HINSDALE HINSDALE CENTRAL CENTRAL HIGH HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL||HINSDALE, HINSDALE,ILLINOIS ILLINOIS| |VOLUME VOLUME92 92| |MARCH MARCH2019 2019 1.indd 1Devils_Advocate_r1.indd 1 199645 1.indd 1
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[corrections] It is Devils’ Advocate’s utmost goal and value to report truth in a fair and balanced way. With that said, we want to correct information that had been reported in the February story Student Interns Wanted. First, Mrs. Karen Russo was not the first to introduce the program to Central. It was a class here prior to her being employed at Central. Second, grading for the course goes as follows: Research Paper is 20 percent, Hours & Journals is 35 percent, Mentor assessment is 25 percent, Application, Interview, and Public Speaking Exercise is 10 percent and other mandatory paperwork is 10 percent. Third, Russo found mentors and internships for the students interviewed in the article. Finally, salaries are not a part of the internship program.
-DEVILS’ ADVOCATE STAFF
2 | Cover letter TODevils_Advocate_r1.indd 199645 the editor.indd 2 2
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CO N T EN T S OUR STAFF LAYO ADELAKUN HANNAH AHDAB SARAH BADAWI OLIVIA BEARGIE AUDREY CARTER GABBY COSTELLO CATHERINE DOLAN CAMERON GARBER RAYHAN HUSSAIN ANCHAL KUMAR RIMA RAFIQ KATIE SHARP GAYATRI THIRUNARAYANAN ANAND YALLAPRAGADA
01 04 08 11 14 24 26
COVER 02 CORRECTIONS 03 TABLE OF CONTENTS
PERSPECTIVES 04 EDITORIAL 05 CAM CRITIQUES 07 DEVILISH ADVENTURE
AROUND CAMPUS 08 THE DAILY DEVIL 09 DEVIL IN DISGUISE
FEATURES 11 A YES OR NO QUESTION 18 TROUBLE IN PARADISE 20 CHEW ON THIS 22 IN THE FRAME: THE SPINS
PROFILES 14 THE CENTRAL NETWORK
BY THE NUMBERS 24 MARCH MADNESS
IN OUR COMMUNITY 26 BEATRIX REVIEW 27 CHEERS & JEERS
MISSION STATEMENT Devils’ Advocate seeks to provide an open and diverse forum created by and for students from Hinsdale Central. The staff of Devils’ Advocate aims to bring news to the community of the school and surrounding area, by working with students, parents, and faculty, as well as reporting on events in a fair and balanced manner. The publication strives to inform, educate, and improve the atmosphere and student body by sharing information and recognizing individuals and ideas.
letter from the
[EDITO R ]
March brings to mind Spring Break, March Madness and of course, the April referendum looming over our heads. In this issue, we continue to explore the impact of the D86 referendum on our community, examining both the “Vote Yes” and “Vote No” campaigns to look at their opposing viewpoints. On a more student-focused note, we profile “social-media influencers” within our school—students who use use social media platforms to build a following by posting about their passions, whether it be poetry, basketball, or comics. With Spring Break quickly approaching, we analyze senior Spring Break habits, involving trips to places such as Punta Cana and Mexico, as well as the risks involved. We also look at the phenomenon of “fad diets,” which are popular diets on social media that encourage extreme dieting compared to a healthy lifestyle. We critique the lack of equality between physical education classes, such as Group Fitness classes being taught self-defense and shown a video about risk reduction and sexual assault, none of which is a part of the curriculum of other PE classes, such as F.I.T.S. 2. Finally, our Devil in Disguise goes undercover and investigates Poetry Club in light of their recent record-breaking success, and our adventure columnist goes roller skating to recapture a sense of nostalgia from a new perspective. We hope you enjoy this issue.
HEAD EDITORS
ANNIKA AGRAWAL
LAUREN LEE
CONTACT ADVISER, CHERISE LOPEZ CLOPEZ@HINSDALE86.ORG 630.570.8361
SAFI Z. A. QADIR cover photo by Safi Qadir
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Cover | 3 3/19/19 5:04 3/20/19 2:41 PM
illustration by Audrey Carter
“ BOYS WILL BE BOYS.”
Last week, close to 100 students gathered in the dance studio at Central to watch a documentary entitled Audrie and Daisy, a story of two girls, among many, who endured sexual harassment and assault as teenagers. This documentary is highly moving, as it touches on the repercussions and stigmatization that can result after women report an assault. It is also the leadin to the Self-Defense unit of the Group Fitness Physical Education class—a unit that is taught every semester in every Group Fitness class, which involves teaching every student in the class some basic skills, such as what to do if a stranger grabs your wrist, as well as emphasizing risk reduction. All of this is incredibly helpful to many students in the class. There is only one problem. Group Fitness is a class of all girls. Even though this documentary is very prevalent in today’s society in light of the #MeToo movement, it is not shown to any of the boys in the school. The stories of Audrie and Daisy reflect the stories of countless women in the U.S., so much so that women are taught at a very young age not to go outside at night alone. Not only do men not receive the same risk reduction strategies, they are also not taught that women live with a perpetual fear of being assaulted. A study conducted by the American Academy of Political and Social Science showed that women have a significantly higher fear of being victims of a crime, particularly sexual assault, wen compared to men. This is why the documentary should be watched by PE classes such as F.I.T.S 2 or Weight Training, classes that 4 | Perspectives editorial.indd 199645 Devils_Advocate_r1.indd 2 4
consist mostly of men. According to Ms. Janelle Marconi, Physical Education Department Chair, in order to teach both the sensitive content and physical skills in the Self-Defense unit, teachers must be nationally certified in Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.). Currently there are only four PE teachers who are R.A.D. certified. “One of the road blocks that we are facing in this district are finances to support professional development for our teachers,” Marconi said. “Although we would love to move forward so we can provide a curriculum that exposes all students to the R.A.D. program, we lack the funding.” While we recognize that funding is not so easily procured, we need to prioritize helping more of our teachers become R.A.D. certified. We also need to utilize the training that our R.A.D. certified teachers do have to help develop a foundational curriculum that can be taught without the certification. “We know the documentary has a powerful and important message, but the film alone does not change the mindset of a victim or perpetrator,” Marconi said. “It is the curriculum developed by our R.A.D. professionals and teachers that will make the greatest impact for change and risk reduction.” We need to put more of a spotlight on the reality of sexual assault in our society, which won’t happen unless we start teaching it across all genders. To start with, we need to show the documentary to both boys and girls, and follow it up with discussion points that could be preapproved—a unit that
would take up a week’s worth of curriculum at most and could be implemented, if not in PE classes, then in other core courses, similar to the implementation of Social Emotional Learning last year. “It could be taught in health classes, especially since they already talk about healthy relationships there,” said Kayleigh Excell, junior. We need to educate young students on how not to be bystanders in bad situations, as well as on how to openly listen to victims. This debrief session would open up a healthy dialogue between Central students of both genders about sexual harassment and assault. Furthermore, we need to offer SelfDefense classes to both genders as well. If those classes cannot be taught within the school, due to the lack of availability of R.A.D. certified teachers, we need to find and offer other avenues to learn Self-Defense for any students who may want to. As the documentary pointed out, sexual assault is not just unique to women, and being able to defend oneself is a skill all young adults should have. “Everyone deserves to know those skills since anyone can be a victim,” said Sarah Kim, senior. “Sexual assault is not a gendered crime.” As of right now, Group Fitness classes are grateful for the opportunity to learn about and practice Self-Defense; however, as a school, we need to step up into the future, where double standards don’t exist and every student nationwide is aware of the troubling reality of sexual assault.
This editorial is the consensus of the Devils’ Advocate editorial board.
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SPOILER WARNING! “How To Train Your Dragon 3” is directed by Dean DeBois and written by DeBois and Cressida Cowell. The movie follows Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), the teenage leader of a village of dragon-riding vikings, as he tries to lead his people away from constant attacks from raiders threatened by their dragons. Throughout the movie, Hiccup and his allies are stalked by Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham), a fierce dragon hunter who plans on killing Hiccup’s dragon Toothless, who is the last of his kind. “I saw both of the previous movies and all of the trailers for this one,” said Michelle Shen, senior. “I was expecting it to be sad at the end, but other than that I didn’t know what to expect.” This film continues from the previous two films in the series both narratively and thematically. “How To Train Your Dragon 2” shows the growth of both Hiccup and Toothless into capable leaders, and much of this film is dedicated with the two of them struggling with their newfound responsibilities in the face of newfound threats. Hiccup’s character arc stands out in particular, as he has to learn to deal with defeats and the loss of his dragons, helping him and his village to become less reliant on their dragons. Overall, “How To Train Your Dragon 3” continues and expands the maturity that characterized the previous two entries in the series. “I have seen the other films and I liked them both,” said Marco Doyle,
freshman. “It’s good. The characters were more mature and there are changes in the morals of some of the characters as the movies go on.” This film’s central theme is growing up. The ensemble cast is made up of teenagers who are forced to mature into adults as the movie goes on. This is best exemplified with the relationship between Hiccup and his girlfriend Astrid (America Ferrera). At the beginning of the film, the two of them are reluctant to get married because of their youth, which makes Hiccup feel insecure about his leadership of his village. Near the end of the film, when Grimmel kidnaps every dragon in the village, Hiccup and Astrid, along with their friends, are forced to confront an enemy army without the support of the dragons that they had been relying on. Fittingly, after successfully defending their village with nothing but their own skills, the two of them are mature enough to both let go of their dragons willingly and to get married and solidify their leadership of the village. “I always liked Hiccup, and his character development was really interesting,” Shen said. “He changed a lot, which makes sense in this movie. I felt that all of the minor characters were there for comedic relief and they didn’t have their own development.” “How To Train Your Dragon 3” is also a stunning film, visually. The character models perfectly convey how each character is thinking, and the animations for the dragons are fluid
“MORE THAN A KID’S MOVIE.”
RED DEVIL RATING: 9/10
k DEAN DEBLOIS STARRING JAY BARUCHEL, AMERICA FERRERA /CATE BLANCHETT. A REVIEW BY CAM GARBER.
and beautiful. Special mention needs to go to the environmental effects, which represent some of the greatest attention to detail exhibited in any animated film. Whether Toothless is dancing around on the beach, slicing through clouds, or gliding against the surface of the water, the animated particles behave just as they would in real life and further realizes the setting of the series. “The animation was great,” Doyle said. “There’s a scene when they were in the forest and the grass looked insanely good, and the beach scene had great looking sand.” The biggest, and perhaps only, flaw of this movie is its rather predictable plot. Any twists and turns that the film undergoes were so heavily foreshadowed that the end result becomes incredibly obvious even before the film reaches that particular moment. This results in much of the film, particularly the ending, feeling somewhat uneventful. “[This film] didn’t get dark like the last Harry Potter movies, but I think it’s natural that they ended it the way they did,” Shen said. “It was inevitable for the ending to this franchise to be melancholic, but on the whole the tone was mostly comedic.” Overall, this film, and the entire series for that matter, is a wonderful showcase of how entertainment that is aimed towards children can transcend its target audience andtellastorythatiscompelling to anyone, no matter their age.
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Juniors Esha Modi and Rima Rafiq go rollerskating at the Lomabrd Roller Rink over the weekend.
Set the
Adventure Devil’s Adventure: Skating into Spring By Rima Rafiq
photo by Marcos Lopez
W
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ith the end of the quarter creeping up and spring break on its way, these last few weeks are all about focusing and finishing off strong. I racked my brain thinking of chill, convenient activities that don’t require a lot of time or effort in this chaotic month. Finally, my friends helped me brainstorm and we realized that when we were little, we did a lot more active things than hanging out at someone’s house or going out to eat. We thought it’d be interesting to go old-school and try something we hadn’t done in a while, so we decided to go to the Lombard Roller Rink, located at 201 West 22nd Street in Lombard. When we got to the roller rink, I felt a sense of nostalgia seeing all the kids skating because that’s not the type of place my friends and I usually spend time at these days. The atmosphere was super energetic and the place was filled with all kinds of people celebrating birthdays and just enjoying themselves. After we got our admission tickets and put on the blades, it was time to test out our skating skills. At first, it felt really hard learning how to balance and stay steady. Of course, after a couple of falls, I finally got the hang of it and was skating smoothly by the end. If you haven’t gone rollerskating in a while, you might be scared or nervous to try it out. However, I found that it was a non-intimidating environment; in fact, most of the people at the rink fell at some point. The idea is that even if you do fall down, it’s important to persevere and get back up as best you can. This is important
in school too; if you do poorly on a test or a project, don’t let that stop you from trying the next time. There is always room for improvement, even when it may not seem like it. And while I probably wouldn’t go back to the rink soon, it was really nice to try something outside of my usual scope. In an article by The New York Times, author John Tierney discusses the benefits of revisiting old memories with new memories. In fact, nostalgia has been proven to counteract boredom, loneliness, and anxiety. Reminiscing over things that made us happy in our childhood or our pasts can be helpful regarding your mental and physical health. At Central, you could try a club like video game club or something else that you used to spend your time doing in childhood. While it can certainly be weird to revisit old times, you might enjoy it and implement it into your current life. Rediscovering an old passion or hobby is never a bad thing and can be a great escape from school. There are tons of great indoor activities like rollerblading that have popped up all over our area in the past few years. In addition, other types of skating have become very popular. Ice skating is a common one because you can experience the feeling of skating in Millenium Park without the cold. For example, Downers Grove (indoor) Ice Arena is the perfect place for this. In terms of the Lombard Roller Rink, admission is around $8, with an additional rate of $4 to rent skates or blades. If you want to try something convenient and interesting, put on some skates and give it a try.
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The Daily Devil By Lauren Lee
O
n March 8, the National Honors Society (NHS), sponsored by English teachers, Ms. Katie Janicek and Mrs. Gina Chandler, hosted a Blood Drive, where students donated blood during the day in the fieldhouse. The blood would then be shipped to Heartland Blood Center and then distributed to local hospitals. “I thought the event’s goal and motivation this year was awesome, and the fact that a student organization can organize something like a blood drive is really neat,” said Omar Shaikh, senior and NHS co-president. Once students signed up and made sure their teacher approved of them missing the period they were donating blood, they went down to the fieldhouse to start the blood drawing process. “I had to wait a while after this which honestly added to my nerves, but I still
knew I wanted to go through with it. Finally, I was up to go donate,” said Ella Pope, senior. “I felt really comfortable and safe throughout the whole process and it’s definitely something I would do again.” Before blood was drawn, there was a health screening performed to check if students were healthy and eligible to donate. Once students passed the screen test, it took 10 to 20 minutes to draw the blood. Donors received juice and cookies afterward to help with blood pressure. The whole process took about an hour for each student, which is why they had to get approval from their teacher. “I wanted to donate blood because it’s honestly such a simple and painless thing to do that can literally save someone’s life,” said Melissa Li, senior. “There’s literally no reason to not do it as long as you’re a healthy person.”
photo by Safi Qadir
NHS Blood Drive
The nurses fill out ‘paperwork’ on their iPads for the Blood Drive.
By Audrey Carter*
O
n Friday, March 8, as the student body poured into the cafeteria, they were treated to an unexpected scene. In the corner, a girl stared intensely at her blowtorch, twisting a metal wire back and forth until it heated to just the right temperature. Sitting beside her, other students brought to life portraits of young children with splashes of watercolor or sat editing photos at a large desktop. Kicking off March, the Art Department hosted its annual Live Day of Art, a celebration of Central’s creative talents. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., students of a wide variety of classes from jewelry-making to digital art congregated in the cafeteria to demonstrate their skills. “It’s kind of nice to show other people what we actually do,” said senior and AP Studio Art student Sahan Maheswaran. “I feel like a lot of times we’re underestimated. It’s thought that it doesn’t take much effort to do art, that it’s just something that comes to us...but in
reality, it takes a lot of time and thought.” The Live Day of Art concluded the department’s celebration of Art Education Week. Beginning on Monday, with the decoration of their hallway in the theme of Bob Ross, the department hosted several events showcasing the importance of creativity. “We believe that...making art [is] a wonderful complement to [the] academic preparation that we [offer] at Hinsdale Central,” said Laura Milas, Art Department Chair. “It’s fun and teaches students about themselves. That’s why we celebrate Youth Art Month.” Other events during Youth Art Month included a showcase of the work of Central alumnus Tony Moy, an illustrator, and a lesson by two videographers who encouraged students to play around with their software, teaching them about shooting film and editing. By the week’s end, the junior and senior artists of the department were ready to show off their own abilities.
photo by Safi Qadir
Live Day of Art
Senior Jackie Tu works on her artwork during Live Day of Art on March 8.
*Audrey Carter is a current art student in AP Portfolio
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DEVIL IN DISGUISE An outsider’s perspective on the inner workings of a different club every month.
he fight in my bones is the most American thing about me,” and “now I have to pray every day since nothin is ‘Hole’ier than black death” are a few of the powerful phrases bouncing off the walls. Standing squarely at the front of the room, seniors Amani Mryan and Ayana Otokiti take turns rehearsing their poems. Members sitting around the room burst into snaps upon hearing lines that resonate the strongest with them. When thinking of poetry, it’s easy to get caught up in the elementary aspects of it. Forced rhyming patterns and haikus that we all wrote in grade school. However, the members of poetry club take poetry to the next level. Every Thursday after 3 p.m., room 254 gets transformed into a haven for poets. Poetry club begins its season early in the year. Every practice is open to those who want to write poetry and those who just enjoy listening to poetry. This year’s cocaptains are seniors Amani Mryan and Ayana Otokiti. Typical club meetings start with the co-captains placing writing prompts on the board. The writers are then given time to write whatever they desire, whether or not it is related to the prompt. At the end, members are given the opportunity to share what they’ve written with the rest of the group. “The whole point [of poetry club] is to provide an opportunity for people to share their thoughts and feelings. If we’re putting too much restrictions on that with a power structure it wouldn’t be beneficial,” Mryan said. Those who attend poetry club are always given complete freedom in what they choose
to write. Members of the competition team tend to work on their pieces for very extended periods of time trying to perfect them for their competitions. When they are satisfied with their pieces, they reach out to club sponsors Ms.Corelitz and Ms.Hoeksma to polish it. Members of this year’s competition team include Amani Mryan with her individual piece called ‘Real G’s Move In Silence Like Lasagna’ highlighting the complexity of the English language and constantly being told to “speak English.” “Usually my poetry isn’t happy poetry. I write a lot about being biracial and bilingual. I think this year my piece is a lot different than what I’ve written before. It has a more sarcastic energy,” Mryan said. This year has been the first year Otokiti has performed an individual piece. Inspired by Noname’s song called Casket Pretty she talks about the death of African Americans due to gun violence. One specific line in the song refers to holding their older cousin as they cry after losing a friend due to gun violence. “I spun this whole poem based around that recallance of holding my cousin as she cries because she lost someone to gun violence. I wanted to tell my own version of the story using those words,” Otokiti said. The number of competitions that poetry club decides to attend varies year to year. It’s popular opinion that the smaller the competition, the worse the judges are. The biggest competition that Poetry Club competes in is called Louder Than A Bomb, which prides itself on being the largest youth
photo courtesy of Amani Mryan
Poetry Club
The Poetry Club’s competitive team performed at Louder Than A Bomb on Sunday, March 3 at Columbia College in Chicago. Pictured left to right: Seniors Maylani Sapaula, Soledad Sapuala, Kristal Moseley, Amani Mryan, John Lo, and Ayana Otokiti.
poetry festival in the world. It’s hosted here in Chicago every year. “It’s my favorite solely because you get to hear so many different types of stories because you’ve got kids from all over the place,” Otokiti said. This year, poetry club has made it all the way to the finals, for the first time in the school’s history. The final round of competition took place on March 17 at the Auditorium Theater. To many though, it is not about the competitions but as growing as a writer and providing a safe space within school. “We’re the home for outsiders. Anyone who doesn’t fit the ideal model of what being a Hinsdale Central student means is welcome. It’s a safe space for anyone looking for a break from the Hinsdale stereotypes,” Mryan said.
- Dickinson Devil
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A
YES OR
NO
QUESTION
A LOOK INSIDE THE CAMPAIGN EFFORTS OF THE APRIL REFERENDUM PART THREE OF A SERIES TITLED “A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL” BY ANCHAL KUMAR AND AUDREY CARTER
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In part two of A Deal with the Devil, we explored the issue of the April Referendum from the perspective of Hinsdale South’s community. Hornet students of all ages commented on their projections for the upcoming vote and speculated on the reasoning behind November’s failure, citing everything from asking amounts to unequal budgets. Surveys taken of the two schools compared student opinions on the quality of facilities, participation in eliminated extracurriculars, and overall support for the previous Referendum. With less than a month before the April elections left, in this month’s article we will explore the campaign efforts of the Vote Yes and Vote No initiatives.
R
egardless of season, the streets of Hinsdale include festive decor. In autumn, fiery wreaths adorn the doors of every house. By spring, pastelcolored flower beds bloom from their manicured lawns. Even when the skies are grey and the hydrangeas long since blanketed with snow, holiday decorations of angels and inflatable Santas brighten up the local scenery. As the district has approached April, however, its lawns have seen an unexpected addition. Taking a walk, even just around the block, it’s impossible to miss the one thing many yards now has in common: a campaign sign. Both the November and April referendums have garnered their share of support and disapproval from the District 86 community. Since the plan was first put on the ballot in early 2018, local campaigns for each side have made varied efforts to educate the public on their respective arguments. Those who aim to pass the referendum established the Save Our Schools campaign, while those opposed to it created the Do Better D86 campaign. Throughout the past year, both sides have conducted numerous activities to bring Hinsdale residents on their page including question and answer sessions, door to door campaigning, and social media. As the April 2 vote approaches, the presence on both sides continues to grow.
Vote Yes On November 6, 2018, District 86’s $166 million referendum failed. After months of online posts, speaking at board meetings, and canvassing throughout the neighborhood, the methods of the Save Our Schools initiative were seemingly unsuccessful. As the campaign looks to April, however, its members still have yet to give up. In contrast, the group has redoubled their efforts, now expanding to reach audiences through more contemporary means. In addition to the red and yellow campaign signs that have cropped up throughout the neighborhood, Vote Yes has produced bumper stickers, clothing, and online advertisements to further garner support for their cause. The group
has also hired a political consultant to help develop further outreach strategies. “This is so much better organized than November, without a doubt,” said Stacey Tantillo, Vote Yes volunteer and Hinsdale South parent. Initially opposed to the November referendum, Tantillo, a resident of Darien, has since shifted her support in favor. “When the first referendum went to ballot, the $79 million one, I was a vehement no. It was not vetted. It was put out there
“there are some divisive factions
within our community who have agendas that are
”
not pro-school. g’nee andrulis
too fast,” Tantillo said. “But then the [Vote No] rhetoric started to turn into a direction that I didn’t like. I thought, ‘This isn’t how we want to do this’. If we’re going to do this we need to promote some sort of unity.” The Vote Yes campaign is centered around several key arguments. Many of the resources offered by the group seek to provide information on the influence the referendum would have on voters. According to a tax calculator offered by their website, for the median home value of $461,200, the cost of the referendum is $22 per month. Some community members, however, still express doubts regarding the plan’s affordability. “For old people, the $300 a year...it’s still a lot for them. Three hundred dollars a year for someone who’s retired and having to pay medical bills and everything, that’s a lot...of money coming out of their pockets,” said Philip Fan, junior at
Central and resident of Willowbrook. According to Joan Brandeis, a member of the Vote Yes committee, the price of the referendum is a result of policies passed December, voted not to byInthe board in2013, 2013.the InBoard March of that year, increase the property tax levy, also known as Ed Corcoran, who has since been voted a “zero levy.” off the board due to issues of misconduct, CORRECTION: This article previously stated approved a 0 percent tax levy. With taxes that Ed Corcoran was voted off the board due being the only source of money for the to misconduct. That is incorrect. Mr. school, Brandeis this decisionincut Corcoran chose notclaims to run for re-election revenue 2017 by $1.4 to $1.7 million, at the end of his term.an amount that compounds with each successive year. By 2019 the amount lost as a result of the policy will total to $10 million. In addition to this, the Vote Yes group has also highlighted initiatives approved by competing districts, pointing to referendums passed in Elmhurst and Downers Grove for $168.5 million and $136.6 million respectively. “I think that there are some divisive factions within our community who have agendas that are not pro-school; they are different agendas but have found a common platform in attacking by spreading misinformation or halftruths,” said G’nee Andrulis, South mom and Vote Yes activist. “There was an underlying question of the amount of money going to our facilities but I believe the board has addressed those while still giving opportunities for growth.” The campaign has also offered methods of early voting and absentee ballots on their website in order to make participation more accessible for college students and the elderly. “I think the 18 to 35 year-olds are the most important demographic. In the last April election the voting pool was only made up of four percent of that demographic. So we really need [them] to turn out to vote,” said Kari Galassi, Central parent and leader of the Vote Yes campaign. In order to gain further awareness for the cause, volunteer students and parents alike have been enlisted to canvas the local area, spreading information from door to door. “A lot of people with younger kids, they’ve heard about the issue because it’s affecting them, but if you’re not being affected by it than you just don’t
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learn about it. People need to get educated and that’s why we canvas,” said Kaleigh Excell, junior at Hinsdale Central and volunteer canvasser. The Vote Yes campaign is primarily composed of community volunteers for both the Central and South attendance areas. “We’re more grassroots [than Vote No]. We’re out there, and they’re not. They’ve talked about everything on social media… from behind the curtain. We’re accessible. You want to talk to me, give me a call,” Tantillo said
Vote No
Those in the community who were against the November referendum and current April referendum have come together to gather support for their cause. It is being spearheaded by spokesman Zach Mottl, who is currently running to be Burr Ridge Village President. Vote No advocates explain that it is an unfair referendum as it does not address curriculum inequity. They say that as opposed to South’s classes, with Central’s being both more numerous and rigorous. Mottl also explained that despite his own prior efforts to advocate for equity, the board has only recently begun work on it, releasing a three-year plan. “Why is it going to take three years why aren’t you going to do it now?... You don’t have the same class choices, you don’t even have the same textbooks being used for the same classes. You don’t have the same opportunities for both schools,” Mottl said. Principal William Walsh responded to these complaints clarifying that it would take two years not three. “It is going to take two years to do because it is probably the largest curriculum undertaking this district has ever taken, ensuring that staff have had time to collaborate and make sure there is fidelity within the system moving forward” Walsh said. Vote No explained that the district claims many of the items included in the referendum are due to overcrowding and an unequal distribution of students between the two facilities. Mottl has responded to this by saying that many schools outside of District 86 rearrange their boundaries to accommodate a fluctuating number of students in their district. In contrast, Central’s 1991
boundaries remained in place until 2016. They also claim that Central’s buffer zones have, until recently, been restricted to more wealthy areas leading to gaps in diversity between the communities. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, 69.2 percent of Central’s students are white, in contrast to 55.6 percent of students at South. Another tenet of the campaign is that this referendum is wasteful. They assert that the referendum could be covered with $42 million by cutting out unnecessary “B priority” items and implementing other changes. “I support the schools and I want them to be good...but I don’t want a wasteful
“ the cuts are
disgusting. it is a terrible threat.
students should not be used as pawns in this
”
political game.
zach mottl referendum. There’s a right referendum and this is not the right one,” Mottl said. Additionally, they state that the district did not take the time to engage with community members and develop a more favorable plan, explaining how a lot of the projects included in the referendum were not desired by the population. “I think it’s going to fail again. This is the definition of insanity, you keep doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result,” Mottl said. While District 86 board had a task force which they consulted about revamping the April referendum, there have been mixed feelings on its effectiveness. “[My associates] were not asked, they were told this is what you’re going to do and vote for. There was no input given and that’s only 40 members,” Mottl said. Do Better D86 members said the pool
could have been fixed prior to this point, as it has been in the budget every year for the past several years. According to Mottl, the board also takes it out and vetoes it every year. “The board has made choices in the past that have made it difficult to pass a referendum; they have engaged in wasteful spending and not made the difficult choices that most other districts make,” Mottl said. Many no voters do not support the referendums put forth by the district because of unaffordability, claiming the $5,940 increase in property taxes over 21 years is too high. With this in mind, they come to the conclusion that property values are actually decreasing, with highly taxed homes being less appealing to potential buyers. “When is enough enough? There are so many solutions on the table that are not being evaluated,” Mottl said. Mottl explained how the district’s budget is one of the best funded in the state. The cuts to activities and athletics represent about 1 percent of the budget. He continued, describing his experience with superintendents in other districts. They have said to him that they could reduce the budget by a margin of 5 to 7 percent without removing staff or affecting any programs. “These are two separate issues and the board is wrong to mix them; if they need to reduce spending out of the operating budget there are ways to do that and I would not start with the kids’ programs,” Mottl said. He also said the board set a goal for $2.1 million in terms of cuts and have exceeded it by $1.2 million with $3.6 million, and more in cuts including those in activities and athletics. “The cuts are disgusting. It is a terrible threat. Students should not be used as pawns in this political game. This is an argument and the adults in the room are not behaving properly, it is wrong, it is deplorable, and it’s only going to make people vote no even harder,” Mottl said. Ultimately, the Vote No community has stated that their approach to the referendum is the same because in their eyes, the referendum has not changed. “If they keep listening to themselves in their own echo chamber we’re never going to get through this, we’re never going to heal, [and] we’re never going to pass a referendum,” Mottl said. Devils’ Advocate reached out to others on the Vote No campaign, but there were no other respondents apart from Mottl. Features | 13
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the central network Students reflect on how they cultivated their large social media platforms By Gabby Costello and Cameron Garber
Human interaction is shaped by the time period as much as it is influenced by the technology that connects people. Inventions like the telegram and the telephone allowed for instantaneous long-distance communication, but the advent of the Internet has connected the world on an unprecedented scale. Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have millions of daily users, and the ease of use of these sites has allowed an increasing number of people to broadcast themselves to as wide an audience as possible. In popular society, these people are known as “social media influencers,� who have earned large audiences by producing content that resonates with them. At
Central, students have become famous on social media for a wide variety of reasons, including editing sports highlight videos, drawing comics, modelling, and more. Social media, as opposed to earlier forms of mass communication, connects people, regardless of their location or status, based on their shared interests. This also allows for high quality content to become more widespread, as it is much easier to share content online than it is in real life. For people like John Antonelli, Matthew Kusak, Kai Foster, and Taylor Andrews, this has helped them expand their influence beyond just school to audiences of more than tens or even hundreds of thousands.
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Matthew Kusak, senior, sketches his cartoons for his Instagram account. photo by Safi Qadir
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John Antonelli @bball 750K Followers
Social media and the Internet as a whole has increased the number and variety of independent creators that have turned their interests into businesses. Social media websites like Instagram allow for direct communication with any other user, no matter how famous, which can be useful for users who wish to expand their brand. This is the case for senior John Antonelli, who has transformed his love of basketball into an Instagram juggernaut. “Three and a half years ago, I started from zero followers,” Antonelli said. “Now I’m at 750,000.” Antonelli started off creating sports highlight videos on Vine before making the transition to Instagram between middle and high school. He spends between one and three hours creating content for his Instagram, resulting in one to five posts every day. Antonelli is proud of the work that he puts into his Instagram and the effort it took to cultivate his audience; although he sometimes commissions content
from others, most of what is posted on his account is his own creation. “I have been the only person running the account for the last four years,” Antonelli said. “But I do have some people that I can reach out to for content if I have an idea that they can help with.” Antonelli says that he has a passion for entertaining people and creating content that not many people see every day. Through his time running his Instagram account, he has been able to interact with and make content for star athletes such as Ja Morant, a college basketball player, Shaquille O’Neal, a hall of fame NBA player, and Josh Hart, a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers. “I’m always on Instagram looking at sports highlights,” said Richie Lozanoski, senior. “To think that
someone from our school created such a successful account is amazing.” Antonelli’s Instagram helps him, as he puts it, balance his high school life between wrestling for Central and his general schoolwork. After graduation, Antonelli is going to Duke University, where he will continue posting his sports content. “So much has gone into this account that it’s hard to say everything about it,” Antonelli said. “People don’t realize that using social media as a tool rather than as a user is really beneficial no matter who you are. I just made content about something I was passionate for, and it has opened up a lot of cool doors that I never thought would happen.”
Foster first entered the public eye through performing for poetry club, which she saw as a healthy coping mechanism for what she perceived to be a confusing, chaotic world. Performing in poetry club helped Foster hone her communication and speaking skills, which would later help her with her YouTube career. Foster was even able to perform one of her poems during the 2018 March For Our Lives rally, in front of a crowd of 80,000 people. “It was one of the craziest experiences of our lives,” said Ellie Peña, junior who performed the poem “Trigger Warning” with Foster during the rally. “We all cried on stage, even though we had never cried reading it before.” Foster has been posting weekly videos to her YouTube channel for almost two
years. In that time, she has accrued more than 145,000 subscribers, and her most popular video, titled “Come To High School With Me: Xanax, Lockdown, Poetry”, has more than 2.3 million views. Foster’s videos don’t follow a specific theme, but are rather based solely on her life and personality. As a result, the audience that she has cultivated is directly invested in her as a person as opposed to a specific product that she produces. “[My YouTube page] helped with my social life and networking skills,” Foster said. “YouTube forced me out of my comfort zone. People that I don’t know look up to me, which forces me to think twice about what I do.”
Kai Foster @kaimfoster 145K Subscribers
Platforms such as YouTube lack a set structure that creators must conform to, which allows consumers to support any sort of content they wish. YouTube’s subscribe function enables consumers to stay up to date with their favorite creators, which has shaped an environment where the creators themselves can be as big a draw as the content that they produce. Kai Foster, who graduated from Central last year, is the creator of a selftitled lifestyle page on YouTube. Foster’s videos cover a range of topics including her poetry, her daily life both in high school and in college, and much more, all of which are connected by being viewed through her unique perspective. “This was never something that I imagined happening,” Foster said. “I think what helped me grow my platform was my authenticity. I started gaining traction when I stopped conforming to the bubbly, energetic YouTube standard.” 16| Profiles
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Taylor Andrews @taylorandrews22 1,613 Followers
Social media sites can also be useful in promoting an existing brand or career, by allowing a user to advertise their preexisting work or product. Additionally, a large social media platform can be used to promote causes and charities that reflect the user’s values, which can help raise more money or awareness than would otherwise have been possible. This is the case for senior Taylor Andrews, who uses her social media presence to help promote both her modelling career and her environmental charity work. “I have a few accounts on [several sites],” Andrews said. “My Facebook page is the most important, because it keeps people updated about my community service. As a title holder for Miss Earth, I have to dedicate a Facebook page to the things that I have been doing.” Andrews began entering beauty pageants when she was 12 years old, and she won her first pageant in 2017. By the age of 15, she was scouted by a modelling
agency through one of her pageants, and she has been modelling ever since. Although Andrews is a freelance model now, she is thankful for the connections that she made while working at her agency. “Once you build relationships with modelling companies, they like to use you a lot more,” Andrews said. “It is easier to keep the job by modelling frequently.” Andrews, as the reigning Teen Miss Illinois, runs the corresponding Facebook page, which she updates often with her daily life and her community service work. Each title holder for the Miss Earth pageant has the opportunity to participate in community service and set up their own charitable events, and much of her work has been centered around cleaning up ocean pollution,
as she is also a student ambassador for the Plastic Oceans Foundation. As an ambassador for the Plastic Oceans Foundation, she is licensed to hold events that screen an environmental documentary film that was co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as holding discussions regarding ocean pollution, handing out reusable bags and stainless steel straws, and participating in beach cleanups. “I think it’s awesome that [Andrews] is Teen Miss Illinois,” said Sofia Marino, senior. “She’s at such a young age and she’s doing so much to help make a change with ocean life.”
began writing comic strips based on things that had happened in his life. “My initial focus was creating a comic strip called ‘The Bunny Hill’ about a bunch of skiers who sucked at skiing,” Kusak said. “What inspired [this comic] was a real life skiing incident where my friend’s brother was so desperate to beat us in a race that he ended up knocking over several people who were waiting for the ski lift.” Kusak created his comic Instagram account over one year ago, and he currently posts comics once every three days. Over the course of this past year, Kusak has accrued more than 13,000 followers, a number he initially thought to be unattainable. Through running his account, Kusak has learned a lot about how social
media works. He chats with other people who run similar accounts and said he believes that he can use this valuable life skill in future endeavors. “Learning how to use social media can be useful later on if I ever start a business or help someone with their business,” Kusak said. “Managing this account has provided me with experience of starting from scratch and building my own following, which has helped me improve both myself as a person and my content.”
Matthew Kusak @kusakcomics 13.3K Followers
When it comes to building a following on social media, it can be difficult for people to carve their own niche while also indulging in their passions. For senior Matthew Kusak, drawing and creating comics has been his passion since he read Calvin and Hobbes and Peanuts growing up. “In middle school I would make and sell comics,” Kusak said. “I made almost $200 off of it. I realized that people probably wouldn’t want to keep paying for them, so I made them available for free on Instagram.” While most of Kusak’s comics consist of four panels, the structure of any individual comic can change based on the vision that he has. “The ‘Spoder’ comics are my favorite,” said Alec Hill, senior. “[Kusak’s] consistency keeps the page interesting.” Although Kusak says the process does not take very long, the amount of time between releasing comics varies from comic to comic. Kusak initially
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Trouble in Paradise Seniors discuss their upcoming spring break trips and concerns about safety
By Olivia Beargie & Katie Sharp
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According to our survey, the most popular destinations are Mexico, Punta Cana, and Turks and Caicos. In many of these destinations, the drinking age is 18, making it legal for visiting teenagers to buy and order alcohol. According to seniors, in years past, the availability of alcohol has fostered a general “party culture” over the break as seniors celebrate with their friends and family.
photo courtesy of Gabby Costello
hen Allison Gust, 2018 graduate and sophomore at Michigan State, packed up her swimsuits for the beach, getting ready for her senior spring break, she never imagined part of her trip would be spent held hostage in a van. In March of 2017 a group of around 60 students and parents traveled to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. One night, looking to explore some of the local restaurants, they planned a trip to Señor Frog’s, a well known bar and grill. They packed into six vans and made their way toward the restaurant when suddenly they were stopped. A group of cab drivers surrounded the vans and slashed their tires, leaving the riders trapped for 50 minutes until the cab drivers were eventually paid off. Every year for spring break many seniors plan trips with their friends, most often going to tropical destinations. Although this is not a school sanctioned event, according to a poll conducted throughout the senior class with 51 respondents, 51 percent of seniors are planning to go. This has long been a tradition at Central and has grown in popularity over the years. This trip is something that many students anticipate, even in their sophomore and junior year. Brynn Kuhlman, junior, has been looking forward to her senior spring break ever since seventh grade after seeing her mom and sister go. “The trip is something you can really enjoy with all your closest friends,” Kuhlman said. “It’s [also] our last hoorah together as a class before we leave for college.”
View of Ochos Rios, Jamaica
“Everyone’s going to be staying out as late as possible. It is a time to be crazy and do crazy things. I think especially because [senior spring break] is in places like Mexico, seniors have room to do a lot more,” said Sam Brescia, senior. This drinking can heighten the risks already present in foreign environments. Although resorts in which students stay are secluded and secure, leaving the resort can create dangerous situations. “I definitely won’t go back to Mexico after [my] experience,” Gust said. “I wouldn’t recommend seniors go there.
They should push for other places like Punta Cana.” In the past, the majority of students planned trips to a variety of locations within Mexico. However, in recent years, as violence has heightened in Mexico, students began looking for alternate tropical locations where they could enjoy their break. “I don’t know if some people are mature enough to go to a different country and act the way the way they do around people who don’t know what American teens act like,” said Hannah Kiperman, senior. “Their culture is very different from ours and I don’t think people understand that.” According to TIME Magazine, in 2017, Mexico reported 29,168 homicides, the highest amount of murders since 1997 when the government initially began keeping track. This number is even higher than those reported in 2011 when Mexico saw the most significant drug cartel violence. In January of 2018, USA Today reported that the U.S. State Department put Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Tamaulipas, on the do not travel list. These five Mexican states were placed at Level 4, the same advisory given to countries such as Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. These levels are issued by the State Department and describe all situations for travelling. With Level 1 being “exercise normal travel precautions” and Level 4 being “do not travel,” it helps travellers choose safe destinations. In Playa del Carmen, the location Gust
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spent her break, seven men were killed at a local bar, similar to Señor Frog’s, on January 6, 2019. US Weekly also reported a bombing attack on a tourist ferry in Playa del Carmen on February 21, 2018, with 19 Mexicans and at least five U.S. citizens injured. After this attack, the U.S. Government issued a warning and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico prohibited employees from taking ferries between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Island. However, if students and parents remain at their resorts during their trips, there is less to worry about. The main risk is when groups or individuals leave their resorts and go to smaller towns or cities nearby. “Safety is always important when it comes to travelling,” said Laren Zelisko, a junior who is going on senior spring break this year with her brother and parents. “But as long as everyone is aware of this [concern] and is responsible, it hopefully won’t be a problem.” Others are not willing to take the risk after hearing unfortunate stories of what has happened to other vacationers, and many seniors chose to go on alternative spring break trips. These trips include destinations such as lake houses, locations within the U.S., or even Europe. Brescia plans to spend her spring break in Captiva, Florida.
“I knew it was going to be super crazy in Punta Cana and I wanted to do something with my close friends,” Brescia said. Kiperman suggests that another reason for why students may not attend senior spring break is due to its notoriously high pricing. “I think it could be fun for some people but in the end it does cost a lot of money so it can discriminate against lower income families,” Kieperman said. According to results from SkyScanner, an average spring break trip to Punta Cana costs $548. These costs are based on the cheapest flights, one night of hotel, and food/drink for a day. This number increases steadily with every additional night spent on vacation, which for many seniors, is around five days. Still, many decide to stick to the traditional senior spring break experience and have upcoming trips planned for these expensive, tropical locations. Ella Farrell, senior, plans to visit Punta Cana in March. “I’m excited to go on senior spring break,” Farrell said. “It will be my first time vacationing with all of my best friends in a completely different country.” Farrell is planning to go on her trip with her friends and parents, which is common. Most students bring at least one parent on the trip with them, or travel with a friend’s parent. Often
times, this is seen as a safety precaution when travelling to places which many consider dangerous. “I feel much better accompanying [Brynn],” said Stacy Kuhlman, Brynn’s mother. “I wouldn’t want her to be alone in case something happened.” On the other hand, some parents join their students for reasons more centric around the trip’s theme of fun and relaxation. “I’m bringing my mom because she’s close with my friends’ moms,” Kuhlman said. “It’s a great chance for all of us to be together and bond.” This idea of celebrating with friends and family before graduation is a large reason why the senior spring break trip has become a dominant tradition for seniors. Central is not the only school in the area where students have adopted this spring break tradition. These large trips actually got their start on college campuses, where students would take advantage of their breaks and plan trips to escape their campuses for a week. However, with the portrayal of these getaways in social media and entertainment, high schoolers were quick to hop on the trend, creating their own versions of this diverse tropical getaway. But, regardless of where the Senior Spring Break tradition came from, it is unlikely to end anytime soon. “Senior spring break is one of the things seniors like to look forward to. It is kind of like prom where it is the last thing we can all do together as a grade before we go off to our separate schools,” Brescia said.
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Chew on This With Spring Break just around the corner, students begin preparation for their perfect picture by changing eating habits
By Catherine Dolan and Anand Yallapraganda
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eenagers across the country are getting ready for spring break, and looking even further, seniors are starting to get ready for prom. In order to ascertain flattering pictures or feel more confident for either of these events, many teenagers today will look to Internet “fad diets” for inspiration. A “fad diet” is often defined as an eating regimen that is stylish, typically focused on weight loss, and promises dramatic results. Although, there are countless diets currently trending, some popular diets include the Juice Cleanse Diet, the Ketogenic Diet, the Whole 30 Program, and the Paleo Diet. According to a survey of 51 Central students conducted by Devils’ Advocate, over a quarter of Central students have participated in one of these diets. Spring break is only one of a multitude of reasons that teenagers adopt fad diets. Sadie Kapelinski, senior, is heading off to
spring break with a trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and in preparation, she is one of many who are tweaking their regular nutritional plans. “I have my senior spring break coming up, so I want to eat healthier now for that. And then after that it’s summer and you go to the pool, [so] I want to feel good about myself,” Kapelinski said. Another popular reason behind implementing fad diets is prom. For upperclassmen specifically, prom puts a lot of pressure on students to look their best. In the weeks leading up to the dance, girls may get manicures, whiten their teeth, or switch up their hair. The most important preparation, however, is choosing their dress. “I just went prom dress shopping, and I know a bunch of my friends are too. Lots of people want to feel more thin so that when they do go buy their dresses they can buy a smaller size rather than feeling like they’re buying a really large size,” Kapelinski said. Whether it be a school dance or a school break, there remains a constant pressure surrounding health and weight. The aforementioned survey found that 62 percent of Central students who participate in fad diets are motivated by either health or weight loss. The prevalence of fad diets in high school has also risen in recent years. Statistics from the National Center for Biotechnology Information reveal that one half of teenage girls and one quarter of teenage boys have tried dieting to change the shape of their body. “People are shopping for dresses and bathing suits. It might be that fad diets help them either feel more confident or feel like they can make a bigger change to
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is
their body, or they are being more healthy by participating in those diets in order to look the way that they want for those events,” Kapelinski said. According to Marketdata Enterprises, the weight loss industry makes an estimate $60 billion annually. The media is often a tool used to spread awareness for new diets, because advertising plays a key role in ensuring these profits. Oftentimes, these advertisements with appear on social media, with popular account holders serving as endorsers of a certain weight loss programs. One popular diet that was marketed, is the Ketogenic diet, which involves eating a low-carb, high-fat foods to induce ketosis. The company KetoLogic advertises that the diet will make participants “Look better, feel better.” Ashley Murphy, junior, was one of the 28 percent of Central students who had previously tried this fad diet. For her, the Ketogenic diet reduced her food options greatly. “You try to cut out carbs and then it will up the ketosis in your body which causes you to lose weight. But it’s a very difficult thing because almost everything has carbs. Sugar is a carb, and bread is a carb,” Murphy said. The Ketogenic diet is not the only fad diet that involves cutting out certain substances. The undertaking of any kind of diet requires dedication and restriction. The Juice Cleanse Diet, where people would substitute their regular meals for juice, was advertised by multiple companies promoting their products. For example, Green Carrot Juice Company’s advertisements stated, “Did you know it can take up to 18 hours to digest a meal? Give your body a break with a 1-3 day Green Carrot cleanse!” However, since any company is allowed to advertise on the Internet, some of these dieting trends can potentially be unsubstantiated or dangerous. A study published in Medical News Today showed that the Juice diet had shown detrimental effects on the kidneys when implemented over a long interval of time. Juice alone is simply not enough to sustain a human. It lacks several fundamental nutrients, such as carbohydrates, protein, and fat. And yet, over seven percent of Central respondents responded that they had tried the juice cleanse. “The problem with fad diets is a lot of people want it to only take a month and
then they lose the weight and then they don’t have to worry about it ever again. And unfortunately that’s just not the way it works,” Murphy said. Many Central students agreed with Murphy. According to the Devils’ Advocate survey, Central students rated fad diets closer to absolute nonsense than scientific fact, with 40 percent of students feeling neutral. Still, the popularity of these diets remains strong. “Overall, [fad dieting] is definitely prevalent. Not just thinking about Central, but in high school in general,” said Ilyssa Hoffman, social worker. Dieting doesn’t solely apply to women, however. Some school athletes diet to get in shape for their sports. For example, members of the wrestling team have rigorous diets in order to meet certain weight quotas. One
“I think at Central, specifically, there are such high expectations in terms of not only academics but also social expectations.” —Ilyssa Hoffman such wrestler is Kyle Brillantes, who was given a tall task by his team. “In just two weeks I had to lose 14 pounds. One day, I went the whole day without eating only sips of water, and the very next day I had to go to practice,” Brillantes said. Alex Kennedy is an Assistant Certified Athletic Trainer currently working towards her Masters Degree in Applied Exercise Science with an emphasis on sports nutrition. She believes that a large factor in teenage dieting is social media. “Especially with athletes, because a lot of professional or college athletes will post about what they’re eating, they can influence high school athletes and younger kids with what they’re eating,” Kennedy said. Hoffman also credits the widespread use of fad diets partly to social media and partly to the school’s overall culture. “I think at Central specifically there are such high expectations in terms
of not only academics but also social expectations,” Hoffman said. “And I think that can lead a lot of girls and boys to participate in fad diets, or trying to lose weight quickly, or look a certain way. It’s almost the societal norm within Central, and in a lot of high schools. In this type of high achieving community [dieting] can often seem escalated or more magnified.” However, fad dieting is not representative of all Internet-based movements for getting healthy, and Hoffman stressed the importance of differentiating between “miracle diets” and genuine, long-term, and healthy lifestyle plans. Hoffman defines a healthy diet as being a long term change of eating or exercise habits. Hoffman claimed that there’s not necessarily an emphasis on losing weight, but instead a healthy diet places importance on a healthy mindset. Kapelinski is trying to incorporate healthier foods into her diet. She is against temporary dieting, and views healthy eating as a regular habit that needs to be adopted. “The pressure is on trying to look your best. I know a lot of people focus on ‘How many pounds can I lose?’ But for me it’s more about how I feel,” Kapelinski said. Kennedy also participates in the Ketogenic diet, but she prefers to incorporate beneficial elements of the fad diets rather than meticulously follow them. While she has participated in both the Ketogenic and South Beach Diets, Kennedy advises teenagers to take caution during a diet. “Talk to a nutritionist or somebody who is passionate about nutrition or your pediatrician and your doctor because they can give you a well-rounded picture of what is best for your body,” Kennedy said. Despite the community standards, it is important for students to find a diet that fits them. What works for one individual may not be suitable for their peers. Additionally, what’s advertised online is not always a reputable, impartial source. Therefore, it’s best to conduct some nutritional research, find a good balance, and integrate healthy choices. “It’s really important to understand that everybody’s body is different and that everybody’s body functions differently. There is no one size fits all diet that’s going to work for everyone,” Hoffman said “It’s so important to find a healthy eating lifestyle that works for you as an individual.” Features | 21
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[In The Frame]
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photo by Safi Qadir
The Spins performed at the Community House on Friday, March 15. The Spins include seniors, Tate Renner, Parker Bailey, Jonathan Tatooles and Jack Biondi. All ticket sales went to the Willowbrook Corner, a local charity supporting underserved youth and families. Features | 23 22-23.indd 199645 Devils_Advocate_r1.indd 3 23
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BRACKET
BREAKDOWN 8.7%
of students watch every game
24.6% of students watch around half of the games
36.2% of students watch only the big games
*Based on 70 responses By Olivia Beargie
61.4% of students make a March Madness bracket
35.1%
of students plan to choo
DUKE
to win the NCAA championship
30.4% of students don’t watch them at all
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What is your opinion on March Madness?
12.9% It is annoying
enter a competition with friends
22.9% I have no opinion
52.9%
nses
75%
What do you do with your bracket?
11.4%
I find it enjoyable
I live for it
17.3% stuff it somewhere and lose it
7.7% enter it in the national pool
27.8% of students made a bracket after a friend invited them
18.5% of students made a bracket because they were bored
35.1%
24.1%
students plan to choose
DUKE
to win the NCAA championship
29.9% of students bet money on the games
of students made a bracket because they love basketball
29.6% of students made a bracket because they love winning By the Numbers | 25
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3/19/19 5:04 3/20/19 2:49 PM
When my friends and I first arrived to the new restaurant Beatrix, I could only describe it in one way: trendy. We walked in and felt like we were in a chic furniture store. In the restaurant everything was a rustic, brown wood that felt like your cool uncle’s bachelor pad. We were seated quickly and our waitress Hannah talked about the drink menu. Even though we went for dinner they had a whole selection of juices you could order, some with a lighter punch of sugar and others with a natural tarte taste. I ended up ordering the Mango, Orange, and Pineapple Nectar, which had a semi-creamy texture, but it was watered down enough to make it refreshing. I finished the drink in record time and ordered the Local Burrata, which came immediately. The simple dish only had three ingredients: walnuts, burrata, and
26 | In Our Community beatirx.indd 199645 Devils_Advocate_r1.indd 2 26
grapes. While I could not have the walnuts due to my nut allergy, the quality of the cheese and grapes was enjoyable. While I would have liked some more complex elements to the burrata—for instance, some arugula with a dressing would have been sufficient— this dish exceeded my expectation. For such a simple dish the elements came together seamlessly. Finally, for dinner I had the Wagyu Pot Roast Filet Mignon, which according to my waitress, was one of their signature dishes and was “to die for.” While I do disagree with my server because I am still alive, the dish was also not satisfying for me. While the cut of the meat was questionable, what made me the most disappointed were the sides. The carrots consisted of three small strands and the horseradish mashed potatoes were too overpowering and took away the
integrity of the filet. Although I wanted more complex items in the appetizer, I wanted simpler components to my dinner. The main fault of this restaurant is ironically its trendiness. Some people may like this, but for me, when I go to a restaurant I do not want to leave hungry. This place is likely meant for an older audience, who may want some small plates before going to a bar, seeing that there are only 17 items on the menu, all of which have small portion sizes. While there is a market for these types of people, I am certainly not their demographic. That being said, for a new restaurant their service was amazing, and the ambiance kept me enticed. Some of their items on the menu definitely need some revising, but overall the experience of the restaurant was perfect for me and my girlfriends.
photo by Safi Qadir
Beatrix Restaurant Review
3/19/19 5:04 3/20/19 2:39 PM
spring has Sprung How will your fourth quarter go based on your spring break? Where did you go for spring break? A. I stayed home B. I took a quick trip within the states C. I explored another country
Who will you go with? (If applicable) A. I’m traveling by myself B. My fam C. All of my friends
What are you most looking forward to about break? u
What’s your favorite subject?
A. Relaxing on the beach B. Going out with my friends C. Experiencing new things
A. Math B. English C. An elective (band, business, art, etc.)
How did third quarter go for you?
What might you forget to pack?
A. Really well! It’s all about finishing strong B.I could have done better—it’s hard to focus with break just around the corner C. Umm let’s not talk about it
a. Nothing, I checked my list...four times B. My pajamas C. My toothbrush—how’d you know?
Smooth Schooling (Mostly A’s)
Based on your well scheduled spring break plans and well thought out itinerary, fourth quarter will be your best one yet. You already have a system in place to start strong and end even stronger and this year will be no different. Half of your mind is set for fun in the sun, but you are still very focused on the fact that second semester finals are coming up. You tried really hard on third quarter so you can relax (but only a little) over break. Your mind is more at ease anyway when you know your grades are good. You may bring your laptop, some school reading books and a few study guides to look through on the beach, but no one needs to know.
Just Another Quarter (Mostly B’s)
Your spring break is just relaxing enough to catch a breath from your stressful life. You tried your best to round out third quarter on a good note, but you didn’t completely succeed at that. Although your third quarter was mediocre, you are known to finesse your semester grade in the end. Right now, you’re ready to catch up on some sleep and rest your head. You will redeem yourself next quarter, but for now it’s fun times and tan lines.
Not So Hot (Mostly C’s) What’s the most important thing to do before break?
What is your mindset for your fourth qurter grades?
A. Making sure my grades are in order B. Planning fun things to do on vacation C. Getting into a relaxing state of mind
A. Got to keep them up high! B. It’s too late to save them — I’m checking out C. I’m in between not caring at all and yet still caring a lot
Third quarter was not your best but that’s in the past. It’s time to focus... on your spring break vacation! The clock’s ticking and you still need to pack, find recommendations for the best restaurants, and make an itinerary. You care about school but not as much as you care about your emotional well being. Your grades have really taken a toll because you have mentally checked out, but this break is what you need to clear yor mind and get back on track. You will start to focus on grades...but not now. Fourth quarter is most definitely an after break problem— sorry not sorry.
Cheers & Jeers Cheers to warmer weather
Jeers to last minute assignments
Cheers to spring break
Jeers to college rejections coming out
Cheers to St. Paddy’s Day Parade
Jeers to exams taking over the cafe In Our Community | 27
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3/19/19 5:04 3/20/19 2:29 PM
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1/25/19 5:04 3/20/19 6:59 PM