May 2011

Graduation moved to NIU for this year’s seniors

Say goodbye to the lanyard and clip next year!

Dangerous driving: the facts and stats

KRIER Kaneland’s Student Newsmagazine

sibling

RIVALRIES

May 20, 2011 • Volume 37 • Issue 11 • Kaneland High School • 47W326 Keslinger Road, Maple Park, IL 60151

NEWS

The latest about Kaneland, the local community and the world.

Graduation moved to NIU to alleviate heat concerns

BY BRITTANY LARSEN, Reporter Graduating seniors will walk across a stage in the NIU Convocation Center on June 4, where the ceremony will be held for the first time in Kaneland history.

The move from the East Gym to NIU was prompted by problems with overcrowding and heat in the gym, which is not air conditioned.

Spectators have fainted in the tightly-packed crowd in the past two years, Counselor Cindy Violett, who is organizing graduation, said.

The new venue will make the ceremony more enjoyable for the students and families, Violett said, but it will also make it more expensive for the district. Violett said that the ceremony will cost about $7,000.

Math teacher Matthew Smith

said that the “change is a great idea, since our student population has outgrown our current facilities.”

Student Council President Tommy Whittaker agreed.

“It was really hot in the East Gym, and there’s a lot more room at NIU,” Whittaker said. “It’s a bigger venue and feels more like a proper graduation.”

Students will be bussed over to the NIU campus, Whittaker said.

The ceremony will be held at 4 p.m., and each student will be issued 10 tickets. Those who need more than 10 tickets can request them, Violett said.

“It will be a better environment because it’s a lot more organized and people can have more family members there,” senior Sophia Blank said.

Award Jackets Discount! $10 off with this coupon.

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School News / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

Senior Briana Stark and others collect their caps and gowns for the graduation ceremony.

Photo by Elaine Cannell

Say goodbye to the lanyard and clip

School board to allow students to carry IDs in wallets instead of wearing them

BY ALEX VICKERY, Reporter Luke Farris doesn’t like wearing his ID. The sophomore said he gets scolded almost daily by security guard Chris Butler for not wearing his ID on a lanyard. Although he hasn’t received any detentions, he said that he hopes he won’t get in trouble anymore.

Farris is in luck. At a May 9 school board meeting, the board approved the a new student ID policy.

Under the new policy, students don’t have to wear their ID; they would just have to have it on them at all times, such as in a wallet or purse.

“I think students will be happier because they don’t have to display their ID, just have it on them,” Spanish teacher Julie Larkowski said.

Security guards and teachers will still be checking IDs daily, Assistant Principal Ian Smith said.

Before students are allowed into the cafeteria, they will have to present their ID to a school administrator or guard. Administrators will also come over the intercom and tell teachers to spot check to make sure students have their IDs, and students will not be able to check out library books without an ID. Under the new policy, there will be no temporary IDs next year.

When students are caught without an IDs on them, they will have to immediately purchase a new ID for $5 and may receive disciplinary action.

If a student buys a new ID before first block, no disciplinary action will be taken, but they will still have to purchase a new ID. Several faculty members said they supported the change.

BOARDBRIEFS FOUR ELECTED TO BOARD Teresa Witt, Gayle Pavlak, Tony Valente and Joe Oberweis were sworn into their positions on the District 302 school board last month.

Voters selected the four candidates on April 5. Oberweis, the current CEO of his family dairy, received 1,298 votes. Witt, who has served on the board since 2010, received 1,235 votes, as did Pavlak, who has worked as a substitute teacher at Kaneland.

Valente, a former KHS principal, received 1,056 votes. Incumbent Deborah Grant finished fifth, followed by Pat Denlinger and Pedro Rivas.

School board members Lisa Wiet and Diane Piazza did not seek reelection.

PARKING VIOLATIONS SIMPLIFIED, BUT PRICIER

Photo illustration by Elaine Cannell

“It’s a good idea because there was more time spent on checking for IDs, and that time could be spent in better ways,” Mark Meyer, social science teacher, said.

Kaneland first started requiring students to wear IDs four years ago when overcrowding forced the eighth grade to moved into the high school building, before the new middle school was built.

Administrators wanted to differentiate the eighth graders from the high school students, Smith said, and know at a glance whether a person belonged in the building.

Yet the IDs did not seem to

make the building safer in the long run, Smith said.

“We had students sharing IDs, giving temporary IDs to non-students and making fake IDs,” Smith said.

The new policy is popular among students.

“I think it’s a good idea because I don’t like wearing mine, and no one else does either, so it would be easier,” freshman Jess Jablonski said.

“Wearing IDs was not as bad once we were given the option to use the clips,” senior Lindsay Jurcenko said.

Be prepared to pay for a parking violation at Kaneland High School.

At its May 9 meeting, the school board voted to change the parking lot violation procedures for students.

The current policy says that on the first violation, the student gets a warning and a detention; on the second, a Saturday detention and a parent notification; on the third, the vehicle is towed and the student receives two Saturday detentions; and on the fourth, the student loses parking privileges.

Under next year’s policy, the first violation will result in a $20 ticket, the second in a $20 ticket and after school detention, the third in a $20 and Saturday detention, and the fourth in a $20 ticket and towing.

The policy will be “more effective in encouraging students to pay for parking at the start of the year and will result in less time being spent monitoring the parking lot and issuing detentions,” the rationale states.

Sophomore Anna King was unhappy with the new policy.

“It’s ridiculous because students don’t have the money to pay fines,” King said.

ALCOHOL SCREENING IMPLEMENTED AT EVENTS

High school administrators will now have the right to give Breathalyzer tests to any and all students participating in after school activities, such as dances or athletic events.

The new policy was approved by the school board at the May 9 meeting and was prompted by student alcohol abuse during football rowdies, among other incidents.

“I think they should do it because there is nothing more important than the safety of the fans,” sophomore Frankie Blanche said.

Community & Board News / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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The Real World 1

3 | Washington, D.C. Obama, GOP kick off 2012 race

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3

1 | Elburn, Illinois 2 | Chicago, Illinois Gas prices climb even higher Blagojevich’s second trial underway Only six states have average gas prices above $4 a gallon—and Illinois is one of them.

With gas hovering around the $4.20 mark, Kaneland students have been paying more than ever to fill up their tanks.

“I pay $70 for a tank of gas,” junior Mark Linden said.

The steady price increase has more than one source, according to social studies teacher Mark Meyer.

“There are two main factors. First is simply supply and demand that raises the price of a barrel. Secondly, there the sharp increase in commodities speculation that has driven up oil,” Meyer said.

Students have been changing their driving habits, carpooling and limiting driving to necessary things.

“I can’t drive as much because gas is so expensive, so I carpool with Zach Douglas,” Linden said.

Prices are not expected to decline any–Ryan Noel, reporter time soon.

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s retrial began on May 2, as prosecutors attempt to convict him of 20 charges, including the attempted sale of President Barack Obama’s Senate seat.

The previous trial, held in August, ended in jurors deadlocking on 23 of the 24 original charges. Blagojevich was convicted on one count of lying to federal investigators.

Prosecutors have simplified the case this time around, since last time jurors had trouble following the trial, and Blagojevich’s brother will no longer be tried. There were as many as 30 witnesses called during the first trial and the numerous charges included fraud and extortion.

Blagojevich has continued a media blitz, appearing on talk shows and giving frequent interviews, in what some contended was an attempt to contaminate the jury pool.

“He’ll grandstand. He’ll try to make a circus of the trial,” social studies teacher Javier Martinez said.

Several Kaneland students said that Blagojevich deserves to spend time in jail.

“Maybe one or two decades would serve him right,” freshman Dzenan Bogaljevic said.

“He has to take responsibility for his actions,” senior Courtney Laraia said.

–Matt Wahlgren, reporter

10 school days left ‘til summer!

The Krier staff wishes you a fabulous break!

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Real World / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

Obama kicked off his 2012 re-election campaign in Chicago on April 4, as a field of Republican candidates began fighting for their party’s nomination.

Leading the polls among the Republican candidates are Donald Trump and Sarah Palin.

Trump has made headlines and sparked controversy in recent months with his persistence in raising doubt over the president’s birth certificate, while Palin has been appearing on conservative talk radio shows to voice her proposals but is also distancing herself from campaign tactics such as automated telephone calls.

Others polling well include Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts; Michele Bachmann, a Tea Party candidate from Minnesota currently surviving in the House; Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and a current talk show host on FOX News; and Newt Gingrich, the Republican speaker of the house during Clinton’s presidency.

“There’s nobody that stands out in my mind [in that group] as being a good leader for the Republican Party,” Lynn McHenry, a social science teacher, said.

Obama is continuing his efforts to create a “campaign 2.0,” reaching out to younger voters through Facebook and YouTube.

“I don’t think it will be an easy win for him,” McHenry said.

Freshman Jessica Castillo disagreed. “[His chances of getting re-elected are] pretty high. I think he has a good chance,” she said.

“It’s going to be an interesting battle,” sophomore Brad Kigyos said.

–Kelsy Goodwin, reporter

VIEWPOINT

OURVIEW

An open forum for editorials, columns, letters and opinions.

Krier

Kaneland’s Student Newsmagazine Kaneland High School 47W326 Keslinger Rd. Maple Park, IL 60151 (630) 365-5100 ext. 236 www.kaneland.org/krier/

Member ISHSPA, Quill & Scroll, NSPA, NISPA NSPA First Place 2010 Quill and Scroll First Place 2010 NISPA Golden Eagle 2011 Subscription rates: Nine monthly issues, two supplements School-delivered, $15; Home-delivered, $28 EXECUTIVE STAFF

Art by Kelly Her

Bin Laden, bad grades and break-ups:

The government’s will to pull through should inspire students’ personal battles As all of America is well aware, Osama bin Laden by more, and it will hit us harder than it has before. is dead.

The CIA agents and government officials who At 3:30 p.m. EST, May 2, a 40-man Navy Seals worked on catching bin Laden were faced with plenty squadron raided a compound in Abbottabad, Paki- of failure, but they never gave up. It took 10 years of stan, killing the Al Qaeda leader with a bullet to the false leads and two brutal wars to find bin Laden, and head during 40 minutes of firefight. Late Sunday whatever our opinion on the politics of it, we should night, President Obama delivered the official state- take the same perseverance and apply it to our personment that bin Laden had been killed. al battles. Failure shouldn’t be an option, nor should it By bits and pieces, more information about his be a reason to give up—despite how hard times get. death filtered out, allowing the public to finally acIn fact, it is far more constructive to turn failure on knowledge the group of Navy Seals for their heroic its head completely. Allow failure to become a motivatactions, along with the rest of our ing factor, and the most magnificent EDITORIAL BOARD VOTE troops who are still fighting hard for and seemingly impossible tasks can our war on terrorism overseas. be accomplished on sheer strength Although it is important to of will. 9/11, although a horrific exrecognize those troops, it’s just as perience, pushed our government to NO YES important to realize the thousands work intently. All of life should be worked hard to get the job done for taken on in this manner. the last 10 years.

As students take life’s great next step and move It may have been a soldier who pulled the trig- onto college, it seems that giving up and giving in beger, but Osama bin Laden is dead because in the 3,519 comes common—at least according to statistics. They days that followed the 9/11 attacks, the intelligence show that 32 percent of incoming freshmen flunk out community and members of CIA’s Counterterrorism of college, and 60 percent of college students never Center never lost focus on their mission, even as the even receive their diploma. public tried to forget that fateful September day.

These are pretty astounding numbers for a generaThey worked intently days on end, carefully gath- tion of young people that seems so full of potential. ering tedious pieces of information that would led College, and life in general, won’t come without setus to Osama after 10 years of excruciating work. We backs—no matter who you are or what goal you’re commend them for their patience, their motivation trying to reach. It is how we over come and learn from and most of all—the lesson that they taught us. these setbacks that determines the final result.

As students, we must realize that although we Whether it’s hunting after a criminal on the CIA’s might be graduating high school soon, our journey is Most Wanted list or getting through college, giving up far from over. Success, whatever your definition of it shouldn’t become one of the options that we consider. is, will never come easy.

So let’s prove the statistics wrong. Let’s take our Throughout high school, we’ve dipped our toes in hardships and allow them to inspire us. Let’s not allow the pool of failure, whether it’s been an F on a test or a failure to faze us. Our own personal perseverance has broken relationship. And as we grow, we’ll only be hit the capability to lead to something great.

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Maria Kernychny Editor-in-Chief Editorial Editor Visual & Design Editor Circulation Editor

Jessica Corbett Copyeditor-in-Chief Graphics Manager Advertising Manager Lifestyles Editor

Sarah Arnold Production Manager Web Editor How-To Editor

Megan Nauert Asst. Advertising Manager

EDITORIAL STAFF Julia Angelotti Features & Opinion

Rachael Clinton Real World & Poll

Diana Nuno Centerspread

Maggie Brundige Amanda Schiff School News & Arts Comm. News & Profile Jordan Jones Kylie Siebert Elaine Cannell Boys’ Sports & Girls’ Sports & Photo & Features Opinion Back Page Asst. Copyeditor

REPORTERS AND STAFF Kate Anderson, Brandon Bishop, Sam Bower, Morgan Buerke, Lanie Callaghan, Emily Ferrell, Shane Fergus, Cheryl Gaston, Kelsy Goodwin, Emily Gulanczyk, Kelly Her, Maddy Hester, Gina Jarvis, Casey Jacobson, Tyler Keenum, Brittany Larsen, Sara Laurie, Kaley Martens, Katie Meuer, Ryan Noel, Stephanie Pezzute, Nick Philips, Taylor Phillips, John Pruett, Jake Razo, Lexi Roach, Kaprice Sanchez, Kaleb Schuppner, Heather Shelton, Brianne Strobel, Nick Stollard, Delaney Stryczek, Brianna Toth, Jenna Unruh, Alex Vickery, Alexis Villarreal, Matt Wahlgren, Brin Wilk, Arizona Wilson.

ADVISERS Cheryl Borrowdale Krier adviser

Nicole Larsen Graphics adviser

EDITORIAL POLICY Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board and are not necessarily the opinion of Kaneland administration, staff, students or parents. The Krier Editorial Board consists of designated Advanced Journalistic Studies and Advanced Placement Journalism students: Julia Angelotti, Sarah Arnold, Maggie Brundige, Elaine Cannell, Rachael Clinton, Jessica Corbett, Jordan Jones, Maria Kernychny, Megan Nauert, Diana Nuno, Amanda Schiff and Kylie Siebert. Students make all publication decisions.

Letters can be sent to the address above or e-mailed to krier@kaneland.org. Letters must be signed (names may be withheld under extraordinary circumstances as deemed by the editorial staff ), and must be under 300 words.

The editorial board has the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Any material that is potentially libelous, obscene or disruptive will not be published, at the discretion of the editorial board. The Krier has been an open forum since 1974. As an open forum, we restrict editing to staff members only; prior review and editing are prohibited by people outside the staff.

Editorial / April 26, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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THISIBELIEVE

I believe drama isn’t worth anyone’s time DIANA NUNO Editor

ate it out of pure boredom, and frankly, I have to agree with junior McKinzie Mangers.

“I think drama is a waste of time,” she said.

One lesson you scrape up during four years here at KHS is that no one’s going to change.

That includes me. We’re old enough, and deep down (even inside the most immature people roaming around the halls), we are all somewhat mature.

We know who we are, even if we aren’t all completely aware, and we know our morals. I understand that we’re young, but that doesn’t make all of us naïve.

If a dirty look was exchanged or there’s a grudge because of something four years ago, we shouldn’t waste an unnecessary breath.

I’m not a dreamer, and I’m in no way convinced that we’re all going to sit around a campfire and sing that one song from “The Lion King.” I’m really asking for us to just let it all go. I’m asking for you to

forgive the person you’ve had a grudge against ever since you could remember and just let it go. Don’t be their best friend. Heck, you don’t even have to talk to them. Just forget about it.

“I think drama in high school is part of [being a teenager]; however, I feel that the students need to rise above it,” P.E. teacher Kristyn Crawford said.

I agree.

Drama is pointless and created for entertainment purposes. Rise above it. Ignore it. I can only hope that my little sister will learn to do the same.

We’ve all heard people say things like “that won’t matter in 10 years” or “out of sight, out of mind.” But let’s be real, because that’s not what high school is for us right now. All we can do is hope that that’s what it turns into. We care too much about the unimportant things. Rumors need to stop, and confrontations need to stop as well. It’s just not worth it.

“I understand

Drama. Drama. Drama. It’s a never-ending cycle of tears, screams and he said, she said. But does any of it really matter? No. The epiphany hit me when my 12-year-old sister came home sobbing recently. Of course, a fight in sixth grade seems like the end of the world. Unfortunately, many of us were the same exact way in middle school and even in high school.

I’ll even admit that I was intertwined with drama at the beginning of the year. But now, as I’m ending my junior year and getting ready for the rest of my life, I’ve given up on it completely.

Drama is disgusting. I think many people cre-

that we’re young, but that doesn’t make all of us naïve. ”

MYVIEW

Money can’t buy happiness & other things I learned on safari MATT WAHLGREN Reporter

When my family decided to go on an African safari, I was very excited—despite the hepatitis vaccinations.

But it wasn’t roaming the plains in a 4x4 (actually, it was a Toyota van with leopard print on the sides) or lions and hippopotami (yes, that is the plural of hippopotamus) that stuck with me the longest. It is the memories of the people there.

Everywhere I went in Kenya, with the possible exception of military checkpoints, I saw people smiling and shouting friendly greetings.

Even when they were trying to sell me something (or even steal something), people would grin at me. Our guide was cheery, funny and loved to joke around, even though his daughter and wife lived in a different city and relied on the money from his job to survive.

And while I realize I can’t exactly say that an entire country is happy because they smile or tell jokes, the overall positive attitude made me very curious. Clearly, the people I met in Kenya did not have shiny German cars or six figure salaries.

So why were they so happy?

It certainly wasn’t because of the material goods they had or the services the government provided them. The Legatum Institute of London

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Opinion / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

compiles a yearly “Prosperity Index,” which shows how well various nations score in things like economy, health care, security, and so on. It focuses, for the most part, on monetary values. The USA ranks a solid number ten on the list—Norway is number one. (Apparently, Norwegians are very well-off with their free government health care.) Kenya ranked 104. Out of 110. “Not wealthy” would be an understatement.

However, a global projection of subjective wellbeing done by Adrian White, an analytic social psychologist at the University of Leicester, indicates Kenyans are slightly above average in terms of happiness and life satisfaction Why is it that even though Kenya is an impoverished country, there is a lot of happiness there?

Since I wanted to know what it takes for someone to be happy, I talked to Lynn McHenry, who teaches Sociology. She told me that happiness comes from many factors, including work—not the salary, but the satisfaction of doing something—and from relationships with our families and our environment. These factors aren’t generally related to our finances in anything but the most superficial ways.

And perhaps that’s why Americans, despite all our wealth, are actually less happy than some of the poorest people on the planet. Here in this country, we run through our lives, going to work or school, going home, watching TV, going to sleep, waking up, repeat. We seem to think that, by doing this,

we will somehow obtain happiness in the future.

But as far as I can tell, happiness mostly seems to come from spending time with family and friends and taking pride in work. The Kenyans figured this out a long time ago.

Tribe members hunt, build homes and spend time together. And that last bit is key: together.

True happiness is derived from other people, not from the things we own or the balance of our bank account. Researchers have shown that any happiness gained from buying something—be it a new iPad or a snazzy pair of shoes or a multimillion dollar McMansion—fades quickly. The new things we have quickly become the norm, leaving us no happier than we were before.

So becoming a bank manager does not guarantee we will be emanating rays of sunshine. Going to Harvard does not mean we will be treading the rainbow road.

Part of our problem, as a society, is that we judge others and ourselves around us by the material things they possess. If our neighbors get a pool, that could change our opinion of them. If someone says that they attended an Ivy League school, he may believe he is better than the rest of us. But clearly, none of these things truly make us happy. And our competitiveness about these things is actually making us unhappy, as we strive to buy more and have less and less time for friends and family.

We should learn from the Kenyan people: happiness is in our relationships.

“Americans, de-

spite all our wealth, are actually less happy than some of the poorest people on the planet.”

MTV’s ‘Teen Mom’ has double standards for teen viewers

Show gives horrible reputation to teen moms and teens unrealistic ideas about pregnancy BRITTANY LARSEN

Reporter

I’m pretty sure that people could come up with any idea for a TV show in the world at this point and people would watch it.

I’m guilty too, of course. Anyone who knows me knows that I have my fair share of TV shows I’m addicted to, pointless or not. In this age of reality shows, however, I think we need to watch out for what we’re making people celebrities for.

MTV walks the line between fun and inappropriate all the time. “Jersey Shore,” for example, shows that people love to watch a train wreck.

I’ve heard about the infamous bar fight where Snooki was punched in the face. Careless drinking and inappropriate behavior is encouraged, and people, especially teenagers, eat it up.

It’s a perfect example of a corporate dream and an intelligent television enthusiast’s nightmare.

“Jersey Shore” may be tasteless, but MTV’s worst is another show that turns the wrong people into celebrities for a serious issue: “Teen Mom.” I get it: it’s entertaining. It has an important message. What I don’t like is the mixed message it sends to teen girls.

“Teen Mom,” an offshoot of “16 and Pregnant,” is a series chronicling the lives of teen mothers all over the country. It shows the struggles that teen mothers face, supposedly to discourage girls from getting pregnant.

Yet MTV turned it into a show that highlights the experiences of vulnerable teen girls and exploits it for some cheap ratings.

Life happens. I’m not judging anyone that this happens to; in fact, I admire the strength of these girls. Teen pregnancy is no walk in the park and requires a girl to become more respon-

sible virtually overnight.

I don’t think that “Teen Mom” embodies that, though. I was sitting in the doctor’s office, and I went to pick up a magazine to read while I waited. There, on the cover of “People” was one of the Teen Moms, smiling back at me. What?

My curiosity piqued, I read on to find profiles of the new generation of girls featured on the show. While some seemed rather admirable, trying to find a balance between family, relationships, work and school, another girl’s profile was about how she spent her pregnancy showing off her baby bump in a bikini. Now that the baby has been born, she goes out and parties, while leaving her mother at home to take care of her child.

It spoke to me about what we’re glamorizing these days. While I applaud the show for showing the trials of teen motherhood, I don’t think we as a society should be applauding the girls on the show who are being irresponsible brats. Frankly, this so-called “reality” television does not accurately portray reality at all, and if real teen mothers didn’t already have enough to deal with, this show reinforces every bad image and stereotype.

Psychology teacher Mark Meyer said that he believes viewers should be very critical of the show.

MTV is like any other network, he said. They show what they can for ratings. It’s not reality.

Teen Mom stars earn a reported $60,000 to $65,000 dollars per season, just for getting pregnant and showing it off on TV. What message does that send its mobs of teen viewers? What does it say to the real teen mothers struggling to get by on far less than that?

Social worker Jean Ryan-Meyers said that the show blankets all teen mothers as if they are all in the same situation.

“Media portrayals are generic,” she said.

“They aren’t necessarily realistic. [It’s just] a little snippet, [just] pretty pictures.”

The double standard that MTV has put out there about the subject is one of the main issues I have. While the show has some heartfelt moments showing the agony of being a teen mother, MTV then shoves back all the progress by making these girls the latest talk of celebrity gossip.

And it shouldn’t be gossip. Teen motherhood is a serious issue. According to health teacher Cindy Miller. it takes six to ten years to catch up financially from a teen pregnancy.

Six to ten years.

I hardly think that the teen moms on the show are experiencing the full implications of that. While $60,000 may be a normal salary for a “conventional” family, many girls who get pregnant as teenagers are struggling to get by with much, much less.

Another issue I have with the show is its overwhelming tone. If it were a stand-alone documentary about the topic, it would have been heartfelt and sincere, illustrating the hardships of a young family.

But now that MTV has made it a full-blown show, it focuses mainly on the teen’s romantic relationships. Shouldn’t they be concerned about their child?

It’s not that they shouldn’t be allowed to have relationships, but some of the girls seem to neglect their children for their relationships.

A few of the girls constantly swear and fight in front of their child and the cameras glorify it.

One girl featured on the show was recently in legal trouble for an infamous incident where she hit the father of her child while fighting. It may make good television, but to what level do we have to stoop to get ratings?

Then again, should we really be surprised from the station that airs “Jersey Shore?”`

“While I applaud

the show for showing the trials of teen motherhood, I don’t think we as a society should be applauding the girls on the show who are being irresponsible brats.”

We asked: How do shows like ‘Teen Mom’ effect the way you view teen pregnancy?

“The show helps me realize that having a baby at a young age impacts your life in a huge way.”

–Senior Allie Jones

“It makes it look a lot more normal and it makes it more acceptable. As the great Mohandas Ghandi once said, “Actions expresses priority.””

–Freshman Kaleb Schuppner

“The shows are making it more known these days and more people are accepting it.”

–Senior Mackenzie Rich

“Part of it glamorizes teen pregnancy but it also shows the hardships and difficulties the parents go through.”

“Teens nowadays have been irresponsible and I am a strong believer in being responsible.”

–Junior Frankie Furco

–Senior Joe Camiliere

Compiled by Shane Fergus Opinion / May. 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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FEATURES

People, ideas, and human interest.

Changing the world, one tooth at a time

BY SARAH ARNOLD, Executive Editor Ten years ago, if someone had told Annie Nardone, the founder of Hands with Hope, an organization that has opened three dental clinics in Honduras and South Sudan, of the philanthropic experiences she has carried on for nearly a decade, she wouldn’t have believed you.

Nardone’s success, from her journey to Honduras demonstrating the importance of dental hygiene, to opening three official dental clinics in needy communities- is something she said, if it weren’t for hitting her lowest low, she would have never reached.

A decade ago, Nardone’s life as a dental hygienist was not fulfilling her in the way she had imagined it would. The discontent and restlessness she felt were causing negative affects on her mind, body and soul and eventually, she fell into a deep depression.

Nardone said her work as a dental hygienist was monotonous.

“I felt more and more like my gifts lay beyond what I could contribute on a daily basis,” Nardone said.

Instead of letting the depression take over her, she sought help.

“Within about three weeks, I remember driving and feeling like I was appreciating the day for the first time in years,” she said.

Nardone describes those weeks as a turning point in her life.

Her counselor suggested Nardone to meet another woman with similar aspirations—someone who turned out to be Rebecca Vonderlack, PhD, an old college friend of Nardone’s. Vonderlack invited Nardone to stay with her host family in Honduras to spread the word about the importance dental hygiene.

“Annie’s ambitions were about more than giving a handout. It was about creating sustainable development that allowed local people themselves to be a part of making a change. Her service should serve as a model to others who want to help,” Vonderlack said.

Nardone went for two weeks in 2002 and used three elements to spread awareness and encourage change in the community: she had to make the people aware of the importance of dental hygiene, educate them on a deeper level, and provide basic resources to turn to for treatments.

“I like to see Hands with Hope as being an organization that recognizes these essentials and helps to get the ball rolling in the other direction,” Nardone said. “In other words, we provide the clinic’s initial establishment and future funding, while they provide the ongoing services. This is the route that better helps promote development with the country and empower the local community.”

The challenges were great. Most of the 30,000 people of Nueva Suyapa live in one-room houses with their families and survive on less than $2 a day. Forty percent of the houses have dirt floors, and 60 percent of the households are headed by single mothers.

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Features / May 20, 2010 / KANELAND KRIER

Annie Nardone examines a child’s teeth in the Hands of Hope clinic she opened in Nueva Suyapa.

Courtesy photo

“They haven’t been given the same advantages we have, but they’re extremely grateful for what they have, which is what we see as nothing,” Nardone said. “I have never connected so deeply to another culture. They are so gifted in giving, loving, value, connectedness, community, and family. They are affectionate with their gratitude and have an ingrained love in their culture.”

Regardless of the language barrier, Nardone was able to connect with the people of Honduras on a personal level. An experience that stood out to Nardone was meeting a 14-year-old girl named Sandra. Even though they could not communicate verbally, they shared a connection of understanding and trust.

“The language of our hearts spoke to each other and the image of Sandra crying when I was leaving is what kept me coming back,” Nardone said.

Since that initial mission trip in February 2002, Nardone has visited Honduras eight times. Her ninth trip is scheduled for November 2011.

Tom Van Cleave, who worked with Annie at the Batavia Rotary International, said “Annie has a heart of compassion and empathy for those kids that is phenomenal.”

“It took them four to five years to believe I’m not going anywhere,” Nardone said. “I want to break stereotypes and have them trust that my commitment is sincere,”she said.

Nardone is living proof that one person can make a difference by recognizing a missing link in her own life and taking initiative. She has found peace and has helped countless others in that process.

“I like to inspire people, teach people and motivate,” she said. “This work has allowed me that freedom.”

Metallic shoes come in a wide array of styles, can be put with many outfits and look cool. These knotted silver sandals are perfect for summer. The “Dugan“ sandal by Dolce Vita is $59.95 at Nordstrom.

Ballet flats are casual but not underdressed, and they look great with skinny jeans and shorts. These golden zebra-striped “Loredana” ones from Nine West are perfectly ontrend. $39.95 at Nine West.

sizzling summer style

To add a touch of flair without looking too fancy, wedges are a great, more relaxed heel that still add height. The “Bowtye“ sandal by BP is $49.95 at Nordstrom.

Sandals are always popular, and gladiator sandals and others with metal detailing offer a new take on an old favorite. This gold-studded turquoise sandal, “Vineyard Studded Flat Sling”

by American Eagle is $29.95 at Payless.

BY KELSY GOODWIN,

Be A Krier Buyer!

Feature / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

9

SIBLINGS They’re family, through thick and thin. Siblings have a complicated relationship. They are expected to be more than just relatives—they are also friends, and frequently, rivals. Birth order can have a great effect on this relationship. The Krier investigates. ore than half of the US presidents have been first-born children.

Twenty-one out of the 23 first astronauts were first-born children.

Two-thirds of entrepreneurs are first-born children.

Coincidence? Maybe.

Scientists and psychologists have been researching the effect that birth order has on personality and achievement for years—and the effects, for uncertain reasons, range from differences in IQ to differences in personality.

“Personally, I think the characteristics that scientists have come up with match birth order,” John Markovich said.

An analysis of 241,000 Norwegian military conscripts found that oldest children have an average IQ of 103, while second-born children average 101 points and third-born children average 100 points.

Although three points may not seem like that much of a difference, about two IQ points make a 15 point difference in an SAT score, according to psychologist Frank Sulloway of the University of California, Berkeley.

It’s not just intelligence that can vary. Firstborns make up 43 percent of CEOs and corporate board members, while 33 percent are middle children and 23 percent are last-born children, a poll my Vistage International Organization of CEOs found.

“In my opinion it seems that the more children parents have the less strict they seem to be. Overtime they get tired of fighting battles,” Markovich said.

Firstborns tend to be taller and to weigh more than their later-born siblings, and they are more

likely to be vaccinated than later children.

Although it’s hard for scientists and psychologists to agree on what exactly causes similar personality traits in people with the same birth order, the majority of them agree on what those traits are.

Linda Dunlap, Ph.D, a birth theory expert and professor of psychology at Marist College in New York, explained what she believes are the traits.

Oldest children are natural leaders and problem solvers, she said. They have strong organizational and reasoning skills and relate better to adults.

Middle children, who are always caught between older and younger siblings, become great negotiators and peace makers, develop laidback attitudes and love to socialize. They are most likely to move far from home to seek a clear identity after living in the first born shadow, Dunlap said.

The youngest in the family is likely to receive the least discipline from parents, to rebel and to become adept at wrapping people around their fingers.

“It seems like the youngest are more likely to rebel a little more,” Markovich said.

“

It seems like the youngest [sibling] is more likely to rebel.

“

M

BY KYLIE SIEBERT AND JULIA ANGELOTTI, Editors

The low-down on twins: personality, IQ and more

TWINS The term “twins” means forming a matching, complementary, or closely connected pair. – There are two types of twins: identical (monozygotic) twins who share all of their genes, and fraternal (dizygotic) twins, who are not identical.

Identical twins share 100 percent of their genes because they were formed from the same egg, which split early in development. Nonidentical twins share half their genes, like all siblings, because they were formed from two separate eggs.

Only about every one of 285 sets of twins are identical.

Although there are many anecdotal stories about twins having a special connection or “twin telepathy,” there is no scientific evidence that this exists.

Like any other siblings there is always going to be rivalries.

“Academically there is competition between me and my twin brother,” Aly Harner said.

Despite their differences and not seeing eyeto-eye all the time, they are still relatives.

“We are best friends, so I know I can always go to him,” Harner said.

5 FACTS

1

According to an online study published on May 11 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, mothers who give birth to twins may live longer than mothers who do not.

2 3 4

When parents think of names for their twins, they commonly select alliterative names, according to the Social Security Administration.

5

Studies of identical twins at Stanford University showed that there are gentic links between consumer preferences. The more closely related two people are, the more likely they are to have the same likings for items such as chocolate, mustard and hybrid cars.

Identical twins are more likely to have similar brain power, since they share the same DNA, opposed to fraternal twins, who share only half the same DNA, according to a study by UCLA. Eighty-five percent of the variation in intelligence between twins involves logical thinking abilities, while 45 percent involves memory, the Journal of Neuroscience found.

Compiled by Julia Angelotti

KNIGHTS WITH SIBLINGS AT KANELAND “I love having Donnie at high school with me because we are very close.”

–Junior Veronica Seawall

“I like having an older brother because I can always get a ride to school from him.”

–Freshman Mike Gorenz

KHS FAMILY STATISTICS 66%

of Kaneland students believe the oldest child acts like a parent

47%

agree the oldest child is the most re-

57%

46%

believe the youngest child is more open to

go to high school with a

3%

are the only child

2%

have more than six siblings

Source: a poll of 123 randomly-selected Kaneland students conducted by Kylie Siebert and Julia Angelotti

THE RIVALRY Freshman Syndey Strang should have had a hard time outshining her sister, senior Andie Strang, on the track team. Andie has been a star girls track runner placing in state many times.

But that’s not the case. The up-and-coming runner broke all of the middle school records in her three-years at HMS. Rather than being rivals, the Strang sisters are both well-rounded athletes who push each other every step of their way.

“I started running because of my sister.

She is the reason why I work so hard,” Sydney Strang said. “We push each other a lot when it comes to running. It gets very competitive sometimes, but we never let it turn into arguments.”

Another similar situation is the Prost Family.

Junior Kyle Prost and sophomore Ashley Prost live in a family of four girls who all have their own personalities but are very similar. Everyday there are new arguments and rivalries.

“With a house full of girls there are a lot more stupid little fights. They tend to be over like who gets to use the hairbrush or something. However, it’s awesome because we can tell each other anything and we all now that we have each have three best friends that will always be there, “ Kyle Prost said.

Photo illustration by Kylie Siebert

Sophomore twins Aly and Kory Harner, sisters sophomore Ashley Prost and junior Kyle Prost, and brothers senior Chaon Denlinger and sophomore Clay Denlinger.

Growing up, the two sisters competed against each other and played together in volleyball and basketball.

“Most of the time we would actually get put on the same team together because we are so close in age. I liked being on the same team rather than competing against her. We were able to push each other and encourage each other. Another positive is that we were

“Every time I see my brother in the hallway, he won’t acknowledge me but will say hi to my friends.”

–Sophomore Allyson O’Herron

“I don’t like having all of my teachers comparing us because we are not the same person.”

–Sophomore Bailey Burns

able to practice with each other at home and teach our younger sisters the game,” Kyle said.

The most common thing her and sister argue about is the car.

“Ever since Ashley’s gotten her license, having possession of the car has become a big issue,” Kyle said.

“I don’t really mind having her at school because I never see her any ways.”

–Junior Eric Eichelberger

Scholarship WINNERS

These four Kaneland seniors earned over $600,000 in academic scholarships between them. Here’s how:

Senior Taylor Andrews chose the college he will be attending next fall for reasons most don’t: the history, the challenge and the leadership position.

Andrews will be attending the West Point Military Academy in the fall on a full scholarship that covers tuition, room, board and fees.

“While I was looking for colleges, I was looking at the service academies mainly because of the benefits that followed, but as I got to researching, I found that it wasn’t all about the benefits. It was something deeper: the legacy that follows and all the history behind it. I also want to challenge myself and my leadership abilities. What better way to do that than as a US Army officer?” Andrews said.

West Point has an acceptance rate of just 15 percent, which makes acceptance there as competitive as at many Ivy League universities. Candidates must be academically, physically and medically qualified and must receive a nomination from an approved source, such as a member of Congress.

“I think [Taylor’s] academics were above average, his athletics were above average and so was his interview. He also had glowing recommendations. It is very difficult to get into West Point; it’s a huge achievement,” counselor Cynthia Violett said.

Andrews has not yet selected a major, since West Point cadets don’t choose a major until the second semester of their sophomore year. He has an eight-year commitment after schooling, which includes five years of active duty in the Army and three years on reserve. He will become an Army second lieutenant after graduation, with a starting salary of $69,000.

“I feel that this is the best thing for Taylor, but I will miss him a lot because we’re so close to each other. We’re like best friends,” sophomore Tanner Andrews, Taylor’s brother, said.

Taylor Andrews

Jessica Corbett

Abby Michels

–Emily Gulanczyk, reporter

It’s what all high school students strive for: receiving a full-ride scholarship to a dream college. Many students work hard to meet this ultimate goal—but ordinarily, it never progresses past a tedious application process. What happens when things take a turn for the extraordinary?

Senior Jessica Corbett received a full scholarship, worth $51,000 a year, that covers tuition, room, board and fees, to Ithaca College in New York.

Corbett found out she was a finalist for the scholarship when she received a phone call from Dr. Matt Fee at Ithaca, who invited all 26 finalists to the campus for a two-day interview process.

“I later found out that there were over 500 applicants,” Corbett said.

Corbett, who has worked on the Krier for four years, including two years as an editor, is an exceptional journalism student, journalism teacher Cheryl Borrowdale said.

“She has developed a lot of poise in interviewing and thinks critically enough to ask tough questions,” Borrowdale said. “She has also developed into an excellent writer, capable of taking on in-depth pieces and difficult subjects. She knows every part of producing a paper inside out, and beyond those journalistic skills, she is an outstanding student with a strong work ethic. In every way, she was the perfect candidate for a journalism scholarship.”

On March 30, Corbett found out that she was one of the lucky 13 who had received the scholarship.

“I was really excited for Jess because she deserved it. Then it finally hit me that she was going to be leaving,” freshman Taylor Corbett, Jessica’s younger sister, said.

Although her family was ecstatic, Corbett could not actually share the news with friends and other relatives for several days, until all candidates were contacted about the scholarship.

Corbett will double major in journalism and politics at Ithaca, where she is also a member of the honors program.

“They have all of the opportunities that I wanted, such as dance groups, Model UN and a lot of different volunteer opportunities,” Corbett said.

–Amanda Schiff, editor

With a huge smile on her face, senior Abby Michels gave her mom a hug after finding that she received the Golden Apple Scholarship.

The Golden Apple, a scholarship awarded to 110 education majors in Illinois, is designed to provide scholarship funds for bright future educators. The Golden Apple provides $2,500 in financial assistance for the first two years of college and the $5,000 for the final two years. “[It’s] the perfect scholarship for a perfect student,” Michelle Jurcenko, Spanish teacher said.

Michels has been interested in being a teacher since elementary school.

“I like helping other people. The one way to stay young internally is to be surrounded by kids,” Michels said.

Michels, who is a senior this year, will be attending the Lewis University next fall. Lewis has supplemented her Golden Apple Scholarship with a scholarship of its own—and Michels will attend there on a scholarship worth $33,000 a year.

Golden Apple Scholars enter the classroom with three times the experience that graduates of traditional education programs do. The program watches students for seven years and provides training over the summer. “Scholars are surrounded by professionals and mentors. They’re like a big happy family. They also work in poor districts that are economically challenged, and they are committed to work in [a high-needs] district,” Counselor Andrew Franklin said.

Michels, who is majoring in special education, was a good candidate for the Golden Apple because she has done so much, from early childhood occupation classes, to P.E. Leadership classes, Franklin said.

“It’s a huge blessing. I am so excited. It will open more doors for me to become a better teacher,” Michels said.

–Emily Ferrell, reporter

Senior Hannah Schuppner has been awarded a Northwestern University Scholarship. The scholarship is worth around $30,000 per year, and she has also been awarded grants to pay for the remaining tuition, room and board, including $2,000 in work study and private grants from the school. Her estimated family contribution is only $5,000 per year.

“The scholarship made it possible to go to my dream school. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to go there,” Schuppner said.

Northwestern was her first choice, over DePaul University or the University of Chicago. She plans to study psychology and then possibly attend law school.

“It’s not the number one psychology school, but it’s ranked highly in the nation,” Schuppner said.

“I’m happy that she’s going to stay in Illinois, so she’ll be relatively close,” Kaleb Schuppner, Hannah’s brother, said. “I was very excited for her, but I was not surprised at all. She is a very excellent student and works very hard.”

AP Literature teacher Patty Welker said she is certain that Schuppner will be very successful because of her great analytical skills and critical thinking skills.

According to both Schuppners, their father was extremely excited at the news that Hannah would have the money to go to a good school.

“Northwestern has always been my dream school,” Schuppner said. “After I visited the campus, I just fell in love with it. It just felt right.”

Hannah Schuppner 12

Profile / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

–Brianne Strobel, reporter

POLL

Dangerous Driving Accidents are the leading cause of death among teens in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. Every day, eight teenagers aged 16-19 die from a motor vehicle injury. Many of these accidents were preventable.

BY RACHAEL CLINTON, Editor

40,000

lives are taken by car accidents in the U.S. per year

your chance of being killed

Photo illustration by Rachael Clinton and Maggie Brundige

Risk analysis: CAR ACCIDENT

TRAIN ACCIDENT

PLANE ACCIDENT

1 in 200

1 in 65,000

1 in 7.6 million

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

1 in 14 million

Chance of you winning the lottery: 1 in 14 million you are more likely to die on the way to get your lottery ticket than you are Source: CBS News

We asked: What was your scariest driving experience?

“A huge deer ran across the road, and while I was flying down the road, I swerved in the opposite lane.

Luckily, there were no cars.”

–Junior Isaac Williams III

57

percent of Kaneland students have been involved in an accident

“While I was driving down Keslinger during the winter, I hit a patch of black ice and lost control of my car. I was headed straight for a telephone pole, but then I regained control of the car.”

–Junior Brittany Childers

70

percent of Kaneland students know someone who was killed in a fatal car accident

“There was an old drunk man driving on the opposite direction on the highway, and we saw him swerve off the road.”

–Sophomore Alex Siebert

34

percent of Kaneland students were involved in an accident caused by distracted driving and texting

“Someone was driving in my lane and crashed into me. It was the scariest thing ever. The guy in the car was drunk.”

–Junior Drew Peters

Source: A poll of 120 randomly-selected KHS students conducted on May 1 by Intro to News writing students.

Poll / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

13

LIFESTYLE

Tips and tricks for living a fuller, healthier life.

Post-grad: living and learning in the college world

BY RILEY PHILLIPS, Reporter As they count down the final days of high school, most seniors can’t wait to move on to college. Yet college brings new challenges—so much so that 32 percent of students drop out during their freshmen year alone, and nearly 60 percent do not graduate within four years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“The first year in college represents a social and developmental milestone for all college students, whatever their background or type of institution. This transition is often so difficult to negotiate that about one-third of first-year students fail to enroll for their second year of college,” M. Lee Upcraft, researcher for the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, said.

Don’t be among the dropouts. Prepare for the academic, financial and social rigors of college with this expert advice: KNOW THE CAMPUS Become familiar with the campus and all it’s resources, such as the library or computer facilities. Taking a tour of the campus before starting school is a great way to learn the campus layout so getting lost on the first day isn’t an issue.

“Start planning for college at the beginning of summer,” Director of Counseling Cynthia Violett said. “Take another visit over the summer, and don’t skip the freshman orientation. It’s important.”

FIGURE OUT WHAT’S REQUIRED Every major has different requirements, and it’s a good idea to study the course catalog and

14

Lifestyle / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

talk to admissions counselors and professors early, before registration, to start developing a fouryear plan. Register for required classes first.

MAKE STUDYING THE TOP PRIORITY What’s the top reason freshmen fail out?

College is difficult. According to Hugh Caldwell of the Georgia School of Technology, many freshmen arrive on campus unprepared for how difficult their classes will be. They have poor study habits, and they spend too little time studying and too much time partying.

GET INVOLVED Take some time away from school to get involved in campus athletics and clubs.

“Comparing similar students, the student who is an athlete is more likely to graduate than the student who is not an athlete,” Vicki McCracken, a professor at Washington State University, said.

Attending freshmen orientation can help when trying to meet new people, Violett suggests.

But don’t join a Greek organization just to meet people. Studies show that students who join fraternities and sororities have high rates of binge drinking—60 percent are heavy drinkers, one of the top reasons students struggle in college.

HAVE A MONTHLY BUDGET By the end of freshmen year, the average student has $1,301 in credit card debt. The problem is two-fold: freshmen have never tried to budget before and overspend, and credit card companies suck freshmen in because they don’t understand how debt compounds.

Avoid this pitfall by sitting down with parents this summer and creating a financial plan.

Photo illustration by Riley Phillips

“Portion off your money by semester, only spending a certain amount first semester and a certain amount second semester,” Violett said.

“Have your parents keep your second semester money and save as much as you can.”

Set up a checking account, but don’t sign up for a credit card—use a debit card instead, which looks just like a credit card, but won’t let you spend more money than you have.

“My parents aren’t paying for college, so I’m going to have to apply for a lot of scholarships and student loans,” senior Allie Grossmann said.

“I’ll have to know how to handle my money.”

H

get a summer job O

W

TO

BY TAYLOR WHITE, Reporter Junior Sierra Perteete knows all about the hardships of finding a summer job, but by applying her people skills and hard work, last year she got a sweet job at Sweet Dreams Bakery in Sycamore.

“I only work two days a week. It pays well, and the people are nice,” Perteete said. A few local options to get into the swing of summer without a skinny wallet are as follows: Junior Sierra Perteete works making cupcakes at Sweet Dreams Bakery in Sycamore.

RANDALL 15 THEATERS Batavia

THE JOB: Become an usher at a movie theater that’s close to home.

Make upwards of $7.50 cleaning theaters, checking tickets and working concessions. Apply online.

RECRUITER TIP: “Someone who is outgoing is always good for this job.

We look for personality and availability,” Melissa Recar, Randall 15 manager, said.

SUBWAY

JEWEL OSCO

SWEET DREAMS BAKERY

Sugar Grove, Elburn

THE JOB: Start out making sandwiches for $7.75 an hour. Work the night shift and possibly become a manager while selling those $5 foot longs. Hiring as young as sixteen.

Apply online.

RECRUITER TIP: “We definitely look for service and patience with customers in an employee,” Shyla Janowski, Subway employee, said.

Photo by Taylor White

Sugar Grove, Elburn

Sycamore

THE JOB: Show off those baking skills at Sweet Dreams, where employees start out baking cupcakes or washing dishes for $8 an hour.

Apply in person.

THE JOB: Start as a clerk or stocking shelves for $8.10 an hour.

Convenient locations allow students to work close to home. Apply online.

RECRUITER TIP: “We need someone who is punctual and doesn’t call in sick. Enthusiasm is important,” Deanna Watkins, Sweet Dreams manager, said.

RECRUITER TIP: “We like open availability and a dependable person who will show up and do good work,” Tracy Feece, Jewel Osco employee, said.

Artwork by Deidra VanBroeck

H

mix up a berry smoothie O

W

TO

BY JAKE RAZO, Reporter and SARAH ARNOLD, Executive Editor There’s nothing like a creamy, refreshing strawberry and banana smoothie on a steamy summer day. This classic can be easily whipped up at home in any blender. Experiment with different fruits and creamy elements for different flavors. Try swapping whole milk for skim or soy, adding ice for a slushy texture, or different ice cream flavors to add sweetness.

Photos by Jake Razo

Prep the following ingredients:

Place in blender:

Mix it up:

4 large strawberries, quartered 1 large banana, sliced 1/2 c. of strawberry yogurt 1/2 c. of strawberry ice cream 1/2 c. of milk

Put all ingredients in the blender and add a few ice cubes. The more ice, the thicker the smoothie will be—you can add more and blend again if it is too thin.

Hit the smoothie button on your blender or simply turn it on and wait for everything to be evenly blended. If necessary, turn it off, stir ingredients, and blend again.

How-To / May 20, 2011/ KANELAND KRIER

15

PULSE

Movies, music, books, restaurants, events, and local happenings.

Sergio’s makes Mexican food mouthwatering

BY EMILY GULANCZYK, Reporter Tropical. Relaxing. Inviting.

Those are the first words that come to mind when walking into Sergio’s Cantina, located at 30 West State Street in downtown Geneva.

The cozy island atmosphere comes alive the moment customers walk through the doors. Upbeat Spanish music fills ears while delicious aromas from the open tiki bar kitchen make mouths water. Patio seating is available in summer.

Baskets of chips and salsa are brought out as soon as customers are seated. The chips are salty and have the perfect crunch, and the fresh salsa has a little spice to it.

The menu ranges from salads to main entrees, which are priced from $10 to $15; there are also light options for about $10.

The à la carte option is perfect for those who want to mix and match different Mexican staples, such as tacos, burritos, tamales, sopes and chimichangas.

The enchiladas ($2.50) arrived steaming and topped with an enticing mix of onions, cheese, sour cream and choice of sauce. The chicken was tender and juicy, while the spiciness was just right and not too overpowering. Select multiple items if ordering à la carte, as portion sizes are small.

When the burrito ($6), was brought out, it was a hearty portion.

It was called “revolutionary” and even “magical” by its makers. It was a 7.3- by 9.5-inch tablet that changed the face of technology in our time.

But that was 2010. This March, Apple unveiled its latest: the iPad 2.

This lighter, thinner and faster new tech toy starts at just $499.

Whether it’s purchased for checking e-mails, browsing Facebook, reading book or watching movies, the new dual-core A5 chip allows the machine

16

SEPHORA Geneva Commons Want a light new summer make-up look?

Head over to the new Sephora.

Consultants offer complimentary makeovers and free skin care advice, and samples allow customers to try before buying. The collection includes all the latest summer colors, bronzers and fragrances, including a delightful 100 percent vegan Pacifica body lotion in Indian Coconut Nectar.

SEE IT PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES Directed by Rob Marshall Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa are at it again, embarking on a quest to find the legendary fountain of youth. New characters include Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Angelica (Penelope Cruz) and enchanted mermaids that lure sailors to their doom.

The quest is in Disney Digital 3-D.

Sergio’s is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; on weekend nights, it stays open until 2 a.m.

Stuffed neatly inside the burrito was a lot of steak, along with rice, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, cheese and sour cream. The burrito had a little bit of a kick, but not too much.

For dessert, the chocolate volcano ($6) was the perfect finish to a filling meal. It’s an irresistibly rich, moist and warm chocolate cake topped with creamy vanilla

Photo by Emily Gulanczyk

ice cream, and it was drizzled with chocolate syrup. A specialty at Sergio’s is fried ice cream ($6). Rich vanilla ice cream was topped with fried coconut cornflakes and drizzled with raspberry sauce, and the dish was light and refreshing.

All in all, Sergio’s is a casual place to dine with friends and is perfect for watching the big game or relaxing in a tropical paradise.

iPad takes tech world by storm, again

BY JESS CORBETT, Executive Editor

GO TO

to run quicker but still maintain a 10-hour battery life.

The iPad 2 also has two cameras—one on each side—that make it capable of running Apple’s FaceTime. For those unfamiliar with the term, FaceTime is like Skype for Apple products, like the iPhone.

It allows iPad 2 users to chat with friends or family anywhere there is Wi-Fi. Apple has created some new features for their consumers’ enjoyment. The new smart covers allow

Arts & Entertainment / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

EXPLORE IT WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER Orlando, Florida

Step through the gates of Hogsmeade, go on an adventure through Hogwarts, and pick up some Butterbeer and a chocolate frog on the way. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter exceeds expectations by a landslide. Visitors can fly in a Quidditch tournament, venture through Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes and race through the aisles of Honeydukes.

Photos courtesy of Sephora, Internet Movie Database, and Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park

the screen to remain unscratched and are offered in a variety of colors.

With the exception of the first generation covers, the iPad 2 is compatible with all docks, speakers, chargers, adapters and video cables manufactured for the iPad. Though Apple has made notable advancements with the this new device’s size and processor, there is still room for improvement. Much like the first device, there is no Adobe Flash support and the screen quality has not changed.

Photo courtesy of Apple

G

oodbye seniors

Farewell to the seniors who brought the Krier to life and helped us do it all

Sarah Arnold

Elaine Cannell

Jessica Corbett Head copyeditor, graphics manager, advertising manager & lifestyles editor

Production manager, web editor & how-to editor

Assistant copyeditor, photo editor & features editor

No one else could be quite as happy as you!

You were always smiling and willing to help, and we appreciate everything you’ve done this year.

Your random Disney lyrics lightened the mood during stressful deadlines.

Thanks for all of your contributions and hard work over these years. We’ll miss your smile and upbeat attitude, not to mention the great recipes you’ve exposed us to! Every issue, your “Read, watch, rent” sidebar was interesting and well written.

Good luck at Elmhurst!

You like Taylor Swift, right? We all didn’t know from your random singing outbursts of her songs!

You were the perfectionist who we all confided in, and from real-life problems to headline ideas, you were there. We’re going to miss your lighthearted pieces, your strong opinion and your go-getter attitude. Thank you for the dedication you demonstrated every day and for everything you did to make the Krier amazing.

Who knew you were an artist?

North Central will be lucky to have you!

Jess, thank you for all the hard work you’ve done over the last four years.

You devoted yourself to making the Krier the best student newsmagazine, and it worked.

Your opinion columns were incisive, your reporting was always in-depth, your thorough copyediting caught many of the mistakes we missed, and your work with advertisers kept the Krier in the black. You represented the Krier at its very best.

We wish you the best at Ithaca, and we can’t wait to see you covering politics in 2016!

Megan Nauert

Amanda Schiff

Maria Kernychny Editor-in-chief, editorial editor, visual & design editor & circulation editor

Though you always procrastinated, miraculously your work always got accomplished before anyone else’s.

Your editorials were hard-hitting and riveting, and you always managed to somehow make every topic relevant to students—hence our 12-0 vote nearly every time. We appreciate everything you did this year, from your leadership in editorial meetings to your Photoshop and Illustrator wizardry to your drive to make the Krier the most interesting paper possible.

Thank you for the work you’ve done as editor-in-chief. Good luck at Mizzou!

Asst. advertising manager

With your three years on the Krier editorial board—the longest of any of us!—your experience and advice were invaluable.

We could always count on you to help with ads, layouts and PDFing when we were frantically running around, and the advice column was your creation as you took everyone’s ideas and, amazingly, rolled them into one. Even the dreariest Mondays were bearable thanks to your weekend stories. Even after your schedule changed second semester, we could always depend on you.

For the second time, thank you so much for everything. You’re going to be a great Hawkeye!

Community news editor & profile editor

Amanda, you may be tiny, but you brought a whole lot of fun-loving energy to the Krier editorial board.

Your creative and optimistic ideas always put a fun spin on even the simplest stories, and you were always up for a challenge, getting some of our most difficult sources and fact-checking the news pages through all the changes at KHS this year. We will miss our outgoing and girly news editor next year!

Thank you so much for everything you’ve done, and we hope the people at Eastern Illinois University love you as much as we do!

Photo / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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SPORTS

Knights on and off the field, court, mat and track.

IN BLACK+WHITE

Girls’ track has high hopes for state

Freshman Delaney Stryczek kicks the ball up the field while scrimmaging with sophomore Ann-Marie Giese during practice.

Photo by Kylie Siebert

Girls’ soccer strives for championship

BY NICK STOLLARD, Reporter Coach Scott Parillo is hungry for a championship.

The girls’ varsity soccer team has been in a championship game three times, but they’ve come up short every single time. He hopes that this year might be the year to change that.

“We would love to have a regional championship,” Parillo said. “In previous regional championships, we have come up short, losing the final spot. This year we have a really good shot at going that step further. We have been playing very well so far.”

Rosary, IMSA, Aurora Central Catholic and a new team, Yorkville, will be fighting Kaneland for the regional championship title this year.

The Lady Knights were 11-8-3 in the regular season, as of press dead, and 6-3-1 in conference, with successive conference wins again Yorkville and Sterling.

The 6-2 victory over the Yorkville Foxes and the 7-0 victory over the Sterling Warriors were lead by senior Emily Heimerdinger, who scored two goals in each game.

“I’m okay with our record so far this season,” Parillo said. “I wish it was better, but we are playing better than we were in the early part of the season. I am proud of all our wins that we have got.”

The girls have kept focused and have fought hard for their wins, Parillo said.

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Sports / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

The hardest loss of the season so far was against Plainfield East, Parillo said. The team was up by two goals three times during the game, but in the end they still lost.

Junior Taylor White agrees that the team has improved this season compared to last.

“We’ve been playing good recently, improving as it goes, but we have a lot to improve on because we have six new freshmen,” White said.

The team has been working on getting to know their new players strengths and weakness, in order for the team to be more successful.

Key players this season include seniors Emily Heimerdinger, Sophia Blank, Amy Fabrizius, Sam Wantuch and Anna Henrichs, Parillo said.

“All the players are extremely important to the team, but with such a young team, the seniors are key in keeping everyone and everything about the team positive,” Parillo said.

Freshman Michelle Ortiz replaced sophomore Jordan Ginther’s position as goalkeeper, since the nationally-ranked Ginther has taken the year off from the team to compete for a national championship with her club team.

Ginther is expected to return to the team next season. Although with Jordan gone, Ortiz has taken over and done an excellent job so far this season, Parillo said.

The team is continuing to work hard practicing together five days a week. They are determined, and will not take their eyes off the final champion title.

The girls’ track team took home a third place title at the first Northern Big 12 conference on May 6.

Geneseo won the conference title with a total team score of 131 points, followed by Sterling with 82 points. A mere two points away from a second place title was Kaneland, with a total team score of 80 points. Sophomore Gabby Aguirre took first place in the high jump with a five foot jump, and senior Brooke Patterson also placed first in pole vaulting with a 10 foot jump.

Freshman Lauren Zick placed second in the 100 m. dash with a time of 12.85 seconds, third in the long jump with a jump of 16’11” and fourth in the 200 m. dash with a time of 26.80. The relay team of Andie Strang, Kris Bowen, Jess Stouffer and Sydney Strang finished second in the 4x800 with a time of 9:58.36.

The meet was hosted at Kaneland High School, but a power shortage occurred half way through the meet, disabling the lights, and the meet was forced to finish at Sycamore High School.

The Lady Knights also placed third in the Dixon Relays Invite and in the Jenni’s ABC Meet at Peterson Field.

“Our team is stronger than last year’s in all aspects,” sophomore Ashley Castellanos said. “We are all running stronger this year than last, and the team this year has a lot of depth.”

Last year’s team was dogged by several injuries, and many athletes have returned stronger this season. During workouts, the team focused on strengthening areas previously injured in an attempt to prevent them from reoccuring this season.

With key players back on the field, the track team has had a successful season this year, with players breaking field event records and relay teams improving their times.

“It’s a longer season than most other sports, which gives everyone a chance to shorten their times as an individual and as a team as well,” Zick said.

Castellanos said that the team is staying focused on improving each day as state approaches.

“Relay teams will need to work out better handoffs, get best personal times, and work together if they want to go to state, because it all comes down to these next couple of weeks that really matter,” Castellanos said.

Several athletes qualified for state during sectionals held on May 12 at Ottawa High School.

Qualifiers included Zick for the 400, Patterson for pole vault, Andie Strang for the mile, and the 4x8 team which consists of Bowen, Zick, Andie Strang and Sydney Strang.

–Maggie Brundige, editor

BOYS’ BASEBALL Knights tie for first place in conference, prepare to face off against IMSA and topThe Knights tied for first in seeded Spartans inconference, defeating the Morris Redskins 7-1

Photo courtesy Marshall Farthing

Senior Taylor Andrews took second in the 110 m hurdles at the Crystal Lake Invite, running them in 14.49 seconds. A week later, he took first in the hurdles at the Kane County Meet with a time of 14.38 seconds, beating Batavia’s Rob Mohr by .14 seconds.

Track team paving the way to Charleston

BY JORDAN JONES, Editor Boys’ varsity track is hungry for a 3-peat.

The Knights have won two sectional championships in a row—the team even placed second in state last year—and want a third one.

“We really need to beat Burlington because they’re our closest competition at sectionals. If we beat them, we will 3-peat as sectional champs,” junior Andrew Essex said.

Despite the loss of several key players who graduated, this year’s team has been holding its own.

“I’d say we’re doing pretty well.

We are doing better than a lot of people expected us to do considering we lost all of those seniors last year,” senior Curtis Secrest said.

The team competed at the Kane

County Meet on May 6, coming in fourth with 57 points, a weaker performance than last year’s second-place finish. West Aurora came in first with 109.5 points, followed by Batavia with 82.5 and St. Charles North with 62.

Though the Knights are headed to the playoffs, they have to get past stiff NIB-12 competition from Yorkville and Burlington Central, some of the Knights biggest rivals in this conference.

The Knights previously beat Burlington at the Crystal Lake Central Invite on Apr. 29, placing third at the invite with 81 points, behind Crystal Lake with 112 and Belvidere North with 85; Burlington Central earned 60.6 points.

There, the Knights’ 4x100 meter relay team took first, with Jesse Balluff, Brandon Cottier, Taylor Andrews

BY TAYLOR PHILLIPS

PERSON I’D LIKE TO BE

Anna Piazza

and Tommy Whittaker coming in at 43.91 seconds.

The 4x200 relay team also took first, with Balluff, Seacrest, Essex and Cottier running in 1:33.48.

The Knights also bested Yorkville at the Peterson Prep meet in April, when they came in second behind West Aurora; Yorkville came in sixth.

In a year that Kaneland needed to prove its power, it showed it the most this year with people stepping up from everywhere, Essex said.

“We are so different from last year’s team because we have so much more depth and talent in sprints.

We have a bunch of younger kids stepping up for our mid and long distance. We lost the best senior class Kaneland has ever seen, and we have huge shoes to fill,” Essex said.

CELEBRITY CRUSH

WHAT I’D DO WITH A MILLION DOLLARS

IF I COULD HAVE ANYTHING....

“Mother Theresa.

She was really selfless and being like that would be really amazing.”

“Chris Pine.

He’s really cute.”

“I would make an old person home to put my mom and dad in when they get old.”

“A private jet to go anywhere I want and to fly to all the cool cities.”

“Myself. I like myself and I wouldn’t want to be anyone else.”

“Missy Peregrym cause she’s really hot.”

“I’d spend it going to big games like the Super Bowl or NCAA Championships.”

“A basketball court in my basement because I really like the game of basketball.”

“I would move to Paris because it’s my dream to live there.”

“Sam Komel.

I already have him.”

on May 12.

“I was happy and proud for everything that we accomplished,” second baseman Brian Dixon said.

The team went 10-5 overall in conference, sweeping DeKalb and then winning two of three games against Yorkville. In the crucial series against the Sycamore Spartans, the Knights dropped the first two games but pulled out a win in game three, which sent them into the match against the Redskins.

The Knights had a one-game conference lead going into the final three-game series against Morris, but they lost the first two games 7-2 and 7-4, coming back to win game three 7-1 and tie for first in conference.

“We started really strong in conference, but then we hit a rough patch,” pitcher Trevor Storck said. “But we won when we needed to and won our second straight conference championship.”

Outfielder Mike Tattoni said the team played well overall this season.

“We started off strong this season, but then hit a slump,” Tattoni said. “We’ve had the ability to come back and win important games.”

Pitcher Drew Peters said injuries had slowed the team down, including that of first baseman Sam Komel, who sustained a rotator cuff injury and missed three conference games, returning to play the final two games against Morris.

The Knights head into playoffs next, where they will play IMSA on May 26.

If they win, they will either play Sycamore or Aurora Central Catholic, who the Knights have not faced yet this season.

The Spartans have solid hitting up and down their lineup and will be the Knights’ toughest competition.

The team hopes to win Kaneland’s first-ever regional championship, Peters said.

“Kaneland has never won a regional championship, so to accomplish that would be huge,” Peters said.

–Shane Fergus, reporter

Upcoming Knights Games BASEBALL:

May 19 @ Cougar Stadium vs. Batavia (senior night) May 21 West Aurora

BOYS’ TRACK:

May 19 @ Rochelle (Sectionals) May 27 IHSA State

SOFTBALL:

May 21 Rosary May 24-31 Regionals

Know Your Knights

Freshman, Track

JR Vest

Freshman, Track

“Lady Gaga because she’s independent and really awesome.”

“James Franco because he is fine.”

Sam Hansen

Junior, Softball

GIRLS’ TRACK:

May 20 IHSA State Meet May 21 IHSA State Meet

Contributions by Jake Razo Sports / May 20, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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