Prospector Issue #3

Volume 50, Issue 3

Friday, October 29, 2010

TheVoice of Prospect since 1960

ROSPECTOR 801 West Kensington Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056

Illegal activity While marijuana has been a hot-button topic for some time, other drugs are used as well, even by some students at Prospect. For an inside look at students and illegal drug use, turn to...

In-Depth, pages 7-9

Both the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams are heading into their sectional meets after a season of hard work and dedication. For more on the teams’ successes, see...

Sports, page 15

Driver’s education addresses rise in texting and driving

By Maddie Conway Executive News Editor

When driver’s education teacher Karie McClure asks students in her driver’s education classes if they have seen anyone on a cell phone while driving, the answer is always unanimous: All the hands go up.

According to Pew Research Center survey in 2009, 25 percent of teens ages 16 to 17 said that they text and drive. And according to The Daily Herald, despite the Illinois law banning texting and driving that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2010, a recent survey found that 45 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds admitted to texting while driving in states where it was banned.

Even with those bans, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and its Highway Loss Data Institute found that the distracted driving rate,

Opinion, page 6

particularly for young drivers, has failed to decline.

To address the high rate of accidents relating to teenage texting and driving, driver’s education has focused on educating its students on the dangers of distracted driving, especially in light of teenagers’ lack of decision-making skills that may cause them to text and drive.

Senior Coletta Baker* admitted to having texted while driving “once or twice” since she first got her license in May, but since she has “heard the horror stories” of teenagers getting into crashes while on their cell phones and behind the wheel, she knows texting while driving “is not a safe idea.”

More often than not, Baker said, if she does take her cell phone out while she is in the car, it’s to text while stopped at a

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Features, page 11

Distracted at the wheel

*Names have been changed for confidentiality

The final push

Freshman Adrian Gunawan spends his morning in AP Chemistry, which is fitting since he tied for second in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and won the National You Be the Chemist Competition last year. For more, see...

According to The Daily Herald, the state of Illinois has encouraged increasing the number of commercials about the dangers of texting and driving in response to the findings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and its Highway Loss Data Institute that texting-while-driving bans haven’t reduced crashes.

Seniors Lauren Baackes and Coletta Baker* both said that they thought more commercials that warn of texting and driving would be beneficial.

Baackes said she sees fewer posters

and commercials about distracted driving than driving under the influence, and increasing the number would probably help make teenagers more aware of distracted driving risks.

Baker said the advertisements can have a huge emotional impact on viewers. When she sees ads that show the last text a teenager ever sent because of a fatal crash, for example, it hits her especially hard. “[When I watch one of those ads], I don’t want to be a person in one of those commercials,” Baker said.

Photo by Ian Magnuson

red light instead of while moving. If possible, Baker tries to pull over to the side of the road to avoid answering it while driving.

But while Baker avoids using her phone behind the wheel, she is well aware that many teenagers neglect to follow the Illinois law that prohibits anyone under the age of 19 from using a cell phone while driving.

One of Baker’s friends who graduated from Prospect a few years ago, for example, frequently texted while Baker was in the car with him. “[My friend texting and driving] would really freak me out,” Baker said.

Baker attributed teenagers’ disregard for the texting and driving ban to a mentality of invincibility.

“I feel like it’s one of those things [where kids feel], ‘Oh, it wouldn’t happen to me,’” Baker said. “I kind of have that mentality, too, but then I have to stop myself and think, ‘Wait, yes, it can.’”

See TEXTING, page 2

Students join fight for 10th district

By Jane Berry News Editor One afternoon, ‘09 Prospect graduate Jaclyn French was canvassing in Inverness, Ill. for Dan Seals, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 10th Congressional district, when she stopped in front of a house with an exceptionally long driveway.

She started walking down the long path when she noticed there was a dog in the front yard. She assumed the dog was attached to a leash, but apparently it was not, for it looked up, started growling and then charged at her.

“I was so scared,” French said. “It chased me all the way to my car!”

Luckily, French had parked just at the end of the driveway.

French, now a student at Washington University in St. Louis, was not looking for a big summer adventure. She did not expect all the hard work and knowledge she would gain. She was just undecided on her summer plans until a friend recommended that she work on a political campaign.

“I immediately thought of Seals,” French said, “because I knew this race was a big deal,

it was in my district and I really like his views on social issues.”

Some of Seals’ social views include the right for women to choose their reproductive rights, the right for any couple to have the choice of marriage, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the support of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act. Current Prospect students have also gotten involved with campaigning in the months preceding the upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Junior Alec Dahlgren had just sat down in his first period AP United States History class when his teacher, Qiana Drye, announced that the class was going to watch a speaker. The class traveled two doors down to Michael Sebestyen’s AP Government class to listen to Robert Dold, the Republican candidate running against Seals for the U.S. House of Representatives.

After the presentation, a sheet was passed around that asked for recruits to help the campaign. Dahlgren signed up, and after a talk with the recruiter, he was out canvassing. He went from house to house to try and persuade people

See CAMPAIGN, page 3

Photo courtesy of Prospect Band Boosters

On Prospectornow.com...

The Prospect Marching Knights were named Grand Champions of Classes 4A – 6A and took first in Class 5A at the Illini Marching Band Championships on Oct. 16. For more on PMK and their season so far, log on to Prospectornow.

2 NEWS

Friday, October 29, 2010

Photo by Ian Magnuson; information according to a survey by the Pew Research Center

TEXTING: Teens continue to text and drive despite risks CONTINUED from page 1 McClure also pointed to that mentality as a reason for teenagers to continue texting and driving. Because of the rising rates of distracted driving related to cell phone use — and this causes more crashes than any other form of distraction — McClure said that the driver’s education curriculum “hits pretty heavily” on texting and driving during its distracted driving unit.

According to McClure, the driver’s education curriculum aims to educate students “not only cognitively” with statistics on the accident rate with cell

phone distractions but also with visual elements that often make an especially big impact on students, including a video from Oprah Winfrey’s “No Phone Zone” program.

The video, McClure said, is “very powerful” because it includes interviews with family members who have lost loved ones from car crashes caused by distracted driving and texting and driving.

School Resource Officer Justin Beach also emphasized that teenagers “need to be educated” about the risks of texting and driving in order to prevent distracted driving-related crashes.

Beach said that education on texting

WHEN FRIENDS PULL OUT THEIR PHONES... *Name changed for confidentiality Whether or not students text and drive, there’s always the possibility that the people who drive them may take out their cell phones to text behind the wheel.

When senior Coletta Baker* is a passenger and sees the person driving pull out his or her phone, she usually offers to take the phone from the person and send the text or dial the phone instead. That way, she doesn’t have to confront her friends and demand that they stop texting, but she can also avoid a dangerous and illegal situation on the road.

Driver’s education teacher Karie McClure agreed that answering a phone for a friend who’s driving is a good way to keep safe on the road. If the situation comes to it, however, McClure said that teenagers shouldn’t be afraid to confront their friends about texting and driving.

“If you’re in the car with that kind of situation where you feel unsafe — your friend’s texting and driving with their knee — you have the right: Tell them to pull over and get out,” McClure said.

and driving is especially important be- instituted its Graduated Driver’s Licause of the nature of texting. censing program (GDL) in 2008 in an From a police officer’s perspective, effort to curb teenage accident rates. when pulling over drivers, it can be GDL is a three-phase system, the first “hard to prove” that they were actually of which is the permit phase, that intexting and driving as they could claim creases the restrictions on all new drivto only have been dialing a phone num- ers. These restrictions lessen over time ber. Although it’s not necessarily safe if the driver has no traffic violations. to talk on the phone while driving, it is According to the Daily Herald, in legal for driv2007 — before ers over 19. Edthe GDL went ucation, then, into effect — 146 is necessary teenagers died for preventing in automobile drivers from crashes; in 2009, pulling out that statistic detheir phones to creased to 71. text.

McClure said -Driver’s education teacher Karie McClure, remembering a McClure rethat represents quote from a driver’s education convention called a quote how the GDL from a speaker has cut the teenat a driver’s education convention she age driver fatality rate more than in attended: “The problem with teenagers half.

— it’s not in the skills of driving; it’s in Ultimately, McClure hopes that both the head.” the GDL and the driver’s education cur“Most kids are skilled enough after riculum will be able to influence at least they’ve taken a course and done their 50 some of their 120 students to make bethours where they’re able to get by basi- ter choices on the road, including decically on the road, following signs, road sions regarding cell phone use. markings — that type of stuff,” Mc“Obviously, you’re not going to be Clure said, “but they don’t think [about able to get that message through to all making good decisions].” [students],” McClure said, “but [with To a certain extent, teenagers’ ten- our program], even if you only save one dencies not to think thoroughly when kid’s life, then you’ve made your differmaking decisions on the road aren’t ence.” entirely their fault because the teenage Because, she said, one decision — mind isn’t fully mature, McClure said. like deciding to pull out a cell phone She cited that the brain doesn’t reach and take your eyes off the road — can its full potential until the mid-to-late make the difference between life and 20s. When this immaturity combines death when driving. with a lack of driving experience, disas“With driving, there’s no rewind butter can strike. ton,” McClure said. “Life’s over. And For that reason, the state of Illinois your whole life can change in a second.”

“‘The problem with teenagers — it’s not in the skills of driving; it’s in the head.’”

Want all Prospect, all the time?

Head online for the latest news!

“Halo: Reach” came out on Sept.

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Check out the review online.

Author Elizabeth Bettina and Holocaust survivor Urusla KornCelig came to Prospect to talk to students about a reinvented part of World War II. For more information on her book and the presentation, go online.

p GOING GREEN: The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation installs solar panels on the field house roof on Wednesday, Oct. 13. Environmental Club applied for a grant to fund the panels at the end of last year through the program K-12 Solar Schools. For more on the solar panels and how Environmental Club has helped Prospect go green, see Prospectornow.com. (Photos courtesy of Mollie David)

NEWS 3

Friday, October 29, 2010

Spanish program launches exchange

By Tallyn Owens Entertainment Editor During nearly eight years of teaching at Libertyville High School, AP Spanish teacher Mike Aldworth saw the only chance of having a Spanish exchange trip disappear before his eyes. A case of alcohol poisoning during an exchange trip to Rome caused the district to stop sponsoring any international trips with both teachers and students.

But when Aldworth began teaching AP Spanish and Spanish 2 last year, he noticed a difference at Prospect: the overwhelming support, including fundraisers at school and local restaurants, for the French and Italian exchanges already set to take place that year.

TO MADRID AP Spanish teacher Mike Aldworth said that he plans to take his students to some of the most famous landmarks in Madrid and the surrounding area.

The group will be visiting the Prado and Reina Sophia Museums in Madrid, several historic cathedrals and Toledo, which lies south of Madrid and once served as Spain’s capitol.

Although international travel costs run high, the only major cost students pay for is airfare. Aside from this, the students only pay for train rides, souvenirs and lunches out of their own pockets.

Shortly after settling into life at Prospect, Aldworth began to consider an exchange to Madrid, Spain. Aldworth explained his urgency was necessary for the exchange to have any chance of happening because all international trips need pre-approval from the district 18 months in advance. After the trip is pre-approved by the district, the final-approval process begins.

Aldworth stressed the specificity and thorough nature of the application and itinerary.

“I’ve had to look at train schedules already,” he said.

The 15-page document of approval by the district must contain a wealth of information from all interested students, including social security numbers and parent e-mail addresses. The final approval process also requires another set of applications from the students interested in the exchange.

Aldworth decided to stray from the format of the Italian and French exchanges, which have previously allowed AP, fourth and even third-level Italian students to participate in the exchange, by only allowing AP Spanish students to apply.

He views this as a result of the large size of the Spanish program — there are over 200 students in AP Spanish and Spanish 4 — as well as his lack of familiarity with the lower-level students because he doesn’t teach levels 3 or 4.

According to Aldworth, 29 of the 62 AP Spanish students applied; however, they were only able to take 14 because there are only 14 host families in Spain.

The application process for students

FRANCE ITALY

SPAIN: COMING SPRING BREAK

p AROUND THE WORLD: AP Spanish classes will participate in their first exchange this year, joining Prospect’s exchanges for French and Italian students. The students will travel to Madrid over their spring break. (Photos courtesy of Gina O’Neill and Lyn Scolaro) consists of any number of teacher recommendations and an essay, which could be written in English or Spanish, although only two students chose the latter.

One of two students who wrote their application essays in Spanish, senior Laura Hudec, believes although there were high expectations for being accepted for the exchange, the application process wasn’t terribly difficult.

“The No. 1 reason [I applied for the exchange] was because I want to be fluent in Spanish so badly,” Hudec said.

“I’d really like to learn how they speak in a more casual manner.”

During the process of planning the exchange, Aldworth ran into a road block: The school they had planned to visit in the Madrid suburb Colmenar Viejo fell through and left Aldworth scrambling for a new school.

He found the school they will be vis-

iting, Instituto de Escuela Secundaria Pradolongo, through a British website introduced to him by Italian teacher Lyn Scolaro. The website helps schools interested in exchanges get in touch with each other.

Scolaro ran into similar road bumps while planning the second chapter of her exchange to Verona in 2007. After a successful trip in 2006, the trip was cancelled because the airfare money was stolen from the Italian school.

Scolaro used her experience with international exchanges to guide Aldworth through the planning process, including airfare and the student applications.

Overall, she was thrilled to help the Spanish program plan an experience she finds rewarding for her students.

“I’m glad they were able to join in,” Scolaro said, “and that all of us have the same opportunity for our kids.”

CAMPAIGN: Students canvass for district congressional candidates CONTINUED from page 1 French took AP Government while here at Prospect and feels that it really helped her get the interview and understand the campaign process once she was an intern.

According to the College Board website, AP Government is based on analytical perspective and “familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that constitute U.S. political reality.”

Sebestyen exhibited this by having representatives from both the Seals and the Dold campaign present to his students.

“Joining a campaign is worthwhile in two ways,” Sebestyen said. “One: It’s a way to better understand your government and take on a civic duty. And two: It’s a great experience in working towards a common goal in a work-type environment.”

Sebestyen even compared working on a campaign to working at McDonald’s: there are many people that help make a meal, and it is better to learn early how to take direction from a boss. Even if it’s not always the most appealing job, someone’s got to make sure “those fries come out right.”

French spent 20 hours a week making phone calls to potential voters, canvassing and typing voters’ responses to the Seals campaign into a computer.

“The internship is really different from volunteering because you really get an inside look on politics,” French said.

Although never having been part of another campaign and not having any interest in pursuing politics, French still felt that it was a valuable experience.

The 10th district race has received national attention because if Seals were elected, a Democrat would hold that seat for the first time in 30 years.

Although many teenagers are aware that there is an economic crisis in our country, French said they do not really understand it because it’s not relevant to teens right now.

“Because I don’t worry too much about the economy right now, social issues are a key point for me,” French said. “I don’t want a politician that’s against gay marriage; I don’t want a politician that is prolife. That’s my bottom line.”

Dahlgren, however, joined Dold’s campaign because he was interested in financial issues and agreed with Dold’s opinions.

According to Dold’s website, DoldforCongress.com, he supports “a pro-jobs tax policy, free trade agreements, making credit available to small businesses, retraining the long-term unemployed and reigning in government spending.”

Dahlgren did get paid, but that was not the only benefit from Dold’s campaign.

“I decided to join because I’m interested in politics, and I wanted to see what it takes to run a campaign,” Dahlgren said.

After completing their work with the potential congressmen, Dahlgren and French feel that they learned many important lessons, including hard work and learning valuable people skills.

Sebestyen believes that the benefits of working on a campaign are high because valuable connections are made.

“The connections you make in high school and college can become great opportunities in the future,” Sebestyen said. “But more importantly, campaigning can help many students find their voice.”

About the candidates For a briefing on where Dold and Seals stand on the issues, look on Prospectornow.com.

4 NEWS

Friday, October 29, 2010

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OPINION 5

Friday, October 29, 2010

Attraction to distraction

The Staff MANAGING EDITOR Deanna Shilkus COPY EDITOR Gina O’Neill ASSOCIATE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sharon Lee Riley Simpson NEWS EDITORS Maddie Conway Jane Berry Andrew Revord OPINION EDITORS Whitney Kiepura Katie Best FEATURES EDITORS Megån Maughan Carly Evans Jenna Mastrolonardo IN-DEPTH EDITOR Emmy Lindfors ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Tallyn Owens SPORTS EDITORS Maggie Devereux Nick Stanojevic Miranda Holloway PHOTO EDITORS Ian Magnuson Walker Brewer CARTOONISTS Quinn Blackshere Nicolette Fudala ADVISER Jason Block Some material is courtesy of the American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

Published by students in Journalistic Writing courses, the Prospector has won, most notably, the 2004-05 and 200607 National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker and the Gold Crown from Columbia Scholastic Press Association in 2006.

Mission Statement The primary purpose of the Prospect High School Prospector is to report news as well as explain its meaning and significance to our readers and the community. We, the Prospector, hope to inform, entertain and provide a school forum for the unrestricted exchange of ideas and opinions.

Advertising For ad rates, call (847) 7185376 (ask for Deanna Shilkus), fax (847) 718-5306 e-mail or write the Prospector, 801 West Kensington Rd., Mount Prospect, IL 60056, prospectornow@gmail.com.

Letters to the Editor Drop off letters to the Prospector in the box in the library, in Rm. 216 or email letters to prospectornow@gmail.com. All letters must be signed. Please limit letters to 400 words. The Prospector reserves the rights to edit letters for style and length.

Staff Editorial

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Kate Schroeder Neel Thakkar

A Crystal Lake teenager was driving her parents 1998 Lexus ES300 down Country Club Road on Sunday, Oct. 24, when she swerved off and traveled across a lawn, eventually hitting a garage. This incident caused several thousand dollars in damage. The cause of the accident: texting while driving.

Texting and driving is dangerous, but that’s old news. People tell teenagers tirelessly that if they text and drive, the next accident is bound to be them. In reality, the accident in Crystal Lake is an isolated incident, and most young drivers take the risk everyday and come out victorious.

Teenagers are well-known for committing the act of texting and driving, but they are not the only ones who have success. According to a study done by Pew Research Center, 47 percent of adults who use the text-messaging function on their cell phones said they have read or sent messages while driving.

This does not only affect tional Safety Council in 2010, the driver’s control of the 1.4 million traffic accidents vehicle, but it also influences are caused by cell phone conthe young drivers that ac- versations annually. company them in their cars.

Even though it is legal in 48 percent of teens ages 12 to the state of Illinois to talk 17 said that they have been on the phone while driving, in a car while the driver was talking, texting or playing texting. with your phone in the car is This negative a distraction. But influence on teenout of all the disagers who are tractions that cell just learning to phones provide, drive promotes texting and drivtheir mentality ing is the most that texting and highly recognized For Against threat on the road driving is a social norm in America. currently.

Voting results of the It’s just another Prospector staff in regards What’s astonto this editorial. driving skill to be ishing is that mastered. companies are Along with texting, Amer- helping fuel this problem. icans are distracted by the A hands-free texting device calling feature on their cell may sound ridiculous, but phone while driving. Due to it is available and bound to bluetooth, hands-free calling become the new accommodaand wireless head sets, cell tion to texting and driving in phone companies have made the near future. The Android accommodations so that and iPhone markets provide Americans can talk while applications that allow peodriving and deem it a “safe” ple to talk and text hands-free practice. Evidently, this is along with hands-free e-mail not true. According to the Na- and other hands free com-

15

3

Following parental voting footsteps Teen and parent votes diverge As kids, people learn certain traits from their parents: acceptable social conduct, how to ride a bike, pack their own lunch, manners and their “please” and “thank you’s.”

At 18, teens should resist inheriting their parents’ political views without doing their own independent research first.

Instead of becoming a politicalparental clone, students need Katie Best to make Opinion Editor their own decisions.

W h e n teens enter college and the real world, they are going to have to stand on their own two feet and make decisions that suit their ideals.

According to the Janesville Gazette, 46 percent of teenage voters are influenced by external factors and people. These people can range from parents to relatives, friends and even teachers. While these people may have relevant input on certain candidates or political controversies, teenagers should be making their own decision on the candidate that has their ideas in mind. They should take external factors into consideration and then make their final decision.

When deciding which candidate they should vote for, teenagers should take the time to consider what candidate has the most to offer for them.

Students need to take into consideration what kind of re-

mands.

We, The Prospector, believe that the slowly developing accommodation for texting and driving would only increase potential dangers on the road. Although the state of Illinois has ruled that talking and driving is an acceptable distraction, a cell phone turned on in the car is a dangerous distraction whether it is used to talk, email, text or navigate.

Instead of inching along to the acceptance of texting and driving, it is essential to maintain a strict policy with phone use in motor vehicles.

The Mount Prospect community should set the example for society by not tolerating cell phone use in motor vehicles.

To obtain this goal we, The Prospector, challenge everyone to log on to our newspaper’s website, Prospectornow. com and take our pledge to eliminate phone use while driving for the month of November.

an elephant. But parents are not the only people influencing teenage voters — politicians are as well.

While watching TV, within seconds of cutting to a commercial break, campaign ads will fly across the screen. Some ads are bashing other candidates (a cartoon Dan Seals and Nancy Pelosi, anyone?) while others are promoting candidates; the promoting ads tend to make the candidate look like some type of saint.

As we get older, political candidates seem to have no problem calling, e-mailing and practically stalking teenagers until they lie and say they have their vote. They bombard us with so many facts, campaign ads and empty promises that it’s enough to make my head spin.

With this new bombardment of political empowerment, teens feel the pressure to vote.

And they feel the pressure to pNEW DECISIONS: Parents influence how students percieve elec- vote for the candidate whose tions. To truly participate in elections, students should form their own minions called them up and begged for their vote. opinions independently. (Cartoon by Katie Maigler) While it may seem like work, researching different sponsibilities and tasks (such on. You have not only yourself, candidates to find the one that as part-time jobs, school and but a wife or a husband, maybe suits each teens’ needs best is various commitments) they children to worry about,” he the most beneficial route to folhave and that these responsi- said. “This is when people tend low (see Helpful websites). bilities are different from their to get more active in the politi“You as students don’t just parents’. cal process of voting because it follow things out of blind faith; According to AP Govern- is more imperative to them. ment teacher Michael Sebesty“Twelve years ago, I prob- you go research,” Sebestyen en, “As you get older, there are ably wouldn’t have been para- said. “You take the time to do more pressing issues that gov- noid about getting my absentee the analysis and explain your ernment can have an impact ballot in,” he added. “I’m now points. Learning is about anmore concerned with the situ- swering the question: ‘Why do I ations my wife and I will have believe this?’ ... researching it, to deal with as tax payers and [coming] up with answers and what kind of place my son will [defending] it.”

As little kids, people learn grow up in.”

Dcpoliticalreport.com: Tracks Even though a wife or hus- and prepare for the basics: which party is winning each state band and kids seem far off, in potty-training, how to play and which candidate is ahead in reality, some teenagers will be with blocks or actions figures voting. paying taxes in the next two — even how to act in social or three years. The politicians situations. What parents do thegreenpapers.com: Provides who they vote into office will not prepare kids for is the day updates on midterm elections. affect the tax laws that students they enter the voting box, the quick process of choosing the will have to obey.

Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Students should choose to right candidate to vote for and Makes predictions on who will win follow their parents political whether or not they should folthe elections. patterns only after researching low the donkey or elephant or and drawing an independent even the Green Party. UltimateCNN.com: Provides coverage on conclusion. This is better than ly, it comes down to what candilocal and national elections and blindly following a donkey or date each student thinks is the candidates. best option.

HELPFUL WEBSITES

6 OPINION

Friday, October 29, 2010

Ribbons tie market

In this increasingly “pink” society, it is hard to remember that breast cancer is not the No. 1 killer of women. That title belongs to heart disease, which causes 29 percent of deaths in women. However, cancer takes the No. 2 spot, with lung cancer being the most diagnosed.

In this year, an estimated 207,000 new breast cancer cases will be diagnosed. Of those, 40,000 will die of the disease.

Combined, all lung cancers number roughly 220,000, outWhitney Kiepura pacing breast cancer by Executive 13,000 new Opinion Editor cases a year.

Although breast cancer does affect a large number of cancer patients, other types of cancers still deserve a part of the attention that breast cancer receives.

Annually, the Susan G. Komen Society raises $162 million from donations, according to msnbc.com.

Breast cancer’s main income comes from its wide ad-

vertising angle. This month, companies are selling everything from yogurt to teddy bears emblazoned with the pink ribbon. Breast cancer awareness has two keys on its side. It has cornered the market, and it has the ‘most marketable’ cancer. During October, consumers are soaked with a rain of pink products.

Back in 2006, Campbell’s Soup switched their classic red and white cans for pink and white. By the end of that October, Campbell’s sales had doubled, and the company had donated $250,000 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation — roughly 3.5 cents per can.

In addition, according to their website, Campbell’s raises $35 million every year for breast cancer. This cancer also benefits from 60 marketing partnerships.

The National Cancer Institute spent $599.5 million on breast cancer research while the most diagnosed cancer in both men and women, lung cancer, was given the third largest portion, $246.9 Million, behind prostate cancer’s grant of $293.9 million. It’s not fair that the National Cancer Institute gives lung cancer, the most diagnosed type of cancer in

WRAPPED IN COLORS Although the pink ribbon is arguably the most famous color, each cancer has its own color. But no cancer claims the sole rights to use one color, but instead shares it with one or more diseases.

Pink - Breast cancer Light Blue - Prostate cancer Pearl - Lung cancer Orange - Leukemia Purple - All cancers

Info courdsey of trinitylondon.com

the U.S., a smaller grant then the most publicized cancer. It would be like giving the most popular girl in school all the scholarships to college because everyone knows about her while the other kids who are not “known” by everyone get passed over.

But these numbers don’t tell the whole story. Stark figures don’t reveal the emotion; anyone whose been to a Relay for Life event and walked behind the bagpipes in the silent stadium knows the raw emotion that echoes through the stands.

At this point of the Relay, the bagpipers start at one end of the track, slowing playing their haunting tune.

But the sound doesn’t bring tears; it’s reading the luminarias, lit with candles on the side of the track, that causes tears.

Each stands for someone who lost the battle against cancer.

Written upon them are short messages like, “In memory of Grandma — we love you!”

Each luminaria focuses on a single person. The event does not highlight any specific cancer; it acknowledges every type. The people being remembered didn’t all die from breast cancer. Other families have suffered equal loss.

In this setting, there is a proportional balance. According to American Cancer Society Representative Ashley Walsh, the money raised during Relay for Life goes to a variety of places. The donor can designate where the money is sent, like to a certain type of cancer research or to a certain part of their program.

Otherwise, the money is split up into four different areas: research, education, advo-

Hot or Not Hot:

Creative Halloween costumes: Senior Isabel Bethke and

her friends Kimmy Marshall, Breanna Lucas, Morgan Arshonsky, N’kole Burke and Amy Heller, who goes to Rolling Meadows, have my vote for most creative Halloween costumes. Over the past five years, this group of friends has been: movie genres (black/white or documentary), music genres (rap, alternative or punk), Candy Land characters (Queen Frostine or Lolli) and even a freak show, including conjoined twins, the Ringleader, a gypsy and the bearded lady. This year, Bethke will be on the band trip to Atlanta, Ga., and while she wouldn’t reveal this year’s costume, she still plans on enjoying Halloween while on the band bus. These costumes are witty and creative — a great way to dress up for Halloween.

Cheap places to find Halloween pieces: Places like Party City and

Spirit Halloween can be expensive for cheap, one-night only outfits. Places such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill, thrift stores and garage sales are great places to look for cheap, key items for your costume. While I was at Salvation Army buying pieces to my Halloween costume, I found wigs and wacky accessories besides just clothing and shoes. Bethke also suggested “raiding your closet, your parents’ closets, dress-up boxes and even your grandparents’ closets.”

Thriller: Michael Jackson is back from the dead. One of the best parts of Halloween is hearing (and dancing) to MJ’s “Thriller.”

The music video, in classic mid-80s form, has the weird fashion, catchy song and zombies. I mean, what else could we ask for?

pNATIONAL IMPORTANCE: Tens of thousands gather at a walk for breast cancer awareness. The iconic pink ribbon was erected in front of the Washington Monument. (Photo courtesy of Discovery.com) cacy and patron services. Relay has a unique quality of being able to unite a variety of cancers. And like a doting grandparent, it’s able to split its attention among all his children.

The percentage of money raised is divided by which types of cancers are most prevalent. For example, if 45 percent of cancer patients in the area have breast cancer, 45 percent of the undesignated Relay money goes to breast cancer

research.

By sharing the attention breast cancer doesn’t become a separate disease — it becomes a part of a larger family of support. Breast cancer survivors don’t always need each other’s support exclusively. By welcoming all cancer survivors, the web of support could stretch across genders, ages and countries to become a world-wide network.

N E E W HALLO Edition Not:

Candy comas:Yes, eating as much candy as possible can be fun — until the side-effect kicks in. A candy coma is when kids finally stop eating the candy and get the feeling of wanting to crawl into a coffin and die.

Candy comas almost make me hate candy for at least a week after Halloween.

Parents who dress their kids up in scary costumes:

I know the point of Halloween is to get scared, but what ever happened to little kids wanting to be Disney characters? What four-year-old kid knows who Freddy Krueger is? And what little tyke wants to dress up as Freddy Krueger for Halloween? Is this their parents’ version of some sick joke? Halloween is supposed to be fun for little kids, not scary.

Slutty costumes:Nobody wants to see a teenager dress

up as “Nurse Prostitute” and “Policeman Do-me.” As I said before, creative costumes, such as Bethke’s and her friends’ are way cooler than some skanked-up Wonder Woman. We are only in high school; we have time for promiscuous outfits later on in life. Right now, let’s focus on having a good time instead of trying to give others a good time.

IN-DEPTH 7

Friday, October 29, 2010

e h T d e t s i tw y t i l a Re

By Gina O’Neill and Sharon Lee Copy Editor and Associate Editor-in-Chief *Names have been changed for confidentiality

Despite the dangers associated with experimenting with drugs, some students still think there are benefits to using illegal substances in school. In-depth takes a closer look at students’ perceptions of substance abuse and the true risks that they take when they cross the line.

Junior Victoria Leeson* doesn’t eat for the first part of her lunch period. She ventures outside or stays in the building to take drugs, giving her that “extra push” for the rest of the day.

“I do [drugs] so out in the open that no one even looks at me,” Leeson said. “It’s not sketchy. People think, ‘Who would just do that out in the open?’”

Leeson isn’t the only one medicating herself during the day. Seniors Tom Zoto* and Fred Callini* find that drugs serve as an aid to their school day.

These students don’t just limit themselves to marijuana either; Leeson has snorted Focalin and taken Klonapin, Vicadin, Adderall and Dilaudid during school.

While it poses serious risks to take drugs during school, students are willing to take the chance to get high and, in their minds, elevate their grades and improve their focus in class. However, according to Nurse Cheryl Novak, the effects of doing drugs during school take away from the learning process.

Certain drugs create the “stimulus” effect, where students can become hyperalert and won’t be able to absorb anything taught in class. Some have the effect of drowsiness and make students tired or fall asleep during school.

Novak believes these effects of drugs cause a decline in school performance.

World History teacher Tim Beisher has had two “incidents” in the last month of kids coming to class either under the influence or with illegal substances.

One of the incidents involved a sophomore who came in with a coffee cup first period. This was abnormal because he would bring the cup very close to his mouth every so often as if he were taking a sip, but he never did — he was

spitting.

Beishir then accused him of having a lip of tobacco and spoke to him about it after class, calling the student’s father later. For the second “incident,” however, the punishment was more severe.

It was eighth period, and one of Beishir’s sophomores came walking into class obviously drunk. Beishir spoke to him, and he’s now in a rehabilitation program.

Although the possibility of getting caught is always present, students like Callini, Zoto and Leeson still feel that using drugs is only to their advantage.

“Adderall brought my grades up from straight B’s to straight A’s,” Leeson said. “I like speed because it makes me smarter. You concentrate better, you understand more and you’re more motivated.” “[Doing drugs] makes everything more fun, so you want to learn,” Callini said. “You’re more concentrated.”

Yet, Dr. Tom Reese of Alexian Brothers Medical Group said that although amphetamines like Adderall may be stimulants, they can actually decrease the ability to concentrate because of how easily distracted people become when on the drug.

And although people use the drug to stay alert, according to Reese, it can last too long, producing an inability to sleep. In order to cure their hyperactivity, people will smoke marijuana or take a “downer,” creating a vicious cycle of drug use.

While Callini and Leeson experiment to improve their mental status throughout the day, Zoto smokes marijuana during lunch for an antidote to his boredom.

“It makes you feel so good; I feel unstoppable,” Zoto said.

“It made my music class really fun. I was able to express myself better and tune out everything else.”

While Zoto abuses some drugs, he’s currently taking Vicodin for a prescribed pain reason. Callini also took cyclobenzaprine for when he had a neck injury in the spring and never took it for recreational reasons. However, that doesn’t stop them from resorting to other prescription drugs like Adderall and Xanax. “[When taking the drug], you’re in a good mood,” Callini said. “Nothing’s pissing you off like grades.”

According to Dean Mark Taylor, those students who take drugs illegally during school would be subject to the school policy: suspension from school.

Additionally, the student handbook makes clear that students who violate the Substance Abuse Policy may lose privileges including open lunch, open study, enrollment in the behind-the-wheel component of the driver education program, on campus parking and overnight fieldtrips and excursions.

Despite the strict school policy set in place, Taylor recognizes that some students slip under the radar.

“Do students cheat on a test and get away with it? Yes,”

See DRUGS, page 9

8 INDEPTH

Friday, Octob

For all the right reasons The following is an anonymous account of a student who has ADD and their perception on Adderall abuse My mind is like a fistful of sand.

Before I began taking Adderall for my Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), my thoughts would slip through my fingers before I could get a hold of them.

My classmates thought I was lazy and immature. I could see it in their expressions when the teacher came around daily to check our homework, and each

time, I was the only one to say “I forgot.”

Of course it was a lie; I could never say that I actually tried to do my homework. No one would ever believe me if I presented a blank piece of paper to the teacher and said, “I couldn’t do it.”

For this reason, the teachers thought I was stupid. I’m sure they were able to see that I was in class physically, but mentally, I was as far away as one could be.

Doctors claimed that my poor attention span and resulting problems were caused by epilepsy, a disorder that I’ve had since I was two years old. This was wrong, and I knew it, because the kind of epilepsy I had brought on different symptoms.

So, my doctor recommended that I get tested for ADD. When the results came back positive, I was devastated.

Partly, I was scared because I didn’t want to tell my classmates; I had told two of my best friends, but only after I was sure they wouldn’t be scared away because they thought I was psychotic.

I was mostly afraid of what people would do if they found out I had access to one of the most wanted and abused prescription drugs: Adderall. Not only that, but I was on the highest possible dose of the medication, which made my prescription all the more appealing.

It upsets me that some people actually desire the drug. ADD caused my life to deteriorate. I would be overjoyed if I

never need to take another dose of Adderall again. And people take it for fun?

Of course, there’s also a difference in how the medicine acts on me versus others. Adderall causes me to feel somewhat normal rather than constantly detached from whatever is happening at the time.

However, in those who abuse Adderall, since they don’t have ADD, the drug makes them overexcited by raising their blood pressure significantly.

Because of people who use Adderall in such a way, I realize that I can’t be open about my condition. In a judgmental environment where many of the stereotypes are false, I feel ashamed to be dependent on a drug that is used in such

Navigating prescription Dilaudid is categorized as a narcotic pain reliever. It is prescribed for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Dilaudid works by binding to certain receptors in the brain and nervous system to reduce pain.

OxyContin is in a group of narcotic pain relievers. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is not used to treating pain just after surgery unless already planned to take oxycodone before the surgery.

Xanax is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. It affects chemicals in the brain that may becomes unblanced and cause anxiety. It is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression.

Concerta is a central nervous system stimulant. It is used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorcer (ADHD). Concerta is often used as an integral part of a treatment program that includes

Focalin is a mild stimulant to the central nervous system. Focalin is used to treat the symptoms of ADHD, which include continual problems with moderate to severe distractibility, short attention span, hyperactivity, emotional changeability, and impulsiveness.

Klonopin is used to treat seizure disorders or panic disorder. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.

Information courtesy of drugs.com

Famil 555 Mo y Doctors un Mount t Prospect Pla za , Prospec (847)12 t, IL 60056 3-4567 Pre

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M.D.

Goldie prepares for ‘dandy’ time at Prospect Monti left the conference still wanting to pursue this company and use these dogs to track down drugs, alcohol and guns and gun power in schools.

Dean of Students, Pat Tedaldi-Monti, Tedaldi-Monti felt that if the school went to a conference during the sum- could use these dogs over the police mer 10 years ago in Palm Springs, dogs that they had been using for Calif. There, Tedaldi-Monti went to a years, it would be more beneficial to session where difthe school as the ferent vendors police dogs were GOLDEN CHOICE from across the trained to sniff country came to out large quantiThe Interquest Detection Agency promote certain ties of drugs and uses golden retrievers mainly items and busiwere not able to for their program. They feel that nesses that could goldren retrievers are “a friendly sniff out small help schools with breed,” according to handler Glen amounts or even a variety of cirVadeBonCouer. alcohol. cumstances, like That’s not saying that the company Also, Prospect improving school hasn’t used other breeds. At one would have to go point, the company put a poodle security. on hard lockdown through a program, but the poodle She visited a in order for the wasn’t able to make it through the booth that had a dogs to do their job final steps in becoming a certified “nice looking goldcorrectly and not illegal substance sniffing dog. en retriever” sitbe distracted by ting next to it. The students or anybooth was from the thing happening in the halls.

Interquest Detection Canine company, a Over the next few months, Tedaldicompany that uses friendly dog breeds Monti called the company to see if a di(see Golden choice) to sniff out illegal vision came to Illinois only to find that substances in schools. there were none.

Even though the company didn’t “One random afternoon, we got a call have a division in Illinois, Tedaldi-

By Emmy Lindfors

Executive In-Depth Editor

over the radio,” Tedaldi-Monti said. “I was told, ‘Pat, there’s a golden retriever here, and I think it’s for you.’”

Ever since then, the drug-sniffing canine, Dandy, has walked around Prospect searching illegal substances with her handler, Glen VadeBonCoeur.

Dandy alerts on substances like drugs, alcohol and gun residue by sitting down next to the area she believes holds any of those substances, and according to TedaldiMonti, “100 times out of a 100, she is right.”

Whether something is found or not, TedaldiMonti will always call the parents to inform them.

“We don’t want parents finding out through their neighbors that their kids were found with drugs,” Tedaldi-Monti said.

“It puts parents on a notice as well as students.”

According to Tedald i Monti, Dandy is still a favorite in Pros-

pect and is still “very good and very sharp,” but a new dog, Goldie, has been doing many of the sniffing around the school. However, if the situation requires a “sharper nose,” Dandy will step in.

Since Dandy is nearing the average retirement age, VadeBonCoeur introduced Goldie to Prospect’s halls, even though VadeBonCouer stresses that Dandy “makes the decision.”

VadeBonCouer brings Goldie to school along with Dandy only because “leaving one at home doesn’t feel right.”

“It’s funny to watch [Dandy and Goldie] together,” VadeBonCouer said.

“They’re both so competitive even though they get along pretty well.”

Even with the change in dogs, Tedaldi-Monti feels that Dandy’s accuracy shows how successful the program and Dandy have been. When Dandy first came to Prospect, she had been “busy” constantly, but now — eight years later — there haven’t

INDEPTH 9

ber 29, 2010

25

75

percent of Prospect students have used drugs, as opposed to 41 percent of high school students nationwide

percent of Prospect students have not used drugs

Students’ drug futures

85

Based on a Prospector suvey of 224 students

15

percent of students plan on using drugs

How often do students use drugs?

Daily Weekly

percent of students don’t plan on using drugs

23 percent 11 percent

Monthly

25 percent

19

13 percent

Yearly Once

14 percent

percent of students say they will try drugs because their friends are using them

One pill equals 5 percent

64

percent

81

Where were students first exposed to drugs?

percent of students say they will try drugs because they are curious and wants to see what it’s like to get high

17

percent

2 percent

6

percent

6

2 percent

percent

Cafeteria

Dealer

2

percent

Party Sporting Event

House/Family

Friends

Bus All graphics by Emmy Lindfors

DRUGS: Students challenge medical experts

CONTINUED from page 7

Callini, Zoto and Leeson also are aware of the harsh physical and mental consequences for abusing drugs, but they feel people “have to be smart” in order Taylor said. “There are students out there who use not to get themselves killed while doing drugs. Being drugs illegally. Every action has a reaction, and “smart” means not mixing drugs to create a deadly combination and researching [they’re just] doing harm to each drug before consuming their body and causing possible disconnect with family it. and friends.”

Callini said that he researches everything before he Even though Beishir sees tries it, and because of that, it the incidents of drug use as doesn’t affect him negatively. “isolated”, he believes that using drugs in school could “You have to know your potentially ignite a serious business,” Leeson said. “You punishment: no open-campus have to know what’s not bad for you and what’s not going to lunch. kill you.”

“With the freedom you guys have, you have to make a -Dr. Tom Reese of Alexian Brothers Medical Group “It’s a different kind of decision between the freedom smarts,” Zoto said. “You develof students and security,” op a different thought process and start looking out for yourself more [when you do Beishir said.

Although Callini, Zoto and Leeson acknowledge the drugs].”

Leeson actually feels more in control when she’s serious consequences for doing drugs during school, they are unfazed. They have yet to be caught, and taking pills as opposed to when she’s high on marijuaalthough some witnesses have shot Callini the “awk- na or any other drug. Therefore, she feels that because ward eye,” no one has ever confronted any of them. she is smart about it, she is infallible to addiction.

“The majority of people think they’re going to use [drugs] and stop whenever they want. That’s a lie. It becomes habitual, and you do develop a dependency.”

“Don’t let it control your life. Addiction is a choice.”

Reese, however, stressed that addiction is not a choice. He works with adolescents and adults in his office, performing drug screens for people who are trying to be hired by a company but need to pass a drug test.

Because of Reese’s line of work, he sees people fall into addiction’s grimy hands all too often.

“The majority of people think they’re going to use [drugs] and stop whenever they want,” Reese said.

“That’s a lie. It becomes habitual, and you do develop a dependency.”

Reese attributes the “I can stop whenever I want” mentality to the idea that drug users are like to deny.”

He sees this denial all the time; someone will go in for a drug screening, it will come out positive and the user will say, “That’s impossible. That couldn’t have happened.”

“He can say whatever he wants,” Reese said. “It’s irrefutable.”

Beishir feels that the only reason students would bring drugs to school is because of an addiction.

“If you show up in class drunk, it’s not like you randomly drink [for fun],” Beishir said. “You have a dependency.”

Yet, Leeson believes that although she takes drugs,

10 FEATURES

Friday, October 29, 2010

Literacy logistics Literacy Center helps students outside of English Department

By Carly Evans Features Editor When junior Lexi Phillips signed up to be a Literacy Center tutor, she assumed she would only be helping students for English classes. She was surprised, however, when students started coming in frequently for social studies and health classes.

According to English teacher and Literacy Center adviser Matt Love, there have been more students seeking help so far this quarter than first quarter last year.

During this quarter alone, there have been over 500 student-tutor conferences. However, having more students receive help isn’t what Love is most

excited about this year. Students are coming in for help for a variety of different classes, such as health and American Studies, which is the overall goal of the Literacy Center.

“We really prefer it when we can support students from different parts of the building,” Love said. “[The Literacy Center] is not an English Department resource center; it’s for the whole building.”

By having students come to the Literacy Center, Love is trying to promote the idea of using reading, writing and critical thinking in any subject.

“More people should have the ability and the willingness to read something, to hear different arguments from various people, to evaluate them and to think about them critically,” Love said.

“The ability to compose writing well forces us to think more carefully and

CRITICAL THINKING NOVEL RECOMMENDATIONS War: “No True Glory” - Bing West “Ghost Soldiers” - Hamptom Sides “Guns, Germs and Steel” - Jared Diamond

Science: “A Short History of Nearly Everything” - Bill Bryson “Stiff” - Mary Roach “Dead Reckoning” - Michael M. Baden

Psychology: History: “The Tipping Point” -Malcolm Gladwell “The Perfect Storm” - Sebastian Junger “Geeks” - Jon Katz “1776” - David McCullough *Recommendations by Head Librarian Christie Sylvester

pLITERACY DIVERSITY: The literacy center not only addresses the importance of critical reading in English, but in other classes as well. (Photo by Ian Magnuson) alyzing in any given subject. However, more precisely.”

Love still sees room for growth.

Head Librarian Christie Sylvester “I want more because I’m greedy, and shares the same view of learning to beI want to set the bar higher, but that’s come better critical thinkers.

“Students need to read; they need to not any implied criticism of where we challenge themselves,” Sylvester said. are now,” Love said. “We are in a great “We all like to do what is comfortable spot now.”

Love is confident that the Literacy [for] us; we don’t always like to chalCenter can support all of the classes in lenge ourselves.”

Although the ability to incorporate which these skills are used.

“We can take the values of readthings from a ing and writing are good start into easier in English STUDENT TUTORS deeper terriclasses, Love betory,” Love said. lieves these skills The number of student tutors has “We can afford are not unique to grown significantly from previous years. to do that bethe English DeThis year there are approximately 75 cause the founpartment.

Love student tutors, where last year there dation here is so suggested “using were about 50. For the first time, there solid.” writing and readare “veteran tutors,” who are in their Besides coming as tools to betsecond year of tutoring. According to ing to the Literter thinking” as a English teacher and Literacy Center acy Center, Love way to incorporate adviser, Matt Love, these students offer has another way these skills across a new perspective to the Literacy Center that will help the spectrum of because they are able to help the tutors students become classes. as well. better readers, Love mentioned that in science classes, what students writers and critical thinkers.

“Read more non-fiction. Period,” are learning is proven fact, but by performing labs, they are using skills such Love said. “Reading good non-fiction is as analyzing and critical thinking to another story from reading fiction because you are reading other people’s arreach a conclusion.

The same process can be applied guments: the results of research from in mathematics classes as well; Love people who have studied and formed is confident that the Literacy Center opinions. If you are going to get good at can support all of the classes in which anything, you have to learn from somebody who knows how to do it well.” these skills are used.

Love mentioned many sources of Love believes that Prospect’s curriculum does a good job of using these well-written non-fiction, such as The skills in various classes by incorporat- New York Times and various magaing the skills of critical thinking and an- zines. Love even refers to the Literacy Center’s close neighbor: the school library and technology center.

“Students can go to our school library and find 100 good books of [nonfiction],” Love said. “But if they don’t do that, they’re just depriving themselves.”

Anyone with a student ID Sylvester suggested for students to will receive a 10 percent begin by reading novels about somediscount on any order! thing they are interested in and to begin seriously thinking about what they are reading.

“Think about things that are thought-provoking; let the novel guide you,” Sylvester said. “By reading something thought-provoking, it’s going to call 847-255-2526 guide you into other subjects and influence you to read more about that topic.”

421 W. Prospect Ave. Another suggestion from Sylvester is to read biographies. Sylvester said Mt. Prospect, IL students can choose a topic in which they are interested and from there find a person who they can read a biography about.

For example, if a student is interested in sports, he can read about Michael Jordan.

Once students begin to read something they are interested in, Love suggests, “read outside of class, and we’ll take care of the rest.”

FEATURES 11

Friday, October 29, 2010

Best of both worlds Freshman winner of chemistry competition, placed second at Scripps National Spelling Bee tW-I-N-N-E-R: At left, freshman Adrian Gunawan poses with his trophy for first place in the National You Be the Chemist Challenge. To the right is another photo of Gunawan with his trophy. He also tied for second place in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Both competitions were within two weeks of each other this past June. (Photos courtesy of Lukito Gunawan) National You Be grader. The first step was the class the Chemist ChalTHEIR EYES WERE lenge in Philadelspelling bee at his WATCHING ADRIAN phia, Pa. Freshman Adrian Gunawan took a new middle school, Ellen Wano was freshman Adrian According to South.

However, short trip to Washington, D.C. in June Gunawan’s English teacher at South Gunawan’s father, Gunawan “floppedof 2008.

Middle School. On June 4, when Lukito, Adrian’s All of the participants were given a 150Along with the usual sight-seeing, up” at the class Gunawan competed in the Scripps hard-working atti- page study guide which doubled as the bee, misspelling this little vacation was also Gunawan’s National Spelling Bee, Wano turned the tude and prepara- source of the competition questions. first crack at the Scripps National Spell- the word “mousse,” television in her classroom to ESPN to “Sometimes [all that studying] got a tion skills paved ing Bee. He placed 91st in the nation, al- as in “chocolate watch so that she and her class could little repetitive, but I just kept on forcthe way for Adrimousse.”

He spelled though he tied with over 100 other spellwatch Gunawan spell. an’s successes in ing myself [to continue],” Adrian said, it “moose,” like the “We were so pumped,” Wano said. ers for the title. both competitions. “because every little detail in the study “People thought there was a riot or While most people would accept a animal.

“Adrian likes guide counted.”

After two years something because we were screaming 91st place at a national spelling bee, However, Adrian’s preparation for of disappointment, studying,” Lukito [for Adrian].”

Gunawan feels his performance was a the chemistry competition started besaid. “Studying is Gunawan wanted That night was also the eight “debacle.” fore February. In the third grade, Lukia habit [for Adrito improve his grade dance at South, where Wano “At the end of the preliminary, all but to introduced Adrian to webelements. chaperoned. During the night, the Bee an].”

90 were eliminated,” Gunawan said. “I ranking. was airing on ABC. Wano was running Starting last com, an online version of the periodic Gunawan had was pretty much last place, tied with in and out of the dance to keep tabs on January, Adrian table. more than 180 other spellers who failed a longer trip to Adrian’s progress on the television in the Adrian’s interest in chemistry studied the “Spell Washington, D.C. to make it. That’s just a slice of how bad office. stemmed from that website.

It” list, supplied this past June afI was in sixth grade.

“I like to look at the pictures of the

by Scripps, along “[It] made me guilty,” he continued. ter spelling his way elements,” he said, “and I was interestwith another 23,000-word list he downpast his class, school, regional and state “I learned that I really have to study ed in seeing the chemical equations. hard [and] work hard if I want to suc- spelling bees. He was determined to loaded from the National Spelling Bee “It kind of prepared me for the chemmake it to at least the semifinals website for two to four hours each day. ceed.” istry competition in some way,” Adrian Adrian also read the book “How to And he did just that by tying for secAfter his family moved from ChiSpell Like a Champ” to prepare for the said. “I can’t really describe [its imcago to Arlington Heights, Ill., Adrian ond place in the competition.

But Gunawan’s winning summer Bee. According to his English teacher pact].” looked to improve his ranking in the “That’s the beauty of the Internet,” National Spelling Bee as a seventh- was not over. Less than two weeks af- at South, Ellen Wano, Adrian carried Lukito said. ter the Scripps Bee, Gunawan won the around his word lists in a binder to his Although Wano wishes she could classes. take credit for Adrian’s success in the Even in the wake of the National DIFFERENCES IN THE COMPETITIONS Spelling Bee, Adrian kept studying. In- Bee, she said that all the credit goes to stead of sight-seeing or exploring the Adrian and his parents.

At the regional and state levels of the National “His parents were really focused and city of Washington, D.C., Adrian spent You Be the Chemist Challenge, freshman Adrian very encouraging and supported him Gunawan and the other competitors answered his time studying in his hotel room. chemistry multiple-choice questions, which “He definitely was very self-directed fully,” Wano said. “I offered [extra help included mole calculations, chemical equations in his efforts to practice,” Wano said. in the spelling bee], but he didn’t need and some energy problems, on a Power Point “And I’m sure it was hours [of practice]. me ... [Am I] happy to do any of the adpresentation by writing their answers on placards.

He’s very meticulous about prepara- ministrative stuff ? You bet. But he was Those with the lowest scores were eliminated. tion, and he cares a lot about his aca- definitely a guy who understood the At nationals, the placards were replaced with process. He is the type demics He’s a person electronic answering devices. of kid who works alone. who really puts in the WATCH HIM SPELL! He’s the profile of a gifted effort to exceed expecAccording to Gunawan, the Scripps National child who is a very inditations.

Spelling Bee started with a computerized test in Check Prospectornow.com vidual type of worker.

“He only likes the preliminary rounds. The 50-word test — which this week for a mini-spelling “There are people that ‘A’s.’”

Gunawan aced — decided which 48 spellers of bee just for freshman Adrian want to do things, and Adrian’s preparathe original 273 made it to the semifinals. The Gunawan. Gunawan tied for there are people who do tion for the chemistry remaining 48 then competed in the traditional oral second place in the Scripps what they have to do to competition was simispelling competition.

National Spelling Bee this get there. [Adrian] was lar.

Gunawan also stressed the dramatic nature of past June. The Prospector lucky enough to have He started studythe bee. will read random words from [that] ability, and he used “[If] you miss, you get eliminated,” Gunawan ing in February and the dictionary for Gunawan to it.” said. spell. had studied for about two hours each day.

By Riley Simpson Associate Editor-in-Chief

Who Knows You Better?

This issue, the Prospector interviews senior Laura Hudec’s boyfriend, senior Joe Huber, and sister, sophomore Caroline Hudec, to see who knows Laura better.

Indigo

What is Laura’s favorite color?

4

What is Laura’s favorite restaurant?

4 Kampai

What is Laura’s favorite vacation spot?

4

Hawaii

What is Laura’s LEAST favorite holiday?

4

Thanksgiving

What is Laura’s favorite TV show?

4 “Glee”

The Sister

W I N N E R

W I N N E R

Sophomore Caroline Hudec

Indigo

The Subject

Kampai Hawaii

Chartreuse

The Boyfriend

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Thanksgiving

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12 ENTERTAINMENT

Friday, October 29, 2010

top FIVE Classy teachers recommend classic movies

By Riley Simpson

Associate Editor-in-Chief “What is your name? What is your quest? What is your favorite color?” science teacher Greg Troyer asked his blank-faced class.

“Nobody knows that line from ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail?’” Troyer asked.

Still no response.

“It’s a shame that all these movies that we teachers think are classics ­— with classic lines that we quote all the time — [go without response] from our students,” Troyer said.

We, the Prospector, think that the student body should be exposed to “classic” movies like “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” so they are exposed to the movies their teachers grew up with. This issue’s Classic Corner is dedicated to this “quest.”

“The Breakfast Club”

1.

HORROR MOVIES 111.

Based on a survey of the Prospector staff

“Nightmare on Elm Street”

11.

“Saw”

“I didn’t like ‘The Breakfast Club’ originally.

I had a really rough week of class, [since] it was my first year of teaching. Poor attitudes [made it] a really rough Friday. ‘The Breakfast Club,’ is, of course, a movie about kids serving detention on a Saturday, which is the last thing I needed. So, I sat through it, but I didn’t like it because I was in a completely wrong state of mind. But looking back on it several times with a clear mind, there’s a lot more statements being made, a lot more positive stories and relationships to tell.”

v.

“Silence

“The Shining” “Halloween”

Science teacher Greg Troyer “The Champ”

“‘The Champ’ with Rick Schroder was the first movie that made me cry. I was balling like a baby. [It’s about] a single dad or maybe a divorced family with Schroder as son of ‘The Champ.’ Other than that, I don’t remember much, besides crying. A lot.”

“The Princess Bride” “It’s a cult classic! It’s one of those movies you watch over and over and over again with your friends. And then you go around quoting the movie all the time. I say lines from movies like this in class all the time [and no one responds]. That’s called being old.”

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Friday, October 29, 2010

ENTERTAINMENT 13

Schedule for passion Students find their love for music to be cause of dedication to choir program

R

for Riley

By Deanna Shilkus

Fall movie season makes Oscar cry

Managing Editor Even though junior David Brablec is in Honors Choir and Mixed Company, he never strains his voice.

He knows if he gets a sore throat or strained voice, it’s because he’s not singing the right way or using his vocal cords correctly.

Though he doesn’t feel that his only choir class makes his schedule stressful, he starts to feel overwhelmed when all of his other activities conflict with one another after school.

With 273 students taking choir classes this year, it may seem that their schedules, social lives and voices are all strained due to their time and effort in the choir department. However, while practices, performances and competitions can be stressful when their lives are hectic, students like Brablec have passion for the music that drives their involvement, so they feel it is worth it.

Like Brablec, choir teacher Jen Troiano believes that it’s not the amount of classes students take during the day but the extracurricular activities, practices and performances that cause stress.

She said that these students choose their involvement, and because of their other extracurricular activities with choir, they are ultimately choosing to be busy.

However, those students who are in two choir classes and an outside activity such as Mixed Company sometimes cannot fit all of their choir classes into their schedule.

There are currently eight students who take an Honors Choir class as an independent study simply because they couldn’t fit it into their schedule.

Trying to allow periods for choir classes with a heavy academic load is not possible, according to Troiano.

“I strongly suggest that they take another class for different experiences,” she said.

For example, if students wanted

Rated

p AROUND THE CLOCK: Senior Claire Reibel and junior David Brablec live hectic lives due to their involvement in various choir activities. Even though practices and performances take up time in their schedule, they still find their passion for music drives their involvement. (Photos courtesy of Jen Troiano)

to perform in show choir, they would benefit [them] in college.” have to be in a regular choir class beBrablec and Reibel also both because there isn’t a period during the lieve that time management is someday for show choirs. thing important to have when being If they wanted to take any other involved in many choir activities. choir classes, they would have to “Between all of the different take an independent study class, types of [activities], you definitely mostly due to the amount of other learn how to take advantage of free academic classes time during the CHOIR CLASSES they are currently day,” Reibel said. taking. Those stuShe finds it There are currently 49 students dents in indepeneasier to comtaking two choir classes and dent study will municate with 224 students taking one choir learn the music her teachers and class. and take private get work done voice lessons. Then, when they pass Choir classes offered: they are required out schedules of ­­ —Beginning Choir to come to the conupcoming days in —Beginning Mixed —Advanced Mixed certs to perform. the class so that —Intermediate Mixed According she knows what’s —Vocal Ensemble 1 to Troiano, she going to be hap—Vocal Ensemble 2 doesn’t want them pening and can to miss out on takwork ahead on the Information courtesy of Lee Stanley ing a class of their weekends. interest, so she alSimilarly, Bralows them to do independent study. blec doesn’t like to let his ability to Senior Claire Reibel is one of the balance homework and activities students taking in- bother him. dependent study. Be“I take things one at a time. Worcause she is involved rying is not going to do anything in three different positive, so there’s no point stresschoir classes, two of ing about it.”

1ST ANNUAL PROSPECT HIGH SCHOOL them being Madrigals For both Reibel and Brablec, the and Harmony and Ar- lack of stress stems from their love ranging — a class on of music. learning the basics of Reibel has always had an intermusic — she had to est in music. Ever since she was take an independent a young girl, it has been a natural, study. Reibel is also everyday occurrence for her to ena member of Mixed counter music.

Company.

When she is in her choir classes, Every student it’s not anything that she has to worPLACE: PROSPECT HIGH SCHOOL FIELDHOUSE who takes a choir ry about.

801 W. KENSINGTON ROAD class earns a quarter “[Taking choir] is a different

MOUNT PROSPECT, IL 60056 credit, according to thing to do during the day,” Troiano DATE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2010 Lee Stanley, Assistant said. “It’s like your spa or therapy Principal of Student session. You can put away your acaTIME: 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM Services. demic classes and come and think A student’s involve- about things differently. No one ever Free Parking Kids’ Craft Area ment in choir allows gets benched; everyone is always a Raffle them to practice time part of the choir.

Concessions Bake Sale management and “[Being in school activities] making deadlines for makes them more well-rounded $3 admission for guests 5 years and older school assignments, [people]. If you are used to singTo view our info, Stanley said. ing in front of thousands of people visit Prospect High School’s website: http://phs.d214.org “They get a good throughout your high school career, Under “Featured News”, “Craft Show” experience of what it makes you a better person when college is like,” Stan- you leave.

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Summer is the season mostly associated with a humongous-budget and special effects-driven blockbusters with more action and less brains than a whorehouse in Las Vegas.

From the start of AP testing until Labor Day, super hero movies, run-of-the-mill action movies, standard rom-coms and 3-D disasters reign at the box office. Few Oscar contenders open in the summer, with the exception of last year’s Best Picture, “The Hurt Locker,” which opened in June 2009.

The holiday movie season is slightly better than the summer season when it comes to the quality of movies. Most of the films that fill the multiplexes between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are even more standard rom-coms with Christmas or Thanksgiving settings and even more 3-D disasters, which aren’t Oscar hopefuls either. Some uplifting dramas — usually based on true events — try and usually fail at getting nominations come March (“The Blind Side” was the rare, rare, rare exception).

This is why many film critics look to the months of September, October and part of November: the fall movie season, known as the sweet spot for Oscar gold, in between these periods of cinematic muck to produce some honestto-Jack Nicholson award contenders.

But 2010 is different.

Out of the “Oscar hopefuls” advertised and sold as — well, Oscar hopefuls — only one sticks out as worthy of having its producers’ names called in the spring onto the stage of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

At first glance, Ben Affleck’s “The Town” seemed like just another story of crime and romance. You know the story: guy meets girl, guy lies to girl about his identity, girl finds out, girl and guy break up for 15 minutes, girl and guy have a bittersweet ending.

“The Town” is the first movie in a while to get that formula right. Affleck, who also directed and starred as Doug MacRay, a pro bank robber, pumps “The Town” full of a great ensemble cast and amazingly intense situations, making his Oscar contender something special.

But not everyone has been as effective as Affleck this season. “The American,” George Clooney’s fall vehicle, was so boring that half the theater walked out in the first half hour — I barely lasted until the end. Also among the fall Oscar flops is “Secretariat,” which was dead before it was out of the gate.

But I was surprised when David Fincher’s “The Social Network” underwhelmed me. Honestly, I liked Fincher’s tale of betrayal, wrapped up with a snappy script, tight storytelling and some surprisingly fresh performances — especially from future Spider-Man Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, the guy who got screwed over by best bud Mark Zuckerburg (Jesse Eisenberg in a nice jerkish role).

I liked the first 95 percent of the movie. The one thing that ruined “Network”: the ending. After 115 minutes of sharp wordplay, bloody backstabbing and some good comedic moments, Fincher decided to end his almost-masterpiece in the typical based-ona-true-story manner: with neat little sentences telling us how each character ended up in the end. That ending was so generic and so cliché that it almost tarnished the likable — if not, lovable — majority of the movie.

For me, that ending tarnished “The Social Network’s” hopes for Oscar gold.

I am a firm believer that little things can win Oscars. But little things like a terrible ending can also ruin a movie’s chances at an Academy Award.

14 SPORTS

Friday, October 29, 2010

Smashing the conference group lessons and playing people who are better than me or older than me.”

During the off-season, she trained at Forest View Racket and Fitness Club in Arlington Heights and worked with a professional named Jason.

He worked with her all through her junior year, over the summer and this season to improve her game.

After all of her hard work, Rosemeyer’s reward was skipping JV and going straight to the varsity level for her junior season.

By Miranda Holloway Rosemeyer’s driven personality and Sports Editor athletic ability are what McClure believes can make her such a successful Most of the matches at the MSL con- player. ference tennis championship meet had “It’s a combination of both [traits], already finished when senior Maryc- but about 80 percent of it is her work lare Rosemeyer’s second singles match ethic and heart,” McClure said. against Barrington junior Haley Mallon According to both Rosemeyer and entered its third hour.

McClure, along with this drive and “What ended up happening in the work ethic, an “innate” competitivethird set was my leg cramped up — my ness also contributes to her success. entire right leg,” Rosemeyer said.

“I always have this feeling that I need “After I served it, I just collapsed, and to prove myself to my coaches, to people the same thing happened at conference I know and to myself,” Rosemeyer said. last year too,” Rosemeyer said. “I just “Because I am so competitive, I always had to finish the match. I knew if my leg have this feeling where I have to be the cramp came back, I would not be able to best. finish. I was just trying to pull through “Just going out there and knowing really quickly.” that I can have another win and show After falling to the pavement, a someone else — it kind of keeps me go10-minute injury break was called ing.” where Rosemeyer was allowed to stretch McClure said that while Rosemeyer’s out and re-hydrate. competitive spirit contributes to her After she came back from the break, conference success, it’s the hours that her leg still felt tight, but the big cramp she put in during practice that younger had subsided. players can imitate to achieve the re“She said to me, ‘Ms. McClure, I’m sults that she has had. not quitting now; I’ve worked so hard.

“If they are willing to work hard like I’m going to win the whole thing,’” head she did in the off-season, then anything coach Karie McClure said. is possible,” McClure said. “She was Rosemeyer won the match in three willing to put in the time and go to sets with scores of 2-6, 6-4 and 6-4. the local clubs [and] work with a She became the only one on the pro.”

Prospect team to beat Barrington. BarWinning her conference title rington went on to win the conference seems to Rosemeyer like a perfect championship reward for the and finished time she has their season put in over the in seventh at years.

ROSEMEYER’S MSL STATS the state tour“It felt so nament, while good,” RoseDefeated Barrington 6-2, 6-4 Prospect had meyer said.

(Score unknown) Defeated Fremd one doubles “That was my Defeated Palatine 6-1, 6-1 team qualify goal from the Defeated Meadows 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 for state (see beginning of Defeated Hersey 6-3, 6-1 P r o s p e c the season. EsDefeated Wheeling 6-1, 6-3 tornow.com ). pecially with Defeated BG 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 With this it being my Defeated Barrington win, Rosemeysenior year: (at conference) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 er ended with I wanted to an 8-0 record do something in the MSL special [and] (see Rosemeyget my face on er’s MSL stats). the wall.”

“I was so relieved; I just ran over to The fact that the championship my bag and collapsed,” Rosemeyer said. game was against Barrington, her “It was just the greatest feeling ever. [I rival, made her championship even was so relieved] because there was so more special. much pressure on the match.”

“It’s a big accomplishment beFinishing the match was the only op- cause no one has [beat Barrington] tion for Rosemeyer because if she had this year,” Rosemeyer said, “and not gone back, she would have to forfeit even in other years, we don’t beat to her rival, who she had already beat them. It was a really big deal for the earlier in the season. program.”

“She is so mentally tough that when she walks onto that court, she thinks she can beat any kid,” McClure said.

Rosemeyer’s confident attitude On Prospectornow. showed itself not only during this match Read about the but throughout her entire tennis career. doubles team Rosemeyer began showing an interof junior Maggie est in tennis when she started to play as a freshman.

Partridge and senior Her interest became stronger after Jackie Hertrich performance at failing to make the JV team her sophostate, hosted at Prospect High more year.

School. Also look for postseason After winning conference at the frocoverage of both cross countries, sh/soph level, Rosemeyer discovered boys’ soccer and read about her love for the sport and began to train year round. “[I was] constantly playing and always trying to improve,” Rosemeyer said. “I was taking private lessons and

Senior tennis player proves hard work and dedication equals results

p BACKHAND BATTLE: Senior Maryclare Rosemeyer hits a backhand during a recent practice. Her practice paid off when she won her conference championship in a threehour match. (Photo courtesy of Karie McClure)

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SPORTS 15

Friday, October 29, 2010

Ready to run

The upcoming week is one of the most intense times for the cross country runners.

Tomorrow’s sectional meet at Busse Woods in Elk Grove determines whether the teams’ seasons end or if they continue on to the state meet Nov. 1.

By Maggie Devereux Executive Sports Editor

A hazy outlook

THE GIRLS The girls’ team last year was one of the strongest in the state. They had top seniors Annette White and Kasey Krum as well as talented then-freshmen Brooke Wolfe and Lauren Poplawski. Headed into the state meet, the team was a favorite to win.

However, the team arrived in Peoria, Ill. with four of its five top runners either running injured or ill and finished sixth.

According to Wolfe, now a sophomore, this year will be different.

“We always expect everyone to perform their best — especially within the next week,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe expects the best due to the dedication the team has shown the past five months. At regionals, the team took second place behind Schaumburg, and Wolfe ran the fastest time of all runners headed into the Schaumburg sectional (see Regional results).

To help the runners perform their best, the varsity team runs about 47 miles a week. Every week there is a long workout, an interval workout, a cross-training day, two races and two easy runs plus weightlifting.

“You either fit into [the training program], or you can’t do [cross country],” Wurster said. “We have a really high expectation level. When the girls come into the program, they are surrounded by excellence.

There is only one way to do it, and that’s the best way.”

Four of the seven varsity runners were a part of last year’s state team. They set high expectations for the rest of the varsity runners.

“If people are around other people that have high expectations, then a lot of times, it will be like, ‘Oh I want to be like that,’” Wurster said.

At sectionals, the team will again face Schaumburg and last year’s state champions: Palatine. The top five schools will move on to state.

Wurster believes that even though this team may not be as “strong” as last year’s, the potential is high. He knows the team is one of the top 10 teams in the state and has a chance to perform really well.

“If we race well at state, we could even place higher than sixth,” Wurster said. “Hopefully we can put all the pieces together from what we have done not only since [we started training in] June, but from what our runners have been working on since they started running.”

@Knight

pRUNNING DOWN A DREAM: Senior Savannah Snead (front left) leads her teammates at regionals on Oct. 23. The girls have their sectional tomorrow, where they will try to qualify for state. (Photo by Maggie Devereux)

THE BOYS Heading into their conference meet on Oct. 16, the boys’ cross country team had one goal in mind: to win conference. To win, they had to keep up with the No. 1 team in conference, Palatine High School, who has won the MSL for the past eight years.

The boys had tried a new strategy to compete with the Pirates. Instead of running at their own pace, the team tried to stay with Palatine’s runners. The Knights were able to keep up for a mile and a half but began to fall behind during the second half of the race. The team ended up placing fourth, behind Palatine, Schaumburg and Barrington.

“The one thing I did tell them was that we [went] for it,” coach Mike Stokes said. “Maybe Palatine was a little bit beyond us, but we were the only team that really went for [the win], so we paid for it.”

The fourth-place conference finish reminded the team of last year’s state meet where they also finished fourth. Unfortunately, only the top three teams receive trophies.

However, the team’s race at conference served as a learning experience. The team now knows that sticking to their own pace provides the best results.

“We took a challenge, and the guys weren’t comfortable with the race,” Stokes said. “Now we are go-

pFOLLOW THE LEADER: The boys cross country team warms up at practice on Oct. 25. They race at the sectional meet tomorrow at Busse Woods. (Photo by Ian Magnuson)

GIRLS REGIONAL RESULTS Second place behind Schaumburg Runner Yr Place Time Brooke Wolfe So. 1 17:17 Lauren Poplawski So. 4 17:38 Laura Maibuecher Jr. 9 18:21 Savannah Snead Sr. 12 18:45 Mary Styzek Sr. 13 18:53 Rachel Henk Fr. 14 18:57 Kate Welch Jr. 20 19:12

BOYS REGIONAL RESULTS Second place behind Schaumburg Runner Yr Place Kellan Strobel Sr. 2 Mike Thill Jr. 7 Greg Netols Sr. 8 Josh Campos Jr. 9 Bobby Koertgen Sr. 10

Time 15:24 15:47 15:55 15:57 15:58

ing to go back to what we do.”

Luckily, the conference meet was only a pit stop on their race to state.

For sectionals and state, the team is planning on running its own race — not chasing another team.

After all, running their own race led the team to a 7-0 season and a third straight division title. They also won the 55-team Peoria Invite for the first time.

The team qualified for the sectional meet at last Saturday’s regional meet. The boys’ top five runners were all in the top 10, and the team took second overall (see Regional results).

“This team is really talented,” Stokes said. “They just have to go out and run their race and be confident in what they’re doing. I’d say we’ll qualify for state for the third year in a row.”

That beautiful smell in the air is the scent of the NBA season coming back. For many months, this was supposed to be exciting for Chicago for the first time in over a decade.

But then the misfortune of this city kicked in — again.

The Bulls’ $75 million man, Carlos Boozer, broke his hand a couple of weeks ago in a very mysterious way.

He fractured his fifth metacarpal bone, known as the “boxer’s fracture,” by tripping over his gym bag.

It has that name because it only breaks from punching, indicating that he may be lying — which is not uncommon among athletes — or more unlucky than Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the guy who was by chance in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during their nuclear bombings.

Although this is not as bad as Carlos Zambrano’s elbow problem from too much typing or Sammy Sosa’s 4.3 magnitude sneeze resulting in back spasms that put him on the disabled list, it is awful.

While the Heat were having high school-like pep rallies, the Bulls were busy creating a solid core of players, which put them in a position to win their division and seal a top four seed. This would give them home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs — something they have done only once since Jordan retired.

Although plenty of cities are worse off, Chicago isn’t one of the best right now either. With Jay Cutler’s life at stake, two struggling baseball teams, the latest Bulls fiasco and the Blackhawks struggling to keep their core and develop youth, we are in for a rocky ride.

But we can survive. If we give up now, we would no longer be Chicago and become a city of quitters. We would probably be re-named Randy Mossville. Or better yet, South Beach.

Helmet-to-Helmet Hits After realizing that fines do not stop players from making illegal hits, the NFL announced that it would become much more strict about helmetto-helmet hits. James Harrison, who had two such hits in one game the week before, said he was contemplating retirement after the rule change.

Although he was probably just pulling the league’s leg, it is somewhat understandable. Since these players were kids they have played to hit as hard as possible. The players they grew up watching, like Ronnie Lot, Chuck Cecil and Jack Tatum are still loved today for their vicious hits.

Tatum even paralyzed former New England Patriot receiver Darryl Stingley in a preseason game.

This is the problem with changing the rules on today’s players — they grew up with the violence.

What the NFL really needs if it wants less gruesome hits and more player safety is a culture change, from elementary level football all the way to the pros. Once this happens, future players will finally begin to believe in each others safety.

A large part of this culture change needs to even take place at the high school level.

Football coach Brent Pearlman agrees that illegal hits do not apply only to the NFL. “There’s a certain percentage of kids who play defense that always tackle that way,” Pearlman said. “Maybe they’re not as sensitive to it in high school or college, but I don’t think anyone gets to the NFL and starts using their head as a hitting device.”

Over the summer, the Prospect football team practices tackling, and helmet-to-helmet hits are not much of a concern, according to Pearlman. In fact, Pearlman belives the hits hurt the team.

Unfortunately, this is not so in the NFL. Laying out the wide receivers as hard as possible nearly guarantees he will drop the ball, which is a defensive player’s job.

Without a culture change to football at all levels, concussions and questionable hits will continue. Although the league is starting off well, there is more work to be done at all levels of football, and all coaches should be held responsible.

SPORTS

On Prospectornow.com ...

Friday, October 29, 2010

Football playoff brackets are out! Check online for a preview of the team’s first postseason game against Rockford Guilford High School tonight, and take a look at the full Class 7A bracket.

Big bangs bruise brains

Athletes, coaches learn to cope with concussions

SYMPTOMS AND DANGERS An athlete who has suffered a concussion will experience some, but likely not all, of these symptoms: - Headache - Vomiting - Light and noise sensitivity - Sluggishness - Problems focusing - Dizziness Without proper treatment and rest, athletes put themselves at risk for: - Second-impact syndrome: a rapid swelling of the brain when it suffers another blow before the first has healed - Older athletes are also at greater risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and depression

By Neel Thakkar Editor-in-Chief As he regained consciousness, junior Nick Krumpolz slowly realized that something was wrong.

Blood gushed from his head. His helmet rested on the ground a little ways away though he had no memory of taking it off. And a haze of impenetrable confusion settled on his brain.

He saw his coach telling him to get off the field. He tried getting up, but failed. The coach continued talking to him.

Krumpolz thought he was following the conversation, but the coach, who kept saying, “No, that’s not what I said,” thought otherwise.

Still confused, Krumpolz was sent to the trainer’s office.

There, as he got his head bandaged, he began vomiting and was sent to the hospital.

There was, and still is, a gap in his memory of the experience: “One second I was running at [senior Mike Geweniger], and the next second I was on the ground,” he said.

In between, Krumpolz, an offensive lineman and defensive end, suffered a concussion, or an injury to the brain caused by a blow to the head, as a result of helmet-to-helmet contact (see Symptoms and dangers). Krumpolz’s injury — which occurred during football practice on August 24 — sidelined him for the entire regular season.

Krumpolz’s concussion was considered a grade three concussion because it involved a loss of consciousness and was

pHEAD-TO-HEAD: Sophomores Kevin Kern and Patrick Costello practice tackling. Concussion worries have spread beyond professional sports to the high school level. (Photo by Ian Magnuson)

NOT JUST FOOTBALL Because of its violent and physical nature, football is the sport most closely associated with concussions. It isn’t an incorrect association — football is the biggest source of concussions at the high school level. But other sport receive a share as well.

By frequency of concussions, girls’ soccer is just behind football. Junior Jesse Petrovski suffered one in early September when she was playing on the Aces soccer team. After getting the concussion, she went back in to keep playing, only to land on her head again.

“When I’m playing in a game, I’m not as worried,” she said.

“But afterwards I start to think about close plays where I could have hit my head again, and I’m not going to lie, it’s kind of scary.” therefore more severe than most. According to a 2006 study by the University of Pittsburgh, most high school athletes who suffer concussions recover within two weeks. But his case exemplifies some of the dangers of concussions during a time when the injury is receiving national attention at all levels.

The issue has been particularly prominent in the NFL. After considerable bad press and a string of especially nasty

hits, the NFL changed course on Oct. 17. Instead of preserving its old policy of ambivalence regarding the danger of concussions, it has now begun to levy heavy fines for helmetto-helmet hits — the biggest cause of concussions — and has come out stronger in warning of the injury’s dangers.

The NFL’s move is only the latest step in a growing national awareness regarding concussions (see Symptoms and dangers).

THE BRAIN DURING IMPACT 1. The blow lands on the helmet, even as both players are running at full speed. The impact passes through the helmet and hits the skull with more force than the cerebrospinal fluid can cushion.

The risks posed by the injury are not restricted to the professional level, though: 1.8 percent of all high school athletes receive a concussion each year, according to the Indianapolis Star. High school athletes have three times the risk of catastrophic head injury than college athletes, according to the Maryland Gazette.

Each year, Prospect’s varsity football team has only one or two players sit out for concussions each year, according to head coach Brent Pearlman.

And even that, he says, is an increase from years past.

“I bet you the number [of concussions] I’ve seen has stayed consistent,” Pearlman said. “The number of kids sitting out with concussions is significantly higher.”

Athletic trainer Matt Guth and Dr. Silvia Toliopoulos, who helps treat concussions at Athletico in Arlington Heights, both echoed Pearlman, attributing the increase to media attention and players’ physical development.

STEPS TO RECOVERY 2. The shock wave goes through the brain, hits the opposite end of the skull, and travels back. The concussion happens when the back of the brain hits against the skull, potentially bruising the brain, causing nerve damage and tearing blood vessels.

Graphic by Riley Simpson Information courtesy of the Denver Post

Sports that have high rates of concussions — so far, just football and boys’ soccer — are tested for cognitive functioning early in the season using special software to give the trainers baseline data to work with in case the athlete has a concussion later on.

After symptoms subside, athletes with concussions are tested with the software and are held from action until their scores return to normal or near-normal levels to make sure that their brains have healed.

Then, they are slowly brought back to participation, starting with normal exercise, then practice and finally, games.

Information courtesy of Centers for Disease Control “With everything that’s happening in the NFL, people are becoming more aware of the conditions and long-term side-effects,” Toliopoulos said.

“They are addressing it more now rather than waiting for the long-term effects.”

Guth agreed, adding that the higher number also has to do with the increased size, speed and strength of athletes.

Despite the increased threat of the injury, players don’t always take it seriously.

“Kids nowadays, they think if they cant see the injury, then it’s not there,” Toliopoulos said. “It’s like, ‘I didn’t twist my ankle; I didn’t twist my knee, so I’m fine.’”

Indeed, one football player, junior Caleb Wachsmuth, continued to play after sustaining his concussion.

“I got hit in the head, and I didn’t really know what was going on, but then I just continued to play, and it got worse,” he said. “I can’t really remember what happened from when I got hit to when I was taken out.”

That approach of downplaying concussions is a big part of their danger. With enough rest and treatment, the effects of concussions usually — though not always — disappear. If, however, the injured area continues to sustain blows, the damage becomes worse.

Of Wachsmuth, Krumpolz and junior soccer player Jesse Petrovski, who suffered a concussion in September, only Petrovski admitted to worrying about suffering a repeat concussion, despite the fact that research indicates having one concussion makes a second more likely.

“It’s a contact sport. That stuff happens sometimes,” said Wachsmuth, who was out for three weeks in late August and in September. “You can’t be afraid.”

- Miranda Holloway contributed to this report