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Page 8 // Adele Lee Volume 50 - Issue 5 March 17, 2017

Adlai E. Stevenson High School 1 Stevenson Drive Lincolnshire, IL 60069

MASTHEAD

2016-2017 STATESMAN STAFF STATESMAN POLICY Purpose Statesman is first and foremost a student-run publication with six annual issues distributed to sutdents, faculty, staff, and community members of Adlai E. Stevenson High School with a press run of 3,000. The primary goal is to serve as a public forum that delivers the news and provides content deemed to be newsworthy and timely to the Stevenson community. The Opinions expressed in Statesman do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the administration, school board, faculty, student body or community members. Affiliation Statesman belongs to the Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association, the Kettle Moraine Press Assiciation, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. Responding to Statesman Letters to the editor may be e-mailed to shsstatesman.business@gmail.com, placed in the mailbox of Dean Bradshaw or submitted to Room 2712. All letters must be signed. Letters must not contain personal attacks and may be edited. Advertising Businesses may advertise in Statesman. Ad content is subject to the discretion of the editorial board and will contain information that is appropriate. Contact Mailing Address: One Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire, IL 60069 Phone: 847-415-4000, ext 4354 Wedbsite: www.statesmanshs.org Email: shsstatesman.business@gmail.com

Sami Sparber Editor-In-Chief

Aman Grover Cindy Yao

Managing Editors of Production

Nikol Safronova Annie Wu

Managing Editors of Design

Karaj Singh

Business Manager

Emma Ismail News Editor

Charlotte Ronson Opinions Editor

Bella Greenspan Features Editor

Maxwell Cohn Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editors

Dean Bradshaw Adviser

STAFF REPORTERS Elyse Baden Jamie Berman Yana Bushuyeva Victoria Kolotov Olivia Lamberti Adele Lee Michael Levitt Ashley Mandel Alisa Mufti Chloe Myers Aniket Nuthalapati Maya Parekh Yogin Patel Sivakami Ramakrishnan Kendall Roberts Grace Westphal

CONTENTS

04 | ALUM RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR

4 NEWS

SHS ALUMNUS RUNS FOR GOVERNOR Alex Paterakis currently campaigning for 2018 election, hopes to reform Illinois politics NIKOL SAFRONOVA & CINDY YAO

n entrepreneur and small business owner, Stevenson alumnus Alex Paterakis ’06 is now hoping to make his mark in the Illinois political scene. Paterakis is currently a Democratic candidate running in the 2018 Illinois gubernatorial election.

NIKOL SAFRONOVA

pursue civil engineering at Purdue University. “My biggest advice is to make the most out of your time here and to take advantage of what you have at this school,” Paterakis said. “It’s critical [to get involved] no matter what. Politics dictate everyone’s life so it’s good to be on

It’s critical to get involved no matter what. Politics dictate everyone’s life so it’s good to be on the front lines to determine your own policies.” -Alex Paterakis ’06 Paterakis, who graduated high school over 10 years ago, said the experience of attending Stevenson and taking AP classes prepared him well for college and years after. Paterakis then went on to

the front lines to determine your own policies.” Although Paterakis does not hold any experience in politics, the timing of the election and current turmoil in Illinois compelled him to run.

Alex Paterakis // Photo

“A lot of people are hurt by high property taxes, and businesses are moving out [of Illinois],” Paterakis said. “It seems like it’s a sin to compromise in politics now. We need to bring sanity back to the process— we can’t sit in a corner anymore.” Paterakis’ political platform highlights making Illinois more affordable for families, providing protection and opportu-

nities for the middle-class, passing criminal justice reform, increasing funding for education and legalizing the sale of cannabis. He cites his experiences as a small business owner as the foundation for his platform. “No one has ever fixed the underlying issues [in Illinois],” Paterakis said. “The answer has always been to raise taxes instead of targeting core issues.

NEWS 5 The vulnerable people— the middle class—are suffering the most and it’s time to bring relief.” While Paterakis’ biggest challenge during the campaign was starting a movement from scratch, he is receiving a lot of response, drawing both support and criticism from followers on social media. He has over 10,500 followers on Twitter and 38,000 likes on Facebook. Illinois resident Christine Beck is hesitant whether Paterakis will prove to be an adequate political leader.

“I’m a conservative and want a smaller government, lower taxes and a balanced budget,” Beck said. “I also want term limits, especially when someone like Mike Madigan has held the legislature for so many years. The Democrats talk big but do nothing. I don’t know [Paterakis that well] but maybe as we get closer to election time, I’ll have a better perspective on him.” Paterakis frequently posts political memes on Twitter and Facebook, and a picture of Harambe can be found at the bottom of

his website. “I don’t think politics has to be entirely serious,” Paterakis said. “I don’t care if people say I’m not serious because I’m posting memes. It gets people to react and differentiates me [from other candidates].” Paterakis’ posts have attracted people on any side of the political spectrum, like Kevin Cao ’16. Cao attributes Paterakis’ memes as one of the reasons why he became interested in Paterakis’ campaign. “I first saw his meme on his Facebook page and it gave me a pretty good

laugh,” Cao said. “I went on his page and [saw that] a good amount of [his] policies line up to what I think is important.” Paterakis is also reaching out to his audience through video clips posted on his website, where he shares more information about his policies. Paterakis is currently running his campaign without donations, as he doesn’t feel the need to take anyone’s money. Instead, he is brainstorming ways to fundraise for charities.

6 NEWS

SHORTAGE OF SUBSTITUTES

Decline in substitute applicants, administrators and state legislature take official action

YANA BUSHUYEVA

n the past few years, Stevenson has been experiencing a decline in substitute teacher applicants. With a student to teacher ratio of 16:02, Stevenson has around 500 teachers and only an average of 3035 substitutes available daily. The sub scarcity occurred because of stern professional development and training requirements as well as complicated and lengthy registration processes for proper licensing. “For several years, our substitutes were teachers with teaching licenses,” substitute coordinator Kim Clauser said. “Due to those regulations, we ended up with a shortage of substitutes.” Substitute numbers have been on the decline for a while. The trend was first noted in the fall of 2013,

VICKY KOLOTOV and by November, 2013, 48 percent of districts nationwide had reported a severe or somewhat severe shortage of substitute teachers., according to Geoffrey Smith, former director of the Substitute Teaching Institute at Utah State University. In January of this year, Governor Bruce Rauner signed legislation intended to help more people, specifically retired teachers and those with out-of-state teaching licenses, to get sub licenses by relaxing requirements. “We are clearing a better pathway to the classroom for teachers, ensuring that they can focus on the important job they do, which is educating our children,” Rauner said. Clauser and a number of administrators have come together to solve

the problem. The idea was to loosen the factors restricting substitutes from applying. “My director, our human resource director and I decided to open up application to anybody with a substitute license,” Clauser said. “With that in place, we have many new substitutes.” With the collective efforts of the state legislature and Clauser, the field of teacher substitution is recovering and even growing. It is now easier and more convinent to get licensed and registered to work as a substitute. “A lot of our subs that have sublicenses are parents, coaches, retired teachers and other people who have interacted with students,” Clauser said.

National Council on Teacher Quality Study and Occupational Employment and Wages // Source

NEWS 7 AP PREP COURSE ATTENDANCE DECLINES Lack of student enrollment in AP bridge classes results in cancellations of summer courses KARAJ SINGH

KARAJ SINGH

or the past eight years, Stevenson has offered AP prep classes in the summer. These week-long classes serve as bridges to yearlong AP courses. They were added to give students the chance to challenge themselves, prepare themselves if they had never taken an AP course or put themselves in a better position for the upcoming year. “[The division directors] want kids to be successful in those classes, and for some kids who are wanting to stretch themselves a little bit, wanting to make sure they have all the tools and that background, that will prepare them just that much more,” Gwendolyn Zimmermann, summer school coordinator, said. There are numerous reasons to take these courses. One student enrolled in the AP Spanish prep class to improve her grammar. Another student wanted to preview the year-long AP Spanish class. The rest of the class joined to cultivate their

passion for the language itself, Justin Fisk, director of world languages, said. Each bridge class has its own structure. Spanish, for example, is based on what students want to cover. “Because it is four hours a day, [the AP Spanish prep course] is structured in a few ways,” Fisk said. “Everyday there would be a focus on a different structural component like grammar or vocab, or you might look at literature in a different context than you might see in class.” According to Steven Wood, director of science, the AP Chemistry prep course, however, had focused more on one topic,

such as lab skills, for the entirety of the class. Although many of the classes received positive feedback in the past, due to low enrollment, the majority have either not run or have not been offered. For the 2017 summer, only the Bridge to AP English, Prep for AP Spanish and the Bridge to AP Chinese are being offered. The prep classes for AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB and more have been cancelled. Part of these cancellations could be due to a lack of knowledge or interest. Although all students who had enrolled for the yearlong AP Chemistry course were sent a letter promoting the prep class, there

was still not enough interest for it to run, Wood said. According to the 2015 Summer School Report, the lack of prep class enrollment suggests that summer school students usually sign up for classes that fulfill graduation requirements rather than enrichment courses. However, Fisk wants to change the way that AP language prep classes are advertised. He hopes to emphasize more on how these bridge classes help students succeed. He wants to help students in Chinese classes, for example, because they have one less year to prepare for AP Chinese Language & Culture than students in Spanish classes have to prepare for AP Spanish Language and Culture. “The Bridge to AP Chinese is a new [class],” Fisk said. “We added the bridge course in case kids still wanted to get to that AP experience. That course hasn’t run yet, but we still want to make that commitment if kids want to take that advantage.”

8 NEWS

OUTWARD BOUND

Illinois named largest net exporter of incoming college freshman to other states’ public schools ADELE LEE

YOGIN PATEL

s the school year comes to a close, many seniors across the country must ask themselves a tough question: “What comes next for me?” For the majority of high school students in Illinois, attending college out-of-state is the new trend. According to Chicago Magazine, Illinois is now the nation’s largest net exporter of incoming college freshmen. Meanwhile, the freshmen class at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) experienced a 25 percent decrease in enrollment over the last year. Due to student tendencies to leave Illinois, several in-state public colleges have raised their tuition fees. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) raised their tuition fee 1.7 times faster than out-of-state colleges within the last decade. College counselor Dan Miller recognizes the factors that contribute to one’s college decisions. However, Miller notes that one of the most determining factors is related to cost. While one is likely to pay less expenses by staying in-state for college, schools like the University of Iowa have recently offered tuition up to 20 percent cheaper than UIUC, thus attracting more students out-

Top 5 college destinations for Stevenson students

Daniel Miller // Source

of-state. Emmie Hanna ’17 plans to attend the Miami University at Ohio (MU) in the fall. For Hanna, cost was not that big of a concern. Instead, she was drawn to several other aspects of MU. “[Attending MU] was more for connections and majors,” Hanna said. “I am going into marketing, and Miami’s business school is well-recognized.” While more students are leaving Illinois for college, there are still some that stay. Jacob Singer ’17 plans to stay instate for college to attend UIUC. Similarly to Hanna, Singer committed due to UIUC’s focus on specif-

ic majors, such as its engineering school. Yet, Singer feels there are still a wide range of benefits to staying instate aside from his educational pursuits. This includes closer proximity to home and the added perk of seeing familiar faces on campus. Regardless of the sudden spike in Illinois students attending other states’ colleges, it comes down to the preferences and expectations each student establishes for their prospective college. “Every student has a different set of priorities, and this also has to be balanced with the family as well, whether it be cost related or distance,” Miller said.

NEWS 9 TABLING TABLEAU

Stevenson creates new program, aims to help students better understand EBR grades ANI NUTHALAPATI

ANI NUTHALAPATI

ony Tan ’19 opens his computer, eager to see his grade in Spanish. After his recent assessment, he’s not sure where his grade falls. To his dismay, he is unable to find his grade on Tableau. This concern is shared by many students, and Stevenson created Interactive Report Card (IRC) to assist them. “Tableau and Infinite Campus are very static,” Anthony Reibel, Director of Assessment, Research and Evaluation said. “You log in and stuff ’s there.” Tableau was slow and often did not contain as much information as IRC, Tan said. Reibel also said that IRC is more moldable and interactive, so students can look deeper into a certain target to understand the rationale behind the projection, due to the fact that IRC also displays scores and subscores. The grades and info are also easier to find, making IRC more useful for students. The tool was created by Reibel and a programming team at Stevenson over an year since administration felt that Tableau was insufficient. IRC is currently a pilot, and is used in 23 classes across different departments. The administration hopes to roll the program out to all

students over the next few years. By making it easier for students to see evidence in an organized manner, Reibel hopes that IRC makes the EBR experience more enjoyable and meaningful for students and parents by clarifying doubts and concerns regarding grades. Students also feel that IRC is more useful and convenient. “With Tableau, I had to scroll a lot and click through three different menus to arrive at my grade projection,” Tan said. “IRC is a lot easier to use and takes less time. It just feels better.” IRC would not take additional effort from teachers, as it pulls scores from Infinite Campus, and uses its algorithms to project a grade. Reibel believes that teachers will not defer to IRC for grading, and Spanish teacher Megan McCullough

feels the same way. “For me, there is no difference as IRC won’t be used to determine grades,” McCullough said. I’m still going to do the things the old way, looking at all the evidence to come to a final decision regarding grades. I think IRC is more of a tool for students and parents.” Another difference between IRC and Tableau is that IRC allows for parent logins. There was no way for parents to see a projected grade before, as Infinite Campus did not offer a grade and Tableau did not offer parent logins. IRC creates a way for parents to be informed regarding the grade projections for their child. “We’ve done a lot of work in EBR to teach students how to understand their grade, and I hope that this contributes to that understanding,” McCullough said.

Anthony Reibel and Tony Tan // Source

You know your teachers lo ve assigning homew ork too much w a bit hen even a school dan ce is called a “P roject.”

They call it Spring Break beca use this school doe s everything it can to make sure you’re broken by the it comes aro time und.

March Madness: a contest not just in basketball, but in which SHS student can first find a VPN the school didn’t block.

freshTo all the don’t we men: no, y you’re know wh ed to still requir this P attend FM year he late into t either.

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Staffer Reviews Local Cafes

CAFE ZUPAS MexiCali Braised Pork Bowl

While the food was fresh and very fast, the taste of kale was too much for quick, casual meals. However, the food was definitely aesthetically pleasing. The toppings of corn, guac, and bean brought flashes of color to the dish. Overall, Zupas is a nice, exciting change from the typical burrito bowl and Chipotle at Qdoba. It’s similar in price and a relatively healthier choice.

HANSA COFFEE Cortado

Come to finish your calc homework, stay for the latte designs! This is the place to get that drink you’ve seen all over Instagram and Tumblr. The renovated garage that features local artists brings a cool downtown vibe to the suburbs. The barista recommended the cortado and it came with sparkling water to cleanse the palate. It’s a notable step above the local Starbucks.

STRAWBERRY FIELD Mexican Skillet

This is a great place to go for a late arrival treat! The location is very close to school, and the menu is full of variety to satisfy everyone. Also, the portions were large enough to bring home leftovers. Pancakes, waffles and eggs are offered along with fresh salads, burgers, paninis and soup. The big selection took a bit longer to come out of the kitchen, but the wait was worth it.

content compiled by Jamie Berman

OPINIONS 11 LET’S USE AVAILABLE RESOURCES STATESMAN EDITORIAL

NIKOL SAFRONOVA

ith summer break only three months away, Stevenson has recently released the 2017 summer school coursebook. Among the 51 options available to students, Stevenson offers a variety of classes in subjects including career exploration, fine arts, math, communication art and even travel. However, a type of summer school class that seems to be completely overlooked by SHS students is the AP preparatory classes. Stevenson offers multiple AP prep and “bridge” classes that aim to prepare students for classes by teaching them the necessary skills and techniques needed, along with a simple foundation of information to help learn the basics of the class. Statesman believes that as students, we are incredibly lucky that our school offers us so many opportunities to succeed and grow. Even if students often feel pressure to take hard classes, Stevenson

has a variety of ways to help everyone in whatever way necessary. Sadly, though, these opportunities are not taken full advantage of, and more needs to be done in order to make students aware of the options available to them. Tutors and peer tutors, teachers on their free periods and large study spaces are tools provided and used to the benefit of students. Even though they’re helpful, they can not be used as a substitute for the prep classes available. Unfortunately, the class-

es provided in the summer show a fast decline in attendance, prompting Statesman to wonder why. In the 2015 summer school year alone, nine AP prep and bridge classes were canceled due to low attendance. This is a problem that we believe could be easily solved if the existence of these classes were communicated better and given more attention, as they are a tool that should be utilized to their full potential. Having teachers explain the benefits of these courses to students or perhaps

publicizing them through social media could do a lot to increase attendance and consequently prepare students for a difficult class in their future. Even reminding students of these summer school options through morning announcements, fliers and on the TVs set up around the school could help to increase attendance numbers slightly. Statesman also recognizes that these prep courses are a powerful resource when it comes to helping students feel more confident and prepared for certain classes. They offer students the extra step they might need to be more successful in a difficult class. It’s rare to not feel pressure or stress when you’re a student at Stevenson, but it’s also rare to feel as if there’s no way to succeed. As students continue to fill their schedules with difficult classes, Statesman believes it’s important, now more than ever, to show students that they always have options to help them succeed.

12 OPINIONS

PRO/CON: COLLEGE TUITION YOGIN PATEL & OLIVIA LAMBERTI

YOGIN PATEL & OLIVIA LAMBERTI

JUST RIGHT

any people, especially after this election year, have problems with the American system—one of their chief complaints being the cost of colleges. However, according to Forbes, the median student loan balance is only $8,500, while a large percentage of students don’t have large student loans or any at all. Students have many ways to pay for college tuition: the college can offer financial aid, private loans, grants, scholarships and students can obtain money through a part time job. Direct aid from the school is often based on the income level of the family and can take away a large portion of the fees. Northwestern, for example, has an average fee of about $70,000, and students whose families have an income of less than $90,000 can expect to receive about $50,000, if not more. College itself is supposed to help a person earn more money when they get a job. According to Politifact, a high school graduate earns $28,000 each year while a college graduate earns $51,000 each year. If the payout is going to be high, shouldn’t the cost of college be irrelevant? There will always be sob stories about students that graduated with thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, but for the average student it shouldn’t be a problem.

TOO HIGH

high school diploma isn’t worth what it once was. With an increasing number of careers demanding a college degree comes an influx of students desiring those exact credentials. However, many university hopefuls face an enormous barrier: money. Students hoping to attend a private four year school will pay approximately $45,000 each year, according to The College Board, while Pew Research Center found that the average American family’s annual income lingers around $40,000. It’s clear that college has become too expensive, denying students their best chance at a financially secure future. While many institutions provide aid to those with demonstrated need, the National Center for Education Statistics observed that students receive an average of only $12,000 yearly—far from enough for many families. If a college education continues to be a prerequisite for joining the labor force, it needs to become an accessible amenity for all.

OPINIONS 13 SPRING BREAK DESTINATIONS

Students will be traveling far and near to enjoy their upcoming and long awaited Spring Break CHARLOTTE RONSON

ANNIE WU

Lincolnshire, IL

16 FEATURES

STUDENTS AT WORK

Young entrepreneurs’ creativity produces handmade apparel ANNIE WU & EMMA ISMAIL

lashback to Give-A-Thon season: student leaders are baking desserts, selling various packaged foods and organizing class competitions. Meanwhile, Hannah Choh ’18 is thinking of how she can stand out among these traditional fundraising methods. Choh’s “aha” moment came when she remembered people complimenting her handmade jewelry, prompting her to start a custom embroidery and jewelry business. “I first made chokers for myself, but then people started asking me about them,” Choh said. “I told them, ‘Oh yeah, I made them!’ They’d ask to buy them from me, so I ended up selling them and donating what I made to Give-A-Thon.” Choh first started with selling just chokers and bracelets. She later stumbled upon a photo of someone wearing an embroidered shirt. “I remember thinking, I can do that, and I did it!” Choh said. Embroidery is still fairly new to her business—it takes much more time to produce than a choker or bracelet, so Choh focuses more on the jewelry side of her business. Remarkably, Choh is not alone in her business endeavors. Marlee Loi-

ANNIE WU

ben ’18 was similarly inspired by her own interests to start a business. While touring colleges with her older brother, Loiben was disappointed in the lack of clothing styles offered by campus stores. Deciding to put her creativity to use, Loiben armed herself with just a pair of scissors and endeavoured to make a plain college T-shirt into a trendy fashion statement. “Before starting my business, I didn’t know how to sew—I was just cutting things,” Loiben said. “I had to take sewing lessons at Jo-Ann Fabrics, and later my parents bought me my first sewing machine.” Realizing that other students likely had the same wishes she had for more fashionable college apparel, Loiben made an Instagram account, Marlee Rose Campus Clothes, for her business and has garnered over 3000 followers. She has since created a Facebook account and a website. “Social media has been a key role in my business gaining popularity,”

Loiben said. “It all started with Instagram, but having an official website definitely increased the amount of orders I received because I think it eliminated the confusion about what I could and couldn’t do.” As Loiben’s business has increased in popularity, the time commitment has as well. For her, the hardest part of owning a business and being a student at the same time is time management. “Balancing school work and clothes work is hard,” Loiben said. “I have put my business before school in the past, but I have been blessed with really understanding teachers this year who have granted me extra time on some assignments.”

FEATURES 17

With the extra time she has been given, Loiben has been able to sell an estimated 600 shirts in less than a year. She also sells her products to a few boutiques across the country. “Selling to stores was hard because I had to ensure that I was a professional,” Loiben said. “Boutiques have tried to get me to lower my prices for them because they thought they could take advantage of me because of my age.” While Loiben has already expanded her business, Choh intends to keep her business on a smaller scale for academic reasons. It takes at least two weeks for Choh to figure out everything from shipping in t-shirts to actually embroidering.

“The number of customers who contact me already is already kind of o v e r w h e l m i n g ,” Choh said. “It’s not something that I can do in a few days. It’s a time-consuming process, but I can do more intricate designs now than I could when I first started.” Choh currently is working on four embroidered t-shirt orders. She has found more time to make orders now than during academically intense periods. Despite the large time investment, she finds her work rewarding. “[Having my own business] is a way to express myself creatively, especially with the embroidery part,” Choh said. “A lot of the shirts I wear to school are shirts I make myself.” These student-owned businesses are not only avenues for creativity but also hard work. Loiben handmakes every individual article of clothing on her own, a subject of pride for her. “My proudest moment was when an entire college sorority trusted me to make shirts for them,” Loiben

said. “It was hard work, but it was a really rewarding experience.” It is not just Choh and Loiben who benefit from their businesses— customers get to purchase unique, handmade products while also supporting students. Livvy Whitmore ’19 saw Choh wear one of her designs and asked if Choh could make her one. Since then, Whitmore has purchased two bracelets and two chokers from Choh. “[Hannah] wore a lot of jewelry she makes, and I really liked the way they looked,” Whitmore said. “Being able to get it for a reduced rate and having control over the design was awesome.” Beyond Give-A-Thon, Choh has also influenced her customers. After spending time with Choh, Whitmore said she was inspired to start making necklaces of her own, which is an impact that Choh believes should not be limited to just her customers. “If you want to do something for yourself, just go for it,” Choh said. “I didn’t start this because I wanted to make money, I started it because I wanted to be myself. It costs way less, you save money and you gain new skills that you didn’t have before.”

18 FEATURES

SMOKING UP THE COMMUNITY

As e-cigarretes begin to make their appearance in the media, so does the consequences and risks that follow KENDALL ROBERTS

VICKY KOLOTOV

KENDALL ROBERTS

hen a teen goes out in public, it’s no shock that they will see huge, colorful bulletin boards promoting e-cigarettes or find stores selling them within reach. Even in their own homes, students are blasted daily with social media and advertisements of vaping, as well as rumors of past weekend parties where kids “juul” or “vape”. “There’s definitely been an increase in vaping societally,” Cristina Cortesi, substance abuse prevention coordinator, said. “There are a lot of misconceptions. People believe it’s a way to smoke without the negative effects, but that’s a false belief.” Emerging in the 2000s, e-cigarettes, or electronic nicotine delivery systems, are a variety of vaping devices that allow users to inhale an aerosol, typically containing nicotine and other additives. E-cigarettes vary in siz-

es of vaporizers, as well as the liquids and flavors of by the product. Common examples of e-cigarettes include vape and juul pens. Over the years, there has been a decrease in the use of smoking conventional cigarettes. However, in May 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement saying that e-cigarettes

should be regarded as a tobacco product. Despite this, e-cigarettes have officially replaced tobacco as the leading tobacco use product. According to dean Steven Tucker, there has been an evident transition at Stevenson from tobacco products to more electronic devices. “Students turn to products like these because

they are able to mask the aroma of tobacco,” Tucker said. “E-cigarettes are also a more convenient size to slip in and out.” However, despite the lack of research regarding long-term health risks associated with e-cigarettes, there exists a wide misconception on the actual consequences of vaping. According to American Lung Association, nearly 500 brands and 7,700 flavors of e-cigarettes are on the market, and none of them have been evaluated by the FDA. In addition, toxic chemicals like antifreeze and formaldehyde are present within e-cigarettes. E-cigarette users still run the same health risks as those who smoke a regular cigarette, namely lung and breathing problems. “Most people vape because they think it’s a better substitute to smoking, and it will do less harm to your body,” Anna Choi ’19 said. “I don’t think that

FEATURES 19 any form of substance you take into your body is necessarily good for you.” Not only does vaping have a negative impact on the body, but on the mental component as well. In many e-cigarette products, nicotine, an addictive substance, is common. This drug can be a gateway to the use of regular cigarettes, as well as stronger drugs. “E-cigarettes can be a starting point that leads to tobacco products,” Choi said. “I think if people start vaping now, later on it might become a bigger influence to start smoking.” Due to miseducation, a majority of high school students are unaware of the true effects of e-cigarettes. According to the recent Illinois Youth Survey, students grossly overestimate the percentage of people who are using e-cigarettes as well as a underestimate the risk. “When people don’t accurately perceive the risk and overperceive the people doing it, we will see an increase in the amount of use,” Cortesi said. To prevent the use of vaping within Stevenson, the use of e-cigarettes in school has the same punishment if caught with tobacco products. Consequences of using e-cigarettes can range from detentions, 1-5 alternative day assignments and inschool suspensions. Not only can students face consequences with the school but with the police department as well. Since e-cigarettes are considered an illegal

Youth Surgeon’s General // Source

tobacco product to minors, students can face a status offense or an action that is only prohibited to a certain case of people. According to police officer Rick Coakley, minors can face punishments as far as citations to go to court, due in part to their behavior, attitude and past contacts with e-cigarettes. In addition, police officers have the right to confiscate possessions, conduct searches of the person and their belongings and issue tickets. In addition to Stevenson, Lincolnshire is enforcing more laws to prevent the use of e-cigarettes. In 2016,

Lincolnshire passed an ordinance that prohibits the use of electronic delivery systems in public places. Other states are also supportive of moving the legal age of of e-cigarettes to 21. Although not all of the dangers and risks of e-cigarettes are known, Cortesi hopes that Stevenson does their research to discover the true negative impact vaping can have on their lives. “I would encourage students to look at the research and make educated, informed decisions rather than going with what they are seeing around them,” Cortesi said. “Just because it is legal doesn’t make it safer.”

20 FEATURES

PROTECT AND CONNECT

Security guards’ aims include building positive relationships, providing safety at school GRACE WESTPHAL

rom the Point to the Field House doors, there are thousands of students, parents and teachers constantly entering and exiting the building. Even though each face is caught on camera by one of the hundreds of security cameras always on at Stevenson, it’s hard, in a sea of over 4,000, to know if and where a threat may lie. Posed at every entrance are the eyes and experience of Stevenson’s security personnel whose goal is to spot a threat before the cameras do. Armed with a walkie talkie system that connects every security guard to the camera room, deans, nurse, assistant principal and principal, they make up the bulk of Stevenson’s security. What’s less apparent is the extensive training on situational recognition and relationship forming that all guards are required to have. Security guards receive on-the-job training on how to recognize dangerous situations, how to talk to people, as well as CPR and first aid. “We look for somebody that looks like they don’t belong,” security guard Sher Tigance said. The majority of a security guard’s job at Stevenson is looking around students and making sure they are

VICKY KOLOTOV behaving and are safe and happy. Security guards are are also trained on forming positive relationships with students. “We want to have a connection, so when you need us, we know you feel comfortable coming to us,” Deanna Dreyer, security facility manager, said. A requirement for a job with Stevenson security is to want to work with students and form non-adversarial relationships. The goal for security is to remain vigilant, as well as connect with students instead of providing the stereotypical and in-

timidating security force. “Day to day, I’m the eyes and ears,” Tigance said. From the cameras and walkie system to the cars and extensive web of security guards, Stevenson is well -equipped to deal with any threat. However, what sets Stevenson security apart from those at other high school’s is its intentions to form positive relationships with the student body. “They help us feel safe,” Branden Vilk ’17 said. “You see so many of them walking around. They’re friendly faces.”

Security guard Dorice Benedetto talks to Luis Rivera ’17. This is one of the many interactions security guards have during the day.

FEATURES 21 TEACHER RUNS FOR SCHOOL BOARD

Salituro discusses teaching career, aikido, reason for District 25 Board of Education campaign MAYA PAREKH

rom practicing martial arts to being a national leader in teaching sociology, sociology teacher Christopher Salituro brings his unique experiences to Stevenson. Salituro, a teacher at Stevenson for 18 years, spent the beginning of his career teaching English at a school in Japan. Although it was a difficult adjustment, he described the experience as eye-opening and amazing. While in Japan, Salituro studied aikido, a nonviolent martial art. His instructors didn’t speak very much English. “You learn through just doing,” Salituro said. “Your goal is to harmonize all the energy of the universe.” He recalls another memorable moment of eating fish on a stick at the highest waterfall in Japan, an experience he knows he would never have had in the United States. The effects of culture are also a focus in sociology. “We talk about sociological mindfulness,” Salituro said. He wants students to recognize that they have an influence in society and that they are influenced by society as well. Hanya Laman ’17 is currently taking sociology with Salituro. “He takes his class seriously but still adds humor to it,” Laman said.

Photo // Christopher Salituro

She added that she felt his class is very beneficial and mind-opening. Salituro believes that students are too often wrongly told that their actions at this age don’t matter or won’t ever have much of an impact. “You already are in the real world,” he said. Next year, Salituro will be the only teacher of the new course Sociology Honors. He is excited to go more in depth with students and about the prospect of a student-designed final research project. Recently, Salituro became inspired to run for the District 25 Board of Education after spending time at his daughters’ schools. “In being involved in their schooling and volunteering, I’ve asked a lot

of questions to the district about different things that they do and based on their answers, I felt like I had a lot of perspective to share from Stevenson,” Salituro said. Salituro is running on the idea of aligning the Arlington Heights schools’ curriculums both vertically and horizontally, meaning that students in the same classes will all learn and master the same material and have the same level of readiness for the next class to come. As of right now, Salituro believes the district relies too heavily on standardized testing to place students into classes and that there isn’t enough flexibility after they are placed. “I’ve met many parents whose students say ‘I want the opportunity to do those other classes, I’m getting all As in the classes that I’m in, and I want the opportunity to be challenged,’” Salituro said. Salituro thinks the district should work with students and parents to give them those opportunities. He suggests a more subjective approach with placement, including grades, skills and teacher recommendation. “I also like the idea from Stevenson and want to bring to District 25 the vision of success for every student, Salituro said. “That’s creating the circumstances for each individual student to reach his or her potential.”

22 STATESMAN 50 YEARS

Our first issues were print-only and exclusively in the traditional newspaper format. Now serving over 4,000 students, Statesman is available both online and in a new newsmagazine format. Between our 2004 Pacemaker Award and second place finish at the 2016 IHSA State Finals, Statesman continues to uphold the legacy that our predecessors left for us.

In 2015, we celebrated Stevensonâ€™s 50th Anniversary. Two years after its doors opened, in 1967, the student-run newspaper was born. Now, in our 50th year of publication, Statesman is taking a look back at front pages from our past. This ongoing feature will allow us to remember our roots while also reflecting on how we have progressed since.

years of Statesman

Celebrating

STATESMAN 50 YEARS 23

24 SPORTS

BRUISES, SPRAINS, STRAINS, OH MY!

A look into most common injuries student athletes experience during their career CHLOE MYERS

CHLOE MYERS

Concussions require a fast response because they affect not only the athlete’s physical health but could potentially have permanent effects on their mental health. Concussions are caused by a violent movement of the body or head. When someone experiences a concussion, symptoms could include headaches, blackouts, poor balance, amnesia, nausea and irritability. Rest is vital for recovery from a concussion.

Ankle injuries occur when the ankle twists in an unnatural way. Most ankle injuries are treatable with rest, ice, compression and elevation. More serious cases require seeing a doctor who will administer a splint, brace or wrap to hold the ankle in place.

A big issues with knees is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). An ACL injury is caused by a twisting motion of the ligament, which could require surgery. There can also be sprains and strains of the knee. General treatments for mild cases includes rest, icing and light exercise. If the injury is more serious, it may require attention from a doctor.

“This is a rest of your life thing. Don’t be so close minded on your high school years, you have to live with this knee or shin or brain for the rest of your life.” -Tyler Kollman, athletic trainer

Shin splints are a very frequent injury, especially in sports which require a lot of running. Shin splints are when the athlete experiences pain caused by overuse of the shinbone. Shin splints are self-treatable by rest, elevation and icing, as well as massaging the muscle to decrease tension.

SPORTS 25

BOYS’ BASKETBALL RECAP: 5.

The 2016-2017 season’s top moments 5.

1. Win vs. Morgan Park

4. Win vs. Lake Zurich

In this year’s McDonald’s Annual City-Suburban Showdown, the Patriots faced off with the Morgan Park Mustangs. Stevenson was ahead the entire first half and took an eight-point lead into halftime. But at the end of regulation, Mustangs freshman Nimari Burnett hit a 30-foot three-pointer to send the game to overtime. Justin Smith ’17 made a key free throw in overtime and then stole the inbounds pass to eke out a 60-58 Stevenson win.

After being down late in the game, the Patriots clinched at least a share of the conference title with a 50-40 defeat of Lake Zurich on Valentine’s Day. The win helped Stevenson’s confidence and clinched Stevenson’s fifth straight conference title. They would go on to take full control of the conference title by continuing to play the stifling defense that held Lake Zurich to only 11 points in the second half, including four in the fourth quarter.

2. Both Games Against Zion-Benton

5. First Game Against Waukegan

The first game against Zion-Benton this season was at home for the Patriots. All the Stevenson students coming to support the team helped push the team to a 71-55 win. But the second time they faced the Zee-Bees, they did not have that motivation. They still pulled out a win because of second half offense. Up one at halftime, Stevenson pushed ahead six more points in the third quarter and four more in the fourth to come away victorious.

Coming off two straight 30-point wins against teams with winning records, the Patriots were confident they could beat Waukegan at home. It was not as high-scoring as the previous games, but the Patriots still won by 22 points, 59-37. While neither the second game against Waukegan or the regional final turned out as well for the Patriots, the first game instilled their confidence in themselves that they could win against any team.

3. Buffalo Grove Bison Classic

6. Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic

To start off the season, the Patriots participated in the Buffalo Grove Bison Classic. They ended up winning the tournament, knocking out the host team to finish as champions. But the second round was where they showed their stuff. Against Christian Liberty, Stevenson dominated, winning 105-25 in a game that was not only Stevenson’s most points scored of the season, but also their biggest win, starting the season off on a great note.

While the rest of Stevenson was on winter break, the basketball team came to play. After losing in the first round to host Hinsdale Central by five points, the Patriots went on a roll, winning the next three games by an average of 23 points while scoring almost 60 to go home the consolation bracket champions. The defense really stood out against Saint Viator in the second of the three games, holding them to a total of 22 points in a 35-point win. content compiled by Michael Levitt

FEATURES 15

SPORTS 27 ON DECK: SOFTBALL

Patriots and new head coach Perry Wilhelm prepare for upcoming season ALISA MUFTI

his season, Perry Wilhelm is stepping up to the plate as Stevenson’s new softball coach. Wilhelm, who led Mundelein High School’s softball program from 1989 to 1996, picking up two state championships along the way, is eager to take on his new role. “There’s great work ethic already ,which makes me excited to get going,” Wilhelm said. “I hope to see these girls on the team grow and build leadership.” Prior to becoming Mundelein’s athletic director, Wilhelm mainly coached basketball and softball. Wilhelm retired as Mundelein’s athletic director this past June. Wilhelm is replacing former head coach Alex Vikartofsky, who helmed the program for two years. In 2015, Vikartofsky coached the Patriots (18-16) to both Sectional and Regional championships. In 2016, the team went 12-16 overall. Before Vikartofsky, the team was led by Larry Friedrichs for 27 years. He was the the longest-serving coach in program history. Since the program began in 1974, it has accumulated 10 Regional and three Sectional wins. In order to continue this history of sucess, the team conditioned

during the preseason for the first time in recent years. They participated in Stevenson's strength and conditioning program (SSC) on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. “At the end of the day, it’s about having a good process, so when bad times come you will have a solid foundation to fall back on,” Wilhelm said. Anna Fossier '19 is a member of Stevenson’s softball team, but during the off-season she competes with the Vernon Hills Stingers. As a returning member she hopes to make the varsity team.

“I’m excited to see what’s new this season,” Fossier said, “I think it will be a good year.” Alyssa Pauly '17 joined the varsity team her sophomore year and competes with Illinois Impact during the off-season along with other girls on the team. She hopes that the newfound intensity of the program will create a closer bond between the girls. “Last year the team was divided, so to have a successful season, we need to come together," Pauly said, "I think the new coach will help with that. ”

Photo // Riley Housinger

Stevenson's 2015-16 varsity softball team stands together after a game. The season kicks off on March 22nd.

FEATURES 15

SPORTS 29 SHOOTING FOR SUCCESS

Archery Club provides students friendship, support in competitions SIVAKAMI RAMAKRISHNAN

SIVAKAMI RAMAKRISHNAN

ebecca Azevedo ’19 pulls back the bow and aims for the target. She takes a deep breath. She tells herself, ‘You can do this’ and lets the arrow fly. Some students join Archery Club not because they’ve had training in archery before but because they just want to have fun. Others, like Azevedo, join because they have tried it before and had enjoyed it. “I joined Archery Club after I took Adventure Ed because part of it was doing archery in class,” Azevedo said. “I liked it and I was good at it, so I joined Archery Club second semester of my freshman year.” Azevedo placed in the Female High School Division, finishing with a score of 281 and shooting 14 bullseyes. The club offers several benefits to its members. At practice, students learn how to use a bow and arrow, as well as develop several other key qualities, like patience. Many of the students who join also make a lot of friends in the process. Archery Club is a sport that doesn’t require any previous training in order to join it. The club meets every Wednesday and has competitions against other schools every Saturday from January

Facts Legend // Source

through April. “My favorite thing about Archery Club is the success,” sponsor Jane Klewin said. “Almost any kid can shoot a bow and arrow. Some of the hardest things that students have to learn are patience and perseverance.” Archery Club is considered a sport and has the same weekly eligibility check as any other Stevenson athletic program. But Azevedo says that it is a more laid-back sport because it is not as rigorous as other sports, such as football.

In addition, there are no tryouts or requirements for joining. The way to join is simply to show up to any practice. “Even though archery is a personal sport where you’re shooting by yourself, it feels like a team because everyone is cheering each other on and helping each other,” Brenna Faber ’19 said. Azevedo echoed this sentiment. “We learn to work with other people,” Azevedo said. “The love and kindness that you get from the team always impacts me so much.”

30 SPORTS ROWING IN THE DEEP

Sidney Kirby ’18 is getting into ship-shape for upcoming rowing season ASHLEY MANDEL

s Sidney Kirby ’18 approached the Point, she was looking refreshed and well rested. No outside observer would be able to guess that five days a week before school, her day begins at 4 a.m. and consists of an hour long drive to and from her rowing club, the North Suburban Crew in Evanston. Although the hours are exhausting at times, Kirby’s passion for rowing surpasses her instincts to sleep in. “It is definitely worth it, and I have more free time after school,” Kirby said, despite also participating in track.

ASHLEY MANDEL

2k Race

other teams, including * high school teams, when the water warms up. “We work together and compete together,” Kirby said. The team is made up of seven rowers and one cox who shouts orders, ensuring they row in unison. At the moment, Kirby’s team is not competing, but their training is rigorous. On easy days Kirby will run laps but the majority of her time is spent training using an ergometer, a piece of equipment meant to simulate the resistance and strength required of a rower. *fastest rowing time as of March 4, 2017 Having previously parencouraged Kirby to try schools, one of which Kirticipated in swimming, out the sport. bey hopes to attend so she After rowing for five can continue doing what months she is hooked. she loves. The speed and the feeling “The speed and the “I’m definitely looking at a rowing college,” Kirby you get in the water is unlike feeling you get in the water is unlike any other,” said. Kirby said. Kirby believes the only any other.” Kirby’s dedication and barrier to forming a team -Sidney Kirby ’18 passion for her sport is at Stevenson would be paying off, as she is almonetary. Despite that, ready being recruited and she says people should Her eight-person Kirby was introduced to all-girls team competes rowing through her father has an online recruitment think of joining a team. “I would recommend nonstop, whether it be who used to row crew for profile. Rowing today is most it to anyone,” Kirby said. against each other during the College of Holy Cross. prominent in east coast “It’s the best sport ever.” the off-season or against The joy it brought him

7 4 3

SPORTS 31 FULL TIME STUDENT, FULL TIME ATHLETE Three-sport competitor, Spencer Guercio balances sports, schoolwork ELLIE BADEN

henever Spencer Guercio ’18 puts on his green and gold, he feels a sense of pride. Hours of practice and hard work have been spent preparing for each competition. It is these hours that enable Guercio to represent Stevenson as both a runner and swimmer. Guercio participates in a sport during each of Stevenson’s three athletic seasons: cross-country in the fall, swimming in the winter and water polo in the spring. During practices and meets, the teams have opportunities to bond. “Everyone really cares for you— it’s basically a family,” Guercio said. He also commended the coaching staff for their role in creating a supportive environment. During swimming and water polo seasons, practices are held every afternoon until six or 6:30, and

Photo // Spencer Guercio

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 5:45. Cross-country practices are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons as well as Wednesday and Friday mornings. The teams also have several competitions. According to Guercio, there is often a game or meet twice a week and conferences on the weekends, lasting anywhere from a few hours to the whole day. According to Ari Machtinger ’18, another member of the cross-country team, Guercio is very focused and hardworking during practices and competitions. “I admire his dedication to [sports],” Machtinger said. However, due to the large time commitment, Guercio has had to quickly learn the value of time management in order to give equal focus to school work and sports. “You really need to think ‘how

should I do my homework?’ or ‘how should I study?’ [to get everything done on time],” Guercio said. His coaches always stress the importance of grades, and Guercio knows that not passing five classes means ineligibility for sports. With hopes of going to college on a swimming scholarship, Guercio knows that is not an option. Thus, he must work hard to make sure his grades aren’t affected by sports. “I know that academics come first,” Guercio said. However, even with his time management skills, he often does not finish his work until after midnight. Despite the difficulties that come with being a three-sport athlete, Guercio is happy with his schedule. “Stevenson is a great school to do athletics and get better,” Guercio said.