advocate E V I L S’
Hinsdale Central High School • February 2016 • Volume 88
Meet the Millennials NORMAL feb cover.indd 1
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table of contents
6
8
12
16
21
opinions 5 5 6 7 8
Snapthought: Students share their thoughts Cheers & Jeers: What’s good and bad this month Editorial: Passion vs. Paycheck The To-Do List: Saadia checks off another to-do Battleground: Who should appoint the new Justice?
news
9 9 10 10 11 11
Game of the Month: Boys’ Track HCHS invite Ask the Athlete: Learn about this season’s stars Tell My Story: Second annual storytelling event Career Club: New club helps students plan future Illuminating Turnabout: Preparation for the dance Feed my Starving Children: Student Council charity
infographics
22 This month: A preview at what’s coming up
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features
12 Public & Private: Differences between public and private schools 16 Meet the Millennials: What is the Millennial generation? 21 Cutest Couples: A look at some of the cutest couples in school
profiles
15 Reflection of the Past: Central celebrates Black History Month 20 The Finish Line: Jan Erik Naess’ recent speed skating victory
corrections: For the editorial in January, the article said the school charges $75 for student parking passes, but this is only true per semester. For both semesters, it is $150. For the January Keeping Faith article, the statistics for religions should have said national religions, not world.
cover photo by Elise Martin
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A D V O S T A F F
editor in chief managing editor head design editor copy editors and heads of writers feature editors
elise martin lauren excell faith michal shannon sinwell saadia elahi arman haveric lancelot lin dana ahdab sayali amin maria harrast nina molina selin turkyilmaz emma joyce ray shryock seetha aribindi photo editors colleen martucci shiv bajaj haley anderson special report editors rina ravisundar
contributors ali ardehali • aneesh balusu • crosby becker
• katrina blum • elizabeth bogs • steven botsoe • barbara heidkamp • zeljko kospic • isha kukadia • juliana mayer • mitchell parse • sofia rafiq • keshav sanghani • madelyn studnicka • megan timmermann • serena tolani • anya uppal • nora wood • selina zeng • riley kowalski • beth schaller • joseph miscimarra • arthur dussias
mission statement
Devils’ Advocate strives to provide its readers with a diverse forum for reporting and sharing information. It is a student-run, school-funded newsmagazine published monthly. Devils’ Advocate wishes to provide fair and balanced reporting on events by working with students, teachers, and the community. It strives to inform, educate, and improve the atmosphere and student body of Hinsdale Central High School.
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letter from the editor
I’d like you all to pause a moment and take a big whiff. Do you smell that? That’s the scent of all the loooovvvveee that’s in the air. If you’re anything like me though—I spent Valentine’s Day eating Chips Ahoy cookies with my three year old cousin—then all the hype about love is just another reason why you dread the month of February. I’m sorry if I’ve already offended anybody who loves this month, but just hear me out. By February, I’m sick of the cold weather. Turns out that Punxsutawney Phil (that’s the groundhog’s name) predicted an early spring, but I don’t believe that one bit. Clearly, he has never been to Chicago before. The ground has become that gross (and dangerous) combination of mushy snow and black ice. Everybody’s grades begin to drop (the third quarter slump is not a myth, freshmen). Spring break seems like it’s an eternity away. And to top it all off, this year, February is a whole day longer! Now I know that I did just complain a lot. But even after all of that, I am able to find a silver lining. Although I didn’t have a “special someone” to spend Valentine’s Day with this year, I was still able to spend it with the people who love me the most—my family. The weather was actually beautiful last week and as I’m writing this, there is no snow on the ground. Seems like Phil may be right for once. And although it seems like a long way away, there really aren’t that many days until spring break (27 to be exact). So, find your silver lining and look forward to spring, including May when Advocate drops the senior issue, El Diablo drops the yearbook and school is over.
Dana Ahdab feature editor For every issue during the 20152016 school year, one of the Devils’ Advocate senior editors will write a letter from the editor.
contact & interact
Adviser Cherise Lopez clopez@hinsdale86.org 630-570-8361 Devils’ Advocate 55th and Grant Street Hinsdale, IL 60521 For more articles and content, visit us at hcdevilsadvocate.com, or scan the QR code.
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1. What is your favorite school subject? 2. What is your dream job? 3. What are your spring break plans? Charlie Carter, Freshman
Kotryna Pazemeckas, Sophomore
1. Digital communication tools because it’s easy. 2. Entrepreneur. 3. Stay here for HC baseball.
1. Math. I like to count. 2. Filmmaker. 3. Turn up at the Caribbean.
Nicko Ledesma, Junior
Katy Coseglia, Senior
1. English because that’s what I want to do. 2. Author. 3. Shave all my hair off and listen to Marvin’s room.
1. Science because I like to blow stuff up. 2. Physical therapist. 3. School trip to Spain. photos by Nora Wood
Cheers and Jeers -Cheers to the first public photo of
-Jeers to “Damn Daniel’s” white Vans being
than Kanye’s clothing line.
-Jeers to the “dab.” I can’t even sneeze
3-month-old Saint West. More popular -Cheers to February hitting 60 degrees! Maybe I can start working on my spring break tan...
-Cheers to Kesha’s supporters #FreeKesha
-Cheers to Fuller House the restaurant. So much better than the TV show.
stolen and sold on eBay for $3,000.
anymore without looking like I’m dancing.
-Jeers to “looking for roommate” Facebook posts. I love Netflix, working out, and partying, too.
-Jeers to Fuller House (the TV show). It’s not the same without the twins.
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f o t i u s r The Pu
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Why it’s more important to follow your passions rather than a paycheck
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s the time for college draws nearer, many students are stuck wondering if they should pursue their passions or work towards a decent paycheck. From a young age, everyone’s been taught to “follow their dreams!” and to “shoot for the stars!” But as students get older, it’s only natural that they begin doubting their dreams; they begin wondering if they’ll even succeed at their passions, or if it’s wiser to simply aspire for a job that’s financially stable. We believe that it is important to find happiness. And most likely, happiness comes with incorporating your passions in your life. We realize that there is a lot of pressure on today’s youth to go to a distinguished college, earn lots of money, and live in a luxurious place. And while all of these things are fine, your passions should not be sacrificed just for wealth or prestige. Money can’t buy happiness. In fact, according to an article published by the Wall Street Journal, the correlation between money and happiness is very small. Studies show that the happiest people are not necessarily the ones earning the most money, or the ones who live in extravagance. The happiest people are those who incorporate their passions in their lives, and prioritize experiences over material goods. “People think that experiences are only going to provide temporary happiness,” said San Francisco State University psychology professor Ryan Howell in the article. “But [experiences] actually provide both more happiness and more lasting value.” This proves that no matter what your paycheck is, you can find happiness through human connections and memories. Even if you’re earning hundreds of thousands of dollars, you won’t be content without making time for your passions. “If you don’t pursue something you’re passionate about, it’s only logical that you’ll end up less happy than if you had,” said Molly Awalt, junior. “Your passions are what give you your drive and determination to do what you love; how can you truly love what you’re doing if you’re not passionate about it?” However, Awalt realizes that some people pursue a paycheck because their passions are risky, and might not end in success. They settle for less than their dreams because of their fear of failure.
$
We understand that failure is a cause for concern. But isn’t there also a fear of an unfulfilled life? Of waking up in fifty years, and not being happy? Evan Donaldson, junior, hopes to perform on Broadway one day. The theater arts are generally considered to be one of the most ‘risky’ fields to pursue. “I don’t care how wealthy I become or where I live,” Donaldson said. “I don’t care [as long as] I can be happy when I come home.” Donaldson believes the feeling of performing in front of an audience is unlike anything else in his life. He thinks that the feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction should be something everyone should pursue. “Change a life, move someone to the point where they can’t just sit still and listen--they have to engage,” Donaldson said. According to an article in -Molly Awalt Time magazine, after achieving a certain salary, increases in paycheck actually don’t result in increases in satisfaction. A study conducted at Princeton University showed that after earning a salary of $75,000, happiness does not go up. “For people who earn that much or more, individual temperament and life circumstances have much more sway over their lightness of heart than money,” said economist Angus Deaton in the article. And passions don’t necessarily have to be in the arts; they can also be in the fields of math and science. Delaney Talbott-Swain, senior, hopes to pursue a career in engineering. She believes money can be worthless to people if they aren’t happy in their jobs. “I think that being an engineer will open up a lot of opportunities for me,” Talbott-Swain said. “The ultimate goal is to find a job that gives you both a stable paycheck and a chance at doing something you love.” We believe that no matter what your passions are-- no matter which career you choose--a balance must exist between work and passion, between financial security and happiness.
If you don’t pursue something you’re passionate about, it’s only logical that you’ll end up less happy than if you had.
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This editorial is the consensus of the Devil’s Advocate Editorial Board. 2/23/16 12:15 PM
The To-Do List by Saadia Elahi
September: Go all out for dress up days October: Fall into Autumn November: Cook once a week December: Relax and rejuvenate January: Stay inside and in shape February: Schedule some fun
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doing all of these things is possible and easy for me, and this month, I plan to incorporate some of those simple pleasures into my schedule. After years of planning, working, and stressing about school, I think it’s time to schedule some relaxation and enjoyment. Starting in February, I’m planning to have fun.
photo by Neha Basti
consider myself a pretty organized person, especially when it comes to school or other similar responsibilities; plans are my best friend. I pride myself on being able to find a way to fit it all in, even when it seems like there simply isn’t enough time to get everything done. Recently, though, I’ve been suffering from a condition fondly known as Senioritis. Ever since I committed to a university, my motivation for focusing solely on school has begun to falter. And that’s got me thinking—I’ve spent so much time planning out my school life, but what about my life outside of academic responsibilities? Doesn’t that deserve some attention? Since second semester began, I’ve noticed I have more time, which is something that I’ve considered a priceless commodity throughout the past three years. Therefore, in my eyes, it’s only fitting that I put it to good use. I’ve lived in Chicago my entire life, but I’ve never been downtown on St. Patrick’s Day to see the river dyed. This tradition has no direct connection to me—I’m not Irish, nor am I a leprechaun—but it’s an event that all kinds of Chicagoans partake in every year. There’s no reason I shouldn’t go just for the sake of having experienced it. It’s not even limited to experiences as elaborate as the river dyeing. I can’t remember the last time I went to a playground and just spent some time chilling on the swings. The last time I got a manicure was years ago. I haven’t been to the zoo in ages, which is a shame, because it used to seem like the biggest treat to me when I was little. I’m incredibly fortunate to have a life where
Elahi tries to avoid being swept off the swing by the raging wind while spending time at the local playground.
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Battleground: who should appoint the late justice scalia’s replacement?
photos by Haley Anderson
-1932, 1940, and 1956: The last three times a justice was nominated in a presidential year -President obama’s term expires in 329 days
Matt Bradley Mitchell parse
-Average time to confirm or deny a nominee: 25 days Facts from nytimes.com
As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “ We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts.” Since the founding of our great nation, we have been one based on the principle of a republic. Accordingly, it is the American citizen’s right and duty to decide who is appointed to lead our country and make the important decisions, such as who will make up the Supreme Court. And while it is indeed the president ’s job to nominate a replacement for the late Justice Scalia, it is also the Senate’s mandate to provide advice and consent. We are less than nine months away from a presidential election. This election is the best and only gauge to determine what Americans want to see in terms of our leaders. We should allow the issue of who gets nominated to the Supreme Court to be one for this election cycle; we should allow the people to decide on who they want in the White House and therefore on the Supreme Court. Although this seems like the obvious decision to make, President Obama has already criticized Mitch McConnell, the Repulican Senate Majority Leader, and the Senate itself for stating their intention to not confirm the appointing of a new Supreme Court Justice until the next election. President Obama recently told the Senate to “do their job.” What he fails to mention is that in 2006, Barack Obama himself and other Senate Democrats filibustered President Bush’s nomination, Justice Alito. He also fails to mention that Democrats rejected multiple candidates for the Supreme Court 28 years ago when Ronald Reagan was president (google Robert Bork). Thus, although Obama is attempting to make it seem as if the Senate is being obstructionist, he is demanding that Congress ‘do as I say, not as I (and his party) have done’. The American people should get to decide what type of person they want to succeed Justice Scalia on the Supreme Court and they will do just that when they take to the ballots nine months from now.
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Opinions
Serena Tolani
Let’s start off with this: President Obama has 11 months left in office. Constitutionally, he has the power to nominate a new justice, with approval from the Senate. In the words of Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, “the American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice, therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President.” When did the American people lose their voice, exactly? Think back to US History. Didn’t we all learn that the point of the legislative branch, the point of the Senate, was to represent the American people equally in the law-making processes? When Obama nominates someone, the senators, the elected representatives of the state, still have to approve the justice. What happened to the voice of the American people in this process again? At this point, the Supreme Court justices sit at four liberal and four conservative, meaning that many of the upcoming decisions may result in a 4-4 tie. If this occurs, the decision of the lower state court stands, and the power of the Supreme Court to make decisions for the country is effectively neutralized. The Court would be at this stage for 11 months, if not more, if Obama doesn’t nominate a justice. Decisions must be made, whatever decisions they may be- the Court cannot hang at a 4-4 balance, leaving legislation in a state of hopeless confusion. The question should not be whether or not President Obama should nominate a new justice. He wholeheartedly must. We must ask whether this nominee will gain the Senate’s approval, since a 60-vote-majority is needed to prevent filibustering, the delay of voting. The votes of the 46 Democrats (including two independents who caucus with them) and 14 Republicans will be needed, which seems unlikely, even without the threat of election year hanging over senators’ heads. Hillary Clinton, however, sums up the this issue, saying, “The President has a responsibility to nominate a new justice and the Senate has a responsibility to vote.”
Sports
game of
the month
Racing to the finish by Steven Botsoe and Anya Uppal
team during my track career, I come to every meet looking to compete,” said Jake Guth, senior competitor. “Getting better is more than enough motivation for me.”
photo by Katrina Blum
he boys’ varsity track team is getting prepared for its big invite. Runners from numerous schools will be competing for first place in the overall competition. The invite will be held at Central on March 4 at 5:00 p.m. Runners are training hard for this event, hoping to outrun their competitors. “Only three to four weeks into the season, I’ve had my doubts about my ability. But my teammates and I will give it our all and get our school a win,” said Athan Arhos, senior distance runner. A lot of time and effort goes into preparing for the meet. “Our focus is training our athletes so that they are ready to perform at their best,” said Mr. Noah Lawrence, boys’ varsity track coach. Scoring is straightforward in track. For each event, first place athletes score six points, second place scores four points, third place three points, fourth place two points, and fifth place one point. At the end of the meet, the team with the most points at the end of the meet wins. “Track is the most objective of all sports. In many sports, the game can come down to a referee’s decision or how a ball bounces. In track, there is no ambiguity about who is best,” Coach Lawrence said. Even though the sport is so heavily based on personal achievement, there’s also an emphasis placed on growth. “Even though I have only contributed one point to the
Senior Athan Arhos stretches before track practice in the field house on Feb. 17.
photos by Barbara Heidkamp
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Ask the Athlete ellie schaefer varsity Basketball
Favorite Superbowl halftime performer? iDEAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE? How inspirational is DJ khaled in your life?
KEVIN FRANK jv Track
LILY jones varsity GYmnastics
Beyoncé
Beyoncé
Beyoncé
Kanye West
Angela Merkel
Dan Jones
11/10
I listen to all his advice
Major Key News
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monthly
News
briefs
career quandary club by Juliana Mayer
High school is the time to make the most of opportunities and to pursue new interests. Still, it can be difficult for students to decide what their interests are and how to turn those into a viable career. The launch of Career Quandary this semester by juniors Andrew Lambert and John Zircher aims to provide aid in this struggle. “We wanted to find a way to learn about all of [the different majors in college] before we make a commitment,” Lambert said. “Realizing that a lot of my peers probably are in the same situation, we took the initiative to make a club that informs kids about future careers.” The co-founders’ goal is to not only expose peers to a variety of professions, but to also introduce them to
different experts in the field. Every session features a professional who interacts with members by collaborating for job training and opportunities. “We want to hopefully start a school-wide Career Fair here at Hinsdale Central in order to provide as many career and college contacts for the students to keep in touch with and have as a reference for whatever they need,” said Mr. Madonia, the sponsor of the club. Thirty members attended the first gathering. New members are welcome at every meeting held weekly on Tuesdays in room 124D after school. “Students can learn things from our speakers that they are not necessarily taught at school. It’s nice to talk to someone face to face,” Lambert said. “[We] encourage new members at any point.”
photo by Joseph Miscimarra
telling knots by Riley Kowalski
The Tell Your Story event was held Feb. 18 in the community room where ten students stood up to make their private stories public. The free event was open to all students, faculty, and community members. The theme of the event was knots, which was incorporated into all ten of the nonfiction short stories. This was the second annual Tell Your Story event which is open to submissions from all grade levels. The topic changes every year, last year’s being Waves. The event began last year through the vision of English teachers Mrs. Corelitz, Ms. Saunders and Mr. Bhatti. This year English teacher Mrs. Chandler also participated in setting up the event. The stories were written by Kai Foster, Seetha Aribindi, Nicko Ledesma, Jack Kanzler, James Zhou, Armen Kelikian, Ann Steephen, Grace Hafner, Davis Miller, and Isha Kukadia. The authors each had a chance to share their stories in front of a live audience, but the event wasn’t just about nonfiction stories. There was also live poetry, music, and plenty of food. “I wrote about moving to Hinsdale and not knowing anyone and having knots [in my stomach],” said Ann Steephen,
Little Light, a Chicago duo, performed for audience members at the storytelling event on Feb. 18.
freshman, of her story The Moving Knot. The event organizers wanted to create a coffee house atmosphere, and invited Chicago music duo Little Light to perform for the audience. “The rationale [for starting the competition] was to get other kids’ voices represented besides the kids that are annually published…to kind of tap into some of the other voices that are, perhaps, not heard as often,” Mrs. Chandler said.
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we’re ghana help out by Crosby Becker
illuminating turnabout by Maddie Studnicka
Turnabout, the annual girls-ask-guys dance, is known to be the half sister of Homecoming. Although the attendance rate seems to be lower for the winter semi-formal dance, Varsity Club is constantly working behind the scenes planning the theme, decorations, and advertisements that will entice a multitude of teens to attend the dance. “We start by [having] members of the club pitch ideas and [having] everyone vote on them,” said Beth Schaller, senior and co-president of Varsity Club. “This year’s theme ended up being ‘Glow.’” In an attempt to attract a larger crowd than in previous years, and with a theme of “Glow,” it only seemed fitting that lazer tag would be available at the same time as the dance. By dividing the field house into two sections with the front side including the typical DJ and dance floor, and the back side having an intense game of lazer tag, all interests were sure to be met, from those who love to bust a move on the dance floor to those who are more into sports.
for Feed My Starving Children,” said Student Council member Katrina Blum, senior. The club puts effort into several different modes of advertisement to spread awareness of the event, with the ultimate goal of encouraging community members to participate. “Parents, students, and faculty were e-mailed about signing up for shifts, and I know NHS is offering its members points for participating. We’ve also been rocking our t-shirts,” Blum said. Other recent Student Council events include February spirit and dress days, as well as Lokai bracelet sales as a prom fundraiser. However, with growing success and popularity of the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event, it is likely that the community will be able to find the event back at Central in the future.
photo by Beth Schaller
For students looking for opportunities to serve the community, Student Council is sponsoring a community-wide Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event. Planning began last spring with multiple fundraisers and preparations. “We go through various surveys about once a month, where we have to give [Feed my Starving Children] information to see if we’re capable of [hosting] it,” said Mrs. Sally Philip, activities director. On Sunday, Feb. 28, students will be able to take two-hour shifts of packing food, with the ultimate goal of 100,000 meals being assembled. Also available are two-hour shifts designated for both setup and cleanup. The event, the largest the school is hosting this year, is the major end goal for Student Council’s fundraising efforts. “All of our fundraisers this school year have directly been
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Choosing Betwee and
Students discuss the differences between private and public education by Seetha Aribindi and Ray Shryock
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anked number one suburban high school in the state by the Chicago Sun Times; ranked 50th on Newsweek magazine’s list of America’s top high school; eight state championship titles last year. Would anyone believe these achievements are all that of a public school? Well, these are all accomplishments belonging to Central. It boasts an average ACT score of 31 and an average SAT score of 2050, compared to private schools in the area like Nazareth Academy which averages a 27 on the ACT and a 1770 on the SAT, and Fenwick High School which averages a 29 on the ACT and a 1860 on the SAT. These achievements have people wondering, what puts Hinsdale, a public school, on the same level and above its private school rivals? “This is a unique place in the combination of just about everything that we have. Our students have been well resourced and supported in their elementary and middle schools and we also have families who give a lot of enrichment opportunities,” said Dr. Mark Kolkman, principal. “When you combine cooperation at the middle school level with great kids and supportive families and the unique combination of talented and dedicated teachers, that’s what separates us. It’s certainly not anything that’s in the water.” He also cites the school’s teaching staff as a determining factor in setting Central apart from other schools. “I give a lot of credit to the skill and dedication of our teachers,” Dr. Kolkman said. “The pattern that we have of hiring great teachers that are knowledgeable in their content area and even better at engaging students in rigorous learning activities, I think, leads to the kind of results that we see on anything that would measure our performance, whether that be our number of national merit semi-finalists or results on the ACT.” As to the academic success of students at Central, Dr. Kolkman credits the school’s varied curriculum. “I think our resources and our financing allows us to have a broader scope of academic course offerings,” Dr. Kolkman said.
“The amount of AP and honors classes that we have is so vast that the scale gives a lot of students an opportunity to experience different things in high school.” Central has a long tradition of athletic excellence with 95 State championship titles. They also compete in an elite environment with six other schools in their conference ranking in the top ten in total State championships. “Athletically speaking, we know that because of the talent and the ability of our student athletes and their commitment in and out of season that we enjoy a lot of success,” Dr. Kolkman said. “But that success also comes because of the partnership between the skill of our coaches and our student athletes and from the support of our community of parents and feeder programs.” Often private schools are seen as being more elite than public schools, whether this is because of their sometimes strict admission processes or how much it could cost students to attend. “Private schools have the opportunity to be highly selective and exclusive in who they allow to come into their school,” Dr. Kolkman said. “As a public school we accept everyone, regardless of academic ability, we are all inclusive to anyone who lives in our area. That’s why private schools may be seen as elite.” However, the notion that private schools are more elite can spawn negative views of public schools among public and private schools students alike. According to an article from The Week, the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) found various reasons why parents choose private over public, including “a safe environment, high parent and teacher satisfaction levels, a focus on civics, community service and a values-based setting.” “I sort of had a bad notion of Hinsdale Central and public schools in general,” said Brett Burns, a Central junior who attended Nazareth. “My parents had me convinced that [public schools] don’t care about their students as much.” Where parents send their children for school is usually indicative of their parents’ values, income and worldview. Private
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een
Schools
schools attract students primarily because of religion, the desire for a single-sex education, and because of a more flexible curriculum. Because private schools are exclusive and require special admissions they guarantee smaller class sizes which can be good for students who learn better in that kind of environment. “My parents wanted me to [go to Nazareth], but ultimately it was my choice,” Burns said. “Since it was a smaller school I thought I’d get more help from teachers.” But public schools aren’t without their own advantages. “Public schools have a better sense of community,” said Central mom Wendy Delamater, whose two sons Ryan, a junior, and Jack, a senior, are students at Central. “You’re going to school with the people you live near, with your neighbors. At a private school students can live very far away from one another.” Some people believe that private schools insulate their students from real problems. They claim sending kids to private schools keeps them in a bubble that shields them from the real world. “Public schools are a more accurate representation of what challenges will be like in real life,” Mrs. Delamater said. “They face the same challenges they will when they’re older but on a smaller scale.” Public schools are often more diverse than private schools. There are all different types of people hailing from various socioeconomic backgrounds. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the racial and ethnic composition of students in public schools are 54 percent white, 22 percent latino, 15 percent black, and 5 percent Asian, respectively, while private schools are 72 percent white, 10 percent latino, 9 percent black, and 5 percent Asian respectively. “What attracted me to Central was the great reputation it had,” said Mike Gee, a senior at Central who once was a student at Nazareth. “Nazareth just wasn’t the right fit for me, whereas Central felt like home once I was there. The students and staff at Central are much friendlier.”
Another advantage public schools have over private schools are the special education services they provide. Central has programs to ensure students with emotional and behavioral problems, physical and psychological disorders, and learning disabilities get the services they need. “We know the environment of learning is very important, and it doesn’t always happen in a classroom, sometimes it happens with some kind of school psychologist or speech pathologist,” Dr. Kolkman said. “We know that we have a kind of depth of service that we can offer to students, which I think helps us academically in comparison to most private schools which don’t have that wide range of support for students with any kind of disability or need for extra assistance. Our counseling, our social work, all the support programs we have available for students are crucial to our success.” Both Fenwick and Nazareth strive to produce academic excellence, with Fenwick’s mission statement expressing how the high school already is “a premier college preparatory high school [that empowers its] students to grow intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, socially, and physically in a disciplined and diverse environment. Through this transformational experience, our graduates continue the Fenwick tradition of excellence...” It would appear that both Central, as a public high school, also strives for this excellence and that both private and public schools want to achieve success for their students. In the end, there’s no right answer to whether or not public schools or private schools are better than the other. But with the different qualities and characteristics each has to offer, it’s possible to find what the right fit for a particular student is. “The most important thing about any high school is finding who you are and what you’re passionate about,” Dr. Kolkman said. “I hope that we’re doing a good job at giving everybody the opportunity to excel, to be themselves, to follow their passion and just be who they are.” photo by Colleen Martucci
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Reflection of the Past
Mrs. Powell’s involvement with black history month and the future for the committee
by Haley Anderson, Arman Haveric, Lancelot Lin
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ebruary. It can be seen as the month of Valentine’s day or that month when students get a three day weekend to honor presidents. But since 1926, February has been annually celebrated as Black History Month (BHM) in the United States and Canada. BHM was created by African American historian Carter G. Woodson with the goal of improving the understanding of important roles African Americans played in developing the United States as a nation. Each year, Mrs. Powell, who works in the Special Education department, helps to spread that awareness of the importance of African American’s effect on history and culture. In her first year at Central ten years ago, Mrs. Powell was asked by several students what they were doing for BHM. After looking into what the school had been doing, she realized she wanted to do more. Her passion, alongside faculty and students, spurred events that now include soul food in the cafeteria, poetry celebrations, and performances by the Jazz Band. The school also now has a black history committee. “I’ve never had an opportunity in any of my previous schools to physically participate in any type of black history clubs, and this year, I wanted to embrace my race,” said Ugochi Ihemeson, junior. Mrs. Powell’s exposure to black history began at an early age, when her parents became involved in the Civil Rights Movement.
In August 1963, her grandpa, father, and uncle took a bus to the march in Washington D.C. They attended the march for civil and economic rights for African Americans, but also for Mrs. Powell and her sisters to have a better life in the future. She can recall watching the march on television, and when the safety of the protesters was guaranteed, her mother cried and joyfully hugged her and her sisters. “[Every year we bring] a needed awareness to the diverse culture that is just as thoughtful and educated and knowledgeable as everyone in this school and community,” Mrs. Powell said. “We [as a school] need to see more minorities work, teach, interact and show leadership here at Central.” Although African American History is offered as a class, Mrs. Powell hopes to have more coverage of the topic that would include an assembly on black history and more integration in the curriculum. For the first time next school year, the English department has the enrollment to run African American literature, which Mr. Smith will teach. “The fact that the course is running during the 2016-2017 school year speaks to how students want to learn more about African American writers and become more socially conscious,” Mr. Smith said. “Mrs. Powell’s efforts have led the way to creating more opportunities for dialogue between different groups of people, which is neccessary for us to be more empathetic towards each other’s pasts and the more inclusive future we aspire to have together.”
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Powell photo by Mrs. Powell photo by Mrs. rson
Ande photo by Haley
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Meet the
Baby Boomers 1946-1964 FEBRUARY.indd 2
Generation X 1965-1980 2/23/16 2:27 PM
MILLENNIALS by Dana Ahdab, Sayali Amin, Maria Harrast, Nina Molina
Mi l l enn ia ls 1980- 2 0 0 4
Homeland Generation 2005-Present In selfie: David Kwok, Mita Ramani, Neha Basti, Steven Botsoe, Hannah Berg, Riya Uppal, and Sophie Lekas
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Mil-len-nials
Today, one third of the United States’ population is millennials, people born between 1980 and the early 2000s. Millennials are the most educated and ethnically diverse generation to date. They grew up with the Internet and the words “Google it.” Millennials are connected by politically and socially liberal views, BuzzFeed, a mutual hate for Lindsay Lohan, social media networks, FOMO, few attachments to traditional political or religious institutions, selfies, Harry Potter, and Bernie Sanders. The rise of social media, changes in political views, the economy, pop culture and current events have shaped this generation called millennials. And without a doubt, millennials will grow up to be the leaders to shape this generation and the next. So, who are the millennials, really?
Characteristics of the Millennial
Older generations call millennials out for being narrow-minded, bratty, disconnected, self-obsessed, and lazy. Some millennials have embraced the labels while others are offended. “We are narcissistic and self-centered. Our generation is obsessed with what people think of them and what we put online,” said Jake Guth, senior. Like Guth, many millennials give themselves a negative label. According to a Pew Research Center study, “Millennials, in particular, stand out in their willingness to ascribe negative stereotypes to their own generation: 59 percent say the term ‘self-absorbed’ describes their generation, compared with 30 percent among Gen Xers, 20 percent of Boomers and just 7 percent of Silents.” “I think our generation is rude. We’re less generous and
considerate,” said Samia Douedari, sophomore. These type of statements show how deeply rooted negative stereotypes are in the perception of the millennials. And yet, there are some positive characteristics related to the generation. “I think the millennials are more open to change and more open to new information,” said George Bull, junior. Bull’s assessment matches a story Entrepreneur magazine wrote that discussed how millennials seek out opportunities that enhance their life and experiences. According to the article, millennials value “learning over degrees” and living over working. Often accused of being lazy, most millennials disagree and argue that they do not think work should define their lives. “I think we’re a lot more hard working [than previous generations],” Douedari said. Regardless of the labels the millennials choose to assign themselves, many have seen their impact on the political and technological world.
Millennials in Politics
The younger generation is often more liberal than the generations of their parents. And the millennials are no different. According to the Pew Research Center, millennials of all political affiliations are more liberal than the country as a whole. These values mean that millennials are more likely to be affiliated with or lean towards progressive values. “Millennials are a lot more liberal and open-minded to different types of people and different opinions. And we respect people’s point of views a little bit better,” said Ms. Christina Brodell, Spanish teacher. Bull considers himself a liberal progressive. Politically, he supports universal health care, tuition free college, and raising the minimum wage.
Did you know? Nearly 4/10 have a tattoo, about half of these people have 2-5, and 18% have 6+
88% of millennials get their news from Facebook - American Press Institute
- PEW Research Center
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“It’s outrageous that we as Americans pay three times as much as France for the same healthcare. It’s outrageous that we have Americans coming out of college with $300,000 in student loan debt,” Bull said. During the Iowa caucuses in the beginning of February, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders swept the millennial vote, winning 84 percent of voters between the ages of 17-29. Bull is a Bernie Sanders supporter. “I think Bernie represents the emotions and the interests of our generation. He wants to break up the system of establishment politics and bring the United States into the 21st century with a progressive ideology,” Bull said. One of the most important characteristics of the millennial generation is their ability to make a change in the political world. According to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, at least 80 electoral votes in the 2008 presidential election depended on the millennial vote. “As millennials, we are the political revolution,” Bull said.
Millennials and Social Media
For more than a decade, the words “social media” have made headlines and created conversation about what kind of generation will emerge out of these digital networks of communication. “Because of social media, trends aren’t limited to a group of certain people,” said Billy Leader, sophomore. As “digital natives,” millennials have grown up with leading social media communities aimed at sharing content, messages, ideas, pictures and videos as their preferred platform. “We’re in tune with technology. We find ways to use it to our advantage,” Guth said. According to the Pew Research Center’s Trends and Demographic Trends, 81 percent of millennials are on Facebook.
43% of adult millennials are non-white - PEW Research Center
And 55 percent of millennials have posted a selfie on some kind of social media site. These numbers far surpass those of Generation X, the Baby Boomers, and the Silent Generation. Despite the advances in communication social media made possible, it is no surprise that social media is affecting the kids that have grown up with it. “If somebody says in class ‘how many cities in China have over a million people,’ they can’t live without knowing the answer (The answer is 90),” said Mr. James Horan, Latin teacher. “They have to know. Maybe because they can know with just Googling it. They know more, but sometimes I think they know less. They spend so much time knowing more but don’t know people quite the same.” This shows both positive and negative effects of social media. “Social media has shaped the narcissism. Everybody wants to share about their life and what they’re doing. It’s how our society has become: what are we doing and how can we show it to the world,” Ms. Brodell said.
The Millennials Going Forward
The millennial generation has already left its mark on the world through politics and social media. As adults, the millennials will work hard to continue the tradition. “Our generation is going to think about things in a new way instead of following a basic handbook of rules,” Leader said. The millennials are unique in their creativity and awareness of social issues, in part spurred on by the development of technology. “Millennials use technology in a creative way, like the ALS Association ice-bucket challenge. I think we’re going to use different ways to create awareness,” Ms. Brodell said. No matter how millennials describe themselves, one thing is for sure--there are more of them than Boomers and they’re ready to make their mark on the world.
Millennials will be 40% of the electorate by 2020 - Center for American Progress
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The Finish Line Jan Erik Naess excels in speed skating and racing by Selina Zeng and Sofia Rafiq
photo courtesy of Jan Erik Naess
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here’s an air of confidence around Jan Erik Naess—one that comes from hours of practice and rising to become one of the nation’s top speed skaters and orienteers. This year, Naess, a junior, placed sixth at the Junior Nationals for speed skating and participated in the JWOC, or Junior World Orienteering Championships, competing in Rauland, Norway. There, he placed 90th in the world and received a $1,000 check through the Iain Wilson Character Through Competition Award to help pay for travel expenses. Although Naess excels in both sports, the two are completely different. Orienteering is a race that requires the use of navigational skills using a map and compass to go from point to point, while speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating on a track. “[Naess] tries his hardest in every single sport, and even after he does a hard workout at track practice, he’ll leave to go and do speed skating and triathlon training,” said Joseph Miscimarra, junior and track teammate. “He’s a great guy and he always improves morale and supports everyone.” Before each orienteering race, Naess studies the base map that they release to get to know the terrain of the course.
Junior Jan Erik Naess competes in an orienteering race in Sweden in July of 2015.
Then, before the race, he has one hour to warm up to get into “the zone” both physically and mentally. Races tend to last between 15 and 90 minutes, depending on whether the race is centered around sprinting, middle distance, or long distance. “Sprinting has fairly easy navigation, and is in a town setting, which usually takes around 15 and 20 minutes. Then there is the middle distance, which takes around 45 minutes and is in a technical area in the forest. And lastly there is a long distance, which is between 75 and 90 minutes and is also in a forest, with several legs being one to three kilometers in length,” Naess said. Naess holds the JWOC as one of the highest and most prestigious competitions in the world. “Last year there were nearly 50 countries there, each with their top six girls and boys competing, and I got to meet and compete with people from countries like New Zealand, all the way to Brazil,” Naess said. Naess has aspirations to also join the Junior World Team for speed skating as well, which would need a top three finish at Junior Nationals.
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HCHS'S CUTEST COUPLES
photos by Haley Anderson, Shiv Bajaj, and Colleen Martucci cutest couples.indd 1
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Where to be this month FEBRUARY 28
feed my starving children
MARCH 6
chicago polar plunge
march 12
chicago st. patrick’s MARCH
12
day parade CHICAGO FLOWER
What to eat this month
and garden show
indoor rock climbing: vertical endeavors
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photo courtesy verticalendeavors.com
ven with February coming to a close, some students may still wonder what to do before it warms up outside. Founded in 1992, Vertical Endeavors provides some of the largest indoor rock climbing facilities in the nation. The popular destination for thrill-seekers is a safe environment for climbers of all ages and abilities. Experience heights up to 30 feet and enjoy a facility with more than 45,000 square footage of climbing walls. Vertical Endeavors has multiple locations, including one in Glendale Heights that offers varying degrees of climbing walls, hand-carved cracks, and many overhung areas for the more experienced rock climber. Allow Vertical Endeavors to take your adventures to new heights. For a virtual tour, please visit: verticalendeavors.com/glendaleheights.
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Infographic
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by Rina Ravisundar Time: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Where: 246 Windy Point Drive Glendale Heights, Ill. 60139 Admission: Day Pass $18 For more information and tickets, please visit: verticalendeavors.com
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photos by Rina Ravisundar
MENU OF THE MONTH: CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES
DIRECTIONS: 1. Gently rinse strawberries and dry on paper towels (berries must be completely dry). Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. 2. In 1-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. 3. Dip lower half of each strawberry into chocolate mixture or place on waxed paper-lined tray cookie sheet. 4. Refrigerate uncovered about 30 minutes or until chocolate is firm. INGREDIENTS: 1 pint (2 cups) medium-large strawberries (18 to 20 strawberries) photo courtesy of creative commons
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips or white vanilla baking chips 1 teaspoon shortening or vegetable oil
photos by Rina Ravisundar
MUSIC MANIA OF THE month “Love Yourself ” by Justin Bieber: No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. “Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
MOVIE MADNESS OF THE month
THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2
the jungle book
MARCH 18
march 25
april 15
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