Volume 1, Issue 2

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School | McHenry, Illinois | Volume One | Issue Two | December 2019

SEEING COLOR In a school community that’s majority white, students of color look for acknowledgment and respect

INSIDE

MCHS will allow eligible seniors to leave campus for lunch starting next semester— here’s what you need to know. PAGE 3 Student athletes work hard, but what happens they sacrifice their health for the sake of their team? PAGE 7 Many MCHS students have experienced homelessness, but find home wherever they find their family. PAGE 8

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Volume One | Issue Two | December 2019

Table of Contents

3

SENIORS CAN LEAVE DURING LUNCH NEXT SEMESTER

6

WHAT HAPPENED TO MCHENRY’S MUSIC SCENE?

7

DO ATHLETES PUT THE TEAM ABOVE THEIR HEALTH?

BASKETBALL LEARNS FROM LAST YEAR’S DIFFICULTY

—Plus!

On The Cover

Finals stress students out at the end of each semester. Is there a better way to assess students?

Being a student of color can

pg.5

make a person feel isolated—and

The Illinois School Board of Education gives MCHS a “commendable” rating

also feel like they stand out

pg.4

in a crowd. In a school where three-quarters of students are white, what’s it like to be a

11

pg.9

Does Blizzard Activision have any business trying to take sides on political issues?

pg.12

minority?

In Each Issue

News ............................ 3

Opinions ..................... 5

Cover Photo By: Karina Lucarz

Features ...................... 7

Sports .......................... 11

Entertainment ......... 12

Editor’s Note

2

The McHenry Messenger Mission Statement The McHenry Messenger’s primary mission is to inform and engage the students and staff of McHenry High School as well as its broader community.

As a student-driven publication, it is important to us that we represent every group within both campuses, provide a platform for them to speak their truths, and ensure access to objective, balanced information that they need to know.

We also hope to engage our audience by covering the subjects most relevant to them and presenting it in an entertaining, accessible manner.

Published by Editorial

Staff Writers

Contributing Writers Contributing Photographers and Artists Special Thanks to

Newsie Advisor

McHenry High School in McHenry, IL Alayna Trimingham, Opinions Editor Kyla Henige, News Editor Jared Bysiek, Features Editor Zach Brown, Sports Editor Stacy Correra, Copy Editor Madison Wise, Artistic Director Chase Creech, Hayley DuHamel, Ciara Duncan, Michelene Havard, Oliver Simpson and Elle Smith Philomena Cyboran Bella Alexander, Karina Lucarz and Bailey Musnicki Matt Connor, Amy Maciaszek, Gina Nomikoudis, Mitch Stengel and Visual Image Photography Colton Rasnake Dane Erbach

Both the McHenry Messenger’s print and digital editions have been established as designated forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues related to their audience. Though the student media advisor is responsible for teaching students sound journalism skills and judgment, this paper does not engage in prior review and, thus, all content published by both editions of the McHenry Messenger reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself (unless attributed accordingly).

If you would like to get in contact with the McHenry Messenger, please email the advisor at erbachdane@dist156.org or call (815) 385-7077 and leave a message on his voicemail.

Digging deep into the issues

The lead up to this month’s issue of the McHenry Messenger was an intense one. When brainstorming ideas just a couple weeks ago, we tried to dig deep into the issues are important at our school—especially the ones that we feel comfortable talking about. After plenty of hard work and dedication—and even some literal blood, sweat, and tears—we proudly present our second issue ever.

For this month’s issue, the serious, important topics we decided to tackle all centered around the student body. We talked to students of color in our school about the difficulties they face, students who face or have dealt with homelessness, the difficulties that student-athletes face regarding decisions about their health, the impending open campus. To us, these are the “big issues” we think are important for you to know—but we also threw in some little news shorties to keep you up to date.

For these past couple weeks, our staff members have been pushing to better our journalistic abilities for our audience. It’s important for the newspaper staff to make sure we provide solid, well-researched news and opinions to ensure you get the best quality from us. We are still growing, but it’s important that you, the readers know how important it is that we represent everyone in our school fairly—including all students, staff, and administrators.

We want to give everyone in our school a proper voice, and to make sure they don’t miss out on what is going on in both the school, and the world around us. Welcome to our second issue of the McHenry Messenger.

Sincerely,

Jared Bysiek Features Editor

Visit TheMcHenryMessenger.com for more news, features, and opinions This issue was printed by the McHenry High School Print Shop Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

News

Volume One | Issue Two | December 2019

3

Seniors Erin Caner and Noelle Peters walk out of West Campus’s south foyer together.

Seniors will be able to leave campus to eat lunch starting second semester.

Photo By: Michelene Havard

Changing with the times

Eligible seniors from East and West will be able to leave campus during their lunch periods starting second semester

By Kyla Henige @henigekyla News Editor

all classes this semester to be eligible,” she wrote. “This is an incentive that is designed to be earned by those students who are performing academically. There are also

MCHS’s school board made the requirements to be maintained after initial unanimous decision to approve an open eligibility.” campus lunch policy for seniors starting

Open campus will be an incentive semester two of this school year during the November school board meeting on Novem- for students, specifically seniors, too try their best in school in order to be able to go ber 18. off-campus during their lunch period. Ad In order to be given the privilege ministrators are clear that this is a privilege to of open campus, seniors must maintain a students and not a right. passing grade in all classes, and have good

“It’s a great incentive for them [the attendance, along with other rules, that are seniors] to be put on the right path, for a soon to be released. reward,” West assistant principal Justin Stroh

In an email sent out to West Campus, principal Marsha Potthoff outlines said. “If students do decide to take advantage the basics of an open campus. “The primary of open campus, their privileges may be reeligibility criteria is that the seniors must pass voked. Not only is this rewarding senior, but

it is a good way to teach them responsibility with the traffic and keeping track of time.”

As students prepare for this big change, they have expressed mixed feelings.

Some say that open campus should be for everyone who can drive, but others, such as junior Nathan Klvesener, believe that having it be a senior-only reward is a good idea.

“I think open campus lunch is fair that it is open to seniors because they are testing it out,” he said. “Also, they are only allowing it to students who actually earn it with good grades and attendance, which I think is good.”

The school is prepared for this new change to take place, and encourage seniors to be on the lookout for further announcements.

State Board gives MCHS “commendable” rating

4

ISBE grants District 156 second-highest rating based on test scores, graduation rate, district finances, and other factors

By Philomena Cyboran Contributing Writer

On October 30, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) rated MCHS as “Commendable” by, the second highest rating that measures the progress towards preparing students for their years in college.

ISBE started a new system in the 2017-2018 year called “Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA). This measures how well the student body is performing in a multitude of areas and skills. ISBE will give out a score that shows the proficiency of the school by looking at many different factors.

The score is based off of 4 levels; Exemplary, Commendable, Underperforming, and Lowest-performing.

Dr. Ryan McTague, the Superintendent of District 156 explains, “we performed

[at] a level where we were commendable, not just in one area, but in a multitude of different areas. Maybe some areas we were weaker on because maybe we were strong in other areas and it was able to pull us to that commendable status.”

Although MCHS was rated commendable, it hasn’t been easy. After being assigned to Tier 1, the lowest level for financial support given by the state, the school has found it more difficult to have more programs and teachers around. This makes the school at 66% below adequacy, while being 100% is fully funded. Keeping up more programs and retaining good teachers will allow the students to grow in a vast amount of areas, which will lead to scoring high on the ESSA.

Even with the low financial rating, MCHS found themselves in a unique situa-

tion. The school was able to get a referendum passed that allows the school to build and add more to MCHS.

“A big impact is the changes we make to the school structure. [It] will give the students more programs and no travel between buildings,” explains McTague.

These changes are being made possible through the referendum. The school’s extensions will be finished next January, but shifting of the grades into different schools will not happen until the fall of 2021.

Reaching the commendable status has been achieved through the staff and the students at MCHS. Each factor takes certain skills gained by the student body as a whole.

McTague expressed, “In order to be commendable, everyone has to move and everyone has to grow together, which is how it should be.”

NEWS BRIEFS

“Chicago” auditions, a special “Skywalker” screening, and other bits of news you need to know now

By Jared Bysiek @bysiekjared Features Editor

Chicago Auditions Auditions for the 2020 performance of “Chicago: the Musical” will take place on Tuesday, December 10 in the West Auditorium. Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, December 11. An audition workshop will take place on Monday, December 9 for any students who are open to receiving immediate, real-time feedback prior to the auditions. Interested students must fill out and turn in the audition form by December 9 before 3:00 p.m. if you wish to participate.

Study Night/Cocoa Cram SLT Study Night will take place on December

18, from 6-8 p.m. in the West Campus cafeteria. While there, students can take time to study with peers and student leaders as well as get help and tips from teachers to prepare for the upcoming finals. Food, drinks and hot chocolate will also be served to students who participate! At East’s Cocoa Cram, freshman will be recieve a special opportunity to prepare for and learn more about finals at East Campus on December 17 from 2:45-4 p.m.

Whitewater Creative Writing A group of ten creative writers from MCHS attended the Creative Writing Festival at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater on November 20. At the event, students submitted pieces of writing, attended workshops on written work and participated in competitions for literary genres. At the end of

the event, Michelene Harvard won second place in the personal narrative category and David Henry won second place for the drama category. Although the others did not place in their categories, they received feedback on their pieces Star Wars Movie Night The Comics, Manga, & Fandoms Club is partnering with the McHenry Downtown Theater for a private screening of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” on Saturday, December 21 at 9:30 a.m. Tickets will be sold for pre-purchase on Sunday, December 15 for $6. Because it is a private screening, the tickets must be purchased at the McHenry Downtown Theater.

The screening will be held a day after its official release., and seating is limited to 50 people.

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Opinions

Volume One | Issue Two | December 2019

5 Finals have been a tradition at many schools for generations, but these end-of-semester exams only serve to stress out students. What’s worse is that they aren’t the most effective tests.

Photo By: Madison Wise

Stressing the test

There are less stressful ways to evaluate students than multiple-choice finals help. If stress reaches a certain degree, there are many resources available to help cope with the pressure of finals, such as counselors, the Chill Zone, and therapy dogs. Many A student wakes up and hits their alarm. teachers are also available during AIM and They don’t believe it is actually morning because it feels like they just fell asleep, and free periods to help students better understand the material on the test. they did. The student has been up all night While MCHS offers many ways memorizing the material for the past week, hoping this time it will guarantee success on to support and help students during finals week, there are still some ways they could the finals. They head to school, exhausted, do to make it less stressful on students. Gary and although they have been preparing for Myers, one of West’s guidance counselors, days, they can’t help but feel unprepared at all, with a stomach full of only caffeine and says, “We used to have 3 days of finals and I thought that was best … The finals were nerves.

The state of Illinois doesn’t require longer so the students didn’t feel as rushed.

They weren’t taking as many finals in a finals, so there is no specific way the tests must be done. The policies regarding finals day, so they had an extra night of study.”

Bringing this policy back could improve a vary from school to school. Many students are told to prepare by memorizing class ma- student’s effort and performance. Junior terial. Finals are, in most classes, worth 20% Ella Wirth agrees. “You have more time and are more likely to be successful,” she says. of a student’s final grade for a class—even

But she also says that finals can multiple-choice assessments that do not serve an important role at the end of a require critical thinking. This not a proper semester, and that it is the student’s job to measurement of the student’s knowledge.

MCHS currently offers solutions to prepare the right way. “I think it’s worth it to have a final in general to go over everything help with stress from finals that many may that you’ve learned that semester,” Wirth not know about. Study Night and Cocoa says. “I don’t think, however, it’s worth losing Cram are great opportunities to study in a relaxing environment with staff available for as much sleep over it as a lot of students

By Alayna Trimingham @/skshdsji Opinions Editor

lose,” Wirth explains. Spreading out finals would help students make good decisions about how and when to study.

Another way finals could be made less stressful for students is by changing the common format of the test. Not all classes use multiple-choice exams, but many do, and this is not a useful way of assessing students. This way of test-taking often requires memorization, and when students have to try and memorize answers for many different classes it can often feel overwhelming.

Junior Zachary Buffo says,”I don’t think it should be ‘just memorize these problems.’”

A project, if used in a class where that is possible, will be more helpful for MCHS’s students. In fact, many classes already do this. Project-based learning benefits students more in future careers and is a better assessment of their skills. These exams also require more than just memorization.

Some say that finals are fine how they are done now, but this is not true. With the constant increasing stress levels, one could even argue that it is not safe to put so much pressure on students in school. Student health is more important than grades, and MCHS’s current system for finals.

Opinions

6

Fifteen to twenty years ago, McHenry County’s music scene was vibrant and locals bands played shows every weekend.

So what’s a aspiring band to do when there’s no place left to play?

Illustration By: Bella Alexander

Bring the music back McHenry musicians need more places and opportunities to perform

you out in some way. Not that you always want to play at a birthday party, but you have to start somewhere.”

With the annual Battle of the Bands Having the space to show others event coming up, students ready the garage what musicians have created is important for bands they started with their friends on a their growth. “The teenage to young adult whim. But after the big battle, where do they years are chaotic years of incredible change,” go from there? There are not a lot of places says Bodecker. “A great mass of students are in McHenry for these young musicians to passionate about the arts and for performing, perform to the public, and that hampers those and a great many at least want to try.” Giving who want to pursue music in their future. these opportunities to aspiring musicians

Ten or twenty years ago, there were keeps that drive going and, as Bodecker says, many places in McHenry and its surrounding “lights a flame for someone’s life to begin.” county where bands could play--including

At MCHS, there are a few opportuthe Just for Fun Roller Rink on Route 31. But nities for musicians to perform besides Battle since the internet became an easier and more of the Bands. There is the Variety Show, which convenient way to share music, the local music is like a talent show without the competition. scene has disappeared.

Tri-M Music Honor Society also hosts the

There are still some places in Cozy Coffee House. “The coffeehouse gives McHenry that do provide performance opstudents an opportunity to perform without portunities, however, that are more than just the pressure of an audition or competition,” open-mic nights. Some of these places include says Tri-M president Indigo Tooke. “It’s a great Siren Records, Epic Deli, Hidden Pearl (when way to bring students in the arts together to it opens), and, on occasion, even Just For Fun. appreciate each other’s respective arts.”

“The most important thing to do, above all

The school does what it can to give else, is to communicate,” says East senior Nastudent musicians chances to showcase their than Bodecker. “Make yourself or your band art. However, outside of school walls, that dedbe known to not just businesses but different ication and support is inconsistent. “When it groups of friends and contacts that can help comes to performing, it’s something I aspire to

By Stacy Correra @stacycorrera Copy Editor

do way more often than I do now,” Bodecker explains. “I definitely would like to have clear set gigs to perform. Prioritizing school and outside activities is often a challenge in itself, so to add the stress of gigging here and there isn’t possible.”

Music is an important part of many students’ lives. These people, especially those who are majoring in music or music performance, should have more real-world experiences before they dive into furthering their education—experience this community no longer offers. Bodecker says, “Music’s ability to make the mind escape from the restlessness of the world and latch your true emotions and your complete, honest self is something that almost anyone in some way is involved in.”

It is up to local musicians to create their own scene. By calling venues already known to give these opportunities, the high demand will cause a ripple effect with other businesses because they’ll see how popular live performances can be. With bands and musicians booking themselves, however, it is up to non-musicians to go watch them perform and give them support so that it doesn’t fall through. Live music is a community effort to keep the spark alive.

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Features

Volume One | Issue Two | December 2019

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Taking one for the team Athletic injuries are common, but some players make risky choices to put their team above their health

By Oliver Simpson @oliver_james82 Staff Writer

In an instant, the match is over and a varsity wrestler feels the referee hoist his hand into the air. Beneath him, his defeated opponent tries to catch his breath, but all this wrestler can think of is the food he has waiting for him in his bag. He has spent the past week trying to cut weight to go down a weight class. His head spins as he takes a triumphant bite of his ham sandwich -- the first real meal he has eaten in a long time.

Many MCHS athletes have shared that they feel pressure from not only themselves, but also their coaches, teammates, and parents to practice unhealthy behaviors for the sake of their team. They keep injuries quiet, nervous they may lose playing time, or push their injuries on the field or court, causing additional injury.

Coaches dedicate time and work hard to establish trust with their players so that they will communicate with them when they are injured. In order to make sure there are no secrets about major and important issues, students take a yearly online test to establish how the player functions without a concussion. The tests are assigned by the school after tryouts and test on multiple things such as memorization and sensory awareness. If the player has a head injury and does not meet the baseline, they may have a concussion and their doctor can recommend that they are no longer allowed to play. Wrestlers caught cutting weight are also not allowed on the mats. Coaches take such issues seriously, though they persist.

Most students, parents, and coaches know that injuries are common in sports. In fact, according to StopSportsInjuries.org, “Every year an average of 2 million high-school athletes across the U.S. report sports-related injuries.” Head varsity football coach Jon Neimic states, “Football is a contact sport, it’s only natural that you will have weekly injuries. That will come up throughout the season.” Coaches know that it is their responsibility to help players make healthy choices. “We, the coaching staff, work in unison with the athlete and his or her family to ensure the injury is something we can manage with some treatment from our trainer or … by a doctor for further evaluation,” Niemic explains.

StopSportsInjuries.org adds that only 25% of injured high school athletes visit the hospital, and 1.5% are hospitalized due to the severity of their injuries. So why aren’t student athletes taking care of themselves the way they should?

Are they pushing themselves too hard, or are they being pushed?

Some athletes believe that coaches do not want them seeing a doctor for some injuries

Though the practice of “cutting weight” is illegal according to the IHSA, some wrestlers choose not to eat to keep themselves at the top of their weight class Photo By: Madison Wise

because a doctor is more likely to recommend a player sit out for practices, games, or even the rest of the season. Instead, they visit an athletic trainer who assesses their injury. Frequently, a trainer will simply bandage or put ice on an injury — whatever they feel is enough to send them back to the bench, or even into the game. Many students know this does not fix their injury, but they consider it “fixed enough” to continue playing.

“[Once] I dislocated and fractured my pinky finger during practice,” an athlete, who wishes to remain anonymous, says. “Instead of getting fully evaluated the trainer put it back in place, gave me a splint and sent me back to practice, with my agreement. Then, after practice, I was fully evaluated. At the time I wanted to go back … It maybe wasn’t the best option, but I knew I had to take it to keep my spot.”

Varsity girls soccer coach Andrew Stegenga believes that his players know their bodies better than he does, which is why he responds immediately when they need to sit out after an injury. “I will never get mad at a player who is too injured to play,” he says, “But I also know that sometimes high school athletes may need a push of confidence, and will use an injury as an excuse if things are not going well.” In the end, he ultimately leaves the decision up to the players.

Even though coaches do try and get the best effort from their athletes, some athletes feel like their coaches push them too hard—and, in some cases, feel unable to communicate their needs to their coach.

Another athlete, who also preferred to remain anonymous, stated, “I’ve had to play and practice when I haven’t felt well, and when I got

injured. I’ve also had teammates tell me that they didn’t feel good, but still had to practice in fear of getting in trouble from the coach.”

Students feel the need to please their coaches in any case, but much of the pressure actually comes from themselves. In wrestling, players must maintain a certain weight so they are in the correct class, and wrestle against equal competitors. Sophomore Nolan Carlson explains that his decisions are his alone to make. “I wouldn’t say cutting [weight is the problem],” Carlson says. “I would say it’s more watching it. It’s healthy if you do it the right way, like still eating proteins and veggies. Your coach can tell you whatever, but it’s still up to you. It’s your body, and you can do what you want with it.”

A majority of the pressure student athletes face comes from not wanting to be kicked off their team or miss a game, which may cause players to keep pushing themselves past their limits. However, this does not mean it is purely at the fault of the coaches. Parents can push their students too hard too, and teammates may pressure an athlete to “walk it off” when they should take a seat.

It would be easy and convenient to blame outside sources for the pressure student athletes feel, but in the end, it is mostly internal.

Injuries are common with athletes, so it is important for these students to be open and honest with their coaches to avoid risking further and longer-lasting injuries in the future. Though this may result in less playing time, it’ll only benefit them in the long run.

Additional reporting for this story by Stacy Correra and Madison Wise

8

Battling student homelessness

Homeless students do not fit the stereotype that many imagine—and they may sit in the desk next to you every day

By Michelene Havard @michelene_rose Staff Writer

A homeless MCHS student sleeps on a friend’s couch. The student wraps themself in a warm knitted blanket, tirelessly finishing their “homework” while their friend’s family dozes off into the night.

Ruby and her family traveled from Florida to the Midwest, and their new living situation in Illinois raises more challenges.

“We’re considered homeless, but it’s because we live on a campground. We live in a renovated school bus, but to the school we are [homeless],” she said. “I’m almost considered an independent, so it’s also not the most severe case.”

Society judges homeless people by what they wear and how they act, so Ruby feels like her living situation is not as horrible as one may think.

When people hear the word “homeless,” they often think of bums living in boxes on the street. But student homelessness looks more like a backseat or couch to sleep on.

Illustration By: Bailey Musnicki

“There’s two different types of homeless people that you see on the streets,” she said. “There are homeless people that are doing something to better themselves, while in the midst of some homeless people that are just begging.”

Growing up in a house is expensive, and Ruby’s life changed when her father’s traumatic head injury led her family to revamp a bus into a home.

“This past year my dad fell and hit his head at work. We didn’t have any money because he got laid off. We couldn’t keep up with the expenses of living in a house. We found a bus that was really cheap, so he decided to renovate it.

We weren’t without shelter, but we had no other options.”

She admits that she doesn’t live on the bus that often because it is not parked close enough to the school right now, so she stays at different places every night instead.

“...I don’t stay there as often because [the campground is] an hour away. Where we usually stay is close for hunting. I just bounce around my friends houses every night [instead].”

Another student at MCHS, Kate, opens up about student homelessness, and how it has impacted her life.

“I don’t always identify as someone who’s homeless,” Kate stated.

“Because I do have a home, it’s just not my home.”

For the past five years, Kate has been living with relatives in Illinois, and before that she was homeless for a short period of time in California.

“We’ve been legally homeless [before], which is just living with relatives.

My whole family does [that],” she said.

“We don’t have money to have our own house.”

Something that both students have in common is that they receive a lot of benefits from fafsa for college.

“I get a lot of money for college,” Ruby said. “But it just goes to show that every bad situation comes out with something better. I don’t think that [people] should be pitied, because if you’re just handing them things, they are not going to want to be [more responsible].”

Most often people associate homelessness with people who beg for money on the streets, but these two anonymous students at MCHS prove that there are other ways people end up without a legal address. Having homeless experiences can be valuable, because it makes students thrive for success. * Names were changed in this story to protect the privacy of the students featured

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

Features

9

Alyssa Abiol, Crystal Julio, Lance Lawrence, Saleh Kigozi, Gisselle Sandoval, Eileen Zheng, English teacher Veronica Cornejo and Kevin Mรกrquez, make up the diverse population of students and staff at MCHS. Photos By: Karina Lucarz and Madison Wise

Volume One | Issue Two | December 2019

10

In this skin

In a school that’s almost three-quarters white, being a student of color can feel like being an outsider in their own community

By Ciara Duncan @sneintemoarn Staff Writer

High school is tough enough, but being the only minority in the classroom makes it even harder. It’s something many students of color are aware of, but stay silent about. Meanwhile, white students may never notice at all. They are taught to be “color-blind,” that the subject of race and racism is taboo, or that society has come far enough in terms of civil rights. But, differences between the experiences of high schoolers because of their race cannot be ignored.

Some may question why students of color remain silent about issues involving race, or whether such issues exist in the first place. For Gisselle Sandoval, an East junior, it can feel like shouting into the void. “I feel like my opinion on some things isn’t as important. If I as a Mexican have this opinion, I’m going to be overruled because there’s so many more [white people] who might think the complete opposite of me. I feel like my opinion is seen as lesser than theirs.”

Considering that giving a voice to minorities is the reason why diverse courtroom juries are so valuable, and why minority student-unions exist, it would make sense why a student going to a school where 73.5% of her peers are white would feel silenced.

As it turns out, she’s not the only one.

According to West junior Lance Lawrence, both blatant and more subtle forms of racism echo throughout MCHS’s halls. “There’s a lot of racism in this school,”

he says. “Cliques form based on different groups, and there are groups you can’t be a part of because of your race. It gets pretty tiring being a different color at this school.”

Similarly, West senior Eileen Zheng stated, “People don’t understand that we’re exactly the same. They’re like ‘Oh, you’re different because you’re this, so you have to be this way. You’re this way because of that.’ And I’m like, there isn’t a ‘that way’.”

The issue of racism at large is controversial, and the discussions that come about because of it can be frustrating. West junior Saleh Kigozi comments, “People don’t understand my point of view. I know how society views me.”

Nobody truly knows how to solve the issue of minorities being underrepresented and inadequately supported in both their school communities, and larger societies. However, recognizing that these issues are both real and detrimental to the lives of students is a start.

MCHS offers opportunities for certain student groups to create communities and communicate across language barriers, including the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), Spanish for Heritage Learners course, and the multiple bilingual aides. Although this supports the school’s Hispanic and Latino communities, by far the largest minority group in the district, more can be done for students outside of this community. Having teachers and counselors in the school environment that represent a diverse range of ethnicities helps to accomplish that.

Veronica Cornejo, an English

teacher, leader of LASO and Latina herself, understands the importance of this.

“Because our school majority identifies as “White”, it is so important to get to know, learn from, and honor members of our school community who identify as something different than you,” she said.

Recognizing a diverse staff as an asset is critical to helping students feel comfortable. However, expecting these staff to be the only ones to tackle issues of race is problematic, especially when there are currently so few. “At times, without malintent, I feel that I am expected to be ‘the voice’ on female Latino issues. I think it is important to remember that one person cannot speak for an entire group of people,” states Cornejo. Additionally, a staff with few teachers and counselors of color leave students outside of specific ethnic groups to fend for themselves.

At the end of the day, the stains racism has left on society may never fully go away. But, recognizing the importance of diversity, as well as practicing empathy to those who have to deal with it, can go far in helping students of color feel understood, represented, and accepted.

“We should be united. We’re all human,” states Kigozi. However, he also acknowledges that if people are to accomplish that, the privileged have a long way to go.

This is not the whole story.

Head to TheMcHenryMessenger.com after Friday, December 13 for more in-depth conversations related to students of color at MCHS.

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

Volume One | Issue Two | December 2019

Sports

11

Cheering with their arms around each other, the 2018-19 varsity boys basketball team pumps each other up before a game against Marian-Central on November 28, 2018. Last year’s team finished their season with a record of 2-28.

Photo By: VIP

Varsity boys basketball has high hopes for season Following a disappointing 2018-19 season, this year’s boys team looks forward to learning and growing from last year’s mistakes

By Zach Brown @ZachB29_17 Sports Editor

After a disappointing 2018-2019 season, the MCHS boys varsity basketball team aim to bounce back with hopes of once again becoming a competitive force in the FVC.

The team finished with a record of 2-28, placing second to last in conference last season. Instead of allowing last season to cast a negative shadow over them for this season, the Warriors have acknowledged their mistakes, and hopes to put it behind them.

Coming into the season, the Warriors are considerably undersized and young. The starting five will consist of Car-

ter Foat (senior, 5’10), Brett Loeding (senior, 6’0), Adam Benton (junior, 6’3), Kyle Kaempf (sophomore, 5’11), and Matthew Galimore (junior, 6’1).

Foat comes into his second varsity basketball season understanding what makes a ‘winner’. “I feel like the big thing that I learned is that having a team that cares about hard work is a big reason why certain teams win,” he said. “This year as one of the returning seniors, I really want to keep the same energy everyday and show the younger guys what it takes to win.”

While the warriors will attempt to be competitive in the talented FVC, teams like Cary-Grave, Huntley, and Crystal Lake South appear to be the favorites to win the conference. Burlington Central is the

unknown, as it is their first year in the FVC. The “bottom tier” teams would appear to be Prairie Ridge, Jacobs, Crystal Lake Central, and Hampshire.

In order for McHenry to be respected as a true, competitive force—and for their shot at a conference championship—they have been focusing their attention on keeping the same energy throughout the entire game. “Since we are smaller we are going to have to be great in transition, and outrun teams in order to make them tired so they can’t do much on offense or defense,” said Foat.

The Warriors are currently 0-4, and begin conference play on December 4 at an away game when they take on Hampshire. Their first home game is December 7.

Arts and Entertainment

Blizzard Entertainment’s Blitzchung disaster

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Though games can be a refuge from politics, players are entitled to express their opinions just like everyone else

By Hayley DuHamel @duhamelhayley Staff Writer

Over the past couple of months, the American gaming publisher Activision Blizzard has been dealing with a PR nightmare of their own making.

On October 6, at the end of a stream of the Grandmasters Hearthstone Tournament in Taiwan, the professional “Hearthstone” player Ng “Blitzchung” Wai Chung put on a mask like the ones used in the recent Hong Kong protests and said “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times!” while the two broadcasters hid under their desk.

Everything just went downhill from there.

The day after, on October 7, Blizzard banned Chung from playing in the Grandmasters tournament for a whole year, took away all of the prize money he earned during this season, and fired the

When the winning player of the Grandmasters Hearthstone Tournament made a statement supporting Hong Kong’s protests on October 6, Blizzard Entertainment found themselves at the center of a free speech debate.

Photo Courtesy of: Blizzard Entertainment

two broadcasters.

When all of this was released to the public, so many people—Blizzard employees and fans alike—became upset and rioted online about boycotting Blizzard and deleting their online accounts.

They even started to use the beloved “Overwatch” character Mei, who is Chinese, as the symbol for their protests by depicting her with an umbrella, and a face mask both of, which are well known as symbols of the Hong Kong protests.

Many Blizzard employees who staged a walkout protest at Blizzard Headquarters—carrying umbrellas, of course.

There were even two Grandmasters “Hearthstone” casters who quit because of Blizzard’s Hong Kong policy.

The drama even attracted the attention of senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida). According to Wyden, “Blizzard shows it is willing to humiliate itself to please the Chinese

Communist Party. No American company should censor calls for freedom to make a quick buck.” Rubio added, “Recognize what’s happening here. People who don’t live in China must either self censor or face dismissal and suspensions. China using access to market as leverage to crush free speech globally. Implications of this will be felt long after everyone in U.S. politics today is gone.”

If your decision makes Democrats and Republicans come together to repremand you, then you know you messed up really badly.

What Blizzard did was wrong because it is a violation of the freedom of speech. Chung did not break any of Blizzard’s rules or go against their standards, and his punishment did not fit the crime.

Blizzard explained that they banned Chung because what he did was in violation of the Grandmasters Tournament rules, being that he was not allowed to do anything that would disrupt the match or offend anyone. But, he didn’t do or say anything that would fall under any of that criteria.

Blizzard has more recently reduced both Chung’s and the two fired casters’ suspension to six months and gave Chung back his prize money, but they shouldn’t have punished him at all because he was just calling for the freedom of his home, Hong Kong. Likewise, the two broadcasters didn’t do anything to deserve being fired or suspended. They just ducked under their desk knowing that Chung was going to say what he said.

This is a violation of the right to freedom of speech and expression.

Being one of several American companies who bow down to China and it’s censorship due to the Chinese market being worth its weight in gold, Blizzard gave Chung, and those who were present during the stream, a punishment so harsh it is as though China was acting through Blizzard.

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

The Final Four

Volume One | Issue Two | December 2019

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The Final Four

In each issue, we shine the spotlight on a deserving member of our MCHS community by asking them four questions. Get to know Chad Norizsan a junior from West Campus involved in music, theatre, and dance...

By Stacy Correra @stacycorrera Copy Editor

Why is dance important in your life?

It’s a really great form of artistic expression for me. I love being able to express myself in as many creative outlets as possible. Dance is just another way that I can get my feelings and thoughts out there and then artistic format

How do you feel when you’re dancing?

I get into a certain headspace that just like, I’m focused on the dance and then I am just like channeling whatever emotion that dance is supposed to be channeling. And I forget about everything else. And I’m just like focused on that dance. So it’s kind of like to get away and escape from reality.

What is it like to be a boy in dance?

It’s not like dance is an assigned gender thing. Dance is just dance. It’s just moving your body and it shouldn’t be a guy or a girl thing. It should just be something that everybody gets to do, you know?

What’s your favorite part of dance so far this year?

I get to bond with so many different people you wouldn’t expect to meet in the dance room. So I feel like just getting to branch out and really interact with people who share the same interests as I do.

Last Look

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My experience at the showcase was amazing. I thought it was cool to experience the showcase from a dancer’s point of view and not from the audience’s point of view.

- Makayla Hazlett on her first time performing in the dance class’s winter showcase

Photo By: Madison WIse

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

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