Manal Ahmed, Editor-in-Chief Becky DeAcetis, Editor-in-Chief Lola Akinlade, Online Editor Demi Glusic, Online Editor Hannah Hutchins, Features Editor Alo Garcia Escobar, Opinion Editor Jack Kosowski, Sports Editor Maria Thames, Photo Editor Olivia Griffith, Layout Editor Rachel Benner Maggie Burnetti Anna DeNoia Rachel Dudley Luke Ekdahl Allie Goldman Jenna Grayson Abbey Humbert Ben Kanches Breezy Listman Kevin Loumeau Molly Magill Elizabeth Manley Colleen Mullins TJ Murbach Sam Nelson Kyle Patterson Tia Petrzilka Matthew Price Georgia Sampson Kelly Shinnick Matthew Smith Brandon Simberg Maya Trott Paige Ward Maddie Wasser Savanna Winiecki
the
Rea der s
Letter to
2016-2017 Staff Listing
Dear fellow DOI lovers, As you may have realized by now, DOI has made a transition. We have begun initiating themes for each of our issues. This allows us to delve further into the different aspects that make up this school. Now, for the drum roll. For this issue, our focus is a topic that may sometimes be overlooked: ART and all the people it touches. Within our school, we try to be as inclusive as we can. There are numerous amazing clubs, programs, sports and activities dedicated to fulfilling the interests of every student here. However, in a school as large as LHS, we tend to over exemplify sports through the announcements and other forms of communication, and many artists are left underrepresented. Beyond this, there are so many different types of art: how can we possibly represent all of them? Well, that is where DOI comes in. Our hope with this issue is to do what the school generally can’t: represent as many artists as we can and hope to change the traditional views on art throughout the school. There are many assumptions that come with being an artist: that only drawing is considered art or that you need to have a backup plan if you are thinking of majoring in an artistic field. Here is the gist of our message in response to this: art is NOT a pastime or a hobby; it is the livelihood and hope for the future of many. It allows people to express themselves in ways they may otherwise be unable to. There are thousands of ways for people to do this and art is just one of them. And if you’d like a free pen, come to room 259 and tell Mr. Gluskin what sport Shelby Wilson plays and what kind of art she practices. Well then, without further ado, sit back, relax, and enjoy our illustrious issue.
Sincerely,
Michael Gluskin, Faculty Adviser Olivia Griffith Layout editor
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact us at doi@lhswildcats.org April 27, 2017
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Drops of Ink
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Art Funding at LHS
Photo by Luke Ekdahl
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Photo by Lola Akinlade
Photo by Matthew Price
News Chinese classes canceled
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Chinese classes have been cut from the D128 curriculum due to a lack of enrollment and will now be moving to an online course.
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Despite national cuts, LHS art funding still strong*
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Take a look at the art budget at LHS and how -- or if -- it relates to the recent proposed changes on the national level.
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Feature What’s Trending & What’s Happening*
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This month’s trends include a spring fashion theme, while What’s Happening looks at local places to see art in the Lake County area.
9-11 No Home in Our Home
This issue’s staff editorial discusses Drops of Ink’s belief that the school should add more color and art.
Ode to art* Every so often, people get caught up in everyday life and forget to appreciate the beauty in the world around us, including art.
My B.A. is not BS* One staff member explains why her arts major isn’t a joke and why she doesn’t need a backup plan.
thrown around, but what is it and what does it mean?
Nate’s Niche*
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A profile on junior Nate Sweitzer, including his art, what art means to him and how he grew up with art.
16-17 Applying to Fine Arts school*
Are sports tryouts fair?
Two staff members debate on sports tryouts, and whether or not they are actually reasonable.
Sports 20-21 Artistic athletes*
Applying to major in fine arts in college can be a long process; here are the necessary steps in the application process.
18-19 Unappreciated Arts at LHS*
A look at LHS students who are involved with both sports and the arts, and how they balance the two.
Origami, makeup and K-pop are three art forms that may not receive enough recognition at LHS.
*=Focus Story Cover artwork by Grace Lynch (top left), Sophia Rego (top right), Britt Houser (bottom left) and Sarah Leonard (bottom right). Focus Cover artwork by Hannah Hutchins, photo by Maria Thames Table of Contents by Matthew Price Contents
Opinion LHS needs more art*
falsehood of fake 25 The In today’s current political climate, the term “fake news” has been
Homelessness does exist in Lake County; read a few stories of people who find themselves in this situation.
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Ode to art
9-11 No Home in Our Home
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Wildcat Stats
Notable statistics from every spring sport thus far into their respective seasons.
Drops of Ink
District 128 discontinues Chinese program By Colleen Mullins
Photo by Colleen Mullins Students who signed up for the Chinese program during the 2017-18 school year had to find an additional class to take in place of Chinese. After receiving course requests for the 2017-18 school year, District 128 decided to discontinue the Chinese program due to low numbers signed up for the course. Students enrolled in the course for next school year received a letter explaining why the district made the decision to cut Chinese from course selection. This school year, Chinese I and Chinese II Honors were combined, as well as Chinese III Honors and Chinese IV Honors. Freshman Maeve Rattin, a Chinese I student, said that Chinese teacher Ms. Lu Qing Zhao splits up the class to deal with combined classes: “There’s a lot more independent work than work with the teacher. She’ll talk to Chinese I and teach us stuff for half of the time and then give us an assignment to work on. And then she’ll talk to Chinese II about what they’re learning while we’re working on our independent assignment.” Only 19 students registered for the course next school year, which is lower than the minimum number needed to continue the course, so the district concluded that the Chinese program at both Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School should be discontinued. Junior Julian Bok is an AP Chinese student and is feeling “a mix of shock and disappointment, mainly because Chinese is a very unique language to learn and it’s disappointing because incoming students don’t have the opportunity to learn a different culture that they may not have learned before.” Low numbers in the Chinese program are not new to LHS; classes have been combined in past years and the enrollment rate has been decreasing. When Bok was a freshman, Chinese I and II were separate class periods while Chinese III, IV, and AP Chinese were combined. Bok recalls Chinese I and II declining in number while the upper levels were consistent
News
from year to year. Mrs. Jennifer Goettsche, supervisor of international languages at LHS, explained that there weren’t enough students to make a combined class again next year. A very small amount of students registered for Chinese I next year, meaning in later years, the upper-level classes would have a low student number as well. In place of the course at school, students will be offered online courses paid for by the district to continue to grow and understand the Chinese language. The online courses differ by level and are solely for students who have already taken a Chinese class through District 128 during the 2016-2017 school year. “The district is paying for a two-year section so if [the students] were in Chinese I this year, they’ll actually get Chinese II, III, and then AP if they want,” explained Mrs. Goettsche. “We want to support them and give them the opportunity to finish out their sequence.” There will be tests and finals on the online course, as well as interactive and speaking activities. To prevent cheating, students will have to sit with a teacher at school while taking the online tests. Mrs. Goettsche said that if it’s possible, the school will try to get all of the students who signed up for Chinese next year into the same study hall so they can work on the online course. Rattin said that she is going to take the online course: “I am taking the online class because I don’t want to waste a year of Chinese and start a whole new language again...I already did a whole year of Chinese and I want four foreign language credits in one class. I don’t want colleges to see I had one year of Chinese and I dropped it and then started another class. I don’t want colleges to see that; I want them to see that I could stick to something for four years and continue it.”
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Drops of Ink
Despite national art budget cuts, LHS art funding still strong By Maya Trott
Photo by Luke Ekdahl Many schools across the nation continually fight for the funding of art departments. However, for LHS, the Fine Arts department receives a large budget that keeps the programs in place and running strong. In many schools, funding for arts is a contentious subject. For LHS, the Fine Arts Department is supplied with a large budget to keep the arts programs alive. The Fine Arts Department at LHS includes art, music, and theatre. Every February, Mr. Dustin Helvie, the Fine Arts Department Supervisor, has to submit a budget for approval. Within this budget, there are subsets of different categories that the money is given towards. “We have supply budgets, so that is like our daily supplies like music, valve oil, rosin, folders, [those] kinds of things. So stuff that we’re using every single day. And that also goes for art supplies [too], so film, paper, paint, clay,” Mr. Helvie explained. Other categories in the budget include capital equipment, which is equipment that costs over $1,000, and repair for items that need to be fixed. Professional development, which allows teachers to attend conferences, and professional services, which allows the department to hire professionals such as piano tuners and accompanists, are also areas included in the budget. In addition, there are separate budgets for largescale productions such as the musical and Orchesis. The reason for separate budgets is that there is only a certain amount of money allotted to each area. “The district gets audited occasionally, so we’ve got to make sure that we have kind of all of our t’s crossed, our i’s dotted, to make sure that we’re taking, you know, if this is an actual supply that’s been taken from supply budget,” Mr. Helvie elaborated. Even though LHS is able to fund an art department of its size, this is not always the case locally or nationally. Chicago Public Schools
Focus News
(CPS) often do not have enough funding to support comprehensive art departments. Recently, Chance the Rapper, who is a Chicago native and attended CPS schools, gave a donation of $1 million dollars to CPS to help fund art programs, according to Rolling Stone magazine. Following Chance’s pledge, Chicago Bulls President Michael Reinsdorf announced the team will also donate $1 million dollars to CPS, said the Chicago Tribune. Not only are arts in schools often underfunded, but there have been many worries among the public about national art funding as well. In mid-March, President Donald Trump released his proposed budget for national spending. Within this budget, many cuts were proposed that would affect different programs that supports the arts. According to The Washington Post, the budget “calls for the elimination of four independent cultural agencies — the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.” This would affect many groups, such as the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art. President Trump decided to allocate more money to defense spending, and cut the budgets of these arts programs. Congress has not yet voted upon the budget. Mr. Helvie believes LHS is lucky to have the funding that it does: “I can tell you that we’re very, very fortunate with our funding. The district is very supportive of what we do and that also speaks highly to the board because they value arts education in our community.”
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Drops of Ink
What’s Trending : Spring edition By Manal Ahmed
graphic t-shirts embroidered jeans
joggers
denim jackets
yellow accessories
bomber jackets
reflector sunglasses
patches
boat shoes
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1. The Grayslake Arts Alliance is hosting an art show at the Grayslake Heritage Center (164 Hawley St.) on April 22. This new group of artists is “dedicated to promoting and bringing the arts to our community through education, participation, and development,” according to their website.
2. ArtWauk is an event in downtown Waukegan that takes place on the third Saturday of every month. This month’s event has passed, but the next event is May 20. Started in 2005, this movement is designed to fill empty spaces in Waukegan with art, and encourage artist participation in the community.
What's Happening:
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places to see art
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By Molly Magill and Kelly Shinnick
4. Artist at Heart, (340 N. Milwaukee Ave.) located in Libertyville, offers a variety of art opportunities, from open studio, where one can work on their individual art with no sitting fee, to guided classes and summer camps. Classes are offered in painting and drawing during evenings, as well as guided workshop classes with a focus on a specific painting.
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3. Aside from displaying the work of local artists in the historic building, the David Adler Center (1700 N. Milwaukee Ave.) offers classes and workshops from how to draw “Star Wars” images to still life drawings with charcoal. To apply to be a part of the Festival of the Arts, a two-day showcase in August, submit artwork by April 30.
Grayslake Arts Alliance photo courtesy of grayslakeheritagecenter.com ArtWauk photo courtesy of theyoujournal.com Adler photo by Molly Magill Artist at Heart photo by Kelly Shinnick Focus Feature
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Drops of Ink
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H On o M h Eo m Le Ei n S o Su r N h oEm eS S b y l o l a a k i n l a d e a n d s a m n e l s o n
layout by becky deacetis
Living in a privileged and sheltered area like Libertyville, homelessness is something that very few people experience or are even aware of in our community. In fact, less than one percent of LHS students are affected by homelessness, according to the school’s 2016 Illinois Report Card. For many students, it is likely that the most interaction they have had with homelessness is on the streets of Chicago but rarely, if ever, in the suburban town of Libertyville. According to the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless, 299 people were found homeless in Lake County last year — there are 299 people in Lake County who are struggling on a day-to-day basis to find a roof over their heads. The National Health Care for the Homeless Council defines homelessness as “an individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets; stay in a shelter, mission, single room occupancy facilities, abandoned building or vehicle; or in any other unstable or non-permanent situation.” After talking to several homeless people at the Libertyville PADS shelter, one idea expressed remained constant — homelessness is not a crime. Many of the people we spoke to were worried how readers would perceive them, in the way much of society has: with condemnation. So, before reading these stories, we encourage you to open your eyes and look at each individual not just as someone who is homeless, but as a person with their own story, intrinsic background and invaluable experience. Although all of these people share the key commonality of being homeless, homelessness is not meant to be a defining identifier. While we did interview people who are homeless, our purpose of focusing on homeless people is to show a crucial part of our community that often is ignored. Just like all of us, their experience with the world varies, and being homeless is just one of the many aspects of their layered lives. *Note: These stories were conducted through PADS Lake County (Providing Advocacy, Dignity & Shelter). PADS has been around since 1972 and fights to combat homelessness with respect and compassion. Their goal is to set homeless people on a path to a stable housing environment and self-sufficiency. Additionally, we only included the first names of the homeless people we interviewed for privacy reasons and concerns.
Feature
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Drops of Ink
Boots photo by Sam Nelson
r a ndy
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Randy’s boots; Tina.
Randy was born in Libertyville and graduated from Libertyville High School during the 1970’s. He has held various jobs ranging from a paperboy to a landscaper. Now to pass the time, Randy reads every day and spends time in Cook Library, but as he gets older and older, it has been harder for him to read the text in books. Recently Randy busted his knee and that was a moment that opened his eyes to the fact that he is getting older. When asked what he likes most about PADS, Randy responded with Laying on the mat with a pillow. I sleep on the cement, picnic tables and hard wooden stuff — it sucks after awhile… It gets cold. You can’t sleep — your feet get
numb — I hate it…Why did I start coming here? Well, gee just because I didn’t wanna sleep in my car all the time.
tina
Tina is 31 years old and has been struggling to find a home for a while now. Tina has been having trouble sleeping and eating, and she struggles with mental illness and alcohol addiction. Yet, despite these hardships, Tina has maintained a positive outlook with the recent help of the PADS organization, and she is currently waiting to get an apartment approved.
carmen
on that one because I lost both of them. Now the only one that had responsibility was my Aunt Rosemary, but I left her house and I wasn’t thinking. All this time when people always tell me in my head, ‘Do what’s right, don’t do what’s wrong. Think positive. Stay positive.’ I’m thinking all over again that I’m going through more problems [now] than I [was] going through [then]. I’ve been shaking, I’ve been having migraines, I’ve almost fell, but somebody caught me when I was at PADS. I told this friend of mine that all these people in PADS tell me to stay positive and think positive — don’t let people put you down… I’m positive because I’ve kept myself going. Every time I’m out on the street, I feel like I’m doing it all over again. But, I know what to do. I just keep on keeping my head up and stay[ing] strong. God is watching me and he’s helping.
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In the past I had a rough time… I’ve been bouncing from houses to houses in the past and I’m like, okay — now it’s a brand new day. Here we go again. Same old day, but it’s March. I’m starting all over from the past from now. I’m thinking all these people have been telling me, ‘Don’t give up.’ When I was in Vista Hospital, I went in there by myself. They didn’t force me, I needed help because I had depression, anxiety; I had been hearing voices [and] I’ve been seeing spirits. I tried not to do suicide either. I’ve been doing that (attempting suicide) and it was kind of wrong. I wasn’t ready to be alive. I wanted to go upstairs (in heaven) where my mom is… My mother and my grandmother are up there. My mom got shot in the back of the head in downtown Waukegan. My grandmother passed away too… So, I had a rough time
When the manager of Liberty Arms, a senior center in Wauconda, raised the monthly cost of living fees, Carmen, at age 71, became homeless. Besides the constant search for a job, every day is different for Carmen. While money was Carmen’s main barrier in finding a place to live, she firmly believes that money isn’t the most important thing in the world and should not influence decisions. I was living at Liberty Arms in Wauconda for 10 years. So this manager took over managing the building and one day she told me I had to pay $800 a month. My income was only $900 at the time. I told her I couldn’t pay the $800. So she took me to court and I told the judge, well, I’ll be out at the end of the month, and that’s how I became homeless, this woman (manager) … she was mean — she didn’t care. I don’t like people that think money is important. She knew how much I was getting a month, and she got me cut off… I don’t
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care what she does to me, but elderly people older than me? I couldn’t see it… I went to the Salvation Army and they helped me. They gave me money for rent, to deposit, for food, for clothes, anything. And I didn’t even have to pay them back. There was an elderly women I got to know in Chicago too, and she helped me. And when I got my apartment, I went back to pay this woman and she asked me what I was doing. I told her I was helping people and she said that I had already paid her back by helping people.
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Drops of Ink
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melvin
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Twelve years ago, Melvin Ford went through a program that PADS called The Help Center. Someone asked him if he wanted to work the front desk, and from then on, his passion for working with people who are homeless bloomed. Prior to his work with homeless people, Melvin had worked for the VA Medical Center as a psychiatric nurse and assistant. Currently, Melvin works as the Outreach Program Manager at PADS. His job is to reach out to the homeless community, help enroll them in PADS programs and eventually get them off the streets. Unlike the other stories, Melvin is not homeless, but rather someone who has found comfort working with homeless people.
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I realized how so many of us, and especially myself, took life for granted. Tomorrow is not promised… You have so many that are hopeless [and] in despair, and that kills their motivation and everything and so you start to help people. Then it becomes a real joy when you’re working with the ones who are trying to help themselves and you see some good things happening. There’s a lot of rewards. For me, it’s a great job. I enjoy going out and making the smallest thing happy, bringing a smile, building a relationship, cutting through
the barriers of a relationship…The possibility of housing, health care. You know, what are their needs? It’s the basic needs… once we identify those needs, we can work on them. Joy comes from each accomplishment… Being non-judgemental helps me in my everyday life. Not taking anything personal here. I’m dealing with someone that is suffering. They are angry on the inside, but not at me… sometimes we can lose our way, but never take things personal. I need to be able to hear what they are trying to tell me and what they are saying through the anger…These are living skills.
jory
Jory came to PADS as a place of refuge after a tragic fire in her apartment building left her homeless. Jory has a son in high school named Skylar and explains that he brings her so much joy in life. She currently works at Salvation Army and lives in Waukegan. [Last month], there was a fire in our apartment complex and we can’t go back, they said it’s no good. The fire department posted and said that we can’t stay there. This was [on a] Saturday. We had an apartment and everything — a two bedroom apartment and I have a job and everything — I have a car. I had an apartment [on that] Saturday, and we just came home from work and they said there was a fire and they said we may be able to come back Monday. The Red Cross came out, and I said I had nowhere to go. I said I had a car, but I don’t wanna sleep in my car… They gave us a debit card for $530. So, we went and got a hotel for a week… that was like $300 of the money they gave to us. The other 200
was enough for us to eat at fast food restaurants and put gas in the car. I went to work all week. My landlord called me and said, ‘You can’t go back.’ I was trying to prepare myself because I thought they might say that… I can’t end up in the streets. She even told me you shouldn’t have gone to the hotel for a week. I have to make sure I have somewhere to go. I can’t end up in the streets because I don’t have a relative to stay with or nothing. I have nobody that is going to put me up for the night. I have to make sure I have somewhere to go… I asked at work if I could just take my two-week vacation because I’m going to be homeless … At least I know it’s not my fault — there was nothing I could have done about it.
Many people come to PADS seeking a temporary, stable place to stay. Homelessness is not defined as criminal activity, despite the stereotypical tendencies to place people within that category. Homelessness is simply a human being with a lack of stable shelter.
Melvin; Jory (wearing a hat) with her son. Photos by Lola Akinlade Feature
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Drops of Ink
Apprecia t ing
Focus Cover
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Drops of Ink
Nate's Niche
While you are running the lake for P.E. or for a sport at LHS, you can see a map of all the fish that are swimming around in Butler Lake. When you are ordering a hot dog while watching little league baseball games at Butler Park, you can see a mosaic of a baseball player sliding into a base. You might not realize this, but this artwork is by junior Nate Sweitzer.
An Artist Since Adolescence Starting as a young boy, under the wing of his dad, Sweitzer showed the signs of artistic talent. “Nate was making good drawings by the time he was 3 years old. He drew some terrific knights and gorillas,” explained Mr. Randy Sweitzer, Nate’s dad. Sweitzer explained that, “From a very young age I was surrounded by art and I was interested in it, basically since I was 4.” Sweitzer was 3 when his little brother, Ike, was born. While his mom was taking care of Ike, Sweitzer spent most of his time with his dad, who was a freelance illustrator at the time, in his art studio. “I would be working at my board and Nate would sit on my left knee, study[ing] everything I was doing, drawing his version of what I was drawing with his own pencil and paper,” expressed Mr. Sweitzer. “Instead of video games, he was playing on Photoshop at 4 years old.” Sweitzer began to learn how to draw by watching his parents draw different things. “He would ask us all the time to draw this and draw that. He would just absorb everything we did and soon he wanted to be drawing or painting his own images,” explained Mr. Sweitzer. In elementary school, Sweitzer drew a painting that his dad explained was a walking gorilla. It remains Mr. Sweitzer’s favorite piece done by Sweitzer. “It was a spontaneous marker rendering and created totally out of his imagination,” said Mr. Sweitzer. “It came home crumpled up in a grocery bag, buried under a bunch of worksheets and whatnot. His teacher obviously didn’t have quite the same appreciation for it as we do.” In fourth grade, Sweitzer entered one of his first art competitions at Copeland Manor School, which involved designing a bookmark; he received second place.
Words About His Works One can see some of Sweitzer’s work all throughout Libertyville today. He designed and created a map of all the fish in Butler Lake for a friend’s Eagle Scout project. Copies of the map are placed outside of the woodchip trails around Butler Lake. Also, at Butler Park, for his own Eagle Scout project, Sweitzer created two mosaics of baseball players. According to Sweitzer, he
Focus Feature
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By Matt Smith Photos By Maria Thames Photo Illustration By Nate Sweitzer Layout By Kevin Loumeau
and some of his friends had to cut up pieces of tile to match the design of the players. “Basically, the [materials] came in square tiles and I had to cut up the pieces in random shapes. [Nate] already had the mosaic laid out on a piece of paper, and I just helped him slide in where the pieces go in. We didn’t do any of the art work; we did the brunt work,” explained junior Eddie Moy, a friend of Sweitzer’s who helped him with his mosaics last summer. According to Sweitzer, he could have been paid a lot of money by the village to create those mosaics, but he did it for free. People will also be seeing his work a lot next year during the high school’s centennial celebration because he won the design contest to create a logo for it. The centennial celebration, honoring LHS’s 100th year, will occur around homecoming of next school year. Out of all of his accomplishments, Sweitzer said that his biggest is the Gold Key-American Visions Award as part of the 2017 Midwest Region at Large National Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. It was adjudicated in New York City and will be judged against the other four American Visions Nominees for a chance to win the National American Visions Medal for the Midwest Region At-Large. In addition, the work will be reviewed by a different panel which will determine if he receives the distinction of National Silver or Gold Medal. “It’s the most recognition I’ve ever gotten,” expressed Sweitzer. For that contest, he designed a painting entitled “Musk Oxen at the Ready,” which he says is his favorite piece: “Usually when I work on art, I really like freak out on details and work on it for a long time, but [for] that, I was forced to do [this piece] in 45 minutes,” explained Sweitzer. “So it really allowed for more expression and less nitpicking, and I think that’s important for a good experience.” According to Moy, all of Sweitzer’s friends and peers think his artwork is amazing and give him very strong feedback. Sweitzer also enjoys taking art classes through the school, a lot of them with Mr. Ray Gossell, an art teacher at LHS; those classes have included drawing, painting and two-dimensional art. “His ability is way above a typical high school student; he’s thoughtful, like I said, [and] he’s technically sound. He understands how to create art, he understands what he wants to say with his art, and he does the work necessary to make it happen,” stated Mr. Gossell Like many others, Mr. Gossell has trouble deciding which of Sweitzer’s pieces is his favorite: “I’ll give you the politically correct answer, I like them all because each one is unique, each one has uniqueness,” said Mr. Gossell. “But I can tell you I like how he paints, I like the way he builds up his colors and services when he actually creates his artwork. He does that in everything he does; he has a specific style about how he works with the media.”
Drops of Ink
Finding Inspiration With all of the art that Sweitzer does, it can sometimes be hard to find inspiration for a painting, but he said his biggest inspiration comes from his dad: “He’s the one I have the most interaction with… since he was an art teacher, he has a good perspective.” Since Sweitzer is an advanced artist for his age, according to Mr.Gossell, it can be hard to help him in some ways. “I give him [ideas] and I let him go, that’s what I do, because he is a pretty talented young man,” said Mr. Gossell, laughing. Sweitzer and his dad use art as a way to bond with each other. “We talk art, share cool things we see, and critique each other’s work,” explained Mr. Sweitzer. “It is so much fun to see Nate explore and enjoy different mediums: drawing, painting, mosaic, printmaking, digital.” In addition, Mr. Sweitzer has his own art ability as well, and he claimed that Sweitzer has yet to surpass him as a better artist in some aspects. “He is [better] at certain things, that’s for sure. About all I have over him at this
Focus Feature
point is experience and having seen so much more than he has,” Mr. Sweitzer explained. “But he’s a sponge, and he’s quickly building his visual reference library. I learn a lot from him.” Other than the accomplishments and the bonding with his dad, Sweitzer credits art as a big stress reliever throughout the day for him. He balances academics, varsity track and cross country while still working on his art. “It’s good to have a period during the day to let everything go and not worry about other classes and stuff,” said Sweitzer. But what he enjoys most about art is his ability to express himself: “There’s not always a lot of outlets to be able to actually express yourself, so it’s a good outlet to let some of your feelings through,” explained Sweitzer. “I encourage other people to take art as an elective or at least take an elective, instead of just core classes and a study hall,” expressed Sweitzer. “I think it’s important to be able to express something unique about you and bring something creative to the table.”
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Originally taken as a photo by Maria Thames, Sweitzer was asked to design himself based off the photo; this was the result.
For his Eagle Scout Project, Sw eitzer designed two mosaics tha t portray baseball players. These two pieces, the other pic tured above can be found at the concession stands at Butler Park in Libertyville. Drops of Ink
Applying to Fine Arts Schools By Rachel Benner Layout and Illustrations by Kevin Loumeau
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usic majors’ processes begin with sending in a specific music application, along with a video of the applicant playing their instrument. Students begin to apply around October or November. Senior Meghan Mullins, who will be playing the piano and cello and majoring in music education next year at St. Olaf College, explained how it works: “If you apply to the college first and get in [academically], then you can still go [for music], but if you get into the music program and not the college, then you can’t really go.” Written applications ask for several components: teacher recommendations, awards/medals won in the past, music-related essay questions and every piece ever performed. “That was crazy, it was so much work,” Mullins exclaimed. “I had to submit a repertoire list of everything I have played. I had to do all my piano pieces, all my chamber music, all my orchestra pieces and cello solos. I had to dig up all my programs and remember everything I had done.” Another aspect of the application is a video performance. Students are expected to play different pieces on the video so that schools will understand their skill. “A lot of the schools want the different eras [of music] because they have different techniques and styles,” Mullins added. Once admissions offices review sent-in work, they either accept, reject or call back students. Callbacks result in live auditions held at the campus. Live auditions require a lot of preparation and practice, and some schools request sight reading at the audition. On campuses, colleges will allow prospective students to meet with teachers they could potentially have if they attend there. This gives students better insight as to which school is right for them. Callbacks occur anywhere from January to March. The majority of music majors will hear back from their schools around late March or early April.
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heater majors are required to academically apply to the school first, with an audition following their acceptance. To start the process, students must apply to the schools they wish to attend and then sign up for auditions. Auditions can take place at each school or are available at National Unified Auditions, an event in Chicago, L.A., and New York where applicants can audition for multiple schools at once. Future musical theater major at Seton Hill University and senior Johanna Nimmer described the common tryout: “Each audition is kind of the same thing. There is a monologue portion, most of them just wanted one monologue...and then you do two songs. They aren’t full songs, just about two-to-three bars. Then there is a dance portion, which they teach you on the spot.” Musical theater auditions are different than theatre auditions. Musical theater requires songs and dances to be performed, as opposed to regular theater auditions, which are heavy on monologues, which are prolonged, solo speeches. With so many students hoping to go into theater programs, it is important to note that the more schools applied to, the better. “First of all, you have to apply to way more schools than normal,” Nimmer explained. “I think most people at [LHS] apply to five or six [colleges]. I had to apply to 16.” Given the process, it takes longer to hear back from schools. On average, theater majors are granted acceptances around late March or early April.
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Applying for college can be a long and difficult process, but applying to a fine arts college can require an even more extensive process, complete with auditions, interviews, portfolios and lots of waiting. Focusing in on four categories — theater, dance, musical instruments and art — these are the steps it takes to apply to a college for fine arts. Please note that while all colleges have different methods, these are the most common ones.
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uture dance majors have a similar multi-step process to be admitted. “You have to figure out you want to dance pretty early on because most schools want you to apply academically before you can apply for dance,” senior Kayla Fiore, who plans on majoring in dance this fall, explained. “It’s like two different applications.” Oftentimes, if a student is admitted into the dance program but not academically, the school will change their decision to accept the student, Fiore mentioned. The steps begin by sending in a résumé, complete with either a photo or video of the applicant dancing, headshots, and occasionally additional essays or a video that answers provided questions. Résumés ask questions about the student’s passion for dance and dance-related programs they have participated in. If a college is happy with the senior’s qualifications, they send an invitation for an audition. Auditions are normally held at the school, but colleges can send representatives to big cities to audition there, accommodating prospective students. Common auditions begin with a ballet section, followed by contemporary dances and then solo routines. In between each portion, cuts occur. All dances are taught there, except the solo dance, which should be prepared in advance. If the prospective student is not cut by the end, some colleges may want interviews with the remaining dancers, according to Fiore. The procedure can be quite lengthy, around a few months total, similar to the theatre process. “I started doing auditions in October/November, so I had to be done applying to schools by October,” Fiore stated. “The process starts early on, and it continues [like that] for a while… [which means] you are hearing back around March.”
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he main aspect to an art application is the portfolio. Senior Maddie Ellis, who will be majoring in illustration, described the common portfolio. “Each college is different, but the standard [portfolio] is [that] they want you to have 12-24 pieces of art that you are satisfied with,” she said. Works of art are to be submitted electronically. 2D artwork is scanned through a machine so that it can be available on the computer; 3D art is photographed and photography is already on the computer, so it can be easily submitted. Ellis reflected on the sequence of the artwork in the portfolio: “The order is really important, too. It’s like, your second-to-best [piece is] first, and then your best is last, so that it makes a good impression. It’s strategic.” Art teachers at the schools being visited assist with arranging the portfolio. Colleges also provide admissions counselors that can help approve portfolios before they are turned in. Although there are different sections to each art school, it is suggested students apply to the college that is their overall biggest interest. Switches between different art majors are always acceptable, so the major chosen isn’t permanent.
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Drops of Ink
Jos ie B a rn ab e e
Jos eph rick
ly R obe rt s
De r
Ca r
Unappreciated Arts of LHS By Kelly Shinnick
Photos by Maddie Wasser
Layout by Olivia Griffith
When you hear the word “art,” certain images tend to come to mind. Thoughts of paintings, ballet, sculptures and music may typically fill your brain with color and creativity. But there are lots of other unique versions of art that we never seem to recognize, and some of these arts are going unacknowledged at LHS. There are various types of art here, such as origami, cosmetology, and K-pop, that many students aren’t aware of and that some students may not even think of as art.
Cosmetology Makeup, like any other art, takes skill, practice and creativity. At LHS, several students are hoping to go into the field of cosmetology, including senior Carly Roberts. Next year, Roberts will attend Empire Beauty School in Arizona to follow her dream of working in makeup for the rest of her life. “I’m starting a course in September that focuses all on prosthetics and making life casts for people and everything like that. That is my passions and I want to do that so bad,” shared Roberts. Cosmetology has many different varieties, such as stage makeup and special effects makeup. Roberts hopes to work with special effects makeup in her future. Already, she has placed sixth in state for face painting with a realistic skull. To Roberts, makeup is an art because of its variety. Describing the ability to share her art with another person, she explained that the opportunity to “make them feel the
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most beautiful they can feel… it’s such an amazing thing to be able to do.” Cosmetology takes time and effort, something that Roberts believes people tend to fail to recognize. Additionally, she stressed the importance of accepting your own self: “I can fully express myself through makeup like, you know what, I want to look this way, this is how I want people to perceive me,” she described. But Roberts also stressed that “natural beauty is one of the most important things.” Cosmetology is a unique art form that means the world to Roberts. “If you love what you’re doing, you’re not going to work a day in your life and [cosmetology is] what I want to prosper in and do with my life,” she concluded, adding that “you’ve got to get out there and try it and yeah, you’re going to mess up a few times and it’s not going to look good, but I mean, it’s so worth trying.”
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If you love what you’re doing, you’re not going to work a day in your life and cosmetology is what I want to prosper in and do with my life... you’ve got to get out there and and try it... -Carly Roberts Origami
Origami is paper folding to create shapes; artists fold paper without cutting, gluing, or ripping the paper. Though it sounds simple, this art requires a remarkable amount of patience and concentration that end with beautiful results. Origami can be created with a variety of papers, ranging from bright colors to complicated patterns, making the art even more attractive. Derrick Joseph, a junior at LHS, began to fold oragami when he read “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” in fourth grade. The tale is about a girl affected by radiation who sets a goal to fold a thousand paper cranes in the hope that it may somehow heal her. The teacher
K-Pop Dance is recognized across the globe as an art form, but K-pop does not tend to be acknowledged as the art that it is. Korean popular music, or, as it is commonly referred to, K-pop, originated in South Korea. K-pop is a music genre that consists of a mixture of electronic, R&B, pop, rock and hip-hop music. Though many students may believe they’ve never seen or heard of K-pop, “Gangnam Style,” a K-pop song, was the first video to reach over a billion views on YouTube in December 2012. Additionally, members of the K-pop club were featured in a video during the Turnabout assembly. Stacy Zeng, a member of the LHS K-pop club, explained that “compared to American pop
requested that the class make a paper crane, sparking Joseph’s interest, and transforming it into a passion. “Out of the whole school, I think that I’m one of the only few people that actually practices origami on a regular basis and actually respects it as an art,” Joseph said. To Joseph, origami is an art because of its versatility, and he explained how “you can fold it in 3D, you can fold it in 2D… you can make murals out of it.” His favorite type of origami is geometric origami: “I really like the mathematical symbolism of origami, so I like folding geometric sculptures.”
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music, there’s a lot of variety to it, so there’s a lot of different forms of it, which I think is really artistic because it shows how you can express yourself in many different ways.” K-pop club was formed this semester by junior Josie Barnabee. Though K-pop does not receive much recognition at LHS, “globally K-pop is really big. There’s K-pop conventions in the U.S. every single year,” Zeng noted. “There’s a certain image that goes with it, which I think is its own unique type of art,” added Zeng, speaking of how she is attracted to the variety in K-pop. The style of dance allows Zeng to express herself, and she finds that to be something incredibly influential to herself and others.
Drops of Ink
Artistic
athletes
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By Ben Kanches & Kyle Patterson
Photos by Paige Ward
Layout by Manal Ahmed
t’s easy to think of athletes and artists as two separate entities. Both can seem like polar opposites of the other. While it’s not necessarily common, there are people who bridge the gap between sports and artistry. One might even be surprised to see just how many athletes are also passionate about the arts. The following students manage to bridge this gap.
tyler jost Football may be his biggest passion, but senior Tyler Jost also has a love for choir, which he joined last semester. Jost may not have as many years of choir behind him as he does football, a sport he has played since second grade, but he has always enjoyed singing since he was young. “I love to sing,” said Jost, in a typed response. “In the car or at home!” What encouraged Jost to join choir was the people he knew in it. “I had many friends within choir and they all encouraged me to get involved. After I met Dr. Brown, I knew
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that choir was for me,” he said. Jost said balancing football and choir has never been much of a challenge as their schedules rarely conflict with each other. The students do perform at concerts, which Jost expressed can be difficult to prepare for as it “requires a lot of practice and listening.” What Jost loves most of all about the class, however, is the people he’s met through it: “I love absolutely everyone in my class and will have great memories of this experience.”
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jacob kamin Senior Jacob Kamin is involved in cross country and track and plans to club run track at UW-Madison. Kamin was prompted to take ceramics this year because he needed at least one year of an art class. Although he may not be as passionate about art as some other athletes, he still finds the class fun and relaxing. He enjoys the class because he takes it with a lot of his friends and he enjoys making pottery. Kamin also likes the class because it’s not
stressful and it doesn’t conflict with his track schedule. “Track is always after school, and if I ever need to finish anything for art, I just have to come in for lunch,” he said. It may not be something that Kamin wants to pursue in the future, but despite this, he finds it an enjoyable class where he can participate in a little side hobby of his. “It’s just fun to make stuff with your hands,” he said. “It’s a good way to relieve stress.”
davion thompson Davion Thompson, known as “Day Day” to many or by his rap name, “Chronicle,” has always been into rapping and songwriting. His rap career is no secret to his peers; in fact, Thompson has said that people “knew before [he] even set foot in the high school.” Nonetheless, football remains his top priority. When he is finished with football practice, however, he spends much of his free time writing lyrics and recording music. Thompson stated that he usually writes about his life and experiences and discusses “what actually matters in the world. I don’t talk about money, sex, drugs and all that stuff.” Thompson stated that he soon plans to release a song called “Alert,” which he
said is supposed to be a statement about society. He didn’t want to give away too much information, but he said that as part of the song he wanted to incorporate tornado sirens as a way to “call to everyone around the world to focus on me at the moment and the message I’m trying to give you.” He also plans to release a song titled “Nation” later, which he said is similar to “Alert” in its message but with a bigger focus on American issues; he performed this song at Writers Week earlier this month. “We need to build up this society and actually make it better,” he said. “Enough of this police brutality and all of these people being killed. Quit all the pettiness and be humble.”
shelby wilson As a member of the varsity poms team, senior Shelby Wilson rarely has free time. “Poms is a major time commitment,” said Wilson in an interview. “We practice basically seven days a week until six, and we have competitions on the weekends, and there is not a lot of time to do much.” Nevertheless, Wilson is also very into the arts, something she was introduced to by her brother. ”[My brother] took graphics and he loved it, so when I was a freshman, he told me to take it.” Since then, she has been very passionate about the arts and has taken numerous art classes. She started out with graphics but has also taken ceramics, 2D intro to art, and 3D intro to art. Poms is her first prior-
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ity, however, so her art classes often take a back seat to that. Wilson said she “[tries] to save some time for art” while she’s in poms, but that it can be can be difficult with her busy schedule. “During the season, it’s kinda hard because there’s not a lot of extra time, so I exempt from gym and that gives me a study hall, so that allows me to have more time,” she explained. Although the major time commitment of poms requires her to put that in front of the arts, she has expressed a desire to pursue a job in graphics. She plans to major in graphic design and minor in journalism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Drops of Ink
LHS needs more art
Staff Editorial
In the endless stretches of off-white, taupe and beige coating the uplifting environment. LHS halls, you might be surprised to occasionally catch a glimpse With some teachers decorating their rooms with American history of mottled brick or maybe even a short stretch of orange tile in the projects, stuffed moles or even “Star Wars” figurines, the DOI staff also floor. The classrooms, all believes that teachers should seemingly dip-dyed with the be encouraged to make same almost-white color, their space their own. While offer relief only through a things to look at could be glance out the window. considered a visual distracIn the sea of beige that tion by some, we believe LHS often feels like to the that being in more visually Drops of Ink staff, we feel interesting spaces actually that students’ attitudes could makes us more interested. be drastically improved by Whether taking the form of having more art in hallways, informational posters or forclassrooms and throughout mer student projects, we find the school; plus, showcasing that classrooms which are student art, while livening more personalized feel more up the halls, would also comfortable to students. serve to display the talent Lastly, access to student that those student artists art is minimal at LHS: have. while you can peer through As students, it would help the glass at the art gallery, us to stay attentive and posiit isn’t publicized when it tive at school if the environis actually open, and the ment we were in weren’t so pieces in the dungeon are bland. After all, as weather too out of the way for most warms, it is difficult to students to see. We think stay excited about LHS’s that student art could be white rooms and halls displayed throughout the after coming in from an school, in cases and on the increasingly green outside. TV screens cycling near In order to improve this, we the front entrance and in believe that presenting more the cafeteria. student art throughout the With potential projects school, color in the halls, in updating or creating and murals would help to new murals, student art make LHS a more creative could easily offer a way environment for students to brighten our halls, and and visitors. with athletes’ trophies on Illustration by Kyle Patterson display across the school, With less murals than you can count on your hand and With LHS currently serving as a blank canvas, having more art throughout the rooms and halls it is only fair that students’ student art being confined art, a direct display of to low-traffic areas like the would help to improve everyone’s attitudes about the school. their talent, should be gallery near the auditorium showcased in a way which and the dungeon, a good start on improving the school atmosphere is accessible to everyone as well. could definitely be a coat of paint. Considering that lockers take So why not add some color? With plenty of ways to make the up half of the halls’ visual space, painting them a brighter color, school feel more inviting, it would take only one or two to make extending murals onto them or even allowing students to paint a significant difference in how students, faculty and visitors feel our own would be a massive step in making the school a more when they come to LHS.
Note: As this piece is a staff editorial, it is representative of the opinions of Drops of Ink staff as a whole. The staff is comprised of LHS students from each grade level and spans a wide range of opinions from two class periods, with 36 students total. The author(s) of this piece did not place their personal opinions in the story; they merely reflect the staff ’s thoughts.
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Drops of Ink
Ode to art
By Georgia Sampson
It can be color on top of color, or black and white. It can be abstract We went to leave, and as we were climbing the staircase that led us to shapes or delicately drawn lines that paint a broader picture. the exit, I turned around and felt my heart leap. On the wall of the stairArt is hard to define. However, we know it when we see it. way leading up to the modern American art wing, stretching out across We all know the feeling of getting goosebumps when we see a certain the wall is Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Sky Above Clouds IV.” picture, watch a certain performance or hear a certain chord played. This was one of the first times that art took my breath away. The We all know that feeling culmination of the of complete adoration, variety of colors that love and sometimes a little worked together to jealousy over seeing a piece contrast the pure and wanting to be part of it. white clouds to form Art is all around us. a breathtaking image It’s dance. Whether it’s a of the sun rising. prima ballerina or an interBut what is most pretive dancer taking the impressive about this spotlight, the dancer is on image is the time that stage for one reason only: to O’Keeffe put into express themselves. this piece. O’Keeffe It’s music. Everything later said that she from Beethoven to Lil worked on the paintYachty is an expression of ing “every minute some sort. We often don’t from 6 a.m. till 8 or 9 think about music when we at night as I had to be think about art. However, it finished before it was is often the art form that we cold.” cherish most. This piece taught It’s theater. “Hamilton,” me that each piece “Wicked,” “Our Town,” all of art, no matter of this is art. Theatre may what form it comes be a form of entertainment, in, has a dedication but it doubles as a story that and devotion behind carries the audience to a it. specific emotion. But what is better It’s poetry. It is one of the than that is this finest literary arts because image of what some we need it. We need poetry may think of as a to help us understand that simple sky showed feelings are part of living. me that things we Art is all around us and see every day can can help us realize the beaufall under the catty in the world. egory of beautiful; When I was younger, I all we need to do is didn’t respect art nearly as open our eyes. much as I should have. Since seeing this However, that changed piece, I do my when I got the opportunity best to look at the Photo by Sam Nelson beauty around me to understand why I should respect it. In fourth grade, Art can take many different shapes, and it is imperative that we recognize and appreciate the beauty of all forms. and appreciate the my father took me and my world. I acknowledge brother to the Art Institute of Chicago for the first time. As we went the awesome power that art holds in the world around us. And I throughout the museum, I became more and more entranced. By the encourage others to do the same. end of the day, I had seen Van Gogh, Monet, Matisse, Picasso and so So whether it is dance, music, theater or poetry, in color or in black many more and my father pointed out that we had probably all we and white, we owe art and those who contribute to it a huge “thank could want to see at that moment. you!”
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Drops of Ink
My B.A. is not BS
By Anna DeNoia
Photo by Matthew Price Art majors are constantly asked questions like, “What’s your backup plan?” and “How are you going to make any money?” I’d like to make one thing clear — despite what some people think, I have put a lot of thought into what I’d like my major to be. And SHOCKINGLY, I’m still confident in my choice. After much deliberation, I’m going to be (drum roll, please)...AN ARTS MAJOR! Alright, ask. Go ahead, ask! I know you’re thinking it — everyone does. Am I aware of how competitive it is? Yes. Although it wasn’t months of auditions and rejections that made me aware — it was you asking. Right now. Thank you! Do I realize how little money there is to be made in the arts? You know, even though it totally would have made sense for me to choose this career for that famously unstoppable cash flow, weirdly enough, I didn’t. And then, finally. The crushing blow. What’s my backup plan? I understand the reason that you ask. Really, I do. I know you only ask because you care about me. You want to make sure I’m aware of all my choice entails — moving from job to job, never being sure where my next paycheck will come from, rejection after rejection, and of course, dying of malnutrition and shame alone on the street (the apparently inescapable fate of any Bachelor of Arts, at least according to some). Trust me, I’ve heard it all. But no matter how good your intentions, never ask an arts major what their backup plan is. I know what you think you’re saying: “How can you guarantee success?” However, I hear something else: “What will you do once you fail?” Despite how it may appear thus far, I am not writing this out of spite. Although I am unapologetically snarky and sarcastic, I am not resentful. Like I said, I know you mean well! Instead, I am writing this to ask something of you. If you know someone who
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wants to pursue the arts, be it a friend, siblings, student, son or daughter, you must change your vernacular. Think about it this way -- how would you feel if you told someone your intended major and their response was, “Great! And once that all crashes and burns? Once you realize you’ve made the wrong choice, what will you do then?” Although I know the “backup plan” question is born of genuine concern, please understand how disheartening it can be to a prospective artist. It’s questions like this that steer kids away from pursuing what they love. Because “it’s really just more of a hobby.” Because “so few people actually succeed.” Because “that’s not where the money is.” These ideas are pounded into young artists harder and louder the older they get, until it becomes impossible to hear anything but “you can’t.” We must instill confidence in young artists. We must stop pressuring them to quit before they even begin to try. We must stop tearing them down and start building them up. The only reason some of us become art majors is because the strength of our passion was able to withstand torrent after torrent of these thinly veiled insults, as well as every caustic interrogation full of unsolicited pity and stinging doubt. This should not be. As artists, we love to discuss the things we are passionate about. By no means am I telling you to stop asking us questions about what we do. But let your questions be born of real interest and free of nasty subtext. Instead of asking for a backup plan, ask an artist what they plan to do with their degree. Instead of asking if they’re “sure,” ask them why they want to pursue their art. I’m sure their response will answer your original question and then some. So let’s rewind. Try this again. Hi. I’m going to be an arts major. Any questions?
Drops of Ink
The falsehood of fake By Alo Garcia Escobar
Cartoon by Kyle Patterson It was reported late in the 2016 election season, but the story captured the attention of many. It was shared, retweeted, liked and spread on social media like wildfire. It was Pizzagate — the debunked conspiracy theory disseminated by those on the hard right who claimed that Hillary Clinton, along with Democratic operatives, were running a child sex trafficking ring in the basement of a pizzeria in the nation’s capital. However, what started with zero basis in facts was quick to morph into something more concrete. It was later that a man was arrested for walking into the restaurant, armed with an assault rifle, after fired one or more shots to self-investigate the claims circulated on uber-conservative news outlets. This story is not fake — it’s false. And there is a spot for semantics here considering the connotation of the term “fake news” in the current political climate. Here are the definitions, according to Oxford Dictionary. Fake: “a thing that is not genuine; a forgery of sham.” False: “not according with truth or fact; incorrect.” The more accurate term for something like Pizzagate is false. And to be fair, false is false regardless of politics, and the same can be said about Buzzfeed’s publication of unverified claims concerning the president’s sexual encounters in Russia — none of it has proven to be factual. There really shouldn’t be a political divide when it comes to rejecting outright lies. Where there can be debate is whether the media has bias. If so, what’s the extent of that bias? Those are fair questions, but to bash journalism and the Fourth Estate for reporting on the facts does nothing to discover the truth, whatever that may be and wherever it may be.
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This leads to the larger phenomena of the “fake news” as dubbed by the president. The new trend in Americans’ argument methodology has expanded beyond the simple mud-slinging and logical fallacies of overgeneralizations — now, there is something far more powerful: delegitimizing the crap out of organizations whose reporting on the facts runs contrary to your beliefs. Drops of Ink recently experienced this first hand when it published an infographic on how to get reliable news. Among some of organizations we listed was CNN, which we indicated had a more liberal bias. Regardless, some of the comments posted in response to this infographic designated these media outlets, or DOI’s post itself, as “fake news.” And I get it: it’s easier to categorize a news organization as fake to diminish its trustworthiness and impact than having to actually be accountable for arguing your position and advocating for your beliefs. Let’s look at Russian interference in the 2016 election. There’s two routes here: the first is rejecting what the CIA and FBI have confirmed as Russian meddling in the American election with the purpose of helping elect Donald Trump (it’s not easy to discard this as “fake news” considering the status of the CIA and FBI, but some people are overachievers). The second is what I see as the logical argument for both sides, which is discussing what impact, if any, the Russians had on the results of the election. It’s understandable to be skeptical of the media — it might even be good practice — but there is a line to be drawn between skepticism and outright rejection of it. The reason why the popularization of “fake news” is so dangerous isn’t just the obvious attack on a free press; it also undermines our ability to challenge ourselves in the face of contradictory evidence.
Drops of Ink
Are Sports Tryouts Fair?
keep trying out!
Photos by Abbey Humbert Layout by Colleen Mullins
minds made up before tryouts?
By Maggie Burnetti
By Matt Smith
Tryouts week is dreaded. Without any understatement, the stress, social and territorial aspect between students in “what team you make” coupled with the added physical strain and mental desire to do your best the whole time takes a toll on your body. Yet, tryouts successfully construct a team in the only way that is reasonable to assess and assign athletes to their correct team. For certain sports like basketball, where only five people play at a time, it is understandable for tryouts to be in place. Yet for other sports, it is understandable to do away with the elimination process within tryouts, keeping a greater number of people on the team, like track, where there are a multitude of events and more possibilities for everyone to compete. Even the process of sports tryouts is meticulous, rarely taking place for just one day, instead more likely to last a whole week. They allow an equal opportunity for all athletes to showcase their skill and prove what team they are qualified for. They don’t discriminate against certain people or have the intention to be unreasonably selective. For coaches, it is an in-depth and well thought-out process that sometimes is necessary to cut athletes from their team. Furthermore, in lieu of injuries or other uncontrollable situations, it is up to the coaches’ judgement to provide a solution to some conflict that might arise in efforts to be objective and accommodate external circumstances. The nature and intensity of tryouts can amplify weaknesses and illuminate strengths. They motivate and bring out the very competitiveness that helps accomplish things as a team. Logistically, how would it work if all sports were no-cut and every team had a large number of players? Having immense numbers would create countless problems. It’s better to eliminate kids at the beginning of the season rather than giving them false hope that they would remain on the team or get any playing time, for that matter. There are countless reasons as to why tryouts are in place. In the end, some opposing opinions might feel that tryouts are unfair on a personal level, but the process as a whole isn’t. While the process to get on the team may not be the most ideal, tryouts remain the best option. Think about it. What’s the alternative?
As a person who has been cut from many sports, tryouts are very hard for me, so this could be taken as a bitter attempt to call out the sports and coaches who cut me. This isn’t about that. Regardless of when tryouts are, it seems like coaches already have their minds made up by the summer, if they have summer camps or if they coach a travel team. That is not fair to those who have a job or are out of town for that camp because they are already behind everyone who was at the camp, and they should not be penalized for these other commitments. In addition, some summer camps allow coaches to choose players for a summer league where they compete against other high schools. The coaches are choosing the players that usually are going to make the team. That sounds like a tryout to me, but I thought it was summer camp? If the coaches are evaluating players as if it was a tryout, then it should be called a tryout, not a summer camp. To continue, there is a another factor that creates unfair tryout scenarios: injuries. There have been situations at Libertyville where players weren’t able to try out due to an injury or were limited from doing all things needed in a tryout. Some kids have been out months and still made the team; how do the coaches know that he or she is still capable? Because of summer camp? What about the kid who is injured and couldn’t make it to summer camp because he had a job? Is that fair? Those players not only made the team but some were even placed on the A team. Is that because of the summer camp? Or because of a relationship with the coach? Also, some coaches not only coach high school but they also coach feeder programs, and if that has anything to do with anyone making the team as well, these factors should not be taken into consideration, because it’s an unfair advantage to those who played and have a relationship with that coach. Tryouts are a very stressful and nerve-racking process for many athletes participating in them. Athletes work hard, going to lifting sessions or open gyms, giving up their time for the sport. If the coaches have their minds made up by summer, and the injured kids who can’t try out make the team, then it is unfair and a waste of time.
Opinion
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Feature
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