and it did not work out.

All of the taste testers had never had Dunkin’ coffee before, and we can agree that it is an acquired taste.

The overall consensus was a 3/10.

The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha did not even come close to our expectations. The aftertaste was awful. It never tasted like white chocolate.

There was a sour aftertaste and it ruined the whole drink. If you enjoy Dunkin’ Coffee, then maybe try this, but do not be disappointed when it is not what you expected out of it.

Overall, 1/10.

37

The Cranberry and Orange muffin was the best of the worst. The citrus of the orange overpowered the whole dessert.

The dried cranberries in the muffin were not very good, as they were so dry they did not even taste like cranberries.

The muffin is way too big for one person, so if you are planning on getting this, definitely share it. Overall, about 4/10.

There is no doubt that coffee lovers will be happy this Christmas with this extensive array of drinks and treats available.

Starbucks still has about three more drinks and Dunkin’ still has their new signature blend.

Although Starbucks seemed to have won this, both are still great places to get a good cup of coffee, a little snack, and study for the upcoming final tests before or during holiday break.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

SPORTS | basketball

G. Watt

38

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

G. Watt

Varsity player and shooting guard makes moves on the court.

2022 Abby ect-

” on

ge 47

Ball in a day’s work for guard

Junior Ian Ravagnie is a slam dunk for boys basketball

By Zoe Emerson

F

or junior Ian Ravagnie, basketball is not only a passion but a lifestyle. Having played basketball since kindergarten, it is no surprise that Ravagnie is fiercely dedicated to his sport.

“My dad introduced me [to basketball], and both of my brothers played,” Ravagnie said. “I grew up around it.”

Ravagnie is a shooting guard for Huntley’s varsity basketball team.

According to Ravagnie, he did not necessarily choose this position to play, but it happens to be his best fit DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

when playing in games.

A shooting guard is responsible for scoring points for their team, and they play huge roles defensively as they are usually in charge of stealing the ball from the opposing team.

Ravagnie also plays basketball for Mercury Elite, an organization that has teams for players from first grade through high school. In Ravagnie’s case, he has been playing for Mercury Elite ever since he was in second grade.

“It has been fun and something to do when high school [basketball] isn’t going,” Ravagnie said. “[There is] a lot of exposure.”

Ravagnie hopes to play basketball in college, as it is something he has always wanted to do. While he is still deciding what career he wants to pursue, he names economics as a

39

potential career path.

Boys basketball coach William Benson recalls his first memory with Ravagnie, which occurred when Ravagnie was in sixth grade. “[Ian] was always a really good shooter, and [he] has continued to put the work in,” Benson said. “[He] gets better and better every year.”

According to Benson, Ravagnie’s defensive skills have drastically improved. Benson also had a lot to say about Ravagnie’s leadership skills.

“He is still growing as a leader, [and] he is a leader by example. It is harder when you are a junior [and] you have a strong senior group,” Benson said. “I think he is still growing in that capacity, and he has a really good group of guys to learn from.”

Additionally, Benson reports that Ravagnie’s skills on the varsity team HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

M

SPORTS | basketball helps them to perform well.

“I think he fits in with how we want to play,” Benson said.

Ravagnie states that basketball has a good atmosphere for him because he has met lots of new people throughout his career and he feels that everyone on his team is like family.

Outside of basketball, Ravagnie makes sure to stay active by playing

Ravagnie’s defensive skills have improved substantially in his shooting guard position according to Coach Benson.

G. Watt

[Ian] was always a really good shooter, and [he] has continued to put the work in.

William Benson

disc golf. Ravagnie was introduced to the sport by some of his friends, and he has played it ever since.

Regarding the upcoming basketball season, Ravagnie reports that the basketball team is in a good place, and everyone is working hard.

“The best thing [about basketball is] playing a sport you love with people you enjoy being around,” Ravagnie said.

Ravagnie has thrown his heart and soul into basketball, and it is certain that he will put on stellar performances in games for years to come.

Ravagnie has played basketball since he was 5 years old. G. Watt

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

SPORTS | basketball

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For more news, sports, and features, visit huntleyvoice.com today!

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For all your sound, lighting, video, and production needs!

Contact Eric @ AV3 for more info on live streaming, virtual, or live events.

847-308-5354 • eric@av3productions.com DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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OPINION | drinking

from DRINKING page 21 this from happening.

The school needs to shed more light on addiction resources, rather than just threatening students with punishments. The truth is, many students may not be able to cope through the day without the escape of alcohol, and may need support to get through it. Especially since the pandemic, routines have changed, and life is different overall. Sadly, it is not much of a surprise that students have turned to alcohol for support in the past year and a half.

Punishment isn’t going to solve anything if a student is addicted, support and rehabilitation resources will.

“We actually provide multiple resources for students who may struggle with drinking,” counselor Maureen Chambers said. “We have out of school therapists, social workers, and so many others that are here to support students.”

Those resources and their contact information is listed at the bottom of this article. If you are looking for someone to talk to, go to your counselor and they will happily help you connect with a therapist or social worker; no questions asked.

The harm from drinking is way too serious to mess with. Not only is being under the influence an immature practice to partake in at school, but it can lead to bad habits that may cause issues long term.

So please, be responsible, and show up sober.

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Support Numbers • Gateway for Alcohol and Drug Treatment: 877-505-4673 • Not One More: 815347-8717 • Rosecrance McHenry County: 815-363-6132

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DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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y

age 47

SPORTS | pitcher

The life of a dual-sport athlete Adam Guazzo commits to Valparaiso University

By Chase Keller

P

laying one sport is difficult, let alone playing multiple. You must find time to train for the sports, along with possibly playing the sports outside of school.

In some situations, that involves training for multiple sports in the same day with no breaks.

One person experiencing this situation is Huntley High School senior Adam Guazzo, who plays both basketball and baseball for HHS. All year, he plays for school and travel programs, and trains privately on his craft. While he has been an athlete his whole life, training for multiple sports is still an adversity for him.

“It definitely takes a lot, and it takes a [toll] on your body,” Guazzo said.

“You have to realize that you have to take care of your body.”

In a normal school year, Guazzo’s first sport is basketball, which he plays in the winter for the Red Raiders. While he does spend more time on baseball, he still spends a lot of the summer working on his game in preparation for the season.

Guazzo and his peers believe that his evolution as a player is impressive, yet his growth was inevitable. Fellow senior Nathan Ary has played basketball with Guazzo since fifth grade, and he has witnessed his improvement.

“He [has gotten] more fit,” Ary said.

“He’s become a lot stronger. He has a lot more fight and he’s been going so much harder in practice.”

Ary also believes that Guazzo has grown a lot as a leader, and varsity basketball head coach, William Benson, agrees.

“He’s developed a lot,” Benson said.

“He’s a competitor. When he speaks, people listen because they know he’s going as hard as he can at all times, and he’s all about winning, and not personal stats.”

With the basketball season already in play, Guazzo and the team hope for

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

a state qualification, which would be their first under Coach Benson.

Right after the basketball season, Guazzo plays baseball for the school.

In this sport, he is not only a team captain, but he has also committed to Valparaiso University, a Division I school, to continue his baseball career after high school.

While many spend their careers playing similar positions, Guazzo developed into an elite pitcher in only two years. He started out as a catcher, then transitioned to a pitcher during the COVID-19 pandemic.

His decision to switch positions has paid off, as the feat of continuing an athletic career past high school is a remarkable one.

Varsity baseball coach Andy Jakubowski has watched Guazzo play in both high school and travel baseball programs, witnessing the progression of Guazzo as a player.

“Going into his junior year, he grew leaps and bounds,” Jakubowski said.

“Before our season started, he was throwing 90 off the mound. From there, that’s when we realized this

pitching thing is for real.”

Clearly, the pitching worked out, as Guazzo received NCAA Division I interest, while also receiving Division II offers. Of course, the offer that emerged from the pack was the Valparaiso University offer.

“Valpo was the only offer on the table,” Guazzo said. “I had other interests, and I was going to go on other visits, but that was the only official Division I [offer].”

While Guazzo is a great athlete, he also has a noticeable personality, one that many like. His favored character made him a lot of friends throughout the years, one being Ary. “He’s a great person,” Ary said.

“He’s one of my best friends. During the summer we hung out every single day, so I got to know him so much.

He’s a great human being.”

Guazzo’s coaches love him because of his competitive mindset and his compassion for his teammates. Being seen as a role model for younger kids is always something to be proud of.

Guazzo’s accomplishments and personality make him very loved across many communities.

Watch for him during basketball season wearing number 22, and when spring comes around, be prepared for drastic improvements on the mound.

Guazzo, a dual-sport athlete, has spent the majority of his life playing both baseball and basketball.

H. Meyer

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SPORTS | lacrosse

Sticking it to the opposition Junior Leah Hiller’s spirit helps the attitude of the lacrosse team every day

By Sandra Skiba

S. Hashmi

L

Hiller started playing lacrosse sophomore year as a midfielder, and plans to continue playing in college.

eah Hiller picks up her stick to prepare for another game with excitement and confidence. The simple stick that opened a new chapter in her life.

Hiller has been playing lacrosse since sophomore year but it did not begin the way you would expect it to.

Hiller’s dad played baseball and her mom still continues to play softball, so Hiller was continuing down the same road until there was a change in her path.

Almost halfway through high school, a new passion arose in Hiller.

“The first open gym I went to, I just wanted to keep playing, I went to all the open gyms, everything I could,” Hiller said. “I [even] joined a club later, it became something I fell in love with.”

Hiller’s sudden devotion to the sport came faster than expected, but as there were different plans prior to her new hobby, support from her family was necessary.

Luckily, support came from everywhere and became a constant throughout her journey.

“We just spent like $300 on softDECEMBER ISSUE 2021

ball stuff and then she said she was going to go do lacrosse,” Hiller’s mom Melissa Downey said.

Downey is always in support of her daughter’s happiness. It wouldn’t matter what sport or hobby Hiller is into, the encouragement for a joyful life is continuous in her family, even when there was little knowledge of what lacrosse was.

“I knew nothing. Nothing. But that was okay with me because if she really enjoys playing lacrosse then that’s just what it is, whatever makes her happy,” Downey said.

The support system in her family grew strong, but the experience of a game comes different to every person.

Hiller was able to find what she loved during sophomore year, but that doesn’t mean there were not any moments of frightment before the exhilaration.

“My very first game in the very beginning, I was so nervous, I felt sick, but once I gained more experience, I got a lot more confident,” Hiller said.

Hiller’s passion for her sport can be seen by not only her family but also her teammates. The efforts she puts in to be the best player are

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clear to those around her.

“She runs outside of lacrosse, she practices all the time, she’s very committed,” sophomore Jule Van Doran said.

With each effort and every devoted practice, Hiller’s social interactions grow, along with the games.

Her role in lacrosse brings a new atmosphere to the team.

“Leah brings the team together, she plays midfield so she’s running all over,” Van Doran said. “She’s always hard-working and in a good mood, which brings everyone else up.”

Along with friends and the team, lacrosse opened up Hiller’s possible scholarly opportunities in the future.

“I’ve had a lot of colleges reach out about me playing lacrosse already which is kind of crazy because I just started, but if I can I will,” Hiller said.

A simple decision to play a sport in which there was a slight interest, turned into a passion full of opportunities and love.

“She’s playing with her heart and is trying the best she can, that’s what matters,” Downey said.

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SPORTS | lacrosse

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SPORTS | web

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SPORTS | web

sports on web

huntleyvoice.com Our staff works together to create an engaging and informational website for and about our community. Publishing daily uploads, staffers write articles about current events in Huntley. In addition, each staffer is given the opportunity to express themsleves through a fun, personal assignment. We hope to keep growing our community engagement during a time where many feel isolated. Check out huntleyvoice.com for a sneak peek of our content featured below.

Photo Gallery photo taken by S. Crase

Each month, our photographers take a series of photos that capture a specific event around Huntley High School. After, they post them on web for your enjoyment. This month, photographer Samantha Crase took photos at a boys varsity bowling match against Larkin High School. See photos like this and many more on the website.

Personality Video video created by Z. Emerson

Every cycle, Zoe presents the current events in the National Hockey League. During this video, she talks in-depth about the effects of COVID-19 on the sport and up-and-coming athletes. See more videos and columns like this on the website’s blog page.

Sports Article article written by L. Courtney

“On Oct. 21, four girls readied themselves to compete in their first tennis state competition. However, on this career-defining day the athletes were met with constant rain and cold air that chilled them to the bone.”

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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SPORTS | equestrian

Fast Facts: Christmas

1. “Jingle Bells” was the first song played in space.

2. If you gave all the gifts listed in the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” it would equal 364 presents.

3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was originally created as an advertising gimmick.

4. Americans expect to spend around $850 on Christmas gifts each year.

5. But they actually end up spending nearly $1,500 on presents.

6. Thomas Edison and his business partner invented Christmas lights.

7. These days, over a billion and a half Christmas cards are sent each year in the U.S. 8. Christmas Day boasts the lowest number of relationship breakups.

9. And it’s the most popular time of year to propose.

10. Americans spend nearly $2 billion on holiday treats every year.

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Source: bestlifeonline.com; image: public domain DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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SPORTS | equestrian

Tomlinson jumps with her horse at a competition

Courtesy of Sara Seagraves

Show up and show out to ride Senior Ashley Tomlinson practices to improve on doing what she loves

By Delaney Cairns

E

veryone had their favorite Zoom background. Students would observe others and receive glimpses of one another’s lives through the screens. If you ever were in a class with Ashley Tomlinson, you would see her wall lined with blue, red, yellow, pink, and green ribbons.

These ribbons are symbols of her accomplishments in horseback riding, the sport that has engrossed her life for over four years. All of the blue across her ceiling represent her wins, red second, and yellow third in her horse shows.

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

Tomlinson has always been interested in horses.

“The thing that really sparked it for me was when my family and I went to North Carolina and we went on a trail ride and I just loved it. I loved being on the horse,” Tomlinson said.

She immediately asked her dad, Chris Tomlinson, to sign her up for lessons. He looked online, found her a trainer, and soon enough she was taking lessons once a week. “[When Ashley started getting into horseback riding] I was terrified. People don’t realize how fast, powerful, and unpredictable these animals can be,” Chris said.

The sport really resonated with Tomlinson as one lesson turned into two and eventually, she was riding seven days a week.

Horseback riding involves lots of trust, something that Tomlinson has come to understand through her

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years of dealing with horses. Riders have to rely on 1200-pound animals to do what they need them to do.

This can be frightening, especially when something goes wrong. It is easy to lose hope.

She got her horse, Finn, a little over a year after she started riding.

Typically this would be unusual as most people wait a while and lease a horse before they really commit, but Tomlinson just went for it.

“Ashley and Finn have one of the most special relationships I’ve ever seen a rider have with their horse. It’s really incredible to watch them work together and see how they’ve both helped each other to grow and learn at such a quick pace,” Tomlinson’s trainer Samantha Caplinger said.

In 2020, Finn got sick and unfortunately Tomlinson was unable to ride him for a while.

However, Tomlinson continued to HUNTLEYVOICE.COM

SPORTS | equestrian check on him at the barn every day to help him get through it.

Tomlinson also had some physical issues of her own she was dealing with at the same time that limited her ability to do what she loves.

“I have multiple hip problems, labrum tears, hip dysplasia, hip impingement, and my pelvis is not angled correctly,” Tomlinson said.

“This all causes me a lot of pain and I am not able to ride to the best of my ability most of the time which sucks, but I do what I can.”

Tomlinson and her family are now considering surgery for her problems and have seen multiple surgeons to attempt to find a solution.

According to Caplinger, many riders in Tomlinson’s position would have given up on the sport altogether and moved on, but through her persistence and determination, she has proved her extreme passion and love for the activity.

“The kid is incredibly tough, far tougher than most adult riders I’ve worked with. It’s nothing short of inspiring,” Caplinger said.

Horseback riding requires so much

from Tomlinson and her family. Being a parent of a rider includes lots of dirty horse laundry, storage bins for supplies, early morning weekends at horse shows, and always an underlying fear of injury.

For Ashley, the sport demands lots of time and attention from her.

“It’s a balance. I am in school all day and then I go to the barn right away and am there for another three hours, so I do not get home until around 5 or 6 and then I have to eat, shower, do homework, so school is a lot to handle with horseback riding,” Tomlinson said.

All of this training would eventually lead to horse shows, where Tomlinson would be judged on her and Finn’s appearance as they jump the course.

The “hunters” are judged based on how the horse looks, and the “equitation” is judged based on how the rider looks and how they are able to get their horse to do certain things in the ring.

While she does not compete much anymore, she still goes to the barn at least five days a week to ride, visit Finn, and have fun.

Courtesy of Swan Studios LLC Chris and Caplinger are overwhelmingly proud of Tomlinson’s accomplishments and cannot wait to see where her newfound confidence, responsibility, and maturity that she acquired through horseback riding will take her.

“On average, I have around 15 riders in my program at any given time.

Ashley’s dedication, desire to learn, and natural talent have always made her stand out as a student. Very few riders are blessed to have all three of those qualities, and even fewer are also willing to put in the work to be a great horseman/horsewoman,” Caplinger said. “She really is the type of student every trainer wants to work with.”

Ashley Tomlinson has been a horseback rider for five years and spends over 10 hours a week at her barn to improve her technique. In this photo she poses with her horse, Finn.

Courtesy of Sara Seagraves

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

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EDITORIAL

midst the fights, destruction of property, and general negativity of the student body, there is much to be grateful for. There are a multitude of activities, classes, and people who make Huntley High School a creative and inspiring place. Let us take a moment to appreciate the gifts we often pass by without a second thought.

Typically, students begin their day by passing the solar panels that offer clean, sustainable energy for over 3,000 students. Upperclassmen and their lucky siblings turn into the student parking lot, which allows them off-campus privileges during blended and lunch hours. From there, the entrance to the stadium, where Raider Nation demonstrates the power of our school’s size and spirit, is just within view.

Walking through Door 4, students pass state-of-theart theater facilities: the Performing Arts Center and black box Centennial Theater.

From the parent drop-off line, a successful academic and athletic investment is hard to miss: the fieldhouse, where physical education classes and sports continue activities during winter and Student Council hosts the UNICEF volleyball charity tournament.

For those who take the bus, the H-O Pod greets them upon entry. It is one of the many counseling pods that helps with course scheduling, mental health, and college and career readiness.

“All the counselors I work with and the teachers I see [go] above and beyond,” counselor Maureen Chambers said.

Many mental health resources are offered, such as adorable therapy dogs that relieve day-to-day stress and Hope Squad, a group of trained students available throughout the day for assistance.

“Let’s dream big about what is going to make this the best school ever and not focus on what we’re doing wrong, because that’s not the majority of students here,” said Tami Broskow, Hope Squad adviser.

“Celebrate all the great things that everybody else is doing.”

As car riders pass through the East Wing, art-covered pillars separate the orchestra, choir, and band rooms. Recently, the fine arts de-

partment received new Mac Computers, allowing students to create with advanced technology.

“It has been amazing to have the new computers,” art teacher Valerie Lindquist said. “Our students are using the same computer programs that graphic designers use.”

Door 1 is next with its friendly staff surrounding principal Marcus Belin’s office, where students can approach him with problems or ideas for school improvement.

In the teacher parking lot outside, the teacher-led Recognizing American Diversity group hosts monthly events celebrating minorities such as Latinos, Native Americans, and

an environment exclusive to HHS. The nearby Hub offers quiet and organized study spaces, including sound-proof rooms students can reserve for group projects.

Surrounding classrooms hold rigorous courses, such as dual language, dual credit, and Advanced Placement. The Vanguard program, with its first round of graduating seniors, creates an adaptive environment for students who want to learn in a different way.

“Not only are they getting all of the skills, [but] the independence, taking charge of their own learning, really shows [through] the seniors this year,” said Lana Johnson, Vanguard co-creator and English teacher. “They know exactly where they’re going with their work, which will definitely help them in college.”

Fifth hour, Link Crew runs lessons and donation drives with freshmen to continue the tradition of a united student body without hazing or bullying.

“Link Crew [helps] transition middle school students into high school and give them a sense of comfort and belonging,” adviser Bradley Aney said. “I believe that Link Crew has the biggest positive impact on the culture because… it provides [freshmen with] a group of support outside of teachers.”

After school, students can find a community with shared interests or create one of their own. Clubs like Best Buddies add to the inclusive, friendly environment of HHS. “I love to see the ideas and the planning that they come up with, and the overall excitement they have for connecting with each other,” Best Buddies sponsor Shannon Vanek said.

As students head home, they should leave feeling happy with their overall school experience.

While that has not always been the case this year, there are still countless resources available, but it is up to the student body to take advantage of them and continue the legacy at Huntley.

We may not be back to ‘normal,’ but we must move forward nonetheless. With a new year approaching, let us appreciate what we have and take back our high school.

Appreciate our high school

DECEMBER ISSUE 2021

Walk through HHS with a new perspective people with disabilities.

“Through being able to educate ourselves, each other, and our community, we can begin to show more gratitude for those cultures and identities,” RAD coordinator Shaina Pocztowski said.

Before class, students gather in the Commons, a sitting area used for collaboration and relaxation.

The Raider Way Cafe, outdoor courtyard, and greenhouse create

S. Gebka

Cover photos courtesy of Marcus Belin, Maddie Raclawski, Angela Zaleski, Sheilagh DeLorenzo

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last

VOICE

Multilingual Teacher Case Manager

Where did you go to school?

I went to Illinois State University for undergrad. I did my Masters at Eastern.

Best quarantine habit

I love to read and it was the first time where I got to read for enjoyment again, and not summer trashy novels you pick up and take to the beach. But yeah, read for physical enjoyment.

Who was your role model when you were growing up?

My older sister. She was four years older than me and she was wicked smart, but super athletic, played varsity basketball four years, and was nice.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

I only applied to one college. Because if I didn’t get in there, I wasn’t going to go. Yep. So I applied at Illinois State because I wanted to be a teacher and it’s like the number one teaching college in the state.

photo by Syed Hashmi interviewed by Abby Panier

- Kinsey Wright

What would you do with a million dollars?

I would marry Jeff Bezos.

What is your pet peeve?

People who just don’t have basic manners.