Diller Street Journal, Vol. 5, Iss. 1

The Diller Street Journal October/ November 2016

The Case For Hillary Clinton

Vin Scully: The Great American Sportscaster

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Justin Hartley’19

he race for the 45th Presidency is currently upon us, and we must choose between two main candidates: Hillary Rodham Clinton and Donald J. Trump. This election is particularly interesting because of the sway the elected president will have. The 2016 presidential race also coincides with the country’s senatorial election, meaning the senate has the potential to flip Democrat or remain firmly Republican. The future president will also have the choice of picking the next Supreme Court Justice, the highest form of judge in our country.

These Justices on average hold their office for 26.1 years, meaning progressive or conservative ideals will have a easier way to pass through our legal system, depending on who is elected. This position is perhaps the most influential in our Judiciary. The candidates this year are often purported as “the most hated candidates in American history.”

Both candidates have their admitted pitfalls.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has always been a changemaker in the United States. She has been dedicated to public service since 1971 and her accomplishments are quite amazing.

As First Lady she helped push forward powerful bills that positively changed the lives of many, such as the Health Security Act which she headed and the creation of the State Children’s Healthance Program.

Both of these programs help the less fortunate, making sure America’s greatest resource continues to get the medical assistance and help it needs to prosper. After her stay in the White House she became the first formerFirst Lady of the United States to be elected to the United States Senate.

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Eli Kraus ’18

I Photo by Will O’Connor ’18

Owenslice: Power Without Power: Why Trump and Hillary Won’t Be Able to Control America Owen Hiland ’18

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hen Barack Obama ran for and won the office of President in 2008, he did so largely because he was able to harness the power of progressive, young, and minority voters with his “Hope” and “Change”-based campaign. His rating before the election was nearly seventy percent favorable. To many, he was the candidate of progress, the candidate of youth, and the candidate of a bright future for all. Whether or not this proved true, and there are certainly those who argue it hasn’t, it gave Obama a significant victory and the mandate of the American people to lead. Although partisanship from the other side of the aisle still plagued the Obama administration throughout its eight year run, it must be said that a significant portion of the American people truly believed in Obama’s ability to lead and bring about change.

Now, though, when we examine this current election, we can clearly see that this will not be the case for either candidate.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are undoubtedly the two most widely disliked presidential candidates of all time. Never before has a single candidate, let alone both, been so strongly hated by both sides of the aisle. There are plenty of statistics supporting this fact; one Gallup poll found that one in four Americans has an unfavorable view of not only one but both presidential candidates, while only one in twenty five has a favorable view of both. It is often noted that Hillary Clinton would have set the record for most unfavorably viewed presidential candidate, if only Trump hadn’t entered the race and surpassed her record. It’s clear how this has factored into both campaigns; while Trump has taken to attacking Hillary and trying to drive her approval ratings even lower, Clinton has clearly hoped that Trump’s own low approval ratings (lower than Hillary’s) would be his undoing. Clearly, Trump’s vast array of offensive comments and Hillary’s lack of transparency haven’t been doing either any favors in winning universal support among the American people. The question is, what will happen once one of these pariahs, these deplorables, is put into office? The answer: nothing good. This nation saw what happened in 2008 when even a widely liked and supported president met an opposition-controlled congress. The democratic system of checks and balances is great, right up until it’s

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n 1950, legendary sports Broadcaster Red Barber refused to call any baseball games sponsored by Gillette because of a salary issue. This took many games off the table for Barber, who was Baseball’s most beloved on-air personality and had proven himself to be a very talented and entertaining broadcaster for the New York Yankees and the then- Brooklyn Dodgers. Little did we know, however, that because of Barber’s dispute with Gillette, the greatest sports personality of all time would rise from the ashes of Barber’s Dodgers career, though it continued with New York and national stations. Vin Scully. The 67- year veteran and 88- year- old phenomenon that has been calling Dodgers games and changing the way people viewed baseball since the beginning of the Dodgers in LA, is retiring at the end of this baseball season.

Scully, a very private man and a devout Christian, doesn’t like the attention that he’s been receiving, but even he can’t help but smile when he sees the tributes that have been pouring in for him since he announced that this would be his last year. Everyone from umpires, players, managers, coaches, executives - even political figures from Michael Bloomberg and Al Gore, to entertainment figures like Kevin Costner and hall of famers from other sports from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Michael Jordan have saluted Scully. This is proof that Scully has touched everybody’s lives, baseball or not.

These people recognize what so many people on a smaller scale

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Owenslice: Power Without Power: Why Trump and Hillary Won’t Be Able to Control America Owen Hiland ’18

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your opponent controlling those checks and balances.If Hillary were to win, two things could happen: in one scenario, she is met with a Democratic congress who is, at best, reluctant to be seen as working with such a widely disliked figure. On the other hand, she could find herself with a Republican congress, unable even to pass the simplest legislation (as Obama was for much of his presidency). For Trump, the future is even bleaker; traditional conservatives, many of whom have joined the “Never Trump” movement, would be unable to work with the president for fear of being seen as weak or “flip-flopping”, so even a Republican congress would be divided on allowing Trump to push any sort of bill through. A Democratic congress, on the other hand, might act as the Tea Party did when it shut down the government in 2013, refusing to pass even budget legislation until Trump lets them have what they want. This is only in the case that Trump even decides to take office- he reportedly has a TV network in the works, and it has been speculated that his spectacular and sensational candidacy has simply been to rustle up an audience for the socalled “TrumpTV”.

There is no simple solution to this problem for either candidate, but in the short-term, the answer for both is to be more widely liked. This is far more easily said than done, especially when considering why either candidate is disliked.

Trump may be criticized often and widely for his fiery and often offensive rhetoric, but it’s also how he built his support base and his campaign. If he were to abandon it, he might be seen as conforming to traditional political standards, something that contradicts his very image. Hillary’s image is also largely the basis of her success; her careful, calm planning has usually allowed her to respond to situations with grace, but it has also led to political disasters such as Benghazi and the email scandal where Hillary planned too much for her own good. If Hillary were to come out stronger, she might appeal to Americans as more human, but she also might risk alienating her own traditional political base and scaring off others as she did with her comments about Trump’s “deplorables”. As a result of the polarization and partisanship that America has faced for the past decade, it is entirely unlikely that either candidate will be able to rally support from both sides of the aisle under any circumstance.

We will know, in about a month and a half, who will be our president when inauguration rolls around in January. Unfortunately, it is also clear that no matter what happens, America won’t have a leader capable of uniting our country, or even pushing it in the direction they choose. The nation will undoubtedly be gridlocked once more, unable to function as a single unit and plagued by dysfunction and argument. Can America really stand another eight years of conflict with itself?

Vin Scully: The Great American Sportscaster Cont from page 1 Eli Kraus ’18

The Case For Hillary Rodham Cont from page 1 Clinton Justin Hartley ’19

Serving her state of New York, she served through the terrible events of September 11th she was on the ground working with first responders and survivors. And when healthcare providers refused to give first responders she fought to demand it.

After her run as a presidential candidate in 2008, she became Secretary of State, a job that expanded her influence to the world stage. As Secretary of State she spearheaded Barack Obama’s Foreign Policy and delved into the politics of countries incredibly foreign to her. Traveling across the world for 401 days and traversing 956,733 miles to complete the tasks given to her. Hillary brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas in 2012, a ceasefire that sent shockwaves throughout the middle east, showing that peace can be made even if only for a short period of time.

When addressing Hillary Clinton-- it would be wrong not to address the various controversies she has been unfortunately involved in. From Whitewater to Benghazi to the E-mail scandal, Hillary has done wrong. Her character has been damaged but, with the other choice being a man who has continuously attacked our veterans, prompted foreign powers to attack his opponents and has admitted to making sexist and racist remarks, Hillary does not seem like a bad option. Hillary’s missteps almost seem minor in comparison especially when her scandals are looked even further into. Benghazi was caused by the removal of milllions of dollars by the senate and house that would go toward security and while being aboard, groups on both sides of the spectrum are at fault here. Hillary’s warning did not stop the majority and weeks later, Benghazi happened. Hillary is not particularly at fault and neither is the legislative branch in terms of Benghazi. The death of four americans could have been avoided but, the fault falls at the hands of the entire government and the decisions they have made.

The race for the presidency is not just for our next leader. It determines the state of the world for the next four to eight years. Who would you rather lead the world, a field tested, qualified candidate that knows the ropes of Washington D.C or an abrasive candidate that is already damaging the United States’ standing around the world? You should always vote with your heart but, you should also vote for our country’s and the world’s best wishes. Whether you liked Ted, Marco, Carly, Martin, Bernie or anyone else, these are the candidates before us now and we must cast our ballots.

recognize - Vin Scully is the voice of the MLB. There’s a gold standard in everything. In acting, it’s Marlon Brando, in singing it’s Aretha Franklin, in politics it’s Abraham Lincoln. In broadcasting for any sport, it’s Vincent Edward Scully. Scully’s incredible mix of longevity, intelligence, consistency, humor and incredible knack for telling amazing stories, has made him a legend. No, more than a legend. The baseball community has honored Scully in so many ways, many people have forgotten that fellow broadcaster, hall of famer and multi sport star Dick Enberg is retiring at the age of 81, after a 55 year career. David Ortiz, one of the best hitters in baseball history, is retiring at the age of 39, after a 19- year career. While Ortiz has received many a tribute from around the country and the world, it’s been Vin Scully that has stolen the show - just like he inadvertently did for almost 70 years. Vin will tell you that it isn’t about him - true - but a great broadcaster always helps. The incredible soothingness that comes from the honey sweet, rangy voice of Vin Scully is enough to make anybody want to listen to him - that isn’t even taking into account the vast knowledge, passion and pure love that Scully put into everything. On a personal level, I’ve listened to Scully every night since I was a baby, my dad used to play tapes of Vin’s voice for me, and I’ve heard some of his greatest calls, even though they long preceed my birth. And the thought that now, after 17 years that I’ve heard his perfection, I may never hear another broadcast of him, is enough to bring tears to my eyes. The truth is, Vin Scully is a special human being. He’s more than a legend, more than an icon, and more than a broadcaster. He’s a god in his field, and there will never be another one like him, and probably never a human alive that will have the pure kindness, modesty and love of Vin Scully. As his game has come and gone, it’s a time for everybody to remember the greatness of a man that has shaped the way we listen to America’s pastime.

Opinion

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Why the Ability to Print is so Important

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Cara Savin ’18

s high school students, there is a limitless number of notes, essays, tests, and quizzes we take on our technological devices, which, more often than not-- consists of a laptop for easy typing ability. “Write your in- class essay and print it out,” says our English teachers. “Your laptop has Spanish spell check,” the language teachers announce. And, “Make sure you print ahead of time,” is common rhetoric amongst the Upper School educators. As students, we are happy to oblige, knowing that it takes a few clicks of the keys and we have a paper copy of our hard work in hand.

Yet this year, our ability to print at school has faced a drastic setback as we must use our iPads-- a device not many individuals choose to use or carry around-- to do so. This has created a frenzy among the upper school students. We run to the library to print out a forgotten English writing memo five minutes before class, friends email all of their documents to the one person who happens to carry a charged iPad, and the frustrations of the entire student body rises.

The first quarter of the school year is used to fall into a routine. We learn about our teachers and the amount of homework we will be receiving, as Juniors, we begin to understand the rigorous academic year we face, and we begin to see the Freshmen open up to highschool in a positive manner. Yet, without easy access to printing, this routine is thrown off.

We gain one more worry about when our essays will become a tangible item we can turn in. Our routine of printing before class quickly becomes a non-existent entity or we spend this period of time frantically figuring out how to do so.

And truly, this additional stress is unnecessary. While we understand printing abilities will be granted in February, we face over a quarter of school before then. The upcoming quarter will include many pages of notes, countless essays, and lots of stress over how to turn it all in.

The Man Behind the Music: Mr. Reardon Betsey Freiburger ’19 Rachel Block’19

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he new school year began with a fresh start in the chorus room. Mr. Reardon joined the faculty at NSCDS as the new Choral Director, taking over for Mr. Querio who led the department for over 19 years. With big shoes to fill, Mr. Reardon has arrived full of energy and with a passion for the musical arts. He was raised in the small town of New Hartford, Connecticut and studied at the University of Connecticut, receiving his B.A. in Voice in 2008. He then went onto VanderCook College of Music in Chicago to receive his M.A. in 2012. He did his student teaching at North Shore and quickly became a Raiders Fan, hoping for the opportunity to one day return. As luck would have it, that chance presented itself last Spring, and he jumped! Mr. Reardon lives in Chicago with his wife and young son, James Patrick, and recently decided to buy a second car in order to avoid the train. An unfortunate encounter with lightning led him to this decision, but other than that he has no complaints about his first few weeks on Campus. As members of the Upper School Chorus, we can attest to his deep commitment to musical knowledge, not only the aspect of singing but the rich meaning behind every note. His enthusiasm and youthful style has quickly endeared him to all of his students, and Upper School Chorus is the place to be this Fall! Last week we had the chance to sit down with Mr.Reardon and ask him a few questions.

DSJ: How has your adjustment into the school been?

Mr. Reardon: Great, it feels like I’m right at home thanks to how welcoming and helpful everyone has been.

DSJ: What is something people don’t know about you?

R:I am a huge sports fan.

DSJ: College or Professional?

R: I enjoy New York professional sports more than college sports, although

Cafeteria Drinks Will O’Connor ’18

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ince the dawn of the new lunch program at North Shore in 2015, opinions backed by pure hatred and pure love have clashed every time the weekly menu is published. However one thing has remained consistent, one thing that most forget about. When people are debating the quality and quantity of their pasta during lunch period, they do so while sipping their Steaz Teas, or their Honest Teas, or another drink that they have come to subconsciously crave over the course of their presence in the cafeteria refrigerator. In contrast to the lunch menu’s options, beverage options have been available every day of the week during the day.

Now I know, when the line is long and you get out of class late, it may be difficult to find a beverage you like by the time it is your turn for selection. I know that sometimes going to the lunchroom too early can leave you with a handful of lukewarm disappointment due to a lack of chilled bottles or cans of your favorite choice of hydration. Now I must ask, have you ever mentioned these inconveniences to a cafeteria employee?

Last year, my drink of choice was the Blackberry Honest Tea. I would get it everyday due to its availability and tolerability. However this year everything changed, instead of just getting by with the same drink, I discovered a new option. Steaz tea, a new line of drinks introduced this year by the good folks at Handcut Foods, is a company based around iced teas and energy drinks. Their mission is, “to make the best tasting organic green tea beverages on the planet.” Steaz teas have taken the North Shore by storm, and their popularity has lead to a shortage of availability in the past weeks.

I had a chance to speak to Fulton, a cafeteria employee who you might know as the guy who works the cash register when you go in for lunch. When asked about the beverages, he specifically mentioned his own favorite drink, Jasmine Hibiscus. On a larger scale, he said that the most popular drink option currently is the Steaz Tea collection.

“We’re planning on expanding the Steaz selection into the Honest Tea space,” he said emphatically “We’re also looking to add more forms of tea such as Mate (a tea known for its stimulant benefits similar to those of coffee) to our selection to add more variety.”

In short, exciting things are brewing in the cafeteria, and I know that I am not alone in being overwhelmed with excitement regarding what the future holds in store for our thirsty North Shore community.

UConn basketball is the best.

DSJ: If you could play any professional sport, what would it be and why?

R:Football because I love the team aspect and the strategies.

DSJ: What is your favorite part about being at North Shore?

R: My favorite part is the collective atmosphere of the student body, everyone wants to do well and learn!

DSJ: Are there any TV shows you’re ashamed of liking?

R:The real housewives of everywhere.

DSJ: What is your biggest goal for the 2016-2017 school year?

R: I would say my biggest goal is to continue the rich choral tradition of North Shore and to get more people singing.

As you can see, he has big plans to draw upon our traditions and make singing a part of everyone’s school experience. When Mr.Reardon is not teaching at NS you can find him performing with The Chicago Symphony Chorus or the St. James Choir, and our guess is singing to his wife and son, as well as watching a little bit of The Real Housewives! He is a wonderful addition to NSCDS and we welcome him with open hearts and lungs ready to belt out the next tune.

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The Peaceful Martial Art: Akido

Opinion

Joy Pasin ’18, Will O’Connor ’18

As many of you may remember, during Morning Ex, Mrs. Sumner and her husband performed the martial art Aikido for our school. Since Will and I had never seen or heard of Aikido before, we thought it would be interesting to do a follow-up article with Mrs. Sumner. We also thought it was fun that both she and her husband practiced Aikido, and that she was a seemingly peaceful librarian. Here’s what we found out: Q: What inspired you to learn Aikido?

A: My husband had always done Aikido, and I wanted to understand why he was so interested in the martial art. After the first couple of classes I was absolutely hooked.

Q: Was the training hard?

A: At the beginning, it was pretty difficult. My body wasn’t used to moving that way, and Aikido requires a lot of balance, which I didn’t have. I was forced to learn how to fall and move in a way that accomplished the goals of Aikido. Once I got the hang of it, I had a lot of fun.

Q: If you and your husband fight, do you ever resort to Aikido?

A: Not at home, however it is a great stress reliever at the dojo. Sometimes if we have a fight at home we will take it there and let everything go. We often train to blow off steam.

Q: Have you ever used Aikido outside of self-defense?

A: Kind of. I used to work in downtown Chicago and Aikido helped me when navigating through large crowds. I could just roll off of everyone and cut through really fast.

Q: Do you ever use aikido in the library?

A: I have never used it in the library…. Yet. Q: Are you confident you can protect the library in the event of an attack?

A: I am absolutely certain of it. Single-handedly.

Q: Can you teach us a move?

A: Yes. The last question proceeded with me ‘attacking’ Mrs. Sumner, and her rolling from out of my grip. Overall, Will and I learned a lot about Mrs. Sumner, Aikido, and our safety here at North Shore.

Rules Rant: Dresscode

Sana Hadavi ’18, Sofia Baumann ‘18

If we are being honest, I don’t care much for the dress code anymore. Truthfully, I can look in my closet and find something suitable enough to wear without getting a point. Sure, I wish I could wear a racerback and ripped or frayed jeans without trying to avoid Mr. Cooper, but we have it easy. If you want to discuss the dress codes of schools across the country, they can be described as sexist and unfair and I could discuss them all day. However, our dress code is lenient enough to get around most of the rules.

After reading the dress code for a refresher, it’s not to hard to get around most of the rules. If you want to wear sweatpants, then just wear joggers. Want to wear something with a more open back, keep a sweater just in case. Ripped jeans, try patches. If you have a bra strap sticking out or you’re wearing leggings, then chances are that you won’t really get a point.

To be honest, I’m happy with the dress code we have because it could be so much worse.

Movie Review: Finding Dory Sofia Baumann ’18

This is a movie review. I could have done Nerve but I would have only been commenting on how “edgy” they were trying to be, anything rated R isn’t “school appropriate”, and frankly I’m not sure I’d be a good writer about hero/villain movies, so Suicide Squad was out (I liked most of the bad guys- Jared Leto is a joke but I don’t know anything about Marvel or DC so I’m either an impartial viewer or not informed enough to make a proper review. I haven’t decided yet). With all of the exciting movies coming out at later dates, I am choosing to write about a Disney animated children’s film. Yeah, a children’s movie; Finding Dory to be exact.

Ellen DeGeneres and Ed O’Neill come back to star in Finding Dory as Dory and Marvin. Meanwhile, our favorite fish with the little fin has a different voice actor. Hayden Rolence makes his voice-acting debut as Nemo and does what I think,is a great job. A slew of new characters show up, with actors such as Idris Elba, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell and Kate McKinnon. In summary, Dory makes new friends and reunites with old ones she’s forgotten as she goes on a heartwarming mission to find her parents (where she will inevitably find them by complete accident).

Rotten Tomatoes gave this movie a 94% and IMDb gave it a 7.7/10. I’m going to have to side with Rotten Tomatoes and say it’s a solid 9/10, minus one for predictability; but that’s to be expected, it’s a kids movie. I liked this movie, the plotline is fun, baby dory is adorable, and Destiny is commentary on how whales shouldn’t live in captivity.

The Star Spangled Paradox

Brad O’Connor ’18

As the NFL season begins, San Francisco 49er’s quarterback Colin Kaepernick continues to spur controversy over his recent decision to take a knee during the national anthem. While many are attacking him with critiques and while he continues to lose endorsement deals, Kaepernick continues to kneel. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” said Kaepernick on why he continues to kneel. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.”

Sound familiar?

At the annual ESPY awards in Los Angeles, California, just this past July, NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and Lebron James made a similar call to action. After the Muhammed Ali memorial, the stars stood up, dressed in all black, and spoke of the injustices in today’s society. They talked about the deaths of countless African-Americans, and, finally, NBA finals MVP Lebron James stood up and said, “To do [Muhammed Ali’s] legacy any justice, let’s use this moment as a call to action for all professional athletes to educate ourselves,” Lebron continued in saying, “Let’s explore these issues, speak up, use our influence and renounce all violence.”

Now let’s stop for a second. As I just talked about the scathing critiques and hardships Colin Kaepernick is facing, what do you think the response to these athletes was? Praise. These NBA stars were thanked and glorified for their remarks on continuing the conversation on police brutality.

This poses the question, why? Why did two protests garnering the exact same message and call to action receive opposite responses? Two words: American flag.

If we go back to the statements made by Lebron James and company at the ESPYs, we revel in awe for a few moments before returning to whatever we were doing before. As strong as those statements may have been, they received little to no momentum in the fight for change. They were simply words at an awards ceremony. What Colin Kaepernick has done is truly what the movement needs, as it has actually created some momentum.

As tough as it may be for him, Colin Kaepernick has sparked a flame across not only the NFL but also the sports world in general. He has reopened the conversation on society’s injustices and caused many average Americans to think about an issue they may have previously ignored. Colin Kaepernick has struck the nerve of Americans by targeting the thing they cherish most, their freedom. For as long as this country has been around, the American flag has stood as the symbol for all of the values our country was founded on, including freedom of speech. This is where the paradox comes in. Why are we as a country harassing a man for expressing one of America’s fundamental ideals?

Colin Kaepernick is simply executing his First Amendment rights. I truly believe that Colin Kaepernick, in putting himself out there for the nation either to accept or reject, is doing this for his love of this country. He believes in America, and that’s what is really making his protest speak to me. After all, his protest is so ironically American, how can you not support him? He is literally using America’s greatest symbol of freedom (the flag) to help people see one of America’s greatest flaws.

And for that, Colin Kaepernick, I thank you.

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Opinion

The New School Schedule Robbie Bay ’17

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his year, the Upper School of NSCDS implemented a brand-new schedule, which came as a surprise originally considering I rarely heard any complaints about the old one. When this new schedule was announced last year, boasting a 7 day rotation and 75 minute classes, there was a considerable backlash from many students; however, some students, myself included, decided that they would give the new schedule a chance and see how it would work out. And much to my surprise, there are certainly positives to this new schedule.

First off, I don’t hate 75 minute classes nearly as much as I thought I would. It is taking a little getting used to, but I had great fears about how painful every class would be. At least for me, this year’s classes feel shorter than last year’s “long blocks” despite actually being longer. It also makes free blocks much more enjoyable, giving plenty of time to do some work, or simply chat for a while. The homework load is also more manageable with many one night assignments spread out over two nights.

Now, you might be thinking, “this is supposed to be a “cons” article, so why am I talking about good things?” Well, I just like to give credit where it is due.

But the new schedule has its fair share of problems.

Let’s start with Lunch. Not only is it painfully late, starting at 1:20, but it is also extremely short. Those last 20 minutes of the class before lunch can be described only as painful, and it becomes very difficult to concentrate on what you are supposed to be doing. 35 minutes is enough time to only eat lunch and not much else. In the past, Lunch was a time where you could eat at whatever pace you wanted, talk with friends, and then hang out in the V until 1:30 when your next class started. Now you have to run, and I mean RUN, to the cafeteria in order to beat the line, order your food as fast as possible, devour your food especially quickly if you had to wait in the line, then rush to your next class.

This really is not a very pleasant experience. To quote Richard Santi ’17 on the topic, “They somehow managed to make lunch stressful.”

And despite my above praising of the 7 day rotation because it allows homework to be more spread out, it still causes its fair share of problems. Scheduling appointments outside of school is now much more complicated. Last year it was very simple. Perhaps every Monday you had all your academic classes in the morning, so your appointment could be scheduled any time in the afternoon; now, if you want to schedule an appointment, you have to do the math in your head to find out what day of the rotation it will be and then see if your schedule lines up.

But, let’s say you did that but perhaps left out a certain X day somewhere down the line, so the appointment no longer lines up. As a result you try to reschedule, but you now have no time.

One of the main problems I have with this schedule is the many additions that don’t honestly help that much. The performing arts period is supposed to eliminate the conflict between play rehearsals and sports That would be a great idea, if they happened more often than once every seven days. How is this supposed to help? In a single week you might not even have it. But you will still have sports practice every single day.

At least from my experiences thus far, Advisory seems to

have been hurt by this change. I notice that we are meeting fewer times, and when we do meet, it’s always at an awkward time.

I am willing to say that these issues will get worked out in the future, and the problems I listed above are just “beginning of the year craziness,” but this is something to keep in mind.

Also, it was an odd decision to cut our passing periods. While I understand that things like Snack and CWP are supposed to essentially serve as passing periods, what about the community events?

There is no set time frame for when we need to be seated. I guess it’s just, “get there as fast as you can.” I think the way to go is to take 5 minutes off of each class, because 70 minutes is still plenty of time, and just make those passing periods. Also, take Snack and CWP and just add them on to Lunch, so that time management isn’t as stressful.

Despite what I’ve been writing, I don’t hate the new schedule, but it is important that our criticisms are heard in order to improve the schedule. Plenty of students and faculty agree with me when I say that it needs work. Improving the schedule needs to be a collaborative effort. Now that we have firsthand experience, we know exactly what needs to be changed. We just need to start by listening.

Clubs Update!

Grace Scullion’18

With around 30 clubs in the Upper School, it is hard to keep track of them all, but the DSJ has got you covered! This week, we will be highlighting six fantastic clubs. Try out some of these great clubs our school has to offer. Maybe you will find a new passion, new friends, or a new cause to fight for.

Baking Club had a fantastic first meeting! We got to know each other and we voted on what treat we’ll be making next. It’ll be a type of cookie.

Contact club leaders Joy Pasin and Nina Valenti for more information.

Creative Writing Club met out on the quad for our first meeting and we discussed the future of the club and, overall, had a great time. Contact club leaders Quigg Veach and Nina Valenti for more information.

Community Service Club is going really well this year! We have already had our leadership meeting and are looking forward to getting the entire club together in the upcoming week as we get projects started.

If anyone wants to join throughout the year, feel free! We meet Thursdays during CWP in Ms. Gallaga’s room. See you there!! Contact club leaders Sophie Hiland and Joy Pasin for more information.

Fashion club is just getting started but we have a lot of fashion related activities planned for the year. Contact club leaders Sarah Niemann and Bridgette Ugarte for more information.

For French club, we had a successful first meeting and a great turnout. For our first meeting, we brought in homemade crêpes and toppings to share with everyone. We then spoke for a few minutes in French and we have decided that at our next meeting, we will be playing some games in french. Contact club leaders Meredith McCabe and Maya Valliath for more information.

Tea club had a great turnout at our first meeting! We had tons of food and tea and we all had a blast. We will be meeting during late starts so we are hoping to see more people in the future! Contact club leaders Sana Hadavi and Rachel Schapiro for more information.

And, of course, the Diller Street Journal is always looking for the latest and greatest news from Upper School students!

Opinion

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An Addition to Boy’s Soccer: JV 2

Football: Ever Growing Eight Man Squad

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Jed Grayboys’19

Brad O’Connor ’18

t North Shore Country Day School, fall is a special time. Fall entails many things: homecoming, academic achievement, and most important of all, 8 man football. With North Shore’s second season in the new 8 man football system nearing playoff time, it is hard for one not to acknowledge the turnaround of this historic program.

From being a 1A state title contender just half a decade ago to almost losing the program altogether, the soap opera that is the North Shore football program seems to have found its footing in Wisconsin’s 8 man south division. After a hot start to the season going 3-0 and scoring a whopping 128 points, the Raiders felt confident going into what was to be the toughest game of the season against a historically stout Abundant Life squad. Last year, Abundant Life was nothing but trouble for the Raiders, obliterating them 64-20. However, during the first quarter of this year’s homecoming game, North Shore made it clear this year would be different. The Raiders put up 2 first quarter touchdowns to take the lead 14-8 and set the tone for what would be a physical gridlock. On the offensive side of the ball, Junior Sam Leiter and Seniors Bernie Sander and Pierce Hourihane put on a show, combining for over 30 points. Defensively, Junior Thomas McDowell and Senior Briggs Wright broke up passes and, for the most part, shut down the interior run game.

Unfortunately, North Shore went on to lose the game 56-36. As tough as the loss may have been, it is evident that with both the new leadership at the head coach position and the strong willed seniors, the football program is headed in the right direction. Head coach Erik Cooper has taken this group of guys and created an atmosphere of family. Whether it be the team dinners, the dress up days, or just the off-field mannerisms, one can just admire the integrity this team boasts. After last weekend’s loss to Oakfield, I had a chance to catch up with Junior Linebacker and Fullback Thomas McDowell, DSJ- “How do you feel about the loss?”

Thomas- “It stings” hat is your opinion on white sneakers?

DSJ- “Do you care to comment on the late delay of game penalty that White sneakers were definitely once cool, but it isn’t 1648 ultimately resulted in a 4th and very long that sealed the loss?” anymore. The new trend is clear sneakers- show off the Thomas- “That was tricky, I honestly blame that one on the ref. He was natural you! These also have the added benefit that you can always see not giving us the count where he should have been.” exactly where that pebble in your shoe is, and you get a chance to show DSJ- “Do you think that, after this second loss of the season, you will off your sweet socks and/or athlete’s foot. come back with a certain edge to reclaim victory?”

Yo, Keith! What’s your favorite food from the cafeteria?

Thomas- “I think this will help us get motivated to now come out second I am actually a big fan of the cafeteria’s secret menu- they do a great job in the division.” locally sourcing exotic meats like peacock, lemur, and squirrel (it tastes A gentleman off the field, but certainly not on it, McDowell now better than it sounds), and you know that the extra-secret gold leaf ghost looks to come back stronger than ever against a relatively weak peppers are always organic! To access the secret menu, bring a single Wisconsin Heights team. Looking forward to playoffs, the team looks emu feather to the garden level roof and hold it on your open palm. It to overcome adversity and hopefully make a deep run in the 8 man will float away gently, and the next time you pick up a cafeteria tray you league tournament. I, for one, will be there with them every step of the will find a feather etched into the plastic. Enjoy your meal! way. This rag tag group of students turned Cinderella story has captured Who are you? the hearts of students and teachers alike in all divisions of North Shore.

I am the darkness; I am the wind that blows upon the morning dew; I am With every home game seemingly bringing in more fans than any other ancestor to all and descendant of none; you might hear me whisper in the fall sport combined, the Raider football program is proving its unique halls as you find a question entering your mind, and I will answer: Keith. ability to unify the community at North Shore Country Day School.

Any study tips?

Be sure to wish the guys good luck in their playoff run and surely Mostly just make sure to plan your time and don’t procrastinate. I congratulate them on an already accomplished season. also take advantage of the fact that almonds contain a small portion of tryptophan, a chemical that is known to increase the probability of lucid Favorite fun fact about spiders? and more active dreams. If I’m ever stuck on a problem or stumped Spiders use hydraulic pressure to move their legs! The legs naturally curl into the when writing a speech, I just eat about a hundred almonds and enter a classic “dead spider position”, and when the spider wants to extend them he or meditative sleep. When I wake, the answers have been presented to me she simply pumps fluid into the leg to fill it up. They do this by controlling their heart rate to produce the desired pressure. Another fun fact: there’s a spider so big by the spirits of my own subconscious. Oh, and make sure to annotate it’s named the “birdeater”. Luckily, it’s only found in South America. when you read. he Men’s fall soccer season got off to a tremendous start. The varsity team racked up a tournament win at Notre Dame Prep School, as well as three conference wins against a phenomenal Northridge Prep squad, a very solid Morgan Park team, and an elite Elgin Academy. Led by seniors Andrew Potter, Andrew Conlon, and Kevin Tearhardt, the varsity squad is looking to defend their back-toback conference championships. The JV 1 team now works under the new assistant coach, Guy Andersen, a friendly, yet intense coach with a strong, fiery passion for winning. This team has come together nicely, and has shown progress throughout the season as well. The chemistry between Coach Jones and Coach Guy is undeniable, and promising for the future years of Raider’s Soccer. But, the newest addition to the North Shore Country Day School soccer program is the JV 2 team. This team plays intense matches against teams such as Beacon, and Carmel in an untraditional 7 vs 7 setting. In their first game against Beacon Academy, the JV 2 team played an exceptional game which came down to the wire, as the Beacon team sadly outlasted the short-rostered Raiders in a 5-4 match. After the game, star goalkeeper Ben Asher reflected on what being part of this team meant to him, and what 7 v 7 was like. “It’s a great experience. We are a great group of guys, who really care about each other, and we are all working to get better. I just love these guys, and we all love each other. We would do anything for one another, and we all put everything on the line to win,” Asher said. When asked about his feelings of 7 vs 7, Asher said “7 v 7 is really fun! The teams are small which gives us lots of freedom to run around. It also makes the relationship of the members of the team very intimate, because we have to build as much chemistry amongst ourselves as possible,” Asher said.

Ask Keith

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DSJ Editors-in-Chief Connor Watrous ’17 Cara Savin ’18 Executive Editors Owen Hiland ’18 Brad O’Connor ’18 Will O’Connor ’18 Staff Writers Joy Pasin ’18 Eli Kraus ’18 Sana Hadavi ’18 Sofia Baumann ’18 Grace Scullion ’18 Betsey Freiburger ’19 Justin Hartley ’19 Jed Grayboys ’19 Rachel Block ’19 Sponsors Ms. Ester Safford Ms. Lauren Hernandez