Issue 4

THE

Volume 53, Issue 4

Friday, November 15, 2013

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Cafeteria food revolution

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New lunch room rules to limit food choices

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Battle of the blondes Junior Kelly Schoessling addresses the “dumb blonde” stereotype. For more, turn to...

5 Opinion

By Shannon Smith Features Editor

Junior Allyson Munn gets the pizza and taco salad in the lunch room on a regular basis, along with the occasional cookie and ice cream.

Every day, students like Munn go into the lunch room and spend their money, but next year the recipes will drastically change or will not be available at all.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created new guidelines that all cafeterias that belong to the national lunch line must follow, and Prospect is no exception.

These new guidelines will be the first major changes made to lunches in 15 years.

The bill was signed by President Obama in hopes of raising a healthier generation of children and also reflects the latest nutritional science.

According to Food Service Manager Donna Rogers, there are new guidelines put into place each year, but they have never been this drastic. Next year, almost all the food sold in the cafeteria won’t meet the new guidelines (see “Summary of guidelines for prepackaged foods,” page 2). To name a few, all pizza made off campus, ice cream, ramen noodles and the famous cookies won’t be available next year.

Rogers is currently scruti-

8-9 In-Depth

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11 Entertainment

HEALTH KICK: New changes to the cafeteria menu will drastically change cuisine choices for students. The new rules and regulations go into effect next school year after the decisions made by the state of Illinois. (Graphic by Shannon Smith and Rich Futo) nizing everything to see if it meets the new guidelines. For prepackaged snacks like chips, it’s easy because all of the information is there on the package, but for foods like chili, it’s more difficult and time consuming because they must compare every ingredient.

The cafeteria workers will try their best to accommodate students’ wishes next year along with the guidelines, and this year Rogers plans on going out big by buying everything

and anything the students want.

For instance, a girl told Rogers that Fritos are her favorite chip, but the cafeteria didn’t offer them. As a result, Rogers began ordering Fritos so the girl could have them.

“When somebody wants something, I try and get it,” Rogers said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s one or 100 [students] who want something.”

Looking ahead, Rogers is trying to stay optimistic al-

though she is worried about the cafeteria’s success as a business. The cafeteria is mandated by the district to be self-supporting, which means it needs to make a profit like any other business.

An intern from Dominican University came to Prospect to survey students about the new regulations, and her findings were not good; according to her data, students don’t plan to

See CHANGES, page 2

Fine arts students excel at IMEA festival

By Shreya Thakkar News Editor

SOUL SINGER: Junior Celeste Caldrone (bottom, center) performs with other IMEA chorus members on Nov. 9. Caldrone was one of seven students from Prospect chosen out of 1,000 to perform with 250 others at the IMEA festival. (Photo by Ron Godby)

Staying home sick, junior Celeste Caldrone thought it was going to be a typical day.

However, when she checked her phone, there was a text message from senior Michael Gattuso letting her know that she made the Illinois Music Education Association Choir, known as IMEA choir. That turned her average day into a great one.

“It’s really competitive to make it, so the fact that I was chosen... [was a big honor],” Caldrone said.

The IMEA Vocal Choir Senior Festival was on Nov. 9 at Crystal Lake Central High

School. According to choir teacher Jen Troiano, making IMEA is the equivalent of making state in sports and exists for band, orchestra, vocal jazz and choir at different levels, senior high school and junior high school.

Only 35 students from District 214 were selected to be apart of the IMEA choir. Eight of those are from Prospect and include seniors Josh Arshonsky, Brendan Chapman, Mary Godby, Seamus Mangan and Alex Yoo and juniors Celeste Caldrone, Marc Ford and Jesse Sykes. State-wide, around 1,000 students tried out, and 250 made it.

According to Caldrone, performing at the festival was an

Rising to the occasion To see how boys’ cross country overcame an 0-3 start to make it to state, check out...

15 Sports For more on IMEA and Prospect’s performance at the festival, check out...

ProspectorNow.com unforgettable experience.

“It was really cool,” Caldrone said. “Everybody was so talented, and the sound that they produced was just amazing. It was actually beautiful.

It felt awesome to know that you were on that stage and deserved it and that you made it up there.”

Students have been preparing for the audition ever since the end of May when Troiano put out a huge pile of packets containing audition information and copies of all the music the students had to learn. Students worked on the music all summer.

When the students returned

See IMEA, page 2

2

News

November 15, 2013

prospectornow.com

CHANGES: Junk food to leave next year

In case you missed it...

Giving blood a necessity for those able

CONTINUED from front page

Summary of Guidelines of Prepackaged Foods

eat what will be served in the lunch room next year. Often, students who don’t find the foods they want either bring their own lunches or go out, which doesn’t help the cafeteria make a profit.

Since Prospect is an open campus for sophomores, juniors and seniors, a majority of students can go anywhere and not have to worry about what’s being served in the cafeteria.

The cafeteria is not the only business that will suffer; major companies like PepsiCo sell their products to cafeterias nationwide.

Now these companies are scrambling to reformulate the ingredients in their products so that they meet next year’s requirements.

Food

-No more than 10 percent of calories may be from saturated fat -Must have 0 grams trans fat -Sodium is limited to 230 mg per item as packaged -Total sugar may be no more than 35 percent by weight

Drinks

May only be...

-100% fruit juice -Nonfat milk (flavored) and low fat milk (unflavored) -Water and flavored water -0-calorie drinks

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Sophomore Anna Daleiden buys a slice of Nino’s pizza. Next year, the cafeteria will not be able to sell pizza made off-campus. (Photo by Shannon Smith) Munn and senior Brandon Durr don’t think it’s right that the government is deciding what students can or can’t eat, although Durr does think that it will be good that students will be eating healthier. Rogers agrees with Durr and Munn.

“People still should have the choice on whether they choose to eat a Pop Chip or a Flaming Hot

Cheeto,” Rogers said.

“It should still be your choice.

You’re at the age when you’re old enough to make those decisions.

You’re not in grade school; you can pick your classes, you can drive, you can vote. [Choosing what to eat] is being taken away.

The government is deciding what you will be able to eat and drink in school.”

IMEA: Students perform at District 7 festival

CONTINUED from front page

to school in the fall, Troiano held mock auditions a week before the Oct. 3 audition for IMEA Vocal Chorus to prepare them.

“The mock auditions are really helpful,” three-year IMEA chorus singer Mary Godby said.

“They give you an idea of what to expect at the audition, so it’s nice to be able to do a mock audition before the real audition so you know what’s coming.”

Once students are selected, they are mostly on their own to prepare for the festival, with just the music, program notes from the director and their voice teacher to rely on.

“You have to learn all the music by yourself,” Caldrone said.

“So it all depends on you and your motivation to learn.”

Since preparation for IMEA is so individual, Troiano believes students have to be very self-motivated.

“It’s really cool because you have to rely on yourself and your talent,” Troiano said.

While preparing for one IMEA festival requires a lot of time and dedication, preparing for two like Godby had to, is even harder. Godby was a part of the IMEA Vocal Chorus as well as IMEA Vocal Jazz.

Godby had to spend a lot of

CAROLING CHORUS: Junior Marc Ford sings at the IMEA Vocal Choir festival. The District 7 festival was held on Nov. 9 at Crystal Lake Central High School. (Photo courtesy of Ron Godby) time to get ready for both; however, she believes that it was worth it with all her hard work.

It is also convenient that the festivals are on two separate weekends, with the IMEA Vocal Jazz festival on Nov. 16. Along with Godby, seniors Leanne Gadow and Samantha Ondrla were also selected for Vocal Jazz.

Godby, Gadow and Ondrla made the top level of Vocal Jazz, which, according to Troiano, was difficult. To be selected,

they had to have one of the top four scores out of about 80 students in the District 7, Prospect’s district. This is Godby’s first year on Vocal Jazz, but she has been on Vocal Chorus since sophomore year, the first year students are allowed to try out.

“It’s pretty rare to make the group as a sophomore,” Troiano said.

“You feel like you won the lottery, and then to make it again three times [is] just unheard

of. That tells Mary she’s in the right field; if she wants to major as a music major, a vocal major or music ed, she should do it because she’s not only getting good feedback from us but [from] people outside of Prospect, which is nice.”

Out of the 250 students that perform at the Vocal Chorus Festival, a few will be chosen to be a part of the All-State Chorus, an even more prestigious group. Although Godby hasn’t been chosen for the All-State Chorus yet, she is hoping to this year, especially since she felt confident about her audition.

After Thanksgiving, Troiano will receive an email saying who made All-State Chorus.

Besides the possibility of making the All-State Chorus, Godby is very glad she got to be a part of IMEA Chorus and Vocal Jazz in high school.

“It feels really cool to know that my hard work paid off and that I’ve made it into the group for three years,” Godby said.

“That’s like a really cool feeling. Also, I am majoring in music education, and I’m really excited to major in that because I want to become a choir teacher.

These experiences of just singing in a group are going to help me in the long run, and it’s just a really cool experience that I get to have.”

IMEA Band, Orchestra, Chorus and Vocal Jazz participants IMEA Band: Senior Philip Masini

Years on IMEA: 2 Masini’s Experience:

“It’s really fun to meet with the other best musicians in the area.”

Prospect members: Sopho-

more Claire Pontello, juniors Ben Szafarz and Nicholas Holl, senior Philip Masini

IMEA Choir:

Senior Brendan Chapman

Years on IMEA: 3 Chapman’s Experience: “It was

a fun experience. IMEA is always a fun experience.”

Prospect members: Seniors Josh Arshonsky, Brendan Chapman, Mary Godby, Seamus Mangan and Alex Yoo; juniors Celeste Caldrone, Marc Ford and Jesse Sykes

IMEA Orchestra:

Freshmen participate in suicide prevention programs Girls’ swim and dive takes fourth place at MSL

Intercambio 2013

Safer foundation visits Prospect

Seven students chosen for Distric 7 Chorus

Haunted High School

IMEA Vocal Jazz: Senior Leanne Gadow

Years on IMEA: 1 Banna’s Experience: “It was

Years on IMEA: 1 Gadow’s Experience: “The good

Ultimate Frisbee-Road to Playoffs weeks 2

experience is the most important part, but it’s always nice to be recognized for your hard work.”

Prospect members: Seniors Mary Godby, Leanne Gadow and Junior Timmy Banna Samantha Ondrla Photos by Shreya Thakkar and Rich Futo; Photos courtesy of Ron Godby Prospect members:

Boys’ cross country qualifies for state

LGK championship run

Junior Timmy Banna

an awesome experience to be in this group playing with best musicians in District 7.”

Prospect hopes to win 25,000 scholarship from Celebrate my Drive

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Novermber 15, 2013

News

Home alone: the real-life nightmare

3

How to protect yourself from a robbery

Report the suspicious activity or person to the Police Department at 3-1-1. If it is an emergency, dial 9-1-1. photo by Eva Schacht

garage door one night, and the following day, he noticed a glass globe was on the floor, smashed into a million pieces.

He then noticed his tools were cost of living has risen, par- gone.

“I was in a state of disbeents with kids now find themselves both working to support lief,” Decker said. “I didn’t themselves. With both parents think [burglaries] were that working, the house is now com- common in Mount Prospect, pletely vacant for up to seven but when it happened, I was so hours a day, giving robbers and surprised.”

Fortunately, the burburglars glar was a largcaught, er winand DeckRobbery vs. Burglary dow to er was alcommit lowed to crime. regain posA robbery occurs when a robber apT h e session of proaches somebody and grabs whatevdamage his belonger is on hand. of robings about beries t h r e e A burglary involves anything that’s a and burmonths affixed object like a car or something glaries ter the inresidential. varies cident beand decause the p e n d s police had on how much is stolen. Filipek has to process all of the evidence.

A lot of the burglaries the seen damages range from $500 police department investito $50,000. The incident with the Hallorens cost them rough- gates occur when doors are unlocked, creating the perfect ly $1,000.

Both robbers and burglars opportunity for the burglars to are looking for things that are enter and take what they need.

“All they ever look for is the easily sold and hard to track easy opportunity: nobody’s since their main objective is to grab and dash easily. The home, so go inside,” Filipek most commonly stolen item is said.

In the incident with Decker, jewelry because there is no sethe burglar was alone; howevrial number or means of tracking it, but phones, laptops and er, burglars and robbers can happen in groups as well. AcGPSs are also often stolen.

Mount Prospect resident cording to Filipek, he’s seen Matt Decker had his GPS and “crews” of robbers and burpower tools stolen from his ga- glars where there is a getaway driver, a lookout and somebody rage two years ago.

Decker forgot to lock the who actually carries out the theft.

Increases in robberies, caused by lack of awareness

By Eva Schacht

News Editor

Before you leave anywhere, lock your house or car. Burglars usually target houses or cars with unlocked doors.

Always be aware of your surroundings. If you are wearing headphones, don’t turn up the volume so high that you cannot hear.

Report the crime to the police. Try to describe the attacker accurately. Your actions can help prevent others from becoming victims.

Freshman Delaney Halloren never thought anything could happen to her home in Scarsdale, one of Arlington Heights’ more exclusive neighborhoods.

However, her worst fears became real two years ago when her brother, seventh grader Declan, witnessed a burglar break into their home.

Declan was coming home from school when he noticed the house seemed cold, but he didn’t think anything of it. He heard noises upstairs, and then all of a sudden, a robber walked down the stairs, face-to-face with Declan. The robber casually strolled to the front door, went in his car and drove off with some of Declan’s mom’s jewelry and electronics. The police were immediately contacted, and a full investigation was launched. Unfortunately, they never recovered the stolen items.

Robberies like these are becoming more and more prevalent around the Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights areas. In 2012, there were 678 property assaults in Mount Prospect and 1,860 in Arlington Heights.

One reason for the increase is property and valuables are now more accessible than ever. According to Safety Officer Scott Filipek, because the

Walk on the sidewalk whenever possible.

Walk close to the curb, avoiding doorways, bushes and other potential hiding places.

If you ever feel like you’re in danger yell, “Fire!”. More people will respond to someone yelling “Fire!” than they will to “Help!”

Burglars and robbers usually never target one specific age group. Filipek has seen reports from young adults to the elderly.

To show students the potential dangers that robbers and burglars can cause, Prospect held a seminar that taught people how to protect themselves from felons. Actual felons spoke, and many claimed that they had real jobs and did their burglaries during the afternoon and night.

Immediately after the incident, Decker installed motion-sensored lights all around his garage and a lock on the garage.

Similarly, Delaney and her family installed a security system and started locking their doors more often. The incident was a complete eye opening for the Hallorens.

“Even though you think it couldn’t happen to you, it most certainly can,” Declan said.

For more coverage, go to ProspectorNow.

Don’t resist. Give up your property—no possession is worth risking your safety.

November 15, 2013

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Editorial Cartoon

Staff Editorial

Temporary help is not enough Super Typhoon Haiyan struck that providing philanthropy is not the Philippines Nov. 8, killing just the process of arriving when 10,000 and affecting as many as 25 disaster strikes; it is the persermillion residents. vence to continue support until a Haiyan is not the only natural lasting solution is found. disaster taking its toll on the PhilWhen a devastating 7.0 earthlippine islands, though. Before the quake hit the nation of Haiti in typhoon, the islands had begun 2010, residents from around the the process of rebuilding from a globe came together to initially 7.1-magnitude earthquake on Oct. donate a total of 1.4 billion dollars 15. to relief efforts. However, accordIn the face of such devasta- ing to CNN.com, 300,000 Haitian tion, observers from around the residents remain displaced as a world are urged by result of a disaster all types of media that occurred over outlets to donate three years ago. to various relief Likewise, the funds. wrath of HurriAs the media cane Katrina in Against coverage surround2005 caused an esFor ing the devastation Voting results of the Prospector staff in timated 75 billion regards to this editorial. expands and redollars worth of veals new informadamage, and symtion each day, we pathetic bystandfind ourselves engrossed by the ers ultimately donated over 4 bilstory. As Eric G. Wilson said, it’s lion dollars. “like a train wreck, but [we] can’t While the relief efforts and dolook away.” nations helped to reconstruct the As time goes on and new in- city itself, neighborhoods on the formation about the disaster be- outskirts of New Orleans are still comes old news, the media pans struggling to rise above the poveraway from the scene, and soon ty line, and crime rate in the state enough, the once invested viewers has increased dramatically. forget the devastation completely.

Although as citizens we find There is a tendency to assume ourselves engulfed in new distracthat as soon as the media stops re- tions each day, it is imperative we porting on a problem, such as the recognize that even though the tragedy in the Philippines, it has spotlight may have left a disaster, been resolved. Unfortunately, this the destruction is still present, and those affected still need help. is almost never the case.

We also often find ourselves So as we come face to face with hearing news of different develop- the tragedy of devastation and the ing disasters, and as we turn our hopelessness of disaster, we’re attention to these tragedies, we once again given the opportunity walk away from previous devasta- to provide our sympathy throughout a recovery, a relapse and ultitions.

We, The Prospector, believe mately a future.

17

The Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nabi Dressler MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Schoessling COPY EDITOR Ellen Siefke ASSOCIATE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Andi Hayes Erin McGovern

0

The writers of “Supernatural” have killed almost every character on the show during its nine years on air. Even the show’s main characters, Sam and Dean, have died countless times, so it’s not surprising that more than a few women have bit the dust.

But Sam, Dean and every other guy on the show come back from the dead no matter how many times they’re killed — one character even came back to the show after his ghost was killed — while the women of “Supernatural,” who aren’t given many roles to begin Caroline Binley with, tend to stay dead Opinion Editor and be forgotten.

The way women have been treated on “Supernatural” is extreme, but it reflects the media’s vast bias and imperfection. Most movies and TV shows still can’t pass the Bechdel test, which means they aren’t even able to produce two women with names who talk to each other about anything besides guys.

Luckily, things are slowly moving in the right direction. On Nov. 6, Marvel announced that a new character will be joining their comics: Ms. Marvel, also known as Kamala Khan, a Muslim teen living in New Jersey.

It’s a surprising choice, given that Stan Lee has previously dismissed the idea of Marvel projects with female leads, but it’s a good choice all the same.

The lack of women in popular media — according to the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, women only have 39 percent of speaking roles on television — undermines their role.

Whether we’re aware of it or not, the media has a huge influence on our lives. Constantly giving lead roles to men teaches us that men are more important than women from a very young age, even though that’s completely wrong, and constantly putting women in the same roles doesn’t help anything.

No one’s expecting perfect female characters to pop up in every television show on the planet. In fact, an army of “perfect” women would only make things worse because, shockingly enough, they don’t exist.

What we need isn’t “strong” women, especially those who are only defined by that strength. We need diverse women, and more than that, complex women. For every gun-slinging badass, there’s a woman who’s afraid of the dark, and for every fashionista, there’s a woman who can’t be bothered to paint her nails, and more importantly, every one of those traits can exist in the same character.

Even though Ms. Marvel’s debut is only a comic book, and therefore just testing the waters, it seems like they’re starting to figure out how important diverse aspects of a character are, and it’s about time.

“The Hunger Games” grossed over 684 million dollars worldwide, and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is still one of the most iconic television shows of all time, so there is no justification for avoiding representing women in every form of media. When writers take the time to do it right, female characters can be just as powerful, and just as popular, as their male counterparts.

LEADING LADIES: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Elementary,” “The Hunger Games,” “Teen Wolf” and “Agents of Shield” are a few of the shows featuring decent female leads.

Media terminology for dummies: Bechdel test: Created in 1985 by cartoonist Alison Bechdel, the Bechdel test is a way of determining how gender biased comics, films and TV shows are. To pass the test, the work has to involve two or more women who have names, talk to each other and do so about something other than men.

Women in refrigerators: The term “women in refrigerators” has been used by comic book fans since the ‘90s to describe women killed to further the storylines of male characters. The term is (unfortunately) still applicable to the treatment of female characters in comics as well as the media as a whole.

IN-DEPTH EDITORS Aungelina Dahm Abby Sunu

BROADCAST EDITOR Lauren Miller Meghan Doyle

NEWS EDITORS Brian Park Eva Schacht Shreya Thakkar

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Grace McKay

ADVISER Jason Block

FEATURES EDITORS Khrystyna Halatyma Mary Kate Moloney Shannon Smith

4

Media lacks gender equality

ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Jack McDermott

OPINION EDITORS Chris Kivlahan Caroline Binley

Opinion

ONLINE EDITOR Spencer Ball

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.

VISUALS EDITOR Rich Futo

The Prospector is published by students in Journalistic Writing courses.

SPORTS EDITORS Peter Fusilero Molly Mueller Devin Prasad

Some material is courtesy of MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

Advertising For ad rates, call (847) 718-5376 (ask for Kelly Schoessling), fax (847) 718-5306, e-mail or write to the Prospector, 801 W. 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. Limit letters to 400 words.

The Prospector reserves the right to edit letters for style and length.

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‘Dumb blonde’ nothing more than false stereotype Most remember celebrity those with darker roots.

Marilyn Monroe as one of However, the media never the most adored and beauti- seemed to highlight importful actresses of all ant facts about time. this phenomenon, She displayed including the fact a standard of that Monroe is a beauty that natural brunette. became expected According to of all women realclearscience. during her time com, the period. stereotype of the Although she “dumb blonde” was worshiped stems from the for her physical Kelly Schoessling idea that because features, she was Managing Editor blonde women are also infamous for not smart, they her misguided must use their decision-making because of physical features as a crutch her serious psychological in order to succeed. struggles with depression.

As a natural blonde, I Monroe often played could attempt to convince ignorant and ditzy you that lighter roots have characters, which ultimately no connection to learning led the public to label her capabilities or that there with those same negative is no concrete qualities. evidence Monroe was not the to prove only blonde actress to all blonde make an impact on the women seek media’s perception, to use their though. p hy s i c a l Actresses such features as Grace Kelly, as a Jean Harlow form of and Farrah ambition.

Fawcett beH o w e v e r, gan a patm y tern argument o f a g a i n s t Jessica Simpson p l ay the “dumb ing b l o n d e ” beautiful yet ignorant stereotype originates from a blonde women in movies belief rather than research. such as “Dial M for Murder,” Everyone is born with a “Rear Window,” “Charlie’s predetermined and different Angels” and “Bombshell.” rate of understanding and This portrayal of blonde intelligence. women in the media soon However, being knowlstarted a lasting societal be- edgeable is a choice. lief that lightWe only become er-haired well-informed and w o m e n experienced when we have less strive to be. ambition Being thoughtful a n d and aware is no in intelliway connected gence with the color of t h a n your hair or the popularity of a stereotype.

It is only because of our superficial surroundings that we accept the deluge of messages to choose between Paris Hilton beauty and

intelligence rather perception of blonde than striving women, past mistakes for both. do not have to become Singour future. We still er and have time to fix our actress preconcieved notions.

Jessica There’s still an opSimpson portunity to wake was someour comatose sowhat known ciety to the during her issues at album rehand. leases and We appeara r e ances in caMarilyn Monroe “The Mickpaey Mouse ble Club.” o f However, it wasn’t h av until Simpson played the ing our media reflect our sorole of Daisy Duke in “The ciety rather than having our Dukes of Hazzard” that she society reflect the media. truly became famous.

As a generation engulfed This rapid media and influenced by the media attention provided a each day, we still have time further incentive for blonde to protect ourselves from actresses to accept roles generalizations and stigmas. primarily focused on Moreover, their looks. we still have As more a chance b l o n d e to embrace actresses our own began to intelligence, take interest rather than in this allow a s t e r e o t y p e, stereotype the public to dicate f u r t h e r our own believed perception of the overall ourselves. stigma.

In a world filled with In the novel “The Great numerous opportunities, it Gatsby,” the light-haired should be our goal to strive character, Daisy Buchanan, towards intelligence and describes her hopes for her self-awareness rather than future daughter by saying, “I allow our stigmas to block hope she’ll be a fool — that’s our personal success. the best thing a girl can be in Photos all courtesy of Imdb. this world, a beautiful little com fool.”

Likewise, in Monroe’s film, “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” her father asks her why she pretends to be dumb, and Monroe replies, “Men prefer me that way.”

These characters throughout film, television and literature provide a further example of the long-lasting effects of the “dumb blonde” stereotype.

Although these Farrah Fawcett icons have carved a precedented

We only become wellinformed and experienced when we strive to be.

The three most common blonde film stereotypes

The “ice-cold’” blonde

The “bombshell’” blonde

“The ‘Dumb” blonde

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November 15, 2013

Opinion

5

Slacker’s manifesto Our way of life makes it almost impossible to avoid stress. In high school, we are expected to get good grades, prepare for college, do activities that help us get good grades or prepare to get into college (read: pad our college applications) and maybe if we have time on top of all Chris Kivlahan that, maintain a Executive Opinion social life.

Editor According to WebMD.com, chronic stress can cause high levels of the hormones that lead to high blood pressure and leave you susceptible to heart disease.

Though not confirmed, there is strong evidence that stress can cause an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.

As we move toward adulthood, this stress only promises to increase, especially for those of us planning (or hoping) to go to hypercompetitive colleges.

Sometimes it seems that the only way to live a life with little or no stress is to slack off in school — and that would make you a slacker.

The word slacker gets a bad rap. People hear it and immediately associate it with laziness, procrastination and a lack of ambition.

This layman’s definition does not do any favors for the slacker’s way of life.

Slacking involves not laziness but a radical shift in priorities. The slacker determines what is important and just lets everything else go.

This looks good on paper, but one would have a rough time determining what is or isn’t important enough to merit the slacker’s time.

This leads to the second main pillar of the slacker lifestyle — a realization of one’s goals.

Throughout high school, we are given conflicting messages; we are told to create and strive for specific goals while at the same time keep all of our options open.

The slacker, however, is not afraid to close some doors. If one is focused on a career in biology, what is the sense in giving English or history classes the bulk of one’s effort?

This is, however, not without its dangers. If that biology-focused slacker decides that his or her true calling is in contemporary German literature, it will take a lot of work to get his or her her life onto a different track.

Slackers aren’t lazy, instead willing to do whatever they have to to follow their dreams, even if those dreams present a moving target.

A slacker is not unambitious — far from it!

A slacker is simply narrowly focused, trusting that he or she can make the best decisions to pursue life goals.

The enemy of the slacker — and that group that is all too often lumped in with slackers — is something I call the loser. While the slacker doesn’t care excessively, the loser doesn’t care at all.

While the slacker doesn’t try in classes deemed unimportant, the loser doesn’t try in any classes at all.

Being a slacker is a way of life and not one any less valid than any other. It is born not of laziness but of an intense drive that eclipses everything not important to achieving goals.

If you have a clear idea of what you want your life to be and aren’t afraid of taking risks, becoming a slacker is the best way to focus your priorities and achieve your dreams.

And even better, you don’t have to do all your homework.

6

Features

November 15, 2013

prospectornow.com

cornucopia of thanks

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food and why?

“I would have to say pumpkin pie because after the meal, you can just eat it.”

-Ravi Trivedi, freshman

“Potatoes because they’re really good, and there’s nothing better than potatoes.”

-Kate Dinsmore, sophomore

“Probably mashed potatoes because I like potatoes.”

-Sindi Stoeva, junior

“Mashed potatoes and gravy because my grandma makes it, and she’s an amazing cook.”

-Kevin Morton, senior

Students include family traditions, culture in Thanksgiving celebrations food if the weather permits. If it’s too cold to go out, they stay inside and play Monopoly together.

Thompson’s favorite part, though, is the meal.

“I know I should say [my favorite part is] the According to legend, the first Thanksgiving was a celebration between the Pilgrims and Na- family, but it’s probably the food,” Thompson tive Americans honoring a collaborative effort to said.

Comparing the two cultures, he feels that in stay alive in the harsh land of Plymouth. Since then, this holiday has evolved into a day famous Canada, the celebration has more meaning than for NFL games, turkeys the size of fridges and in America.

“American Thanksgiving is a really fake backmountains of mashed potatoes. story,” Thompson said. “[The Pilgrims] never acHowever, students do more than just stuff their faces with globs of gravy; some have unique tually sat around a table, bonding with the Native traditions for Thanksgiving, whether influenced Americans. In Canada, it’s strictly about the harvest, and it has more meaning and variety.” by culture or just family lifestyles.

In addition, according to thanksgivingday.org, Sophomore Arsh Nanda’s family doesn’t even the Canadian celebration is not a national holiadhere to the traditional rules for food; being Indian, they are all vegetarians and have adjusted day like in America, so each province often has their menu accordingly. Instead of making tur- its own traditions, such as parades or festivals.

Although junior Stephanie Towey and her key, his mom makes tofurky, a delicacy consisting of tofu stuffed with various vegetables. Although sister, freshman Sophia Towey, do not follow any some may deem this distasteful, Nanda feels his specific cultural customs, they still enjoy special traditions. Their family is large, and they rotate mom has perfected the recipe.

Despite the restrictions, Nanda still enjoys the having the entire family together at their grandmother’s house. This year, there will be only 15 unique foods and spending time with his family.

Freshman Kristen Iverson’s family also has members present, but next year, there will be around 36. some unique foods in their One of their family trameal. Her family — she, her A world of thanks ditions is a football game, sister and her parents — which, according to Stephamake the meal together, each There are thousands of different nie, usually consists of the contributing a little to each kids and dads playing outside languages in the world, and each has part. while the moms work in the One of their signature a unique way of expressing one’s kitchen. dishes is her mom’s homegratitude. Here are a multitude of “It’s kind of funny because made cranberry sauce. Other ways to say “thank you.” it’s so stereotypical with the components include turkey, dads outside and the moms stuffing and sweet potato casSpanish: Gracias in the house working, but it’s serole.

Italian: Grazie still fun,” Stephanie said.

Her favorite part of the French: Merci For the meal, Sophia notes holiday is that sometimes there is always sweet potato German: Danke family members whom she casserole, turkey and a numdoesn’t see very often come, Portugese: Obrigado ber of vegetable dishes. For and she enjoys spending time Chinese: Xiè xiè dessert, there are always two with these relatives. different pies — one some Arabic: Skukran Nanda and Iverson are not kind of fruit, such as cherthe only students whose culJapanese: Arigato ry or apple, and the other a ture or unique menu influGreek: Efharisto French silk pie, which is the ences their Thanksgivings.

Swedish: Tack only kind Stephanie will eat.

Junior Brad Thompson gets Both sisters agree that the to celebrate twice; every year, best part of the holiday for he and his family travel to Canada for Canadian Thanksgiving with their them is seeing their cousins and spending time family in Toronto, which took place on Oct. 3 this with family.

“It’s a time to see what you’re thankful for year.

According to Thompson, this celebration is and celebrate it and spend some time with your very similar to that of America, except the Cana- family,” Stephanie said. “It’s one of the few times where everyone comes together.” dian version commemorates only the harvest.

Iverson feels that the holiday helps people to His family still enjoys many of the same traditions, such as a family dinner complete with the appreciate their lives and blessings.

“I think it’s important because you come tosame foods, only his grandma makes ham instead of turkey. In fact, he finds it odd that American gether and remember the great things you have in your life,” Iverson said. “And you remember that meals almost always include turkey.

Besides the meal, his family ventures to the you’re really lucky and grateful for everything various farmers’ markets and scouts out more you have and do.”

By Ellen Siefke Copy Editor

Who Knows You Better?

The subjects Sophomore Max Crowninshield

What is her favorite Who is her favorite TV show?

Blawkhawks player?

Criminal Minds

The boyfriend

Toews

Who is her favorite What is her favorite What is her favorite superhero? item of clothing? restaurant?

Batman

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What is her favorite color?

What is her biggest fear?

The results

Winner

Combat boots

Chipotle

Blue

Spiders

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Sophomore Caeley McDonagh

Pretty Little Liars

Toews

Captain America

Combat boots

Chipotle

Blue

Spiders

Sophomore Veronica Holloway

Pretty Little Liars

Patrick Sharp

Batman

Shoes

Olive Garden

Blue

Spiders

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The subject

The best friend

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November 15, 2013

prospectornow.com

Features

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Rules ofengagement Photos courtesy of Max Daleiden

Commitment and common values help serious relationships survive and flourish

By Erin McGovern

Associate Editor-in-Chief

*Name has been changed for confidentiality Turn on any TV or peek at any social media page and it is obvious that high school is plagued with natural distractions. Tests and deadlines loom, impending assignments hide in the folds of class calendars and, without fail, relationships serve as a comfort or stressor in the daily lives of most students.

For many, relationships are fleeting; they may not last more than a few months as people change during the quick four years. But for senior *Shawn Dawson, a relationship can be the one thing that holds all of the rest in perspective.

Dawson and his girlfriend have broken the mold of typical high school relationships by dating for two and a

SWEETHEARTS: Resource assistant Lauren Ciesemier and now fiancé and social science teacher Brock Collins pose for their senior Prom picture. The couple has been together for 10 years.

(Photo courtesy of Lauren Ciesemier)

half years, and Dawson has given her a promise ring to show that he is serious about being with her as they move on past high school and go their separate ways.

Although their relationship hasn’t been perfect, Dawson feels the rough patches they have experienced have taught him what it means to be in a real relationship.

“I’ve been irresponsible and screwed up in the past, but having her there always supporting me when others weren’t has made me see that she’s confident in me and my goals,” Dawson said. “It’s not just a romantic thing — she’s my best friend, and I think it’s that support and ability for forgiveness are what make our relationship different than most.”

Dawson understands the end of high school will bring new challenges of distance and diversions to the couple, but he believes wanting the best for his girlfriend and knowing that she respects his future plans will help them to survive many of the rocky shores that end other high school relationships.

Lauren Ciesemier, an ‘04 Prospect grad who now works as a resource assistant in the Knights’ Learning Center, can relate to Dawson’s relationship and the challenges any high school couple can face.

Engaged to fellow 2004 Prospect alum and now social science teacher Brock Collins, Ciesemier is proof that high school relationships can work under the right circumstances.

Ciesemier and Collins have been together for 10 years, after being friends throughout high school and dating their senior year.

The two were serious about their relationship, but what Ciesemier believes to be the biggest reason it has remained strong is they allowed each other room to grow.

“I think it’s difficult for people still entwined in high school to decide for sure the future of a relationship because you’re still growing as a person and making your own decisions, but you can’t do that if you’re basing those decisions on someone else,” Ciesemier said. “If you let someone else make those choices for you, the way you grow is going to be tangled and messy, and that’s where it starts to fall apart.”

After graduation, Ciesemier and Collins went to different colleges—she to DePaul and him to Illinois Wesleyan —and maintained their relationship by calling and meeting up in their free time.

Their “going with the flow” mentality and being flexible enough to support each other while giving the other room to accomplish their goals is what they believe made the distance between them a less formidable obstacle.

For Ciesemier, it is infinitely more important to value the person you are with instead of the idea of a relation-

ship itself because she believes you can only be happy with someone else when you are happy with yourself.

“I had friends whose relationships ended because the distance between them at college didn’t work, or they went to the same college because they wanted to be close to each other, but in the end, one of them wasn’t happy,” Ciesemier said. “It worked for us because we made our own decisions and continued to do what we did because we wanted to.”

While their circumstances are dif-

After befriending his now-fiancé in college and dating for about two years, Hodges decided he wanted to propose.

So with the help of several Prospect students and staff holding homemade signs, he proposed as his girlfriend, Lindsay, as she crossed the finish line of the Stampede Run 10k race on July 7.

“It’s important to find someone who values the same things as you do,” Hodges said of his engagement. “I think in high school, you’re still figuring out your values and what’s important to you and what’s not, and I know that personally I

ferent, Ciesemier and Dawson both agree independence, both financially and personally, is essential to moving forward with a relationship.

For Dawson, being financially independent of both his family and the family of his girlfriend will be important in the near future as they hope to continue their relationship even when outside pressures make it difficult.

“It’s going to work when you get the other person what they need and realize that you need to love someone for who they are and recognize that not everything is going to turn out picture perfect,” Dawson said. “If you don’t feel like more than anything they are your best friend, it probably isn’t going to work.”

Social science teacher Erik Hodges, who is also now engaged, believes finding someone as a friend who holds the same values as you is crucial to starting a serious relationship.

had a lot of growing up and experiencing to do before I was ready to take that step.”

For Dawson, the success of a relationship isn’t always dependent on the age of the couple; instead, he believes age matters little if the maturity of both people is on the same level.

But in any case, the idea of wanting the person and not the idea of a relationship is what he says will be the essence of success in his relationship as he hopes to see it survive the obstacles that lie outside of high school doors.

“A lot of adults get married and divorced, which means they don’t always know if they married the right person either,” Dawson said. “But if you really like somebody, like them because they’re your best friend. Looks are great and everything, but if you really want to be with that person in the long run, their looks are going to change, so you need to see that best friend in [them].”

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BACK TO BASIC

In-Depth

November 15, 2013

By Abby Sunu

In-Depth Editor

District 57 Lions Park

Changes: No more mobile classrooms Orchestra is now only offered to fifth grade More testing Class sizes jumped from 20 to 30 students per class Kindergarten and first grade are no longer taught No more space simulation for fifth grade No more skating unit in gym class Got rid of “card-changes” discipline system Different levels of math classes are now offered All boys chorus Smart Boards (see picture 1)

photos by Peter Fusilero

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Changes:

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Fairview

New Principal, Dan Ophus Orchestra is now only offered to fifth graders Larger class sizes Kindergarten and first grade are no longer taught Buzzer to get into building Fifth grade musical has been added More technology (see picture 1) Carts that contain laptops for students to use Science is more hands-on No more space simulation Blue Ribbon School 2008 (see picture 4)

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Traditions/memories:

Mile fun run Fifth grade musical Fifth grade picnic Field day Ice cream socials Fun fair Science fair Guitar unit (see picture 2) Recorder unit in music Winter concerts Character counts Shoe fling Library (see picture 3)

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photos by Abby Sunu

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Traditions/memories:

Field day Fairview Follies Visitors’ day Astronaut assembly Peer mediators Recorder unit in music Special lunch days Winter concerts Science fair Silent lunch stoplight (see picture 2) Rock-climbing wall (see picture 3) Roller skate week

Little l leave la impres

We In in se be le world No more ing to beggi car fo ing u Ho less t Aungelina Dahm don’t Executive In-Depth Oh Editor wher facts around the sun (wait, does Plut school.

The place where you worried with the juice box you liked, no your seven college applications.

We learned the basics in elem turn out to be more important th in high school (yes, even more t verse is itself).

“You have to have the foundat be successful as you go on in sch grade teacher at Windsor Elem you learn how to enjoy learning.

No one would ever be success perience the foundation set by e learn what we are interested in years, and it helps us build our ch “If I were a middle school or h be worried about laying down t teacher Camille Ziemann said. “ dle or high school level], there’s a not laying down the foundation you’re shaping a passion.”

Personally, Mrs. Ziemann help sic. She impacted me in a way dance forever.

“Through all the teachers at made an impact at some point al fifth grade teacher at Windsor. “ that [students] may not have kno Without elementary school, yo social skills necessary to move could walk up to a boy or girl i friend; from that point on, the tw We all learned that the only way introduce yourself and mind you Moreover, elementary school get introduced to having a routi your homework and knowing wh all things we learned.

All of those things that seem n ry school. Learning the basics ar cate and work successfully throu However, even though we lear dren, as we grow older, some of v I’m sure we can all attest to th sometimes get a little out of pla and have a lack of patience. Man so frustrated because they “have to differ.

I argue you know who you ar grade. You probably didn’t know know it now, but there was som you to who you will be in the futu Hopefully, by the time we have alize what it was that made us all go back to our elementary sc shaped us all today.

Hopefully, we will all make it fully, I’ll learn how to do laundry

:

CS

lessons asting ssion

We are all on our own. n four short years, or maybe even long months, we will all eaving this school, and the real d will appear right in front of us. o more standardized tests, no e worrying about who you’re goo be with at lunch and no more ing your parents to give you the or just one more night and endup home past curfew. ow did we all grow up so fast? In than a month, I will be 17 but still t know how to do laundry. h yeah, there was that place re I learned my multiplication and how many planets revolved to still count?). Ah, elementary

Changes:

November 15, 2013

REMEMBERING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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Summer of 2009 air conditioning was installed New hallway added in 2007 (see picture 2) New playground (see picture 3) Gym painted Jack Gavin Memorial Wall added 130 new iPads distributed among the different grade levels New computers Amination unit in art class 30 new guitars and 15 new keyboards for music class Keyboard and guitar unit in music class

photos by Meghan Finn

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mentary school, but those basics han anything we will ever learn than how the function of its in-

natural you learned in elementare crucial to be able to communiughout life. ned the proper way to act as chilvalues seem to change. he fact that teenagers’ hormones ace. As a result, we get irritable ny people say that teenagers are en’t found themselves yet.” I beg

re by the time you graduate fifth w it then, and you might not even mething back then that will lead ure. ve to apply for college, we will rewho we are. Hopefully, we will chools and thank the people that

through high school. And hopey before college.

Scan this QR code to view all your artwork from Dryden!

Traditions/memories:

Field day Fifth grade cruise Talent show Fifth grade musical Ice cream socials Book fair Dolphin statue (see picture 1)

tion skills [we teach] in order to hool,” said Joanne Cooke, a third mentary School. “And hopefully, .” sful if he/she wasn’t able to exelementary school teachers. We n the most during our primary haracter for the rest of our lives. high school [teacher], I wouldn’t the foundation,” Windsor music “If the kids choose it at [the midalready that love there. If you’re n, if you’re not building, then

t any school, you hope that you long the line,” said Deb Wilson, a “We’re hoping to spur on talents own otherwise.” you wouldn’t have learned all the on in life. In kindergarten, you in class and ask to be your best wo of you would be inseparable. y to make friends was to be nice, ur manners. is the first time children really ine. Managing your time, doing hen and where you need to be are

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District 25 Dryden

d if your mom packed you lunch ot if you missed the deadline for

ped me discover my love for muthat would shape my career in

In-Depth

Windsor

Changes:

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Took down wall in the library (see picture 3) Painted wall in the commons and character counts pillars Designed and painted new mascot (see picture 2) National Blue Ribbon school Last year of Odyssey (advanced reading) No more pullout for gifted programs after this year More technology Science fair is now optional Outside trailers are coming down Science is more hands on

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photos by Aungelina Dahm

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Traditions/memories:

Olympic day Christ mas play Polar Express reading 50th year anniversary Halloween parade 100th day of school celebration Pi day Pancake movie (Robert Crown) Cosmic bowling Morning annoucements (see picture 4)

10 Features

November 15, 2013

prospectornow.com

Stay motivated, even in the gloom How to make your own vision board

By Khrystyna Halatyma and Mary Kate Moloney Executive Features Editor and Features Editor

Colder weather, less daylight, the school year finally settling in — all this has an effect on junior Mary Claire Rasmussen.

She feels she loses motivation because of the colder weather. At this time of year, Rasmussen’s grades slip because she feels lazy; it’s easier to crawl into bed than start hours of homework.

With summer fading away and the excitement of new classes dimming, many students are feeling less motivated, not just in classes but outside of school as well.

One way to avoid this rut is through the usage of vision boards, collections of pictures and words representing students’ aspirations and goals, and the photo-sharing website Pinterest.

Rasmussen uses Pinterest to look through inspirational quotes.

These quotes make her feel better, and she believes that they can help others feel better as well as organize their lives.

“I think that some of the tips they have on [Pinterest] can help people get back in the mindset of getting stuff done,” Rasmussen said.

Junior Jessica Pruban created her vision board last year with her mother’s encouragement in order to focus her goals.

One of

the images on her board is a dollar bill with three zeros written in black Sharpie after the one, creating the illusion of a thousand dollar bill.

Pruban put this picture onto her board before her first job as motivation because she wanted to have one thousand dollars of her own money.

“It definitely helps your attitude,” Pruban said. “I think looking at something every morning [and] knowing you’re working towards the goal definitely helps to keep positive and work harder.”

Pruban has the vision board hanging on the top of her door, so she is reminded of her values every day.

According to social science teacher Daria Schaffeld, creating a visual representation of beliefs or goals helps a person’s memory.

When people write down their goals, it takes more effort and attention; therefore, their brain retains the memory better.

“By presenting something visually, it will create a much stronger memory trace than just thinking about it,” Schaffeld said.

This way, if students keeps their goals in mind more frequently, they are more likely to complete them.

“Print out exactly what it is you want and set all kinds of goals,” Pruban said. “If you always keep that in your mind, doing homework or working, you know you’re working towards something, so you work harder.”

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Making a vision board is fairly simple and very fun. First, cut pictures and words out of magazines that are meaningful to you (you can print pictures off the Internet). These can include positive quotes or achievable goals, like a college you want to attend or team you want to play for.

Paste the pictures and words onto a big poster. Be creative and don’t be afraid to put your goals out there.

Put the poster up where you will see it daily.

prospectornow.com

By Nabi Dressler Editor-in-Chief

Junior Jamie Maughan has had a countdown going on her phone for over 600 days. She has been looking forward to the midnight premiere of the movie version of “Catching Fire,” the second book in “The Hunger Games” trilogy, ever since she was the first person in the movie theater when “The Hunger Games” came out.

The release date for “Catching Fire” is Nov. 22 (see “Where to watch...”), and according to variety.com, it is expected to gross $950 million worldwide, indicative of the trilogy’s massive popularity that can be seen at Prospect.

Maughan plans to see the “Catching Fire” premiere with her friends, including junior Allyson Munn, who also saw the midnight premiere of “The Hunger

November 15, 2013 Entertainment

Games.” She looks forward to the end of “Catching Fire” because it’s her favorite part of the book. Maughan, on the other hand, wants to see how the directors bring the arena of the games to life since “it’s described really in detail in the book.”

To gear up for the premiere, Maughan frequently peruses the internet for “Catching Fire” content and watches interviews of the cast. She also has some memorabilia such as a shirt displaying Peeta, a main character, and a pair of “The Hunger Games” socks that she plans to wear.

Junior Kathryn Brooks also looks forward to the movie. She wants to see how characters who weren’t in “The Hunger Games” will be depicted in “Catching Fire.” Brooks saw the first movie in theaters twice, making it the only movie she’s seen twice in theaters.

Though she was unable to attend the

premiere for the last movie, the premiere for “Catching Fire” is around the time of her birthday, so she hopes she’ll get permission to see the premiere this time around.

The origin of the girls’ love for the trilogy was the books, not the movies.

Maughan began reading the books in the seventh grade and has read “The Hunger Games” three times, “Catching Fire” twice and “Mockingjay,” the last book in the series, once. Her favorite book is “Catching Fire,” but she reread “The Hunger Games” before the movie was released so that she could better compare the two mediums once she watched the movie.

Brooks also read the books before watching the first movie; she read all three books within two weeks last year and plans on reading “Catching Fire” again before it is released. She encourages others to read the books before the

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movies.

“It’s better [to read the book before watching the movie] because you get to visualize your own version of the book,” Brooks said. “[The movie is] what someone else wants you to see.”

Munn read the books in the eighth grade and thinks people should read the books first because there were a few differences between the movie and the book, and reading the book prior to watching the movie was helpful in understanding the movie.

Maughan appreciated the books for more than just their helpfulness in understanding the movies’ plots. Prior to starting to read the trilogy, reading was not something she enjoyed.

“I never really liked reading [until] seventh grade when I read the books,” Maughan said. “Ever since then, I loved reading. I guess I never realized I could actually find books that I enjoyed.”

Scan these QR codes to...

AMC Randhurst (Mt. Prospect)

Thurs. Nov. 21: 8 p.m., 12:01 a.m.

“Hunger Games”/ “Catching Fire” double feature 5 p.m.

Fri. Nov. 22: 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.

Cost: $20 for double feature, $10.75 otherwise Why it’s best: Convenient location

s Watch

the “Catching Fire” trailers

AMC Loews Streets of Woodfield (Schaumburg) Star Cinema Grill (Arlington Heights)

Thurs. Nov. 21: 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., 11:50 p.m. ”Hunger Games” / ”Catching Fire” double feature: 5 p.m.

Fri. Nov. 22: Times currently unavailable Cost: $11.50 in general, $15 for double feature All shows before noon-$6 All matinee shows between noon and 6 p.m.-$8 Students with ID-$9 Why it’s best: Discounted prices depending on time, food available during movie

Thurs. Nov. 21: 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., 11:15 p.m., 11:45 p.m. (regular), 11:30 p.m. (IMAX) “Hunger Games” / ”Catching Fire” double feature 5 p.m. (in both regular and IMAX) Fri. Nov. 22: -Regular: 10:45 a.m., 2 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 8:30 p.m., (10:45 is $6.50, 2 p.m. is $9, last two shows $10.75) -IMAX: 9:45 a.m., 1 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m.,10:45 p.m. (9:45 is $11, $13.50 for 1 p.m., $15.25 for rest of shows) Cost: $20 for double feature ($27.50 in IMAX) Why it’s best: Amount of showtimes, IMAX option

Visit the Capitol website s

s Preview

the “Catching Fire” soundtrack on iTunes

What’s your favorite song right now? “‘Teenagers’ by My Chemical Romance. It’s really catchy and it’s just a fun song to jam out to. It’s a good band.”

-Beth Provost, freshman

“‘Holy Grail’ by Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z. It’s just a really good song and I’m really into it.”

-Johnny Rodriguez, sophomore

“‘Wake Me Up’ by Avicii because it has a mixture of folk and techno. It’s a good blend, and it’s bringing back folk.”

-Jocelyn Williams, junior

“‘This Love’ by Maroon 5. The melody and the beat are really good. Adam Levine’s voice is awesome.”

-Natalia Stepkowicz,

senior

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Entertainment

November 15, 2013

prospectornow.com

Eight books every teen should read High schoolers are rebellious to the point of being stupid; this is a fact. This idiotic fighting of the power unfortunately manifests itself in a distaste for reading because it’s endorsed by authority figures, which makes it awful (teenager logic). Though I’m all for pointless stubbornness, there are some books you should read even if it (gasp!) makes your parents happy.

By Chris Kivlahan Executive Opinion Editor

Assigned reading you should actually read A lot of what we’re told to read in English class isn’t worth the time. However, there are certain books that, as alien as it seems, actually bear reading.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: “Mockingbird” covers the exploits of lawyer Atticus Finch as he defends a black man in a southern town.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: A dystopian future where instead of stopping blazes, firemen burn books.

What’s not to like?

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: With 100 percent less Spiderman than the movie, “Gatsby” (the book) follows the life of reclusive millionaire Jay Gatsby.

Night by Elie Wiesel: “Night” provides a gripping, heartwrenching first-person account of the horrors of the Holocaust.

Macbeth by Shakespeare: “Mabeth” has everything: Sex, murder, ghosts with Scottish accents and the most gruesome ending since the last Cubs game.

Hamlet by Shakespeare: “Hamlet” is basically a more confusing, medeival version of “The Lion King.” Seriously.

Honorable Mentions: Each a masterpiece in its own right, these books came in just short of the top eight and are worth checking out if your reading list is empty.

1984 by George Orwell

Orwell’s science fiction classic portrays a dystopian future in which the government — unaffectionately referred to as “big brother” — monitors everything and violently persecutes any speech, actions or ideas it deems inappropriate. An excellent introduction to the dystopian genre, “1984” is made all the more timely by the recent NSA spying scandal — it is a slippery slope, you know. The lessons in “1984” have never been more poignant, and it’s imperative that every informed citizen read and understand it.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS RIGHT NOW IF:

You’re interested in security, terrifying possibilities for the future, Internet security or just like the thrilling “what if.”

Calvin and Hobbes

by Bill Waterson

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig This nonfiction story of life, society and spirituality is admittedly a tough read, but the payoff is well worth it. As an introduction to Daoism and the nature of life itself, this book is more likely than any other on the list to change the way you look at the world. Ostensibly, it is a story about a father and son traveling across the country by motorcycle, but that story is merely a vessel for the existential journey it takes you on.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS RIGHT NOW IF: You’re interested in or unsatisfied with your current worldview, want to expand your horizons or want to change your life.

Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen

Whether or not you read the strip as a kid, “Calvin and Hobbes” bears (re)reading as we enter adulthood. The strip revolves around the life and times of Calvin, a rambunctious little kid, and Hobbes, stuffed tiger and best friend extraordinaire. With questions from the mundane — where does the sun go at night? — to the metacognitive — what makes good people do bad things? — Watterson’s masterpiece is a great read for all ages, whether they be looking for the comedy the strip displays or the philosophical questions about the universe.

When Columbus set off on his voyage that ended up discovering the Americas, almost nobody in Europe, himself included, thought the world was flat. When he arrived, he set about annihilating and enslaving the natives. The diseases he and other Europeans brought over killed as much as 95 percent of natives.

These little-known facts and many more are covered in “Lies My Teacher Told Me.” The book examines how much of our American history is true and how much is fabricated to make us love America.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS RIGHT NOW IF: You loved the comic as a child, want to recapture some youthful innocence or just like imaginary friends.

You’re a history buff, you’re bored by the apparent blandness of history or just want to start some interesting conversations in your social studies class.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell “Outliers” includes incredible stories all tied into the theme of success and how people achieve it. In it, for example, Gladwell postulates that to truly master something, you need 10,000 hours of practice, citing, among other things, the story of a young Bill Gates who was lucky enough to grow up in one of the first school districts to get computers for students, allowing him to get, you guessed it, the magic 10,000 hours.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS RIGHT NOW IF: You want to be successful someday or want to be that guy at the party with all the interesting stories.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS RIGHT NOW IF:

Looking for Alaska by

John Green

I shed a tear after reading this one. A lot of tears, actually. And still do when I think about it enough.

It’s the story of a boy named Miles who is sent to a boarding school (cliché, sure, but it gets better) and the cast of misfits he meets there, especially the misunderstood, troubled, beautiful and impossible to figure out Alaska. Being the only book actually written for teenagers that made the list shows how highly I view “Looking for Alaska” — even if you think teen books tend to be patronizing (which they do), this one warrants a read.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS RIGHT NOW IF:

You don’t believe a book can make you cry.

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding A group of schoolboys gets stranded on an island with no authority figure in sight. Add in some weird occurrences and the inevitable mob mentality and you have a rough, if watered down, idea of what “Lord of the Flies” has in store. Examining the danger of mob mentality and the breakdown of society without authority figures, “Lord of the Flies” gives that fear of British schoolboys you’ve always had even more merit.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS RIGHT NOW IF: You like thrillers that include children, a kid named Piggy being chased by a mob or you need another reason to hate the British.

Watchmen by Alan Moore What makes a hero? “Watchmen” explores the question through the story of a group of non-traditional heroes, all with their own political opinions (and careers), faults and even mental illnesses. Set in an alternate history where costumed vigilantes are all but commonplace, “Watchmen” provides both relief from the traditional superhero story and a perfect introduction to the graphic novel genre. If you’re a superhero fanboy (or girl), you just can’t miss this one.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS RIGHT NOW IF: You’re tired of the goody two-shoes superhero, interested in mental illness or like a comic that has detailed fight scenes AND makes you think.

prospectornow.com

November 15, 2013

Entertainment

13

‘AHS: Coven’ turmoil of emotion Why this TV show totally drives me crazy

By Andi Hayes

Associate Editor-In-Chief *This column was written before the fifth episode aired on Wednesday Nov. 13.

FX’s “American Horror Story” started disturbing me in 2011 with the saga of the murder house. A show to NEVER watch with your parents, this program has captivated me, alomg with millions of other viewers.

Words can’t describe how I feel about this show. It is so interesting and fascinating, but on the other hand, I never have any idea what exactly is going on.

The show’s constant subplots keep viewers on their feet at all times with its complex characters who have the ability to change their moral compasses like a switch.

Suddenly, the character you loved and thought would never hurt a fly has abruptly spiraled out of control and brutally killed someone — whoops.

If you think that only one totally messed up thing was going to happen per episode, you are so wrong.

However, since the previous seasons have all won Emmy’s, I can’t help but wonder if the current season will live up to its predecessors.

Don’t get me wrong; I absolutely love “American Horror Story.” It is one of the most well-done shows on cable TV to date, and the hoards of awards won prove that.

This season of “American

BADDEST WITCH IN TOWN: Jessica Lange poses as Fiona Goode for a poster for “American Horror Story: Coven.” Lange is one of many characters who are completely unpredictable and lead to the chaos of the show, set in present day with an 1834 subplot of New Orleans. (photo courtesy of IMDB.com) Horror Story: Coven” is extremely interesting, drawing on factual information and history of New Orleans and its residents with its 1834 subplot of socialite, serial killer and slave torturer Delphine LaLaurie (real person who existed!) versus Voodoo queen Marie Laveau.

However, I can’t help but question some of the character choices made in the season thus far.

As always, “AHS: Coven” is completely unpredictable and absolutely insane, but somehow the crazy characters and rash actions always seem to make sense at the close of the season.

I have yet to see this trait prevail, though, specifically with the character Zoe Benson, played by Taissa Farmiga.

Zoe is innocently thrusted into the world of witchcraft when she discovers she has inherited the familial witch gene after accidentally killing her boyfriend during sex (again, whoops).

While attending a Tulane frat party with Madison Montgomery (played by Emma Roberts), Zoe meets Kyle Spencer (played by heartthrob Evan Peters) and seems to have a great connection with him.

Keep in mind they were at the party for approximately two hours max.

Black Friday mania ensues

However, dropping exhaustedly

By Gracie McKay onto a couch after shopping isn’t the Entertainment Editor only type of falling down that goes on In 2012, 247 million shopper chal- during Black Friday.

The official start of the shopping lenged a sea of people in malls throughout the country and online. An estimat- season for Christmas has brought four deaths and 63 injuries since 2006. ed $59.1 billion dollars were spent.

These deadly discounts and continuSeen as the most wonderful time of ally spawn violence. the year, Christmas is the season of “Last year, I went Black Friday shophappiness, joy and life. And shopping.

The first day of traditional Christmas ping with one of my friends because that was right around the time video shopping is known as Black Friday.

Shoppers are especially excited for games were coming out,” senior Max Gonzalez said. this year’s “And this one shopping ad[Black Friday] is a great kid really wantventures because some bonding time to stand and ed [the video game], and he stores are stay with your friends at ended up startopening on T h a n k s g iv one in the morning and find ing a fist-fight at Wal-Mart.” ing, a day beGonzale z’s fore normal out [what the sales] are all about. story is minor Black Friday. compared to acAccording counts that have

-Junior Nick Donzelli to the Interbeen reported. national BusiLast year two ness Times, Macy’s, JC Penney’s and people were shot in Tallahassee over Kohl’s are opening the day of Thanksgiving. Macy’s reason for opening ear- a parking space. In Palm Desert, Cally is so that customers can start their ifornia, two people were killed by gun violence at a Toys R Us in 2008. shopping early.

However, not all Black friday stories Sophomore Nicole Mattea plans to go Black Friday shopping. She plans to are violent and terrible. Juniors Nick shop at stores like H&M and Forever 21 Donzelli and Sean Blatz have a good for dresses and shoes. After staying out time shopping on Black Friday.

“It’s a great bonding time to stand shopping until 4 a.m. in the past, she knows what it feels like to shop till you and stay with your friends at one in the morning, and you find out what they drop. are all about,” Donzelli said.

However, Kyle is soon killed after Madison can’t control her anger and flips a bus, killing all but two of the frat boys.

Somehow, Zoe is unable to let Kyle’s death go. Instead of watching a romantic comedy or binging on food to help overcome her grief, she does what every other sensible person would do, bring him back to life with black magic.

Unfortunately, Kyle’s body is dismembered from the car crash, so she and Madison take multiple body parts after breaking into a morgue and sew him a new body.

The fact that she is willing to bring someone back to life and literally put together a new

Thursday, 28 N ovember Today’s agenda...

body for a guy she knew for less than the cumulative amount of minutes “AHS: Coven” has aired for makes me extremely upset.

However, after thwarting a massive zombie attack sent by Marie Laveau with a chainsaw and hidden powers (yes, this show covers just about everything), there have been many implications that Zoe is going to be the next Supreme, the head witch, replacing Fiona Goode, played by Jessica Lange.

The Supreme is always powerful and relatively logical, not angsty and love-stricken like Zoe. On the contrary, Zoe’s save of the coven in the attack makes her a possible candidate for liking and not the cause of me ripping my hair out in frustration.

With Madison’s dead body stowed away in the mute butler’s closet, dressed in a wedding dress, and the teen neighbor’s arm mangled by the zombie attack, “AHS” definitely leaves a lot of open-ended questions with unpredictable answers in store.

It’s the unpredictability that keeps viewers like me on their toes.

We never know whether to hate characters like Zoe or love characters like Fiona, who frame other witches to stay in power, claiming they threw acid on her daughter’s face, leading to burning the accused witch a stake.

This complex structure and setup of the characters of this show leaves us all in for a ride on a never-ending emotional roller coaster.

With no expectations whatsoever for the next episodes, viewers like me will just have to wait and see what “AHS: Coven” brews up.

F riday, 29 N ovember

Today’s agenda...

Stores opening at:

Stores opening at:

6 a.m....................... K-Mart 7 a.m........ Dollar General 6 p.m..... Sports Authority 8 p.m...........................Target .........................Macy’s

12 a.m.........................Apple ...................Best Buy

.................Gamestop

..........................AT&T .Bath & Body Works ...........................H&M 6 a.m. ........................Ulta 8 a.m. ..............RadioShack 9 a.m. ...................Old Navy

..................JCPenney .......................Bon Ton ...........................Kohl’s ..................Office Max ..........................Sear’s 9 p.m............Shoe Carnival 10 p.m....................Walmart

14

Sports

November 15, 2013

prospectornow.com

Freshmen lead cross country team

By Molly Mueller Sports Editor

Last year, Prospect girls’ cross country excelled. They were the MSL East Division champions, fifth overall in the MSL, regional champions and third at the sectional meet. The team also placed 12th in the Class 3A state meet. Prospect achieved these accomplishments with the help of then-seniors Brooke Wolfe (13th in Class 3A) and Lauren Poplawski (18th in Class 3A).

Despite losing two all-state runners, this year’s team still won the MSL East Division, took fifth at the MSL conference meet, third at regionals and sixth at sectionals, with junior Hannah Getschman (season best of 18:10 for three miles) qualifying for state individually.

Leading the Knights this year were Getschman and freshmen Brooke Wilson (17:48 for three miles) and Aileen White (18:13 for three miles).

Sectional Results Team Finish: 6th 11th: Junior Hannah Getschman 18:32.22 18th: Freshman Aileen White 18:41.30 48th: Junior Ellen Siefke 19:21.11 54th: Senior Rachel Henk 19:24.67 68th: Freshman Brooke Wilson 19:38.85 92nd: Senior Katrina Leeney 20:08.93 93rd: Senior Gina Burck 20:09.67

Even though the team as a whole did not qualify for state, Dave Wurster, who has been the head coach for 18 years, wasn’t too disappointed. According to Wurster, the sectional the Knights compete in contains seven or eight of the top 25 teams in the state, making it hard to place in the top five and continue on.

“Some schools are going to be left out, and we happened to be one of them,” Wurster said. “That’s the way it is. If it’s really tough, then you need to be even tougher.”

Without last year’s senior class leading the Knights, the team focused on building up the program through the freshman class.

“We have a really young team, so it kind of [took] us a little while to put [the team] together because it is kind of hard to adapt to young talent,” senior Katrina Leeney (19:09 for three miles) said.

With the class of 2013 gone, the team has felt the loss in not only races, but also in their presence, especially during workouts, on a daily basis. “[The current team members] are the ones who have to be the leaders,” Wurster said. “When a freshman passes them, it makes it a little bit harder to push on to that next level because the girls they are used to seeing in front aren’t there anymore.”

Getschman sees this as a motivation to get better.

“Last year we knew that we were going to be pretty good because we had the two top runners, but this year we [had] to try to pick up the slack and all work more as a team,” Getschman said. “It just means...we [had] more of an initiative to do a lot better in races.”

PERSONAL BEST: Senior Gina Burck runs at the IHSA regional meet on Oct. 26 at Busse Woods. The Lady Knights took third out of nine teams, qualifying for the sectional meet on Oct. 2, also at Busse Woods. At sectionals, the team had a sixth place finish, just barely missing the state cut. (Photo by Rich Futo) Wilson agrees and thinks that in the upcoming years the team will be right back where it was last year. “[Prospect has] always been [kind of] a cross country dynasty,” Wilson said.

“It’s not just, ‘Oh, we occasionally have a good runner,’ it’s we usually have a really good varsity team, and this year we [had] a very good freshman class. So in a couple years, I think we can do really well.”

Even though Wurster will not be

coaching Prospect next year because he is retiring, he hopes the runners will keep progressing and stepping up, just like the seniors did this year.

“I’m really big on program, and to me, program is four years,” Wurster said. “I’m still teaching things to progress for next year even though I’m not going to be here. I don’t teach the 2013 cross country team. I’m teaching what happened in the past, present and future.”

prospectornow.com

November 15, 2013

Knights’ Country

Boys’ cross country defies all odds, qualifies for state

By Devin Prasad Sports Editor

0-3. A hole that most teams with seven games in their season would never be able to climb out of. A reason many teams would quit or give up. An excuse to not give it their all.

But in the case of boys’ cross country, a tough start made them hungry to win, to push themselves and to overcome all odds by qualifying for this year’s state meet in Peoria on Nov. 9.

Their hunger was also fueled by their disappointment last year in not making state as a team.

The team became accustomed to relying on last year’s state runner-up, ‘13

BIG STRIDES: Senior Ben Pederson pushes to pass an opponent in the regional meet. The team has pushed themselves this season to overcome a tough start. (Photo by Rich Futo)

graduate Quentin Shaffer.

According to head coach Mike Stokes, the team assumed he would come in first in almost every race, so they became lazy and didn’t work as hard as they needed to make it to the state competition.

“What happened last year is that we came into the season very overconfident,” senior Blake Hallman, a three-year varsity runner, said. “We had guys like Quentin who were just amazing, and we took guys like him for granted.”

The Knighthood of Runners looked to respond from last year’s defeat by becoming a pack team this year.

Since they had no one standout runner, they started to pair up with each other in practices, which allowed them to push each other in their training.

The Knights also used a technique called tapering in their practices. They ran longer distances over the summer and into the beginning of the season to build muscle memory.

As the season progressed, the team ran shorter distances at a greater intensity to work the faster muscles in the legs. “[The workouts] make it so our legs get more energy for the bigger meets,” sophomore Alec Heyde, a first-time varsity member, said. “It makes us get that best race at the best time.”

According to Stokes, who has used tapering throughout his entire coaching career, the runners this year focused more on strength as opposed to last year when they centered in on more distance-type runs.

“You always have to tweak it for every team,” Stokes said. “Teams are not all the same type of runner.”

All the preparation the team had was designed to help them in the most important meets: conference, regionals, sectionals and state.

According to Heyde, the Knights were a “late-blooming team,” with their best times coming towards the end of the season.

Stokes agrees and said he wishes that the team would have been able to play their first three opponents at the end of the season.

He thinks that if that was the case the races would have been much closer.

Stokes also believes that the rough

Sports

15

ALL TOGETHER: The boys’ cross country team starts off the regional race Oct. 2.

This year, the team looked to run in a pack with no single standout runner, and their strategy paid off as they qualified for the state meet Nov. 11. (Photo by Rich Futo) beggining was not an accurate representation of all the team had to offer because their first three meets came against top ranked teams in the state.

By overcoming the rough start, the Knights were able to turn many heads.

For example, a popular running website, Dyestat, did not have Prospect ranked at the beginning of the season and favored Fremd qualifying for state over Prospect.

The team defied these predictions by going into the state meet ranked 21st, beating out Fremd in the process.

Even Stokes did not anticipate the team making it past regionals in the beginning of the season, according to junior Mike Anderson.

“Basically if you set your mind to [it], you can do anything you want,” Anderson said.

State Results

Team Place: 19th

Junior Mike Anderson 15:20 (left) Senior Blake Hallman 15:35 (right) Senior Ben Pederson 15:46 Senior Max Deleiden 15:50 Senior WIll Lussenhop 15:54 Sophomore Alec Heyde 16:13 Sophomore Max Crowninshield 16:21

Sports bullying too big to be overlooked For the past week, a microscope has been put over the Miami Dolphins, specifically offensive guard Richie Incognito.

ESPN reported that Incognito had sent former Dolphins teammate Jonathan Martin harassing text messages and voicemails including threats about hurting his mother and even killing him.

Incognito has been released from the Dolphins and will never play a down for the team ever again.

The bullying had been going on for two years, and according to ESPN, Martin was not the only victim.

After reviewing the entire case, many people would first ask, “How does a 6-foot-5, 312-pound professional football player get bullied?”

The real answer is this: Anyone can get bullied. It doesn’t matter if you’re the stereotypical geek we see in the movies or the biggest, toughest-looking athlete. Victims of bullying come in all shapes and sizes.

It’s always assumed that big guys are supposed to act tough.

That shouldn’t be the case. Admitting to being bullied shouldn’t mean that you are weak, regardless of who you are.

This story should not only spread awareness about bullying to all students, but especially to all student-athletes.

Fortunately, professional sports have never seen a case like Incognito’s. However, high schools across the country experience bullying on a daily basis.

Although there have not been any extreme incidents at Prospect that I know of, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

You always hear the occasional teasing that goes on in the locker room, but that can easily cross the line between what is a joke and what is hurtful.

It’s evident how an older player could pick on a younger teammate, which can be recognized in the Incognito case.

Above all, it’s important to remember that everyone is on the same team for the same reasons.

As athletes, we are teammates.

Teammates are there are for one another when things get tough.

Teammates encourage and motivate each other and never put each other down. Teammates don’t have to be the best of friends, but there has to be a level of respect.

Teams that don’t demonstrate a respectful attitude toward one another will have problems. This can be seen in hazing incidents that pop up all over the country. There needs to be a unanimous understanding that hazing is just another form of bullying and that’s not OK. As a student-athlete, you also have to remember you are representing your school, your program and your family. People in the community trust you and look at you with great respect. Negative actions on and off the field such as bullying can take that all away.

For all teams moving forward, there needs to be a level of respect established. Hopefully once that is in place, Jonathan Martin’s nightmare will never again be a reality for athletes and players everywhere.

BULLY: Miami Dolphins offensive guard Richie Incognito (pictured top left) tried to address accustions of bullying made against him on Twitter. Incognito’s actions proves the point that no matter how big a person may be, bullying is always a lurking possibility.

(Photos courtesy of Twitter and Newsday/ MCT)

Friday, November 15, 2013

SPORTS

On ProspectorNow.com...

Junior Dana Liva practices various dives that she will be performing at the state meet Nov. 22-23. After last year’s 6th place finish, she is going for a first place medal.

Girls’ swimming wins MSL East SIDE BY SIDE: (Left) Junior Macey Berkley and (right) junior Rachel Rozow compete in the 100 yard breaststroke during the MSL Conference meet. The team took fourth, beating out their rival, Hersey, by 49 points. (Photo by Molly Mueller)

By Peter Fusilero

Executive Sports Editor Moving to a different neighborhood in the same city can always be difficult, but moving to a different state is even harder.

This was the case for sophomore Betsy and junior Rachel Rozow because their father’s job moved from Indiana to Illinois this past summer.

Although this situation is fairly common, for Betsy and Rachel, this move meant leaving a state-ranked swim team and having to start all over again with a new team with new girls; cue Prospect. “[The girls] accepted us the first day of practice,” Betsy said. “It was unreal how they all just welcomed us on the team and were so friendly.”

Along with the additions of Betsy and Rachel, the season has been very

successful because of the strong team chemistry that has developed early on. “[Betsy and Rachel] have become a great asset to the team...they meshed, and we’ve all gotten along,” said junior Ellie McGough who swam a 2:08 in the 200 freestyle at the MSL conference meet. “We all work together. No one is better than anyone else.”

According to McGough, the girls have been doing various team building exercises that are fun yet help each swimmer improve.

The team went into every meet meaning business, and it showed as they took the MSL East title away from Hersey with a score of 95-91, which hadn’t been done in six years.

“It was kind of the boogie man in the room,” head coach Alfonso Lopez said. “It was six years that the Huskies had won, so it was nice to win, and it showed the girls that they can compete

DIVE IN: Junior Niki Neumann finishes her leg of the 400 freestyle relay as freshman Gracie Dix dives in. The girls won the MSL East for the first time in six years.

They accredit the victory to strong team chemistry. (Photo by Molly Mueller)

with them and win a title.”

Like Lopez, McGough also believes that this accomplishment was very important to the program.

“We edged [Hersey] out by [four] points, and it was really exciting for everyone,” McGough said. “It was just exciting to see coach Lopez get his first MSL East title.”

After capturing the East, the Knights aimed to take fourth place in the conference meet, which they did with a team score of 143.

According to Lopez, they weren’t trying to sell themselves short, but other teams such as Fremd and Barrington, whose scores were 299 and 264, just weren’t in reach.

“With swimming, there is not a lot of sugar coating,” Lopez said. “We finished ninth last year, and I thought finishing fourth would be a huge improvement and would put us among the elite in the conference. The approach is taking one step at a time. Will I say fourth place next year? Most definitely not. We just need consistency across the board where we can be in the hunt for a MSL conference championship.”

Looking forward, McGough and Lopez hope the team will swim their hardest knowing they’ll be going against Illinois’s elite swimmers come the time of sectionals Nov. 16 and state Nov. 22-23.

“State cuts are really hard for Illinois; we’re a really fast state,” McGough said. “We’ll just see how it goes.”

“After [the MSL conference meet], I’ve learned to say never say never,” Lopez said. “You never know. If the girls stick together and stay focused, something special could happen. We’re just trying to use this experience as a springboard for next season.”

WATER BREAK WITH...

Q. At state, what did it feel like knowing that this was your last match at Prospect?

A. It was kind of bitersweet, I guess. It was really amazing to have the opportunity to play, but it’s really depressing that

it was the last time I would be playing for Prospect.

Q. Are you playing tennis in college?

A. Depending on where I get accepted, I want to. If I get accepted at a small school, I might play, but otherwise I’ll play

intramural or club.

Q. Is there a specific college where you want to play?

A. I’m applying to Marquette, so that would probably be intramural and then there’s a school called Judson that I might

actually play [for].

Q. What was your favorite part about being on tennis at Prospect?

A. All the friendships that I’ve built throughout the years. Freshman year, there were four other girls [seniors Christina

Santiago, Tori Bruno, Alex Wilson and Jelena Ivansevic], and we all pretty much went through our whole entire ten nis careers together.

Q. How has playing tennis at Prospect impacted your overall high school experience?

A. I feel like the accomplishments in general made it even better. I made so many friendships in tennis.

Q. When playing a match, what motivates you?

A. Probably the team just relying on us for a point. Also, I just wanted to play my best no matter what.

MSL Conference Results • 200 yard medley relay: Sophomore Betsy Rozow, junior Macey Berkley, freshman Samantha Berkley, junior Rachel Rozow - 3rd, 1:57.82 • 200 yard freestyle: Junior Ellie McGough - 9th, 2:08.32; freshman Samantha Berkley - 11th, 2:10.43 • 200 yard individual medley: Junior Rachel Rozow - 7th, 2:19.89; junior Macey Berkley - 10th, 2:26.01 • 50 yard freestyle: Sophomore Betsy Rozow - 6th, 25.16; freshman Gracie Dix - 14th, 26.75 • 100 yard butterfly: Freshman Samantha Berkley - 12th, 1:07.35; junior Niki Neumann - 1:08.48 • 100 yard freestyle: Freshman Gracie Dix - 9th, 58.48; junior Ellie McGough - 12th, 58.96 • 500 yard freestyle: Freshman Natalia Dmitruk - 12th, 5:53.37; junior Michelle Vuong, 13th, 5:55.56 • 200 yard freestyle relay: Senior Lily Alvey, freshman Samantha Berkley, freshman Gracie Dix, junior Rachel Rozow - 4th, 1:44.58 • 100 yard backstroke: Sophomore Betsy Rozow - 4th, 1:01.21; junior Niki Neumann - 9th, 1:07.06 • 100 yard breaststroke: Junior Rachel Rozow - 4th, 1:11.85; junior Macey Berkley - 10th, 1:15.27 • 400 yard freestyle relay: Junior Niki Neumann, freshman Gracie Dix, junior Ellie McGough, sophomore Betsy Rozow - 5th, 3:53.36