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THE HAT WORN 'Round the world Page 8 // Maya Parekh & Adele Lee

Volume 50 - Issue 4 February 21, 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 | WOMENâ€™s MARCH

4 NEWS

INCLUSION FOR ALL

Stevenson makes changes to facility, technology to accomodate needs of gender nonconforming students ELLIE BADEN

NIKOL SAFRONOVA

s Laura Smith** walks down the halls of Stevenson, she takes advantage of the time to text and talk with friends while doing her best to avoid being trampled by students trying to beat the bell. However, those are not the only things on her mind. Smith has heard the stories of bullying, discrimination and violence at other schools toward gender nonconforming people. As a transgender student herself, she knows to always be vigilant. “We kind of learn to be paranoid—just in case,” Smith said. However, according to Sarah Bowen, director of student services, the majority of reported bullying incidents based on gender identity at Stevenson are comments made by peers or staff members without malicious intent. Transgender student Alex Hills** said that although he often feels different, he has never felt intentionally excluded. In recent years, the school has begun taking steps toward helping gender nonconforming students feel more included in the Stevenson community. One such step is meetings for staff members to learn about the concerns and needs of transgender students. “It’s something that I never really thought about until that meeting, but I realized that I should be asking [what pronouns students prefer] because that’s just as important as what

The new gender neutral sign for the bathrooms located backstage at the Performing Arts Center

[you want to be called] as far as your name,” art teacher Katie Hyken said. Since learning more about issues surrounding gender nonconforming individuals, Hyken takes special care to talk to the members of her transgender students’ support teams in order to better understand each student’s unique situation and help them feel comfortable in her class. Additionally, the school has gradually changed their bathrooms to be gender neutral, including the bathrooms behind the Performing Arts Center, the Quiet Learning Center and nurse offices. There are also individual stalls in all locker rooms to provide privacy for students. “What we really try to express to students is that you can use the bathroom that matches the gender with which you identify, and that you can use whatever bathroom feels most

comfortable to you,” Bowen said. The school has also been working with the IT department to ensure that the names on the attendance listings and in students’ email addresses match the students’ preferred names. In general, students must approach a member of their student support team in order to take make these changes. “We work with students and their parents to come up with a plan that works for [them] and our school, and then we work with our IT people and data processing to make those changes,” Bowen said. While Smith appreciates these steps, she still feels that one of the most important components of inclusion is having the opportunity to respond to individuals’ questions. She said that when people ask her questions, she knows that they are making an effort to understand and be sensitive to her. While there are still challenges surrounding issues of gender nonconformity, Bowen is proud that Stevenson is addressing the needs of its transgender population. “It’s not an easy process for some students to try to navigate the world, so we want to think through how we can help with that process—what resources and support can we provide as [they’re] managing through that,” Bowen said. **Names have been changed to protect sources

NEWS 5 EARLY SENIOR GRADUATION Q&A

According to Sarah Bowen, Director of Student Activities, about 15 to 30 students graduate after their first semester JAMIE BERMAN

What prompted you to graduate early? J: “At the end of last year, I was getting really stressed out with all of my classes so I went to talk to my counselor to see if I could graduate at the end of junior year. He told me the earliest I could graduate was at the middle of this year, based on how much credit I have. So, I just had to take one extra English class.”

A:“I have always wanted to [graduate early], I guess. But junior year I thought it would be interesting to take a semester off and do something practical. Anything we learn in school isn’t really something you can use in real life. It’s just something you learn, memorize and get tested on.”

What do you plan to do with your free semester? J: “Right now I’m working full time as a waitress at the Buffalo. But in early March, I’m going on a four-week abroad program that is in Mexico to help kids learn English there who don’t have access to easy education. Also, I want to live in a Spanish-speaking country eventually.”

A: “I have been studying for SAT subject test. Now I’m working on finishing up my college essays. I’m going to Korea in three weeks and I’m thinking about interning at the National Museum of Korea to talk about Korean history to visitors from other countries.”

Do you recommend early graduation to other students? J: “If you really like the whole high school thing and you love going to school everyday and seeing your friends, then don’t graduate early because it will just fly by. But if you are just kinda over it, and you just wanna do your own thing and have your own time by getting your experience as an adult before college, then go for it. It just depends on who you are.”

A: “I recommend it if they’re on the same page as their parents, and they are willing to take the risk of missing out of high school experiences [during] second semester. Otherwise, I know some people who want to graduate with their friends and just enjoy their second semester of senior year.”

6 NEWS

GRADUATING SENIORS KEEP IPADS

After receiving diplomas, class of 2017 will own their school-issued iPads KARAJ SINGH

he class of 2017 will be the second group of seniors to keep their school-issued iPads once they graduate in May. Stevenson’s administration finally settled on the decision after considering the pros and cons of letting seniors keep their iPads. The administration looked at a number of factors, including price, emotional attachment and the impact of the device on a student’s learning career. According to SMARTprogram manager Nancy Hudson, after three years of a pilot period with the iPads that started in 2013, the school was ready to let graduating seniors keep their devices, only if they would receive a diploma from Stevenson. Hudson also noticed that the class of 2017, as well as younger students, have been impacted much more by iPads than students who had graduated in previous years. She attributes this impact partly due to the increase in student-to-iPad interaction. “We believe that [iPads]

ANNIE WU can continue to be a tool for them, and that’s why we want [students] to take it on with them,” Hudson said. This is a sentiment that many students can relate to, including Muskaan Gupta ’17. She has spent the past three years using her iPad almost everday to capture her high school life from daily note-taking to storing photos and other memories on it. “I’m really glad that I can keep it and be able to make it completely mine after graduation,” Gupta said. Although Gupta used her iPad for most aspects of schoolwork in the past, her academic use of it went down once she got a perosnal laptop. She believes that once she graduates, her iPad will become more of an entertainment source rather than being an academic one. Similarly, Lauren Scott ’17 has also used her iPad less after obtaining her own laptop. Now, she uses her iPad more for graphic design rather than for classwork.

Senior Survey: Once you graduate, what will you do with your iPads?

(( 72 Students Surveyed )) Data compiled by Karaj Singh

“I’m probably just going to use it for my art,” Scott said. “I can’t think of anything to do with that I couldn’t do with my phone and laptop.” However, Hudson, Scott and Gupta believe that Stevenson’s decision of letting students keep their iPads is a beneficial one. Gupta feels privileged to have been given such an opportunity, especially af-

ter comparing Stevenson’s newly implemented policy to that of her old high school. “At my old school, we just got iPads introduced, so I’m pretty sure they’ll be re-using their iPads every year,” Gupta said. “I think we’re really fortunate to have nice technology that we can keep forever and have a memento of Stevenson with us.”

NEWS 7 STUDENT HONORED FOR ANTI-DRUG WORK Student wins award for drug prevention, named Trainer of Training MICHAEL LEVITT

n January, Anaya Pati ’18 was named a Trainer of Training by Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) for her work as a co-leader of Stevenson’s anti-drug club Catalyst and a part of Stand Strong Coalition, the adult equivalent of Catalyst. “It was an honor to win this position, but it was also alarming because it was the first time I sat back and realized the impact my work had,” Pati said. Pati did not know she had won until she was surprised at a Stand Strong meeting. The Coalition told her she needed to bring her parents to the meeting but would not tell her why, she said. “When I received the position, I was speechless,” Pati said. “Overall, it was amazing, but shocking.” By winning the award, Ananya was elected to be a youth trainer and the one youth selected to speak in front of all 3000 participants of the leadership forum held by CADCA. The forum took place between February 6-9 on “Capitol Hill Day,” where all participants talk to their Congressman. Pati is a role model and a joy to work with, said Cristina Cortesi, substance abuse prevention coordinator and co-sponsor of Catalyst. “She has been very purposeful about what changes need to happen,” Cortesi said. “She is also mak-

Photo // Ananya Pati

Pati did not know she would receive the award, and she was shocked when she did. She feels it reflects well on Catalyst Club.

ing sure the school community has a positive perception about the club.” Pati is working to show her peers that Catalyst is not about intervention or getting anyone in trouble but about preventing drug use to start with, Cortesi said. Cortesi has high expectations for Ananya, but she feels that they will be met because of her pre-existing skills. Pati had been in Stand Strong before joining Catalyst and is now the link between the two. Jamie Epstein, executive director of Stand Strong and co-sponsor of Catalyst, often gives Pati advice. “[I told her to] keep relying on [her] passion for [drug prevention],” Epstein said. “There will always be someone smarter, more educated

and more experienced, but passion will give success.” Epstein said she has never seen anyone like Ananya before, with the passion, dedication and the ability to keep growing and succeeding. Pati has considered a career in public health, but she is also very business-oriented. She does not know yet which field she wants to go into, but she knows that drug prevention will be a part of her life no matter what she chooses. “I was lost as far as who I was and what my passion was,” Pati said. “But once I started getting involved with [drug prevention], I found a home where I could grow and thrive as well as help others grow and thrive through Catalyst and CADCA.”

8 NEWS

A STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY

Women’s marches across the globe spark discussion regarding new president, civil rights MAYA PAREKH & ADELE LEE

ith over 3.2 million participants in more than 500 U.S. cities, the women’s marches that took place on January 21st, only a day after President Trump’s inauguration, have been the largest U.S. demonstration in history, according to The Atlantic. The largest march took place in Washington D.C. with an estimated 470,000 participants, followed by Los Angeles at 350,000 and then Chicago at 250,000. English teacher Elizabeth Maxwell travelled to march with her daughter in D.C., an experience she felt was important to have together. “I saw women of all generations coming together, sharing stories, laughing, hugging and bonding over a shared concern about the direction they saw our country heading,” Maxwell said. Maxwell said that most of the people she met had never participated in a march before. She described the statement of solidarity as incredibly uplifting and energizing. “It renewed my faith in people and I believe it brought out the best of people,” Maxwell said. The marches drew people from several different races, ages, physical abilities, ethnicities and genders.

Danny Levit ’18 also attended the march in Chicago. “It affects everybody because women’s rights are human rights,” Levit said.

This is aimed at the future, and I really think young women have to carry on the beliefs and traditions that we’ve worked so hard to establish for the last decade.”

-Elizabeth Maxwell Elisabeth Turok ’18, also attended the march in Chicago. Turok felt compelled to go not only as a woman pushing for reproductive rights, but for a multitude of social and political issues. “The women’s march wasn’t just about women,” Turok said. “It was about speaking up for people who our president has been neglecting and people he has shown a lot of hate towards.” According to Turok, the marches

Photo // Elizabeth Maxwell

showed that people weren’t alone. She felt an atmosphere of peacefulness. Turok went with two friends, one of Mexican descent and one who identifies with the LGBT community. The marches were very important to them as a means of standing up for their rights. “To quote one of the chants, ‘the people united will never be divided,’” Turok said. Some of the protestors’ goals attracted bipartisan support. Rebekah Di Bartolomeo ’18, a Trump supporter during the election, said that she thought the march stood for a good cause. “I can see both sides,” Di Bartolomeo said.

NEWS 9 While Di Bartolomeo understood the reasons for the march, she was disappointed with the language used on some signs. Kristen Cardella ’17 had similar feelings of disapproval. “I just think that there was a much better way of approaching the distrust, distaste and dislike of Trump,” Cardella said. “The representation of women as a whole could’ve been represented so much better.” On the other hand, Maxwell described a feeling of kindness. When she got to the train station, there were three steep sets of escalators— all of which had probably been turned off in an effort to avoid injury. There was a woman in a walker going down Maxwell’s line, moving

very slowly, but no one said anything or became annoyed. “We get to the bottom and a stranger who was helping the elderly woman turned to her and said ‘thank you for marching,’” Maxwell said. After some initial backlash, the march became increasingly inclusive. Turok spoke with a man who had developmental disabilities and was grateful for the marchers. “He told me, ‘thank you for representing me— I’m a person,”’ Turok said. The marches were not limited to within the United States. They also spread to Australia, Canada, Germany, England, Serbia, Kenya, Ghana, India, France and many other

countries. “People realized that values at the people’s core were being threatened and knew they had to speak out about it,” Maxwell said. “This isn’t just a uniquely American phenomenon, this belief in dignity and respect for women and their right to decide own future and fate.” Di Bartolomeo said that she didn’t think the march would have much of an impact. Maxwell holds different beliefs, thinking the march made an important statement. “It’s the future,” Maxwell said. “This is aimed at the future, and I really think young women have to carry on the beliefs and traditions that we’ve worked so hard to establish for the last decade.”

Photo // Elizabeth Maxwell

10 OPINIONS

Shoutout to Ste son for char venging $6 more than the College Board requests for AP exam s. Yeah, we noticed .

Apparently the FMP program exists to build bridg es between freshmen and their peers. But wh bridges bet y build ween people when w e can build walls?

Does anyone know a good place on Facebook to post pictures about students and clubs that I can mock for likes?

xpenthose e nd “Forget s a th tutor sive ma books. Alp SAT pre cts are the fa e v ti a test tern r perfect u o y to y ke score!” ing Jr. Luther K -Martin

to: ideas r own ail.com! u o y it Subm espins@gm th e shsclo choos ou can ted, y t your idea c le e s o If er or n wheth e posted b ld u wo ly! mous anony

SELF-ACCEPTANCE

Reflecting on how individuals can come to terms with body image, defying societal expectations

CHARLOTTE RONSON

used to be the fat kid. The one that was always picked on and chosen last for gym. The name calling was persistent, and I started to believe what I was hearing. In a society where we are always comparing ourselves to others and focusing more so on what we don’t have rather than being grateful for what we do, it is vital to count your blessings, rather than ask for more. Celebrities are role models for people, both boys and girls, of all ages. People try to dress and talk like them, and this is society’s Achilles heel. Take Kylie Jenner for example. Nobody looks the way she does without going under the knife, and this is something girls struggle to

grasp. Comparing yourself to unrealistic expectations is pointless. In today’s society, the youth struggles with perception of body image. Too many adolescents are choosing to starve themselves in order to attain this distorted “ideal body” the media has planted in our minds. According to the website Just Say Yes, “80 percent of women responded that images of women on television and in the movies make them feel insecure.” In a world where we have become heavily reliant on technology, it only makes sense that the media shapes our viewpoints as well as the discussions we have. Problems with youth body image have expanded to younger age

groups. Companies such as Disney have been promoting the importance of beauty to young girls for decades. According to PBS, “80 percent of children who are 10 years old are afraid of being fat.” Instead of the scary monster under the bed it has turned into the scary monster staring back at you in the mirror. Fast forward to today, I have learned to love my body and embrace my curves. Believe me, it took time, but you need to be able to love yourself, before anyone else can. So next time you’re scrolling through Instagram and comparing yourself to the girl with a 23 in. waist and a behind the size of Kim K’s, remember she’s not real—but you are.

OPINIONS 11 TRANSGENDER RIGHTS AT STEVENSON STATESMAN EDITORIAL

NIKOL SAFRONOVA

he fight for equality during the 1800s was marked by women campaigning tirelessly to gain suffrage. Their success paved the way for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, when African Americans fiercely advocated for desegregation and increased opportunities. Now, almost 60 years later, the LGBTQ community is striving to reach a timeless American ideal: equality for all. Statesman believes that Stevenson has done a great job so far in accommodating the needs of transgender students. However, with a projected increase in student population within the next 10 years, Stevenson should pay close attention to responding to the requests of those transgender students who will be directly impacted by their decisions. One of the most recent means by which the school has sent a clear supporting message is by gradually

changing their bathrooms to be gender neutral, including the bathrooms behind the Performing Arts Center (PAC), the Quiet Learning Center (QLC) and nurse offices. There are also individual stalls in all locker rooms to provide privacy for students. Furthermore, in order for gender nonconforming students to feel more included in the Stevenson community, the school has instituted special meetings for staff members to learn about issues surrounding transgender students and what they can do to better understand each student’s unique situation. In the future, by work-

ing closely with the IT department, the school hopes to ensure that the names of transgender students on the attendance listings and their email addresses match the students’ preferred names. Ultimately the most influential factor in providing transgender students with the same opportunities for success, has come from the inclusion of the Stevenson community. From various extracurricular activities, such as Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), to the everyday kindness of faculty and peers, Stevenson has created an accepting environment for nonconforming students.

Statesman believes that although these changes might seem small to the overall student population, for transgender students it sends a clear message that Stevenson will undoubtedly step up and support them. That said, Statesman views it to be imperative that if there is an increase in the amount of gender nonconforming students in the future, that Stevenson should assist them based upon their requests. Statesman believes that an open forum between the administration, gender nonconforming students and their families is the best way to accommodate the needs of future and current students alike. While the fight for equality is not over, by creating an accepting environment for the LGBTQ community with these changes, Stevenson’s progression serves as a victory for Stevenson Patriots—regardless of where they fall on the gender spectrum.

12 OPINIONS

MEET THE HOSTS

Q&A with three Showcase hosts for March 17, 18 productions GRACE WESTPHAL

GRACE WESTPHAL

Isaac Lippe

Michael Komarovsky

Natalie Shulman

“I’m excited to be on the stage for the first time ever! I have attended Showcase every year; however, I have never performed in it. So being on the stage in front of everyone will be extremely new and exciting!” Do you have any hidden talents of your own?

“I’m excited to finally get to run up onstage for closing band.”

“I’m excited to see all the different acts perform. There is so much hidden talent at Stevenson, so it’ll be exciting to see it all!”

“I can do a very mediocre Stitch impression, and I can also do Arnold Schwarzenegger impression. I can spin a basketball on my finger for about 15 seconds!” Where do you see yourself in 5 years? “I see myself working for an Advertising company making sweet commercials. BUT ideally, in a perfect world, I would love nothing more than to be a film actor.”

How would your friends describe you? “Outgoing, probably a little too outgoing.” Do you have a motto or catchphrase? “It’s going to be legen-wait for it-dary!” Is there anything you wished would come back into style? “Wearing formal clothing to school. #suitup”

What is your favorite song? “My favorite song changes more frequently than the weather in Chicago but I think as of now, it’s ‘Beautiful Life- Lost Frequencies’ (Gareth Emery remix).”

What are your hobbies?

“I do gymnastics, but I also love DJing, cooking, and traveling.”

OPINIONS 13 OSCAR MOVIES THAT INSPIRE

‘La La Land”, “Moana” prove to be groundbreaking, musically sound ASHLEY MANDEL

ASHLEY MANDEL

“La La Land,” a movie within a movie, a tale of a down on her luck actress Mia (Emma Stone) who falls for the smooth jazz stylings of Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). One can appreciate Gosling playing all of his own piano stunts, a feat he mastered in three months in order to obtain the role. The show tunes and bold primary colors brought the

viewer back to a time of nostalgia, blurring the lines between truth and fraud. The audience fell in love with these charismatic characters who although talented, were waiting for stardome. With so much emphasis on the music and character arch, some pivotal plot points were lacking in explanation. Though this can be forgiven, as combined with characters that inspire and insult, and a classic score by Justin Herwitz whose

melodies awaken the dreamer in all of us, “La La Land” is a timeless film that can resonate with most. Mia and Sebastian soon learn they don’t live in a movie production and a happily ever after must be met with sacrifice. When Stone belts out “Here’s to the ones who dream, foolish as they may seem,” for a moment, everyone in the audience is dreaming with them.

Nominated for best animated feature, “Moana” is the adventures or misadventures a headstrong young women Moana (voiced by Auli’l Cravalho) who along with her demigod companion Maui (Dwayne Johnson aka the “Rock”) go on a quest to save her island from evil forces. The journey tests both character’s strengths,

revealing that although one’s destiny may be set, one must dig down deep in order to fulfil their true potential. Each peril that advances the duo’s journey brings forth a new layer and lesson learned for the characters and audience.“Moana” shows us a new brand of leader, one that looks beyond the obvious to find the potential in all whether they be a conceited demigod whose worthiness is based on their magic

hook, or an evil goddess who has cursed the land. “Moana” is yet another movie that further enforces Disney’s campaign to star strong girls, and they have succeeded yet again in bringing us another unique, imperfect but brave princess no doubt inspiring young girls and all to prevail in the face of adversity, as that there is no telling how far you’ll go!

16 FEATURES

THE FUTURE OF ONLINE SCHOOLING

Online version of AP Government course paves way for future online high school courses YANA BUSHUYEVA & VICKY KOLOTOV

NIKOL SAFRONOVA

An online AP Government student works on an online worksheet called “The Arcade” on his own personal time. Students are expected to keep up and complete their online course work every day.

he sounds of clicking and the soft hum of the computer engines replace those of crumpling papers and moving pencils. Students rise to communicate and share ideas with their classmates, efficiently continuing their work without bothering anyone for assistance. An adult observes, pushing the students to utilize the search engines as best they can to become as bright as they can. This is a vision of what could soon be the average modern classroom setup. A modern innovation that makes

this type of classroom setting possible is the recent invention of devices such as smart phones, laptops, and tablets. Those who have grown up with the accessibility to these devices have had easy access to the internet, a variety of helpful apps and accommodations such as a built in GPS for a large portion of their lives. These tools have altered home lives, work environments and the way people learn. “The question still remains whether or not this technology has been used to its full potential,” said

Dan Larsen, American Studies, AP Comparative Government, AP Government teacher and co-creator of AP Government Online. Many schooling systems still rely on outdated strategies to educate their students in a very tech-reliant world. The simple paper and pencil classroom setting is still embraced and enforced around America. “Much of the adolescent population around the world are still trained and taught the same way that people have been for 5000 years.” Larsen said. “Students sit in

FEATURES 17 one place at a certain time and hope an expert walks into the room.” With search engines at hand, the internet can be as much of a teacher to a student as a real professor. With more progressive schools recognizing the demand to modernize education, online classes and other resources are making their way into traditional classrooms and are even replacing traditional classrooms altogether. “I asked my daughter (who works in human resources and recruits workers) what three things she needs people to be able to do when she hires them were, and she said she looks for those who can collaborate, use tech and be creative,” Larsen said. With the internet accessible to much of the population at almost all hours of the day, memorizing information is no longer as much of a priority as it may have been only a decade ago. Job requirements are no longer based on memorization skills than they are on an employee’s ability to work with or around technology. As well as preparing students for the possible expectations of future employers, this online course assists in readying students for college life. “We know that Students are taking online classes in universities; there’s a huge element of time management needed because more responsibilities are placed on students. It’s a chance to learn skills in a high school environment.” said Andrew Conneen, AP Government, AP

Comparative Government, co-creator of online AP Government and Government teacher. AP Government Online is identical to the traditional AP Government course, except taking the online course eliminates the obligation to attend a physical class during the day. Still, students are expected to complete the necessary assignments on their own time. “Can [students] discipline themselves to not be told what to do?” Larsen said. “As liberating as it sounds, that ideology is often scary for people. All the time I have students begging me ‘just tell me when it’s due!’” Daily assignments require 3090 minutes of work per school day, sometimes in-person or with digital peer collaboration. Enrolled students receive individualized feedback from instructors. “Being able to work independently and then bring it back to a group

setting by making appointments with my teacher and going in for help when I need it has helped my skills as a student tremendously” Emma Nudelman ’17 said. Often times, students find that required classes for graduation take up space in their schedules, preventing students from enrolling in other classes they hope to take. Online classes like AP Government Online allow students to satisfy graduation requirements outside the classroom while having room for electives and other courses. This allows for greater flexibility and students to take advantage of the broad selection of courses Stevenson has to offer. Online courses also provide students with an idea of what their future jobs may expect of them, providing them with a portal into work life. “We should be offering opportunities to learn in the way they’ll be learning or working for the rest of their lives” Larsen said.

18 FEATURES

A SCHEME TO STREAM

Stevenson High School television and radio club join together to form Stevenson Broadcast Network ALISA MUFTI

right lights, the roar of the crowd and booming music. These are all things captured by Stevenson’s basketball players and fans alike on a Friday night. They are also captured by Stevenson’s television (SHSTV) and radio club who broadcast the game to people around the world. You might have seen them on the other side of the camera at sporting events and fine arts performances. They are known as the Stevenson Broadcast Network (SBN), a combination of SHSTV and radio club. Stevenson’s push to stream its athletic events was brought on by Joe Pine, manager of data and analytics. Pine, who previously worked

at Comcast, brings with him a background in broadcasting. “He was the push to get the technology needed to do this––especially to do it at such a high level,” Jason Carlson, radio club sponsor, said. Though Stevenson’s radio station has been off the air in the past few years due to technical issues, radio club plays a big role in streaming events, specifically large sporting events. Those involved in radio club act as the face of SBN. They are the broadcasters who talk on air. Now SBN is experimenting with YouTube and Facebook as streaming platforms in order to make their live streams easy to find and widely accessible. Nowadays, spectators can

Marcus Shapiro // Photo

Students work behind the scenes to live stream a football game. This is a joimt effort betwen SHSTV and radio club.

stream Stevenson events through various social media apps such as Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter. “It really comes down to teaching students how to do more than just shooting with their phones,” Pine said. “We teach them how to actually make a good production that’s cohesive and has a good angle.” SBN will be covering Mr. SHS on Saturday, Feb. 10th, as well as the varsity basketball game on Wednesday, Feb 22nd. However, one of their goals for the year is to include a diversity of events. “We weren’t able to live stream the plays because of copyright issues, but there are other things that we can still do, for example the upcoming fashion show,” Marcus Shapiro ’17, president of SHSTV, said. SHSTV and radio club have a collective purpose to make Stevenson’s events accessible to the community. Their live streaming initiative, which started six years ago, has already made a big impact. “When we started doing this we were getting emails from grandmas and alumni all over the country,” Carlson said. “The radio station could only go up to four or five miles around the school, but this can go around the world.”

FEATURES 19

AMAN GROVER & YOGIN PATEL

Statesman examines district-wide survey regarding student opinions on Evidence Based Reporting (EBR) in classes

Our goal is to eventually transfer all classes towards an EBR grading system. By doing this, we’re making sure that students are more reflectively active in the development of their proficiency in different areas, and as a result, they’re more involved in their learning.” -Anthony Reibel, Director of Assessment

Anthony Reibel // Source

20 FEATURES

GREEN TEAM REINSTATES COMPOST BINS Green Team launches initiative to protect environment, one bin at a time SIVAKAMI RAMAKRISHNAN

ANNIE WU

omposting bins are set up around the school. Green Team members stand waiting for students to come and learn about composting. Green Team is a club that had existed before, but it had not been active for some years. This year, Jessica Shen has started it again, and she is president of the club. Shen believes that this club is important because many people at Stevenson aren’t aware of the composting problems with the Stevenson environment. “Green Team is a club that focuses on environmental issues,” sponsor Dawn Forde said. “One of the challenges of this club is finding projects that the school hasn’t thought of, mostly because Stevenson is an institution that is very attuned to going green.” Green Team is working to bring back composting bins at Stevenson. They re-

cently launched a compost kickoff party in which they gave free cookies to anyone who wanted to answer a couple of questions about composting. When this club was active before, many people didn’t know what to put in the composting bins, and therefore the composting companies did not accept the bins. “We have brought back the composting bins and

label them so people know what they are and have educational flyers to teach people what they can compost and why they can do it,” Shen said. Green Team is mostly focused on protecting the environment, both inside and outside of school. This club concentrates on educating people with information to protect the world. “There’s still a lot go-

ing on with carbon dioxide emissions, and a lot of people are throwing away things that can be composted,” Neal Patel ’19 said. “When you put something in the trash, it’s not just getting rid of it, it’s burning it, so there will be more carbon dioxide in the air.” There are a lot of people in the world who are not aware of the harmful things done to the Earth. Green Team is hoping to make sure that everyone at Stevenson gets educated on this information. Green Team hopes to continue their endeavors long into the future, starting with a clothing drive. Many people throw out their old clothes and Green Team wants to encourage people to donate those clothes. Green Team is a club that wants to help the environment and educate not only Stevenson students, but also many people outside of Stevenson.

FEATURES 21 RECOVERING TITANIC

Teacher James Kollar reflects on past involvement in salvaging of ship CINDY YAO

ecognized by students for his high-five Fridays, accumulation of life stories and the occasional dab, AP Macroeconomics teacher James Kollar is also known for his array of career experiences prior to teaching—most notably his role in the recovery of the Titanic. Kollar’s involvement in the salvaging of the Titanic stems from his position at Marex International. At the time, the project he was working on, Operation Gemstone, went after a Japanese Submarine that sank off the coast of France carrying six million in gold bullions to Germany, and a British ship that sank off southwest Africa carrying 60 million in bullion to England. Part of Kollar’s job description was to raise money for expeditions to go after targets of value, and for his next expedition he came up with the idea to recover the Titan-

ic. His business plan was well received among his friends at Wall Street, and he put together an expedition called Marex-Titanic, of which he was the chief executive officer. “It was the most logical one to do,” Kollar said. “We knew exactly where [the Titanic] was, and it had the most profile.” According to Kollar, the whole idea behind the project was to show the investment community they could do deep water work. In addition, Titanic Ventures, another salvage company that had established a claim on the wreck after Titanic’s discovery, had been inactive in their efforts to recover the ship for a period of five years. This led Marex-Titanic to believe that they had lost their claim. “One thing lead to another and we were able to raise money for the expedition, and we headed for Titanic,” Kollar said. However, his ventures

soon landed him in legal disputes with Titanic Ventures, who started to become more active in the recovery. On the day Kollar arrived at the site of the wreck, Titanic Ventures called his lawyer and later filed legal action. Despite the court ruling in favor of Titanic Ventures, Kollar later appealed and the decision was overturned. Marex-Titanic did not

Photo // Kenosha News

end up returning to the site, but Kollar is confident of his essential role in the Titanic recovery. “I was watching a documentary on the Discovery Channel in 2000, and the president of Titanic Ventures said that if it weren’t for Marex going for Titanic, it wouldn’t have been recovered,” Kollar said. “So if it weren’t for me, Titanic would not have been recovered.”

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

ANI NUTHALAPATI

TYPICAL ATHLETE LUNCHES BELLA GREENSPAN

SPORTS 25

BELLA GREENSPAN

Reason for dieting: Managing weight, build more muscle mass, gain weight, increase carb intake Typical in-season lunch: two burgers, fries, water

Reason for dieting: have more energy during practice, take out unhealthy fats, set good habits, gain muscle Typical in-season lunch: burrito wrap with chicken, carrots, almonds, sweet tea

Reason for dieting: position demands raw strength, get proper nutrients, maximize muscle and strength, be healthy and in good shape Typical in-season meal: sandwich with protein and vegetables, water, fruits, yogurt

FEATURES 15

SPORTS 27 GREEN MEANS GOLD

State championship students and teams who win get names on Lincolnshire road signs CHLOE MYERS

CHLOE MYERS

riving down Half Day Road, one may catch a glimpse of a green sign on the side of the road. Written in big white letters are the names of state champions from Stevenson High School. According to Bradford Woodbury, Public Works Director for the Village of Lincolnshire, the state championship signs started about three years ago. “The city wanted to recognize Stevenson’s accomplishments, especially something as high-level as a state championship,” Woodbury said. Any team or individual from Stevenson who wins an IHSA state athletic championship or a state championship in Bass Fishing, Chess, Debate, Journalism, Scholastic Bowl, Illinois Council of Teachers in Mathematics, Math, Archery, Science Olympiad, Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering, Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science can be on the sign. “It’s a way to remember, ‘Oh, we did something that’s really cool,’” Zach Singer ’17 said. Singer was the 2016 Boys’ Bowling State Champ. According to Singer, the signs help increase recognition of outstanding achievements and boost

On Half Day Road, a sign displays the names of the state championships from last year from Stevenson High School.

the pride that these students have in themselves. Singer himself has been recognized outside of school. “I was applying for a job and they were like, ‘Oh! I’ve seen your name on a sign on the road,’” Singer said. Not only do the students themselves gain recognition, but the community as a whole is also impacted by these signs. Singer recalls the spirited atmosphere he felt around town after winning state in 2016. “When the people that live around here see the accomplishments all the teams have, it creates a sense of pride,” Singer said.

Stevenson’s athletic department makes requests for new signs three times a year, in November, March and June. The signs are left up for one year before being taken down to make room for new ones. Once a full year has passed, the signs are donated to Stevenson to be give to the individual or a team who won a team state championship. “The Village is proud of all of the accomplishments of Stevenson High School be it athletics or academics.,” Woodbury said. “Furthermore, the Village is happy to support the recognition of these accomplishments.”

FEATURES 15

SPORTS 29 SPRING IN THEIR STEP

With spring sports approaching, coaches discuss their goals and aspirations for the upcoming season KENDALL ROBERTS

ANNIE WU

Boys’ Baseball

The baseball season starts on February 27th, but the boys baseball team has been training since the fall. The boys’ baseball team has had open field workouts and has been conditioning in the mornings for months. In his second year as head coach, Patrick Block stresses the importance of preseason training. “We’re going to be in better shape going into the season but they will also have the confidence knowing they put in the effort and dedication to becoming better players,” Block said. Block is confident in the capability of his team and appreciates the captains and leaders pushing the younger kids to stay in shape. With the season quickly approaching, Block’s goal for the team is not only to win a state championship but to develop his players as individuals in the process. “Baseball teaches valuable lessons,” Block said. “Hard work isn’t immediate, it’s a process.”

Girls’ Track & Field

Emma Degen is getting on track for the upcoming spring season. As head of the girls’ track and field team, she values her athletes’ will and determination to improve their times and distances. “They truly care about the sport and want to get better,” Degen said. To provide more opportunities to her athletes, Degen created open gym workouts every Tuesday and Thursday, with each workout geared towards an athlete’s event. Degen believes all athletes, from jumpers to sprinters, can prepare themselves for the season. “I try to keep workouts interesting and give them new things to do,” Degen said. “Hopefully they feel as if they accomplished something and worth waking up for.” As well as open gym opportunities in the mornings, Polar Bear Winter Conditioning is offered to all athletes looking to pursue faster long distance times. Between the preparation and hard work Degen sees in her athletes, Degen is hopeful for competing better in meets. “I definitely think we have a chance of being in the top three at conference,” Degen said. “I want us to compete, and we will see some faster times than last year.”

Girls’ Softball

As Stevenson’s new softball head coach, Perry Wilhelm is ready to start his debut year strong. With a number of girls attending his open gym workouts and early morning strength and conditioning practices, Wilhelm is ready for the season. “It’s a great opportunity to see what we have,” Wilhelm said. “I’ve been a big proponent on being the best you can be physically because a stronger athlete is harder to beat and less receptive to injury.” In the preseason, Wilhelm focuses his workouts in the weightroom. Wilhelm is hopeful that this will build a foundation for his athletes before the season starts and will make them the best athletes they can be. “I know now that we’re going to be a lot better at the end of the year than the beginning,” Wilhelm said. “They work hard and I can see it.”

Boys’ Water Polo Having just fell short of a state championship last year, Sean Wimer, boys’ water polo coach, is confident for this year’s season. “We have a very committed group of kids, and they work very hard,” Wimer said. “Being runner up at state last year is motivation enough for these guys.” The majority of the water polo athletes also participate in boys’ swimming, which Wimer said gives them a base of conditioning going into the spring season. Wimer is hopeful that his athletes will come to practice ready to go for the upcoming season with this conditioning under their belt.With practices six days a week, including games and morning practices, Wimer emphasizes the importance of condition ing during the offseason, but he also wants the athletes to enjoy themselves. “They have to overcome adversity,” Wimer said. “But I hope every kid has fun in the process and I’m proud to coach them this season.”

30 SPORTS

WRESTLING THREE PEATS

Stevenson continues on conference dominance, capturing conference again this year MAX COHN & LAWRENCE KREYMER

ince 2014, Stevenson wrestling has been steadily improving, achieving a better record year after year. January 20 was a special day, as Stevenson won conference for the third consecutive time, defeating Warren. This is an achievement for a Stevenson wrestling team that just over a decade ago hoped only to finish the season with a winning record. According to head coach Shane Cook, the program has revamped how they recruit students as well as created an environment which makes the wrestlers feel more invested in the program. “The wrestling program experienced success recently because of the hard work put in by the players and coaches,” Cook said. “The wrestlers put in a lot of training over the summer and dedicate themselves during the year to helping us succeed.” Cook has been at Stevenson for ten years now. When he started in 2006, the program itself was strong, consisting of at least one wrestler heading

MAX COHN

Max Gomez ’19 (right) prepares to face-off against a Libertyville wrestler. Gomez won the match 2-1.

to state every year for 16 years, but Cook said his goal was improve upon the numbers. There were 40 kids in the program when he arrived and now there are 80 or more wrestlers per season on the roster. Under Cook’s guidance, Stevenson wrestling has transformed into a premier program in the North Suburban Conference (NSC). Cook attributes part of this success to the good communica-

tion his coaching staff has with the athletes. “The coaches and I are in constant contact with the wrestlers, making sure they are on top of their training routines,” Cook said. “We talk to them about the strength and conditioning program, which is a huge benefit to improving their athleticism and overall making them better wrestlers.” The NSC is known as an elite wrestling conference in the state of Illinois. The

conference has seen some premier talent in the last few years, including wrestlers from Stevenson. Only a few years ago, Libertyville dominated Stevenson. Now, having beaten their arch rival program three years in a row, the Stevenson seniors are on top of the world. “It has meant a lot for me and the program to beat Libertyville, especially after Stevenson hasn’t won much in the past 50 years,” Nikita Nepomnyashchiy ’17 said. “Since my sophomore year we have beaten them every year, and I truly believe that we are now the powerhouse in the area and that the winning streak will continue.” Libertyville has been the toughest opponent in the North Suburban Conference for varsity wrestling, especially for Stevenson. Two seasons ago, Stevenson pulled off an emotional victory, beating Libertyville for the first time in a dual meet–an achievement Cook had set out for his entire career. Since then, Libertyville has not beaten Stevenson.

SPORTS 31 But the younger wrestlers have had the privilege of taking those wins for granted. “I have never known anything different,” Jonathan Meyer ’18 said. “I have never known anything but us winning conference. But the experience from seniors and people older than me telling me how big of a deal it is made me realize how lucky we were to have a year or trend like this and

you look at their face and it is calm and cool and collected and know exactly what to do from there. The mindset that they have to have is something I envy.” According to Cook, this success begins during the offseason. Each wrestler

has their own set of train-

ing routines that they go through to prepare for the upcoming season. When the season begins, the coaches push the wrestlers to train as

I truly believe that we are now the powerhouse in the area and that the winning streak will continue.” -Nikita

Nepomnyashchiy

it is still going strong––on its third year now.” It is not just varsity wrestling that has gotten the biggest rewards this season. The wrestlers on the JV have learned from those at the varsity level, taking every tip they can get to get an edge in their next match and to improve for the future. “I always look at how they are in a match,” Meyer said. “Sometimes they are put on their back and

’17

much as they can. They go through a set of routines and exercises that help them both mentally and physically. “I prepare the whole year,” Nepomnyashchiy said. “For me, it’s ongoing cycle of trying to constantly improve. Post season, I’ve wrestled at Team Poeta and over the sum-

mer I wrestled in Russia. Coach Cook understands how to make our bodies be at their best before

Photo // Nikita Nepomnyashchiy

Nikita Nepomnyashchiy and Coach Cook high five after Nepomnyashchiy picks up another win.

competition. He focuses a lot on mental strength and improves our technique.” After winning conference, the team hasn’t changed how they plan to approach the rest of the season. The wrestlers keep training with the same mentality they have always have had: to keep improving. “Coach Cook makes sure that we never lose track of the goal that we placed before the season,” Gabe Oriatti ’17 said. “Our mentality is to keep looking forward and to keep practicing with the same intensity as before.”

Going into next season, Stevenson will lose some of the most successful wrestlers the program has ever had, marking a shift in Stevenson wrestling for the first time in four years, requiring new wrestlers to continue their legacy. “These past four years have been special for me and the entire program,” Oriatti said. “It has obviously been a special group of wrestlers, but I’m confident that moving forward the program is in good hands and that the young guys will step up and contribute.”

Q: What compelled you to join cheerleading? A: Well I saw this parade and I saw people doing flips and everything and I thought it would be fun to learn, so I joined a competitive cheer team outside of school in eighth grade and then went into freshman year wanting to continue cheer. Q: What’s your favorite part about being on the team? A: Probably the family. The team is just like a second family to me. I mean, sometimes we fight, but it’s mostly positive. Whenever someone’s down, the rest of us will try and cheer them up and have a huge laugh about the situation. Q: What’s the hardest part about being on the team? A: The time commitment, definitely. The season technically lasts from the start of summer until the end of winter. There are a lot of practices, especially in the winter when it’s competition season, so I’m here practicing almost everyday after school for three hours.

Q: Have you run into any difficulties being one of the few males on the team? A: At first, especially when I was just starting out, I didn’t feel like anyone wanted to talk to me and I just sorta felt left out, but once I started talking to them, and they started talking to me, it just sorta evolved. Like I got on varsity and all the team wanted to do was just talk to everyone. Q: Do you plan on staying on the team for a couple of years? A: For sure. It would be great to get more guys on the team and keep the team coed. I’m just hoping that once I leave, Stevenson still keeps up with a really strong team and keeps the tradition alive. Q: What’s your relationship with the rest of the team? A: Besides spending three hours every day together, we always try and make each other laugh, so there’s not really any negativity. Especially in our group chat, we always try to pep each other up. We definitely try to hang out away from practice with some team bonding. A week before cheer even started, we all got together at a Dunkin Donuts and just talked.