Red Devil Post, Vol. 1, Issue 9

RED DEVIL POST

Our opinion: vote yes on the referendum

by Sarah Gygi

On Wednesday, April 12th, I interviewed Superintendent Andy Anderson. We discussed the effects that the referendum would have on students, teachers, staff, and the community.

Mr.Anderson explained that the biggest threat to our school is the lack of money. He says “without the passing of the referendum, our school will run out of funds within the next 2 years, and the school will be forced to lay off teachers and cut programs because of finances.” Existing underfunded programs will be completely lost, and many of our newer programs throughout the school district will be the first to go.

The referendum will directly give funds back to our school and our teachers. Anderson states that we have goals to “expand our hiring network, add full-time resource officers to our school, and increase mental health support in all five schools, but the biggest thing will be to increase our teachers' wages.”

One shocking piece of information told to me by Mr.Anderson was that McDonald’s starting pay is higher than the starting pay for our teaching assistants. It would be more logical for someone seeking out a teaching assistant position to simply apply at a fast food chain and be paid more than to come to our school system and settle for less. Can you see the problem here? It doesn't take a well-educated person to understand the number of teachers and staff we should expect to lose if this referendum is unsuccessful. Students who are registered to vote can have a say in this. If you are a student who is 18 years old or more, you can vote on May 2nd if you’re registered.

Masthead

Hannah Cano, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Sophia Emery, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Editors

Hailey Baran, Student Spotlight

Bella Funk, School Culture

Bre Kidd, Community

Walter Kotlin, Class News

Morgan Laumeyer, School Culture

Madelyn Logan, Fine Arts

Mia McMillan, Diversity

Allie Mecha, Lower Schools

Hailey Moore, Sports

Gabby Morache, Administration

Makalyn Patrick, School Counseling

Olivia Perlick, Opinion’

Lilly Susko, Pop Culture

Jacquelynn Van Der Linde, History

Payton Williams, Sports

Writers & Photographers

Savannah Amschl

Alyssa Andriese

Brooke Bane

Jon Budz

Alyx Doty

Sarah Gygi

Adam Hammer

Ethan Hernandez

Joey Paternostro

Taylor Rothrock

Emma Sampias

Addy Vaught Sponsor

Joe Gianotti

Red Devil Pride

May: mental health awareness month

by Alli Mecha

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It raises awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families, and communities. Mental Health Awareness Month was created and first celebrated in 1949. This month provides the opportunity to focus on self care and the importance of mental health, which is often neglected. There is a spike of people who priortize their physical health every day, but mental health is equally important, but often ignored.

Living in the Midwest, all of us lack vitamin D. Due to shorter days and less sunlight, this can cause a chemical change in your brain. This is why most people see a difference in their actions in the summer versus during the winter. Now that the seasons are changing, there will be a spike in vitamin D, causing smiles on everyones faces.

continued on page 21

Red Devil Pride

Academic Super Bowl dominates the Merrillville Regional

by Jonathan Budz

On Tuesday, April 19th, the Lowell Red Devil Academic Super Bowl team traveled to Merrillville for their regional competition. They did not disappoint. Lowell finished first in English, Fine Arts, Social Studies, and Math, while finishing second in Science. Lowell’s Social Studies and Math teams will advance to state along with an interdisciplinary team. For an interdisciplinary team to make it to state, a school must have one of the five highest averages in the state. Lowell was second in their division, so Mikey Vitols, Landon Trussler-Clements, Bella Funk, Hannah Cano, and Sophia Emery will represent LHS.

The Social Studies team, coached by Mr. Werling, advanced to state with Walter Kotlin, John Tsoukalis, Josh Babin, and Captain Hannah Cano at the helm. Finally, for the first time in school history, the LHS math team advanced to state. Thanks to Mrs. Swinford, the team of Mikey Vitols, Sophia Emery, and Madelyn Logan dominated the regional and had the second highest score in the state, giving them a real chance at a state championship.

The Fine Arts, English, and Science teams just missed heading to Purdue. Fine Arts is coached by Ms. Rivera, and they were represented by Jaiden Jansma, Gabby Batsel, and Peter Kotlin. The science team was represented by Jonathan Budz, Mikey Vitols, Jack Molina, Sophia Emery, Brooke Miller, Ava Tippy, and Addison Luttrell. They are coached by Ms. Dunbar. Finally, Mrs. Mikovetz’s English team was comprised of Sydney Cantrell, Brendan Lahm, Jack Molina, Sophia Emery, Landon Trussler-Clements, Bella Funk, and Ryleigh Potat.

This was Lowell’s. best ever showing at the Merrillville Regional. They defeated fifteen schools at that site, including powerhouses such as Munster, Andrean, Crown Point, and Lake Central. They will compete again on Saturday, May 6th at Purdue University West Lafayette. Good luck Devils!

Red Devil Pride

Germany & The Alps - Spring Break Trip of a Lifetime

by Hannah Cano and Sophia Emery

Guten Tag! Due to the pandemic, the study trips for Lowell High School students taken over spring break had been interrupted. With school finally returning to normal, the annual trip was once again offered to students interested in exploring a foreign country, which this year happened to be Germany and the Swiss Alps. There was excitement for this opportunity which has been once again offered and a whopping 65 students partook in the trip. It was led and organized by Mr. Werling, with the help of Mr. Schoon, Mrs. Carranza (the leader of next year's trip to Spain), and Mr. and Mrs. Kilmer. While popularly known as the Germany trip, students visited four other countries as well, all in the span of seven days of exploring and two days of travel!

Day 1: Flying out of Midway, the group traveled to the future, or maybe more accurately crossed a few time zones, which led to a seven hour difference between the students and

continued on page 21

In the Classroom

Wulitich becomes first LHS sophomore to pass welding’s bend test

by Lilly Susko

Lowell High School congratulates Ethan Wulitich on being Lowell’s first sophomore to pass a bend test in welding. Ethan passed his 3G vertical bend test for the SMAW process. This is Wulitich’s first year in welding and he’s excelling rapidly. Wulitich was placed in Lowell’s welding course by an accident with student scheduling, and was previously pursuing an engineering pathway. Before engineering and welding were

in the picture, he aspired to be a Navy SEAL. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and brother, and that might still be a possible career choice for him. For now, Wulitich is making great strides in the Red Devil Trades Building as he made history with his impressive performance during the bend test. Ethan Wulitich is setting the bar high for future LHS welders.

The bend test is a simple and inexpensive qualitative test that can be used to evaluate both the ductility and soundness of a material. It is often used as a quality control test for butt-welded joints, having the advantage of simplicity of both test piece and equipment.

by Taylor Rothrock

Devils’ Advocate

Gun violence continues to rock the nation

On March 27th Audrey Hale, who was under a mental health disorder, was able to legally purchase seven weapons without question. She proceeded to shoot up a Christian elementary school. “The debate around the Second Amendment will continue for a long time but it is still one of our most important amendments” as stated by Indians.k12.ps.us. This amendment is essential to many individuals though it needs some adjusting. The United States needs to stop ignoring the rise of school shootings. We all need to be willing to make some changes.

The Second Amendment is different today than it used to be. When this amendment was created, the most common arms used were long rifles. These guns had to be reloaded after every shot. As of today, guns are very different. Guns today can fold and detach. This makes guns easier to carry and more concealed. Jonathan Lowy, the director of the legal action project, explains how the weapons we have now “will shred your venison before you eat it, or go through the walls of your apartment when you’re trying to defend yourself… [they are] made for mass killing, but not useful for law-abiding citizens.” It's useless to keep offering military guns that don’t help citizens defend themselves or hunt, which are the main reasons people own guns. A solution to prevent school shootings could be banning the usage and ownership of military-grade guns. However, a compromise could be allowing citizens the usage of lower-grade guns.

continued on page 18

by Walter Kotlin

Devils’ Advocate

Can peer pressure be good for you?

The social construct of peer pressure is something that nearly every person has experienced. In current times especially, it acts as a constant obstacle that people of all ages and backgrounds must learn to deal with. Peer pressure has the capacity to change what people think and how they act. It can wholly encapsulate a person's life and cause them to act in a manner that they otherwise wouldn’t plan on. Kids and even adults are often warned of the dangers that peer pressure presents. But what about the other side? Other factors may be at play when accounting for the whole of peer pressure. Is there a positive aspect to peer pressure?

A frequent example of peer pressure is when adolescents are influenced into drinking alcohol or abusing. Young people might not want to partake in an activity such as drinking, but feel they have no other option. It can often be a gateway to addiction and the beginning of a long and painful road for some. Parents and teachers have always warned their children about the dangers of being intoxicated or driving while under the influence. For fear of being perceived in a negative light, young adults may not always heed this warning. This is clearly a very negative outcome, and should not be understated.

continued on page 19

Counselor’s Corner

Professional letter writing makes an applicant stand out

by Olivia Perlick

Olivia Perlick operlick01@tricreek.k12.in.us

April 23, 2023

Lowell High School Student

Northwest Indiana, Northern Indiana Township, 2051 E Commercial Ave, Lowell, IN 46356 (219) 696-7733

Dear Lowell High School Student,

As we are getting closer to adult life, it is essential to know how to correctly write and address a letter and a formal statement. There are many different types of letters such as a cover letter, legal letter, reference letter, resignation letter, or personal belief letter. It is important to make a good impression by having the important aspects of a letter covered. You should include your contact information in the top right-hand corner. The most important thing to include is your name (first and last) with one contact method, followed by the date in the next line. After, it is important to include the recipient of the letter, their name, and contact information on the left-hand side of the letter.

Now that the letter has been addressed to the receiver and sender, the greeting is the next step. It is very appropriate to put dear recipient, to start the letter. It is imperative to put the comma after your recipient's name, such as how this letter is addressed, Dear Lowell High School Student.

Next, you must include the intent of your letter. Be precise and clear while explaining enough in a brief manner. A good rule of thumb is to have a half-page to full-page letter, roughly 250-400 words. Once your letter is included, your closing line is important to consider. Typically closing statements include, thank you, sincerely, respectfully, or with appreciation. Then add the comma after your chosen ending, to be followed by your name signed, and then printed in the next line.

In short, steps, address your letter, have a greeting, and an explanation for the letter in a brief narrative, with the appreciated closing line. Keep in mind that this can be applied to your emails, formal statements, and letters, it is an important skill to have. I hope my letter teaching you how to write a letter helped you.

Sincerely,

Olivia Perlick

Artistic Endeavors

The 49th annual art exhibition has started at the South Shore Arts Center in Munster!

by Madelyn Logan

Mrs. Lapage and Ms. Rivera have selected some amazing art to be shown at the 49th annual Tri-County Art Exhibition! There are paintings, drawings, and many differing ceramic pieces displayed in Munster. Looking at the picture, you can see all of the artwork that was chosen from several LHS artists! They are all highquality and truly capture the talent at LHS.

These artworks are up for awards as well. Judging has already taken place, and the awards ceremony will take place on May 7th from 1-3 p.m. The artwork will continue to be displayed until May 14th though if anyone is interested in visiting the artwork in person! Thank you Mrs. Lapage and Ms. Rivera for setting this up and thank you to all the artists that worked hard on these wonderful pieces!

South Shore Arts is located at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster IN, 46321 to be exact. If anyone is looking for more information about the exhibit or about South Shore Arts, check out this website https:// www.southshoreartsonline.org/ current-exhibits

Community Pride

Lowell High School prioritizes empathy

by Emma Sampias

Empathy is something deeply strived for within Lowell High School. Being a part of the PRIDE acronym, empathy is significantly looked upon by the staff, administration, and students as a whole. Empathy is the ability to feel what others are feeling. Instances of feeling empathic range from feeling for someone who tripped on their untied shoe, to feeling for someone dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. For example, seeing someone celebrating receiving the job they applied for, if you were to be empathetic, you would feel happy for them and celebrate their achievement. Another example may be grieving and feeling for someone who is dealing with the loss of a pet.

With empathy being a part of the PRIDE acronym, there had to have been a thought process within choosing what word would be used for e. The RDP newspaper took the initiative to discover why empathy was chosen for the letter e. After discussing with Mrs. Patrick, we discovered that she recognized, “Empathy was something that everyone felt was vital because it helps us understand people.” This truly emphasizes the focus LHS has on being empathetic toward others. Mrs. Patrick also mentioned, "As a school, we really felt that if we could teach our students about empathy, they would be better prepared to interact positively with everyone in the future.” The after high school preparation that goes into consideration when determining the words chosen for the PRIDE acronym is highly looked upon by the Red Devil Press. We surprisingly learned that our school's portrait of a graduate entails the pride acronym. Mrs. Patrick states, “Also, when we came together as a school, the PRIDE acronym was developed based on the attributes that we believed were important for students to demonstrate as LHS graduates.” The LHS administration tries their best to prepare the graduating students, along with the rest of the student body, for a successful future.

Modern Minute

Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 Rumours

more relevant today than 46 years ago

by Hailey Baran

Fleetwood Mac’s 11th studio album, Rumours, was released on February 4th, 1977 by Warner Bros. Records. It has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of the all time. Originally released in 1977 with 11 songs on the album, Rumours was remastered in 2004 with the addition of a 12th song, Silver Springs, that had been excluded from the album in 1977.

One of the most iconic things about Rumours was the drama that filled the album. Going into the album, bassist John McVie and keyboardist/vocalist Christine McVie had just recently ended their 8-year marriage, and vocalist Stevie Nicks and guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham just recently ended their relationship as well. Causing tension all around the studio, things got progressively worse when Christine started openly dating Fleetwood Mac’s lighting director. Drummer Mick Fleetwood also had his own issues at the time, as he recently found out that his wife and mother to his two children were having an affair with his best friend. As each member dealt with their own high-strung emotions, they all turned to alcohol, cocaine, and pot to help them get through the recording process of Rumours. Stevie Nicks once said in an interview, “You felt so bad about what was happening you did a line to cheer yourself up.” Although an album filled with drama and drugs may not seem like the most successful album, it ended up being Fleetwood Mac’s most popular album. When listening, you can hear the anger and honesty throughout each song. The vocals and instruments are unique and give so much life to the album. No two songs sound the same, and every song tells its own story. Rumours is truly such a magnificent album, and if you haven’t listened to it at least once in your lifetime, go and give it a listen.

continued on page 20

Diversity Matters

May: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) month

by Alyx Doty

On May 7th, 1843, the first groups of Asian workers immigrated to the United States to begin the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. May 10th also marks the anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad. On May 1st, 2009, Former President Obama officially made May Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by signing Proclamation 8369.

Why is the Transcontinental Railroad so important to AAPI month? Anywhere from 10 to 15 thousand Asian workers immigrated to the United States. The majority of workers were from Asia and were paid at most $30 a month; anywhere from 30% to 50% less than their white coworkers. Most faced discrimination and violence, from supervisors and the Government. They lived in tents, had to supply their own food, and Asian workers were forced to do the most dangerous and brutal backbreaking work. Workers endured 12hour work days in the Sierra Nevada Mountains where it wasn’t uncommon for accidents or avalanches to leave whole crews dead. Sadly, these injustices aren’t talked about very often, and many people are aware of the horrors that many people endured.

continued on page 19

Courts and Fields

Walter Kotlin Qualifies for State Swim Meet

by Sophia Emery

Senior, Walter Kotlin, represented Lowell High School at the State Swim Competition, in which he placed 30th overall in the 50 meter freestyle. The last time someone for Lowell has qualified for the state level competition was 5 years prior. His season best record to finish off his senior year was 22.83 seconds.

Walter has been swimming competitively for 6 years, and would like to continue with it after graduating high school. Walter said, “I definitely want to keep swimming. I feel like I still have a lot of improving to do and I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel. I'd probably go for either D3 or intramural athletics in college.” As for his aspirations not pertaining to swimming, he would like to attend college for engineering.

Along his side throughout his swim career, he has a group of strong supporters who he loves to give credit to. He described, “My family is incredibly supportive, my coach is all in on

bringing me success, and my teammates are hilarious. They make the practices fun and something worth doing.” As for next year, Walter predicts the team will do well, and wishes them the best in their efforts. Walter said the students in the program are “full of passion and drive and they have a really strong chance of making it to state next year. Everybody wants to succeed and keep making waves in our conferences and sectionals.”

When asked about any advice he gives for his teammates, his takeaway was that there’s “never a good time to not try, because that just prolongs the hardship for a later date. In swimming, there should be 100% effort in every practice.” Great job at state Walter! Best of luck in any and all future endeavors and you made Lowell High School proud!

Courts and Fields

Red Devil track off to a fast start

by Gabby Morache

The Red Devils have gotten off to a very good start to their track season. With conference less than three weeks away, both boys and girls teams have been working to drop fast times and get ready for the NCC and post season races.

The Lady Red Devils have had a very impressive debut into the outdoor season with very promising results in all areas.

The distance squad of senior Reilly Boyer and juniors Gabby Morache, Payton Boyer, and Morgan Myers placed 2nd in the 4x800 relay at the Chesterton Relays on April 15th, with anchor Reilly Boyer crossing the finish line

at 10:33. This 4x800 squad also placed 3rd in the distance medley relay, beating conference teams like Munster and Highland as well as nonconference teams like Crown Point. The throwing squad of senior Kayanna Seely (3rd place), and sophomores Reagan Claus (9th place) and Addi Umfleet (10th place) placed 2nd overall in discus at the Chesterton Relays. All three girls placed in the top 10. Junior Grace Henke cleared 7’6’’ in pole vault, taking 6th place overall.

As usual, Lowell’s track and field squads continue their tradition of dominating schools in Northwest Indiana.

continued on page 23

Courts and Fields

LHS baseball takes down Hobart, not once, but twice

by Joey Paternostro

The Lowell baseball team got off to a hot start, beating Hobart twice, 8-5 and 12-5. Lowell stood 2-0 not only on the year, but 2-0 in conference. The last time the baseball team started 2-0 was 2021. Before that, it was 2017. Since then, Lowell has been on a hard streak. They have now lost 4 straight to Lake Central 16-6, Hanover 11-1, Highland 8-1 and Highland 7-0. Senior Center Fielder Joe Paternostro was named athlete of the week. He went 6-10 at the plate with 8 RBI’s in Lowell’s first four games.

Here are some of the moments from the Devils next 4 games. At the end of the 2nd inning, Lowell was beating Lake Central 6-3, yet wound up losing 16-6. Hanover couldn’t have thrown their hits into a better spot. Simply put, they hit it where Lowell’s guys weren’t. Highland just out hit Lowell. Both games Highland dominated on the mound and got timely hits. This season, Lowell has struggled by giving up too many walks on defense and striking out too much at the plate. This past weekend Lowell took on the defending 2A champions Illiana Christian in a double

continued on page 19

Adam Hammer

Courts and Fields

Debatable rule changes speed up MLB games

The MLB underwent a series of changes in the off-season, which has caused debate throughout the country about whether they are beneficial for the game. These new rules were tested in the minor leagues last year before officially being put into play in the MLB. The reason for the changes has to do with the safety of the players and an effort to reduce game times. The most frequently talked about change is the pitch clock, a timer that paces both the hitters and the pitcher to reduce times in between at-bats and pitches. The new rule consists of a 30-second timer in between hitters, a 15-second timer with no runners on base, and a 20-second timer with people on base. Additionally, the batters must be in the box and ready to swing with no less than 8 seconds left or else it results in an automatic strike, while pitchers must start their delivery before the clock reaches 0 or an automatic ball is called. While there have been a few hiccups in the rules so far this season, these new changes have been doing what they were supposed to do. Last year, the average game length in the MLB was 3:08 minutes, this year it is averaging 2:38 minutes with some games finishing in less than 2 hours. Some fans argue that this is a good step for the game while others claim that it rushes the game and it ruins some of the anticipation and excitement of the long tendered games.

continued on page 24

Gun violence, continued from page 7

Alfred University states, “If they heard a student talking about shooting someone at school, only about half the students would tell an adult.” Giving out knowledge on what to do in this situation is critical in preventing school shootings. It should be a requirement that schools give out more information on who to tell and what to do when hearing a threat or seeing signs of a shooting.

Andrew Tarantola stated, “I have to admit, I love guns... but only because they are RAAAD! I know I could end up harming or killing myself or someone else. But in the meantime, they are f***ing RAAAD!” Guns are ingrained in American society. For many people, guns are used to release negative emotions, make people feel safe, and are a key tool for hunters. People love guns. Nonetheless playing hide and seek with a school shooter is not going to keep students in the United States safe anymore. As a society, we need to allow flexibility within the Second Amendment. This means adding regulations but not completely banning guns. The United States needs to stop ignoring the rise of school shootings. We all need to be willing to make some changes.

Clearly more needs to be done to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. Guns that are not stored correctly in a home create disasters.``An estimated 4.6 million American children live in a home where at least one gun is kept loaded and unlocked. These improperly stored weapons have contributed to school shootings, suicides, and the deaths of family members, including infants and toddlers”(sandyhookpromise.org). By coming up with ways to properly store weapons, school shootings could decline. Some ways include…

• Storing weapons in a safe that only certain people could open. People could call and explain what they are using a gun for and how long they would be using it. Then the safe could be opened.

• Storing weapons in a secure firearm storage space.

• Adding trackers

• Adding time limits

• weapons that are only allowed to work at certain times during the day or hunting seasons

• Taking a class on how to properly store a gun.

There is absolutely no reason why guns should be laying around anywhere at any time.

Encouraging others to find different ways to protect themselves could prevent school shootings. According to pewresearch.org/ “Personal protection tops the list of reasons why gun owners say they own a firearm.” While this is true, there are numerous ways to protect yourself without using a gun. Some of these include…

-Double checking doors that are always locked at night.

-Installing security cameras.

- Purchasing a dog that is trained to protect you and/or your family. “With a sense of smell 100,000 times more sensitive and hearing range four times that of a human's, not to mention superior low-light visibility.”(gizmodo.com)

-Invest in self-defense classes. (Insurance could possibly pay for this)

Thirteen minutes before Hale had chosen to shoot up a school she texted her friend. "I'm planning to die today. This is not a joke. You will probably hear about me on the news after I die." Almost all shooters give warning signs before committing the act. Ways we can prevent this from happening is by taking quick action if you hear anyone talk or make threats about school shootings. This is who students at Alfred University said they would tell.

Peer pressure, continued from page 8

However, peer pressure can be interpreted as a good thing in a variety of ways. One study found that peer pressure can increase the likelihood of giving to charities by 40%. No matter online or in person, when in the presence of friends or even people in general an individual feels the urge to give more. If the donation goes to a trustworthy place, the money can greatly benefit another person in need. Without peer pressure, the money may never have gone to where it was needed.

Peer pressure can also lead to people leaving their comfort zones and experiencing new things. A person could start trying new foods at restaurants or joining clubs that otherwise wouldn’t be on their radar if not for the influence that their peers have on them. Sometimes when a friend is pressuring a person to do something, it comes from a place of kindness and a want for that person to enjoy as many facets of life as possible. In addition, many people grow by experiencing what they enjoy in companions or friends. The way that peers influence each other provides learning opportunities for both parties. Maybe a person doesn’t like the way that another person asks for favors or tries to get them involved.

The fact of the matter is that peer pressure continues to be a two-sided event. Both good and bad consequences can spring from peer pressure. This seems like a case of too much of a good thing turning into a bad thing. It really just depends on how any one person perceives their environment and their ability to make the best decision for themselves.

LHS baseball, continued from page 16

header. Lowell took the first game 3-2 on a walk off single by Colin Killian. In game two, Lowell took the loss 9-7. Lowell was winning all game and in the top of the 7th Illiana capitalized and put up four runs to take the lead. Unfortunately, Lowell couldn’t bounce back. In the first eight games, Lowell has allowed 67 runs while only scoring 38. The Red Devil baseball team is off to a good 3-5 start. With a conference record of 2-2, that’s good enough for 3rd place in the Northwest Crossroads Conference. Lowell is scheduled to take on Andrean, Monday April, 24th and Tuesday the 25th. Monday's game is a home game for the Devils, while Tuesday is scheduled to be away. However, there’s a 70% chance of rain on Tuesday.

Asian American, continued from page 8

What are some ways that we can celebrate AAPI Month? Something as simple as supporting Asian or Pacific Islander-run businesses, or donating to nonprofit organizations are great ways to financially support. You can explore art, watch a movie, read a book, or discover local AAPI organizations! Another way that you can support is simply by educating yourself, like finding ways to help stop hate spread by misinformation and xenophobia.

Fleetwood Mac, continued from page 12

My personal ranking of the songs on Rumors:

1. The Chain

The Chain is one of my favorite songs off Rumours. The vocals, sound, and lyrics are what make The Chain such an iconic song. With The Chain being the only song on Rumours with writing credit from all 5 members, it is one of the most popular songs on the album. To create The Chain, all 5 members worked separately on the sound/lyrics and then came together to create a masterpiece. Throughout the song, Stevie Nicks sings about her relationship with Lindsey Buckingham, singing “I can still hear you saying / You would never break the chain.” Overall, Christine, Stevie, and Lindsey’s voices blend together really well in the song, and John, Lindsey, and Mick’s bass/guitar/drums that are present throughout the song are what make The Chain so great.

2. Gold Dust Woman

Written by Stevie Nicks, Gold Dust Woman is essentially a song about cocaine. Stevie Nicks stated in an interview in 1997, “I must have met a couple of people that I thought did too much coke and I must have been impressed by that. Because I made it into a whole story.” Stevie’s vocals in this song are strong and eerie, as the song is supposed to have a mysterious feel. One of the things that I love about this song is the unique instruments that were used to create it. To help accent Stevie’s vocals, Mick Fleetwood broke sheets of glass while recording, and it made it into the song. An electric harpsichord (type of keyboard) was also used in Gold Dust Woman. The title of the song comes from Gold Dust Lane, a street in Wickenburg, Arizona where Stevie grew up at.

3. Songbird

Written by Christine McVie, Songbird is such a beautiful song. Christine did an amazing job vocally, as this slower song captures her vocals and really makes you feel something emotionally. This song captures the selflessness of love, as it makes you linger for it.

4. Dreams

Another iconic song off of Rumours, Dreams is such a great song. Not only is it catchy, but it’s such an honest and raw song.

Written by Stevie, Dreams became a single off of Rumours. The song has an upbeat feel to it, making it a song to listen to anytime.

5. Go Your Own Way

Another single off Rumours, Go Your Own Way is yet another popular song from Fleetwood Mac. Written by Lindsey, Go Your Own Way describes Stevie and Lindsey’s relationship. With the instruments and vocals, Go Your Own Way is the definition of what a great song is.

6. You Make Loving Fun

Written by Christine, You Make Loving Fun is about Christine’s affair with the band’s lighting director. In order to not bring up suspicion, she told her husband John at the time that the song was about her dog. Overall, Christine’s vocals are strong throughout the song, making the song great to listen to. You Make Loving Fun is an upbeat song, and the drama behind it is what I love about it.

Mental health, continued from page 3

School is hard, we know this. But, it doesn’t have to be as hard as it seems. Taking care of your mental health is equally, if not more important than your grades. I know it’s hard but there’s a month left, keep pushing through!

Ways to help improve your mental health:

• Getting enough sleep: Making sure you’re getting sleep is beneficial to help you get through the day

• Promote positive body image and self- esteem: Every body is different

• Go outside: Even if it’s for five minutes, getting some fresh air and sunlight is beneficial, no matter what season it is

• Being active: Being active can boost the happy chemicals in your brain, help you to sleep better, and improve your sense of control, coping ability and self-esteem.

• Eat a balanced diet: Eating right can help you have less mood swings and cause you to be able to focus better. Unprocessed foods and cleaner diets can help decline the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

• Stay hydrated: Staying hydrated will help support the body systems functioning efficiently, fight infections, and help improve brain and muscle function to help you succeed in your academics and athletics.

• Germany, continued from page 5

the states. After landing in Frankfurt, Germany, the expedition started right off the bat. Day 1 started off in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a quaint old town known for its medieval architecture. The streets lined in cobblestone and the buildings painted vibrant colors, the students explored the town and the shops, sights not to be soon forgotten by those who were able to travel there. After their visit, students went to dinner together as a group and, for most, spent their first night ever in a foreign country.

Day 2: Between 1933 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its allies established more than 44,000 camps, their purposes included forced labor, detention of people deemed to be "enemies of the state," and mass murder. Millions of people suffered and died or were killed. Among these sites was Dachau, the longest operating camp. Taking a more serious turn in the trip, students visited the Dachau Concentration Camp and museum in Germany on day 2. Spending the majority of the day there, students first walked through the museum intended to honor the lives lost at the infamous site and educate visitors of the events leading up to and terrible effects of the holocaust. It is hard to describe in a simple article the effects the sights seen had on students from LHS, or visitors from anywhere really, but it goes without saying that the memories shared and sights seen will never be forgotten. At the end of the day, the group traveled to the third largest city in Germany; Munich, where they spent the night in a very flashy hotel.

Day 3: Waking up in one the largest cities in the country, students woke up on day 3 with a full itinerary. The group first traveled to Nymphenburg palace, with its royal splendor and lavishly decorated interior. The palace originally served as a ‘summer getaway’ for a royal bavarian family, designed as a gift for Henriette Adelaide after she gave birth to a male heir to the throne (sadly, his multitude of older sisters were not also honored with a palace, a testament to old time royal politics, but alas, I dissent). Following Nymphenburg, students took a brief tour of the square of Munich before being given free time to explore the city in groups. Some groups spent the time shopping, while others went and explored museums in the area, and all delighted themselves in German cuisine. After meeting in Marienplatz, the city's main square since 1158, the group once again departed to enjoy dinner together and travel back to the hotel.

continued on page 22

Germany, continued from page 21

Day 4: After waking up again in Munich, the group once again departed, heading to the second country on the trip, Austria! The group went on a guided tour of Salzburg, with views of the Eastern Alps, the city is divided by the Salzach River, with medieval and baroque buildings. After the tour and time to explore the city, the group traveled to the world renowned salt mines! Taking a suspiciously long trip down into the mines on a furthermore suspicious ‘train’, students were able to explore and enjoy the experience through slides and a boat ride/light show! The mine had been working for over 2600 years, ensuring that nearby Salzburg would become a powerful trading community. Luckily, all the students survived the trip in the mines, and surfaced just in time to make it for another group dinner and safely arrive back to their hotel, but not before some chose to go back to Munich for an hour and explore the city at night!

Day 5: This day consisted of a lot of driving, which all ended up being immensely worth it. The group first traveled to Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the 3 designed by the ‘mad’ King Ludwig. Given the opportunity to take the stairs all the way up to the extremely elevated castle, most elected to take the bus up and explore the sights of the castle. The name sound familiar? Well, Neuschwanstein Castle is what Disney used as inspiration for both Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. The group traversed back down the mountain, back into the buses, and departed for the 2nd castle built by King Ludwig, Linderhof. During the tour of the castle, students were immersed in a vast demonstration of wealth, with lavish decorations everywhere. Even in the palace gardens, images of immense wealth were everywhere, leading some in the world to declare Ludwig as ‘mad’ for wasting the country's money in a time of poverty. Departing the castle, students traveled through their 3rd country, Liechtenstein (the 6th smallest country in the world). After the short drive, students arrived in the 4th country of the trip, Switzerland. Here, the group set up camp for the night in a hotel surrounded by foreign cows and an incredibly close view of the Alps.

Day 6: On day 6, the trip reached new heights! Literally!! Departing early in the morning, the group made their way to the base of the swiss alps. Students took a very long ride up to the mountains in cable cars, stopped for a quick view of the scenery, and then took a gondola all the way up to one of the highest peaks of the swiss alps. At temperatures below 0, students bundled up as they braved the cold in order to see the breathtaking sights in front of and underneath them. After being able to explore a little, the group again took the gondola and cable cars down to the base of the mountains where they traveled to the heart of switzerland and explored the popular swiss town of luzerne. Some students even bought swiss knives - in switzerland! After an eventful day, the group traversed back to their rural hotel and were presented with the opportunity to explore the area around them. Towards the end of the night, a large portion of the group discovered a soccer field where a few intense games took place. We are happy to report that the scores of the game are as follows: Students: 2, Mr. Werling: 0.

Day 7: Finally, the last day of sightseeing arrived and the students were sad that such an awesome trip was coming to its end. Not to be deterred, Mr. Werling and the leaders of the trip quickly worked to boost morale, surprising the group with a quick visit to France, the 5th and final country visited! After having free time to roam and explore around the city, students got back into the buses and departed for their final destination of the trip; Heidelberg, Germany. Here students were able to explore the castle that just overlooks the river, and also see the world's largest wine barrel. Here the group took their last group photo together in the square, where lots of their shopping commenced beforehand. The group headed off to their final dinner together, and got back to the hotel with just enough time to extend their gratitude to their bus drivers and tour guides, then getting some much needed rest before their flight back home

The group would like to extend their gratitude to Mr. Werling for orchestrating the trip, and to the other teachers who came and helped out as well; it could not have been done without you!

Track, continued from page 15

The Boy’s team has also had a great season so far, with great results in all areas. The 4x800 squad of Ben Garcia, Ethan Wulitich, Ben Keeton, and Zakary Hudak came in 2nd overall with a time of 9:11, just seven seconds shy of Highland. Senior Jimmy Snow placed 2nd in the 1600 with a time of 4:39. 800 meter duo of senior Aaron Steganga and freshman Danny Frevert took 1st and 2nd in the open 800, respectively. Another duo of Dylan Hochbaum and John Peters finished 5th and 6th respectively in the 3200 meter run. The 4x400 relay of Noah Smith, Josh Smith, Jimmy Snow, and Aaron Steganga came in first place with a time of 3:34. The sprinters also had an amazing debut. 4x100 relay team of Josh Harmston, Landin Rosenthal, Josh Smith, and Noah Smith came in first place with a time of 44.83. Sophomore Colton Scott took 2nd place in the 100 meter finals. Thomas Johnson finished 1st place in shot put and discus. Allen Evans also placed 3rd in both shot put and discus as well. All across the track, it was a great day to be a Red Devil!

Overall, both teams have strong lineups being built for the NCC conference, which will take place on May 9th at none other but our home track at Lowell High School. The boy’s and girl’s teams will toe the line against the top runners from conference teams of Munster, Highland, Andrean, Hobart, and Kankakee Valley in hopes for a conference title on their home track. Lets go Devils!

Major League Baseball, continued from page 17

There was also a change made to the size of the bases, going from 15 square inches to 18. This rule is accepted throughout most fanbases because it adds the excitement of more stolen bases chances along with the new pickoff restriction rule only allowing pitchers to attempt a maximum of three pickoffs per at bat. If the third is unsuccessful then the runner automatically gets to advance base. The base changes also protect the players from collisions on the field while trying to make a play, giving them more space to hit the base. The final rule is the defensive shift rule, which allows for more opportunity for hits. This rule is especially for left-handed hitters, last year teams would “shift” their defensive alignment to the 1st base side of the field so much to where there would only be 1 infielder and 1 outfielder covering the entire 3rd base side of the field. They did this intentionally because left-handed hitters are way more likely to hit the ball to the 1st base side than the 3rd base side, thus taking away hits for the hitters and getting more chances defensively to get outs. Balls hit right up the middle or normally where right-handed hitters would get hits were all turning into outs due to the “shift”. Because of this the MLB decided to make the change, the rules state that there must be 2 infielders on both sides of 2nd base at the time the pitch is delivered granting advantages back to the hitters for groundballs to reach into the outfield. All these rules will continue to impact every game of the season