Devils' Advocate November/December 2020

November-December 2020

LOCAL SHOPS FIGHT THROUGH PANDEMIC P. 18 HINSDALE FOR THE HOLIDAYS P. 22

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DEVILS’ ADVOCATE 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 atmoshpere and students body by sharing information and recognizing and ideas.

Editor-in-chief Hari Rao Head of Design Kritin Shanmugam Managing Editors Nathaniel Bittner Ailish Lyman Copy Editors Caroline Cubbin Lainey Harvey Head of Photography Sofija Buzelis

CONTENTS 04 08 10 AROUND CAMPUS 04 DAILY DEVIL

06 HOT TOPICS

BY THE NUMBERS 08 HOLIDAY SCRAMBLE

Section Editors Rania Arain Loukas Bezanis Nadia Burt Grace Erwin Killian Hughes Cedra Jazayerli Christine Leung Andrew Merz Grant Micaletti Grace Myall John Olsen Jameson Peculinas Ricky Sahgal Lucas Salvatore Mara Severts Jessie Wang Contributors Noor Myran — Battleground Mikhail Essa — Battleground Evan Kurimay — Daily Devil

Caroline Petersen — Daily Devil

PROFILES

10 A BLAST FROM THE PAST 14 THE SHOW MUST GO ON

18 27

FEATURES

18 LOCAL SHOPS FIGHT THROUGH PANDEMIC 22 HINSDALE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

26 PHOTO FEATURE: EYE OF THE DEVIL

PERSPECTIVES 27 ASK AN ATHLETE

28 RED DEVIL REDUX 30 BATTLEGROUND 32 HOW TO:

33 UNSOLICITED ADVICE 34 STAFF EDITORIAL

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Cover and TOC designed by Kritin Shanmugam Cover and TOC photos by Lainey Harvey, Grant Micalleti, Mara Severts

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LETTER FROM THE [EDITOR]

s we transition into winter break, we’re all struggling to continue pushing through. The Pandemic continues to take, and it doesn’t give. But that doesn’t mean we haven’t adapted to prove our strong resilience in light of our situation. Branching from this idea, this issue features “Hinsdale for the Holidays,” which looks at how families are celebrating their holidays this season, and “Local Shops Fight Through Pandemic,” how our local towns’ businesses are handling this season’s slowed business. Our column, “Melting the Blues,” gives us some advice for how we can deal with seasonal depression in this extra-depressing time.

“The Show Must Go on” looks at our school’s talented, young artists, from how they started their music careers to how they’re handling music now. “A Blast from the Past” takes a look at how Central’s changed overtime since its beginning, profiling some of Central’s oldest alumni. In “Hinsdale Central vs. York 2014: Retold,” we highlight Central’s very close game against York six years ago.

Our photo feature, “Eye of the devil,” displays various animals in different perspectives. Our Editorial, “The Broken Down and Burnt Out,” looks at our school’s disciplinary system, while this month’s Battleground focuses on the famous debate of whether or not the U.S. should abolish the Electoral College.

And Unsolicited Advice provides us, especially seniors, some niche tips on how to deal with college stress!

We hope you enjoy this month’s issue. The Devils’ Advocate staff wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday!

HARI RAO CONTACT ADVISER, CHERISE LOPEZ CLOPEZ@HINSDALE86..ORG 630.570.8361

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Daily Devil Illinois Says “Hold On, Winter Sports”

Central athletes reflect on their hopes for the winter sports season.

by Evan Kurimay

A

with many healthcare workers overwhelmed and hospitals running out of space.

“For the first time since the pandemic began, more than 100,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the United States, nearly double the record highs seen during the spring and summer surges,” according to The Atlantic article written

by Robinson Meyer and Alexis Madrigal.

With the surge continuing with the winter holidays, athletes may see a break in the restrictions for the spring season.

Magnus Kumskis, a lacrosse player, said, “It

sucks we can’t play for the winter season, but I’m looking forward to playing in the spring.”

Illinois also received its first shipment of one of the viable vaccines on Nov. 30, and according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, vaccine administration may begin in December 2020 to healthcare workers and long-term care residents.

photo provided by Tyler Pavlik.

s healthcare professionals predicted, COVID-19 cases have surged following the cold temperatures. Record number of cases are being recorded almost daily, and mandates have had tighter restrictions, including an advised stay-at-home order and increased restrictions for indoor dining and gyms Governor JB Pritzker put in place on Nov. 1.

Craig Anderson, the executive direct of the Illinois High School Association said, “The IHSA (Illinois High School Association) recognizes that today’s announcement (Nov. 17) by Governor JB Pritzker will temporarily pause the IHSA’s winter sports season.”

Pritzker’s restrictions included putting a temporary pause on high school sports for the winter. Some winter sports will be held with smaller numbers, like boys/girls bowling, swimming, and girls gymnastics, competitive cheerleading, and dance Tyler Pavlik, a freshman basketball player, said, “I was hoping to start my high school basketball season but I’m not surprised. The pause on high school sports puts many athletes’ futures in jeopardy.”

For athletes who look to play in college, the pause has not been ideal, but many schools are accepting video footage from the previous season. But for others, it’s not being able to play the sport that is most upsetting.

“I believe we should be able to play the sports for the winter,” said Nate Anderson, hockey player.

However, some see the precautions needed given the influx of cases and potential hospital overload. According to an article published on Dec. 4 in The Atlantic, the U.S. has surpassed its breaking point for hospitals,

Sports like basketball and hockey have been put on hold following the COVID-19 case surges.

4 | Around Campus

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Hinsdale Central Drama Club performs It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Despite the pandemic, Central’s drama club continues to perform, just in time for the holiday season.

by Caroline Petersen

O

made by Melia and Musil] were a pair of shoes making footsteps, cornflakes for crunching in the snow, and [they] even had to use the sound of cracking lasagna for making the sound of ice breaking through the snow,” said Miette Morris, one of the two assistant directors in charge of sound and organization.

Because of the current circumstances with COVID-19, many precautions were taken for the Fall Show to be possible and happen safely.

“We had to stay six feet apart at all times and we always had to wear masks,” Miller said.

Not only was the rehearsal process impacted by the pandemic, the process of choosing a show was also different for Kostro.

“Because of COVID-19, I had to be a little bit more strategic with the shows I was looking at because I didn’t know where we were going to be as a school district when the play was going on,” Kostro said. “I didn’t know whether we’d be in-person or whether we would have to film it. Also, if we were all remote we’d have to have a plan for that too.”

Craig also said that the radio play format was ideal for having the actors remain socially distanced during rehearsals and the performance of the Fall Show.

The cast was able to perform in the auditorium, but the performance had to be recorded without an audience to ensure that everyone stayed safe.

“The biggest difference we noticed was that we didn’t have a live audience. We just recorded the show. That was a really

big difference because we’re really used to having people in the audience,” Miller said.

Although this year’s Fall Show looked different than it has in the past, the cast still expressed their enjoyment of participating this year and their gratitude to their fellow castmates, Kostro, and everyone else who made the Fall Show possible during these circumstances.

“Ever yone was really, truly lovely and I super enjoyed working wit h e ver yone,” Craig s aid.

Morris also said, “I just want to give a shout out to Mr. Kostro because he has been so amazing to work with through the show, even with COVID-19.”

If you are interested in joining the drama club or finding more information on Central’s 2020-2021 drama season, you can visit www.hinsdaledrama.com, or follow @hinsdaledrama on Twitter, @hinsdaledramaclub on Instagram, or @hcdramagroup on Facebook.

photo by Noela Musil.

n Friday, Dec. 11, the Hinsdale Central Drama Club broadcasted the production of their fall show, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, directed by Chris Kostro, English and theater teacher, as well as one of five drama club directors at Central. This show was adapted from the original movie of the same name from 1946 by playwright Joe Landry.

Following this broadcast, Hinsdale Central’s radio station, WHSD 88.5 FM, broadcasted the audio of the production on Dec. 12.

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is set in the 1940s and revolves around George Bailey (played by Quintin Craig, senior), a good man who has serious economic troubles and contemplates suicide.

“He’s a guy that is kind of stuck,” Craig said. “Throughout the show, he wants to leave his town and do something great and circumstances keep happening that force him to stay in his hometown. This leads to a lot of pent up aggression.”

Before ending it all, George meets his guardian angel, Clara (played by Jessica Miller, senior), who was sent down to Earth to show George what the lives of his family and friends would be like if he was never born.

This show has its own take on the original - it is a radio play. The stage is set up like a 1940s radio station and the actors use standing microphones instead of traditional lavalier mics.

“In this show, we were actors [who were] playing actors who were playing a role [in the show],” said Charlotte Froiland, senior, who plays Mary Bailey - George’s wife.

The cast, assistant directors, stage manager, and Kostro have been working hard since late September to prepare the fall show.

“I cast [the show] and held auditions in late September,” Kostro said. “And then we’ve been rehearsing since about the second to last week of September to [Nov. 13].”

Cast members Logan Melia, sophomore, and Noela Musil, senior, were Foley artists, or people who keep track of sound effects and even make the sound effects with different props. Since the cast had to be spread out across the stage, sound effects help scenes appear more realistic when the actors have a limited range of movement on stage.

“Some of the cool [sound effects

Cast members perform on Nov. 9 for the recorded performance of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.

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HOT T

by Grace Erwin designed by Loukas Bezanis

TV

FOODS

The Crown

Starbucks Holiday Menu

The Crown is a popular Netflix original series based on the British Royal Family. It goes into detail specifically about the life of Queen Elizabeth II, beginning in the 1940s and continuing to modern times. The newest season, season 4, was released on Nov. 15 exclusively on Netflix.

Photo provided by Toman dLorenzo

APPS Color Widgets

The newest software update for iPhones, IOS 14, was released this fall. One of the most notable features of this update was the addition of widgets. The app “color widgets” has become increasingly more popular as Apple users continue to update their phones. It helps make the process of creating widgets and customizing your phone a much more seamless, quick, and easy process.

On Nov. 6, Starbucks officially started serving their 2020 holiday menu. Returning favorites include the Peppermint Mocha, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, and Eggnog Latte.

Starbucks also introduced new food items, such as the Cranberry Orange Scone, Cranberry Bliss Bar, Sugar Plum Cheese Danish, and Snowman Cookie.

Photo provided by Pikist

MUSIC

Positions by Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande officially released her newest album, titled Positions, on Oct. 30.

The album contains 14 tracks, including previously released singles “positions” and “pov”. Grande also released a music video for the song “34+35” on Nov. 17.

Photo provided by Wikipedia

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TOPICS

FASHION ACTIVITIES Patchwork Coming in various colors and patterns, patched denim has become extremely popular this winter.

Originally, this fun new trend was mostly purchased.

However, many people are now starting to make their

COVID-friendly Christmas lights

Although some Christmas traditions are going to have to look different this year, many places around Chicago have worked hard to ensure families and friends can still get in the Christmas spirit. At the Morton Arboretum, cars of four people or less can enjoy a drive through light experience, while at Lincoln Park Zoo, they can safely walk around the exhibits wearing masks.

own patchwork as well.

Photo provided by Pxhere Photo provided by DepositPhotos

EVENTS Variety Show

This year, students participated in the first ever virtual variety show.

Participants pre-recorded their acts which were then compiled into one 40 minute Youtube video, complete with an introduction from Soulja Boy. On Nov. 19, the link was sent out through email and students were able to enjoy the show virtually!

Photo provided by RedDevilNation

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HOLIDAY SCRAMBLE Holiday Related Events and Activites for Students (208 Reponses)

designed by Kritin Shanmugam

(by popularity)

Christmas Tree

Yo

rave T u

ling Durin

gB r

k? ea

Favorite Holiday Decorations?

Ar e

illustrations by Mara Severts

74.5% Not Traveling

Lights Snowman Wreaths Christmas Village

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What Holidays are Students Celebrating?

10.1% NONE 2.4% HANUKKAH 6.3% ST. NICHOLAS DAY 1.4% DÍA DE LOS REYES 88% CHRISTMAS 6% OTHER: Festivus, Diwali, Wigilia, Boxing Day, Kūčios, Santa Lucia Day, New Years, Eid

44.2% COOKIES

9.6% OTHER

Favorite Food to Make?

11.1% GINGER BREAD HOUSES

- Brownies - Tsoureki - Muffins - Pie - Bread - Ice Cream - Chinese Food

33.7% HOT CHOCOLATE 1.4% FRUIT CAKE

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A Blast from the Past Looking back at the changes and continuities in Central’s history through the eyes of former students.

10| Profiles

by Drew Merz and Mara Severs designed by Mara Severts photos courtesy of the Hinsdale Historical Society and El Diablo, the Hinsdale Central Yearbook

Profiles| 11

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n draped long pale dresses, fitted with sashes of fresh flowers, four young women sit for a photograph in 1893. Through the grain of the black and white photo, you can make out the faces of 18-year-old Alice Warren, Grace Redfield, Florence Webster, and Minnie Roberts -- the first four students to graduate from Hinsdale’s initial high school. A ghost of a smile sits on the faces of two of the women, but all are oblivious to what the school will grow into.

Hinsdale Central wasn’t always the high school that students today know. According to the Hinsdale Historical Society, Central’s first building was built in 1866 on the corner of Garfield and Third Street. The first four graduates left Central in 1893 with their diplomas. Hinsdale Middle School currently takes up the land where the old high school used to be, being rebuilt in 1894 after it burned down. Years later, the high school was rebuilt again in a new location with more room for expansion.

The 55th and Grant Street location that still stands today opened in 1950, with the core of the building still existing. Since 1950, Central has seen many additions and edits, including new science and world language wings and a brand new pool to come.

Following the opening of the new school in 1950, Central was made up of a small building and small classes. In the 1950s, 725 students roamed the campus, compared to today’s enrollment of almost 2,750 students, with more incoming students every year.

Ann Hubert (‘64) and Randy Hubert (‘62) are both Central alum and community members. They have seen Central change and adapt to the world for the last 50 years.

They have two children who both attended Central and remain in the area today.

Both Ann and Randy Hubert said that in their day, there were not as many teachers as there are today. They said that having fewer members of the teaching staff had an effect on the number of students in each classroom, course options, and class time.

“We had about 30 to 35 students per class,” Ann Hubert said. “And we were not

“We had about 30 to 35 students per class,” Ann Hubert said. “And we were not offered the classes that are today, but class time was probably longer.”

Over the years, Central has worked hard to have more teachers in relation to the number of students. According to Illnois Report Card, there is one staff member for every 13 students, as well as an average of 24 students per class. Additionally, over time the school has become diverse to students of different backgrounds.

“We had three minorities in the school, all in my graduation class,” Ann Hubert said.

Now, 31 percent of the student body is made up of minorities. Ann Hubert also said that the standard of education has improved over the years, too. By looking at the list of schools students were going to for college, she was able to notice a big difference in the education level, with more students going to prestigious schools.

“When I look at the list of schools where kids are going, I can tell the education level has improved a lot,” Ann Hubert said.

Although the educational opportunities have changed over time, the Athletic Department and several clubs have stayed relatively the same. In the early 1960s, students showed their school spirit by supporting their varsity football and basketball teams, teams that still exist today.

Some of Hubert’s most fond memories took place cheering for her school and its athletes.

“Both the football field and the gym would be packed [for pep rallies],” Ann Hubert said.

The varsity club was and still is in charge of all things pep. They organized pep rallies, decorated the gym, told people what color clothes to wear on game days, made posters, and much more. Hubert was a member of the club for her junior and senior year.

While the tradition of a senior prank has faded away over the years, when asked about some of her favorite moments, Hubert shared stories describing rebellious students pulling pranks. One prank that stuck out to her was the student-organized

Central’s Annual Float Parade in the ‘60s.

12 | Profiles

stuck out to her was the student-organized parade down 55th Street.

“The last week of school students drove convertibles up and down the front of the school and mooned the school the whole time,” Ann Hubert said.

While alum recount fond memories, many of the liberties and choices Central has today weren’t available at the time.

There were no specialized electives, and AP classes barely existed at this point. Many of the most popular classes available today like business law, sports medicine, and tech support were not available options.

Modern academic institutions that shape the way schools function had not yet reached their level of influence. Advanced Placement courses and tests were developed in 1951, and were either new at schools or not yet adopted. Classes in the 1950s were larger and less specialized, and the Common Core initiative, a nationwide educational guideline later adopted by Illinois in math and English language arts, did not exist till 2009.

In addition to the academic changes, community alumni noted differences in dress code. In the early 1960s, standard fashion looked very different from modern day. Students dressed more formally than today. Although blue jeans were allowed, few people wore them. For men, a casual school outfit typically looked like a nice pair of khaki pants with a collared shirt.

Women normally wore skirts or dresses.

“No one wore anything like... yoga pants. Anything like that would be unheard of,” said Becky Wilcox ( ‘92 ), a special education teacher.

As the next few decades approached, so did new styles and trends. A more casual style of student dress was one of the things that changed from the ‘60s to the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. In the ‘90s, things looked different at Central-- the girls loved baggy clothes, Gap was all the rage, cheerleaders had pleated skirts and boys’ gym shorts were much shorter than they are now.

Central in the ‘90s was still smaller, with only about a third of the students Central

has today. At this point, the science wing, from high school, but from teaching and the library, and about half of the cafeteria coaching,” Laffey said. “[While] coaching were either dramatically different or didn’t boys’ gymnastics in the ‘90s, we earned exist at all. The Science and Language wings eight trophies in ten years, three of them were added fresh after the early ‘90s, and state championships. That was great fun.” the back portion of the library and the bit of Nowadays there are options cafeteria that connects to it were also added available to students and staff that were at a similar time. Instead of Chromebooks, missing in the past. A larger swath of the newest advancement in teaching was extracurriculars, clubs, and organizations, the introduction of electronic typewriters. the expansion of departments, and Being used mainly in English classes, they the greater handling of mental health were able to save essays. Technology was have all grown in the past 30 years. starting to edge its way into schools, but “I’m glad we can now address (mental the ‘90s were not close to the kahoot-filled, health) and talk about stressors and ways quizlet-driven landscape of today. to handle it with students,” Madonia said.

The ‘80s and early ‘90s saw many current Central teachers graduate from the very school they now work at—including Jennifer Madonia (‘92) and Wilcox of the Special Ed Department, and Myles Laffey (‘84) of the library department. All three alum have found their way back to the school, with fresh memories of their time as highschoolers.

“When I first came back, I got deja vu when I would go to certain places or see certain people,” Wilcox said.

Seeing old teachers as a new hire in your old high school led to some awkward situations, according to the teaching alum.

Madonia recounted not being able to call her new co-workers by their first names, and Wilcox recalled being mistaken for a Becky Wilcox, special education teacher, attended student in the copy room early Hinsdale Central Highschool from ‘88-’92. in her career. But, this gave an opportunity for these teachers to bond Coaches and teachers alike were and get closer. what made Central memorable “I think the fun thing is to talk to other to the Central alum who teachers who’ve graduated from Hinsdale came back, including all-state Central, like Myles Laffey, who’s a state football player Tyler Quast (‘91). librarian, or Jennifer Madonia, who’s in Homecoming events, competitive sporting events, and diverse clubs have remained my department,” Wilcox said.

The teachers echoed that some of the same over the years, and keep students their best times in high school were in excited and invigorated for their school their extracurriculars -- finding friends days. shared his thoughts on things that and mentorship from coaches and club have stayed the same over the years.

“It’s a great school and there are great sponsors. They went on in their teaching careers to try and spread that joy to new educators there and that’s been pretty students through coaching and involvement consistent for a long time,” Quast said.

His appreciation for the school played a in their old extracurriculars. Wilcox and Madonia both spent time as coaches in their big role when deciding where to live.

“Definitely one of the factors in [my respective ex-high school sports (basketball and cheerleading), while Laffey took pride wife] and I coming back to Hinsdale and buying a house here was to raise kids that in coaching the boys gymnastics team.

“My fondest HC memories are not will go to Central,” Quast said.

The three teaching Hinsdale alum echo their praise of the school, but especially the influence of their high school teachers and coaches. Madonia reminisced of the strong relationships she had with teachers, wanting to return the respect and kindness that she was given as a student in her classes. Wilcox cited Dr. Carey, an English teacher, as an inspiration for her going into education.

Laffey additionally had inspirations in his teachers.

“I knew heading into college that I wanted to teach English; I had many inspirational English teachers [at Central],” The COVID-19 pandemic has created many complications for the school year. As a parent of current students, Quast said that the administration is handling the situation the best that they can.

“It’s always easy to look back on a situation and be critical of it, but given the information that they have and the situation that they’re in, I think they’re think they’re doing a wonderful job,” Quast said.

Quast added, “I think society has changed in a way that people are much more considerate of other humans.”

Although COVID-19 has forced Central to make changes, there are even more to come.

With the approval of the referendum and the oversight of current construction, Central is due for some upgrades.

Currently, - Becky Wilcox construction has begun on the new pool.

Dickinson and Tower Field have both been torn out and redone entirely. In the coming months, students can expect to see lots of change at Central —but some things remain the same.

According to senior Anna Langan, the rigorous academics, teachers and competitive sports inspire many,. Coaches and teachers alike were what made entral memorable to the central alum who came back. Langan said she can see a future at central past her graduation.

“I would love to see my possible children go Central and have all the same experiences I got to have,” Langan said.

“As long as (students) get involved in something, they can make a large school like central feel small and homey with the group of kids that they bond with.”

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The Show Must Go On Student musicians remain passionate while encountering the Pandemic

by Luke Salvatore and Ricky Sahgal photo by Grant Micaletti designed by Rania Arain 14 | Profiles

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he typical goers of the House of Blues line up, pushing against each other, hoping to grab the coveted front row. Mic checks and off pitch guitar strums fill the air. The band takes the stage and begins its set. It’s late at night. The music coming from the stage is louder than ever. But the drummer of the band, Junior Eliot Harris, has drowned out all of the other sounds around him, only focusing on the beat of his drums.

Whether it is playing the drums, rapping, singing, or making their own beats, students at Central have a wide variety of musical talents. Recently, COVID-19 obstacles have forced them to adapt in order to continue to pursue what they love: music.

Harris said he began immersing himself in music at a young age, playing drums and listening to music ever since he was a toddler.

“I got a set of drums when I was two or three [years old] and listened to a lot of Madonna and Micheal Jackson when I was very young,” Harris said.

Harris said he got into drumming because he sees being a drummer as the lead in the band. He said he likes being in control of what is happening around him.

“The music that I grew up with was really beat-oriented and I spent all my hours trying to recreate that,” Harris said. “Drumming is also the main lead in a band, believe it or not, so I get to form the music any way I want.”

Gustavo Caldron, junior, had a different type of introduction to his music

but by being inspired by the rhythm and beats of the artists he listens to. “Once I started to get into newer artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole who at the time were rapping over really jazzy chords, I wanted to make beats like that so I started trying to figure it out,” Ognibene said.

His love for producing started roughly three years ago in high school, and he says that his love for the craft still continues to grow every day. At first, Ognibene was just trying to perfect his craft, sticking with the style that he had started off with. However, as he began to improve more and more over the years he realized that he truly did have talent, and he now aspires to turn his producing skills into something much bigger than he had originally planned.

It isn’t just Ognibene who has plans like that. Harris himself has already performed more than 40 live shows.

His first performance was when he was eight years old. He describes the feeling of playing in front of tons of people as something unlike any other other feeling.

“It’s a feeling that I can’t explain with words. It’s like thunder igniting your soul and it completely shuts off your thoughts, you barely process anything else, and playing becomes something where you have no control, and it’s just muscle memory from there,” Harris said.

Caldron, who goes by his stage name “Yung Gus,” talks about the collaboration process he went through when he was in

“It’s the only thing I can think of, And it affects every decision I make in my life, literally. I don’t care if I run into hardship, it’s what I was meant to do since birth,

journey, and that’s because of when he started. Caldron was introduced to the world of music in middle school, when he got into the popular music streaming platform SoundCloud. It was on this site that he witnessed famous rap artists like Lil Pump, Yung Gravy, and others start out at an age similar to his with the same goal in mind and actually succeed.

Similar to Caldron, Senior Ben Ognibene started his journey with music,

basically.” - Eliot Harris

the process of writing his second single “I’m Sorry I Like You.” Featuring Rhiannon Autumn, senior, the track includes Autumn’s calm and clear vocals adding to the vibe of the beat. That track, and his first single “If You Think This Is About You It Is,” amassed more than 400,000 plays on both Spotify and SoundCloud in under a year.

Harris said he uses music every day to help him get through life, and it’s had a huge impact on him as a person.

“Music affects every decision I make in my life, literally. I don’t care if I run into hardship, it’s what I was meant to do since birth,” Harris said.

Even though Ognibene has had music in his life for a shorter amount of time than Harris, he said he still knows that it’s what he wants to do.

“I’m planning on doing this for the rest of my life. I love what I do so much and have such a strong passion for it,” Ognibene said.

Caldron started making music when he was in middle school and uses his music as a way to try to inspire others and make them feel good about themselves. “[I plan on taking it] as far as I can, (and) hopefully I can make it [my] career,” Caldron said. “I like making people feel good as they listen to the stuff that I create.”

For Harris, COVID-19 has helped his music in a lot of ways; he said he feels that he has had a lot more time to create music and new content, however no live shows have made him disappointed. “[The pandemic] gives me more time to create my own music and think, but no live shows for this long have been very sad,” Harris said.

However, Harris said he doesn’t rely heavily on using technology to create his music so he has not had to adapt his process much due to the pandemic.

“I don’t make any music on a device.

I make it in my head and play it, then I remember it. Everything I play I either created in the moment or in a past session,” Harris said. He said he feels that the pandemic has actually helped him more than it’s hurt him, due to all the free time he’s been given to continue building on his craft.

“If anything I’ve improved more now than ever before, and I still play with all the same people I did before COVID,” Harris said.

Similarly to Harris, Caldron took advantage of COVID -19 and was able to branch out and collaborate with people that he may not have even talked to had there not been a pandemic.

“When [COVID-19] started, plays went up a bit,” Caldron said. “I had more time to stay inside to learn different types of skills and started branching myself out.”

Since Caldron has always made all of his songs from home, the restrictions that have been put in place due to the virus haven’t affected him as much as many people would expect.

“When I work with other artists I usually just have them send their verse over and I put it into the part I need,” Caldron said.

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Senior Ben Ognibene mixes a new song in his room.

photo by Grant Micaletti

"I love making all kinds of music and not being told what to do,” - Ben

He describes the real struggle as having to continue to motivate himself to continue coming up with new lyrics and aspects of songs he wants to put out.

“When I work with other artists I usually just have them send their verse over and I put it into the part I need,” Caldron said.

However for Ognibene, COVID-19 has been more of a struggle compared to Harris and Caldron. Ognibene said that despite having more time to improve, due to COVID-19 a lot more people have started to get into the business which has made the competition even tougher than before.

“I think [COVID-19 is] making it harder to stand out because of how much time everybody has right now,” Ognibene said.

However, Ognibene said he’s confident that his talent that he’s already spent three years building up will be enough to make him stand out to artists looking for a new beat for their song.

For all three musicians, the time they’ve already spent in the industry also pushes them to set future plans, including pursuing their passion after high school.

“I like making people feel good as they listen to the stuff I create for them to listen to,” Caldron said when discussing why he will continue to pursue music.

Ognibene said he is considering studying music business in college so that he can broaden his horizons to different types of music genres, which could potentially open up more opportunities.

“I think I’m going to go into the music business. I don’t really want a curriculum for what I can and can’t make. I love making all kinds of music and not being told what to do,” Ognibene said. “I like figuring out how to do this stuff on my own; it just keeps me from getting bored. I learn what I want, when I want.”

His mindset for pursuing a career in music production is similar to both Caldron and Harris, and that’s because they are all independent artists, which is why COVID-19 has not deterred them from producing and creating the music they love.

Ognibene

16 | Profiles

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12/15/20 3:17 PM

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10/21/20 9:37 PM

Local Shops Fight Through Pandemic

by Killian Hughes & Jessie Wang designed by Loukas Bezanis photos by Lainey Harvey

Local small businesses work hard to deal with the impacts of COVID-19.

18 | Features

Features | 19

A

photo by Lainey Harvey

seven year old Michael Bradley, now a senior and social chair at Hinsdale Central, peered over the counter at Page’s Restaurant.

He had just finished his AYSO soccer game, and was ready for his postgame dose of sugar and sprinkles from Page’s donut selection.

He loved Page’s; this game day tradition made it one of his happiest places to be.

A decade later, a much taller Bradley still loves this Hinsdale Avenue diner.

He goes there regularly, and is proud of his unwavering order of the Skirt Steak Skillet. Bradley says that the diner’s authentic charm and strong atmosphere of neighborhood camaraderie vaults it to the top of his restaurant shortlist.

The Coronavirus, however, has taken a large toll on the day-to-day operations of Page’s and other small businesses in the communities surrounding Central.

Businesses have been forced to adapt and take new measures to mitigate the economic consequences of the virus.

The restaurant industry in particular has seen turmoil across the board since COVID-19 hit. In recent weeks, the restrictions on DuPage and surrounding counties have increased. Currently, DuPage is back in Phase 3 to mitigate record high case counts. According to Illinois Coronavirus guidelines, bars and restaurants will only be open for delivery, pickup, and drive through.

Zayn Khan, a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and former student from Central, is an employee at the Little Creperie. The Little Creperie was established in 2015 and aims to bring a European style to its storefront in Clarendon Hills.

Khan has worked there for a year and a half. He explained that since the start of the pandemic, business at the Little Creperie has slowed down. However, he notes that generous community members have helped to mitigate the losses. “[The number of] crepes [sold] decreased, but we had a lot of big tips coming in - over $100 in tips per person a day at the beginning of the pandemic,” Khan said.

Over the summer, Khan stopped working at the Little Creperie because he planned to leave for college. However, since his classes have moved online, he has returned home and re-assumed the title of Crepe Master. He said that 20 | Features

while the store has not been particularly slow, customer levels are significantly lower than in pre-pandemic days.

“If you’d gone on a Sunday before the pandemic, you would not have been able to get inside because the wait would be 40 minutes,” Khan said. “But now, it can get busy, but it’s nothing … [like what] it used to be.”

Now, the store relies on in-store pickup for those who want to order crepes. Khan said that because the restaurant is so small, customers are not allowed to go inside, even if they sport face masks. Outdoor dining, which was popular at the creperie even before 2020, has helped a lot, but with the seasons changing, its popularity is waning.

“People in the summer sat outside quite a lot,” Khan said. “People usually sit outside to begin with because the store is small, but not now because it’s [cold] outside.”

A few storefronts down the street, Carolyn Saban has also been dealing with Coronavirus issues at Vintage Charm.

Vintage Charm is a fashion boutique that sells women’s clothing, accessories, and jewelry. The store has locations in Hinsdale, La Grange, and Clarendon Hills.

Saban said that the shop has been dealing with the virus by limiting the number of people allowed in the building, holding virtual events, and doing more online sales.

“During the whole shutdown we were fully online, and our online store actually did really well. But now that people are back out, we’re back in stores,” Saban said.

“We just [have to] have a capacity limit, sanitize very often, and make sure that we keep a safe distance from the customer.”

Saban is also optimistic about the store’s prospects for the holiday season.

Vintage Charm sells many seasonal holiday gift items, and Saban said she expects this year to be busy like any other as the year draws to an end.

“We [had] a holiday sale that kicked off a little early to encourage the shoppers to get out early and kind of space out those that will be shopping for the holidays,” Saban said.

Vintage Charm has even been having success with different store events, both virtual and in-person. Saban said the store has long offered private events for groups of women. Although Vintage Charm isn’t able to serve snacks as they usually would, she explained, the events are still able to go forward. “[Customers] can sign up… their friend if it’s their birthday, they come in and they all get a discount… and it’s usually after hours so they have the store to themselves,” Saban said.

Some events, however, are not able to continue in their original form.

Vintage Charm has an annual flower arrangement event in the fall, but now the $65 ticket buys a virtual Zoom event.

“Usually… we had people come to the store for the same flower arrangement party, but obviously we can’t do that this year,” Saban said. “I’m not entirely sure what it’s going to look like, but I think they’re doing the same discount that they gave to people who come to the party… to balance out the discount they would usually get through the flower service.”

Overall, Saban said that the store

Vintage Charm prepares for holiday shoppers during the struggle of Coronavirus

has been working hard to keep things normal, and that they have readily adapted to the new circumstances.

“I actually think that in some weird way it’s been more busy than we’re used to,” Saban said. “I think part of [it] is that people are so excited to be back out and just to have a reason to be... hanging outside.”

On the other hand, Cissy Rallow, owner of Page’s Restaurant, said she has been facing some more serious challenges. Page’s Restaurant is an American-style diner that was established in 1981. Rallow took ownership of the small business about ten years ago.

Over the past few months, Page’s has relied on takeout, as well as indoor and outdoor dining.

However, new restrictions have ended indoor dining, and colder Midwestern temperatures have eliminated the outdoor option. Rallow said that she cannot afford to keep heaters going in the winter months for outdoor dining.

“It’s not feasible. Money wise, I couldn’t do it [because] it’s too much for propane,” Rallow said.

“When it’s cold, nobody wants to [sit outside].”

Rallow said that Page’s has been struggling to stay afloat amidst the pandemic because small businesses do not have the same safety nets that larger ones do. She has adjusted the hours that Page’s is open in order to be able to pay her staff.

“I’d say [we are] averaging around 40% cut in sales,” Rallow said.

“Everybody’s living paycheck to paycheck right now… that’s why I’m trying to keep the place open… so I can at least break even and pay the [employees], but there’s going to come a time where I’m not going to be able to [break even] anymore.”

Earlier this year, Rallow received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the Federal Government.

According to the Small Business Administration, PPP loans are designed to be forgiven easily and have the targeted goal of keeping employees on payroll.

“I was able to get the PPP loan… it lasted about two weeks.” Rallow said. “It was nice to get, but nowhere near what we really need to weather the whole storm.”

Similar to the Little Creperie,

Page’s Restaurant received large tips during the beginning of the pandemic. Rallow noted that she has relied on a strong base of dedicated customers and other members of the community to support her through 2020.

“My customers are fantastic,” Rallow said.

“If they had a… $50 food bill, they gave me $100. They have been over the top generous and helped us through our first wave.”

In addition to large tips, longtime patrons of Page’s Restaurant have started donating in more direct ways.

“I have a customer who started a GoFundMe page for our restaurant. He asked me my permission,” Rallow said.

The GoFundMe, started by Michael Bradley and community member Peter

for enough people in April, and Rallow knows she will not be able to utilize outdoor dining during Chicago’s freezing winter.

“The intention is that most people use [the money] for January, February and March, which will be our toughest months,” Rallow said. “It’s do or die those months…in general, offices slow down after Christmas, and now with this virus, it’s going to be worse.”

According to IllinoisPolicy.org, “Small Business Saturday this year will see 61% of the retail businesses shuttered compared to last year. The carnage has been even worse for bar and food service owners, where 71% are out of the business.”

Despite her worries about the upcoming months, Rallow said that she is determined to keep Page’s Restaurant open.

“This is my living now, and what I was put in charge of, so I got to make sure [we stay open]. I don’t want to disappoint the town,” Rallow said.

Bradley said he believes that it is important for the town to come together in support of Page’s. He talks about the experience that Page’s provides and the uniquely positive vibe of the restaurant.

“It’s a local diner, but every single time you go in there, you see the same smiling faces.

It’s so personable - it feels like a local area that is just at the heart of our town,” said Bradley.

In addition, Bradley spoke to the way Rallow and others at the restaurant have successfully integrated frequent diners into the establishment’s ethos. ”I know everyone who either goes in there often or even goes in there once in a while [has their] pictures on the walls,” Bradley reported.

Bradley said that the personal connection he has developed with the restaurant since his youth soccer days is mirrored in many other Page’s patrons. More broadly, he described the important role small businesses, including Page’s, Vintage Charm, and the Little Creperie, play in their communities.

“The way they interact with their customers feels like one big family when you go in there,” Bradley said. “I think most people would agree… small businesses are one of the foundations of our country.”

“This is my living now, and what I was put in charge of, so I got to make sure [we stay open]. I don’t want to disappoint the town.”

Cissy Rallow, Pages Resturant Owner Hughes on Nov. 2, has raised almost $7,000 in less than a month. As of Dec. 11 the GoFundMe is still open to donations.

“I saw a Facebook post that said they were really struggling,” Bradley said. “[Page’s] is a special place, so we decided to try and do everything we can to support them.”

According to the GoFundMe page, “the money donated will be used for business related expenses, including salaries, rent, food procurement, or whatever else the management team deems critical.”

Rallow said that initially, it was a challenge to accept money in the form of donations, but acknowledges that they are likely the only way to keep the lights on in the store.

“Obviously, I’ve got to be smart about it, [so I] swallowed my pride and finally said yes, I’m going to need the help,” Rallow said.

“I haven’t advertised on my end at all... [but] I’m hoping when I step in and swallow the pride and ask for help... I can get a lot more.”

Rallow is particularly concerned about the first three months of 2021. The Boston Globe reported that, at the earliest, a COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available

Features | 21

Hinsdale For The Holidays A look into how students are spending their holiday season amidst the current pandemic.

by Nadia Burt and Christine Leung designed by Jamie Pecilunas Photos by Grant Micaletti 22 | Features

s Rei Hemmer, senior, sets up her laptop at the dinner table, it is noticeably quieter than usual. Her family is setting out plates for their dinner, ordered from Alinea, while Hemmer logs into Zoom and opens the call with her extended family. This year for Thanksgiving, rather than spending the day with cousins and grandparents up in Michigan, Hemmer is at home with only her mother, father, and sister. The holiday season is lengthy, spanning from early November to January, but in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, students and staff are being forced to alter their traditional celebrations.

A variety of holidays are celebrated by those who attend Central, all with different traditions and backgrounds, but one thing ties all of them together this year: the pandemic. Due to this, many students and their families found ways to celebrate holidays safely.

Many were forced to adjust their plans for the holidays by restricting how many people they celebrate with, and the number of places they travel to. Governor JB Pritzker announced new executive orders of stay-at-home advisories in Chicago and Cook County. This limited gatherings to no more than 10 people inside and outside, changing holiday celebrations.

One such holiday is Diwali, a festival of light and new beginnings, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains on Nov. 14 this year. Diwali is usually celebrated with lights, fi reworks, and large gatherings of people, and it is looked forward to by many. Shiven Shah, junior, said that his family has a variety of traditions surrounding Diwali preparations.

“Normally I would go to the Indian stores with my family and get decorations as well as new clothes for the celebration,” Shah said.

Like Shah, Lexi Klein, senior, also partakes in various preparations when she celebrates Hanukkah.

Klein talked of how she has three

Christmas trees dispersed throughout her house, with a Menorah in her dining room and light up dreidels beside snowmen in the living room.

While Klein had a variety of decorations for both Christmas and Hanukkah, she talked of her favorite decoration.

“My favorite decoration of all to place around the house has to be our holiday pillows though,” Klein said. “My dad gets my mom a Christmas pillow every year and my mom gets my dad a Hanukkah one, so seeing them mixed throughout our house is a great representation of our holiday spirit as a family.”

As Klein highlights with decorations, many students said they have found ways to keep certain elements of their holidays the same in spite of the pandemic. Shah said his family catered the food special to Diwali.

“We typically [celebrate] Diwali with food that is catered to one of our family friends’ houses because there are too many people to cook homemade food,” Shah said. “This year we had similar food just because it’s a tradition.”

Klein said her family was able to keep Hanukkah the same by celebrating the Jewish holiday over eight days and eight nights with the lighting of the menorah,

games, and traditional food.

“This year we’ll feast on matzo ball soup, brisket, and potato latkes on the first night of Hanukkah before we light the candles,” Klein said. “There’s also usually some lox, bagels, and cream cheese awaiting me ...which is one of my dad’s favorite traditions from when he was a little kid.”

Thanksgiving is another major celebration for students during the holiday season. Celebrated on Nov. 26 of this year, Thanksgiving originated with the Pilgrims and Native Americans as a day of thanks after a good harvest.

“My family will go to my grandpa’s house in Michigan and while we’re there, we’ll... bake pies and I think that that’s always fun,” Hemmer said, referencing how they typically celebrate the holiday.

Most holidays, like Thanksgiving, center around spending time with family and keeping up with traditions, from baking pies to playing games. And for students who had to alter their plans, some of these traditions were kept the same.

For many students, finding ways to keep traditions the same during this time have helped them navigate the changes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and

“My brother, sister, and I have taken [a picture] every year for the past 12 years on the same steps in our house [during Diwali]…it’s cool to see the growth that we have” -Shiven Shah

Photos from Anya Shah Features | 23

Prevention website, “The safest way to celebrate the winter holidays is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.” The CDC cites the growing hospitalization cases and deaths for this recommendation.

This is why the recommendation remains for the next major holiday, Christmas.

While Christmas celebrations originated with the birth of Jesus Christ, today it’s a holiday enjoyed by billions of Christians and non Christians alike.

Due to its religious origins, it is typical for many families to attend

Photo by Grant Miccaletti

a mass; however, with the current Illinois guidelines, most places of worship have limited the gathering size to ten, or accommodate to ensure all participants are six feet apart.

However, there are also ways to attend virtually, as many holiday events have been moved to online platforms. For instance, St. Issac Jogues in Hinsdale allows parishioners to sign up to attend weekend mass in person, or watch it live streamed.

Other typical attractions have restricted access or have also moved online, like the annual Christkindlmarkt. For AP European History teacher, John Naisbitt, it’s the decorations Chicago does that he looks forward to each year.

“I like to go see the displays downtown, like the Walnut Room...at Macy’s,” Naisbitt said.

24 | Features

However, with the pandemic this year, many families have opted to refrain from large gatherings, like dining in the Walnut Room (the Walnut Room is open to limited visitors without dining).

In previous years, Naisbitt’s Christmas often involved 22 to 27 extended family members.

“Just immediate family [this year], just my wife, my daughter, and my son despite 30 to 40 years of tradition,” Naisbitt said.

Shah experienced this big change in numbers as well.

“The biggest difference in Diwali from this year to last year would be the size of the gathering because we usually gather in groups of 30 or more but this year we only did eight,” Shah said.

In place of in person gatherings however, many families are choosing to organize Zoom calls with their loved ones. With the high risk that COVID-19 poses for the elderly, young, and immunocompromised, many students and staff said that staying home is a better option this year.

“This year...everyone stays at their own respective houses just because we don’t want to spread anything, especially with my grandma getting older,” Hemmer said. “So we’re just going to...do a (family) Zoom call during dinner.”

This was the general consensus amongst the students, who all expressed their families desire to limit contact with those outside of their bubble.

“We are going to FaceTime our family this year...and we’re just going to do like a big FaceTime with aunts and uncles, which is different for us this year because we never really celebrate together,” said Jennifer Ellinghausen, physical education teacher. “So it’s going to be fun to include all of our one side of our family.”

For some, virtual celebrations will involve a significant amount of people, as they are looking to celebrate people they haven’t seen in over a year.

“It is my mom’s 90th birthday on Christmas Day...so we have

actually a pretty elaborate Zoom setup for that day to pay tribute to her,” Nasibitt said. “[Dec. 25] will be a full...50 to 60 people.”

Because of the pandemic, Ellinghausen said that her usual New Years plans changed rather drastically. In the past, Ellinghausen would often travel with her family and high school friends to places like Mexico and other warm areas.

“My family lives [in] states that are higher risk: California and Texas. And we can’t go to Mexico because [it’s] on the travel list...so I’ve changed my plans completely,” Ellinghausen said.

Even with some of the disappointments of this holiday season, many are trying to look past them.

Klein described her ambivalent feelings this holiday season about lighting the candles each night over Zoom with her grandpa and cousins on her Dad’s side.

“I love the holidays and the warm feelings of joy they place in the air, but I can’t help but feel conflicted this year due to the notso-ideal circumstances,” Klein said.

Many families are embracing the idea of sacrifice this season and are doing their part to limit the spread of coronavirus. Whether it be creating new traditions or connecting with family virtually, the changes have allowed for potentially new traditions.

“I’m just saying goodbye for a year. So the hope is that we do everything right and a year from now we can have Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Naisbitt said.

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10/21/20 9:29 PM

EYE OF THE DEVIL Lainey Harvey, Devils’ Advocate Copy Editor, captures animals in their natural habitats Photos by Lainey Harvey designed by Hari Rao

26 | Features

photospread-2 (1).indd 1

12/15/20 11:32 AM

Ask an Athlete

by Nate Bittner

Number

(Why do you wear it?)

Photos provided by Megan McCormick

81

When I was a Mite, I was number eight. Then I made the switch to 88,

followed by my switch to girls hockey where I chose to wear 81 after Marian Hossa.

Megan McCormick

McCormick puts on the brakes in her 2019 game at Seven Bridges Ice Arena.

Age

17

Team

Class

Team Illinois U19

C D1 Captain since 2018

Senior

Committed

Rochester Institute of Technology

Athlete

Shoots

Favorite Team

Right

Q: When did you start playing hockey?

A: When I was around six or seven years old.

Q: What is your pre-game ritual?

A: Left skate then right skate. Then as I tie my skate up towards me, each tightening gets a specific word like “I am tying it into my skates” or “crash the net” or “teamwork.” It’s complicated to explain.

Q: What is your preferred pre-game meal?

A: During tournaments and before games I believe grilled chicken is the way to go. You simply can’t go wrong.

Q: What has hockey been like through COVID? A: Lots of last minute schedule changes, being able to roll with the flow.

Favorite Pro Player

Marian Hossa

About Me

Chicago Blackhawks

Q: What are you looking forward to for hockey?

A: I’m excited to be a part of a great division one hockey program at RIT. There will be many opportunities to meet new people and learn new aspects of the game and grow not only as a player but as a person.

Perspectives | 27

Ask an Athlete ID MM.indd 1

12/15/20 11:41 AM

RED DEVIL REDUX

W

Hinsdale Central vs. York 2014: Retold

inning a trophy. It’s the ultimate aim of any competitive sport.

Athletes work for years on end just to reach the peak of their respective disciplines, and for them, there’s no greater feeling than lifting a trophy. Well, except for the feeling that comes from lifting a trophy twice, which was the feeling that the Hinsdale Central varsity boys’ basketball team was chasing in the 2013-14 season.

On February 18, 2014, the Red Devils squared off against the York Dukes in the Hinsdale Central Gym, with a chance to clinch a share of the West Suburban Conference Silver title for the second year in a row. Central ultimately prevailed 50-47 in a closely-contested battle, granting them the conference title, and also booking their place in the state playoffs.

Coming off of a conference-winning season in 2013, there was the expectation that Central would be a very good team once again. Nick Latorre, varsity basketball coach since 2011, said he believed the

to match it the next season, no matter who you have on your team,” Rafferty said.

“Coach Latorre did a good job of setting the culture when he came in, and we followed that, creating a culture of our own which made [success] sustainable.”

In their quest for a second conference title, Central would rely on a few key players.

The first of whom was the aforementioned Rafferty, who had won Central’s Most Valuable Player Award the prior year.

Latorre said Rafferty would play a major role in the Devils’ success, and had nothing but praise for him.

“Matt [Rafferty] was probably the best player I had ever coached, and he was coming back as a junior,” Latorre said.

Even though he had won the MVP Award, Rafferty said he would still describe himself as a team-first player, both on and off of the court.

“I’d like to think that I’m one of the hardest-working guys,” Rafferty said. “Off the court, I tried to be a good leader for my

Photo from HC Basketball

Senior point guard Chase Hamilton (30) ran the show for Central, posting a team high six assists.

amount of returning talent would be a major reason for that.

“I knew we were going to be pretty good,” Latorre said. “We had come off a pretty good season the prior year, and we had a lot of guys returning who had played significant roles the year before. The expectations were definitely high that season.”

Matt Rafferty, junior forward at the time, agreed with Latorre that there were high expectations going into the 2013-14 season. He said he believed that was the case because the Red Devils were coming off such a strong season the year before.

“I think any time you succeed you expect

teammates, and tried to help them wherever I could. On the court, I was a good passer, good back to the basket guy, and a high IQ player.”

Rafferty’s partner in crime was senior guard Chase Hamilton, a great passer and scorer. Hamilton and Rafferty had developed a relationship long before they played together for the varsity basketball team, which really helped them on the court. “[Hamilton] was a great teammate, and he worked really hard in practice,” Rafferty said. “He was a great shooter and leader, and an extremely talented athlete. I grew up a year younger than him, but I played a lot

by John Olsen

of sports with him before high school, and that set the tone of what I expected of him.”

Alongside Hamilton in the backcourt was junior guard Jordan Bradshaw, who was a strong shooter and really good in transitions. Other important role players were senior forwards Grant Lilliard and Ian Bunting, as well as junior forward George Kiernan. Rounding out the Red Devils’ rotation were junior guards Neven Mulc and Thomas Ives, now a Chicago Bears’ Practice Squad Wide Receiver. Rafferty says the depth of the team was a big reason for the success that it had.

“We just had a lot of guys who could go, and depending on the night, or the matchups, we were able to find the hot hand, and really ride it out,” Rafferty said.

Despite the expectations surrounding the team, Central opened their season with a 65-63 loss in a non-conference game against rivals Hinsdale South. The Red Devils quickly rebounded and won their next eight games before losing another close contest, this time in a 45-44 loss against St. Joseph. Even though they had experienced some close losses, Latorre said he was still pleased with how the team was playing.

“In those close games, do you get mad because you lost? If you would’ve won, are you happy just because you won?” Latorre said. “I really try to de-emphasize winning and losing and try to focus on whether we played well, if we executed and played unselfishly and competed every possession.

And we were playing well, so I was happy.”

Setting the non-conference hiccups aside, Central won their first seven games in a 12 game conference schedule, including a 48-45 win at home against Lyons Township.

However, that perfect record would not last, as the Red Devils were defeated at York on February 8, 2014. Although that loss was a setback for the team, they knew they still had another chance 10 days later to exact their revenge.

“Once you lose to a conference team, it puts little mark next to them the next time you play them because you want to get it back,” Rafferty said.

On route to the rematch with York, Central steamrolled Proviso West 80-63 and then grasped a narrow win away to Lyons Township by a scoreline of 63-57.

28 | Perspectives

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12/15/2020 10:31:24 AM

This put the Red Devils at a conference record of 9-1, which meant the title was still well within reach. All they had to do was win their last two games, and they’d go back to back. Standing in the way of that, however, was the York Dukes.

Led by senior forward Frank Toohey and guards Charlie Rose and Jayvon Thomas, senior and junior respectively, the Dukes were off to a blazing start. They were 23-2 overall, and 10-0 in conference play, meaning that the Red Devils would have an uphill battle ahead of them if they wanted to prevail. For Rafferty, this meant he would have to guard, and be guarded by Toohey, who was coming off of an 18 point, 6 rebound game against Downers North.

“Toohey was their guy when I was a junior,” Rafferty said. “I had to stop him in the post, limit his touches, and just do whatever I had to do to help the team win.”

When February 18, 2014 eventually rolled around, the Central fanbase turned out in large numbers. Latorre said the fans made the game a special one to be involved in, and was grateful for their support throughout the season.

“We had great crowds that entire year,” Latorre said. “I remember [the game against York] was a Tuesday night, and we had a great turnout, and that made it a fun game to be a part of.”

The game against York got off to a very slow start. Hamilton scored the first points of the game with a right-handed finish at the rim, but outside of that, both teams struggled to find their rhythm offensively, with only 1 of 9 shots being made in the first two minutes. The Red Devils’ offense was slightly better than York’s, as Bradshaw sank a 3 pointer and Rafferty added 4 points of his own in the 1st. The Dukes were able to maintain Central’s pace, as the 1st quarter ended with the Devils leading 9-8.

Both teams struggled again in the 2nd

quarter to put together a string of offensive possessions resulting in points. Rafferty arguably had the play of the quarter when he jumped a passing lane, got a steal, and then went up the other end and dunked to put Central up 14-8. However, his biggest contribution, wasn’t on the offensive end, it was preventing Toohey from registering a single point. As a result, York once again struggled on offense, and Central was able to take a 21-18 lead into the half.

In the 3rd quarter, the Red Devils’ offense woke up, and the Hamilton to Rafferty connection really began to show. Central went on an 11-2 run in the first 3 minutes of the third quarter, with Lilliard capping it off with a bomb from 3. Toohey would finally score, tallying the Dukes’ first 5 points of the quarter. Hamilton then missed a three pointer, but Rafferty grabbed the offensive board before finding Hamilton for a wideopen layup to put Central up 34-23 with 3:07 left in the 3rd. The quarter would eventually finish with the Devils up 38-27.

For the first half of the 4th quarter, Central and York held pace with each other.

Hamilton, who finished with 16 points and 6 assists, really dazzled in the 4th. Standing at the top of the 3 point arc, Hamilton blew past his defender going left, and then squeezed between two more York players for a tough finish. He then proceeded to assist Rafferty and Bradshaw on consecutive possessions, which put the Devils up 47-38 with 3 and a half minutes remaining.

At this point, York started playing with much more aggressiveness and tenacity, while Central became more passive trying to hold on to the lead. With no shot clock in high school, the Devils attempted to pass the ball around trying to run out the game clock, which backfired badly. A typically solid and fundamentally-sound team turned the ball over on three straight possessions, which allowed the Dukes to

pull themselves back into the game. They went on a 7-0 run, leaving the score at 47-45.

Latorre took a timeout to regroup the team, but that did not work, and Central then airballed a wide-open three, giving the Dukes a chance to take their first lead of the game with under a minute left. Bunting stepped up for Central, taking a charge, which then led to Lilliard going up the other end and drawing a shooting foul. He made one of the two free throws, setting the score at 48-45 Central with just over 30 seconds left. Toohey then stepped up big for York, finding himself wide open in the paint for an easy layup with 12 seconds left.

The Devils let the clock run down during the ensuing inbound to 5 seconds before taking a timeout. After a pass into Hamilton, York was forced to foul, and Hamilton nailed both free throws, making it 50-47 Central, 3.5 seconds left. The Dukes were able to heave it up the court to get a 3 pointer off, but the shot came nowhere close to the rim, meaning the Devils prevailed, and clinched a share of the conference title.

Latorre said he was proud of the way his team battled, and also what the win meant for the program.

“It was a hard-fought and physical game that came down to us executing our offense incredibly well,” Latorre said. “The kids bought into how hard they had to play, especially in our league, and that set the foundation for what we were trying to get through with our program.”

The Devils capped off their conference season with a 56-48 win over Glenbard West and then went on to beat Hinsdale South and Naperville Central in the playoffs before falling at the hands of Benet.

However, the win over York remained the defining moment of the season, and Rafferty said he enjoys every win, no matter the magnitude or implications of the game.

“Winning is always fun,” Rafferty said.

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BATTLEGROUND Electoral College

illustrations by Rania Arain & Mara Severts

CONTEXT: In recent presidential elections, there have been more instances than usual where the president-elect has won sufficient electoral college votes, yet lost the popular vote. This year’s 2020 election has renewed the nation-wide debate of whether or not the electoral college still holds as a proper intermediary in electing our nation’s presidents (Joe Biden won both the electoral and popular vote in 2020). So, should the United States get rid of the Electoral College?

T

he Electoral College, as we know it today, serves no purpose in American democracy.

First, the origins. The Electoral College was created with the intent that states with smaller populations would not be ignored in the presidential election. All it really did, though, was perpetuate and profit off of slavery. The Electoral College, paired with the Three-Fifths Compromise, ensured that southern states had the majority in presidential elections. This was because they could count each slave as three-fifths of a person, ultimately adding to the number of electors southern states received. The more electors, the more influence in the election.

NOOR MRYAN

The Electoral College is rooted in racism.

What is scarier is that these historical impacts are shaping our present. A New York Times article written after the 2016 election emphasized that “[The] Electoral College will forever tip balance to rural/ conservative/‘white’/older voters—a concession to slave-holders originally.”

There is nothing less democratic than citizens not being able to fairly vote for the President of the United States—an issue that the Electoral College perpetuates.

Next, the Electoral College does not accurately represent the American population and works against democracy.

Electors are dependent on a state’s number of representatives in the House and Senate. This means that presidential candidates will rally for support in a certain number of states, specifically swing states that could be won by either candidate. So, candidates are neglecting the other states. According to Brookings in 2019, the format of the Electoral College “overrepresents small and medium-sized states at the expense of large states.” A democracy is one where everyone’s voice is truly heard. The Electoral College actively ensures that this does not happen, especially when presidential candidates are solely focused on the votes that will have the most impact.

The crux of this issue is that the Electoral College operates under a ‘winner takes all’ method. Even if the state’s popular vote is 51 percent to 49 percent,

whichever candidate won the 51 percent is deemed the winner of the state. Under the Electoral College, the minority votes have little to no impact. Since presidents seek to appeal to the majority opinion, the minority votes are disregarded, which means each individual vote doesn’t hold as much weight.

This decision is counterintuitive to our democracy, putting it at a serious threat.

From one threat to another, Americans vote for electors that vote for the President— even when the electors can change their minds. A voter could think that they are voting for an elector who will then vote for a certain candidate. In reality however, the elector can easily change their vote, misrepresenting a citizen’s ballot, another example of the sheer unfairness that the Electoral College is associated with.

We saw the harrowing impacts of this faulty system in 2016, when President Donald Trump was elected despite losing 2.8 million popular votes. We saw it again in 2000. And we will continue to see this misrepresentation of Americans if the Electoral College is still in practice.

There is no denying that abolishing the ineffective system is a lengthy, complex process. But it is one that is crucial to preserving, protecting, and growing our democracy. Abolishing the Electoral College is imperative, because one thing is clear: an 18th-century system is not going to solve 21st-century problems.

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T

he Notorious Elec toral College: many have strong feelings towards it, while few strongly understand its value.

Following the 2016 election, the Electoral College has come back in the spotlight for its supposed infringement on American democracy, as the winner of the Electoral College did not also win the popular vote for the first time since the 2000 presidential race. To understand the origins of this controversy, however, one must first understand that the use of the Electoral College over the popular vote in determining the victors of the U.S Presidential Races is a deep-rooted debate derived from whether America should function as a representative democracy or direct democracy—a concern shared by our Founding Fathers.

A representative democracy is one in which elected officials make decisions on behalf of constituents, an example being the Electoral College in which we are actually voting for which presidential candidate our state’s electors should be electing on our behalf. On the other hand, in a direct democracy, voters make decisions on political and legislative matters without the use of an intermediary or representative; popular vote would be used to elect the President in a direct democracy.

By these elementary descriptions of the differences between the two systems, it seems almost obvious that a direct democracy would be the most appropriate democratic system, offering individuals a more active role in their government’s decision-making, but this is entirely misleading. There is a very precise reason for why direct democracy wasn’t chosen as America’s governing system: the idea of balancing majority rule with the voice of the minority.

In a country as large and diverse as the United States, a direct democracy—where a popular vote election system is enacted— may surely lead to outcomes favored by the ‘majority.’ On the other hand, these outcomes could completely neglect the perspectives of the ‘minority,’ like those in rural areas whose voices would be completely overshadowed

by the majority of Americans who live in urban areas. As Jarrett Stepman’s article in the National Interest puts it, “Farmers in Iowa may have very different concerns than bankers in New York.

[The Electoral College] takes that into account.”

In fact, there have been many examples of direct democracy failing to adhere to democratic ideals. Nazi Germany, according to a 2017 article by Nikkie Evans, is a prime example of this.

Adolph Hitler was actually elected by the popular vote in 1933, serving as a reminder as to how popular vote’s disregard for minority voices can lead to the election of tyrannical figures who may be supported by the majority, but completely devastating for the minority.

This takes us to the famous example used by many opponents of the popular vote: “two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch,” as shared by Guy Reschenthaler’s Washington Times article from November 10, 2020. The wolves, being the majority, are most likely to vote in favor of sheep for lunch. This may be a silly example, but it demonstrates the importance of using a political system which also takes the minority voice (in this case, the sheep) into account.

As we celebrate a little over 244 years of the United States’ existence, we must not forget the tireless efforts of our Founding Fathers who thought over several possibilities for best governing the U.S. They were no fools; these educated men were scholarly individuals who had studied the collapse of direct democracy throughout history and had just recently broken free from the reign of Britain’s monarchy, therefore, having a vision for the longevity of the American

MIKHAIL ESSA nation and preservation of true democracy.

The Electoral College has successfully been used in dozens of presidential election cycles, but always seems to come under attack by those whose preferred candidate lost as a result of it, as noted by a 2016 The Hill article by John Yoo. If we are to maintain our democracy’s consideration of minority voices and use a system which embraces the diversity of America, we have no choice but to continue using the Electoral College.

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HOW TO: An illustration of the Tik Tok trending hot cocoa bomb is shown floating atop a glass of milk.

MEL T THE WINTER BLUES

I

t is a cold winter morning. Snow covers the ground and the streets are blanketed in a layer of thick ice. The town has advised everyone to stay home and avoid traveling. In any other year, school would be canceled for days and being stuck at home would be seen as impossible.

But not this year, and not for us. This year has been one of the hardest years in recent history.

The mental toll the Coronavirus has taken is almost as heavy as the physical implications of the deadly virus. The U.S. is projected to have over 300,000 deaths by Dec. 12, according to Johns Hopkins University. And now, as we approach the holidays, it is even easier to feel the impact of having empty chairs at your Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve dinner.

I have found it best to immerse myself in the holiday spirit as much as I can to distract.

I realize that it is easier said than done, but I

have put together a series of safe and fun ways to lift our spirits and combat both seasonal depression and the holiday blues. Even though we can’t be together with our friends and families, it is possible to be thankful and spread the holiday cheer this winter.

My friends and I decided to host a virtual Friendsgiving.

We all made food, dropped it off at each other’s houses, then decided to have a Zoom call together while we ate.

It was definitely weird and uncomfortable at first, but it makes for really fun memories to look back on. The food was really good and we laughed at how weird it is to gossip over Zoom, but it helped to pass the time at home and be social in a safe, COVIDconscious environment.

Although Thanksgiving has already passed, you can still set up a similar event with a Christmas or other holiday theme this winter break. In the past, my family has had a gingerbread making competition; this year will be no different, except that we will gather virtually to judge our houses.

The holidays are not necessarily cancelled, we just need to adapt to these unconventional circumstances for the health and safety of everyone around us.

You all could make gingerbread houses with friends over Zoom, or even partake in a TikTok trend of hot chocolate bombs that explode with marshmallows and chocolate.

I attempted to make these hot chocolate bombs, and they were extremely fun and messy to make. Regardless of how you choose to celebrate or embrace the holiday spirit, know that there are still ways to feel close to others during these special times.

In addition to the wide food-oriented options to socialize, I am looking forward to winter break to binge-watch new shows

by Cedra Jazayerli illustration by Mara Severts

and classic Christmas movies. Imagine a cold winter morning with snow softly falling as you curl up in your bed with Buddy the Elf ’s ridiculously funny wit as he takes New York City by storm. Watching movies while drinking hot chocolate with a candy cane in my hand sounds like the perfect, cliche way to spend winter break, and I cannot wait. In terms of shows, I want to watch “Game of Thrones,” “The Office,” or maybe “New Girl.”

I encourage you all to indulge yourselves in mindless television as it is a nice way to escape this COVID world with pre-pandemic scenes.

Exercise is always a good idea when it comes to improving mental health. As the weather continues to drop, I find it harder to go outside and move my body. But sometimes, when the sun is shining, the brisk air feels so good that you just have to take a walk around your neighborhood. I love walking through snow and looking at all the Christmas lights illuminating the houses, so I frequently bundle up and listen to a podcast as I walk through downtown Hinsdale.

If you’re staying indoors, YouTube has a multitude of workouts to choose from to keep our bodies moving. For potential workouts, my favorites are from Madfit, Sami Clarke, and Pamela Reif. Sometimes, the hardest part about working out is just pushing myself to start, but I know once I finish I will feel a lot better mentally and physically. And in these times, with the uncertainty of the future, getting our blood pumping and endorphins flowing through exercise is a great way to improve our mood and ease our anxieties.

I think the most important takeaway from this is to remember to be kind to ourselves.

The holidays are already a tough time for people who do not have loved ones nearby, and with over 250,000 deaths due to the Coronavirus, my grandfather being one of them, I know this winter will be incredibly somber and difficult to get through. I genuinely hope that by reading this, you feel both comforted and supported by those around you. It is hard being a teenager right now, and I think we need to recognize that and let ourselves be OK with the fact that not every day is going to be a good one. But we can try again the next day.

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UNSOLICITED ADVICE MANAGING COLLEGE STRESS

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by Nathaniel Bittner and Hari Rao designed by Kritin Shanmugam

Read a Book!

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been reading emails nonstop for the past couple of months. Clicking, flipping through “admission status” pages and gathering extra materials you need for scholarships, honors programs and more. The whole thing itself is tiring. But, in the midst of all this reading, I’ve been able to find solace and relaxation where I least expected it: reading.

I never considered myself to be an enthused reader. In fact, the only reason I picked up a book in the first place was because I had to for school. Now, weeks later, I find myself really enjoying reading. It has helped ease the stress that college applications and decisions impose. In a study conducted by the University of Sussex, they found that reading lowers your heart rate and even relaxes your muscles. It’s a good way to chill out. Some people worry about having time to read, but when I didn’t have time or when I couldn’t sit still, I turned to audiobooks. It’s just as useful, and a simple way to get your ears on some novels. It’s a decision I’m very thankful for. So, if the stress is too much, and you’re looking for a way to relax, take it from me: an ex-book despiser. Reading is a great way to ease the burden of a stressful month for everyone, all you have to do is lift that first page.

2

Listen to Relaxing Music!

Ever since I found relaxing-music playlists on Youtube, I’ve fallen in love with them. Everytime I’m working, I always make sure to plug in my earbuds, click a playlist, and turn up the volume. Although lofi was a trend a few months ago, there are plenty of other playlists with your favorite types of music, ambiences, or any sound all compiled in hours of tracks to listen to. A simple search of “relaxing music,” or whichever specific genre you’re looking for, on any streaming service, Spotify, Apple Music, etc., will lead you right to these relaxing tunes that’ll help take your mind off of everything else.

One of my personal favorites is a band called Surfaces. They have slow music, up beat music, but regardless of the speed it always seems to relax me with simple beats and creative lyrics. If you haven’t done it, try it! If you’ve already tried it, listen to something new! Listening to every single one of these would last a lifetime, so there’s more than enough to try.

3

Get Outside!

As cliché as it may sound, this is genuinely good for you. Not only is it proven that spending time close to nature helps reduce risks of disease, but it’s a great way to distance yourself from your wiring tech and feel calm. Harvard Health says that Vitamin D can make you function more efficiently, and literally relax your blood vessels. Especially now — it’s more than important to get this time as we find ourselves cooped-up in the house for hours upon hours. Of course, when you’re outside stay as safe as possible. But feel free to read a book or listen to music, or do whatever makes you relaxed. These tips are helpful for any stressed high school senior, but it’s important to note that these tips work for everyone of all ages and situations. Give it a try! You might just find a new hobby.

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STAFF EDITORIAL THE BROKEN DOWN AND BURNT OUT This editorial is the consensus of the Devils’ Advocate Editorial Board.

illustration by Mara Severts

N

ow more than ever, it’s difficult for students to find the motivation to show up to class and put forth their best effort. In the article “As Schools Go Remote, Finding ‘Lost’ Students Gets Harder” by The New York Times, the data shows that remote learning attendance rates in high schools have dramatically decreased nationwide as a result of the pandemic. In a survey conducted in Detroit in September, attendance was down 12 percent from when there was in-person instruction.

And while it’s upsetting that students have become less attentive and interactive in their classes, there’s an obvious explanation.

According to The New York Times, many students of lower socioeconomic backgrounds are left to take care of their younger siblings, take on new part-time jobs, or experience trouble connecting to the internet from home. And although the lack of attendance is obviously disheartening to teachers who dedicate so

much of their time to make remote learning as enriching as it can be, we need to ask ourselves why these problems are arising.

One of the most prominent explanations as to why students act out in the form of being absent is because they have unmet personal needs and issues they’ve yet to overcome at home, according to Mental Health of America. If our school really wants to help troubled students and get them more engaged in the classroom, it’s vital that we take the time to get to the root of the problem.

If a student is late to school three or more times within a semester, they receive a 45 minute detention. If the tardies become more excessive, the student can receive a three hour detention. However, while the majority of school is being conducted online, consequences have been slightly different due to the new hybrid model.

Instead, students are being contacted over email or Zoom by their dean to address unexcused absences for the time being. If

the absence is not resolved, it may impact the students’ ability to receive credit for make-up work and they can still be given mandated in-school detentions if applicable.

If a student is already unmotivated in their academics, disciplining them during this time can be detrimental for their emotional state.

Maybe, instead of handing out counterproductive consequences such as detentions and lowered grades, we should figure out how we can improve each student’s mental health.

In August 2015, Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law Senate Bill 100, which eliminated “zero tolerance” policies and determined that the harshest forms of punishment such as suspension or expulsion may only be given to students who pose a significant threat to the learning environment.

As a result of this bill, Hinsdale Central implemented a new support system called the Student Success Center (SSC), according to the Director of Deans, Kimm Dever. In the

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SSC, students who need assistance getting back into school or staying caught up on assignments are given the support they need.

Similar to a detention, students are given the opportunity to congregate in the SSC room during school hours to work on their missing assignments with help from aids.

“You really have to think about why a student is ending up there,” said Sean Brennan, Dean. “(We want to) set up that room so that when they go there, they don’t come back. That’s ultimately the goal.”

Although many students in the SSC are returning from hospitalizations or recovering from concussions, there are a handful who have had attendance or behavioral issues.

Collectively, for whatever reason there may be, each of these students has work to catch up on in their academics. Though we can appreciate the implementation of this new support system, it’s confusing to understand the thought process of why a student with a concussion is undergoing the same protocol as a student with behavioral issues.

Unlike during physical injuries, students with behavioral issues need special attention from faculty to determine why they are acting out and how they can improve mentally.

Granted that it’s uncomfortable for teenagers to open up about their personal issues, they can be major contributing factors to decreased attendance, limited participation, drug

abuse, etc. In some cases, all “delinquent” students really need is to be reminded that they aren’t a failure and they do matter.

It’s common for students who are struggling mentally during COVID-19 remote learning to feel unmotivated to get out of bed and log into their Zoom calls or show up to class. In a survey conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union of California in May, more than half of the students who responded said they’re in need of mental help support since school went online in mid-March.

Some departments at Central, such as the physical education department, have upped their lessons on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the classroom this year.

Students are being given stress-reducing techniques and coping mechanisms by some of their teachers to combat this dark time of decreased social interaction.

It could be very beneficial for students showcasing their lack of motivation, possibly with attendance discrepancies, to be approached with the same intent to help their social and emotional health.

If we could implement SEL learning in the SSC room and during detentions, our institution would reap the benefits.

Senior Theoni Verven has estimatd that she’s had around 45-50 detentions in her four years at Central, both the

$

shortened 45 minute and three hour versions. “[The three hour detention] is more reasonable for kids that have done something wrong like cheating or doing something inappropriate in school,” Verven said.

Although she appreciated having designated time to catch up on missing assignments, Verven was never motivated by these detentions to change her ways. It’s doubtful that contemplating an unexcused absence/tardiness for 45 minutes will miraculously ignite the personal motivation to do better in school and be better as a person.

Students and staff alike need to be supported and challenged by one another in order for growth to be made on a personal level.

As expected, teachers have been more lenient with grading and being open to the possibilities of test retakes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we need to remember that students and staff face internal struggles every day, most of which aren’t openly spoken about in a school setting, and we all collectively need to have a little more sympathy for one another. Hopefully in the future, once this pandemic is past us, Central will continue to collaborate together on a deeper level in order to maximize our success as an institution.

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