CRIER
dec . 17, 2021 volume 58 issue 5
munster high school 8808
columbia
ave. munster, IN
46321
CONGRESS SHALL MAKENOLAW...
PHOTOS BY ATARAH ISRAEL, EJ BOERSMA, ANTHONY YOUNG AND HENRY HOFFERTH
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Students often have to balance using their First Amendment right to free speech online and in public, while also considering the cost it will have on their future. The five freedoms outlined in the First Amendment—freedom of religion, press, assembly, petition and speech—are visible everywhere.
... ABRIDGINGTHE FREEDOMOF SPEECH Students face the implications of political and personal online speech
ATARAH ISRAEL editor-in-chief
T
hough Grace Harris, sophomore, rarely used social media regularly, like any other teenager, she had the urge to check her Instagram at least once a day. This time around, however, the last thing she was expecting to see was a photo of her and her softball friends holding hands. The picture itself was not an anomaly, but the fact that the smiling trio was featured on @ mhscouples was a humorous surprise. “When they (the joke MHS Instagram accounts) first started, people were really upset about it,” Grace said.
“I think once people were able to realize that these are just joke accounts and it’s not meant to bring anyone down or harm anyone. I think it’s just all fun.” Though for some this trend of MHS account posts have been lighthearted ways to engage with the school, they have also sparked a larger conversation about students’ rights and online speech. Much has changed since 1969 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Tinker V. Des Moines that students’ rights don’t end at the school gate. Amidst other major changes, for many students social media has a prime method of getting one’s voice heard. “Free speech (to me means) I have
the right to voice my opinion,” Tobin Thayer, senior, said. “Some things should not be said, but they are. You have your right. Honestly just be courteous with your amendments. The best part of it to me is the freedom of press. I enjoy the fact that the people can find out what the government’s doing, even if it causes them to get in trouble later on. It’s better for the people to know what’s happening.” With the rising popularity of exercising one’s First Amendment rights on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, there also comes the question of deciphering between the realm of social media and reali-
ty. Though this conflict was initially only a concern for professional media, the access almost anyone now has to
voice political speech online has raised questions about social media’s similar effects. “We determine in the media what’s important for the public to consider at any moment, to think about,” Mr. Christopher Benson, associate professor in Medill at Northwestern University and lawyer, said during a lecture about media responsibility. “We make those determinations. You can see now how we’re causing you to think in certain ways.”
Read more on page 4
SEE INSIDE FOR CRIER’S FIRST INSTALLMENT OF
This is
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munster high school crier
SIDENOTE
Speech, Debate gear up for tournaments
Publications Director wins Special Recognition Yearbook Adviser
SOFIA SANCHEZ page editor
Speech to success After an entire year of virtual meets and tournaments, Speech is back to competing in-person. Returning to their typical routines continues to be thrilling for members who missed the experience of in-person competitions. “It was a really different experience doing everything virtually on the computer,” Michael Casner, junior, said. “I fell right back into it when I started my tournaments, but there are some kids who are really nervous about getting back into it.” Munster hosted the Tournament of Champions competition last Saturday. Teams had the opportunity to earn bids to qualify them to compete in the National Tournament of Champions in April. “I think the tournament will give us more time to practice and prepare as well as some good critiques from judges,” Katherine Sheehan, junior, said. “It’s repetition and exposure to new advice and pointers from judges
or other students.” Speech participated in the anticipated Glenbrooks Tournament Nov. 2022. Tournaments like these give the team practice and a grasp of national level competitions and State. Anna Raycroft, vice president and junior, placed fourth in the tournament. “I feel incredibly happy with my placement, I felt like my hard work these past few years has PHOTO BY ANNA EVILSIZOR paid off,” Anna TAKE A BREATH Competing at a mock Speech Tournament after school, said. “I had a Kameryn Hubbard, sophomore, practices her Poetry speech. “I breathe blast and it was and listen to pumped music trying to get my adrenaline up,” Kameryn said. really nice to “(Placing first at State) was wonderhave that supful and we’d all like for that to happen port from the team.” Last year, Speech and Debate teams again,” Katherine said. “The work isn’t won first place at State. The goal re- always exciting, but I know that it will mains the same this year. pay off in the end.”
Debaters at districts
PHOTO BY ANNA EVILSIZOR
BRAINSTORM Preparing their cases, freshman partners Luna Gutierrez and Pemi Ogunjimi, practice for the next tournament. Even though they are in their first year on Debate, the two will attend State and Districts for Public Forum.
It’s 5 a.m. and the sun has barely risen. Crisp, bitter air hits the Debate team as they sluggishly climb onto the bus. Hopes of dominating in the next tournament serves as motivation for the team. Instead of last year’s familiar routine of blazer on top and pajamas on the bottom, Debate must arrive early to tournaments and see competitors faceto-face. “After a round you can’t just log off, you have to walk out with your partner,” Maddi Bell, senior, said. “You have to see your opponents as you’re walking out. You have to see the other teams. It’s definitely been an adjustment, but it’s been really fun to hang out with my team in-person.”
Three weeks ahead of State, Debate will be taking part in Fishers Forensic Festival Jan. 8. Its closeness in time to State makes the tournament more significant. In addition, Debate will face teams from farther down state. “At Fishers, my partner and I are hoping to try out some new affirmative cases that we’ve been thinking of working on over winter break,” Ajitesh Lalam, junior, said. “Testing them out will be a good experiment to see the effectiveness of the cases and make any adjustments to them if necessary.” Though pressure is placed upon them to succeed and qualify for State and Nationals, members find that their work is worthwhile. “It’s rewarding for what we’re able to accomplish,” Keira Hawk, senior, said. “In the end, I know it’s worth it for how well we do.”
DECA prepares for Districts
After nearly 10 years of advising Paragon, the school’s yearbook, and Crier, the school’s newspaper, Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman, publications adviser, has been awarded Special Recognition Yearbook Adviser of the Year from the Journalism Education Association. This award recognizes Ms. Lanman’s support in documenting diverse perspectives and her dedication to scholastic journalism. “Winning this award would not be possible without the hard work of my students, who always work insanely hard to get their publications into the hands of the student body,” Ms. Lanman said. “It also wouldn’t be possible with the support of the administration, who trust me and my students to do real, honest and professional journalism.” Ms. Lanman will be honored at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Los Angeles in April. “I am always so happy I get to do such cool and creative stuff, and it’s incredibly nice to be recognized for all the hard work that I put in alongside the staff,” she said.
BACK IN BUSINESS During practice, Amelia Konstantinopoulos, senior and club and Region 1 president, and seniors and vice presidents of leadership Alison Lee, and Basilia Kostopanagiotou explain how events work as they give instructions to a practice test. “(There is) definitely a new atmosphere of new members than I’ve seen in the past. It is exciting that they want to do well,” Amelia said.
GAGE HOEKSTRA
PR manager
After missing a year of in-person events, DECA saw a decrease in membership. With Districts at Ivy Tech in Valparaiso Jan. 15, DECA has been ramping up its practice schedule. “More than anything, this is a rebuilding year,” Amelia Konstantinopoulos, senior and club and Region 1 president, said. “Last year was a struggle for everyone, but we pushed on through and this year I think we are going to do even better. We have the numbers and skills to
PHOTO BY EJ BOERSMA
BOOKIN’ IT Standing outside her classroom, Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman holds all the yearbooks she’s worked on, including the 2005 Paragon on which she was editor-in-chief.
PHOTO BY AVA TUCKER
really try and make it as far as we can, and I’m excited to see how that turns out.” This year, DECA has seen a resurgence of interest in the club, with students quickly beginning to refill its ranks. DECA features two types of events, written and roleplay. Roleplay competitors are given a business sce-
nario with specific objectives and have to create a presentation. Written events involve writing a pair and presenting it. DECA has been practicing these events starting Dec. 8. Yesterday, the team practiced role plays with leadership judging in preparation for Districts “It takes a lot to qualify,” Mr. Ryan
Popa, business teacher and club sponsor, said. “The highlight of the season is always getting to travel for Districts and State, and the kids really work for it. Our goal is to send as many people to Atlanta (Internationals) as possible.” Seeking to raise money for the team’s upcoming competitions, DECA held its Dec. 1 Chipotle fundraiser. “We put a whole lot of effort into advertising the event,” George Dovellos, sophomore, said. “I saw a lot of DECA kids there, and I really think a lot of us made an effort to go.”
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Maybe we aren’t all
speaking the same language
CREATING CRAFTS Putting together corn husks dolls, Autumn Koszegi, junior, and sophomores Addyson O’Brien and Avery Streeter participate in the Spanish Club meeting. Dec. 9. “It’s really fun talking to all my friends in Spanish,” Autumn said.
MOLDING MEMORIES Setting up supplies to mix salt dough, Ms. Hannah Fus, Caityln Klos, senior, and Jilli Childs, junior, lead the ASL club in making ornaments for their Dec. 14 meeting.
SIDENOTE
Best Buddies celebrates holiday event
Recently celebrating their Dec. 12 holiday event, Best Buddies made ornaments, decorated festive cookies and watched a movie. This was the club’s fourth event of the year, with sponsors Ms. Hannah Fus, ASL teacher, and Mrs. Anne Copp, math teacher, having organized one per month since September, alongside club members. “It was a ton of fun and the cookies were delicious,” Max Lindenmayer, senior and peer buddy, said. “(Best Buddies) is fun, it’s easy, it’s not hard to do and it just makes you feel good.”
PHOTOS BY KRISTEN BAURAIN & HENRY HOFFERTH
A CAKEWALK Judging a table with cakes, Erica Franco, freshman, and seniors Rebecca Franco, Sophia Brunetti, Maya Queroz and Regan Newby participate in French Club’s Dec. 14 Buche de Noel competition.
Language clubs discuss upcoming activities and reflect on purpose JOSEPHINE MITTELBERGER business manager
Whether it is the holidays or enjoying a treat, the language clubs allow students to indulge in language and culture associated with it. Each club focuses on using the extra time to make cultural connections that aren’t available in a class period.
ASL Club
ASL is trying to get into a regular monthly meeting schedule. There, they can host meetings with a Deaf community—an unofficial group that has established similar meetings with the sponsor in previous years. This program allows students to be more aware of their expressions. “It’s really cool to see students go to a Deaf event for the first time,” Ms. Hannah Fus, ASL Club sponsor, said.
“It’s almost like going in and immersing yourself in (the language).” This opportunity allows students to take what they’ve learned and apply it to the real world. Students can improve with clearer communication of thoughts and emotions. “I tend to build more social skills when taking ASL because it’s such a personal language,” Jim Ferguson, junior and Leadership Board member of ASL Club, said.
French Club
they once knew. Going to Madame Jennifer Kennedy-Cole, they began to build the club. “I definitely became way more involved in it than I ever thought I would,” Rebecca said. Without native speakers and authentic local restaurants, the presidents find issues with content. “It would be awesome to possibly look for French connections in nearby communities, but…it’s almost impossible,” Carsyn said. “We work on finding videos of first-hand accounts and encourage studying abroad programs.”
Though French Club did not exist in the 2019-2020 school year, Rebecca Fran- Spanish Club co and Carsyn Sobczak, A language club that current seniors and presi- helps represent nearly 27% dents, stepped in last year of MHS’s 2020-2021 student to establish the French Club body, Spanish club cele-
CyberPatriot awaits results of State REENA ALSAKAJI story editor
On Dec. 12, CyberPatriot members attended their State competition all day. Though official scores are not released until around a week following the tournament, the club has high hopes. In a normal competition, there are two challenges: one involves fixing vulnerabilities in Windows and Linux, and the other involves a quiz and networking exercise. Though competitions last at least six hours, this does not deter the members from success. “I think the most interest-
ing thing is the challenge,” Gabby Nieves, senior, said. “The challenges have been getting harder. I also want to eventually be able to teach other people because I have a good grasp on what I do.” Holding two platinum bracket teams, one gold division and two silver division teams, the top 25% in each class will qualify for Semi-finals Jan. 21-22. Sponsored by the Air Force, the club attends competition with challenges get progressively harder. Getting stuck in the middle is not unprec-
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brates Hispanic and Latinx cultures. The club wishes to cover more local examples of Hispanic culture like the Pilsen murals in Chicago. “It’s important that this school has this club because I know Munster is a surprisingly diverse place,” Miguel Gambetta, senior and co-president, said. “It’s important that it’s an outlet.” Through Spanish Club, students can share a language that students may not understand or know as well. “Spanish Club has helped me appreciate the culture of Spanish speaking countries,” Marissa Slivka, senior and co-president, said. “(It) has helped me to better understand others and their backgrounds, and has made me a more well-rounded and understanding individual.”
Robotics continues to use Fab Lab resources
Walking into a room of opportunities, Robotics sets up equipment to produce their own work after being open for more than a month. According to Austin Beetson, junior, students can come in and learn about things they wouldn’t be able to otherwise, such as using a laser engraver or a 3D printer. On Dec. 9 Robotics had tool training. Their season officially kicks off Jan. 8. “The (Fab Lab) gives us many different opportunities we weren’t able to get with our old workshop,” Antonio Cantu, senior, said. “It will be a great help for when our season starts.”
PHOTO BY EJ BOERSMA
HARD AT WORK Deciphering images, Lorenzo Gutierrez, senior, and Stephen Glombicki, freshman, explain how they prepare for a competition. “(We) look at and use lots of practice images,” Lorenzo said. PHOTO BY HENRY HOFFERTH
edented and the club acts as a learning experience for all the members. The club brings together students with a common interest in computer science. “Having clubs like these not only making people
PHOTO BY ANTHONY YOUNG
‘TIS THE SEASON Using a brush, Peyton Collier, senior, paints ornaments with Camille Renwald, young adult of the STEP program, at the Best Buddies Holiday Event.
more aware of how cybersecurity works but it’s also giving students experience in how to be more aware of your own security,” Ayush Arora, junior, said. “It’s a new experience, and it feels more special.”
CAUTION Training students how to use the circular saw, Amelia Konstantinopoulos, senior, teaches equipment safety. Amelia has been helping Robotics members get their training certification for the Fab Lab.
Corrections
On page 2, the “Band by the numbers” story should add to a total of 82. On page 7, the subhead for “Women in Sports” should say “Title IX.” On page 8, the quote from Evanthia Fotopoulos, sophomore, should read, “High school is the time in your life when you’re trying to figure out who you are and you’re also trying to figure out what other people expect.” Crier regrets these errors.
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INF O C US
munster high school crier
Continued from front
For students, reality and social media often intersect in the form of school punishment or censorship. Especially in a school environment, punishment for online expression is still a developing phenomenon—in 2017, then freshman Mahanoy Area High School student Brandi Levy faced a year-long suspension for posting a frustrated Snapchat story about her school and cheer team. More recently, students at Oregon High School staged a walkout after two teachers promoting an anti-LGBTQ organization were reinstated. During the demonstration, two students and one teacher were arrested due to the protest turning violent. “Online (I think schools should) have zero (control),” Tobin said. “We are not in school, you have no authority over really anything. You have no authority over me when I am at my house. If I’m holding a sign in front of my lawn saying f--- MHS, you can’t do s---. But, as soon as I step on that sidewalk, interfering with the school, then that becomes a problem.” In 2021, after Brandi’s parents sued the school, the Supreme Court ruled in her favor. Despite this, this case
remains relevant for students everywhere—during the ruling the Court also decided that schools can “categorically punish” student speech outside of school, if it “found its way into school,” according to Mr. Brett Johnson, assistant professor of journalism studies in the Missouri School of Journalism. “If a student made a threat on social media...a school could take that seriously and punish the student for it to try to protect the safety of students, especially in what many scholars call the school shooting generation, sadly,” Mr. Johnson said. For many students this case hits close to home: whether political or personal, the fear of being haunted by online mistakes is real. Embarrassing photos or mistaken remarks caught by watchful eyes can lead to a lifetime struggle, even if humorous in the moment. The challenge of being tagged or posted without consent has become a major dilemma. For Luka Stepanovich, senior, the trend of joke MHS Instagram accounts is an example of this. “I think that they’re (the MHS Instagram accounts) very classless,”
Luka Stepanovich, senior, said. “This lot of people aren’t talking to people isn’t ‘Gossip Girl.’ No one cares. I do that they don’t know already, and think that it’s a great thing that we can it’s a good way to meet new people stay in touch with each other. It’s just a or see different sides of people they matter of some people posting content didn’t know. I do see how it could that’s tasteless, inappropriate or maybe harm other people, because there are just misinterpreting what someone is some pages about confessions, and saying on the init’s just spreading ternet.” rumors and lies.” Though this The challenge of trend of MHS using speech for stuaccount posts dents is not just limhave been lightited to social media hearted ways to posts or retweets. engage with the Striking a balance school, for others between expressing their effects aponeself freely online — LUKA STEPONOVICH and pear to do more maintaining SENIOR common courtesy is harm than good. For Nneka Onia constant teeter-totah, sophomore, being featured on ter emphasized by the school envi@mhs.slump three times was not a ma- ronment. jor cause for concern, though she un“Freedom of speech is the ability to derstood why some of her peers would speak freely,” Luka said. “I think this be frustrated. Other accounts, such as country should probably be a little bit the now deleted @mhscouples and @ more censored. Hate speech should mhsconfessions, received mixed reac- never be allowed, especially from tion. representatives as we are seeing now. “I thought it was funny,” Nneka said. I do think that we should draw the “I think it’s just a lighthearted joke. A line somewhere.”
“
This country should be a little more censored...I do think we should draw the line somewhere.
How to read Crier Navigating a typical issue of your student newspaper, explained ALISON LEE
deadline manager
Sections
The different sections range from front, news, opinion, review, sports, infocus and student life. These are labeled by page tops.
Headlines
Headlines are the title of the story–it can catch your attention and prompt readers to read the story.
What are the different stories on opinion?
Editorial is the staff opinion, and a column is of an individual staff member. Headlines are different sizes to help eyes go to the biggest elements first.
Main stories have the largest title on the page, secondary Briefs are short news stories are the next stories meant to pro- biggest title and briefs are the smallest. vide a quick update.
Briefs
What is our purpose?
IL LU S T R AT
IO N BY A LI
S O N LE E
It is a co-curricular where students are passionately and creatively motivated to produce a paper that functions as a connection among the MHS community and a record of history. Crier is meant to make people feel seen. As a public forum newspaper, the students decide what is published and what deserves coverage.
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O P INIO N
MHS has a student population 1,616—that’s 1,616 distinct voices, with countless perspectives and experiences. Crier will highlight these voices in our new special series
This is
which will be four installments— starting now and continuing through April.
Under pressure Guest column by
SARAH ESPIRITU
CARTOON BY KRISTEN BAURAIN
A
Consider the cost
t a critical point in their lives, teenagers face a unique challenge from the moment they step foot on MHS grounds. But the issue starts even before this — Growing up with a push towards the internet around early middle school, students have both the blessing of being able to freely publish their own thoughts as well as the frightening responsibility. It is easy for many students to hide from certain limits under the disguise of the internet. Though students know that types of speech can result in consequences, there is another line between absolute freedom and strict regulations. For example, students care more about free speech when it impacts them directly. With the trends of Instagram accounts like @mhscouples and @mhsslumped, more students may be talking about free speech rights now more than ever. As an issue becomes more local and begins to impact students directly, the more they are exposed to the First Amendment. Take the Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. as a reference: when a young cheerleader openly used profanity on social media in frustration after not making the JV cheer team, and the school suspended her from the team for a whole year—simply because of her social media post. The court sided with the cheerleader, but the school’s initial drastic action portrays the idea that speech on the internet is permanent. However, there is still a difference between the cheerleader instance versus that of everyday life in Munster—for example,
CRIER
pushed out into the internet at a young when students post non-consensual, age, we cannot solely attribute the lack but (technically) legal photos during of agency to naivety. Freedom to say school hours. whatever and post whenever may have The recent joke MHS accounts limits, but there are moments in which have sparked chatter throughout the students have to go beyond those preschool. To some students, having picset conditions. tures posted of them is nothing more While there is a lot of disagreement than a joke. For others, it has brought on when free speech impedes the rights about the question of whether or not of others, there is a missing pre-estabstudents have the right to post certain lished societal rule to destroy the barphotos. Though this trend was only rier allowing others to hide recently sparked at MHS, from consequences under the idea of taking photos social media. Through of others and repostsocial media, students ing them is common Students need to throughout schools. learn to walk the fine are rarely aware when their photo is being takThe content of the phoen, and these photos can tos can range from be- line between free ing lighthearted and speech and harming now be widely distributed. Treating people’s joking to flat-out depersonal boundaries in rogatory and ill-man- their peers. the same manner as you nered. would in-person is crucial, and hiding While many students consider this behind the barrier of an Instagram aca violation of privacy and leaves some count does not exempt responsibility. students feeling vulnerable, the burThere is no clear-cut way to establish den of restricting such speech does not boundaries, but it is a balancing act befall on the administrator’s shoulders. tween individual liberties and a generAdditionally, photographers have a al respect for others’ rights to privacy. right to take photos of others in a pubAs a rule, students have to toe the line lic space. There are moments when when considering an issue of locality— people think nothing of having their posting about a school or someone atphoto taken in public when it is by tending that school, for example, elicits a trusted source, but the level of dismore consequences than posting about comfort increases when at the hands an issue of greater distance, both physiof random students, even though cally and metaphorically. they are technically not prohibited. So By creating limitations outside of where is the line drawn? what is technically legal, students are The limitations to solving this issue promoting a greater sense of awareness do not account for the people’s intenas they preserve the security and comtions, whether they are harmful or fort of others. not. Though this generation has been
Crier, Munster High School’s official student newspaper, may be reached via mail at 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321; via phone at 219-836-3200, ext. 3443; or via fax at 219-836-3202. Crier is published through the Honors Newspaper Advanced Writing and Editing classes and extra-curricular involvement. Crier’s official website is accessible at www.mhsnews.net. •The newspaper serves as a public forum and two-way communication for the school and community. •Crier is a source of information, entertainment, advertising and opinion for the student body, faculty, administration and community •Published material will stress objective reporting except on the editorial page where opinion writing will be featured. All published material will stress accuracy, integrity, honesty, responsibility, objectivity, fairness and independence. Corrections, when necessary, will be published on page 2. •Opinions expressed in the newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the School Town of Munster, faculty or administration. •Letters to the editor and reader suggestions are welcomed,
OUR TAKE
but should be limited to 250 words. All letters must be signed and should be either emailed to the editor (tahlee20@gmail. com), given directly to any staff member or delivered to the Publications room, N155, one week prior to publication. Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual. Editors reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, and grammatical errors. Crier will accept letters from anyone, provided that the content pertains to school or school issues. Feedback may also be submitted on Twitter @munstermedia. •Mailed subscriptions cost $25 per year. Digital issues can be found on issuu.com. Crier is published 11 times a school year. Ad rates and policies are available to anyone upon request.
Our Staff
Editor-in-Chief Atarah Israel Deadline Manager Alison Lee Photography Schedulers, Trainers & Equipment Managers Anthony Young, EJ Boersma
No one is denying that every teenager in 2021 is held to high expectations, whether that be from their teachers, peers, parents or themselves. The pressures of our future push us to succeed, yet burdens us with adult issues that we are not trained to handle. As a junior in high school, I am within the peak of what it means to be a teenager of this day and age. However, I will not be speaking on the general trials and tribulations of the average teen, because that is not all that I face. I am a 16-yearold girl, navigating life through a warped lens that is the mental health experience as an Asian-American teenager. From a young age, my mother installed a drive in me that allows me to achieve great things, but if left unchecked, could spiral out of control. Since third grade, my mom ensured that I had straight A’s, enrolled me in the “gifted and talented” program and put me in many extracurricular activities. I appreciate that she did not want me to fail, yet that mindset is deeply embedded in my character. Now that I am older, she doesn’t push as hard, despite her strictness. Now that I have been primed for success, I have become my greatest critic. Many of my peers resonate with the idea of “academic validation.” However, my issue progresses further than that. Not only do I want validation from my teachers and test scores, I want validation in every aspect of my life, including in sports, relationships, clubs, and ultimately society. This need to please everyone around me is rooted in the expectations my parents held me to when I was seven. Growing up in an immigrant household, I have been told the possibilities of what I could do. I have been told what I cannot and should not do. I have been told what I must do. I grew up conflicted, feeling guilty that I was not doing more, when my mother sacrificed her family to live in America where she and her children could be whatever they wanted to be. I also feel tired, that I am working myself into an unhealthy state and I never have time to breathe. I don’t want to write a narrative that makes the Asian experience overwhelming; however, when it comes to the matter of asking for help, it’s difficult to be heard. In my experience, mental health does not exist. My mother says, “It’s all in your head.” Yes, mom, it is all in my head—which is exactly the problem.
Visual Editor Henry Hofferth PR Manager Gage Hoekstra Story Editor Reena Alsakaji Photography Expert & Source Manager Anna Evilsizor Business Manager Josephine Mittelberger Design Chief Alexis Perez Page Editors Lauren Hoogeveen, Sofia Sanchez Cartoonist & Photographer Kristen Baurain Adviser Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman
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munster high school crier
Crier staff reviews the process and taste of homemade cookie recipes for the holiday season ALISON LEE & LAUREN HOOGEVEEN
deadline manager and page editor
Lemon-Cranberry cookies RECIPE FROM FOOD NETWORK
Review: The lemon-cranberry cookies were a great way to incorporate a holiday meal staple into a dessert. The shortbread-like dough was simple to make and required a short preparation time. These cookies would be great to make if you wanted to bake something tasty and unique, yet relatively simple. Crier staffers seemed to disagree while trying the lemon-cranberry cookies—people who like tart desserts and people who dislike them. The
Gingerbread cookies RECIPE FROM NYT COOKING
Review: A controversial holiday classic, the gingerbread cookie recipe we used included molasses, which none of us have worked with before. After reading the recipe a dozen times and a couple worried taste tests, we added the molasses, butter and sugar mixture
cookies were very similar to scones, so they were not very sweet and had a very dominant lemon flavor, in addition to the sour cranberries. Other staffers noted the outside of the cookie was very hard and the flavor was not evenly distributed. For next time, we would chop the cranberries into smaller pieces and add more confectioners’ sugar to the glaze to make it sweeter. Another suggestion was to also make the cookies flatter and put a jelly layer in between two cookies, creating a sandwich. After adjusting the recipe to your desired sourness-level, these cookies would be great to impress your family and friends. Ingredients: • 3 cups of flour • ½ tsp baking powder • ½ tsp salt CRANBERRIES • 2 sticks of butter • 1 cup granulated sugar
Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. 2. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a bowl with a mixer until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Beat in the lemon zest. Beat in the flour mixture until completely combined, then fold in 1 ½ cups chopped cranberries. 3. Scoop the dough into golf ball-size balls and arrange two inches apart on baking sheets. Gently press the remaining ½ cup chopped
into the rest of our dough. Shaping our dough into little gingerbread men and sending them off to the oven, we gathered our icing to decorate. To Crier staffers’ surprise, the smell of the gingerbread cookies had a stronger scent than the actual cookie’s taste. Staffers believed that the gingerbread cookies could have had more of a crunch and stiff texture rather than flexible and soft. These cookies are great for decorating and eating, but not for building. Staffers agreed that it felt as if something were missing, but the cookies still fulfilled our sweet tooth. If we were to make these again, we would add a little more spice and roll the cookie dough thinner to make them more crisp. If you’re looking for a challenge and have plenty of time to let the gingerbread men rest before baking, then these cookies are for you.
mix in baking soda and ¼ cup cold Ingredients: water. • 1 cup light brown sug2. Add and mix egg, salt, baking ar powder, ginger, cinnamon and • 1 cup light molasses cloves. Add 4 cups flour and mix • 1 cup vegetable well, add ½ cup more if dough shortening ICING seems sticky. Shape into a ball, cov• 1 tbsp baking soda er and refrigerate for 2-24 hours. • 1 egg, lightly beaten 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On • ¼ tsp salt a lightly floured surface, roll out • 2 tsps baking powto ¼-inch thickness, and cut into der gingerbread shapes. Arrange 1 ½ • 1 tbsp ground ginGINGER inches apart on parchment paper ger and bake about 10 minutes. • ½ tsp ground cinnamon • ½ tsp ground cloves rating: • 4 to 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour • Royal icing and cinnamon candies for decorating difficulty: Directions: 1. Combine brown sugar, molasses and shortening in a pan. Place over medium-low heat and stir untime: til melted. Remove from heat and
to add a crunchy exterior texture. We recommend adding in extra butter RECIPE FROM BETTY CROCKER and baking it for six minutes to retain moisture. The cookies, Crier staff found, had layers of flavor. Each bite presented a wave of sugar, then cinnamon. However, some disliked the crumbliness, and would have preferred it to be more sturdy. Furthermore, the cookie is a basic staple, so eating it Review: The snickerdoodle cookies were wasn’t as exciting. Therefore, one star easy and quick: just grab one of Betty was deducted from the rating. This classic cookie is perfect for a Crocker’s sugar cookie mix, put in a few home ingredients and bake. last-minute dessert for a holiday party, We decided to coat the cookies in or if you want something extra sweet sugar and cinnamon before baking to go with your holiday cheer.
Snickerdoodle cookies
• 2 large eggs • 2 tbsp lemon zest & ¼ cup lemon juice • 2 cups of cranberries • 2 cups confectioners sugar
LEMONS
cranberries into the tops of each cookie. Bake until slightly golden around the edges, 15 to 17 minutes. 4. Make the glaze: put the confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk in the lemon juice and remaining one tablespoon lemon zest until smooth. Drizzle on the cookies and let set.
rating:
difficulty:
time:
balls in it. On greased cookie sheets, Ingredients: place balls two inches apart. • 1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crock3. Bake seven to nine minutes or until er™ sugar cookie mix edges are set. Cool one minute. Cool • Butter and egg called for on completely, about 30 minutes. cookie mix pouch for drop cookies • 3 tbsps sugar rating: • 1 ½ tsps ground cinnamon • Betty Crocker™ red CINNAMON a n d green decorating icings, if difficulty: desired Directions: 1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cooktime: ie mix, softened butter and egg. 2. Shape dough into 36 balls. Mix sugPHOTOS BY ANNA EVILSIZOR ar and cinnamon and roll dough GRAPHICS BY LAUREN HOOGEVEEN
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DE C . 17, 2021
munster high school crier
George Harrison’s
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All Things Must Pass IER S CR RECORD
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Crier reviews former Beatles solo albums after “Get Back” ANTHONY YOUNG
photography trainer
To complement the release of “Get Back,” a documentary about the last days of the Beatles released on Disney+, we’re exploring each member of the Beatles first solo album after the breakup, excluding Ringo Starr because I feel his solo work was not as memorable. The artists’ solo work after the Beatles is just as interesting as the work they produced before
they left. Each album showcases the individual talents that each former member possessed. The breakdown of the Beatles in 1970 allowed each artist to expand on their unique sound, not being held back by their interpersonal relationships,as seen in “Get Back.” This resulted in three timeless albums, each unique in their own way.
Ram
George Harrison’s first solo album after the breakup of The Beatles, “All Things Must Pass” is one that will be remembered for a long time. Released in 1970, the album highlights the sounds that Harrison wanted to put out with the Beatles, but never could. As seen in “Get Back,” songs like “My Sweet Lord,” “What Is Life” and “Isn’t It Pity” were originally proposed to the Beatles, but the band did not want to use them. With this in mind, it is cool to see those songs thrive with the release of the album. “All Things Must Pass” is Harrison’s magnum opus filled with great
Paul McCartney’s
What Is Life *FAVORITE TRACK
John Lennon’s
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Technically, Paul McCartney’s first solo album after the breakup was “McCartney,” but it was produced mostly while the Beatles were still together. Coming out in December 1971, McCartney’s second studio, “Ram,” received negative criticism at first release and was regarded as self-indulgent. McCartney used instruments and recording methods that were unconventional at the time. Even former band mate, Ringo Starr, said at the time that “the album sounds like Paul is going strange.” Looking back with a modern eye, “Ram” was ahead of its time and is even looked upon as a predecessor in the indie-pop genre. “Ram” is the perfect album for keeping you in a good mood. In this album McCartney masters his rhythmic style while experimenting with sounds that were considered “strange” at the time
songs. His most popular song, “My Sweet Lord,” is heavily influenced by his search for spiritual enlightenment and his desire to become close to God. The album as a whole is filled with upbeat songs like “Wah-Wah” and “What Is Life,” both personal favorites. In addition, the album also has calmer songs, my favorite being “All Things Must Pass.” This is an album that is artfully balanced and flows flawlessly, perfectly highlighting Harrison’s sound. For all these reasons, “All Things Must Pass” deserves nothing less than a five out of five.
— from the upbeat piano melody, to his unconventional lyricism, this album immerses you in the mind of one of the most influential artists in music history. All of the songs are catchy and include fun instrumentals, my favorite being the ukulele in “Ram On.” Creating a raw sound with instruments not commonly used then, he is able to create a unique, fun mood throughout the album. The use of interesting instruments accompanied by McCartney’s unique vocals and tempo changes make an album that certainly was ahead of its time. Parts of some of the songs sound like they were recorded in a shed, and although this may have been intentional, adding to the farm feel McCartney was shooting for, it leaves them feeling unfinished. Because of this, I rate “Ram” four vinyls instead of five.
Uncle Albert /Admiral Halsey *FAVORITE TRACK
Plastic Ono Band “Plastic Ono Band” is a look into John Lennon’s angsty and isolationist outlook on life. Songs like “Working Class Hero” give a pessimistic view on how society would like people to live their lives. A prominent example of this includes the line: “When they’ve tortured and scared you for 20 odd years.” In addition, songs like “Isolation” speak on how Lennon believes in nothing but himself. While this album is heavy with edgy lyrics, other songs are full of love and care. “Hold on” is a song of comfort for Lennon’s partner at the time, Yoko Ono.
Overall, “Plastic Ono Band” is an album full of Lennon’s raw emotion. My favorite song was “Hold On,” because of how mellow it was. However, the random ad lib on “Hold On” sometimes scares me as it comes out of nowhere. We gave this album three out of five vinyls. Although it is extremely influential and has some of Lennon’s best works, it starts to fall off towards the end of the album with songs that I would never go back to listen to. The angst also becomes somewhat overbearing. “Plastic Ono Band” was not necessarily for me, but others may find it a nice listen.
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Hold On *FAVORITE TRACK
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DE C . 17, 2021
INF O C US
munster high school crier
What can YOU do?
A Guide to Hallway Etiquette
Always stay on the RIGHT side of the hallway. Follow the flow of traffic. Don’t push or shove. Pay attention to your surroundings. Be considerate of other’s space.
PHOTO BY KRISTEN BAURAIN
PHOTO BY KRITSTEN BAURAIN PHOTO BY KRISTEN BAURAIN
HALLWAY HUDDLE Taking and laughing with one another, a group of students catch up before class in North by the Resource Room.
Students and staff discuss issues they’ve seen in the hallways, the possible causes of congestion and their theories on how to fix them KRISTEN BAURAIN photographer
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he bell rings, launching you into the long trek from Algebra to AP Psychology. You power walk around clumps of chatting students and fight the torrent of underclassmen pouring down the wrong side of the hallway. After being jostled and shoved, you finally emerge into North—only to be waylaid behind a group of slow walkers, four-wide. “Chaotic is the best word to describe it,” Madeline McFeely, senior, said. “One thing I’ve noticed especially is people not walking on the right side of the hallway and going against the flow of traffic. The passing periods are a mess.” According to Madeline and many others, the peaceful hallways from eLearning last year have thrown the return of the chaotic status-quo into sharp relief. It’s not only seniors, the one remaining class to experience a full year of high school pre-covid, who have had to readjust to passing period pandemonium. “I think it’s gotten a lot worse this
year than it was last year, the hallways are definitely a lot crazier. Like, I seem to bump into a person at least every day,” Eden Cook, sophomore, said. Adding to the confusion are freshmen and eLearners who are new to the building and its rules. With the ev-
those norms are,” Mrs. Kristin LaFlech, business teacher, said. “I think even juniors and seniors need to be refreshed on etiquette and how we act in the hallway.” Mrs. LaFlech is forced to be extra aware of hallway hazards due to her recent knee replacement surgery. As one of the many members of MHS who has difficulty navigating during passing periods, she voiced concern for anyone with handicaps or sensory issues. “The thought of walking in the hallways gives me a sort of anxiety,” Mrs. LaFlech said. “I have to wait until all the students are clear. If one of them nicks my leg, I’m going down. I could not imagine if, say, I had special — MRS. LAFLECH needs—being out in the hallway all the BUSINESS TEACHER time, it would just be a sensory overload.” er-changing adjustments expected of Some areas are worse than oththe student body after covid, learning ers—especially on the North side of basic hallway etiquette (like walking the school, intersections, and around on the right side of the hallway or fol- the lunchroom. “Funnel” areas that lowing traffic flow) has taken some- bottleneck traffic, like the entrance to thing of a backseat, Madeline says. North, are particularly crowded. But “This is the first time our freshmen according to Mrs. LaFlech, this issue and sophomores are learning what runs deeper than logistics and crowd
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People bump into you, and there’s no apology, there’s no sorry. It’s like boom, I will bring you down with me.
flow—it’s a social problem at its core, she says. The disorder in the hallways is a uniquely high-school experience, and many students share her observations. “I feel like once you get out in a public or office setting, people have had enough life experience to know proper etiquette, and just to know when to stay on the right side—you walk at a normal pace. But in the high school hallways, people still haven’t had that life experience,” Madeline said. MHS has an enrollment of 1,616. Packing such a large number of 14-18-year-olds into a small space inevitably creates a culture of chaos that has made many students feel unsafe— over a quarter, according to a recent Crier survey. “It’s a learned behavior, you know?” Mrs. LaFlech said. “Nobody pays attention. It’s just a lack of fundamental understanding of social norms.” At the same time, passing periods have become an essential part of the school day. It is how Munster students develop this much-needed social awareness. With eLearning and cancellations last year, students jump at the
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DE C . 17, 2021
munster high school crier
INF O C US
Traffic Report PHOTO BY KRITSTEN BAURAIN
Do you ever feel unsafe in the hallways?
A HERO’S JOUNREY Juniors Matthew Barnard, Alexis Burleson and Ava Cheffer walk through the hallways on the way from 4th to 5th hour. This particular area by the mural on the north side of the school is often one of the most congested hallways.
25.3% Yes
74.7 % No
What do you think is the main issue with hallway crowding? 6.1% New people in the building
48.5% Loitering
1% Predetermined routes from last year
44.4% Inconsiderate people
Source: Crier Survey of 99 students on Google Form from Dec. 1-7
chance, however small, to reconnect with peers again outside a classroom environment. “The social piece is so important,” Mrs. LaFlech said. “That’s where (students) learn social norms and I think that that’s so vital.” According to MHS students and staff like Mr. Dillion Thompson, science teacher, covid has made it more obvious than ever that hallway traffic needs improvement, but equally clear that students need social time—so how can students be allowed to reconnect without crowding one another? “I would say wider hallways,” Mr. Thompson said. “But I don’t think that’s an option. Or maybe, having four lunch hours instead of three. Block scheduling might make it less frequent. But those are pretty major changes, I don’t think any of it would be worth it.” Other ideas for curbing the chaos range from simple to innovative: changing routes, shorter passing periods, allowing seniors to cut outside, and many more. Amidst the creative stew of possibilities, one overarching solution emerges—each student mak-
ing an effort to be more aware of their surroundings and consider others. “People don’t respect each other’s space, sometimes. Or they don’t slow down to let other people cross. Or other times people will group together in big clumps, and you can’t get through. It’s just because you’re not noticing, and only being focused on the people around you,” Eden said. “I think you should just pay attention to what’s happening around you while you’re having a conversation. Just make sure you aren’t blocking anyone’s path.” Most of the problems that cause congestion in the hallways—people not following the flow of traffic, blocking others, pushing, congregating in large groups, walking slowly, etc.—could be resolved with a simple thought: Am I being considerate to the other people around me? “Want to talk? Walk and talk. If you’re with a group, try not to spread out across a whole hallway. Don’t block other people. Don’t just randomly stop, and if you do want to stop and talk, pull back to an area that’s not super crowded,” Madeline said. “Just be polite.”
10 Thrown for a hoop DE C . 17, 2021
S P O RTS
munster high school crier
Girls’ Basketball plays during the height of their season with a record of 6-6
portant one, bringing the team to their first conference win with a current conference record of 6-6. It was a game the girls were looking forward to, desiring to show off their skills following the start of their seaREENA ALSAKAJI son. story editor “I think our team this season has strugThe crowd backed up. gled to find itself because we lost a lot of Standing at the free throw line with her seniors last year,” Zoie Bailey, senior, said. team backed against her, Trinity Hogge, “The Hobart game showed us that we have junior, prepared to make six free throw gotten to the point where we are figuring it shots in a row by herself. Hearing the out and still doing good without those past shouts of her own team and the opposing players.” side, Hobart, in the distance, Hogge nevWith a current record of 6-6, the girls beer felt more nervous. But as she made all gan their season in a tough spot, but the six shots, the surrounding stares fell away Hobart victory was a turning point. This and Hogge never felt more relieved with year, the team has focused on specific skill the roaring cheers of her teammates in trisets to prepare. At practice, the girls run umph. drills, scrimmage and watch plays from “Everyone was cheering so much and I other teams. felt so special,” Hogge said. “It was proba“It has been difficult finding out what bly one of my favorite moments (this seaour team’s best talents are, what each person). I think we won by either five or six or son individually is good at,” Bailey said. seven. I literally talked to myself I was like “Our team has been progressing (and) I feel ‘I have to make these.’” like we’ve improved to the point where we The victory against Hobart was an imhad the potential to beat (East Chicago).” Bailey’s determination reflected Stay connected the outcome of the match, as the Read more about Boys’ Basketball on mhsnews.net. team defeated East Chicago Dec. 7 with a final score of 56-21. All members of the team are valuable: the underclassmen entering crucial parts of play and the upperclassmen taking on leadership positions. “I definitely took a step into (leadership) when we lost all our seniors,” Nikki Sullivan, senior, said. “I don’t think (there is more pressure being an upperclassman), I think the pressure part is making sure the underclassmen are learning what they need to learn.” Their next game is against Portage at their Holiday Tourney Dec. 28. Getting through this season has solidified the team’s support for one PHOTO BY EJ BOERSMA another. PICTURE PERFECT Practicing shooting against a hard “(In general), a lot of people don’t defense from Coach Jack Cundiff, Peter Marino, senior, go to games but since there’s a lack attempts to make a basket. Boy’s Basketball has a record of a student section and crowd, the of 5-0 and plays against the Bulldogs in Crown Point tobench has to make up for it,” Hogday at 7 p.m. “Right now we are working on one game ge said. “They are always supportafter another,” Marino said. “(Winning) sectionals would ing no matter what and I always feel be a huge achievement for our team since we are congood playing.” sidered li
PHOTO BY EJ BOERSMA
JUMP SHOT Leaping into the air to take a shot, Zoie Bailey, senior, seeks to score a three and the win against East Chicago with a score of 59-21. Girl’s Basketball has a record of 6-6. “We are working on learning how to play together as a team because all of our seniors from last year left and it left a big gap in the team,” Bailey said. “My hope for the season is to make it to regionals.”
Hockey takes on new challenges JOSEPHINE MITTELBERGER business manager
With club Hockey getting a new coach a few weeks ago, many changes have occurred. Practices immediately start with drills and Coach Jim Riffice The four coaches of Hockey have begun to incorporate more teamwork based ways of learning into their practices. “Part of the philosophy for Munster is to have an identity,” Coach Jim Riffice said. “What we needed to do was put together philosophy, something that everyone can do. What we’re focusing on are the things that we can change immediately.” Recently, the team has begun to win more games and, in turn, work harder in practices. With a sport that has to pay for every minute they are on the ice, coaches have structured the beginning of practices to be repetitive drills that improve their skating, passing and shooting in games. “We’ve been talking more on the ice, enjoying ourselves in the locker room and we’ve been having a lot of fun,” Aidan Kemp, junior, said.
Though the feeling of being on and off the ice for over an hour is tiring, nothing beats the hope of getting one more goal. No matter how exhausting skating down the rink can be, players enjoy the rush of the game. “My favorite thing is when I set up somebody for a goal, I love getting assists,” Ben Riffice, sophomore, said. With motivation from their Crown Point win—31—Hockey continues to work towards their overarching goal of keeping their title as State champions. Though they have started the year with a record of 4-10-2 Coach Riffce is confident that the players are improving with each game. Players have improved their teamwork by being more situationally aware to improve plays. “My philosophy is games are games, they’re just (practice). Games aren’t there for any other reason in my book,” Coach Riffice said. “Throughout the year, practices should represent how long we’re practicing and our games represent how we practice.”
PHOTO BY ANTHONY YOUNG AWAITING ACTION Going against Crown Point at the Kube in Hammond, Ashton Silva, freshman, faces off for the puck. “One thing I am really excited about is State being around the corner,” Silva said, “as a freshman I’m looking forward to playing myself.”
11 A day in a swimmers’ fins DE C . 17, 2021
munster high school crier
S P O RTS
Swimmers’ daily routine and their eating LEXI PEREZ & ANNA EVILSIZOR habits for the day design chief, photography expert & source manager THROUGH THICK AND THIN Although it’s a struggle to keep up with morning practice “Sometimes it’s really hard but through it all I know it will be worth it in the end,” Lucy MacDonald said. PHOTO BY ANNA EVILSIZOR
Rushing out the door
A day in the life of Lucy MacDonald, junior
4:45 a.m.
Waking up bright and early, eating quickly and rushing to the pool, Lucy MacDonalds first smell of the morning every day except for Wednesday is blue chlorine water and the sweat of the locker rooms. For MacDonald, having two to three hour practices like these are typical. “Sometimes it’s really hard to get out of bed at 4:45 a.m. every morning, but we get through it and we know it will be worth it in the end,” Lucy Macdonald said.
5:45 a.m.- 6:10 a.m.
All swimmers on deck start off with dryland, stretching their muscles before getting in the water. After dryland they head to the weight room to warm up their muscles in order to keep long strides in the water.
Taking on the day
Cedar Larzzara’s, sophomore, life in the water
6:10-7 a.m.
The team hops in the water and practices strokes for their next meet such as the 500 Freestyle and the 200 Freestyle
7:00 a.m.- 3p.m.
Hopping out of the water and Lucy rushes to Mr. Dylan Pieres class for Statistics right after morning practices. As the season goes on, it starts to get easier to adjust according to Lucy. “It (swim) can affect my attention in class, I tend to get really tired and distracted a lot easier on days we have morning practice,” MacDonald said Eating food throughout the day is important to be able to have enough energy for practice after school. “If my body doesn’t have enough calories to burn it starts breaking down muscle. I also get really weak and I can’t perform as well in the water or during a dryland workout,” they said.
3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Lucy continues their practice right after school, ending around 5:30 p.m.
6 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Heading home to eat dinner and start homework, MacDonald finishes their homework around 10 p.m. and falls asleep by 11 p.m.
Ramping up for Wrestling
4:30 a.m.
Early wake up call Larzzara gets out of bed, eats breakfast and then heads to the pool for morning practice.
7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Larzzara tries to eat at least four sandwiches throughout the day. He eats about 4,000 - 6000 calories a day.
3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
He focuses on arm and leg workout while treading the water. He works with the new coach during practices. “The coaching changes are difficult at first but have gotten better. It is just different from what he is used to,” Larzzara says.
5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Following his afternoon practice, he goes home and has a main and secondary dinner. After eating his dinners he has dessert and heads to bed around 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. “If I get eight hours of sleep, I’m not tired during the day,” Larzzara said.
Tomorrow
The team’s next coming meet is the Hamilton SE HS invite where they will be spending the night at the high school competing the next morning.
GAGE HOEKSTRA
PR manager In the past few years, Wrestling has struggled to maintain a membership of more than 20 members, but due to a recent and massive increase in interest, this year the team now has a total of 33 members. The increase in members has been great for the team’s chances at competitions and general morale, but only time will tell if Coach Zachary Slosser, athletics administrator, assistant Coach Tim Maldonado and captains Elijah Homan, senior and Gabe Tienstra, senior, will be able to manage the sudden increase in members.
“It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, you have to learn,” Slosser said. “We’re all close knit, and even the new kids that come in see how close the older guys are and it’s kind of contagious to be a part of. I’m just very grateful for every kid that’s interested in it, and I really feel like the entire school’s getting more interested in it.” Wrestling currently has seven wins and four losses. For the past week, the team has been preparing for tomorrow’s superduel at MHS. The team’s practice schedule currently includes practice
after school every weekday, an additional morning practice on non-competition Saturdays and Thursday morning yoga sessions. The length of any given practice varies depending on the rigor of the routines, but it usually lasts about two and a half hours. Practices usually begin with a variety of conditioning exercises, before moving on to one on one spars. “I’d like to win Sectionals at my weight class. I’d like to compete the entire year. I’d like to push as hard PHOTO BY ANTHONY YOUNG as we can, and just have a great last MOTION MOVEMENT Circling around the mat, Adam season,” Markus Ciciora, senior, Muntean, sophomore, waits for an opportunity at the Valparaiso Tournament. said.
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DE C . 17, 2021
S T U DE NT LIF E
munster high school crier
Retracing our steps
BACKTALK
It's the holiday season: Students reflect on the defining events staff and students show of this year, trends and tragedies alike off their ugly Christmas sweaters. LEXI PEREZ AND SOFIA SANCHEZ design chief and page editor
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his year was filled with covid updates, vaccine approvals and return to in-person school. However, 2021 was not just a year of covid protocols and social distancing. TikTok trends, movies and music rose to the top, creating entertainment trends to guide us through this year of hardship.
Unity amidst the chaos
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GRAPHICS BY HENRY HOFFERTH
How was 2021? Hectic. Stressful. Irritating.
— ELLIOTT MCKEEVER, JUNIOR
Impacting lives
Despite the current mask mandate and numerous promotions for getting the vaccine, the impacts of covid are still up in the air by the end of the year. Covid has affected families and friends—people had to move depending on where they lived in the world. Danish Akbar, junior, transferred during the first quarter of school leaving behind his parents, coming to a whole new school and country. According to Danish, moving to America came as a surprise. It was a last minute decision to leave with his older brother. “I lived in Botswana and covid really affected life over there (in Botswana), 2021 changed my life,” Danish said. Many students still have not been able to experience major life moments such as a family member's wedding, birthdays and celebrations for holidays. “My brother's Bar Mitzvah was during covid and my sister got exposed so she wasn't able to attend,” Campbell Gideon, sophomore, said. “Half of my brother's Bar Mitzvah was on Zoom. It's supposed to be a huge ceremony with all young people and there weren't a bunch of people there, and I felt really bad.”
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Boring. Weird. Unforgettable. — KYLIE SLOUGH, JUNIOR
Feeling normal again
After a year of eLearning and everyone coming back to school, many students without previous knowledge of interacting in high school have had to adjust. With opening up more and being able to be amongst other students this year, students are starting to think things are slowly going back to normal. “I get to see everyone and not just some people and we're sitting at lunch with actual people,” Delaney Craig, sophomore, said. “So there's much more communication. I just feel like things are starting to get back to where they were.”
After the tragedies and hardship of this year, entertainment platforms have provided a means to unplug from the tension and pressure. Various TikTok trends have taken the world by storm, such as the well-known Devious Licks. Devious Licks was a challenge involving stealing school property. Soap dispensers disappeared from school bathrooms and left many students unable to wash their hands. As a result of the challenge, students must have a pass on hand when using the restroom. However, not all T i k To k challenges have brought about destruction. The Angelic Yield challenge countered Devious Licks, with those who participated returning stolen items or leaving soap, toilet paper and even money in restrooms. “My favorite trend was the Angelic Yield challenge,” Isaac Ramirez, junior, said. “(It was memorable) not only because it sort of reversed the effects of the Devious Licks challenge, but it also showed that some people on the internet are good.” Compared to the unknowns of last year, some students feel as if trends have provided a sense of peace. The entertainment this year was able to create unity amidst the chaos. “It was cool to see people still being able to interact on a large scale,” Harrison North, senior, said. “People (are) still enjoying life, especially when life is constantly filled with negative things.”
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Delusional. Crazy. Entertaining. — ADDISON DZUROVICK, SOPHOMORE
Booming support
Social media has not only provided trends, but a platform for showing support. Over the course of the year, more awareness was spread both locally and nationally for stigmatized subjects, such as mental health. Awareness has created room for conversation and discussion surrounding such topics. “A big thing I noticed, especially this year and part of last year, was the booming LGBTQ+ community support,” Campbell Gideon, sophomore, said. “With the GSA Club and Mental Health Club, there's been such great strides. I think that's really good for the overall community vibe and the health of everyone.”
“I take any opportunity I can to be silly." —Ms. Koula Amanatidis Radoicic business teacher
“I have sloth socks that match this sweater." —Mrs. Judith DeYoung science teacher
“This is my favorite Christmas movie." —Mrs. Kelly Barnes English teacher
"It's hot."
—Mr. James Grunewald gym teacher
“Saw a student wearing this sweater, I bought it that night."
“Ms. Kristen Szafasz and I have worn matching pajamas —Mr. Matthew for three years." Kalwasinski —Mrs. Kathleen psychology LaPorte history teacher teacher
“I got it as a gag gift. It's one of the most unflattering things I own." —Mr. Luke McGinnis choir director
“There are four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup." —Anna Castillo junior
“I like it because it is sparkly, puppy, bad-habit goodness." —Mrs. Leigh Ann Westland English teacher
"It was also my Halloween costume, Walmart really came in clutch." —Maya Queroz senior