issue six volume 54
CRIER
munster high school
8808 Columbia Ave. Munster, IN 46321
Dec. 13, 2019
As the decade comes to an end, we look back on the highs, lows and inbetweens of the past 10 years
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
More coverage on page 4
Silly Bandz. Lady Gaga meat dress. “Lost” finale. “Hey Soul Sister.” Operation Iraqi Freedom ends. iPad launch. Longest solar eclipse. “California Gurls.” Vancouver Winter Olympics. Netflix App. Toy Story 3. Old Spice commercial. J. D. Salinger dies. Annoying Orange. “Love the Way You Lie.” “Party Rock Anthem.” “Friday.” Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding. Planking. “Harry Potter Deathly Hallows part 2”. Oprah’s final episode. Kim Kardashian’s 72-day marriage. “Bridesmaids.” “What Makes You Beautiful.” Steve Jobs dies. “Rolling in the Deep.” Tsunami hits Fukushima, Japan. Osama bin Laden killed by US forces. Obama elected. London Summer Olympics. “Gangnam Style.” Mayan calendar predicts world ending. “Hunger Games.” Minecraft tops sales. Michael Phelps is world’s most decorated Olympian. YOLO. “Call Me Maybe.” Sandy Hook. “The Avengers.” Hurricane Sandy. Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Benghazi Attack. “Call Me Maybe.” “What Does the Fox Say.” Xbox One. GTA V. “The Cup Song.” Boston Marathon Bombings. “The Office” finale. Miley Cyrus. “Harlem Shake.” “The Wolf of Wall Street.” PS4. “Orange is the New Black.” Nelson Mandella dies. “Breaking Bad” finale. Edward Snowden leaks. Pope Francis’s inauguration. How Animals Eat their Food. Goat memes
Black Lives Matter. Malaysia Airlines passenger jet disappears. Robbin Williams dies. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. “How I Met Your Mother” finale. Ebola outbreak. “Turn Down for What.” “Happy.” Joan Rivers dies. Sochi Winter Olympics. #BringBackOurGirls.“Fancy.” Serial. Kim Kardashian breaks the Internet. Sochi Winter Olympics Legalization of same sex marriage. The Dress. “See You Again.” Racially diverse emojis. San Bernardino attack. Paris terrorist attacks. “Hamilton.” Caitlyn Jenner. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” left shark. “Uptown Funk.” Kanye West 2020. Netflix and chill. Charleston church shooting. Why You Always Lying? “Jurassic World.” The Weekend. “Hello”
Trump elected. Pokemon Go. Rio Summer Olympics. Carrie Fisher dies. “Moonlight.” Muhammad Ali dies. David Bowie dies. Mannequin Challenge. “Stranger Things.” Cubs win World Series. Pulse shooting. Prince dies. Leonardo DiCaprio wins an Oscar. Harambe. Vine ends. “La La Land.” George Michael dies. Evil Kermit. “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” Fidget spinners. Women’s March. Total solar eclipse. #MeToo. DJ Khaled. “Humble.” “The Handmaid’s Tale.” “Get Out.” “Wonder Woman.” The floor is lava Hurricane Harvey. Hurricane Maria. Manchester Arena bombing. “Rockstar.” Charlottesville. Las Vegas shooting. Taylor Swift. “13 Reasons Why.” Lil Peep dies. Fake news. “The Shape of Water” “This is America.” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal Wedding. “SICKOMODE.” Hawaii false missile warning. “Black Panther.” “A Star is Born. “Roma.” XXXTentacion dies. “In My Feelings” challenge. “Mo Bamba.” PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Rise of K-pop. Parkland shooting. Mac Miller dies. “Queer Eye.” Net Neutrality. Tide pods. Aretha Franklin dies. Greta Thunberg speaks out on climate change. Most diverse Congress. Black hole photo. “Avengers Endgame.” “Game of Thrones” ends. Disney+. Lizzo. Keanu Reeves. “Señorita.” Lil Nas X. Area 51. Juice Wrld dies. Birdbox challenge. Trump impeachment inquiries. Shane Dawson conspiracy theories. Blackpink at Coachella. El Paso shooting. “Joker.” photo illustrations by Charlie Hofferth graphic by Alexis Lindenmayer
n e w s2
Munster High School Crier
Dec. 13, 2019
SIDENOTE
Arguably, the best
Football concludes annual toy drive On Dec. 11, the football team wrapped up their annual “Toys for Tots” toy drive. For over 35 consecutive years, the team has asked for donations valued at $10 or more, new, and unwrapped. Kids two to ten years of age are the targeted age group. Last year, the team donated to over 800 families. Currently, the team has a list of 500 children in the Hammond-Dyer-Munster area that will most likely not receive any gifts this holiday season. They also accepted checks and a monetary donation given by student government. This money was used to purchase toys at a local Target.
Debate continues season successes, prepares for Districts and State Erianna Sims Page Editor
The Debate team heads into the last competitions of their season, encouraged to keep improving upon themselves with weekly practices and competitions on the weekends. “Right now, we’re beginning to prepare for the postseason,” George Dimopoulos, senior, said. “We’re finalizing our teams that we’ll take to the District and State Tournaments.” Before Districts and State, Debate has their Ben Davis tournament Jan. 3-4, and as the season has progressed, the team has seen just how much potential its members have. Looking to final and continue working on enhancing specific elements of their individual events are just some of the goals for team members. “Competitions have gone really well,” Maddie Bell, sophomore, said. “A lot of the novices are placing, and Varsity events have also been pretty good this year as well. I think this team as a whole will go really far at Districts, and a few of the individual teams will definitely do well at State.” George has been a member of the Debate team for all four years of high school. Some of his most memorable moments are shared with other members of the team such as staying overnight for the Glenbrooks National Invitational Tournament. Moving forward with his last season, George plans
photo by Cali Petersen
HITTING THE BOOKS Looking over notes in the media center after school this Wednesday, Aidan Torabi, freshman, prepares for upcoming tournament. “At Debate I was revising my case for our next meet,” Aidan said. “I like Debate because it’s fun to argue with other teens and it helps improve my speech skills.”
to finish his high school Debate career strong. “My personal goal is to potentially win State in my own event: Policy Debate,” George said. “I have a new partner this year. What we are working on is building chemistry as partners so that we can increase our competitiveness against teams who have been together all throughout high school. I look forward to competing at State the most this year. Along with it being my last tournament of my debate career at Munster, it really feels like a culmination of all of my experiences in Debate, wrapped up in that one tournament.” Maddie plans to continue with Debate, and she is excited to continue improving upon her skills to see positive results in her events.
Reduce, reuse, recycle Environmental club introduces plastic bottle recycling
Alexis Lindenmayer Editor-in-Chief
Last month, Environmental Club fixed a years long problem and implemented a plastic bottle recycling system. Ms. Fus got recycling bins in the shape of bottles which are now situated all around the school for students to recycle their bottles and help the environment. Taken over by Ms. Fus, ASL teacher, last year, the club is now in full affect and has monthly meetings. “Every month we meet and we talk about different topics that impact
the environment,” Ms. Fus said. “So like last month, we talked about we people who are vegan and vegetarian and the impact that meat has on the environment. This month and next month, we’re talking about like fast fashion and things like that.” Lucy Torres, senior, and publication photographer, is on the leadership team and is happy to be apart of the club. “I’m trying to get better at helping the environment so I feel like joining the club educates me more on things,” Lucy said. “(Environmental club) influences a bunch of people with ideas and information that I never knew about.”
Although Debate has some very challenging aspects and requires hard work and dedication like other activities, the team feels that all of the work they put into their events and into the team, is worthwhile. No matter the difficulties, they aspire to see the good in everything they do as they advance onto new things. “Debate isn’t about who can argue the loudest,” George said. “It’s about how well you can articulate your ideas or viewpoints to someone who may not be too familiar with the topic. Along with developing great speaking skills that you can use for the rest of your life, you’ll also become friends with a bunch of awesome people that you’ll talk to all throughout your high school years.”
Book club meets every other Friday Every other Friday after school in the media center, the Read and White Book Club hosts meetings to talk about books, the latest book on their list being “All the Bright Places”. Book club has three types of meetings; BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) meetings, where students bring their own book and talk about it; meetings where they talk about the group book; and meetings where you watch a movie based on books. “We’re reading a book all together, like right now we’re reading ‘All the Bright Places’,”Ms. Hladek, media specialist, said. “Sometimes we’re simply sharing our books that we happen to be reading in between group reads, and we call those BYOB meetings. I know we’re going to be taking in the movie version of the story when we finish it, so we’ll probably spend one meeting enjoying that.” At each meeting a certain number of pages or chapters are assigned if there is a group book, but if students don’t hit the required page numbers they shouldn’t worry, according to Saranya Sanaka, senior. “I’d say definitely come and join if you’re interested in reading,” Saranya said. “It’s a very chill club. It’s okay if you can’t read all the pages we assign you, you can just let us know so we don’t give any spoilers.”
Corrections photo by Max Lindenmayer
DOING HER PART During 6th period lunch, Lindsey Reda, sophomore, recycles her water bottle.
In Issue 5 of Crier, Delaney McGinty’s name was misspelled. Crier regrets this error.
PARAGON 2019 Yearbook and senior ads On sale now!
yearbook ordercenter.com order code: 3357
Who they are
2019
Dec. 13, 2019
Munster High School Crier
3o p i n i o n 2030
opinion by Lana Salahieh
A girl sits in front of you in your English class. She’s wearing scrunchies on her wrists, drinks out of a hydro flask, and wears oversized t-shirts and crocs to school. You assume that she is none other than a VSCO girl. What is your immediate reaction? For many people, it’s probably an eye roll. Since before we were born, there seems to have always been stereotypes that people fit themselves into. Some outdated ones that may come to mind are jocks, geeks, or dumb blondes. In a similar fashion, Gen Z has formed our own. You might now think of basic girls or e-boys. Many people feel more comfortable identifying themselves within these stereotypes, so why should they be ashamed of this? Another mentality that we have come to accept as a generation is deeming some people as “too extra.” People who put “too much” effort into their appearance or wear clothes that are “too bold” and out of the ordinary, are often times looked down upon. There really doesn’t seem to be an in between. You can either identify with these stereotypes and be shamed for being the same as everyone else, or you’re too unique and too extra, and be shamed for being too different. How is anyone supposed to find the comfortable middle? The answer is that it’s relatively impossible. You come across tens of thousands of people in your lifetime. Not every single person on the planet can be the same. Generation Z is usually regarded to be the most accepting generation, however; we’re far from perfect. We are constantly pressured to fit into a changing social norm, and those who cannot make this adjustment are shamed for it. Many people might argue that it’s just high school, and that’s how it is. But how can a generation of high schoolers be the most accepting if we constantly put down ourselves for being ourselves? To find the solution to this problem, the change has to come from within each of us. Most of us are guilty of making judgments, and this needs to change. All it really takes is an open mind, and you’ll start to see the world with a clearer lens. As much as it might sound like it comes straight out of a school-mandated anti-bullying video, changing your own mindset can really change the world.
CRIER
cartoon by Mercedez Williams
Editorial
Breaking Down Big Companies As the decade wraps up, we typically want to reflect on the past 10 years. We ponder on how pop culture has changed, how technology has advanced, how the world has affected and how we have grown. However, some may choose to instead look ahead at the future and what problems await us. What is one of the biggest problems facing the future? According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, if we do not do something by 2030, there will be irreversible damage done to the planet. With the decade ending soon, we have a decade to save ourselves and the future of life itself. You might think, it does not affect me directly, why should I care? Well, glaciers are melting and there is an increase in droughts, even in the Western part of the world. With the glaciers melting, the sea level is rising, especially around Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and most island nations. There will also be an increase in allergies and asthma, as the air becomes more polluted and causes an inability to obtain fresh and clean air for breathing. Lastly, forests and crops will be susceptible to more rain, leading to flooding, heat waves, and the killing of crops and the agriculture market as a whole. These are just a few of the multiple effects of climate change. Yes, you may be participating in a smaller part of a bigger movement to save the planet by recycling or using metal straws; however, we need to take on more of a responsibility to do these kinds of things in the masses. We have to come together and get big corporations to change their ways. According to The Guardian, just 100 companies make up over 70 percent of the globes greenhouse gases emissions. Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP were among the top three who emit the most into the atmosphere. Both have made efforts to help the planet, but continue their ways of mass emissions. We have to boycott these kinds of corporations or find a way to make them change their ways. Otherwise, they will continue to
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 219836-3202. Crier is published through the Honors Newspaper Advanced Writing and Editing classes and extra-curricular involvement. •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, but should be limited to 250 words. All letters
harm the planet until it dies. Another issue that arises is the societal culture of consumerism. As people in the world want more and more, companies must make the supply to meet the demand, further harming the planet. When in a store, there is a one time use item, and a reusable item. The latter is likely more expensive, therefore, the person will likely buy the first option. This is especially more common in low income places, and one might think, “I can just recycle once I am finished with it.” Well, There is a grim outlook many things that people try to for the future in terms of recycle, cannot the environment, and be recycled. Things such as our generation, as well as plastic utensils, plastic shopping others, have to do more bags, and egg than recycling cartons cannot be recycled, according to EcoScraps. And for that matter, we are not sure how much of what we recycle actually gets recycled. A large portion of it might end up what we wanted to avoid— in landfills. People think that all they can and should do is recycle to save the planet. Saving the planet cannot be done on an individual level, the companies that run the world around us need to be reformed. To create change, we need politicians to listen and make new policies, as well as the people leading said companies. Not supporting the companies that are killing our planet is more effective than using a metal straw or a paper bag. We need to do something bigger, more powerful. Forcing companies and politicians to listen and make changes is the best way to go in helping save the planet.
must be signed and should be either emailed to the editor (alexislindenmayer@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 13 times a school year. Ad rates and policies are available to anyone upon request.
Our Staff
Editor-in-Chief Alexis Lindenmayer Managing Editor Alyssa Bass
Our take
Executive Editor Mercedez Williams Design Editors Lilia Brunetti, Adam Klaich Copy Editor Atarah Israel Page Editor Erianna Sims Director of Photography Charlie Hofferth Head Photographer/Graphics Editor Robert Young Chief Photographer Lana Salahieh Photographers Max Lindenmayer, Maddy Leimbach Lauren Morris, Cali Petersen, Adviser Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman
i n f o c u s4
Munster High School Crier
Dec. 13, 2019
Moments and movements of the decade
Dec. 13, 2019
Showstoppers
Results from a Crier survey on the biggest artist of the decade
What are your expectations for the next decade?
Alexis Lindenmayer, Alyssa Bass, Adam Klaich, Mercedez Williams, Robert Young, Charlie Hofferth, Lauren Morris, Cali Peterson
T
his generation has grown up within this past decade. Our childhood consisted about laughing about the latest viral Youtube, like Gangam Style or the music video to Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop,” at school, coming home to eating a snack while watching a favorite childhood show which was probably iCarly, SpongeBob, Big Time Rush, or Good Luck Charlie.
“ “ “ “ “ I think Billie Eilish has given this past decade a voice because her music helps people express a lot of what they’re feeling. A lot of people can relate to her lyrics because they express moments of sadness, anger, and happiness; emotions that everyone feels.
Vine is founded
4. Truth Hurts by Lizzo (2016)
2015
Discord is founded
5. Despacito by Luis Fonsi (2017)
2016
TikTok is founded
2017
Vine is shut down
2019
Google+ is shut down
8.8%
- Cynthia Chockalingam junior
Black Lives Matter
“This movement became popular during a time where a lot of black people were being killed for doing nothing. This movement is a powerful one that should continue because everyone should be treated equally and innocent people need to stop being killed by police officers.” - Morgan Krouse sophomore
“This movement was the most talked about movements of the entire decade. I also feel that a lot was done by this movement that had never been done before such as the protest on Black Friday among a plethora of other events.”
“Climate change is coming, and this movement was a big step in bringing awareness to many people. Everything on Earth is at risk due to rising temperatures, and this is our home, and we need to do everything to save it.”
“Climate change affects the entire globe, not just one single country. The sheer scale of it is absolutely undeniable and supersedes every other option presented. The state of the rock we inhabit is, by far, the most important aspect of all our lives, whether or not we’d like to admit it.” - Tim Kaufman senior
Climate Change
- Anagha Kodukula freshman
- Jaelyn Williams junior
He is my favorite artist because his music is a different kind of music. He has his own way of writing and all his songs are different. Also, just how he is more unique then other artists, personality wise. His music and personality define the decade because he expresses how you should just enjoy what you’re doing and not care about what others think.
illustrations by Charlie Hofferth
Students in 2010 and 2019 Lita Cleary, freshman
Sasha Ilijevski, sophomore
Ashley Nita, junior
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
“Modern Marvel films are known for how they build on each other. Each film sets up something to be explored further in future installments. This method of open-ended storytelling and franchise-expansion is such a game-changing idea that is unique to this decade of film history. It has been refined to the point that few other companies have been able to replicate.” - Francis Hovland junior
1. SpongeBob Memes
“I feel like (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2) didn’t have as much of an effect as it did when it was first coming out, like the first few books and movies. But I do think it’s awesome that it came out over such a long period of time because now multiple generations know what it is and get to enjoy it.”
- Grace Rau senior
Students share their input on political events of the decade like gay marriage, elections “(Legalization of same-sex marriage) was such a huge victory for the LGBTQ+ movement and I remember how excited and happy everyone was; there was this feeling of unity among queer people after the ruling and, although the work of LGBTQ+ activists was far from over, everyone was able to celebrate and appreciate the magnitude of the decision.” - Milena Trivunovic senior
Michael Dywan, senior
The best of the virtual world Some Krishna Lakshmanamurthy’s and Michael Bower’s, seniors, list their top video games of the decade
“The Trump impeachment inquiry is the Watergate equivalent of our generation. Regardless of how it turns out, it is permanently written in the history books and it is my hope that history will stop repeating itself.” - Hope Mierkort
3. Water Bottle Flipping 4. Doge 5. Distracted Boyfriend
1. Spider-Man PS4 (2018) 2. Detroit: Become Human (2018) 3. The Last of Us (2013) 4. Pokemon: Sword and Shield (2019) 5. Luigi’s Mansion (2019)
Favorite childhood shows?
senior
5.9%
Big Time Rush
6.2%
Gravity Falls
9.5%
Michael Bowers
Krishna Lakshmamurthy
2. Area 51
8.3% 8.8%
Makena Mendoza, freshman
momentum created for societal change. Whether that be positive or negative, people are becoming more comfortable challenging the status quo and questioning the privilege distribution in our country.”
Charles Iverson, sophomore
1.4% Steven Universe 3.3% Fairly Odd Parents
Opinions on policy “Not only was Obama the first black president of the United States, he was elected for a second term. Many people had mixed opinions on his reelection, but good policy was made during his time. Obamacare was controversial yet revolutionary for a lot of Americans.” - Elizabeth Pucher senior “The 2016 election was only the third election that I remember and it was nowhere near the 2012 or 2008 elections. I had never seen so much arguing over politics on T.V. in real life, and on the internet.” - Grace Hoehl junior
Results from a Crier survey on memes of the decade
“My expectations are that we will make some progress on some of the world problems. I’m looking forward to see those changes. However, I’m worried, for how long it may take to get everyone on the same page.”
“I’m looking forward to future space exploration in the private sector. We need to focus more on private space travel because NASA just doesn’t have the funds and resources to do the things that companies funded by billionaires can.”
photos provided
Memorable laughs
Luke Ladd, freshman
Anushka Majety, sophomore
Toy Story 3 (2010) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
“I’m looking forward to going to college and hopefully getting a job that I love doing. I’m worried about the many tensions between countries and how that can affect our own country.”
- Maja Kaurin “For the ‘Roaring Twenties’ part sophomore two, I believe there will be great
10 years later...
A timeline showing the advancements of social media; incuding rise and fall of vine Instagram and Pinterest 2010 are founded
2012
3. Radioactive by Imagine Dragons (2012)
36.6%
- Josh Korwek freshman
Tech over time
2. Blank Space by Taylor Swift (2015)
Students share their input on the biggest movements of the decade
“It picked up so much publicity just now and tons and tons of public figures came forward to support and extend the movement to everyone. The outbreak of this issue is a major step that hasn’t been introduced to society before like many of the other movements that have been going on for many years.” - Sydney Foster senior
- Waaniya Irfan junior
Snapchat and Google+ are founded
Taking big steps
“#MeToo was so big because it used what this decade is most known for: phones, technology, and social media. It took movements to a whole new level and also connected with so many different people that it made an impact in so many ways like socially, culturally, and economically.”
I think Taylor Swifth has been super influential because she’s been making great music for years. But she also is a great role model, she’s always donating, and helping people out who need money. I think Taylor influences people to be better people.
2011
Results from a Crier survey on top three movies of the decade
#MeToo
I like Drake because he is so unique with everything he does. Every song of his is a bop, I’ve never heard a bad one. He’s not fake like some other artists and is such a genuine person. His personality is also very smooth and I vibe with him a lot.
- Ariel Velasco senior
1. We are Young by Fun (2012)
10.4%
Post Malone
Drake
Beyoncé
Magical movies
All results featured are from two Crier surveys on Google forms from Dec. 3-6, surveying 850 students
9.7%
Taylor Swift
13%
Billie Eilish
Results from a Crier survey on the best songs of the decade
You could later find yourself sitting on your computer, game console, or phone waiting for Minecraft to load up while you decided if you wanted to hear “Rude” by Magic or “Treasure” by Bruno Mars. Everyone has their own memories from the 2010s, but the decade is coming to an end in less than a month and we will have to charge into what could be the next “Roaring 20s.” It has been an eventful 9 years, with each filled with a number of trends, big and small, sometimes buried in the back of the mind.
12.2%
14.9 %
18%
She has done many great things to help people all around the world that we don’t really see because she isn’t thirsty for people’s attention, she doesn’t care about the numbers or what people think of her, as long as she loves what she does. Beyoncé has been in the game longer than me and you have been alive, and will continue to do so.
5i n f o c u s
BAC K TALK
- Edgar Mariscal With the end of the ‘10s, Crier sophomore remembers past movies, music and events of the past decade Decade anthems Reporting by
Munster High School Crier
Good Luck Charlie Victorious Adventure Time
Phineas & Ferb 12.6% 17.5% iCarly SpongeBob SquarePants 26.5%26.5%
1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) 2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) 3. Metro Exodus (2013) 4. Fallout 4 (2015) 5. Black Ops 1 (2010)
Our favorite shows? 30 Rock .5% Bojack Horseman 3.1% Bob’s Burgers 3.1% The Good Place 4% Parks & Rec 5.2% Modern Family Breaking Bad Game of Thrones
6.4% 9.2% 9.2%
Stranger Things 22.5% 36.7% The Office
“I’m really scared for what will happen concerning climate change. We only have a few years before the effects of global warming are unchangeable. We’ve known about climate change since the late 1980s and in 2019. We’re still trying to convince world leaders that the preservation of our planet is something worth their time.”
Sofia Pavlic, junior “This upcoming decade I am highly anticipating attending and graduating college and perhaps even getting married and having children. With that also brings a lot anxiety, of course. I now have to come to the realization that I’m not a little kid anymore and whether I like it or not, I have to grow up and take on much more serious responsibilities.”
Roman Garcia, senior “For the next generation, I expect more diversity, like POC, women, and sexuality to be more represented in office. I am looking forward to having a respectable president, more protests for equality. Environmental health, and new solutions to produce less waste/clean up the planet.”
Sami Muhrez, senior
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Munster High School Crier
Five days of self care
Day 1
Hot showers After a grueling two hours of focused writing, my mind was reduced to a sludge and my dreams and hopes forgotten. I was done with the essay, but now it was 2 a.m., and I needed to do something for this self-care review. I stressfully googled “de-stress techniques,” and the first search result told me that a hot shower could help ease tension, which is especially beneficial before sleep. Reading more into it, I learned that hot showers relax you because the heat soothes muscles and releases oxytocin, a “feel-good” hormone. After briefly boiling myself, I did find that I was a lot more relaxed and actually fell asleep afterwards a lot more easily and in a much better mood than I usually would have, even at such a late hour. Although showers were a regular part of my daily routine, I got to learn more about exactly why they are so effective at lowering stress, and highly recommend one if you ever feel like you’re having a hard time focusing or falling asleep due to stress.
Day 2 Skin care
My female peers seemed especially knowledgeable about self-care, and nearly all I asked said that a skin care routine helped them unwind after a particularly treacherous day. Having a little sister, I already knew some of the ins and outs of these routines, and decided to give it a go myself. I started by washing my face with a hand towel soaked in warm water. The next step was to wash my face with an activated charcoal face wash and then rinse it off with more warm water. Once my face was squeaky clean, I applied a mud mask to my face. Instantly I felt my face burning — picture the Indiana Jones scene where the bad guy’s face melts off. The directions called for 15 minutes of this unusual feeling. As soon as my phone’s timer went off, I jumped in the shower and cleaned off the mask. After I got out, my face felt smoother than Michael Jackson’s moonwalk. I’m not gonna lie, it was a pretty cool feeling.
Dec. 13, 2019
With finals next week, Crier staffer explores different self-care methods
Robert Young
Head Photographer, Graphics Editor
Do you ever feel unsure about yourself and your life? Do you ever find yourself sad-posting on your finsta at 2 a.m. and hastily deleting it before you fall asleep? How about sitting down and crying in the shower while Lana Del Ray blasts from your iPhone speaker? If any of these sad scenarios sound like you, consider “self-care,” a trend taking a depressed world of anxious young adults by storm. The idea of selfcare promotes a solo approach to mending melancholy of the mind and harms to the heart. Some self-care regiments avidly prescribed by bloggers and even healthcare professionals were discussed between me and several other staff members. I chose a handful and started my 5 day self-care odyssey.
Day 3 Sleep
photos by Lana Salahieh
Look at literally any self-care article, and you will find some semi-patronizing variation of “get more sleep.” I’m tired of reading it, but I’m also quite physically tired pretty much all the time, so I figured I would give it a shot. I got home, powered through my homework, and by 10:20 p.m., I knew I could guarantee myself anywhere between seven and eight hours of precious sleep. Much to my parents’ surprise, I was out like a light before 11 p.m. When my alarm went off, I still wanted more sleep; however, it was nice being able to wake up easily at 6:30 a.m. without feeling plastered to my bed and hitting snooze seven times. Even though I forgot to make coffee in the morning, the benefit of extra energy and brain power throughout the day far outweighed the pain of crippling caffeine withdrawals in the morning. Once the headaches were gone, I was extra productive and in a really great mood all day.
Day 4
Video Games
This week had beat me senseless. All my brain cells had been evacuated, save a few stragglers. I had one thing on my mind: playing Xbox with my friends. Hilarity ensued in the process and my chest hurt from laughing by the time everyone had to log off. Realizing how much I had missed the days I spent as a child playing video games all day, I spent the rest of the day doing just that. On my own, I spent time playing Minecraft, which is beautifully therapeutic (have you heard the soundtrack?) and greatly entertaining. Whether it was the nostalgia or the cathartic afternoon of focusing on an activity I enjoyed as opposed to an essay or a study sheet, I went to bed feeling relaxed and quite happy, although I couldn’t help but feel like some of that time could have been devoted to something more productive.
Day 5
source: Spotify
Meditation
I’m actually a big fan of meditation. While I don’t practice it as regularly or as much as I would like to, I have always found it to have positive effects upon myself when I do get around to meditating. For the sake of writing this article, I went to Spotify and turned to Sam Harris’s Making Sense, a psychology podcast I enjoy listening to. Included with the episodes are two mindfulness meditations led by Sam Harris, one being nine minutes long and the other twenty-six minutes. Both are great, but I opted for the latter, titled “Looking for the Self.” Harris does a fantastic job of guiding you through a calm and contemplative meditation session. Imagine the mind as a messy room, full of unnecessary things everywhere causing stress and making it harder to use that space. Meditation, when done properly, helps sort through some of this clutter. Afterwards, I felt as if I were looking at the world through a clean and clear perspective and spent the rest of the day with a sense of overall well-being. An added bonus? I slept like a baby that night.
An expert’s take Dr. Cynthia O’Dell, Professor of Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies at Indiana University, explains how certain forms of self care impact mental health
Skin care, Showering, Gaming
(These) fall into the general category of engaging in behaviors that are relaxing and pleasurable to the individual. These are techniques that will vary from person to person as to whether they are relaxing and pleasurable, but if they are, they will have positive de-stressing benefits.
There are caveats though — self-care in general is something that needs to be actively planned, rather than something that just happens. So you would need to add them to your calendar, look for opportunities to practice them, let others know you are doing them, etc. So, it’s not self-care if it is defined as such after the fact or used as an excuse to explain away your behavior. So, for example, if you wanted to use playing video games as self-care you would schedule it to occur at regular intervals, perhaps in association with stressful events (like every day after school for half an hour).
Meditation and Sleep
There are many studies demonstrating the positive effects of meditation and sleep on health and well-being. Meditation has been shown to reduce negative emotions and have a positive impact on anxiety, pain and sleep. Getting enough sleep is probably the most significant of the self-care techniques. It significantly improves energy and feelings of well-being. Operating under conditions of sleep deprivation can result in irritability, poor cognition, and contributes to depression and anxiety.
Dec. 13, 2019
Munster High School Crier
Go with the
photo by Robert Young
PIECE OF MIND Competing in Munster’s relay swim meet on Dec. 7, Anna Evilsizor, freshman, swims her 100 meter breaststroke event. At this meet, Evilsizor cut down two seconds from her current time. “I was thinking about how much faster I needed to go to get my relay team in a good place,” Evilsizor said.
Lilia Brunetti Design Editor
On deck, the girls grip the block as they prepare to take off at the buzzer. In the office, the team manager sorts through piles of paperwork, from membership information to meet times. And on dry-land days, swim parents and coaches lead yoga and strength training. As a multi-faceted machine, Girls’ Swim is dependent upon each part to reach their goals. This year, the team is experiencing a shift in the coaching system. Ms. Tina McNulty, after 21 years with the Munster swim program, has stepped up as the new head coach. “The coaching style is completely different this year,” Erin Bryce, senior, said. “There is now focus on each individual person. At meets, all of the coaching staff and team members from both the Boys’ and Girls’ teams are cheering for each other during their event. This is a completely new atmosphere that I have not been exposed to at all in the past three years
SIDENOTE
Dance competes at first competition on Saturday
flow
Girls’ swim reflects on team relationships ahead of Kankakee Valley and Hamilton meets
7s p o r t s
I’ve been swimming.” kids just want the same. So I do my best This uplifting tone is reciprocated to help them accomplish their goals.” on the sidelines. As team manager, Reflecting on the work the team has Olivia Candelaria, junior, balances put in thus far this season, Rebecca her authority while supporting her Franco, sophomore, explains the teammates. Despite not swimming diligence the team exhibits. anymore due to medical reasons, “One unique thing to the season is Candelaria still is a crucial facet. the dedication our team has shown,” “I miss it (swimming) so much, but Franco said. “We’re two months into this (managing) gives me a way to the winter season now, and we haven’t still be a part faltered in of the team’ the amount without actually of dedication s w i m m i n g . ” Girls swim describes their different we put into C a n d e l a r i a team rituals and bonding events the sport.” said. “I love the Between environment. I Two people get paired to be seahorse their early can’t wait to see sisters for the season. At Hamilton, they morning and how well some of exchange gifts afternoon my best friends Before meets, we chant the “seahorse practices, do throughout country chant” which is a combination of weekend the year and I banging on the walls, then walking out on meets, and love being able deck clapping, chanting seahorse county bonding source: Georgiana Manojlovic e v e n t s , to be by their sides through the the team whole thing.” ultimately dedicates a majority of their As team manager, Candelaria time to each other. balances numerous responsibilities: “Being on the swim team means organizing uniforms, completing having people to support you paperwork for meet announcers, throughout all of your achievements recording times on stats sheets. But and failures,” Franco said. “You have in the midst of it all, she doesn’t lose this amazing group of people to rely sight of helping her team. on. You’re not limited to swimming — “I think about how all I ever wanted you’re with the team so much you talk to do was swim a best time at a meet,” about anything and everything and Candelaria said. I know most of these they can become your main outlet.”
Before the meet
Aside from performing halftime shows at football and basketball games, the Dance team begins their season. The Dance team competes at their first competition this Saturday at Marian High School. Taylor Graham, junior, is excited for the first competition and thinks there will be a positive outcome. “The team has been working really hard this year. Despite the late start, I think we’re more than ready to take home another win this weekend,” Grahm said. With more competitions to come, the Dance team will be hosting the Munster Invitational, Jan. 18. In March they will be going to nationals in Orlando, Florida. So far, Grahm thinks the team has grown and has high expectations.
Boys’ Swim competes at Hamilton SE this weekend With a meet this weekend, the Boys’ Swim team is continuously training. Historically, the team has not won the meet and hopes to put an end to that streak. “We’ve had a rough start, as we took a loss to Penn,” Grant Afman, senior, said. “We were looking for an undefeated season and that threw us off our tracks, but we’re not going to let that get to us. (We are going to) keep moving forward with the season.” The team has their eyes on Sectionals, getting runner-up at State, and beating their 10-year rival; Chesterton. Looking towards the future, multiple team members have met Olympic trial time cuts and aim on pursuing their talents on a bigger scale. “You have to get the trial cut and then get in the top two at the trial meet,” Afman said. “That’s probably not something that’s going to happen this year, but definitely in the years to come like 2024 — as that’s definitely a realistic goal. We’re always going to have high goals for ourselves.”
Hoops to help game with some sort of alumni event, from the disease, and the athletic Charity basketball game for Alzheimer’s on Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. so Michael and I began coming up with department.
Erianna Sims Page Editor
The winter season is often seen as the season of giving. Giving back to the community in a positive way is a great example. Student Government sponsor Mrs. Kathleen LaPorte saw an opportunity for the school to help give back, and she started working towards making it happen. “The charity game idea was brought by former Munster grad, Michael Schlotman, (class of ‘13),” Mrs. LaPorte said. “He knew that his sister had played in an alumni soccer game that had been organized by Ms. (Val) Pflum. I got on board after seeing a Facebook post from him. Student Government had discussed replacing our own Student Faculty basketball
the logistics for this game.” According to Mrs. LaPorte, Mr. Schlotman has done significant work over on the east coast, from recruiting players and securing jerseys, to getting corporate sponsors and donations. He contributed to the game in those ways, while Mrs. LaPorte set up all of marketing and operations. Together, the two were able to create the game to give back to not only the community, but a worthy charity. “The intended outcome of this event revolves around charity first, then bringing people back to the community,” Mrs. LaPorte said. The proceeds from the game will be split between Northwestern’s Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, because Mr. Schlotman’s grandfather suffers
Current basketball players are excited for the game, and look forward to seeing previous players return to the court once again. “I expect it to be a fantastic event that will bring out all different kinds of people and succeed in generating the attention,” Tim Giannini, senior, said. “This event is going to be so worthwhile because it is so much bigger than a basketball game. Not only does it bring previous generations of Munster Basketball players back on the same court together, but it helps strengthen our community as a whole and supports a sometimes overlooked charity.” Everyone is encouraged to come out and support the cause. The hope is to raise a considerable amount of money through sponsorships and donations.
photo by Robert Young
STROKE BY STROKE Swimming his 200 meter backstroke, Aidan Smith, senior, tries to cut down his time. “When I’m at a meet there’s usually nothing in my head — I‘m just focused on swimming.”
Bowling Club continues season at Stardust Bowl
The Bowling Club is in the midst of their season. Competing with local school teams, the club has practices twice a week. The practices are very technical, focusing on technique and certain aspects like hand position and correct form. “I started bowling this season and I’ve really fallen in love with the sport,” Anthony Bellachen, freshman, said. “There are so many mechanics in bowling that I had no idea about. It’s a lot of fun and extremely rewarding when my practice pays off.”
s t u d e n t l i f e8
All jokes aside Students discuss the impact of microaggressions
story by: Atarah Israel graphics by: Charlie Hofferth
S
ometimes, it is just the little things. Maybe this time it is not the blatantly racist comment you read online, but the snide remark your friend made about your hair last week. Maybe it hurts a little more when your teacher turns off the lights, and a classmate jokes about not being able to see you. Whatever it is, it still leaves you feeling singled out and bothered. These passive, sometimes thoughtless, statements are usually not ill-intended, but they always turn out sour. These careless, seemingly innocent, jokes are referred to as microaggressions. Oxford Dictionary defines them as statements or incidents regarded as an indirect, subtle, or unintentional instance of discrimination against members of a marginalized group. As the landscape of our school becomes more diverse, these instances become more prominent and occur more often. Unlike other blatant forms of racism, casual racism can be an everyday occurrence and usually goes by unsighted. It is more subtle, and often hidden behind a mask of ignorance and easy laughs. “The foundation of casual racism is built on the fact that it’s just all going to be justified as a joke, but it can be really impactful,” Mallika Keralavarma, sophomore, said. “It can really bother people. It bothers me when people do that.” Despite the possible well-meaning intent behind an empty comment, these words still hold an effect. No matter how big or small it may seem, one ignorant remark can uphold an entire institution of stereotypes, as well as simply ruin a person’s day. “It does definitely affect you,” Kathir Venkat, senior, said. “I was at Hoosier Boys State last year and [there was] this kid. We had to interview him for a scholarship, but someone said something racist to him in the morning, so he came in totally dysfunctional and he lost the scholarship because of it.” In a school setting these comments are especially distracting and hurtful. They promote isolation among students — a single “friendly” joke can signal out those who are different. “You can’t get upset in front of your peers, so you just have to laugh it off,” Uyai Edet, junior, said. “And that sort of spirals into other things, (like people) making jokes left and right.” This form of racism presents a complicated dilemma in that the intentions behind the comments are typically unknowing. Anyone is susceptible to committing a microaggression. The situation becomes even more difficult when friends become involved — identifying the line where friendly banter begins and personal attack ends is a complicated and sometimes awkward discussion.
Munster High School Crier
Dec. 13, 2019
“of course you’re smart.” “There’s been a couple times where my friends will do it (make casually racist comments) as a joke, and it is a joke,” Maha Alshamaileh, sophomore, said. “I understand, but sometimes you can’t really tell whether it’s gone too far or not, because it’s your friend and you don’t want to say anything.” When it comes to battling this dividing source and educating those who do not know, students say it will take time. This system of mindless comments reflects how embedded racism is in our society. However, progress is being made. “The older generation definitely is more desensitized in that they don’t know the power of their words, but we know the power of our words and we’re continuing to use them,” Uyai said. “It really just speaks of everyone’s character and how that’s been changing throughout the years.”
“Is that your real hair?”
Common phrases considered microaggressions Microaggression: a statement or action regarded as an instance of indirect or subtle discrimination Source: Oxford Dictionary
“You’re not like other black people.”
“You look so
exotic.” SPEAKING OUT Race has had a heavy influence on the high school experience of Uyai Edet, junior, “Even just comparing me to other African Americans that go here — it’s really demeaning towards me,” she said.
Breaking The
Silence
A four part series on race: Part two