November issue

devils

advocate Fall sports set precedent of success P. 27 Unique music gains popularity among students P.19

What motivates students to join clubs P.10

Hinsdale Central High School - Hinsdale,Illinois - Issue 87 - 11.21.14

contents

17 25 opinions

6

thanks-spending

10 beyond

16

loose threads

sports

25

under pressure

holidays should embody family, not stores

who creates your clothes

around

arts & photo story Vietnam 101 entertainment

10

there’s a club for that

students discuss why they join clubs

fall state championships

19

the hipster effect

new listening sites change the way students discover music

30

a behind the scenes look at what goes into performing a play

staff editor in chief grace dunn managing editor molly leahy head design editor will renehan head of writers riyah basha advertising manager molly leahy opinions

30 mission statement Devils’ Advocate strives to provide its readers with a diverse forum for reporting and sharing information. It is a student-run, school-funded newsmagazine published monthly. Devils’ Advocate wishes to provide fair and balanced reporting on events by working with students, teachers, and the community. It strives to inform, educate, and improve the atmosphere and student body of Hinsdale Central High School.

For more articles and content, visit us at hcdevilsadvocate. com, or scan the QR code

contact info

libby morris around justin yi faith michal beyond caitlin reedy saadia elahi arts & entertainment shannon sinwell elise martin sports lauren excell jack buczkowski photo editors alessia di nunno johnny campbell mark schmidt

club writers josh feldman sayali amin jack kavanagh austin kleber selina zeng subhakeertana sivakumar maria harrast dana ahdab hana rimawi ellis kritzer emma djordjevic meg bibby nina molina steven chun zach wong photographers barbara heidkamp anya patel hanna suek zach wong elizabeth bogs rina ravisundar katrina blum megan timmerman shiv bajaj

riley revord on the cover cover photo by alessia di nunno For more coverage, visit www.hcdevilsadvocate.com

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S N A P T H O U G H T Q: What would you win a state championship in?

Johnny Campbell

A: Cage f i ghting -David Ellis ‘15

A: Maybe forensics, because I’m a master debator Johnny Campbell

-Katrina Karthan ‘15

Johnny Campbell

A: Super Smash Bros.

-Yuji Cussick ‘16

Cheers + Cheers to soccer winning state.

“We clean up” is now the ground crew’s slogan, too. + Cheers to Thanksgiving.16 and pregnant...with a food baby. + Cheers to Dr. Kolkman’s announcements. They made our day. + Cheers to Novembrrrrrr. Get it?

Sorry.

Jeers - Jeers to Kim Kardashian’s magazine cover. Seriously, butt out.

- Jeers to paper tigers trying to get me. Nice try, paper tigers.

- Jeers to people blasting music in the hallways. It’s like Lolla, minus everything that’s good about Lolla.

-Jeers to sharing a room with the Yerds. Leave the CapriSun and go.

OPINIONS NOVEMBER

5

Thank-$pending

T

he sidewalks are crowded with people, bundled up in their warmest winter coats, with their sleeping bags in tow. The most dedicated camp outside of their favorite stores for hours, willing to ditch their family dinners to get early deals on the season’s hottest items. These shoppers represent the worst face of American consumerism-a “holiday” centered solely on materialism.

Black Friday is a relatively new “holiday” that began in 2005, and ever since then, it has been taking away a lot of the holiday season’s glory. Thanksgiving has been a hallowed American tradition for centuries. It is a day where we can simultaneously stuff our faces with turkey while giving thanks for all things we have in life. But we’ve found that with the growing popularity of Black Friday shopping, Americans are foregoing some, if not all, of their Thanksgiving experience just to wait in line for sales. And in recent years, many top retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy now open on Thanksgiving afternoon to attract even more customers. Some have even dubbed Thanksgiving “Black Thursday” in efforts to open earlier and offer more sales to consumers.

“Thanksgiving is [supposed to be] the time when you can appreciate all [your family],” said Suraj Marwaha, senior.

“Simply just seeing how many people care about you that you consider family is an amazing part of Thanksgiving.”

Due to the loss of this family aspect of Thanksgiving, we believe that people are starting to forget what the true meaning

6

OPINIONS NOVEMBER

behind the day really is: to give thanks for what we have.

It shouldn’t be a holiday where people leave their family dinners early just to go wait in a line with their friends.

Holidays are called holidays for a reason, and should surely be treated as such.

“Thanksgiving is a [day] where I get to relax and just be with my family,” said Anya Patel, senior.

And although students admit that Black Friday shopping is a great experience, they agree that family is the most important part of the holiday, regardless of any discounts.

“There are 365 days in the year,” Marwaha said.” [It’s important to] give thanks for one day and appreciate the things you have for one day. You can go shopping any day of the year.”

This idea reveals a paradox between Thanksgiving and Black Friday. On Thanksgiving, we are supposed to be thankful for the people we have in our lives. But as soon as the stores open for Black Friday, people tend to forget everything they’re grateful for and just buy new things instead of appreciating what t hey a lready have.

So a s Tha nk sgiving draws nea rer, it is now more importa nt t ha n ever to rea lize what we have a round us, instead of wa iting in lines for hours a nd hours on end.

“The worst pa rt is t hat we a c t u a l ly bu y i nto [ Bl a c k Fr id ay]. How s a d i s it t h at t he Wa l m a r t a d s of $200 f lat screens mea n more to us t ha n t he fa mily surrou nd i n g u s a t t he d i n ne r t a ble ? ” M a r w a h a s a id .

This editorial is the consensus of the Devils’ Advocate Editorial Board.

SHOULD ILLINOIS

A

round the start of the 20th Century, southern Illinois skated to one song and one song only: coal. With the Clean Air Act of 1990, that industry crashed and now the lower third of our state mostly farms soy. Enter fracking.

No one knows what it means, but it’s provocative. It gets the people going. Fracking, the process of extracting gas or oil from rock layers, has been met with hype and criticism.

Illinois lawmakers just passed a bill green-lighting fracking in southern Illinois and reintroducing jobs and money to a struggling economy. In some minds, fracking has become the poster child for environmentally irresponsible oil corporations.

But fear mongering and Matt Damon movies aside, it’s actually a step towards a more sustainable future.

Coal burns dirty. Natural gas, the primary good produced by fracking, produces fifty percent less carbon-dioxide. So while not perfect, natural gas is far better than coal. The boom in natural gas produced from fracking has made natural gas cheap, which means many electric utility companies have made the switch. This shift to natural gas contributed to a 10 percent decrease in US carbon-dioxide emissions from 2005 to 2013. Fracking, it would stand to reason, is one of our most environmentally responsible energy sources.

Admittedly, fracking is a new technology and new industry.

This means mistakes. But the problems of wells leaking methane gas and contaminated drinking water are engineering problems, and ones that have already been addressed by more intensive regulation. The so called “public opposition” to fracking is a convenient fantasy. Thirteen percent of Wayne County in southern Illinois is underneath the poverty line, and support for fracking and the jobs it would bring is widespread.

Attorney Ron Osman also stated, on the topic of the supposed 30,000 public comments against fracking, “We found instances where there were seven to ten duplicates, where the same commenter would send the same comment seven to ten times”. The movement against fracking is well-meaning, but fueled by misinformation. Simply put, it’s a big fracking deal (I’m very, very sorry, but we both know it had to be done).

Steven Chun

PERMIT

FRACKING?

O

n Nov. 6, Illinois lawmakers approved rules to regulate hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in Southern Illinois. With the approval of these regulations, energy companies are now free to apply for a drilling permit.

Distant, corporate oil companies hope to monopolize on the oil underneath Southern Illinois’s farmland, but local citizens fear that potential spills, and dangerous chemicals leaked into the natural water will produce more problems than the oil would solve.

The idea is to “fracture” the shale layer, allowing gas or oil to flow into the well and be collected by multi-billion dollar energy corporations. While to some this may seem like a good idea, the process is riddled with potential disasters and corporate bullying.

The environmental problems with fracking are innumerable.

Most disturbing is the contamination that often follows the hydraulic fracturing process. Although corporate lobbyists claim that the fracking process is regulated and controllable, the very premise lies on unpredictably splitting the shale layers.

This frequently leads to the non-biodegradable chemical mix seeping into the ground, contaminating drinking sources and land. The energy companies want citizens to believe that the process is safe, but the cold reality is that over 1,000 complaints were filed by 2012, far more than had been filed over conventional, sustainable power sources such as coal or nuclear power.Another problem is the lack of control of the gasses and oil released, which often times end up in the water.

The web is littered with homemade videos of fracking victims lighting their tap water on fire due to the high methane content.

Another major problem is corporate bullying. According to ABC News, lawmakers approved the new rules unanimously and without discussion, even in the face of 30,000 public comments. Now, just six days after the bill passed, a group of residents has already filed an injunction to stop any hydraulic fracturing. Against corporations willing to spend millions of dollars on the best lawyers in the nation, these suits are unlikely to succeed.

Zach Wong

Battleground OPINIONS NOVEMBER

7

SURVIVAL GUIDE TO: MONDAY FUN-DAY

BY LIBBY MORRIS

Alessia DiNunno

Oh, Mondays. They’re easily the worst day of the week; it’s the first day after the weekend and you probably didn’t even open your backpack until 9 p.m. on Sunday night, if you even opened it at all. Mondays mark another vicious cycle of waking up early and staying up late doing homework. Mondays are, to say the least, depressing.

In all honesty, I kind of feel bad for Monday. It’s not its fault that there’s so many negative vibes surrounding it. Monday is just another day of the week, a day that could be full of good things if we just change the way we look at it and get rid of the stigma around it.

Here’s where Ned Bigby comes in to save the day. It’s funny how he always seems to have just the right tip for what I’m looking for. According to Ned, Mondays don’t have to be this way. It’s time to change the way we think about Mondays. It’s time for Monday Fun Day. This past week, I tried to turn my Monday into a Fun Day by actually planning my meals for breakfast and lunch, like packing waffles for breakfast and pasta for lunch. I know it seems so elementary, but I think the food you eat can reflect on your attitude. We’re always so rushed on Mondays that we tend to pack whatever we can find in our lunches. When I get to lunch

8

OPINIONS NOVEMBER

Libb y’s

Scho

DECL

ol Su ASSIFIED Gu rvival i

de

on Mondays and realize I don’t have crappy food for once, my Monday Blues go away.

In keeping consistent with my tip from last month I also tried to keep a positive attitude throughout the whole day. I tried to go the whole day without complaining, which is nearly impossible for high schoolers, I know, but consciously trying not to complain makes Mondays feel a million times better.

Another really easy way to make Mondays better is to be spontaneous. Wow. Spontaneity is a really hard concept to grasp during these times, I know. This time last year, I was drowning in more homework and clubs than I could possibly handle. And Mondays were the worst of them all because that meant more homework schedules and test dates and forensics practices and play rehearsals.

But now, I find that being more spontaneous, especially on Mondays, relieves a lot of stress.

Just a couple of Mondays ago, I picked up two of my friends to go to Walgreens and buy candy to surprise my friend who had just gotten into college. There was no prior planning, no stress building up to the occasion. And although I was only gone from home for an hour, this act of spontaneity gave me a perfect homework break.

So I guess what I’m trying to say here is don’t over-plan and over-book every single minute of every single day with things to do. Leave some room to just go with the flow. It’ll make your Monday that much better.

Morris surrounds herself with food she loves to make her Mondays more fun. There’s no such thing as too much CapriSun.

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There’s a

O

n an ordinary Tuesday morning, Steven Botsoe, junior, waits nervously outside a door. In a couple minutes, he and fellow classmates Nina Molina, Anita Das, and Terese Gibas will come into Room 233, determined to be the founders of Hinsdale Central’s newest club, Book Club. On the other side of the door, Ms. Sally Philip, Activities Director, is briefing Rachael McCann, senior. McCann, a member of the New Club Committee, meets with prospective club creators to discuss the benefits and uniqueness of their proposed club. Botsoe and his group then enter and pitch their idea as McCann listens intently.

She holds the future of their club in her hands.

With over 75 clubs at Central, it’s hard to find someone not involved in at least one activity. At freshmen orientation, the abundance of clubs is constantly repeated, especially during the frenzy of the activities fair. A lot of emphasis is also placed on the ease of starting a new club in the absence of one for a certain interest or activity. After finding a willing sponsor and at least 50 interested kids, students like Botsoe, Molina, Das and Gibas have a chance of getting a club approved.

However, some criticize the number of clubs that are allowed to be started, and question whether student motivation to get involved stems from a genuine interest or for the sole purpose of enhancing a resume.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many people start to get involved around sophomore or junior year,” said Jennie Thomson, senior. “Kids start to think about their futures and college applications around that time, and realize that they need things to put down.”

While some may argue that many students are genuinely interested and enjoy the clubs they are involved in, the conf lict arises over the reason for initial involvement.

“I’m an Eagle Scout,” said Alex Wang, senior. “I started in 6th grade with all my friends, and I love hiking and being outdoors, but in the back of my mind there definitely was the idea that being a scout would count for something on college applications.”

Others disagree with the presumption that involvement in activities is simply for college. They believe sophomore and

10 AROUND NOVEMBER

club for that Looking at club involvement motivations

How many clubs are you in? *Survey Size 95 Students

by Justin Yi and Faith Michal

4 junior year just happen to be the best times to start a club or to get involved.

“Who comes into their freshman year wanting to start a club?” said Brooke O’Grady, junior. “After a year or two of learning how things work at school, people find their own interests and act upon them if there isn’t an outlet at school.

College may be an initial motivator to get involved, but that doesn’t mean [students] can’t grow into genuinely enjoying what they do.”

Danielle Shayani, senior and co-founder of Interact Club, the high school branch of the Rotary Club, understands some people may join the club in order to add volunteering to their resume. However, she hopes that students choose Interact for its unique structure.

Shayani said, “the club is divided into four committees: animals, children, poverty, and international. It allows members to help with charities they care about and hold a leadership position to choose what events they want planned for the club.”

In an effort to screen kids who only participate to look good on paper, many clubs have developed requirements that need to be met in order to maintain membership, often involving volunteering. For example, in order to graduate with a tassel from National Honor Society, members have to complete 35 service hours. Habitat for Humanity also has “points” for certain hours.

While effective, these systems also raise other problems, such as decreased member involvement and retention rates.

“A lot of my friends have told me they don’t want to continue participating in National Honor Society after they get [accepted] into college,” said Jackson Dockery, senior.

“Sure, the tassel would be nice, but the motivation to complete all the required service hours, especially for second semester seniors, isn’t very high.”

Regardless, students like Botsoe, Molina, Das, and Gibas aren’t discouraged from getting involved or starting their own club, especially when they see the need.

“I thought this was a much needed community at school,” said Molina, after receiving approval. “There are so many people who love to read and to finally get all these people in one place is amazing.”

5 67

0

2.1% 5.3% 7.3%

13.6% 2.1%

1

3

25.3%

21.1%

2

23.2%

Average Number of Clubs Per Student:

2.18 Biggest clubs: I. Habitat for Humanity II. Key Club III. Business Professionals of America AROUND NOVEMBER

11

News Feed Turkey tourney

Annual volleyball event changes theme This Thanksgiving season served up more than just turkey.

The Peer Leadership Club’s annual volleyball tournament took place Nov. 23, featuring real volleyball nets and a seasonal fall theme. About 10 to 12 teams of six signed up, either groups of friends looking for an entertaining activity, or members of certain partner clubs.

Ms. Melissa Jensen, a co-sponsor of three years for the event, said, “This year we [had] two brackets, especially with more teams.”

The proceeds from the activity will go to the supplies and activities that Peer Leadership needs to work with the freshman during first quarter. In previous years, the tournament was hosted before Halloween, but the club decided to take a new approach and will be trying out a Thanksgiving theme. More students attended compared to tournaments in the past, especially with the incentive of Thanksgiving themed food.

“I’m still excited,” said Sunil Dommaraju, a senior leader in Peer Leadership. “The tournament was that much fun.”

Elizabeth Bogs

by Nina Molina

Meg Irvin, junior, gets ready to hit the ball. The tournament has been well attended in past years.

Theatre thrill

Students audition for spring musical

by Riyah Basha Every March, hundreds pack the auditorium for what is arguably Central’s biggest production: the spring musical.

Dozens take part in the show every year. From the orchestra to the crew, students on all levels are already gearing up for auditions for this year’s play, “Fiddler on the Roof.”

The musical also represents a chance for veteran seniors to take part in their own grand finale, both on and off stage.

“As a senior member of the crew I have a lot of responsibilities,” said Elin Dejus, senior. “I’ve worked on every show since my freshman year and the musical is the biggest show of the year.”

“Fiddler on the Roof” will also bring a more traditional style of theater to the auditorium stage. “[Last year’s] ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was a Disney Show and ‘Grease’ was so upbeat,” said Anna Blanchard, senior.

“Fiddler has a very different vibe.”

12 AROUND NOVEMBER

Roshni Lavelle, senior, added, “It’s the first heavier musical we’ve done since ‘Les Miserables’ in [2012]. It’s all about the family dynamic…how a father holds his family together.”

But one of the most exciting features of this year’s production is actually a familiar face behind the stage, Ms. Christine Hicks. Hicks was the drama department’s mastermind for multiple decades, and after her retirement last year, the Drama Club searched in vein for directors.

“Everybody loves her and this year we were kind of… wondering what we were going to do now,” Dejus said.

Hicks’s return for not just the musical, but the fall play, has the whole department excited.

“I think it’s exciting and funny because everyone was expecting a different director,” Lavelle said. “But Hicks is back.”

by Ellis Kritzer In an ironic twist, after placing second at the sectional to Sandburg in the previous week, Central came out victorious over Sandburg’s second-place finishing team.

Blake Evertsen, sophomore, Josh Feldman, senior, and Chris Brenk, junior, were awarded All-State honors, placing 12th, 22nd, and 25th, respectively.

“It was awesome seeing the [boys] team race so well and repeat as state champs,” said Joe Griffin, senior. “I love watching the state meet, it’s one of the most exciting races of the year.”

“I’ve suffered, dreamed, cried, and uncontrollably laughed with this group of guys,” Brenk said. “It was about looking each other in the eye five minutes before the start and knowing that I would never let these people down when it mattered most; I know winning state will always be my fondest high school memory. Through putting ourselves through so much stress and pressure...we left a legacy.”

Bring it to room 249!

Rina Ravisundar

Mark Schmidt

It was a windy day at Detweiller Park in Peoria, Illinois, but that didn’t stop the Red Devils. On Saturday, Nov. 8, Central’s boys and girls cross country teams headed downstate to compete in the IHSA 3A state meet, and returned with great results: The boys repeated as state champions, and the girls took home fourth place.

The girls were short of a state trophy, but showed well in a highly competitive field that proved to be one of the best races in state history. Alexa Haff, sophomore, and Grace McCabe, freshman, finished All-State, placing fourth and 20th, respectively.

“Our team worked so hard all summer and fall...[and] we are so happy and excited that we did so well at state,” said Sara Folliard, senior, who ran in the state meet. “It was really an unforgettable season.”

The boys’ race was also highly competitive, and the boys dominated other teams to repeat as state champions.

Mark Schmidt

Boys and girls cross country dominate at state

Find the Adv cat

Mark Schmidt

Refuse to lose

Ms. Christine Hicks talks with Kaelin Reichmann, senior. Hicks made a return to the musical after last year’s retirement.

AROUND NOVEMBER

13

Set to leave Teacher and coach of 33 years plans retirement

by Rafia Ali and Josh Feldman

C

oach Len Serwat has two infamous rules.

1: Don’t speak unless you are spoken to. 2: refer to rule 1. Serwat is considered an iconic figure in Central’s P.E. department, but is retiring this year.

He is best known for teaching FITS I and Personal Fitness while coaching boys’ and girls’ volleyball.

“I have all my years in that I need to retire. My youngest daughter is graduating this year from high school. So, I think it’s time to start a new phase in my life,” Serwat said.

2014 marks Serwat’s 33rd year at Hinsdale Central. Over that time, he has taught almost every P.E. class offered. He is well known for his frequent dry humor, as well as the “Serwat look” that he gives to students that are not following instructions.

“I’m going to miss being around the kids because I’ve done it for so long,” Serwat said. “I’m going to miss the staff; there is a lot of great people that work here. I’ve been around athletics my whole life, so it’s going to be a change of life not doing that every day.”

Serwat’s gym classes have enthusiasm that isn’t always present in the usual requisite gym class.

“Mr. Serwat’s a great teacher who brings energy to gym class every day.

He’s not afraid to make jokes or be funny, and he’s always willing to help his students when they need it,” said Arman Haveric, junior. Haveric was in Serwat’s Personal Fitness class his sophomore and junior year.

In addition to being a physical

NOVEMBER 14 AROUND

education teacher, Serwat has coached the boys’ and girls’ volleyball programs for more than 14 years. He has also served as the school’s athletic trainer and is currently the school’s assistant athletic director.

“He always brought a fun, competitive, enjoyable atmosphere into the gym and weight room,” said Ashley Pelton, junior, who also had Serwat for Personal Fitness and as a volleyball coach her freshman year.

His retirement this year ends a long relationship with the school, dating back to 1976, when he was a senior himself at Central. Serwat plans to work for a company designing fitness programs following his retirement from Central.

“There’s different sides of teaching.

One part of it is putting out fires and dealing with situations, but the other part is watching kids learn new things,” Serwat said.

“It’s a nice thing to see the look on their face when they finally accomplish something or learn how to do something.”

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LOOSE THREADS Revealing how Central students’ clothes are manufactured

Mark Schmidt

by Saadia Elahi and Caitlin Reedy

16

BEYOND NOVEMBER

A

sma is a 10-year-old girl from Bangladesh. As the oldest of six children, she was pulled out of school to find a job and help support the family. But Asma’s story isn’t unique. She is one of 1.3 million children working in sweatshops in her city. A profile by the BBC reported that Asma works eight hours a day, earning $2 a day for making buttons. She operates heavy, dangerous machinery that could easily slice off a finger if she isn’t careful in the dimly lit ‘factory.’

Traveling across the ocean, one can find Asma’s hard work adorning the front of shirts and sweaters from Forever 21 and other similar stores. Forever 21 is a favorite of teenage girls for their cheap pricing and wide variety of clothing styles, but the deals come with a hidden cost.

Looking at the tags inside shirts, consumers learn what material their clothing is made of and where it is made, but not how it is made. They don’t learn the story of the long hours, low paychecks, and inhumane conditions people labor under in order to make the bargains and sales possible.

“I think [poor working conditions and lack of workers’ rights] should have more awareness,” said Devyn Callen, senior. “You shouldn’t promote a company that puts people through such horrible conditions.”

Students’ opinions of certain companies are thus often swayed when they learn about their working conditions around the world. Many believe that they can find similar style choices from more respectable companies, but for others, style and price take precedence over manufacture practices.

“For the average consumer, these factory workers don’t mean much to them. So for their sake, it is worth it. But if you take a step back and look at the grand scheme of things, it would be reasonable for the company to implement safer conditions,” said Yuji Cusick, junior. “Honestly, I would not change my pattern of shopping there, as terrible as that sounds.”

Dina Haveric, junior, added, “I don’t think style is necessarily compromised by excluding certain stores. Yes, some stores have a more distinct style than others, but nowadays there is so much variety I’m positive you can find another store with similar styles that is more reputable in their manufacturing of products.”

Even though America has stricter labor laws than some other countries, its companies aren’t free from the cheap incentives sweatshops offer. The Huffington Post reports that the Department of Labor subpoenaed Forever 21 in 2012 due to the “sweatshop-like conditions” claimed by workers in the Los Angeles area. But Forever 21 continues to ignore the request as they continue to expand their company. Ironically, Forever 21 has

a strong Christian foundation, printing the biblical verse John 3:16 on the bottom of every bag, yet the company constantly finds its labor practices under scrutiny.

“Forever 21 is a store that I know has poor working conditions and treats its workers terribly,” Callen said. “I think it’s something that should have more awareness. You shouldn’t promote a company that puts people through such horrible conditions.”

According to the National Labor Committee, women sewing NBA jerseys make 24 cents for a jersey that will eventually sell for $140. Statistics like these have sparked movements and protests across the nation to improve labor conditions. For example, the United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) was founded in 1998; it’s a wide coalition of students, workers, and unions promoting better working conditions.

“Wearing clothes made in the swamp of inequality of is like wearing skins of the less fortunate,” said Ian Sokolowski, junior.

Several students like Sokolowski strongly believe that these working conditions should be considered before deciding to shop at certain stores. But conflicting narratives continue to confuse many others.

“I realize that a lot of [clothing manufacture] is done overseas, and [that products are] made in mass,” Haveric said. “But honestly, I don’t know much about how it is made. When you go to the store to buy clothes...you know the materials and the country, but not the specific details.”

Despite the disheartening stories still found around the world today, brands such as Nike have proven that it is possible to eradicate sweatshop labor and still produce items at a value cost. After a story broke in the early 1990s that Nike utilized sweatshops, a nationwide boycott of Nike products ensued. As a result, Nike founded the Fair Labor Association in 1999, a non-profit group that combines companies and human rights and labor representatives to establish monitoring and a code of conduct. According to Business Insider, companies such as Adidas and Fruit of the Loom are also part of this coalition.

And though many are unaware of the harsh conditions under which their clothes are manufactured, informed students are still caught in a crisis of morality.

“Many shops that don’t use sweatshop labor tend to be more expensive. Even though I would try my hardest to compromise, I tend to shop at stores that not only have my style but are also cheap,” said Shiv Bajaj, junior. “This doesn’t mean that I would still feel comfortable shopping at stores that use sweatshop labor, but, being a teenager, my financial capabilities are limited.”

BEYOND NOVEMBER

17

SPREADING THE SMILES Central students participate in World Kindness Day

by Riyah Basha and Emma Djordevic

A

Johnny Campbell

flurry of high fives and cheers bombarded students scenes,” Patel said. “[That’s why] we post jokes around the school shuffling into school on a blustery morning last on Nov. 13. and...try to provide that motivation.”

“Have a great day!”

“We’re a group that makes a conscious and concerted effort to “Happy World Kindness Day!” make kids smile,” said Ms. Sanskruti Patel, club sponsor.

Dozens of Happy Club and Student Council lined the World Kindness Day is just one of this year’s initiatives to hallway to form a “high five highway,” just one of the day’s extend their efforts past the immediate circle of members and many festivities. Happy Club, entering its fifth year at Central, disprove its critics. Since the club’s inception, some have written celebrated World Kindness Day for the first time on Nov. 13. it off as just “fun”.

Members jumped at the chance “I know it seems cliche,” Ms. Patel to spread the club’s message. said. “But I think we’re all searching “[World Kindness Day] is for happiness.” a huge symbol of what we’re all From very conspicuous about,” said Laila Drury, senior. encouragements like the “high “It’s taking normal Thursdays or five hallway” to smaller ones, like whatever day and making it the placing stickers and cards at random best day it can possibly be for throughout the school, Happy Club yourself and others.” draws attention away from the That’s a main goal of the stress of grades and all of the other club: to improve other students’ obligations on students’ minds. And days at school, if in subtle ways. by including Student Council and World Kindness Day’s activities other organizations into various accordingly incorporated stickers, activities, the club hopes to initiate a encouraging sticky notes, and chain reaction. clothespin art to brighten up “We pour in the the individual. fellow students’ days.

We create a relaxed environment “We focus on the little things. to just be ourselves, and then those Blowing bubbles, handing out individuals go out into the school candy, smiling; we create a relaxed and they pour into others. We truly environment to just be ourselves,” hope to be the ripple effect at its said Emma Stapleton, junior. finest,” Stapleton said.

On a larger scale, the club As college application stress hits aims to expand their reach this its peak and a gray winter looms, year, partially riding the recent Happy Club’s niche at Central is popularity of web personalities Happy Club presidents Anya Patel and Sarah Brennan pass out stickers. truly a unique one. like Kid President. Weekly “In our world people can often meetings regularly include an be narcissistic and self-serving,” Ms. upbeat soundtrack and baked goods, but club presidents Patel said. “[But] the question is what are you going to do to make Anya Patel and Sarah Brennan, both seniors, aren’t just today awesome for someone else?” presiding over fun. In an environment with as much stress as Drury said, “Why would you ever take a moment that has the Central, the co-presidents try to emphasize the importance possibility to be so good and turn it into something negative? It of well-being and empathy. just doesn’t make sense. So, get out there haters, and just smile.”

“We don’t often acknowledge the people who work behind the

NOVEMBER 18 BEYOND

With the decline of iTunes, students make the switch to streaming and piracy

by Elise Martin and Shannon Sinwell

A&E NOVEMBER

19

Search

MAIN Browse Activity Radio Follow Top Lists Messages Play Queue Devices App Finder YOUR MUSIC Songs Albums Artists Local Files

I

n the late 2000s, pop ruled the airwaves. Bands like The Jonas Brothers, The Cheetah Girls, and Selena Gomez & The Scene dominated the iTunes libraries of teens everywhere.

Rina Ravisundar, junior and selfadmitted former pop addict, was a fan of the aforementioned bands in middle school. But as her music taste changed, so too did her perception of how it came to define who she was.

“Nowadays, it’s common for

often than not, students who stray from the hipster norm are met with borderline ridicule.

“Adoring the latest Justin Bieber or Nickelback album is, probably, more likely to invite insults than any other response,” Ravisundar said.

“I find that there is some truth to the idea that a person’s music taste ref lects their personality and how they perceive the world,” said Alanna Wong, senior. “However, it doesn’t give people the right to judge others

“I find that there is some truth to the idea that a person’s

+New Playlist

-Alanna Wong people to judge someone based on the music they like. It is used by many as a judgement of an entire person,” Ravisundar said.

“If you listened to Ke$ha or Justin Bieber in middle school, you were considered cool, but if you listen to Ke$ha or Justin Bieber now, people think you’re ‘so five years ago’.”

The new “cool” comes in the form of alternative and indie music. The more obscure the band, the better.

Bands like Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, and Twenty One Pilots are especially popular, and, more

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based solely on music taste. It is extremely superficial to do so.”

With the pressure on for listeners to discover as many obscure bands as possible, they also face the possibility of being labeled a “fake fan.”

“A fake fan is someone who pretends to enjoy the music produced by musicians,” Ravisundar said.

“They exist because people crave the acceptance of their music taste by others.”

Fake fans can receive criticism for something as simple as going to a concert or wearing a t-shirt of a band

Activity Feed Nick Speziale listened to they aren’t completely familiar with.

“It’s just a shirt, and it doesn’t make them better or worse than any other band lover,” Wong said. “We’re all just appreciating good music.

And I think wearing a band t-shirt is a great conversation starter.”

Additionally, some students lose interest in an once-obscure band or artist once they become wellknown or mainstream. However, with the rise of music-discovery websites and apps, lesser known or alternative bands are now more easily discoverable.

The various sites students use to listen to music are changing just as quickly as their music tastes. The once-beloved iTunes has dwindled in popularity as students make the switch to free streaming sites like Spotify, Pandora, and Soundcloud.

Unlike iTunes, sites like these do not require the listener to purchase songs individually. They also make it easier for lesser-known artists to broadcast their music to a wide audience because anyone can post anything; bands don’t need to have a record deal.

“Spotify is often how I discover new music,” Ravisundar said. “Many times I stumble upon music I’ve never heard of before and become very intrigued.”

While these choices are especially popular amongst students, they have been met with criticism by entrenched members of the music industry. Taylor Swift, in particular, created waves when she announced that her new album, “1989,” would not be released on Spotify. Her label, Big Machine Records, later removed

all of her songs from the site.

“Piracy, file sharing and streaming have shrunk the numbers of paid album sales drastically, and every artist has handled this blow differently,” Swift wrote in an oped in The Wall Street Journal.

“Music is art, and art is important and rare. I hope [other artists] don’t underestimate themselves or undervalue their art.”

However, streaming, currently the most popular mode of listening to music, shows no signs of slowing down. Spotify, arguably the most powerful and prominent provider, refuses to back down.

“Our whole reason for existence is to help fans find music and help artists connect with their fans,” Spotify CEO Daniel Ek responded in a blog post. “[Spotify] protects them from piracy and pays them for their amazing work.”

“I don’t really know if artists should fight it or not,” said Michael Brose, freshman. “Because it’s so easy to obtain, people will try to pirate music and stream it for as long as sites like YouTube exist.”

Issues like music piracy and the ethics of sites like Spotify are unlikely to be solved in the foreseeable future.

Moreover, as history has proven, what’s “popular” in the music industry will continue to change with time. But that won’t stop students from exploring their musical tastes on a variety of mediums.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about appreciating good music,” Wong said.

Baba O’Riley The Who

Abby Cole listened to Heartbeat

Childish Gambino

Davis Palo listened to All the Little Lights Passenger

Joel Guerra listened to Dollhouse

Melanie Martinez

Tori Capraro listened to Tidalwave

Snowmine

Nathan Hill listened to I

Kendrick Lamar

photos by Mark Schmidt

4:12

THE MUSIC WAR OVERVIEW

TOP LISTS

NEWS

DISCOVER

INFOGRAPHIC

Spotify...

4.5 billion streaming hours in 2013

50 million active users

Over 20 million songs can be streamed

Paid over $2 billion to labels, publishers, and agencies

everywhere

Artists in the United States 1 Taylor Swift 2 Meghan Trainor 3 Maroon 5 4 Sam Smith 5 Ariana Grande

Top Lists Streaming Services 1 Pandora 2 iHeartRadio 3 iTunes Radio 4 Spotify 5 Google Play

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A&E NOVEMBER

#TRENDINGNOW

PUMPKIN PIE

by Maria Harrast

INSERT TREND What better way #1 to enjoy November than with a slice of pumpkin pie?

Bakers Square is well known for its variety of decadent desserts. An inch of glossy whipped cream decorated the top of my pumpkin pie, concealing a smooth orange filling and flaky crust. The first bite revealed a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg that enhanced the natural pumpkin flavor. If you’re looking for that perfect slice of pie after a satisfying Thanksgiving dinner, Bakers Square will not disappoint.

TAYLOR SWIFT

by Molly Leahy

It’s what everyone is talking about: Taylor Swift’s 1989 is both surprising and fresh. This album showcases a new side of Swift, as she makes the jump from country to full-blown pop.

And I have to say; I love her new sound. While many fans may be turned off by the electro and upbeat songs, most fans can’t help but jam to the whole album. I commend Swift for her bravery to switch genres mid career and find success. 1989 has something on it for everyone.

SCARF

by Shannon Sinwell

Shield your neck from the cold this November with a scarf. Available in a handful of styles and a countless number of colors and patterns, they make for the perfect winter accessory. If you’re worried about your knotting skills, don’t. One of the most popular styles, the infinity scarf, doesn’t require a knot. Simply slip the scarf over your head for an easy, chic addition to any outfit.

A&E NOVEMBER

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Photo taken from Youtube

“Summer days drifting away” Grace Franko and Brigid Mulligan plan for their second single after initial success of “Summer Days”

By Hana Rimawi

G

race Franko and Brigid Mulligan’s music video, “Summer Days”, filmed around Hinsdale last June has over 3,000 views on YouTube. The singing duo collaborated to write the lyrics and perform them. Their next single will be called “Limits,” and will be released in the next few months.

Franko, a senior, and Mulligan, a junior, got their start in music as children.

“I’ve been singing all of my life,” Franko said. “I’ve taken singing lessons since fifth grade until last year as a junior.”

Mulligan has been taking piano lessons since second grade and has also been singing since fifth grade. Both play piano and guitar and write their own music. They were united by their passion for music and their piano teacher last year.

Mulligan said, “He said our voices would sound great together.

We composed a mash up of ‘Counting Stars’ by One Republic and ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros for the variety show last year.”

“Summer Days” was their first time collaborating on an original song.

“We sat down one day, Brigid got on the piano and found some chords and within an hour, I had written the chorus for ‘Summer Days,” Franko said. “I ended up writing a verse as well.”

The following week, Mulligan had written another verse, as well as the bridge.

The music video was produced by Patrick Foley, a senior last

24 A&E NOVEMBER

year, and founder of Hued Productions.

“His younger brother also takes lessons from [our piano teacher], so that’s how we were directed to him,” Mulligan.

“Making the music video was a new experience to us both but it is definitely something I’ll always remember,” Mulligan said. “The video was done within a few days. We got so much positive feedback from our friends and family; everyone shared it on social media and we got close to 1,000 views in a day.”

Franko added, “It was a day committed to us. Pat [Foley] was really awesome, he was dedicated. All of our friends were in it; it was so much fun. We are hoping that the next video is just as awesome.”

Their next single “Limits”, is expected to be out this winter.

The duo plans on using the song to audition for the Variety Show, then have the music video released afterwards. The video will again be produced by Foley.

In terms of future plans, Franko is interested in career options outside of songwriting.

“I haven’t thought of pursuing it in college, but I do want to continue to write,” Franko said. She will also be working hard this summer writing music and recording.

Mulligan said, “I plan on continuing with music for as long as I can, but I don’t see it as a career. In the near future, I hope to release some more songs, both my own and our collaborations.”

Under pressure Some athletes feel pressure to step up after the success of fall sports

Mar k Sc hmi dt

by Lauren Excell and Jack Buczkowski

SPORTS NOVEMBER

25

state championships: Girls tenn Boys golf '12 '13 '14. girls cross country '13 '14. tennis '06 '07 '08 '11 '12 '13 soccer '08. girls track a

tudents may notice the large trophy case on the northeast side of the cafeteria. It has always been there- with every shelf filled to capacity. Some students wonder where the old trophies go when the trophy case gets too full- there must be a trophy room in the basement, like a graveyard of champions. Across the hallway in the gym, state champion banners grace every wall.

These are just a few day-to-day reminders of what Red Devil athletics are capable of. In the past few weeks, invariably every day there has been an announcement, over Twitter, Facebook, or the intercom, of the success of Hinsdale Central athletes in their playoff seasons. After each of these announcements, an unspoken question arises in the minds of many students, “Is there a championship we haven’t won yet?” And so students at Central are excitedly anticipating the success of winter sports after the end of the fall season.

S

Mark Schmidt

26 SPORTS NOVEMBER

Hundreds of fans had f locked to the soccer state championship game to watch the team bring home the state champion trophy after an exciting season.

“I definitely wanted to end this season strong and leave my mark at the school but I do not feel any pressure to do that. I feel like that is why I have been successful thus far,” said Wes Bergevin, senior on varsity soccer.

Similar to Bergevin, winter teams aren’t letting the expectancy for success get to their heads because they feel prepared and are striving to perform to the best of their abilities.

Last year, the boys varsity basketball team won their second straight conference championship, as well as the regional championship. This year, players are already looking forward to their success in playoffs.

“We are greedy to go further this year,” said Grant Hutcherson, senior, “With hard work, this team has the potential to go very far this year.”

nis '00 '03 '06 '07 '08 '09 '11 '13 '14 golf '14. boys soccer '14. boys girls cross country '06. boys 3 '14. girls basketball '02. girls and field '09. girls badminton '07.

As sports continue to improve and compound the success of last year, athletes are confident in their ability to retain a competitive playoff season.

Striving for success isn’t the only motivator. In a school this large, with a student section growing more and more passionate, the fans at the game put more pressure on the athletes.

“We wanted to continue the high Code Red sentiment, especially with all the state championships that had already been won and boys cross country placing first earlier on the day of the soccer state final,” said Justin Yi, senior on varsity soccer, “no one wants to disappoint a large crowd of friends and family who made the 40-minute drive to watch us in the cold.”

Bleachers were filled to capacity at several football and soccer games this fall season, making games more exciting for fans and players alike.

“Usually there aren’t that many people who come out to soccer games, so having over 150 people ‘believing

that we can win’ and ‘going bananas’ added to the excitement and restlessness to continue the Central state champion streak,” Yi said.

“The fans have made this season so memorable. We know that with whatever happens at state they will still be our fans,” Bergevin said.

All of the excitement from Red Devil Nation is fueling the motivation of other teams and inspiring them to do well in their own postseason, rather than letting it get to their heads.

“We are motivated to win and continue this excellent year of Red Devil sports,” Hutcherson said, “There is so much hype and school spirit right now, coming off of the many state championships and exciting football and soccer games, that will only help us in the winter.”

For other sports, players focus less on the hype of Red Devil Nation at their events because they have lower attendance, and instead focus more on performing well for their teammates.

Toni Marano, senior on girls varsity diving and gymnastics, sees this effect in both of her sports.

“Only certain sports have huge cheering sections,” Marano said, “Those sports don’t really feel [the crowd] pressure.”

Regardless of the attendance of their sport, all athletes are trying their best to continue the success of Red Devils this fall. Teams are using the hype from the student section from the success of other teams to their advantage to continue building upon their own success from previous years.

“There’s pressure to do better than last year, to step up, to keep moving forward. That’s the kind of pressure I feel,” said Emma Day, senior on girls varsity basketball.

The competitive nature of Red Devil Athletics does nothing to phase the players; they remain focused on playing their game and thriving under pressure.

The winter athletes agreed that the fall season success is only the beginning.

SPORTS NOVEMBER

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Game of the month Boys bowling faces off against LT

by Austin Kleber

T

he boys basketball team piles into the gym at 6 a.m. on weekday mornings and promptly gets to work. Coach Nick Latorre wastes no time on these mornings, and during the preseason as a whole, making sure the boys are always busy lifting weights or running conditioning drills. Latorre and the team are preparing for the season’s kickoff: the annual Thanksgiving tournament spanning from Nov. 24 to 26.

“The tournament is very important because it’s our first couple games of the season,” said Grant Hutcherson, senior. “How we play...will show us what we need to work on as we move into conference games.”

This year, Lyons Township is cosponsoring the games, and the Glenbard schools will also play a crossover game. This means the tournament’s already high standard of competition will be raised

with the opportunity for rivalry games.

Latorre said, “With Hinsdale South being in there, there’s a natural rivalry that always spices up the...tournament a little bit... and we will be playing one of the games at LT, so we could be playing LT at their school.”

Expectations for the squad this year are high after their conference championship last year. Multiple returning seniors look to lead the team in the quest for a possible repeat, and beyond.

“After winning back to back conference titles we have a big target on our backs,” said Matt Rafferty, senior and four-year varsity player.

“Our goal every year is to reach our full potential, and to be as close as a group as possible,” Latorre said.

Riyah Basha

The varsity bowling team practices at Suburbanite Bowl on Ogden.

Upcoming Events Boys varsity basketball vs. DGN Dec. 6 Nov. 25

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SPORTS NOVEMBER

Girls gymnastics Red Devil invite Dec. 13

Bend it like Bergevin

State Champion goalie succeeds in big moments

by Dana Ahdab and Sayali Amin

Wes Bergevin is on the All-America team, which is made of the top players from each region.

T

Mark Schmidt

he season for the boys varsity soccer team ended with more than just a bang: a state championship title. And leading the team to victory was AllAmerican senior Wes Bergevin.

Bergevin, who has been playing soccer for eight years, has a genuine love for the game.

“My favorite part about soccer is that it’s such a universal sport, you can go anywhere in the world, drop a soccer ball and have a game going within five minutes,’ Bergevin said.

During his time playing for Hinsdale Central, Bergevin cites this season’s playoff run as his favorite memory.

“My role in winning the state championship this season was to keep the ball out of the goal. I couldn’t have done that without my defense,” Bergevin said. “They played a very important role this season by not only making my job a lot easier but collectively for the team as well.”

Varsity head coach Michael Wiggins said, “We often talk about ‘biggest game, biggest moment’. Wes was repeatedly rising to the occasion in the biggest games, and in the biggest moments…He instilled confidence in the team with his play and was crucial to several games decided in penalty kicks.”

Bergevin’s soccer career, however, does not end with the state championship game. He has been selected to play in the High School All-America game in North Carolina

this winter, the only Central student to ever accomplish this feat.

“Wes has had a very strong career and coaches know this, so I am sure the word got back to the selection committee and he was contacted from there,” Wiggins said. “He just secured the all time career shutout record with the 1-0 State Title game shutout.

“Being selected to play in the High School All-American game is a huge honor. It is something that I have always heard about but never thought I would get the chance to play in it. I am looking forward to the experience and meeting some of the top players from around the country,” Bergevin said.

And what about after that? As a senior, Bergevin is definitely looking ahead. But one thing’s for certain, Bergevin will be playing soccer after high school.

“I am looking to play soccer in college. There are a number of schools that I am talking to and looking at as well. As of now there is no telling in where I will end up,” Bergevin said.

Wiggins added, “There are currently several major college programs looking to have him visit. I am sure he will select a school that will prepare not only on the field, but for his years later in life.”

Boys varsity swimming vs. Lyons Township

Boys varsity wrestling tournament

Dec. 19

Dec. 29-30

Boys and Girls varsity basketball tournaments Dec. 22-27

SPORTS NOVEMBER

29

Mark Schmidt

Vietnam 101:

The War on Campus 1. Veronica Cothard, senior, does her hair in preparation for Vietnam 101. The show ran on Nov. 13, 14, and 15.

2. Students help each other apply stage makeup. The students prepare in the green room beneath the stage.

3. Charlie Cooper, head of tech and set design, tapes the stage f loor. The show was directed by Mrs. Christine Hicks.

4. Jake Hyland, senior, is a member of the cast.

He plays multiple parts, including an army general.

1 Mark Schmidt

2

5. Evan Donaldson, sophomore, plays the guitar.

The show was accompanied by student music.

Mark Schmidt

3 Johnny Campbell

17 BEYOND SEPTEMBER

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Mark Schmidt

BEYOND SEPTEMBER

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5

Jaszmine Mitts practices at a dress rehearsal. Photo by Johnny Campbell.