December 2016 Issue by Tyro Brookfield

DECEMBER 2016

1 6 9 0 0 W. G E B H A R D T R D .

BROOKFIELD, WISCONSIN

VOL 64 ISSUE 3

Brookfield Central Tyro

Consider yourself amazed as BC’s Oliver! hits the stage Valerie Yurk and Emily Otten KIRAT MOKHA

KIRAT MOKHA

LEFT: Megan Moretti (‘17), Sophie Bohr (‘17), Jillian Rosenbecker (‘19), and Forrest Hipp (‘22) bond over their role as orphans. “We would quietly shout ‘me, you, us, team’ to get pumped for the opening number,” Moretti said. RIGHT: Henning Mahn (‘18) and Sophie Michalski (‘18) stare into each other’s eyes after a finishing their number. After the performance, Michalski said, “It was really easy pretending to fall in love with Henning because I honestly love the kid!”

ased on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, Brookfield Central’s performance of Oliver! The Musical dominated the box office at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center Nov. 18-20. Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation brought the novel to life in a more colorful way. As the curtains opened, the audience was taken to a London workhouse in the mid-1800s, where a group of young boys, faces smudged with dirt, are longing for luxury and comfort. The ensemble sings the opening song, “Food, Glorious Food,” and Oliver Twist, played by Michael Long (‘22), appears at the end of this number, asking the famous question: “Please, sir, may I have some more?” Mr. Bumble, owner of the workhouse and played by Henning Mahn (‘18), and Widow Corney, played by Sophie Michalski (‘18), kick Oliver out of the workhouse and sell him off to the streets,

where he runs away to find a band of child thieves led by Mr. Fagin. Fagin, played by Brett Fong (‘17), takes him in as a member of his gang. Oliver begins to befriend Nancy, played by Emma Borkowski (‘17), the local bar owner’s wife. Despite Nancy’s abusive relationship with her husband, portrayed by Kevin Fuller (‘17), she stays with him and continues to help Oliver. Oliver’s life is a series of ups and downs, with his adoption and his kidnapping, and Nancy cares for and eventually saves Oliver by the time of her death. Oliver is returned to his adopter, Mr. Brownlow, played by Robert Purnell (‘18). A major creative decision that the Oliver! directors made was to cast Wisconsin Hills Middle School students in the production and to cast seventh grader Michael Long as the lead. Many audience members had mixed opinions about this casting decision, some saying that there was

a noticeable difference in maturity level and others countering that the younger performers made the experience more realistic. Leslie Bonilla (‘17) agrees with the latter: “I liked that they tried to be more accurate with the ages of the boys. They also made it more realistic with the accents and costumes too, and overall I thought it was a good decision.” Alice Zheng (’17) even commented, “At first I thought the middle schoolers were in high school - I mean, the freshmen do seem to get shorter every year!” .....However, some criticize the decision, saying that these major roles were given to these students at such a young age and that it would be challenging for anybody to fill the high schoolers’ shoes. Nikki Ranney (‘18), who took the stage as Charlotte, admits “[The middle schoolers] definitely had to step it up to match with the high schoolers. During the

first rehearsals, you could tell that they were middle schoolers based on maturity. But as we had more and more rehearsals, they stepped it up to a high school level.” Ranney adds that the high schoolers accepted the students from WHMS and the whole cast became very close with them, saying that “We became their moms by the end of it!” Henning Mahn, seen on stage as Mr. Bumble and behind the scenes as the Assistant Stage Manager, describes the last few months of daily rehearsals and theatrical processes as “incredibly stressful.” .....“The biggest thing I took away from Oliver! was time management and prioritizing. I had to switch out of my character’s mindset to suddenly be in a crew mindset, and it was hard to make that switch so often,” Mahn said. However, he goes on to reflect that it was all worth it. .....As the curtain dropped after the

last show’s final scene, everybody in the cast and crew was overwhelmed with the sudden realization that all of their tech week exhaustion had paid off, and the bonds they had formed with each other would no longer be built upon every day during rehearsal. The cast had grown very close over the past few months and ‘considered themselves to be part of the family.’ “Everybody was crying when that curtain fell, and I completely lost it, too,” Mahn adds. Overall, the BCHS Theatre Department’s production of Oliver! came as a challenge to much of the cast, between welcoming WHMS performers and mastering accent, and through these challenges, the cast and crew bonded to perform an overwhelmingly successful show. By the time the final bows were done, the cheering in the Harris auditorium could have been heard all the way back at the high school.

Dual Enrollment offers real-life training Ruby Isle bought by PJR Leslie Bonilla Opinions Editor

Ravina Sachdev Features Editor

High schoolers often assume that graduating from college is the biggest milestone that one will ever reach, and that it’s by far the hardest thing to accomplish in life. While it’s true that earning a college diploma is a monumental task, the latter part of the assumption above is incorrect. In fact, a common worry college students have is landing the right career after graduation. Finding an enjoyable, manageable, and financially rewarding job that they are well suited for is a challenge that these students face; however, there is a solution to this problem - the Dual Enrollment Academy. .....As stated by Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC), the Dual Enrollment program “is designed to give high school seniors a jump in high-demand occupations, awarding

WHAT’S INSIDE

participants with a WCTC certificate upon successful completion along with earning high school credits.” For example, a senior from BCHS is able to enroll in the Welding/Fabrication course at WCTC and can attend the class on the college campus daily. The Welding/Fabrication course would consist of “learning the basic skills necessary to program and operate computer-controlled press brakes, and shears, plasma arc cutting machines and microprocessor-based power sources.” .....What sets the Dual Enrollment program apart is that students are trained for the job in a professional and real-life setting. With millions of dollars invested in the machinery and equipment that students use, there is no stone left unturned in preparing them for actual on-the-job situaELLEN LINNIHAN

MR. BC BACK IN ACTION PG. 2

tions. In this distinguished program, students would be dually enrolled at Brookfield Central High School and at WCTC, hence the title Dual Enrollment. After passing the Welding course at WCTC, they would be primed and prepared to go straight into the workforce after high school. But where did their college education disappear off to? With Dual Enrollment, students would have attended real college courses during his or her senior year and would now be ready to work straight out of high school. .....Without question, the Dual Enrollment Academy benefits all those who enroll, and it is strongly encouraged that students that are interested in enrolling or have questions about the program should contact Mr. Groh in Student Services, or email him at grohj@elmbrookschools.org. BROOKS WALLS

BC BOYS’ SOCCER’S EXTRAORDINARY SEASON PG. 4

.....Last May, PJR Properties LLC purchased Brookfield’s Ruby Isle Shopping Center for $17.8 million. PJR is an investment group affiliated with Piggly Wiggly Midwest LLC. The previous owner was the Ruby family, which built the shopping center in the 1960’s, according to Milwaukee Business News. .....As an investor, Ruby Isle’s new owner bought the property purely as a real estate opportunity. Chief operating officer (COO) Gary Suokko of Piggly Wiggly Midwest explained the company will be “strictly a landlord,” as written by the Milwaukee Business Journal. All tenants within the shopping center will still have leases between their parent companies and Ruby Isle. Even Pick ‘n Save, the anchor tenant that attracts customers to Ruby Isle, will operate VALERIE YURK

SENIORS ON COLLEGE APPS PG. 5

as it has been, despite being a Piggly Wiggly supermarket competitor. Unless the stores themselves decide not to renew their leases, all things will remain as they are. .....Piggly Wiggly Midwest made a similar purchase May 16, just two days before the Ruby Isle deal closed. According to The Produce News, the company bought three Joe Caputo and Sons grocery stores for $32 million in light of the Caputo and Sons’ financial issues. These stores are located in Illinois. Still, just like in Brookfield, Piggly Wiggly Midwest and PJR plan to keep all stores running, showing how the family-friendly grocery chain may be beginning to expand in a new way. .....Regardless of the drastic change, Ruby Isle experienced a seemingly smooth transition in owners. EMMA FAVILL

DIXON’S NUTCRACKER PG. 5

news

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO BC’s class of 2016 ranks #7 in the state of Wisconsin for the ACT

DECEMBER 2016

Brookfield Central’s class of 2016 was reported to have a 24.1 composite average on the ACT last year, placing BC as seventh in the state for ACT scores. This average is lower in comparison to the class of 2015’s score of 25.5 which was an all-time high for the Elmbrook Schools district.

How America is slowly cutting out soda

ELLEN LINNIHAN

Neha Ajjampore Reporter

The Manly Men of the class of 2018 get in formation to practice for the big show.

Boys gear up for Mr. BC

Eugene Kim Editor-in-Chief

Around this time of year, BCHS junior boys are occupied with preparations for Mr. BC, an annual competition where contestants are judged on a series of criteria as they battle often hilariously and flamboyantly for the coveted crown. The highly informal competition/talent show/ beauty pageant/comedy act is set to take place Dec. 16 in the cafeteria. Mr. BC is one of Brookfield Central’s most unique traditions. Each participant is to be judged on his character, as presented throughout the night in various performances or activities. The first of these is a dance session, led by members of the Lancerettes. Often times, contestants are woefully underprepared for such a performance. Individual interpretations of dance moves or segments are not only allowed, but anticipated. This dance supposedly covers the participants fitness, the first criterion of judgment. Then, one by one, the candidate is introduced onto the stage with a personal video that he produced, in which he may subtly (or, more often the case, not-so-subtly) displaysome of his strengths, weaknesses, quirks, and talents. This is the second criterion of judgment, which is a change from contests of previous years. While contestants did present videos in years prior, this will be the first in

which the video will actually be considered in the judging process. The video is followed by the third criterion of judgment: talent. The candidate puts on a performance of some sort, which varies wildly but generally includes some display of a “talent” (sometimes stretching the definition of the word to its very limits). Finally, before he can leave the stage, there is a brief Q&A session, which can be taken as seriously as he chooses. An additional criterion of judgment takes place outside the performance. In the weeks leading up to the big event, candidates will be expected to fundraise at least $250, most often through sales of food items. Money from these fundraising efforts will go towards paying for Prom. The informality of the contest cannot be overstressed; in fact, it is highly encouraged. Mr. BC is a humorous and nonsensical event where students are fully expected to make fools of themselves or otherwise find creative ways to lead audiences to laughter. Recalling his own experience, last year’s Mr. BC winner Bobby Ravanelli (‘17) said, “last year’s experience was a great time. There was a ton of talent and I think every competitor had a lot of fun making people laugh. I am looking forward to this year.”

ou’re at work and after hours of continuous toil, you decide you need a break. You locate the nearest vending machine, hoping for a cold Pepsi or maybe a refreshing Mountain Dew, but instead, you’re shocked to find it filled with bottled water and natural fruit juices. This is the case for several cities in the United States in the workplace as well as at colleges and schools. The removal, replacement, and taxing of sugary beverages in offices and universities has caused quite a rumble within several soft drink companies. While sodas have held a high rank in sales over other drinks in the past, recently, their popularity has been steadily declining due to new studies that linked them with various problems among people of all ages, including obesity and sleep deprivation. Aside from utilizing the internet for publicity and attention, soft drink corporations also promote sales of their products in schools. Companies pay schools to have their vending machines kept throughout the halls, and by doing this, schools are provided with a source of funding. Other ways that businesses boost their sales include campaigning and expanding across borders. Programs such as Coca-Cola’s Share a Coke project connect personally to consumers, which in turn persuades them to buy more of the product being sold. Statistics from each company’s website showed that internationally, both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola made a large portion of their revenues. Coca-Cola gained about 58% of its profits and PepsiCo derived around 49% from around the world. All of these marketing ideas, and many others, are what helped beverage companies develop into empires. So, what changed? Business advancement has an effect on a multitude of different things, depending on what the focus of those businesses is. In this case, as sales in sugary drinks rose, so did some negative trends. Obesity, sleep loss, and even metabolic syndrome, that is, numerous conditions that increase the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease also showed signs of escalation. The outcomes of experiments conducted by University of California San Francisco revealed that the consumption of sugar-sweetened

beverages has a link to sleep deprivation, corpulence (the state of being overweight), and other diseases. Many cities initiated efforts to find a solution to this growing problem and from this sparked the idea to add taxes to or simply remove soft drinks in order to lessen their sales. In October, the World Health Organization urged cities and countries to impose taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks, and their research later showed that just a 20% increase in soda prices reduced their consumption greatly. Nonetheless, the decisions on the issue are far from finalized. There has been much controversy over the matter, as clearly seen in Philadelphia when the mayor proposed a tax with the aim to eliminate the negative effects of sweetened beverages while efficiently provide money for several community activities. Opponents of the tax believe that sugary drink consumption can and will decrease on its own, and taxes wouldn’t provide a steady source of income. Moreover, companies within the soft drink industry, mainly Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, have been fighting against the tax, claiming that taxing soda was illegal. The battle over soda sales continues, as the banning and taxing of soft drinks has had a positive impact on some and a negative impact on others. Still, there have been signs that a transition into a healthier lifestyle is already underway. At the University of California, San Francisco, a number of people included in the study were interviewed afterward. They all came to the same conclusion: they’ve begun to choose beverages without sugar over those that have added sweetening. People have gotten used to drinking water, diet drinks, or 100% fruit juices with no added sugar as opposed to sodas, sports drinks, and other similar beverages. One reason why this occurred is because of the decline in the promotion of them. For example, fast-food restaurants that oblige to the restriction started with a slight dip in beverage sales, but recovered quickly as more and more people bought replacements for sugary drinks that are more nourishing. Overall, people are generally living healthier lifestyles because the temptation to buy unhealthy drinks no longer exists in several environments due to the new measures.

Infographic by Ellianne del Campo

“Last year’s experience was a great time. there was a ton of talent and I think competitors had a lot of fun making people laugh.” -Bobby Ravanelli Mr. BC 2016 ♔

Published throughout the year (no June, July, or August issue) by the TYRO staff of Brookfield Central High School, 16900 W. Gebhardt Rd., Brookfield, WI 53005-5199 and printed by American vLitho Printing in Milwaukee, WI. Yearly subscriptions will no longer be for purchase. This publication is a public forum. The policy of this newspaper is to inform the Elmbrook community of school and civic activities in a fair, accurate way, and to provide a vehicle for responsible opinions. Letters, columns, and cartoons incorporated within do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of all staff. Written submissions must be signed, are limited to 250 words, and may be refused and/ or edited.

Brookfield Central Tyro 2016-2017 Staff

Editors-in-Chief Eugene Kim, Vivian Walbrun, Rebecca Yi, Alice Zheng Online Editor-in-Chief Alice Zheng Business Manager Victoriya Tarakanova News Editors Eric Chen, Rohan Ramachandran, Sophia Sun

Activities Editors Laurel Chen, Sanchi Kalra

Opinions Editors Leslie Bonilla

Online/Social Media Editor Madison Hummel

Adviser Mrs. Ellen Linnihan

Sports Editor Olga Boukhvalova

Contributing Reporters Neha Ajjampore, Leslie Bonilla, Elianne del Campo, Stephanie Chen, Madison Hummel, Kevin Jacobson, Aparna Jayashankar, Eugene Kim, Shreya Ashok Kumar, Emily Otten, Mary Ellen Ritter, Ravina Sachdev, Tinglin Shi, Julianne Sun, Valerie Yurk, Alice Zheng

Contributing Photographers Leslie Bonilla, Emma Favill, Ellen Linnihan, Mary Mann, Kirat Mokha, Marie Onwubuariri, Rishi Sachdev, Jon Vogt, Vivian Walbrun, Brooks Walls, Valerie Yurk

Printer American Litho Printing

Features Editors Aparna Jayashankar, Ravina Sachdev, Valerie Yurk Reviews Editors Teja Paturu, Tinglin Shi

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

DECEMBER 2016

BC Choir, Band, Orchestra hold Sacred Music Concert Sunday, Dec 11, the BC choirs, chamber orchestra, and band performed the annual Sacred Music Festival at St. Mary’s Parish in Elm Grove.

Junior Boys prepare for Mr. BC

Eighteen junior boys are lined up to put on their shows at the Mr. BC contest, scheduled for Dec. 16 in the cafeteria.

BC service clubs spread holiday cheer

activities

JON VOGT

Mary Ellen Ritter Reporter

he Brookfield Central student body continuously finds ways to impact the lives of others by lending a helping hand. Although service clubs such as Key Club, Red Kettle Club (RKC), National Honor Society (NHS), and Spanish Honor Society (SHH) work year round to serve the community, their busiest time of the year is from November through December. Key Club, one of BC’s largest organizations, provides almost 400 high schoolers with a surplus of opportunities to volunteer during this part of the year. Executive Board member Kiley Smith (‘17) says, “The holiday season is definitely our busy volunteering season. There are more events centered around the holidays that need our help. Most organizations have holiday events because they are easy to get people to attend and are generally successful.” Smith,

along with other executive members, encourage those in the club to take part in holiday themed runs, festivals, and events. Red Kettle Club is also extremely busy during the last few months of the year, as it grants high school students the opportunity to serve through the Salvation Army’s programs. Co-President Kajal Khatri (’17) says that throughout the holiday season, “Our schedule is packed with bell ringing, Christmas caroling, and holiday fairs.” It has also been noted that during this season, members create Christmas cards and serve food at homeless shelters. NHS executive board member Catie Conlon (‘17) explains that NHS spreads their Christmas cheer through “holiday related events, such as making wreaths for a hospice center, delivering cookies to the Humane Society, volunteering at Ronald Mc-

Donald Christmas Fantasy House which is a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House, helping at races on Thanksgiving and close to the holiday season.” Similarly, Spanish Honor Society spreads warmth during the cold winter months. Advisor Mrs. Kathy Dubiel says, “Our mission is to bring awareness and importance of language leaning to our fellow students and to support the Hispanic community through service.” In order to carry out this mission, the club plans to make a difference at La Casa de Esperanza by providing wrapped gifts for children in need. The holidays are brimming with opportunities to make a difference. The community takes pride in how much students are able to give back to the community. These are true traditions expected to last for many years to come.

BC publications recognized at KEMPA Kevin Jacobson Reporter

MADISON HUMMEL

Brookfield Central Legend’s recently won award at KEMPA currently hangs on the wall admist a collection of others in Mr. Juran’s room

.....Every year the members of the TYRO Newspaper and Legend Yearbook are invited to the Kettle Moraine Press Association (KEMPA) conference at UW-Whitewater. This organization judges and evaluates our yearbook and newspaper.

Schools from across the Midwest submit their yearbooks, newspapers and other high school media outlets. Together TYRO and Legend attended this conference and came home with many awards in both individual and overall categories. KEMPA is also a

conference for students to learn new journalism and design skills in miniature workshops directed by school advisors. .....Legend performed quite well with 28 individual awards along with receiving the high honor of All KEMPA for the yearbook overall received by only a few schools. Of the 28 individual awards there was nine Honorable Mentions, 9 Excellents, 8 Superiors and two Best of Shows. “We received many more awards this year than last year, but there were many more categories this year,” said Mr. Juran. “We did well this year but we are always trying to improve.” .....TYRO received second place ranking for three consecutive issues that are submitted from the previous year. The newspaper also received second place for their online publication. .....This is a great opportunity for all the hard work that Tyro and Legend put in throughout the year to be recognized by their peers. The memorable and fun KEMPA conference gives school publications an opportunity to let their hard work pay off. Overall, Legend and TYRO performed tremendously well and will be returning next year.

The Mock Trial team intently studies this year’s case at their case release party.

Mock Trial has a new case Aparna Jayashankar Features Editor

.....The

Brookfield Central Mock Trial team has started off the year strong; in October, the case for the new school year was released, and the team immediately set off to work analyzing it. Last year, the team placed fourth at regionals, and this year, it hopes to make it to state. .....Mock Trial is an incredible opportunity for high schoolers that are interested in pursuing a profession related to law or business or for anyone who finds cases fascinating. Every year, a new case is released, containing the facts of the case as well as sworn witness affidavits from the parties involved. This year, the case is about an overdose on prescription drug killers that killed a victim named Riley Thomas. The defendant, Tristan Marks, is being tried to determine if he is guilty of first-degree reckless homicide, on account of allegedly delivering oxycodone pills to Thomas. .....Mesmerized by the case, the BC Mock Trial team has started to pick apart the affidavits of each witness in the case to find valuable information to use for the trial. Over the next few months, the team will

compete at several scrimmages where they will assume their roles and argue the case in preparation for regionals in early February. This competition will be held at a courthouse, where the team will compete against other schools by presenting their case in front of actual judges. .....Members of the team say that Mock Trial gives them a chance to take on positions of lawyers and witnesses in an actual courtroom, providing invaluable experience for the future. For Sanchi Kalra (‘17), who has been on the team for the past three years, Mock Trial is not just about arguing a case; the camaraderie, combined with wonderful coaches and teammates, truly makes it a worthwhile activity. “I initially joined mock trial because I was a part of something similar in middle school, and it turned out to be a ton of fun. The atmosphere in Mock Trial is just so friendly and welcoming, but we’re still very productive. This year, I’m so excited to hang out with our awesome team, and I can’t wait to see how we do at regionals!” .Kalra said..

JSA slays at the Fall State Convention Kevin Jacobson and Ravina Sachdev

Members of JSA pose for a photo in the Madison State Capitol building.

.....The Junior Statesmen of America, also known as JSA, is a club devoted to promoting civic and political engagement among teens through debates, discussions, and other relevant activities. It is the largest student run organization in the entire country. .....During the weekend of Nov. 1920, Brookfield Central’s JSA chapter, along with other chapters in the Midwest, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin to attend Fall State, one of the three

major conventions per year. In light of the recent presidential election, Fall State’s theme was titled: “From Promises to Policy; Unifying the Nation.” Many of the debates pertained to topics such as the presidential campaigns and the election itself. .....With debates ranging from “The EU should admit Turkey” to “The US should enlist the Avengers to combat ISIS,” Fall State interested a wide va-

riety of students with the diversity of the intriguing topics debated. Two Lancers came home with Best Speaker awards, voted by their peers at the convention. Owen Eppel (‘19) received the Best Speaker Award for his speech on memes. ¨It was scary to go up in front of a bunch of people and I had to force myself to talk,” recalled Eppel. “It was a lot of fun and very much worth it to hear my name called.” Max Sommerfield (‘18) also won Best Speaker for his speech on whether or not party loyalty is more important than a candidate’s outlying individual beliefs. At this convention, students were able to forge new friendships that cross state borders. “Meeting people from other schools and forming close bonds with them was only the icing on the cake,” said Ravina Sachdev, Director of Publicity and Recruitment of BC’s JSA club. Sachdev finished her thought by stating that ¨overall, JSA Fall State was an incredibly diverse and life changing experience.¨

ELLEN LINNIHAN

One resident impresses the audience with his spectacular drumming skills.

Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy puts on show Sanchi Kalra Activities Editor

The newly formed Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy has officially renamed December as “Do Good December.” Wednesday, Dec. 7, the students of the Academy put on a showcase for the residents of the Brookfield Rehabilitation Center. The students entertained the crowd with a variety of acts, such as Ellie Kumer’s (‘19) ballet performance, Michael Linnihan’s (‘20) speedy rubix cube solving, and Lizzie Peterson’s (‘18) piano performance. Other highlights included Becca Yi’s (‘17) performance of Silent Night and a colorguard routine by Suzy Dawood (‘18), Abbie Mumm (‘19), and Katie King (‘19). At the end, everyone participated in a Christmas carol sing-a-long accompanied by Ben Schroeder (‘20). The residents of the center thoroughly enjoyed the interactive performance. “You could see it in [the residents’] faces,” commented Mrs. Ellen Linnihan, one of the advisers of the Academy. “They didn’t want it to end.”

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

sports

Brookfield Gymnastics dominates their first dual meet

Wednesday, Dec. 7, the Brookfield Gymnastics team competed against Grafton. Both the JV and Varsity teams won overall, and the gymnasts took first in every event.

Boys’ Swim takes third in conference relays

DECEMBER 2016

The Brookfield Central Boys’ Swim team took third place at conference relays at Menomonee Falls Saturday, Dec. 10. BROOKS WALLS

Over 300 lancers proudly wore white in support of the Brookfield Central soccer players. Shimmering blue pom poms were held in the air during the new tradition of the “Power Clap” created by the Superfans.

Distinguished Lancers walk away with pride from Soccer State

Ravina Sachdev Features Editor

ver 400 BC soccer fans, drenched in white face paint, excitedly boarded the buses to cheer on the BC Boys’ Soccer team playing in the state semifinals against Marquette High School Nov. 3. After being admitted with the official red ink stamp, students filed into the bleachers, eagerly preparing for the Lancers to begin playing at Uihlein Soccer Park. As expected from the student body, there was a continuous flow of encouragement and pos-

itive spirit towards the players. Principal Gruetzmacher appreciated this: “It was nice to see how the entire school rallied around the team and supported the boys. It was memorable for all players, especially the seniors.” Posters of encouragement and glittery blue/silver pompoms circulated the student section over the course of the entire game. Every few minutes, a group of senior superfans wrote cheers on a whiteboard for the en-

tire Lancer section to recite. BC students undoubtedly defeated the Hill Toppers in terms of supporting their school. Fans were impressed by the intense skill level displayed by the Lancer boys on the field. The Lancer passes were especially sharp and direct, making it difficult for Marquette players to interfere. Without a doubt, the two teams were well matched. Players from both teams aggressively fought over the ball. Needless to say, the Lancers fought hard and well

from the first minute all the way to the last few seconds, despite a 3-0 loss. The boys demonstrated great perseverance throughout the entire soccer match, and many can agree that the Lancer soccer team demonstrated sportsmanship and camaraderie towards Marquette before, during, and even after the game. The boys proved that one can indeed be victorious even if the scoreboard says otherwise.

Check out the fall sports statistics at bctyro.com!

BROOKS WALLS

Top left: Brookfield Central and Marquette fight for the soccer ball. Bottom left: Jacob Kryscio (‘18) runs down the field with the soccer ball. Middle: BC Juniors proudly represent the school with their high levels of cheer and comradery with a home made sign that reads “BC Rocks” Right: After a hard-fought battle, the Boys’ Soccer team gets a well-deserved break from the action as they come together on the field.

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

DECEMBER 2016

Student Council hosts Thanksgiving dinner

Community members gathered in the BC Cafeteria for a Thanksgiving dinner served by members of Student Council.

Mr. Gruetzmacher out-tweets Mr. Nellis

Gruetzmacher, with 17k tweets, officially tweets more than one of BC’s most prolific tweeters -- Mr. Nellis, with 15k.

features

Senior Feature: the Rae of sunshine that illuminates BC Eugene Kim Editor-in-Chief

KIRAT MOKHA

Rae Davel (‘17) braves the cold Wisconsin winter and smiles for a photo.

porting a recently acquired pixie cut and an unwavering radiant smile, senior Rae Davel was putting the finishing touches on some locker decorations for a friend’s birthday when I ap-

proached her for an interview. Beside her was a home-baked cake, which she later explained was part of her compulsive baking habits. “I was up until three last night...had to wait for the stupid ganache to set. It’s good

ganache though. I was really impressed with myself,” she says with a laugh. Though her Walgreens employee nametag reads “Rachel,” she is known as Rae to all her friends and family. “I didn’t know my real name was Rachel until kindergarten, because nobody ever called me that,” she says. “I think it suits me better than Rachel...because I’m a Rae of sunshine!” she jokes before bursting into laughter. “And like, if I was about to walk into oncoming traffic, you can scream it real easily, so there’s that.” Pragmatic like her own nickname, Davel has garnered much attention through her creative talents. Most recently, she designed her own dress for Halloween. “This year I was a Day of the Dead skeleton, the year before that I was an antique doll, and the year before that, I was Anna from Frozen,” she says. She has expressed a desire to do more dressmaking and designing, but has encountered some problems from her ‘Sewing Machine of Death.’ “I think it’s determined to wipe me off the face of the earth, and I it,” she

says. “So...I do a lot of hand sewing.” Not to be easily dissuaded by something as simple as a bloodthirsty sewing machine, Davel often finds herself experimenting; picturing designs in her head before setting out to work with the fabric she has lying around the house. She also created her Homecoming dress this year - a simple yet elegant black dress decorated with a string of white lights to mimic stars. “My first thought for the space theme was to light up - like, obnoxiously so,” she says. “Apparently, other people didn’t have that thought.” However, her creative passions do not stop at fashion design. Davel always keeps her hands busy - seemingly for no reason, and seemingly without constraint. “Homework kind of sits by the wayside...But if you ever wanted to build a small windmill, that’s kind of what I do,” she says, laughing again. “And then you’re just like, ‘I didn’t need this. What do I do with it?’” She ended up presenting it to her dad. With an older sister and an older brother already sent off to college, Davel is the official baby of the

family. And while she feels ready to graduate, she is less certain about her plans for the future. “I don’t really know what I’m going to do,” she says. “I think more than college, I’m excited for internships and studyabroad and opportunities like that.” She has considered majoring in industrial design, although she feels she could also be comfortable in illustration or perhaps film or computer science- which, she admits she has little experience in. “I feel like I would be happy doing anything,” she says. “Although [some schools] didn’t have my major, so I applied for really random majors. So, if I end up in marketing, you know why that happened.” Regardless, wherever she is headed for the future, Davel will not forget her roots as a born-and-raised Brookfielder. “I’ve lived in the same house since I was eight months old. Brookfield has always been my life,” she says. “I don’t really picture myself coming back to Brookfield, but maybe I will. There’ll probably be, like, eight more DSWs by the time I come back, but that’s fine - I don’t mind shoes.”

Emma Favill directs Dixon’s Nutcracker for the last time Stephanie Chen Reporter

As it’s the holiday season, Dixon Elementary is preparing for its annual performance of the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is a well-known ballet composed by Tchaikovsky in the late nineteenth century and a Christmas favorite that delights audiences of all ages. The ballet follows the story of Clara, who awakens to find that her beloved Nutcracker has come to life, caught in battle with the evil Mouse King. It is after the battle that the magic truly begins. The Nutcracker prince whisks Clara away to the mystical realm of the Sugar Plum Fairy where all the inhabitants of Land of Sweets dance for the children. The ballet ends with Clara awakening to find everything just the way it was before she fell asleep, as if it were all just a dream. Brookfield Central’s very own Emma Favill (‘17) is the director of this year’s Nutcracker. For this year’s Nutcracker, there is a cast of over sixty. Favill herself always participates in the “Party Scene,” and has played both the Snow Queen and the Spanish Dance. “While it is fun to be a part of the show, it is simpler to be backstage directing from behind the scenes,” Favill commented on her experience. Favill describes her Nutcracker experience as “incredibly rewarding.” Her public speaking skills have improved with the need to address large groups of parents, kids, and audience members. When asked about her hopes for this year’s production, she

says that, “Every year, my hopes are the same. I want to run a successful show that is fun for the participants, enjoyable for the audience, and raises the largest sum of money we can manage so that we can better help the community and our veterans.” Her goal each year is to give children in grade school the experience of being in a production and an opportunity to build confidence through an activity they enjoy. This, being her senior year, is Favill’s last year running the Nutcracker. Next year, Ivy Smith (‘20) will take on the role of main director. Some advice given by Favill is to work ahead on everything that needs to be done instead of doing tasks as they come up. In her words, it “makes the craziness close to the performance much easier.” Favill says she will greatly miss the Nutcracker experience. “I am going to miss all my young friends that I have gotten the pleasure to bond with for the past five years. I’m going to miss the little girls calling me “Ms. Emma” and running up to me giving me hugs and telling me that they are having fun.” The proceeds for the shows at Dixon will donated to the Fisher House, an organization that provides temporary housing for families of veterans while their wounded family member is hospitalized for treatment. The profits have yet to be tallied, but Favill hopes to match or exceed last year’s donation of over $4000.

MARIE ONWUBUARIRI

Ballerinas gracefully line up on stage in position to dance into the next move.

VALERIE YURK

Central’s students dread college applications

Valerie Yurk Features Editor

Thomas George (‘17) No. of College Apps: 10

Emily Smith (‘17) No. of College Apps: 5

Lizzy Peterson (‘18) Future College Applicant

Thoughts: “My mom was like ‘It’s not that hard,’ but all they had to do was one essay. Now we have to do like six to prove that you’re not a robot.”

Thoughts: “I understand that the process might be necessary for colleges, but for students, it’s just so tedious. The Common Application has helped a lot, though.”

Thoughts: “I’m already anxious and it’s like less than a year away. Everyone says that it’s such a bad time.”

Ravina Sachdev Features Editor

RISHI SACHDEV

Alum shares experiences in Ireland Rishi Sachdev, from Brookfield Central’s class of 2014, is currently studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland. Here is a short Q&A with him: Why did you choose to go [to Dublin]? To tell you the truth, when I entered college the idea of studying abroad never crossed my mind. But after talking to my advisors at school, I found that many universities in different countries offered courses that could count towards my economics major. The Irish universities I looked at had similar courses I needed, and I had heard a lot about the unique culture and beautiful landscape I would find here. What university do you attend, and how is it different from college in the US? I go to University College Dublin (UCD). The major difference between college here versus in the States, is that here we have very few assignments, and almost all of our grades come from exams. I think one of my final exams is worth 80%

Sachdev stops to admire a crystal-clear lake in County Atrim, Northern Ireland.

of my final grade, and I have friends in classes where the final is actually worth 100%. This places a lot more personal responsibility on the students to keep on top of our work throughout the semester. What have you taken away from your experience? Studying abroad is probably one of the best ways to become a more independent person. It affords you the opportunity to not only study at a new university, but to immerse yourself in a new culture and really break out of

your comfort zone. In many cases, the transition is even more difficult than mine, because most countries have a language barrier. One piece of advice that I would give to help ease this transition is to join student organizations at your host institution. In my experience, it’s one of the best way to meet locals! Are there any new Irish catchphrases that you hear a lot? “What’s the craic?” This is a strange phrase that roughly translates to “what’s up?”

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

reviews

Able

“Pharrell Williams delivers throwback soul and gospel with his new song ‘Able.’”

- Rolling Stone

La La Land

“A success both as a fizzy fantasy and a hard-headed romance. A work of sublime artifice and touching authenticity.” - New York Times

DECEMBER 2016

Moana

“Lovable characters and memorable music make this Disney film great.” - The Washington Post

Holiday How-to’s: the perfect dessert for Christmastime

Sophie Bohr Reporter

Recipe created by Sophie Bohr Perfect for your next Holiday party! Prep Time: 15 minutes Serves: 15

. .

SOPHIE BOHR SOPHIE BOHRproduct of this easy truffle recipe. These beautiful truffles taste as good as they look. The finished

Shakespeare’s Folio disappoints ardent fan Madison Hummel Online Editor

In preparation for the exciting day, I eagerly packed my camera, money, and a mind ready for anything that came my way. Why? I was about to see the first “Folio”, one of the first collections of all 36 of Shakespeare’s plays, compiled by the bard’s actors

after his untimely death. This magnificent work is displayed at the Chazen Art Museum in Madison from Nov. to mid-Dec. As I was greeted to the sleek, modern look in the museum, I was pleasantly surprised to find that due to donations, admission was free. After locating the exhibit, a lump formed

MADISON HUMMEL

Viewing the manuscript open to Hamlet’s famous soliloquy was very exhilarating for Madison.

in my throat as I realized that one of history’s greatest treasures remained separated from me by a short staircase. The stairs came to a short hallway, where two rooms branched out, telling of mystery. My heart jumped with each step towards the room at the end of the hallway. I stepped into the room and was hit with a wall of disappointment. It was bare, aside from some informational posters detailing the significance of Shakespeare’s works, and a randomly-placed meme. The room itself possessed a darker lighting. On one side was a single glass case, with a guard lurking in the corner. Despite the let down, I still felt anxious to step towards the case and peer down at the magnificent manuscript. The page was turned to Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, in which he expounds the wonders of life and death and whether living is truly worth it. It was incredibly exhilarating, observing each word and analyzing the differences between the old written text and the new. For starters, the S’s were written as F’s, and E’s were added

onto the ends of some words. Moving on from but not nearly finished with the folio, I went on to the next room, in which artistic posters of Hamlet from either Poland or Russia were presented. Most had skulls or bones depicted or were in angsty colors, but each was distinguished and unique in its own way. It was a nice touch to the room, but overall it lacked in energy as the rest of the room was bare, aside from a single couch in the middle. I walked back into the main room and read the informational posters again. This time, one of them caught my eye. It was a list of every single play. Some were highlighted, indicating that without the Folio, they wouldn’t exist. They included were As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and The Tempest. In honesty, I wish the exhibit was more interesting and larger, although it probably has something to do with the world’s utter disinterest or even hate towards Shakespeare, and due to the fact that the Chazen Art Museum has free entry. Also, the guard made

enjoying the work a hard challenge to excel in, as his continuous glare dissuaded a discussion. Despite the fact that it was his duty to monitor surveillance at all times, his presence was the metaphorical elephant in the exhibit room. Despite the shortcomings of this exhibit, I would recommend the Folio exhibit to others. MADISON HUMMEL

An artistic poster of Hamlet from either Poland or Russia; the room was pretty nice, but lacked energy as the rest of it was bare.

BC seniors discuss their favorite holiday movies

Payal Ahuja (‘17) gushed about “Barbie and the Twelve Dancing Princesses,” an animated movie that details the tale of Genevieve. She explained that she loves the movie because it “clearly shows the triumph of good over evil and has the spirit of Christmas within it.”

Elf, a stalwart Christmas movie classic, is Shayna Seegert’s (‘17) favorite holiday movie. Seegert loves Elf because of all of its “random silly scenes,” especially the storied elevator scene in which Buddy’s first experience with an escalator results in him falling into a split in the middle of a mall!

Leslie Bonilla Opinions Editor

Maclaren Krueger (‘17) picked It’s a Wonderful Life, released in 1946. Krueger said that she liked how the movie “explores the idea that everyone’s life matters because [everyone] affects so many other lives.”

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

DECEMBER 2016

Awaken, My Love!

“Childish Gambino seems to have realized that his music can be just as resonant, if not more so, when he brings a hip-hop sensibility to vocals and melodies, and leaves the bars behind” - Rolling Stone

Manchester by the Sea

“Manchester by the Sea goes on to be a fantastic meditation on the long tail of trauma, but one that doesn’t wallow needlessly: There’s such humor and humanity at work that the film manages to be cathartic.” - The Atlantic

reviews

Starboy dazzles listeners and shines all around coming soon Ravina Sachdev Features Editor

o say the very least, Abel Tesfaye’s (whose stage name is The Weeknd) latest album Starboy is riveting. But of course, further elaboration is appropriate here. To begin, the artist incorporates several reoccurring dark and ominous tunes throughout the album. These elements can be heard in the instrumentals, in his own voice, and in the background artists. Small grace notes of the flat key are added to the background music to add a mysterious and almost sinister effect. The Weeknd succeeds in ending most of his songs in suspenseful way, when the song slowly comes to an end as the last spine-chilling notes fade away. A repetitive theme throughout the Starboy album, released Nov. 25, is The Weeknd voicing his opinions against his critics. In many of his songs such as the main title song “Starboy” and another song “Reminder,” the singer passes hints at how he is now thriving as a musician despite obstacles he has faced. Especially in his song “Sidewalks,” Tesfaye mentions how he came from a place that was overburdened with low expectations and setbacks. He describes how he rose up through the

upcoming movies

ranks to fame today. As a matter of fact, one of the lines is “homeless to Forbes List...” The Weeknd makes a clear statement in a plethora of songs that he is impenetrable to criticism. His strong and confident singing voice in most of the Starboy songs that contribute to the idea of him defying others’ expectations and limitations that society sets on him. In several of his verses, The Weeknd passes hints that he is supposedly meant for something more than what the status quo dictates, and that is something I find very appealing in him as an artist. The Weeknd is unafraid to cross the boundaries that are often feared and obeyed by many. He touches on subjects that most artists are too timid to reveal about themselves. Another interesting feature of Starboy is how the artist not only showcases his defiant side, but his soft hearted and loving personality as well. In songs such as “Die for You,” The Weeknd morphs his voice into an affectionate one, accommodated by a sonorous and very impactful beat. This song most definitely stands out to many listeners, including myself, because the resonant chorus suddenly emerges and becomes the climax

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story December 16 starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen

Assassin’s Creed December 23

starring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson

Hidden Figures December 30

starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner

THEWEEKND.COM

of the song (and in my opinion, the entire album). Some downsides to Starboy include how the smooth and RnB vibes of the album are cut by the shouting and harsh guitar smashing in the song “False Alarms.” This song proves to be unpleasantly obnoxious.

Rihanna’s new single deserves its fame Alice Zheng Editor-in-Chief

RIHANNANOW.COM

Fun fact: the child featured on the album cover of Anti (shown above) is Rihanna.

Infused with old soul and a slow doo-wop rhythm, Rihanna’s new single “Love on the Brain” is a pleasant and catchy alternative to today’s

pop music. “Love on the Brain” is Rihanna’s fourth single from her latest album, Anti. When I first heard this song on the radio, it immedi-

ately caught my attention. Its slow base was an alluring and refreshing change from the previous few upbeat songs. It sounded strikingly similar to old-school music from the 50’s and 60’s, but with a modern spin. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was sung by Rihanna, as it did not sound like most of her upbeat, explicit music. This single sounded more raw than her other music, interspersed with only two swears. However, the lyrics did match the overall tone of frustration with relationships that was widely present in the Anti album. Lyrics such as “You love when I fall apart so you can put me together and throw me against the wall” and “it beats me black and blue but…I can’t get enough” may describe Rihanna’s addictive but abusive relationship with Chris Brown in 2009. The lyrics

.....Overall, this album completely changed my perspective on the obstacles that one has to overcome especially when facing criticism. The Weeknd’s daring, savage side shined through in this album, and by doing so, his fan base drastically increased.

20th Century Women December 30

starring: Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig

new releases all reviews from imdb.com Miss Sloane (R) 64/100

also show Rihanna’s indecisiveness about relationships. She sings “don’t you stop loving me” and “don’t quit loving me” but sings “just stop loving me babe” just one line later. She sings that it is due to “love on the brain” that’s got her feeling this way. Despite the dark meaning of the lyrics, the melody of “Love on the Brain” truly showcases Rihanna’s wide vocal range. It begins on a higher note, drops to a smooth tenor and rises again. Listeners can hear the longing, pain, frustration, and indecisiveness in Rihanna’s voice with a Amy Winehouse vibe. The song could easily be slow-danced to at a wedding if the lyrics were more mawkish. Whatever the occasion, “Love on the Brain” is a catchy slow-beat song that’s great to turn up all the way in the car and attempt to sing along to.

starring: Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Gugu MbathaRaw, Michael Stuhlbarg

Moana (PG) 81/100

starring: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House

Arrival (PG-13) 81/100

starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker

Incarnate (PG-13) 30/100

starring: Carice van Houten, Aaron Eckhart, David Mazouz

Fantastic Beasts exceeds fans’ expectations

new music all ratings from rollingstone.com

Neha Ajjampore Reporter

Awaken, My Love!

Years ago, as the Harry Potter series came to an end, author J.K. Rowling left her fans with a few unanswered questions. These pertained to the future, especially concerning the generation of Potters, Weasleys, and other wizard families were resolved in the recently released Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Although the plotline of this play received mixed reviews, it still provided a story that followed the original Harry Potter series. While the loose ends about the future were being tied up, however, mysteries of the wizarding world’s past remained. Fortunately, Warner Brothers’ new movie Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them took care of many of these open ends very well. The beginning of the movie immediately grabs the viewer’s attention by flashing images of newspaper headlines concerning magical events taking place in the United States of America. The main character of the

story, famous magizoologist Newt Scamander, arrives at New York City from England carrying a suspicious-looking briefcase. Very soon, viewers learn that the briefcase is full of magical creatures, such as the Niffler, a rodent-like animal who is attracted to shiny objects, the Occamy, a reptilian creature who grows or shrinks in size to fit the space it remains in, and the Bowtruckle, a gentle plant-like critter who can get defensive if need be. These beasts, along with a few others, cause trouble for Newt with the Magical Congress of the United States when they escape from their home in the briefcase. The introduction to the adventure that Newt embarks on is an exciting thriller that sets up the rest of the movie for the viewers. Themes of friendship, love, and justice are evident throughout the movie, along with the overall message that all beings are equal and should be treated with fairness, no

FANTASTICBEASTS.COM

3.5/5

Childish Gambino

Starboy 3/5

The Weeknd

We Got It From Here 4/5

A Tribe Called Quest

The Hamilton Mixtape matter what they look like. A second, more dangerous plot line also adds to the anticipation and excitement of the fans. As Newt chases after his creatures while hiding from the government and keeping an eye out for evil, he meets people who stand with him through everything. Together, they demonstrate the power of teamwork

and the importance of choosing good over bad. In addition, the story creatively depicted the significance of equality between all living things in a fantastical and extraordinary way. All in all, the film has the right balance of action, adventure, and emotion that appeals to any audience, not just fans of Harry Potter.

3.5/5

Various Artists

24k Magic 3/5

Bruno Mars

BROOKFIELD CENTRAL TYRO

opinions

Viewpoint: Christmas presents

DECEMBER 2016

“‘Tis the season of giving - aka spending way too much on people you may or may not actually care about, then regretting it later.” -Anonymous

Trump’s choices will impact the Supreme Court for decades to come Valerie Yurk Features Editor

he past year and a half has been truly exhausting with the progression of the presidential election. Millions of Americans have been tuning in to party nominee and presidential election debates, watching both hopeful and terrifying news stories scroll by on the 6:00 air time. Experienced voters scrambled for answers, new voters wished away their right to vote, and the ineligible sat on the edge of their seats as our nation made historical decisions. The promises that these candidates spewed during debates would be set in stone once their name followed the coveted title of president. In the past, only a very small number of presidents actually fulfilled the majority of their promises; America continues to debate on the magnitude of their impact. Yet as Trump packs his bag for the Oval Office, the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) will become increasingly vulnerable to party control. Complete Republican control over major decisions can make a large difference in the next four years. When Justice Scalia passed away last February, the nation descended into turmoil. Before his passing, the Supreme Court tended to vote 5-4 on ground-breaking decisions with Scalia as the crucial swing vote. Obama nominated Justice Garland to fill SCOTUS’ void, yet the Senate act-

ed swiftly to withhold the approval of Obama’s decision until the new president was elected, avoiding the loss of a conservative swing voter. Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s state might lead to even more possible presidential appointments of justices; three of the eight current Justices are 78 years old or older, and one is being treated for pancreatic cancer. Considering that Supreme Court Justices serve for life – meaning until death, retirement, or resignation – these possible four new appointees will be deciding cases for several decades. With Trump’s election, these appointments have the ability to make major decisions on America’s most controversial issues right now, including abortion, immigration, affirmative action, and the Second Amendment. Soon after the election, Trump announced his possible SCOTUS justice list, commenting to the New York Times that he has “put forth an effort to quell concerns that he would not select conservative justices” and that his list is “representative of the kind of constitutional principles [he] value[s] and, as president, [he] plan[s] to use this list as a guide to nominate our next United States Supreme Court justices.” Many BC students are frustrated by their lack of say in the huge political overturn -- most high schoolers

“How do you combat the Wisconsin Winter?” *out of 99 students surveyed at BC

VALERIE YURK

An interior view of a state supreme court. The effects of Trunp’s Supreme Court decisions will be felt all the way down to the local level.

are not of age to vote, yet the adults who can are making the decision that will shape our country for years. “I think it’s super important that [Trump] could appoint four justices -- it will last the rest of our lives,” Alice Zheng (‘17) said. “It sucks that we can’t vote and we are prob-

ably the ones most affected by it.” Yet, as our nation prepares to say goodbye to Obama’s democratic control and welcomes a new era of Trump conservatism, all we can do is wait for more Supreme Court nominations to bear congressional approval. The only thing that is almost cer-

tain was put perfectly by Mia Manney (‘17): “There’s definitely going to be a shift, and it’s not gonna be liberal.” As a conservative Executive, Legislative, and now possibly Judicial branch rise, we can only wait to see if Trump’s presidency will serve as an agent for progress or for regression.

Dakota Access Pipeline: pros and cons Tinglin Shi Reviews Editor

One thousand, one hundred and seventy-two miles. That’s how long the Dakota oil pipeline would run - from both rugged Dakotas, through the fair plains of Iowa, and stopping at the heart of Illinois. The length of the Dakota pipeline serves to illustrate the far-reaching impacts, both good and bad, it would potentially have if approved. To form an opinion about this, it is necessary to examine both sides of the argument.

Pros:

Collect Starbucks Holiday Cups: 19.3%

Leav e 3.4% Wiscon si

Binge on Netflix: 25.2%

Enjoy the weather: 24.4%

The oil pipeline would be one big step in the energy industry. The line would be an incredibly safe, fast, and reliable method of transporting the oil, eliminating the need for oil trucks and trains. Not only will this prove to be more cost-effective, but farmers argue that this would free up transportation for Midwest grain, a move that would most definitely boost the economy. The project would create eight to twelve thousand temporary jobs and forty permanent jobs, a catalyst to the already decreasing unemployment rate. Finally, oil pipeline construction would be adaptable. The pipeline would be built with landowner interests in mind; if certain landowners disagree with the pipeline encroaching on their lands, the pipeline can be rerouted. Clearly, the Dakota pipeline could bring with it many economic benefits.

Cons: Hibernate and stay indoors: 27.7%

Despite possible benefits from the project, the pipeline is a major undertaking with incredibly high risks. For one thing, the whole project would cost approximately 3.78 billion dollars. The oil companies that signed for the pipeline would definitely have to make sure the money saved by the pipeline would be enough to offset the money invested. The main concern, however, is the environmental impact. The Dakota pipeline would pose a hazard to nearby water sources, most notably the Mississippi River, under which the pipeline will run. The river is alarmingly close to Sioux land, so an oil leak from underneath it would contaminate their water supply. The oil pipeline itself would also run strikingly close to sacred Native American burial sites, a point of strong contention between Native American groups and the oil companies. Tribal members concerned with water contamination and damage to sacred lands and wildlife have led a movement to stop the pipeline, drawing support from the Black Lives Matter movement, indigenous South American leaders, and Bernie Sanders, to name a few. This move could be risky, and a leak would be environmentally detrimental.

“Bring it on, Wisconsin: ” what the coming of winter means to us Julianne Sun Reporter

There’s something about the first snowfall of the year that is almost sacred. Snowplowers watch and ready their vehicles. Weather anchors recite the temperature and the current amount of snowfall. Children gather at windows - some hoping that school will be canceled, others only seeing it as typical winter behavior. Parents cannot help but see only the shovels and salt. And yet, the

snow keeps drifting down, oblivious to the many eyes watching it. Perhaps it’s because snow means Christmas. Snow means holidays. Snow means family, fireplaces, hot chocolate, and cookies. When it gets too cold outside, the house suddenly seems warmer. Some call it the Christmas spirit leaving its mark, while others chalk it up to just having a break after a long, busy year. Win-

tertime has always been enchanting, even back when families had to stock up on food and supplies. The magic that once coated log cabins and old wheelbarrows now rests upon cars and shingled rooftops. It’s the kind of magic that withstands time and tide. Some of us tend to see the bitter end of things, though. We, the people of Wisconsin, know what’s up. We have our winter jack-

ets. We have every anti-snow and anti-cold tool available. We pride ourselves on knowing the ins and outs of surviving a Wisconsin winter. Winter tries its hardest to get into every little corner, to freeze our water pipes and and fingers. A couple of times a year, it succeeds. Not this year, though. With Jack Frost a-blowing and Mother Nature readying her forces, Wisconsinites will be among the survivors.

So as we plod through our snow-covered driveways and watch the snow-plows pass through our neighborhoods, wonder at the whiteness that is able to cover any surface. Feel the bite of the cold winter wind. Taste a snowflake. Get your tongue stuck on a metal pole. Whatever it takes to embrace the last and first months of the year. Blow, blow, winter wind; we will be prepared.