Devils' Advocate September 2012

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letter from the editors

staff editorial staff

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elcome to the September issue of the Devils’Advocate! We’ve put a lot of hard work into this school year’s inaugural issue, and we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we’ve enjoyed making it. Before I delve into the content of this issue, please take a moment to check out our new look. In addition to printing on a smaller size of paper, we have also added a cover feature in full color, as well as a slew of new profiles and sections. If I may be so bold, I’d call the new Devils’ Advocate the Maybach of high school newsmagazines. Within the September issue, you will find a controversial exposÊ on teenage drinking, a preview of tomorrow’s homecoming football game, as well as a thought provoking argument on the morality of SuperPACS in the upcoming presidential election. But why stop there? Learn about Rosh Hashanah, meet our new athletic director, Dan Jones, and chuckle over our humorous classic, Cheers and Jeers. Ogle our wonderful photographers’ masterpieces throughout the pages., and plug into the new student social media trend: blogging. I know you’ll find our new Advocate to be up to the high standards you’ve come to expect after years of unequaled excellence. Nonetheless, we’d love to hear what you think about this month’s issue. Write to us at sgrady@hinsdale86.org.

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mission statement 'HYLOVŇ‹ $GYRFDWH VWULYHV WR SURYLGH LWV UHDGHUV ZLWK D GLYHUVH IRUXP IRU UHSRUWLQJ DQG VKDULQJ LQIRUPDWLRQ ,W LV D VWXGHQW UXQ VFKRRO IXQGHG QHZVPDJD]LQH SXEOLVKHG PRQWKO\ 'HYLOVŇ‹ $GYRFDWH ZLVKHV WR SURYLGH IDLU DQG EDODQFHG UHSRUWLQJ RQ HYHQWV E\ ZRUNLQJ ZLWK VWXGHQWV WHDFKHUV DQG WKH FRPPXQLW\ ,W VWULYHV WR LQIRUP HGXFDWH DQG LPSURYH WKH DWPRVSKHUH DQG VWXGHQW ERG\ RI +LQVGDOH &HQWUDO +LJK 6FKRRO

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editor in chief Evan Lee

managing editor Sarah Renehan

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Staff Editorial

Your ad here: The buck stops where?

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entral now allows companies to advertise in the gym, on the football field, and, sometimes, in the cafeteria. Principal Michael McGrory said the ads are geared toward the community and has not received any complaints. But Mr. Rich Kozarits, a member of the Boosters (the group that proposed the ads) says that “...we are not picky... if a place like Portillos or Dips n’ Dogs—which are more directed to kids—wants to advertise with us, we’ll take them.� Further he said that “...[The Booster Club] would take anybody’s money as long as their ads would be appropriate.� But just because they are school-appropriate doesn’t mean that the ads are good for us. As students of Central, we believe that they shouldn’t be here. Advertisements exist to draw our attention to the product they represent. Sometimes we can ignore them, but other times, ads can be really distracting. And, seeing as Central’s mission is to provide us with an environment that is conducive to learning, we feel these ads tarnish this environment, bringing into the school something decidedly un-academic. Maggie Wood, senior, is one of the many who agrees with this. “We don’t need to see them in school,� Wood said. But Wood brought up another way the ads distract us, which is another reason that they should not be here. “I’m a big football fan, so I really think they distract from the game. It’s supposed to be about sports, not the products being advertised,� Wood said. The advertisements in the gym and on the football field are very obvious marketing ploys, but they’re not the first, and they most definitely will not be the last--and distraction is not the only reason the ads need to be removed. Just Aug. 31, an inflatable bottle of ‘Greater > Than,’ a sports drink, was displayed during lunch periods in the courtyard while salesmen handed out free samples. We’ve seen free samples from specific brands before, usually in conjunction with a program promoting

healthy eating, like Fall Into Wellness last year. But the ‘Greater > Than’ campaign was not about encouraging us to eat well. It seemed that all that the salesmen wanted us to do was to consume their product and make them money. Advertisements like that just encourage us to spend money on things we don’t really need. With the overabundance of ads outside Central, campaigns like this just add on to the list of corporations who are targeting our wallets. These ‘sample’ campaigns, however, are much more in-your-face, and therefore a lot more persuasive. Again, Central is supposed to be an environment for learning, and we are taught to be critical consumers of media. And so critical we are being. Now, though, we are learning that Greater > Than is something we should be spending our money on. Allowing more campaigns like this in our school just does more to promote the reckless spending that is already encouraged by the advertisements we face once we exit the school doors. Defenders of these advertisements are quick to point out that, even if we do spend money on the products being advertised in the gym and on the field, the advertisers are still paying the school to display their ads. And in fact, Kozarits said that the money that the ads bring in are used to fund extra-curriculars and the occasional structural improvements. But these ads appeared without explanation. Students were not told where the money from the ads was going. Having ads in school is bad enough on its own, but not introducing them to us as a way to keep our clubs and athletics program alive and well funded makes the presence of these ads doubly problematic. In the end, despite the financial gain, Hinsdale Central is not a newspaper, a billboard, or a television network, and ads just don’t have a place here.

This editorial is the consensus of the Devils’ Advocate editorial board.

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Q. What should be the theme of next year!s homecoming be?

CHEERS Cheers to the free shirts. We all needed something to turn into cut-offs. Cheers to the air conditioning, we aren!t passing out in gym anymore. Cheers to the sit-in at the pep assmembly and civil disobedience at its best.

A. Pajamas! !"##$%&'"()*$+,

Cheers to new renovations.Those pools of silt are going to be Koi ponds, right?

JEERS A. Blackhawks

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Jeers WR WKH QHZ FHOOSKRQH QRWLĂ€FDWLRQV VFKRRO WZLWter feed, and all the naĂŻve freshmen who are going to regret subscribing. Jeers to the air conditioning and having to wear sweatshirts in the middle of August. Jeers to the tv!s in the lunch room. If it!s not the latest episode of Workaholics, we don!t want to see it. Jeers to college apps a.k.a. the worst time to be a senior.

A. “Gangnam Style� 567/0$5(*$+,

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Renovation Breakdown This summer the school underwent massive renovations to the building. Renovations began the day school got out in June and continue to go on. Students began school admist heavy machines and blowings silt. Below are the breakdown of the costs.

Drop-off $661,500

Front Entrance Entrance $444,322

Science $2,054,288 Courtyard

Cafeteria

Total Cost $3,343,860

Side Entrance Field House

+$12,000,000 for AC in both schools.

Auditorium

Pool Drop-off

$183,750

Dan Cruwys

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BATTLEGROUND

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Are SuperPACs detrimental to democracy? Adam Smith and Ana Carell voice their opinion on the matter

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ne of the most basic tenants of our democracy is the freedom of speech. Free speech encompasses the ability to openly express one’s opinion through any number of mechanisms, including advertising. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its opinion in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission affirming the right of all citizens, individually or through groups, to raise funds in support of candidates running for political office through a Political Action Committee (PAC). Soon after theCitizens United case was decided, a Federal Court of Appeals ruled that no limits could be placed on these contributions, thereby creating the term “Super PACs�. Critics of super PACs argue that because the amounts they can raise is unlimited, a grossly disproportionate voice can now resonate from tWWhe extremely wealthy in our society and drown out the voices of average citizens. Much of this criticism has been fueled by the media, however, in an all too common combination of ignorance and bias. The ignorance comes in the form of the misconception that the Citizens case upholds donor anonymity, which it does not. Every donor to a super PAC must be identified both to the Federal government and general public. This means that every dollar donated by a corporation must be revealed and held up to criticism by both its board of directors and shareholders. Critics ignore the fact that wealthy individuals in this country have been able to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaign ads through IRS 527 organizations for decades. Today they can simply give that money to a super PAC instead of hiring the exact same consultants directly for the exact same ads. The liberal bias of the media is reflected in the fear that the influence of the wealthy gives them an unfair advantage over the middle class, even though in a country of over 400 million people, the combined monetary influence of the middle class overwhelms the influence of any one individual. David Axelrod, senior political strategist for President Obama and opponent of the super PACs, defended the president’s decision inthehill.com to raise super PAC money of his own in this election by stating that “we’ve got a stronger fundraising base among small donors than we did even four years ago� Limiting debate or the right of others to express their opinion has no place in a free and open society. While it is easy to criticize super PACs and scapegoat the wealthy as malintentive meddlers, outlawing them would be denying like-minded citizens the ability to express their ideas to the public (which unions and other foundations do every day). Clearly Super PACs only allow for the protected dissemination of ideas. And according to our Founding Fathers, that is the fundamental building block of a true democracy, and a cornerstone to our freedom as a nation. #.(/"0/!&1

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here was a reason Congress banned corporate campaign contributions to federal candidates in 1907, and again in 1947, when corporate contributions were further restricted. This was during the time of the robber barons, in the wake of corporate scandals and the development of massive monopolies. But times have changed, and the Supreme Court has lifted the corporate expenditure ban. In a 2010 case known as Citizens United, the Court ruled that, constitutionally, a corporation cannot be restricted in donating to political campaigns. As a result, a SuperPAC, an organization that accepts corporate money and donates it to certain candidates, can donate unlimited amounts of money to campaigns, without disclosing the origins of the money. Individuals, on the other hand, are limited to a total donation of $2,500 per campaign. As a result, the interests of individuals, who can usually afford to donate no more than $100 dollars each election cycle, are overshadowed by those of corporations, who can afford to donate upwards of $10 million dollars to a single SuperPAC, supporting a single candidate. For example, in the month of July, the Romney campaign raised $137 million through two supportive SuperPACs, American Crossroads and Restore Our Future, while the Obama campaign lagged far behind by raising only $47.5 million through a trio of SuperPACs: Priorities USA Action, House Majority PAC, and Majority PAC. Since the Republican party has a history of favoring the deregulation of American business, corporations are known to lean to the right—the result is that one political campaign has overwhelming access to funds, while another struggles to close the fundraising gap. But what is the significance of this money? SuperPACs will use their funds to buy television time for advertising (both attack ads and positive ads)—strategies that are known to sway elections. About 90 percent of political campaign ads are attack ads, and a study by Emory University has shown that negative advertising is effective in changing voters’ opinions. Corporations can ensure that their views will be represented by advertising sponsored by SuperPACSs. Essentially, the SuperPAC has allowed corporations to raise their voices high above those of American individuals, granting those with the greatest means the most political influence. And that, surely, is not democratic. #$(",()-++

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e’ve all heard of the famous, slightly clichĂŠ ‘bucket list’ that kids (along with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) use to keep track of things they want to do before they die. There are some knock-off lists: the “end of summerâ€? bucket list or “before you graduateâ€? bucket list. Basically, bucket lists are a contract we make with ourselves listing the things that we want our future selves to accomplish. They may seem like an odd and slightly morbid trend, but their effectiveness comes from the fact that their focus isn’t placed on death— it’s on life. Writing a bucket list is like writing a letter to yourself saying, “Remember to make this awesome, okay?â€? with a couple of check points to keep you in line. I think it’s a common misconception that life is short—it’s actually the hardest, most frustrating enterprise we’ll ever have. Life just feels long because we don’t act spontaneously, for fear of embarrassing ourselves. I’ve seen Mean Girls enough times to know that high school is a scary place, and done enough laps around Central’s halls to know how easy it is to just blend into the 3,000 person crowd. I’m one of the biggest offenders of sacrificing spontaneity for safety. I do extra credit, I participate just enough to keep up my grade, and I take naps because, well, I’m tired from all that rule-following. There are so many exciting little things going on around me and I’m too preoccupied to notice. With all the application-worthy extracurriculars and standardized testing and homework that comes with the infamous junior year, I was prepared to say goodbye to my friends for a few months (nine, to be exact) and hit the books until June. Then I found a summer bucket list I made with a friend. It was an earnest attempt to make the summer not only great, but memorable. Not one item was crossed off. Not to say my summer wasn’t enjoyable, but what happened to all those plans I had carefully laid out, color coded and categorized? What about the amazing memories that I would have made, the stories I could have told, the witty remarks I could have impressed people with? I stared at that little yellow iNote on my phone, the emptiness of the “completedâ€? column glaring at me, and realized that I had let an entire summer slip by due to a potent mix of laziness and apathy. So this is my new bucket list, my “before you become a seniorâ€? bucket list. One item a month, recorded here, with a picture for proof, and then all of Central holding me accountable for making my life more exciting. I guess I have an easy one to cross off my list... this time.

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This year, the administration changed the time of the daily announcements from periods five and seven to before and after school. The concern of Mr. William Walsh, assistant principal of operations, regarding announcements was that the student body wasn’t getting the information that they needed throughout the course of the day. Students who had lunch or gym during announcement periods did not get to hear the announcements, and students in classes often talked loudly so the announcements could not be heard. To make sure that the students did hear, the decision was made to switch to before and after school. “We surveyed staff as well as students on daily announcements and the impact they were having on students, and eventually it got us to give this an

opportunity to see how [the new announcement times will] work,� Walsh said. The difficult situation that has developed from this change is that students’ voices in the hallways now compete with announcement system, in addition to the fact that many students are not in the halls before and after school. “If there’s a club from last year, then I’ll just look on the website. [But] it’s not always reliable,� said Carey Habiger, junior. Walsh has met with the student council to discuss these new problems. Student Council now makes podcasts of the announcements, which are then posted to hcdevilsadvocate.com, Advocate’s online site. The podcasts are now being broadcast over the P.A. system.

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Sports News Briefs

cause with a super busy schedule, I have no time to procrastinate. Right when I get home from school I have to keep working right until I have to leave for practice,� said McKenna. Moreover, since McKenna is dedicated to both school and sports, Princeton University has scouted her to play there. “I recently verbally committed to Princeton to play soccer and hockey. I was fortunate that they were interested in me for both hockey and soccer. I have good grades, and they can support me in the admissions process,� McKenna said. With new opportunities, McKenna has the motivation to keep excelling in her life of sports. She meets with her teammates from both sports almost every day and works towards one goal: the Olympics. “It is unlikely that I will qualify for the 2016 Olympics because women on the team can continue to play into their thirties. But eventually making it to the Olympics is the goal. It’s the final step,� McKenna said.

As Hinsdale Central continues with its fall season, students have witnessed the impact of concussions on teammates. Alec Edstrom, junior, has taken concussions to "##$%&''()'&*+,(-.//+,-( a new level. -+,!#.-(0#10.--!#1 Edstrom was injured in practice when using incorrect tackling form. “I put my head down, which you are never supposed to do,� Edstrom said. “Well, after that I don’t really remember but people told me I just sort of fell down.� Edstrom does remember the entire football team encircling him. “I couldn’t really feel much in my body, anywhere at all,� Edstrom said. “Then the ambulance came, which was pretty scary.� Athletic Director Dan Jones said Central is prepared to deal with injuries and concussions. “We implement a return-to-play policy,� Jones said, “which requires every high school have a protocol to deal with preventing sports injuries.� However, the injury Edstrom had was much more severe. “I was in a lot of pain and was kind of scared I wouldn’t play football again. But eventually I regained most of the feeling in my body,� Edstrom said. Edstrom was diagnosed with a spinal cord concussion. A spinal cord injury occurs when the head hits or is hit by an object, and the brain is jarred against the skull. This creates enough force to cause temporary loss of function in the center of the brain, which accounts for Edstrom’s loss of feeling. Fortunately, Edstrom is recovering swiftly. “Now I just have to wear this neck brace every day,� Edstrom said. “Almost all the feeling in my body has completely returned.�

The Illinois attorney general’s office and Equip for Equality, an advocacy group for the disabled, reached a settlement with IHSA to permit disabled swimmers 2345()+,6!$-(7!-&%'+7( to compete for their teams &$8'+$+-($#(-9!6(&$(-$&$+ in the 50-yard free, 100-yard free, 200-yard free and 100yard breast stroke events at state meets. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Mary Kate Callahan, a Fenwick student paralyzed from the waist down who wanted to continue being on the team. “I think it’s outstanding that there are more opportunities given to students with disabilities so that they can compete and be recognized at the state level,� said Dan Jones, athletic director. Some students, however, disagree. Samantha Strausser, a varsity swimmer, believes that disabled swimmers should have the chance to compete at state but thinks they should be scored separately. “Swimming involves the entire body, so I think they should be scored differently because every body part affects a swimmer’s performance,� Strausser said. The IHSA shares Strausser’s view. According to its recently revised rules, physically and visually disabled students will compete in a separate division. They will then be separated into two classifications based on the severity and type of disability. The IHSA website states: “Awards will be given to the first five individual finishers in each classification at the state final meet.� The change could encourage disabled students to join the team since their achievements would be recognized on a state level. “We do have some disabled students that may be interested, and this is a way to get them involved,� Jones said.

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ith motivation from both her friends and family, Fiona McKenna balances both hockey and soccer as she moves up in her sports to college and national teams. Over the summer, she was selected for the US Nationals U-18 women’s hockey team. Playing with brand new teammates was different for McKenna. “But I liked it,� McKenna said. “Everyone was there to give their 100%.� AlthoughW the US National team chose McKenna, she once played hockey for the Chicago Mission girls’ U19 team and soccer for Eclipse U17 girls’ team. In the last five years, her hockey team has won five state championships, five regional championships, two bronze medals, and one silver medal at the national championships. In the last four years her soccer team has won three state championships, one regional championship, and one bronze at the national championships. Along with two highly competitive sports, McKenna has learned to manage her time. “I think that it is easier to balance my homework be-

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amily, friends, and feasts-what more could one ask for? Followers of Judaism around the world gather this month to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is one of the high holidays and is considered a very important occasion in Judaism. For students, Rosh Hashanah means a day filled with various religious rituals. Most students attend services at their local temple and eat traditional Jewish foods, such as challah and brisket. There is a wide spread of traditional food consumed during Rosh Hashanah. “We always eat apples and honey, as they symbolize a sweet new year,� said Danielle Shayani, sophomore. Each synagogue celebrates this occasion in a different way. Junior Jake Hall attends the Etz Chaim synagogue in Lombard. “A tradition specific to my temple is the congregation invites temple members up to the bima (podium) to help with the service instead of having the Rabbis do the entire thing. This year, I have been invited to read a couple paragraphs in English at the Yom Kippur service,� Hall said. Hall explained that after he attends temple services with his family and temple members, he participates in a large lunch that consists of traditional Jewish food. Families also have their own customs that make the new year special to them. “Every year in my family, we go to a park and throw bread into a lake to represent our sins going away. But mostly the holiday for me is missing a day of school,� said Shayani, with a laugh. Rosh Hashanah is always in the fall, but is on a different day each year because the Jewish calendar is based partially on the moon. Rosh Hashanah starts a sacred 10 day period in which Jewish people reflect

on their personal growth during the past year, ask for forgiveness, and make resolutions for the year to come. “It is a chance to make amends with people we may have wronged, which we must do personally. This means we are supposed ask each person we wronged for forgiveness for something we specifically did to them,� Hall said. The difference between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday that follows the new year, is who people are asking for forgiveness from. “On Yom Kippur, we ask God for forgiveness for wrongs we have committed against God. However, we cannot ask God to forgive us for wrongs we have committed against other people,� Hall said. Another element of the holiday is spending time with loved ones. “I don’t get to see my Jewish friends a lot, so it’s fun hanging out with family and friends at the temple,� Shayani said. Shayani believes the celebrations can also hold deep meaning for families. “After the nighttime service, there is a reception in which everyone says a prayer in Hebrew over the wine and bread,� Hall said. Hall feels that the day is one of religious reflection, but also a time for celebrating with loved ones and the community at large. Rosh Hashanah holds a special meaning for the people of the Jewish community. Whether it’s because of the element of forgiveness, enjoyment of feasting, or peace that comes with reflection, the day is one to remember. The first day of the Hebrew calendar marks a time for all followers of Judaism to come together worldwide and look forward to the year to come.

“I don’t get to see my Jewish friends a lot, so it’s fun hanging out with family and friends at the temple,� Shayani said.

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It’s these trips to games and practices that Jones is most looking forward to in his first year at Central. “I always try to keep the rosters with me as I go to games and cheer them on by name instead of just ‘Let’s go Central,’� he said. When asked for his favorite sport he struggled to come up with just one answer, listing everything from girls’ tennis to football. One thing that he was sure about was that he liked home events due to the atmosphere the crowd provides, and especially those events where the home team comes out on top. But when Central does lose, Jones will have a little trouble putting aside all of his old coaching habits. “When I was coaching, whenever we won or lost I always came home and broke down the game. Now, as Athletic Director, I come home from every match or game and think about what could’ve happened for us to win,� Jones said. He tries to keep things in perspective though, pointing out that for every winner someone has to lose, despite how much he always wants Central to come out on top. And as with most athletic contests that he’s attended this fall, Central appears to have come out on top with Jones’ arrival as well.

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fter working at DeKalb High School for 22 years, Dan Jones knew that it would take somewhere special to draw him away. He thinks he’s found that place at Hinsdale Central. Originally from Oak Forest, Jones was familiar with Central and its reputation. “Hinsdale Central has a great history and tradition,� said Jones, alluding to the dozens of state championship banners hanging from the gym rafters as well as the school’s stellar academic record. He hopes to continue the success he experienced at Dekalb when he left in the spring, but is also looking forward to new opportunities available at Central. Jones said, “It’s a bigger school, and so I look at it as a great step forward in my professional career.� While Hinsdale may only know Jones as the new Athletic Director, he actually spent the majority of his career in the classroom, where he taught U.S. History and World Geography for 15 years, along with coaching football, wrestling, and track. While he enjoys his job as Athletic Director, the transition was not without tradeoffs. Jones always felt that he had a great rapport with his students and did not want to lose that as he moved from teaching into administration. He said he still does miss the classroom and the practice field, but, to make up for this lost connection to the student body, he not only tries to be at as many games as he can, but as many practices as well, knowing better than anyone that that is where the outcomes of games are decided.

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wo years ago, Grace Niestrom, senior, asked Gabby Silva, senior, to apply with her to help out in Adaptive PE, a class in which students help educational services students exercise. The rest has been history. Every year since her sophomore year, Silva has enrolled in this class. “It’s my favorite class by far,� Silva said. “We usually head down to the fitness center, and there is a sheet laid out that says five minutes on the elliptical and 10 pushups and stuff like that. We help them go around and do that, try to talk about their day with them, and help them learn how to talk to people,� Silva said. Helping out in Adaptive PE has influenced Silva’s plans for her future. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher since I was little, but ever since sophomore year when Grace asked me to do this with her, I knew I wanted to be a educational services teacher,� Silva said. Following her passion for educational services, Silva helped coach the basketball team of the high school Special Olympics last year. “We had one practice a week and one game a week,� Silva said, “We had a tournament at the end, but even though we didn’t win it, the kids loved getting the medals.� The students may have loved the medals, but for Silva the biggest reward was watching them improve over time. “At the beginning of the season, Seb, who graduated last year, would just run up and down the court and that’s all he would do, but towards the end he started shooting and making baskets,� Silva said. But it wasn’t only Seb who made progress that year. “We also had a kid named Darius, who would just shoot baskets and couldn’t make a basket, but at a game at the end of the season, he made a winning basket for us,� Silva said. Being in both Adaptive PE and the Special Olympics, Silva has been able to see the complete transformation of these students. The skills they acquired from the Special Olympics have been applied in Adaptive PE and vice versa. “He [Darius] makes a lot of baskets now, especially in gym class. We’ll shoot around,� Silva said. It makes her proud to see how much they have accomplished. With her passion for educational services and her eyes set on Michigan State University or University of Wisconsin for college, Gabby Silva has a bright future ahead of her.

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n empty house. Pool out back. Benz in the garage. Crowds of party people. Liquor. A gnome full of ecstasy tablets. All the components that can aide a few chic-less geeks in achieving school-wide recognition. Hollywood tells the same story yet again in the film Project X: a film that shows the above scenario play out to the max during a house party gone wild. It seemed in the film that the whole school showed up to the party. Despite Hollywood’s notoriety for sugar-coating situations for the silver screen, teen partying is present in everyday life, even at Central. While it seems that everyone is doing it, there are, in reality students who don’t. Students chose to party for a variety of reasons. “[Teens drink and do drugs] because of pressure and because of the societal structure. They feel that they are required to do things that they see other people doing,� said Dominique Millette, senior. “Especially with our generation, in movies and on TV, we see the whole ‘party scene’ and kids feel the need to live up to those types of expectations,� said Millette. According to Jenny Lohmeier, senior, students do drugs with full awareness of the consequences because of the way the media portrays it. “I think the way our society portrays drugs and alcohol greatly contributes to students’ tendency to try them, even if DARE and health class teach that there are serious consequences. Society focuses more on the fun side of drinking and doing drugs, not on the negative consequences,’� Lohmeier said. Though many kids participate in the illegal use of drugs and alcohol, Caroline Oakum, junior, says that she avoids participating in such activities because she doesn’t want to lose her parents’ trust and respect for her. “It’s not unusual- it’s not a big deal anymore--to hear about someone going to the hospital because they got wasted,� Oakum said. With that said, there are many students who do their best to avoid participating in such illegal activities. Seniors Meghan McDowell and Lucy Crofton, captains of the girls’ varsity volleyball team, feel that participating in athletics help them refrain from drugs and alcohol. Crofton said, “Because we have such a strict athletic code and go to a school as competitive as ours, participating in sports is a huge thing for us and if we were caught participating in [drinking and drug use] then a large part of our season is decimated.� McDowell also feels that there are more valuable things students should worry about. “As an athlete, I think it takes away from your ability to keep your priorities straight. I think a lot of athletes should focus on their sport, school, friends, family. Drinking and drugs take away from that,� McDowell said. Senior Rosanna Lederhausen agrees with Crofton and McDowell. “Athletes are very busy, and it is hard enough finding time to practice, do homework, work on college apps, and maintain a good grade point average,� Lederhausen said. Social Worker Mr. Mike McMahon shared his experiences with students who do not participate in doing drugs and drinking. “I’ve found that some kids who don’t experiment have a history in their family where somebody in their family got burned through drugs or alcohol, so [the student is] very aware of the effects of going down that road of experimentation and leading to habitual use, and they don’t

want to be them,� McMahon said. McMahon also said students who feel a part of something, whether a sport, activity, or community, tend to participate less in using drugs and alcohol. “I think people who are more connected to the community feel a sense of purpose, feel a sense of belonging. And a lot of kids who come from very supportive families tend to shy away from using drugs and alcohol. If you feel like you have lots of support around you, then you’re not interested in trying to find ways to artificially feel better,� McMahon said. While there are many who choose not to do drugs because of future aspirations, there are also students who just do not have a reason to do drugs. “I think I am a fairly happy person, so I don’t have a reason to. Plus, between stage crew and my busy schedule, I don’t have the time,� said Benita Ning, sophomore. For others, like Oakum, the biggest deterrent against doing drugs and drinking are the parents. Officer Mark Keller has found, by talking to students, that most students think “...their parents would be disappointed by them if they found out that they ever made the choice to do that. If it is a strong belief with the parents that ‘If you did that, and you’re underage, I’d be very disappointed in you,’ that probably has the biggest impact on people,� Keller said. Lohmeier, like Ning, simply does not see the point in doing drugs and also would not want to disappoint her mom. One of the biggest deterrents against drugs for her are the consequences drugs and alcohol lead to. “I could lose out on scholarships. I would lose the respect of some of my friends as well as my mom’s trust,� Lohmeier said. “Sure, it’s possible that I’d never get caught, but I wouldn’t want to face the consequences if I were caught; it’s just not worth it for a temporary and artificial feeling of happiness, relaxation, or

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Females numbness,� said Lohmeier. When senior Oscar Docto first tried alcohol, he did it for his own personal experience. “I wanted to see where all the fun was in drinking and doing drugs,� Docto said. When he joined the party scene, he failed to notice how his acts impacted himself as well as his family, but realized it in hindsight. “I saw how it affected my family and how it hurt them to see me go down that path,� Docto said. Docto was able to quit before alcohol dictated his life. He no longer participates in drinking or drugs. “I could have the same experience without having to go to doing drugs and drinking,� Docto said. The rate of substance abuse has dropped in the community, according to McMahon. “We still have a good percentage of kids who are experimenting, and it stops at the experimental phase for the majority of them,� McMahon said. “The ones that move from experimental to more habitual use, are the ones we are very concerned about, but it is a much, much, smaller percentage.�

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On beat Becky Ventura pursues leadership through drum major position by Gracie Dunn

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ecky Ventura, a drum major, loves music more than anything in the world. â€œI get an adrenaline rush every time I stand on that podium and conduct the band.  There is nothing in comparison to leading almost 220 student musicians in song,â€? Ventura said.  Her job as a drum major includes standing on the podium and conducting the marching band throughout halftime during football games, giving the band commands, and serving as a leader to other band members. According to Alex D’Amico, another drum major at Central, “Becky is a great drum major because she works really well with people and they listen to her.â€?  Ventura is one of the few students selected to be one of the band’s drum majors. After an extensive audition last spring, the band directors selected Ventura to become a drum major. In preparation for this year’s marching band, Ventura attended a week long drum major camp at Ball State University this summer where she learned how to conduct and lead a band.  Her primary interest is in her oboe. Before she was drum major she played both the oboe and piano and then learned to play the marching bells once she found out that the oboe is not a marching band instrument.   Ventura’s commitment to marching band has consumed a lot of her time. She spends six to ten hours every week practicing for band. This does not include the time she spends practicing on her oboe, her primary instrument and the time she spends practicing piano, her other instrument. It is Ventura’s responsibility to know

what is happening in every beat of the song and that takes a lot of practice.  â€œShe tries really hard to make everything work and get to rehearsals on time, which is great.â€? D’Amico says.   Although band fills her schedule, she participates in three clubs and takes various honors and AP classes that relate to both science and music. Despite her love for music, it will not become her primary focus in college. Instead she plans to major in Environmental Science/Ecology or Biology, but she is not giving up on her music career completely. She plans to get a minor in music and learn more about music and music composition. This is the last of Ventura’s four years of playing in a high school band. Even so, it’s not the end to her music career. She wants to continue her education of music beyond high school and would love to play oboe in a college orchestra or band. One of her favorite parts of marching band is the performances. It’s what she practices for and always looks forward to. She prefers marching band over concert band because she loves the feeling of being on stage and on the podium. Nothing means more to her and the band than a perfect performance.    She is currently a captain of the cross country team and takes pride in her role as a leader in both cross country and in band. She is also the co-president of Knitting Club.   â€œI think one of the largest parts is just serving as a leader all around, not only when conducting and giving commands to the band, but also by simply serving as a good example to the other members,â€? Ventura said.  Â

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one this school year are sweaty, dehydrated students and teachers, and oppressive 90 degree heat. Instead, students have had to break out their North Face fleeces and Ugg boots to keep warm in August. This summer, District 86 installed air conditioning in both Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South. The $20 million price tag also included improvements to the front entrance, science labs, student publication lab, gym bleachers and traffic patterns. Students, faculty and parents have seen and experienced the new changes, and all have their own opinions.

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For students, the new construction brings a distinct change in the way Central has been run in past years.  The most prominent of the changes is the addition of air conditioning to all classrooms, a top priority of the construction project.  Judy Hamad, senior, explained how beneficial the change is.  “My classmates and I couldn’t go a day without spending class time discussing how hot it was and wondering why we didn’t have A/C yet,� Hamad said. “Overall, what has been changed can only positively benefit students at our school: air conditioning, better bleachers in the gym, upgraded chemistry rooms.  They provide an environment that is more conducive to learning.�  While the construction changed many

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aspects of the school itself, one of the most apparent modifications occurred to the main entrance.  “Though the front entrance may be more functional and safe, I think it seems too white and sterile. I’ve heard people say it looks like a juvenile detention center,� Hamad said. Ian Ferguson, sophomore, is impressed with the renovations, but brought up a flaw with the front entrance he had noticed: the construction delays.  “They should have focused on that, because too many people use that door every day.  And they’re still making it and we have to avoid the fences and everything in order to get into school,� he said.  “It would have been nice if they had gotten that done and then done the gym entrance later.� Ferguson also commented on the total costs of the construction.  “$20 million seems a bit steep, but because they were fixing some things, I’d say it was worth it,� he said.

the classes into the field house.  It was a little problematic since after class, we usually let kids out to wait in the gym, where it’s cooler, but instead they had to stay in a hot, humid, confined area for a while,� King said. The construction caused a few slight for May as well.  “I think that when you’re a teacher though, you just learn to go with the flow,� she said. “Even if that means having a construction worker working on the vents while teaching a class.  It’s just one of those things that you learn to just run with.� Overall, May interpreted the result of the renovations as a success. In reflection on the $12 million price tag for the air conditioning alone, May said, “When you think of a high school in Hinsdale that doesn’t have the simple necessity of being comfortable, of being able to learn at a comfortable temperature, it makes a lot of sense that the air conditioning was done.  So, I do think the costs will be worth it for students, athletes, everyone that is <+879%: impacted by it every single day.� The teachers and staff are also able to The front entrance staff had to work with experience the impact that the construction the changes the construction has brought to has had on the school. Mrs. Julie May, the school as well.  Hall monitor and greeter chemistry teacher, feels the changes of Mrs. Jan Hall notes improved security, better teaching in a renovated classroom with full air parking, and bus management as the main conditioning, a larger lab and new lab supplies.  improvements.  Hall said, “As for the main May described how students had reacted to entrance, there are now locked security the air conditioning in particular.  “It’s hard on doors between the greeter and student students to focus on the classes when all they populations.  Thankfully, buses have been can focus on is the sweat dripping down their relocated to the south side of the school, the backs.  So, I think the kids have definitely been entrance is much safer for students, there’s more engaged because they don’t have to focus more parking for visitors, and it’s just been on the extreme heat,� May said. made easier for the buses –which is always However, many teachers faced issues due great!  It’s great that the parents have more to the construction delays, especially gym room!� teachers.  Gym teacher and swim coach Mr. Like others, Hall had also noticed the main Harold King pointed out the problems caused entrance’s current empty state. She said, “For by being unable to use the gym during the first an improvement to the front greeters area, days of classes.  “Well, obviously we weren’t some beautiful student artwork or sculptures able to be in the gym.  We had to move all of could help liven it up a little!�

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Overall, students, faculty and parents had both positive and negative reactions to the construction. To address the conflicting opinions throughout the school and the cost of renovations, King said, “I’d say it’s worth it.  You have to believe that before even starting a project like this.  I think for peace of mind and morale, it’s good.  I think they made a real nice improvement to the school.  Yes, it cost a lot of money, but it’s going to be here for the next 20 years.  So it’ll pay itself off.�

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While parents often don’t observe the changes inside of school, changes made to the outside are evident. Mrs. Chitra Thakrar, junior Suhana Thakrar’s mother, often drives her child to school.  Besides appreciating the longer lanes by the pool doors and increased parking by the main entrance, Thakrar also admired the new bus system.  “What I like best is that the school buses have their own entrance and exit in the back, relieving the congestion in the mornings and after school lets up,� she said. Mr. Sam Kumar, junior Palak Chauhan’s father, also drivess his daughter to school. “The changes made at the front and back are very nice and attractive, especially at front,� he said. “It gives us a nice look with a welcoming appeal. At the pool gate, it looks more spacious with more safety to students.� Kumar said, “Dropping off and picking up is much easier now even though the

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Never a Devil Students are increasingly choosing elite clubs over school teams by D. Justin Yi

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ext year, senior Kate Kormushoff will take the field as a UConn Husky soccer player and senior Caroline Morant will be doing flips in the gym for William and Mary. They’ll be competing as collegiate athletes, and what these two have in common is that neither of them have ever worn a Hinsdale Central uniform. Neither of them has ever worn a Hinsdale Central uniform. For

Kormushoff and Morant, the pathway to Division I athletics wasn’t competing at school, but at their respective clubs.

Sometimes the best option for athletes seeking to play at the next level is in an elite club instead of the school. “Players want to be seen, especially those who want to go play in college,� said Mr. Michael Smith, English teacher and the girls’ varsity and boys’ sophomore soccer coach. Outside clubs can provide students with more opportunities to be noticed, as well as give chances to play against higher levels of competition. They play longer seasons and travel across the country to play in elite national tournaments where college scouts are plentiful. “I look forward to the high school golf season because it is a good time and we have a lot of fun,� said Brian Dolehide, a sophomore on varsity golf. “But for colleges you need tournaments to get you noticed, which come in the form of American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments. I don’t get to play a few of those AJGA tournaments because the IHSA rules against it.� Many athletes who face similar situations have chosen to play at outside clubs to maximize their exposure to college scouts. These factors give clubs an edge for serious athletes looking to be noticed. “Typically when joining a club, there’s a sense of responsibility that’s there, and in return athletes expect to be put into a position of success where they can develop as a player,� Smith said. Many players have a goal to become the best they can be, and believe joining a club that provides a higher level of training will help them achieve their goals. However, there are costs that come with playing at an outside club. “A season on an elite girls’ soccer team (including tournament fees, travel costs, etc.) can add up to $20,000,� Smith said. Smith believes most clubs in any sport have a “pay-to-play� attitude, even though some deny it. If an athlete isn’t yet at the elite level, if they can pay, they can play on the team and be developed over kids that can’t afford the fees. Money isn’t the only concern; club athletes also give up a lot of time as they frequently travel around the state, region, or even country, not to mention the many additional hours already spent at practice. This means they have less time to devote to social activities and academics. Some student athletes don’t have the option of choosing between club and school. Basketball, football, and track are examples where high school teams are the best option. “There isn’t much of a travel football scene at least for full padded actual games,� said Ian Bunting, a junior on varsity football. “Because of this, playing for your high school team is hugely important when it comes to recruiting because that’s where coaches are

going to see you actually play in a full contact, full speed game.� High school programs still offer plenty of opportunities to play and represent the school, and are often the main outlet for high school athletes. In many instances, there are elite level players that emerge from playing on high school teams. Such is the case with former Red Devil David Tiemstra, Central’s only All-American soccer player. Tiemstra currently plays on the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS. Another example would be John Whitelaw, Central’s highly regarded starting quarterback from a couple years ago who received an athletic scholarship and is now playing at Yale. The disadvantage of playing on the high school team, however, is the loss of exposure to some college recruiters. “College coaches aren’t going to see a ‘small school’ play another ‘small school.’ However, they’ll come to see Hinsdale Central play Naperville North because there’s the understanding that there’ll be a certain quality on the field,� Smith said. Fortunately for athletes at Central, the athletic program is characterized with a competitive environment that is enough to get college scouts to come out to games. Club teams tend to be increasing in popularity within the world of youth sports, due to a higher level of coaching and more exposure. “The amount of college showcases that elite clubs go to nowadays; it’s night and day in comparison to high school,� Smith said. However, Smith also believes players need to sit down and take a personal analysis when making the decision on where to play. “To any athlete in any sport: if you excel at it, and you are capable of going that (club) route, go for it. But at the same time, make sure you’re thinking about the big picture. You have school, friends, family, and other interests that you want to keep in mind,� Smith said. In the end athletes will continue to choose their preference as to which team to play on, and that decision in itself is dependent on the nature of the game. In sports such as soccer and golf, some high school teams may not be respectable enough to get scouts out to games. However, in other sports such as football and track, the school team may be the best option for elite athletes looking to get noticed. Choosing where to play is an intensely personal decision that many anguish over. Which choice is better for making it to the big leagues remains to be seen, but given the rising cost of college tuition, athletes may begin to take a closer look at these club options that provide more scout exposure.

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Feature Focus

Welcome to the blog-o-sphere 6WXGHQWV ÀQG QHZ ZD\V WR H[SUHVV WKHPVHOYHV WKURXJK EORJJLQJ by Libby Morris

I

t’s a summer night in France, and Georgie Sadler, junior, collapses on the bed in her hotel room across the street from Versailles, utterly exhausted from a full day of touring around. After relaxing for a while, she grabs her computer and almost immediately logs into her Blogger account. She pulls up her blog and begins to tell her readers all about her adventure that day in France. Sadler found that writing on her blog about her vacation in Europe over the summer was a much better, and easier, way to tell people about it, rather than posting it on Facebook. “No one really does Facebook statuses any more; that’s kind of weird,� said Sadler. Blogs are a tool that can be used to tell people going on in their lives, write thoughtful pieces, or even compose the occasional rant and they seem to be overtaking Facebook.

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Sadler made her travel blog (entitled Square One) over the summer just before going off to Europe for a month. “[My friend] had just made her blog, and I [thought] ‘I should do that too!’ It will give me something to do when I get bored,� Sadler said. While she was overseas, Sadler blogged about the food, what she had been doing, and even posted some pictures. Kate Saunders, English teacher, is also a fan of blogging, and has a few herself, including one that followed the TV show Lost. “Right now, I have one for reading [which] is a collection of recommendations [of books] from students in the past four years. I keep a personal blog of books that I read for young adult fiction to keep track of things I might be able to teach or recommend for myself,� Saunders said. Saunders believes that writing a blog is more beneficial than posting on

Feature Focus

Facebook or tweeting on Twitter. “I think it’s a more authentic writing experience, and any time you’re writing for the public, it’s a good experience,� Saunders said. Student CJ Jacobs, sophomore, who also has a blog, agrees with Saunders. “I wouldn’t want to post certain things on Facebook since I’m not the closest of friends with everybody who I’m “friends� with [on the site]. So I use my blog to sort of talk about things I wouldn’t want to talk about in front of 600 people,� Jacobs said. Sadler feels that Facebook is declining in use these days as well. “I don’t really go on Facebook anymore; I only go on for school stuff like homework. But [for] my blog, I come up with an idea and it’s like ‘Oh I’m not doing my homework right now, I have to blog about this!’ [Facebook] is not as much of a distraction.� According to Saunders, people are allowed to write anything they want on their blogs, without the character restraints of Twitter or worrying about how they look on Facebook. Because of this, bloggers can personalize their posts to a certain audience. Jacobs’ blog is about technology, whereas Sadler and Saunders focus on travel and reading, respectively. Blogging isn’t always for recreation. News magazines, such as Time, have written about how blogging can help socially awkward teens express themselves. Saunders even uses

the concept of blogging in the elective class that she teaches: Dystopian Literature. “I’m asking my students to keep a blog on certain issues, and they seem to really be getting into that, so I think it’s a good outlet for students,� Saunders said. Although blogging does seem entertaining, it isn’t for everyone. Erin Fratella, psychology teacher, believes that Facebook is actually more popular than blogging to some. “People who were originally blogging have found that nobody was reading their blogs, so they’ve transitioned to Facebook, where [they] can just kind of shorten [their post], and all these people can comment on it,� Fratella said. Blogs are usually opinionated, which is an aspect that Fratella dislikes about them. “We need to be careful about what we are reading and listening to and taking as fact, because [a] blog is just an opinion,� Fratella said. There is some truth to that statement. Relying on blogs as a soul source of news isn’t the best of ideas. However, this opinion seems to be what readers are looking for. This follows the trend in media as a whole. People are watching, listening, as reading news sources that are anything but objective. All online newspapers and magazines have journalists who post to their blogs daily. Students and teachers are simply jumping on the bandwagon.

Angad Ravanam

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Mark Schmidt

A popular and favorite place for many teenagers, Di Nico’s is centered in a bustling section of La Grange. Di Nico’s is a small and urban cafÊ. At times the cafÊ can become loud and hectic - not an ideal place for intimate conversations – but is a perfect hang out spot during the weekend. Although there are tables inside and outside, Di Nico’s offers limited seating. The tables inside can become crowed during days when outdoor seating is unavailable. The outdoor seating is located directly on the sidewalk, a fun environment to sit that helps to enhance the urban feel of the cafÊ and LaGrange itself. Creamy and flavorful, they offer basic gelato flavors. Each day they have different types of gelato consisting of fruity flavors, classic gelato flavors like chocolate or stracciatella. I ordered a coppa uno (small cup) for $3.75, and it was a perfect serving of gelato and easy to eat while walking. I chose the Heath Gelato and was very pleased. It was creamy and tasted just like a Heath bar, chocolate and toffee, with bits of an actual Health bar in the gelato as well.

City scene La Grange by Caitlin Reedy

De Nico’s Pizza

Located in the heart of downtown La Grange, Q-BBQ offers classic barbeque, including ribs, pulled pork or chicken sandwiches, delicious sides, and much more. The menu is strictly barbeque with no other styles of food, so I wouldn’t recommend Q’s for people who don’t typically enjoy barbeque. I ordered the smoked pulled chicken sandwich. The chicken was tender and flavorful, and the sandwich became much better once I added the sweet sauce. Each table has their own selection of homemade sauces, allowing you customize how you want your ribs or sandwich to taste, most commonly a sweet or spicy flavor. All dishes come with a side of q-pups, their name for hush puppies, and either one or two sides. I chose the macaroni and cheese. It was a basic macaroni, besides the fact that they sprinkle crushed up cheez-its on top, providing a nice crunch and flavor. I would not suggest this restaurant for vegetarians, as they only have three salads that don’t contain meat. They serve generous portions of food for a very reasonable price, my meal was a mere $6.99. The employees at Q’s were friendly and helped the restaurant feel like a barbeque with all your friends.

Mark Schmidt

The Lookout

Q BBQ

Mark Schmidt

La Grange is a mini-city close to home. It has the feel of a local neighborhood of Chicago, but much safer, cleaner, and closer. Large sidewalks run alongside the busy streets, and every building is occupied with a variety of services, restaurants, and stores. La Grange is a 10 minute car ride from Hinsdale Central. Road. Parking is almost never an issue downtown. Most of the time you can access parking on the streets, and if not you can always find a spot in one of the parking garages, and for free. La Grange is full of people of all ages. During the day and weeknights, the town is in full swing. The weekends are even livelier. You will find families, couples, kids, teenagers, and all kinds of people walking around and among the shops at all times of the day. There is a local theatre which is the perfect spot for a cheap ticket to all the major blockbusters a couple weeks after their release date. Almost one in every three storefronts is a restaurant, offering an endless supply of delicious places to eat that at times can be overwhelming.

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Opinions

Upcoming Concerts The Avett Brothers 9/28 Charter One Pavilion ZZ Top 10/2 Chicago Theater Dispatch 10/3 Aragon Ballroom Ingird Michaelson 10/9 Park West Norah Jones 10/9 Charter 1 Pavilion Social Distortion 10/11 Vic Theater Yo-Yo Ma 10/13 Chicago Symphony Regina Spektor 10/17 Chicago Theater Old 97’s 10/19 Vic Theater

X

marks the spot Follow these clues to find a wooden X hidden somewhere around Central. Bring the X to the Advocate room to claim your special prize. The X will be hidden after 8th period.

Clue 1: Below the Buddha Clue 2: Lock it up Clue 3: Goat baby Angad Ravanam

Music review The Carpenter The Avett Brothers by Max Cornell amazon.com

For several months, the Avett Brothers have been promoting their September 11th release as a deeper approach to their music which began with The Avett Bros. in 2000. Rejoined by producer Rick Rubin, the band has sought a cleaner approach which has left them more radio friendly than they have been in the past. Unfortunately, the band loses some of the charm it had on previous albums. It has been three years since the tragic illness of the daughter of bassist Bob Crawford, giving The Carpenter more weight than previous Avett productions. Death is a theme in more than a few songs and the depth of depression is contemplated in “Winter in My Heart.� The band does well to not let this drag the entire album down, as song songs like “Through My Prayers� are followed with more upbeat tunes like “Down With the Shine.� Lyrically, the Avett Brothers stick with what they’ve done best in the past – riffing on the themes of life in new and intriguing ways. Nice little rhymes carry deeper meanings such as “fear like a habit, run like a rabbit, out of the way,� in “Live and Die�. The band continues to deal with American materialism, swooning such as “down with the shine, the perfect shine/that poisons the well and ruins my mind,� from “Down With the Shine�. Unfortunately, the album is defined by the stretching of the band’s musical repertoire rather than its intensity. In rebirthing their band, it seems, the Avett Brothers have lost a part of the original spirit and liveliness that defined their first ten years. Drums drive songs rather than the liveliness of the harmonies. Scott Avett’s banjo, previously a major park of their composition, only appears in small doses. It is these pitfalls that keep The Carpenter from reaching the success of previous albums.

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