Devils' Advocate November December 2022

d e v i l s ’

a d v o c a t e

November-December 2021

searching for equity- p.8 pivot - p.12

hinsdale central high school | volume 100

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Club Contributors

Editor-in-Chief

Section Editors

Mara Severts

Grace Myall

Danyal Jawed

Isabella Salti

Managing Editors

Maximillian J. Pohlenz

Katie Parkins

Rachel Brugge

Nadia Burt Killian Hughes

Copy Editor Christine Leung

Battleground Contributors

h e end of 2021 is in sight!

And collectivelyit could have been worse, right? Central s t r i d e s back into n o r m a l c y, with some edits, and students are left asking the same questions they do e very year.

Questions about stress, questions about family and questions about community.

Advocate takes this issue to ask some of these questions- like the small and big business divide in “Pivot” and diversity in s chools in “Searching for Equity,” focusing on age old dilemmas with new solutions. Our winter trends give style inspiration for the winter months, and Devils in the World lets readers compare their big dreams with the big achievements of some Central alumni. The editorial airs its grievances with 11:59 deadlines, and a photo spread gives a small window into a pre-covid trip.

Our crew here at Advocate hopes that 2021 g ives you less to worry about than 2020, a nd we hope that 2022 will be even more stress free.

Happy Holidays Red Devils!

Photo Contributor Karen Tan

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mara Severts

Cover Design by Mara Severts

Devils’ Advocate seeks to provide an open and diverse forum created by and for the students from Hinsdale Central. ἀ e staff of Devil’s Advocate aims to bring news to the community of the school and the surrounding area, by wokring with students, parents and faculty, as well as reporting on events in a fa ir and balanced manner. ἀ e publication strives to inform, educate and improve, the atmosphere and student body by sharing information and recognizing and ideas.

2 | Contents

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c o n t e n t s .....................

ISSUE 02

around campus

features

profiles

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TRENDS CURRENT EVENTS DAILY DEVIL

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SEARCHING FOR EQUITY Hinsdale 86 welcomes Dr. Patrice Payne as Hinsdale Central’s and Hinsdale South’s new Director of Instructional Equity.

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PIVOT

Small businesses compete for limited amounts of workers in a new economic climate.

perspec tives

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PHOTOSPREAD DEAR DEVIL BOOK REVIEW ASKING AROUND DEVILS IN THE WORLD BATTLEGROUND

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EDITORIAL CONTACT ADVISER, CHERISE LOPEZ CLOPEZ@HINSDALE86.ORG 630.570.8361

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w i n t e r designed by: Christine Leung

t r e n d s

Photo courtesy: Freepik

Outfit ideas as we wander into the colder months

mmons ative co

Photo courtesy: Creative commons

Pho me to cou dia com rtesy: mo Wik ins

A chunky knit sweater as a base—you can’t go wrong.

Lighter pieces work wonders as layering pieces.

: Cre ourtesy Photo c

Photo courtesy: Freepik

like this light wash pair are a fun twist on a classic cold weather staple.

Photo courtesy: Free Pik

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia commons

Asymetrical jeans

Shackets are a staple: they’re fashionable and warm. Find a cut that is loose enough to wear with all your wardrobe, but still structured!

Ph me oto c dia ou co rtes mm y: on Wik s i

-

Get the Chuck 70’s for a more vintage feel or platform/patterned for a modern touch.

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c u r r e n t

e v e n t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

by Killian Hughes designed by Mara Severts

Kyle Rittenhouse social justice and gun rights

F

or more than a year, the case of Kyle Rittenhouse has captivated the nation. Rittenhouse is an 18-year-old from a town just an hour north of Hinsdale called Antioch, Illinois. On August 25th, 2021, Rittenhouse shot and killed two and injured another in K enosha, Wisconsin, a small city close to the Illinois-Wisconsin border, during a v iolent protest. Critics of Rittenhouse claim that the then - 17 y ear old bringing a AR-15 style riἀe to Kenosha constituted a violent provocation, and that his actions in the subsequent fight amounted to first degree murder. Sympathizers, conversely, claim that all three victims were aggressors who threatened the personal safety of Rittenhouse, and that he shot justly in self defense. On November 19th, the jury found Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges.

Regardless, the reverberations of the case will extend far into the future both in our Chicagoland community and beyond.

China and Taiwan

Elections national politics

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his November, a new set of elections happened. While Illinois did n ot hold any, the message of the elections in Virginia, New Jersey, California, and the city of Buffalo provide important signals for the spate of candidates running next year. Glenn Youngkin, a R epublican, narrowly beat Democrat Terry McCauliffe for the Governor’s seat in Virginia, while Democrat Phil Murphy beat Republican Jack Ciaterelli with similarly slender margins in New Jersey. Joe Biden won both Virginia and New Jersey handily in 2020, with margins of 10% and 15% respectively, according to AP N ews. On t op of that, moderate Democrat Byron B. Brown beat out the much more progressive India Walton in t he Buffalo mayoral election, despite Walton being slated as the official Democratic nominee. The results from all three elections provided a warning shot for Democrats across the country, especially in suburban areas like Hinsdale. A major talking point of Youngkin in p articular was the administration of schools. This is a particularly important issue to suburban families with school-aged children, and its successful field test in V irginia likely indicates that issues like the role of parents in education are likely to be enormous talking points during the 2022 elections here in Illinois.

foreign policy

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eanwhile, on the other side o f the world, tensions have been escalating between China and Taiwan. The People’s Republic of China has been ἀying planes over the island of Taiwan for the past few months at increasing rates; according to a N ov. 7 D eutsche Welle article, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent 16 fighter planes over Taiwan following a meeting between Taiwanese leaders and EU delegates. Additionally, according to an article from Reuters, China is considering annexing islands claimed by Taiwan in an effort to further escalate the conἀict. A real conἀict between the two powers could have ripple effects that reach even into the halls of Hinsdale Central. Taiwan is a massive manufacturer of everything from base metals to computer chips, and its potential embroilment in co nἀict would massively hinder the already tenuous global supply networks. Senior defense analyst Derek Grossman of the Rand Institute believes that the relationship between Taiwan and China is very unlikely to turn violent until 2024 or 2027, w here a T aiwanese presidential election and PLA anniversary could impact China’s course of action. China’s growing inἀuence over its region of the world will continue to have wide-ranging effects as these next few years pass, and their effects may be felt here at Central.

Tensions between Taiwan and China have been rising since China started flying planes over the island earlier this fall.

Elections

photo courtesey of Peace for Asia

On November 2, 2021, businessman Glenn Youngkin was narrowly elected the 74th Governor of Virginia. Youngkin won the state despite it going for President Biden by 10% in the 2020 Presidential election. photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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revisting traditions students detail their favorite holiday traditions

by Isabella Salti

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ight as November hits, the holiday season begins and people eagerly start preparing for their favorite holidays.

Multicolored lights illuminate the exterior of houses, garlands decorate stairways, and local radio s tations play music that sync up with decor. ἀ e holiday season also marks a t ime where people get to revisit their favorite traditions.

For junior Naya Majauskas, her favorite tradition is Kūčios.

“It’s basically our Christmas Eve,” Majauskas said. “We give up all meat and most animal products, except fish, for the day.”

Kūčios is a h oliday with Lithuanian origin and includes both pagan and Christian traditions. It is a d ay dedicated to bringing family together, from near or far. Majauskas is a vegetarian, which is one of the reasons why she enjoys Kūčios so much.

“It’s one of the only holidays where I can eat almost everything on the table,”

image courtesy of Flickr

image courtesy of Flickr

A typical Kūčios spread, consisting of mostly vegitarian foods of Lituanian origin.

image Flickr Somecourtesy enjoy ofwatching classics like “ἀ

festive mood.

e Nightmare Before Christmas,” to get into the

Majauskas said.

Majauskas is not the only one who enjoys a f ood related tradition. Junior Beatrice Tjernstrom’s favorite holiday tradition is cooking for her family.

“I get to cook the food myself,” Tjernstrom said.

Her favorite thing to make is fondue, mentioning that it’s good to eat. She also likes it because while she makes fondue, her mom cooks with her, making meat and scallops. She enjoys this time with her mom, as she is unable to spend much time with her during the school days.

Students also have their own special holiday movie traditions.

“I love watching Nightmare Before Christmas constantly from October to December,” said Vinni Guo, junior. “I just keep watching it over and over because I

love Halloween so much, and it’s over, but we can still watch the movie after October. So, all throughout November and December I’ll be watching that movie whenever I get the chance to.”

For Gargi Giotra, junior, it’s all about watching Home Alone.

“I love the vibe, the decorations, the music, everything. I watch it 50 times every year,” Giotra said.

And while many traditions are repeated down from year to year, it is never too late to start new traditions. Meeting new people and learning about their personal lives (like their family, food, and culture) can help you get ideas to start a n ew tradition. And with COVID-19, there is no better time than now to distract yourself and build new traditions that can be repeated for years to come.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the return of concerts to chicago students discuss their exitement heading back to concerts after COVID-19

by Rachel Brugge

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ith numerous events being canceled this past year due to the pandemic, there has been a recent surge in co ncerts, tours and live music events returning to the Chicagoland area as COVID restrictions are lowered. Many Central students are participating in t he festivities, attending events at venues across the metro area. ἀ ere was an overall pause in t he entertainment industry during the pandemic, and most artists are now getting back on stage and performing for their fans.

Popular artists such as Justin Beiber, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Billie Eilish had all canceled their 2020 tour dates, and have recently rescheduled.

Harry Styles’ Love on Tour was just recently completed in November, but Billie Elish and Justin Beiber have planned tours in 2022, both with Chicago locations.

Many are jumping at the opportunity to see live music again, but the experience, in comparison to before the pandemic, is not quite the same.

“Venues required either proof of vaccination or a n egative COVID test within 72 hours. So, that’s pretty easy,” said Grace Staford, senior, who in S eptember and October went to see Alec Benjamin, Mt. Joy and Dayglow in co ncert. “All of the venues also had mandatory mask requirements.”

Depending on venues and the specific artist, the restrictions and requirements are different. Many artists and bands like the Foo Fighters and ἀ e Killers are being very specific on the necessity for COVID vaccinations in order to attend their shows. ἀ e return of live music to Chicago has given many students events to look

image courtesy of Mara Severts

image courtesy of Taylor Fodor

Musical artists Dayglow and Harry Styles are among many musical artists returning to the stage in 2021. forward to and opportunities to see their favorite artists live. ἀ ere are many concerts coming to Chicago soon to be on the lookout for including the Backseat Lovers, Lorde, Tyler the Creator, Billie Eillish, Coldplay, Kasey Musgraves, Alt-J and many more.

Mother Mother, the popular Canadian indie rock band, will be holding a concert

January 23, 2022 a t the Metro on North Clark Street in Chicago.

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Searching for Equity Hinsdale 86 welcomes Dr. Patrice Payne as Hinsdale Central’s and Hinsdale South’s new Director of Instructional Equity

by Grace Myall designed by Mara Severts

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hen a s chool posts open positions, most students don’t notice; however, when a entirely new position was ἀlled this year, students did n otice.

Many were left wondering what does an equity director exactly do?

On July 21, 2021, Dr. Patrice Payne was welcomed as District 86’s new Director of Instructional Equity. The position’s purpose is to direct the school as they work to support historically underrepresented student groups. This is the ἀrst year that the position has been implemented at Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South.

Last November, the position of Instruction Equity was proposed during a school board meeting, in a n effort to push forward the district to a m ore just education for all of its students.

“We felt there was this gap that was widening,” Principal Bill Walsh said.

“People were beginning the next steps to have their own educational process and how to ingrain and have the conversations in a classroom.”

Payne has been an educator for 15 years, and received her doctorate in Urban Leadership, a deg ree which studies promoting sustainable communities through academic study, immersion programs, and experiential learning. Payne worked as an English teacher for nine years before moving over to administration for the next four. She published a dissertation as well, a case study on an urban high school titled, “African American Male Students in Outperforming Urban Schools.”

“All programs were very centered on equitable practices,” Payne said about her schooling. “It was based on multiculturalism, in working on systemic shifts to support students from marginalized communities.”

Working as Director of Instructional Equity, Payne is using her experience to pinpoint ways to improve the current practices used at the Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South schools, so that more students are included. To do t his, Payne is working with department chairs, and having conversations about types of practices and gaps or trends that they can see that they can address so that all students can improve overall.

“An equity director’s position to me is providing instructional support to our teaching staff and our instructional leaders to be able to move with cognizance of the speciἀc needs of students who are not

meeting our identiἀed goals,” Payne said.

Payne was interviewed in A pril 2021 for the position. During which, they spoke about different ways to approach equity work and how to support students academically and socially.

And while Payne’s position is new to the school and the district, working towards racial equity in t he school system is not.

Over the years, teachers have pushed the district to start making changes to bring in a more culturally responsive education, so that teachers and administration can ensure that all students receive equal and just teaching. “[Culturally responsive education] is such a g reat opportunity for all students

“[Cultural responsive education] is such a great opportunity for al students to recognize the multitude of global perspectives.”

Katherine Saunders to recognize the multitude of global perspectives, and how valuable those perspectives are,” said Ms. K ate Saunders, an English teacher who’s worked at Hinsdale Central for 22 years.

Students are encouraged to look back at their own experiences and culture, and use their own perspectives to make an informed decision about others. Teachers have begun picking from wider sources for many different topics. According to Saunders, for example, English teachers have been picking more books that come from writers of color, making sure that there is more representation in t heir teachings and curriculum.

There have also been optional inservices, Proἀles | 9

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where teachers can come in and learn about ways to be available to different students, done through outside groups.

Wi t h t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e D i r e c t o r o f I n s t r u c t a b l e E q u i t y, c a m e t h e introduction of more training for teachers taught by Payne.

In this training, they work on different ways to approach different perspectives especially of those who are in marginalized communities.

“We talk about a lot of different strategies about being more responsive to culturally linguistically diverse students,” Saunders said. “Students who have been marginally disputed in school.”

Changes are already being implemented throughout the district. Many classes’ curriculums are changing, as teachers are working to create a safe space to think and

non-existent,” Payne said. “The day to day is... taking those small steps looking at our current practices, how we can audit all of the the practices that...we’re currently using, and how we can...improve those practices.”

The district as a w hole is working to improve the practices done at the two high schools, and working to make sure that all students who come through its doors have the ability to be successful.

C hanges have a lre ady b e en made at b ot h s cho ols, and it app e ars t hat t here w i l l b e more to come, as t he p osit ion w i l l remain for t he

fores e e able f uture - as Payne continues to work with the district in m aking sure that all students graduate with the potential to achieve.

““The big picture is making sure that we reduce and make our achievement gap nonexistent.”

Patrice Payne talk about ways to improve as a whole.

“They’re very important... conversations,” Payne said. “People (are) willing to open their eyes to things that they had not previously thought about, people acknowledging and recognizing blind spots.”

While in t his position, Payne is working towards making sure that the highest number of students possible can be successful after high school. She is supporting the school by looking at students who are struggling in cer tain areas, and ἀguring out how to ἀx the system and practices so that those students can succeed.

“The big picture is making sure that we reduce and make our achievement gap 10 | Proἀles

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(left to right): Seniors Hayden Kemp, Adhytia Suppiya, Shaan Aduja and Raghav Sharma continue to work on their stop-motion of cell modeling project in AP Biology during 10th period on Dec. 8.

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Pivot Local businesses compete for limited amounts of workers in a new economic climate.

By Maximilian J. Pohlenz

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hree years ago, ἀ omas Stice, the current owner of ἀ e Sacred Succulent in B olingbrook, told his parents that he was going to leave his current job in property management to sell plants.

“I had just bought a house, and had just bought a new car, and it was risky,” Stice said.

His initial love of plants (an outlet to express frustrations with his current job) eventually grew into a b usiness after realizing the need for a vehicle to make imported plants more accessible.

From there, he grew a devoted customer base, before eventually expanding.

Now, as the head of a co mpany, Stice remembers the mundane nature of his profession that drove him to where he is today.

“I started collecting succulents honestly because I hated my job, and it was something to do outside of work,” Stice said.

Whilst Stice chose to quit his job prior to the onset of COVID-19, the pandemic has caused many to do t he same, and often for similar reasons as Stice. ἀ e phenomenon has been coined “ἀ e Great Resignation.” Because of this, small businesses have been put in jeopardy, as they now must find a way to somehow attract and keep employees in order to stay afloat themselves. ἀi s comes on top of having to compete with larger corporations for employees, and of course, still find a way to attract customers.

“I feel for every business that is struggling to get employees, and it’s a very fine line. People are so much more aware nowadays and are so much more willing to fight for their rights, which is awesome,” Stice said.

He said he sympathizes with the reason many of the remaining members of the workforce are moving towards more higher paying jobs at larger corporations.

“At that, it’s a double edged sword.

As a sm all business, we don’t make a ton of money; we’re not a big box store making millions, so it is really hard to compete with some of these other

stores that now are offering 20 bucks an hour, sign on bonuses, things like that,” Stice said. “We can only offer so much.” ἀ e phenomenon is hardly limited to Stice’s shop in Bolingbrook. Whether it’s Hinsdale, Oak Brook, or Clarendon Hills, employers said they all feel the impacts of a m ass shortage in t he workforce.

“The elephant in t he room is hiring. Getting people,” said Derek Berg, President of the Clarendon Hills Chamber of Commerce as well as the owner of the Clarendon Hills Music Academy.

As his two titles suggest, he’s had to face t his problem head on - b oth in terms of trying to help businesses throughout Clarendon Hills, and as an owner himself. He’s expressed how businesses have been forced to push, pivot, and reinvent throughout the pandemic - a nd how it’s pressured their employees.

“You get your workforce leaving and now you have people who were doing two jobs [at your business] having to do three jobs. And then you get ‘I’m on Zoom eight hours a d ay instead of interacting with people,’” Berg said.

It’s this pressure, combined with general stress due to the pandemic, that Berg said is the core of why so many individuals are finding themselves dissatisfied with their jobs. “ἀ ey had this ‘coming to Jesus’ moment about their career. ‘What should I b e doing? Should I u se this opportunity to pivot? Should I do something totally different?’” Berg said. ἀ e pandemic has only then increased the reasons for workers to experience a “coming to Jesus moment” similar to the one Stice experienced just a few years prior to the pandemic.

Berg also notes that service jobs people working at restaurants and supermarkets - are even more likely to experience this dissatisfaction.

Richard Dolan, senior, is familiar with this type of job. A former employee at a fa st food restaurant, Dolan has a long list of reasons behind why he is

Cover photo courtesy of Flickr.

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indeed a former employee. “ἀin gs looked pretty bleak,” Dolan said. “It’s hard to be ‘here’s your food’ and be super happy about it when it’s in general just a bad atmosphere.”

He said this negative culture was only worsened by the company’s response to the pandemic. He said he felt that the COVID precautions handed down by upper management were more for customer peace of mind, and had little to do w ith the company’s actual concern for employees - something he found to be quite obvious.

“It kind of felt like we’re putting on a show. It’s really pointless. Like why are we doing this if we’re not actually enforcing these rules inside the store when the customers can’t see us? ” Dolan said. “But [then] you’re really enforcing them when you’re outside the store, especially when you’re interacting with the customer.”

Berg is acutely aware of situations such as the one that Dolan had experienced.

Situations where employees feel as if they’re in a job that is meaningless, working for a managers that don’t care for them, and all of this being exposed by the stresses of the pandemic.

“It’s hard for [large companies] to manufacture empathy and kindness at a l arge scale because they have to systemize it and they have to put it through legal,” Berg said.

However, he said he feels that smaller businesses don’t have these problems.

“You have 20 staff members. You can know them all by name. You can know their specific interest, you can know their music interest, you can know (without crossing the line of getting too personal) stuff that they have going on at home. You can get to know their ambitions and their dreams and be able to help support that, even if it’s not the most obvious way,” Berg said. ἀi s point is articulated by Dolan as well: “I think that that type of bigger company mentality...is impersonal, you are replaceable. [ἀ e companies] don’t really need you here,” Dolan said. “It’s just not where you want to work.”

Berg has begun to find ways to pivot to this new approach to employment within his own business, applying it to the way he perceives the musicians that he employs as teachers.

“I’m almost seeing it differently now.

I always thought, ‘Well, we’re giving a great place to teach, and we pay a really good wage, but I t hink it’s got to be more than that. I’m looking at it [now] as more ‘we’re developing an artist, not

Whatdo dowe we What haveto todo do have tobe beable able to toreinvent reinvent to ourselves--to to ourselves beable ableto toserve serve be andsurvive?” survive?” and -DerekBerg Berg -Derek

just a t eacher,’” Berg said. “We’ve got to facilitate them being able to express themselves through their lessons, and being a li ttle more proactive, and knowing that human element, and nurturing it, rather than just providing a place to teach and a g ood wage. It’s not enough.”

It’s this idea of more intimate and personal relationships that small businesses have that Berg said he believes is what will be able to attract employees back to small businesses. To Berg, they’re not just providing money to their employees. ἀ ey’re providing a service as well.

Dolan now works at the Deli section of Kramer Foods in Hinsdale.

“It’s far more personal at Kramer’s. ἀ e managers know you more, the workforce is less expanded, and in general, I’ve never had a t ruly bad, mean manager,” Dolan said. “I can have

a conversation about hours with my manager and say ‘I can’t do t his,’ and they’ll say ‘OK, we’ll schedule for that.’”

Dolan then went on to compare this to his previous job.

“I went up to my manager at [the fast food restaurant] and said this was conflicting with school, and could I change these hours. And she basically said to me, ‘You can change your hours, but you’ll be without a j ob. We hired you to do those hours. So, you’re going to do those hours,’”Dolan said.

Dolan’s major motivation for the job at Kramer’s is still the same as it was at the fast food restaurant: monetary income. His earnings are something that he’s not only using to save up for college, but also to fund his love for the guitar. ἀ at being said, he has found some other benefits working at a small business.

“Work experience. Just being able to deal with different types of people,” Dolan said.

It’s experiences like these that Stice said he hopes to give to his employees at his shop. Stice teaches his employees about all of the plants that the shop sells - in cluding techniques such as cactus grafting.

“Being more personable with them. ἀ at’s something that you don’t get at the big box stores,” Stice said.

Stice said he also feels that this personable nature extends not only to the employee, but the customer as well.

“I think the thing that has kept us afloat is that we are super personable with every customer. We greet every customer that walks in, we say goodbye to them, and we try to special-tune things to everybody,” Stice said. “We try to find a p lant that’s very specific and perfect for them, and then we teach them everything about it.”

It’s this idea of intimacy with not only the employee, but the customer as well that Berg said he feels that he wants to emphasize as president of the Clarendon Hills Chamber of Commerce. In an effort to “make lemonade out of lemons,” Berg has tried to pivot the Chamber of Commerce

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The plants that Stice cares for line the shelves of his shop in Bolingbrook.

into a more hands-on role that mirrors his new philosophy. “ἀ e Chamber is actually acting as a sim ultaneous arm of community development and business development at the same time,” Berg said.

According to Berg, hosting one or two events a year is not enough - just like providing a de cent space to work and a g ood wage isn’t enough. By hosting events year round, and bringing both business and community outreach together, Berg said he hopes to make Clarendon Hills a “ destination town.”

In other words, he wants customers to come from one or two towns away, instead of businesses relying on simply Clarendon Hills residents.

“We’re going to give you incentive to ascend in t he town and experience it, but in o rder to do t hat [we] can’t just put posters up,” Berg said. “We’re doing strategic marketing...businesses putting content out there, driving [people] to an analog event.” ἀi s new vision of pivoting the Chamber of Commerce hasn’t come without speed bumps. One of the problems Berg has encountered has been employment yet again - finding staff for his expanded Chamber has been another uphill battle.

Whether it’s at the Kramer’s deli, as an entrepreneur, or for the revitalization of Clarendon Hills, businesses will always be facing those uphill battles. How they face those, and who they face i t with is what will determine whether or not they reach the top of that hill.

Maximilian J Pohlenz Profiles | 15

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p h o t o s p r e a d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

traveling to the hear t

Guest photographer Karen Tan shares travels to Indonesia

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a purely red devil advice column to address your most pressing questions

by Nadia Burt designed by Nadia Burt graphics by Mara Severts

As it is c ollege season, is ther e any advice current seniors can g ive to upcoming underclassmen and juniors for the following years?

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ollege season is upon us and seniors are STRESSED. ἀ ere are a few of us who were proactive over the summer and got that crucial CommonApp personal statement done, but the vast majority were a little more “behind”, starting essays and filling out the activities section as senior year got underway. I think the most important advice seniors can give to all of our underclassmen is to give themselves TIME. You don’t have to get everything done in the summer before senior year, but make sure you start researching the questions each college asks, and maybe start drafting some responses. You want to make sure that you mention something specific from each school and that research takes time, so breaking it up into reasonable chunks helps immensely.

Another thing that is especially important for juniors is asking teachers for recommendation letters.

Typically, it is best to ask (politely) around March but each teacher has a different process and timeline. Make sure that you are asking teachers in classes you have participated in and put in a real effort - teachers write much better letters for students they got to know. In general, the college application process is difficult, but Hinsdale Central has some amazing guidance counselors and resources, so don’t be afraid to reach out if you are unsure how to prepare.

My friend just got asked out by a guy she likes, but I like her - what should I do?

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t truly does hurt seeing your crush go out with someone else, but the biggest thing to consider in this situation is your friend’s feelings. For example, if she genuinely likes this guy and you are good friends, then perhaps the best thing to do is what makes her happy and doesn’t break your friendship.

However, you have to do some introspective thinking too . Will telling her your feelings break the friendship?

Will you be more hurt if she starts dating someone else and you never shared that you like her? If seeing them with another person will hurt your friendship regardless, then you may as well tell her that you like her! ἀ ere is a thin line between being an advocate for your feelings and malicious intent to break up a relationship, and you want to make sure that your friend realizes it is the former. Just remember, whether you tell her your feelings or not, you will be OK. However, make an effort to distance yourself from the friendship if it becomes too much for you emotionally - prioritizing your mental health should come first. ἀ ere comes a point in which you have to recognize what you can and can’t control - you have time to make dozens of friends and have dozens of crushes, so don’t limit your high school experience to one person.

Do you think tha t people should talk about men tal health? Or should they deal with it themselves? Personally, I f eel like the str ong and silen t type and being able t o deal with y our own emotions is something I ’ve been able t o do all m y life. But ther e’s all this messag ing nowadays about talk ing about stuff. What ’s your take?

H

insdale Central has had a lot of messaging a bout mental health lately, such as Red Devil Reflections, working to ensure that students feel that they are able to talk to others about their mental health. Dec 6-10 was our Spirit/Coping week, which we used to learn and talk about our emotions, as well as checking in with those around us. ἀ ese programs are timely to our society’s current situation as according to the World Health Organization, one in seven teens experiences anxiety, depression, or behavioral disorders.

I think the idea of a strong and silent type is one that has been supported by the societal norm of internalizing our feelings - despite this, it is important to ensure these feelings don’t overwhelm us. I think that people should ABSOLUTELY talk about mental health, but we also need to be aware of who we are talking to. Talking to your friends is certainly a great way to open up the conversation about mental health with people you trust and are comfortable with. Still, you must remember that your friends are not professionals with the resources to help you navigate emotions, which is why reaching out to social workers at Central and therapists outside of school is a g reat idea. Being honest with mental health professionals and owning your issues is important as their help will only work to the extent that you let them in. ἀi s advice column is simply how I chose to answer the question - if you or someone you know needs guidance on other issues, reach out to your social worker. If you are unsure who your social worker is you can find information online at the Hinsdale Central Social Work page or through the guidance office.

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b o o k

r e v i e w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Fountainhead: A Testament to the Individual

By Maximilian J. Pohlenz

A

yn Rand is Russian-born American author with a ra ther infamous name to those that know her. Rand is most known for her philosophy, Objectivism, which argues that “reason, informed by the senses, is the only way of perceiving reality; that rational self-interest is the only moral position.” Detractors of the philosophy argue that it essentially justiἀes being a horrible person. It’s one of the (many) reasons that Rand’s work is so controversial. Indeed, one could argue that the main character of her novel, The Fountainhead, Howard Roark, is precisely an example of such behavior.

Roark is a v isionary architect in New York. Genius, arrogant, and determined, he ἀghts against the forces of the status quo throughout the book via his architecture, a bold and innovative style that Rand states was inspired by the buildings of architect Frank Llyod Wright. And whilst I agree that the idea of ultimate selἀshness that many ἀnd Howard Roark to exemplify is a ra ther nasty one, I a lso ἀnd it an incorrect evaluation of Roark.

He is indeed arrogant - t hat much I cannot contest. Throughout the book, he denies any sort of help from friends and enemies alike, determined to do it all on his own - o r die t rying. But I’d disagree with even Rand’s own assessment of her character that this stems from a rational self interest. Although Roark is a logical being, often explaining his decisions through chains of carefully plotted steps, I found him often coming off as a romantic. He doesn’t want to be an architect because mother told him. And he doesn’t want to be an architect to get rich. He wants to be one because he feels this duty to build something - it’s this “selἀshness” (the need to fulἀll one’s own individuality and to achieve something great) that Roark exempliἀes. It’s this type of devotion that causes his mentor, Henry Cameron, to at one point snap at Roark and tell him to “be reasonable.” Hardly the comment you’d hear thrown at a rationalist.

It is then this irrational drive to be the best, to build something great, to do it all for sole self-fulἀllment, but to paradoxically also do i t to inspire others that has struck a chord with me. Perhaps this is exempliἀed by Howard’s response to the possibility of The Stoddard Temple (his greatest building) being destroyed.

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“That doesn’t matter. Not even if they’ll destroy it. Only that it had existed.”

It’s this pure pursuit of self-worth - self happiness, that I feel is important in today’s world. We often sacriἀce our identities to the whims of Instagram likes and test scores telling us how to feel, think, and react. It’s something I myself have struggled with - a mentality where one determines their self worth based on the opinions of others.

Best not reveal that you love that type of music in f ront of them, lest you look uncultured. Don’t dress like that - you’ll stick out. He who doesn’t have ten different

one last campaign, all the while working for that one opening - that one moment - where he can land the perfect punch, and make a statement to the world that bet against him.

Are there flaws in Rand’s book and philosophy? Absolutely. A quick search of her name will reveal many, many pieces of literature detailing each and every one of these flaws. But it’ll also reveal a few other pieces that show love - genuine love. Love, that in R and’s own words is, “Reverence, and worship, and glory, and the upward glance. Not a bandage for dirty sores.” It’s the love that can only come from a person

AP credits must be stupid. It’s hard to resist the urge to bow down to this rhetoric.

Throughout the book, Roark wages war against that very same rhetoric. He is shamed by the press - called a hack and a fraud, and at one point, is forced to resign from architecture entirely and work in a quarry.

Yet, he never gives in. Instead, he chooses to “drive the anger back inside of [him], and store it, and decide to let [himself] be torn to pieces if necessary, but reach the day when [he’d] rule those people.” Despite the intimidating undertones, Roark’s approach to life feels strangely appealing. Take as many hits as necessary, like an old boxer on

that has been truly inspired by the work. A person that has been encouraged to continue their own silent war for the individual.

Rand’s placement of Roark on a pedestal is questionable. Yet, it’s also Rand’s placement of Roark on a pedestal that elevates individualists everywhere. It’s why Roark proclaims to a young student in chapter four: “Don’t work for my happiness, my brothers - show me yours - show me that it is possible - show me your achievement - and the knowledge will give me courage for mine.”

Illustration by Mara Severts.

12/13/21 2:26 PM

a s k i n g designed by Nadia Burt

a r o u n d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Interviewing random Central students about their Red Devil state of mind

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? “ἀ e Jimmy Johns sandwich in my lunch.”

WHAT ARE YOU HAPPY ABOUT? “It’s Friday.”

“The mental health of my students.”

my ce of he n a r tt eve pers ghou “ἀ e nts throu d these n e stud ol year a times.” o h h g c s y tou reall

is alys n A se .”

“Pro AP Lit in

ng “A lot of work and getti to Winter Break.”

“Time with my family and looking forward to my future.”

Chances by Five for Fighting

“Not being able to go through a normal school year for two years.”

Best Part feat. HER

Poker Face

by Lady Gaga

“I took some cute pictures at a hockey game last night.”

WHAT ARE YOU ANGRY ABOUT?

WHAT SONG IS STUCK IN YOUR HEAD? Candy Shop by 50 Cent

“I got into Yale yesterday.”

“College applications.”

“I don’t understand AP Chemistry.”

Perspectives | 19

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d e v i l s

a r o u n d

t h e

w o r l d

taking a quick look at some notable alumni

by Nadia Burt, Killian Hughes and Mara Severts designed by Mara Severts

Bob Dudley

Danielle Campbell

Brian Allen

I

n 1973, H insdale Central graduated Bob Dudley, who would go on to attend the University of Illinois for his undergraduate degree and get an MBA at Southern Methodist University. Aἀer decades of working in o il, Dudley rose to a p osition managing a j oint venture between his firm, BP Oil, and a g roup of Russian billionaires called Alfa-AccessRenova (AAR). A ἀer several years of successful management between 2003 and 2008, the relationship between the two fell through and Dudley was moved to a more general management position for BP’s Asian division. In 2010, D udley was placed in charge of BP’s project to clean up the enormous Deepwater Horizons spill in t he Gulf of Mexico, and was soon promoted to CEO of the company. He spent eight years in that position, and oversaw a huge period of change in t he company as it overcame the $68 billion fallout from the oil spill and started to deal with the new issues presented by climate change. Dudley has traversed all around the world in hi s executive career, and serves as an example of a Red Devil who has used his Hinsdale education to a global extent.

C

entral’s tradition of athletic excellence has sent devils into the world of professional sports. Brian Allen, 25 years old, grew up in Clarendon Hills.

He went to Hinsdale Central from 2010 to 2014, where he joined Hinsdale Central’s football team. Both he and his brother Jack went to Michigan State, where they played football, and where we has named as a three-time all Big Ten selection, as well as a freshman All American. Now, Allen plays for the LA Rams and worked his way up to starting center in 2019. H e was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draἀ, and has played 33 games so far. His brother also plays in the NFL, having signed a free agent deal with the New Orleans Saints in 2016. Allen keeps close ties with Central, having held an offensive line clinic over the summer for the football team, along with giving a s hout out to Central during the 2021 NFL s eason opener when the Rams faced off against the Chicago Bears.

H

insdale Central alumni have gone on to do great things in the world, from writing award winning novels, to transforming our political system, and even attaining successful acting careers - as is the case for actress and alumni Danielle Campbell.

Danielle Campbell was born on January 30, 1995 and in her early childhood lived in Singapore, due to the nature of her parents’ work as real estate fund managers. Upon returning to the United States, Campbell was promptly discovered in a hair salon at age ten - within her first week with a casting agency, she booked a national Build-A-Bear Workshop commercial.

One of her first breakout roles was in the Disney Channel Original Movie: Starstruck at age 15. Aἀerwards, she was in a number of high school centered movies (including two about Prom) and played Devina, a powerful witch, on the Originals, a spinoff of Vampire Diaries. Many other fans first discovered her while she was dating Louis Tomlinson, a former member of One Direction, back in 2015. C ampbell graduated from Hinsdale Central in 2013.

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12/13/21 2:56 PM

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b a t t l e g r o u n d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Recently, inflation rates in the Unit ed States have begun t o rise. I n this mon th’s Battleground column, Jawed and P ark ins argue whether this dev elopment presents a leg itimate danger t o the American economy. marked a level of economic instability that known as the Great Recession. Taylor wrote an eerily similar article 12 years ago in The will be remembered for years to come.

Amidst the pandemic, Americans have Wall Street Journal where he described faced severe economic hardship. It is to the how in response to the economic recession, point where, as reported by CNN, grocery President George W. Bush signed the $152 prices have risen by over 5% in t he past billion Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, but year, making it difficult for many to sustain this unprecedented expenditure “failed to themselves. President Biden’s attempts stimulate consumption.” And as reported by at alleviating this stress and increasing the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, consumption came in the form of stimulus the measures we saw taken during the Great checks. But handing out checks ranging Recession to stimulate the economy “added from $600 t o $1,400 t o an entire country to the debt” the government was facing. isn’t cheap and in M arch 2021, B iden Nonetheless, Biden resorted to stimulus.

Inἀation causes the hard earned dollars signed a $1.9 trillion dollar Covid relief bill.

According to the U.S. data lab, America is of the American people to lose value, and facing over $28 t rillion dollars in f ederal President Biden’s heavy spending has only debt. Infusing copious amounts of money contributed to that. It is the government’s into the economy is not the answer, and has obligation to the low-income families who only worsened the country’s inἀation crisis. are struggling with basic living expenses As Stanford Economics Professor John under today’s economies to learn from B. Taylor puts it in hi s Project Syndicate the mistakes of the past and build a better article, “the stimulus didn’t work, again.” He economic future. reports that the stimulus had “little to no According to the Pew Research Center impact on consumption.” The reason Taylor as of October 2021, inἀ ation has risen to says again is because we’ve been down this 6.2%, the highest it has been in over three road several years ago during a p eriod decades. This alarmingly high figure has

Danyal

Jawed

Katie

Parkins

A

nyone who has purchased gas or groceries has paid the price of inἀation: cashing more for the same amount of goods. In fact, the CPI calculated that

inἀation was at 6.2% in October, the highest since the 1990s. H owever, it is crucial to put this rapid inἀation into perspective and acknowledge its causes. The Brookings Institution reports that the three main contributors to this instance of inἀation are strong consumer demand as the economy reopens, the fact that inἀation is calculated against last year’s pandemic shutdowns, and the stimulus packages. The benefits provided through this expansionary policy outweigh the harms of inἀation for two key reasons: The current inἀation is an exacerbated number, and the stimulus packages were a necessity that saved lives.

Firstly, the benefits of the expansionary policy, which directly caused this inἀation, outweigh the harms of higher prices because the 6.2% of inἀation is an exaggeration with minute impact. Last year, there was a global recession, with most countries hitting that threshold in F ebruary of 2020. E xperts expected this inἀation even in 2020, due to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The US Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the CPI to calculate inἀation annually, comparing

current prices to last year’s. As 2020’s recession prices were drastically low, price inἀation in 2021 was not only expected, but it was inevitable. Obviously consumers will purchase more goods when the economy is not in a recession -- naturally boosting the inἀation. Therefore, the current measure of inἀation is both expected and instinctively overblown.

The benefits of the stimulus checks outweigh the mitigated impacts of inἀation. The stimulus checks were designed to provide economic relief to those who needed it most. In April of 2020, the unemployment rate was 14.8%, t he highest since 1948. The stimulus checks gave essential funds to the vulnerable, 87% of whom spent the stimulus money on necessities per Bankrate. The NY F ederal Reserve furthered that 34% of individual funds paid off debts, freeing people to purchase food, shelter, and water. Widening the scope of impact, Forbes continues that near 9 mi llion unhoused people qualified for stimulus, granting protection from an ever spreading pandemic.

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s t a f f

e d i t o r i a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

midnight deadlines: inter fering with student schedules Illustration by Mara Severts

ἀi s editorial is the consensus of the Devils’ Advocate Editorial Board.

L

ast year’s switch to online and hybrid schooling was marked by a scramble to adjust to a purely online environment consequently Canvas was Hinsdale Central’s saving grace. Administrators, teachers, and students alike became more intimately familiar with the modules, quizzes, and discussions on Canvas, with nearly every assignment conducted online. Though it was ultimately an easier way to collect schoolwork, it gave rise to a more irritating phenomenon: 11:59 p .m. deadlines.

The use of midnight deadlines was not commonplace until the past two or three years, when the Hinsdale Central administration began to make the shift from paper assignments to Canvas. ἀ ough teachers were not required to have a Canvas page before hybrid schooling last year, some teachers such as Christina Brodell, AP S panish teacher, began to use

online resources like Google Classroom a few years before.

“When we started using the Chromebooks more and went one on one... I s tarted using Google Classrooms but then they really encouraged us...to go to Canvas,” Brodell said.

Now, every class has a C anvas page centralized in s tudent accounts, with streamlined information of upcoming assignments clearly visible on the main page. ἀ e default Canvas submission time is midnight for every assignment, suggesting that 11:59 deadlines are in place simply due to teacher oversight. Brodell explained that her support of 11:59 deadlines was not necessarily an intentional move.

“It’s very anticlimactic but… it’s honestly an automated thing that Canvas has in p lace,” Brodell said. ἀ ough it may be unintentional on behalf of teachers, these nontraditional deadlines

often pose more issues than benefits for students, especially those involved in sports and activities. Students will come home as late as 9:30, n eeding to eat, shower, and decompress before they delve into upwards of four hours of homework.

Tessa Howe, senior, explained that her numerous clubs, as well as basketball and lacrosse schedules, mean that she is constantly preoccupied after school.

“I have basketball practice every day... after school for two and a h alf hours.

[Conference] games... are heavy during the week and we have a few

tournaments on the weekends,” Howe said.

With nearly 100 c lubs a n d sports at Hinsdale Central, one is hard-pressed to find students that aren’t involved in a ny extracurricular activities. ἀ ough most students are not as involved as Howe, a time crunch is created regardless, proving midnight deadlines to be an impediment to student health. According to the Sleep Foundation, 69% of high school students are getting less than seven hours of sleep at night, a problem that has significantly increased with the rise of technology.

“Games turn into a 5- 9:30 event on weeknights,” Howe said. “After games I’m sometimes just so exhausted that it’s a struggle to get work done before bed.”

However, some teachers appreciate

the midnight deadlines, using it as a benchmark for what material needs to be covered in class the next day. Brodell said that while she did a ttempt to use 8 a.m. deadlines during the pandemic, it ultimately resulted in more difficult lesson planning.

“If I do n’t see who had...completed the homework before class then I can’t move on..and prepare what the lesson requires,” Brodell said. ἀ ough changing deadlines may mean some interference with teacher lesson plans, ultimately using a morning deadline alleviates mental stress for several students.

Not every teenager is able to come home late in the evening and complete multiple hours o f

homework while trying to meet an 11:59 de adline the day of. For some students, it is more feasible to complete their homework in t he morning or during a study hall before class, rather than staying up until midnight and beyond, prolonging their exhaustion.

Simply put, 11:59 deadlines are inflexible barriers to students that work, play sports, or have family obligations, and shorten the amount of time they have to complete homework. It is only recently that online assignments became commonplace, meaning that the majority of the teachers at Hinsdale Central have the skill set to adjust lesson plans without a need for arbitrary deadlines.

Instead of midnight, teachers need to change due dates to the time their class begins, reverting back to the traditional deadlines that our education system used less than five years ago. All we ask is that teachers allocate sufficient time to complete assignments assigned the day of, in a m anner that benefits the diversity of Central student experiences.

Perspectives | 23

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