March 17, 2016 Volume 89, Issue 7
Seeing Red Pages 12-13
Hannah Boufford, Editor-in-Chief Maddie Werner, Online Editor Gabby Struik, News Editor Tia Petrzilka, Features Editor Jake Luce, Opinion Editor Josh Bragg, Sports Editor Manal Ahmed, Entertainment Editor Kayla Fiore, Photo Editor Becky DeAcetis, Layout Editor Katie Vrba, Social Media Editor Sara Thunga, Copy Editor Jillian Ruff, Community Service Coordinator Kate Vittore, Staff Fun Director Blair Abington Lola Akinlade Brianna Baez Grace Bloom Nathan Campbell Tanner Dorow Alo Garcia-Escobar Max Friedlander Demi Glusic Jenna Grayson Olivia Griffith Abbey Humbert Hannah Hutchins Jack Kosowski Jarrett Malec Mary Kate Mieszala TJ Murbach Sam Nelson Dolores Palmieri Alyssa Stokovich Maria Thames Stephanie Thomas Hadley Van Der Bosch Carly Wegren Emma Williams Emily Yates
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact us at doi@lhswildcats.org Michael Gluskin, Faculty Adviser March 17, 2016
the
Rea der s
Letter to
2015-2016 Staff Listing Dearest devoted reader,
Yes, I am talking to you! You look absolutely wonderful today-- I hope you’ve had a great day so far! Thanks for picking up this issue of DOI and reading probably one of the most underrated parts of our magazine. As AP tests commence, juniors prepare to take the ACT, spring break slowly rolls around the corner, and seniors keep adding to their lists of “lasts”, DOI continues to work hard to create the best possible content that we can for YOU! The effort that the Drops of Ink staff puts in for our readers proves evident at our monthly “Paste-Up Day.” Approximately eight days before our issue is published and the evening that we have to send our PDF version of the issue to the printer,“Paste-Up-Day” takes place in no other room than the DOI headquarters, room 259. DOI staff members and editors that have work to complete stay at LHS from after school till around 6-7 p.m., finishing (or starting) their pages on the layout program called Adobe InDesign, taking last-minute photos, and triple-checking for any mistakes or typos, making sure everything is presentation-ready for our readers. Some staff members have a simple task to finish and stay after school for 30 minutes, while our Editor-in-Chief and layout editor can be here from 2:50 till almost 7 p.m. As of this month’s issue, we have totally got you readers covered. You can read about the upcoming One Acts and the hottest trends at LHS right now. On pages 10-11, you’ll find everything about the upcoming spring break: common destinations, the unique places that people are visiting, and what to look forward to after break (definitely not the nine straight full weeks of school we have after break. Yikes). Whether you choose to kick back and read about the commencing MLB season or laugh over the obsession with Snapchat streaks, this Drops of Ink issue is one that you surely do not want to miss. Make sure to also check out lhsdoi.com for even more DOI fun! We have plenty of stories going up throughout the month of March, weekly posts on blogs such as Humans of Libertyville and Tidbits, and personality quizzes. And finally, the moment you have all been waiting for: This issue’s Twitter contest! The key phrase for this magazine is “Ancient Egypt.” Direct message @LHSDOI on Twitter the key phrase along with the article title, page number, and hashtag -- #ThinkInk -- to be entered in a raffle to win a $10 Starbucks gift card! Now sit back, relax, and enjoy our March issue of DOI. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter-- you are my favorite!
Sincerely,
Manal Ahmed Entertainment Editor
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4Student Directors will be headlining One Acts 5 Sanders, Rubio are winners of LHS primary poll 7 What’s Trending? 8-9 Four Corners
Every year in the spring, students take part in creating their own plays, which they then perform for the school with the help of other actors and actresses.
Senior Josh Bragg conducted a poll and shares the results of an LHS presidential primary.
The newest styles, which are floating throughout the school, are featured here.
Students across LHS, including the four featured here, are taking part in political-related clubs, such as Debate, Junior State of America and Model UN.
10-11Spring Break Break Down
This year, students are going on Spring Breaks all across the world. After vacation, there are several things to look forward to also, including summer.
12-13The Redhead Spread 14-15Spring Break Ready 17 What’s your allegiance to the Pledge? 18 Teen to face trial for Snapstreak murder 19 The Puzzle Pieces of High School 20-21 Vaulting to the Top: Lily Moore
Around this time of year, during this month with St. Patrick’s Day, redheads become more apparent in our halls and the fun facts surrounding them surface.
Scope out some ideas on how to get fit and healthy for Spring Break.
DOI gives its opinion on a nationwide debate: Should the Pledge of Allegiance be stopped in schools?
Like other forms of social media, Snapchat has become prominent in our society. But has the pressure of keeping a Snapstreak made it excessive?
Class divisions are prevalent in our school, but don’t let grade or age get in the way of who your friends are.
Dozens of LHS students have gone to college on sports scholarships; Lily Moore, one of these students, shines due to her interesting sport and triumph over injuries.
22-23 Cubs and Sox: Up To Bat
Chicago’s baseball teams have come a long way since last year and fans are excited for the upcoming season.
Cover photos by Kayla Fiore Contents
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Student Directors will be Headlining One Acts By Gabby Struik
Photo by Maria Thames Some of the student judges prepared themselves before watching the auditions, which occurred on March 8 in room 207.
The week following Spring Break, students will be performing and directing plays during One Acts, on April 1 and 2. One Acts is an opportunity for high school students to take on a directing role where they get to pick an original piece or a previously written script and direct it with their own individual style. Auditions were held on March 8 and anyone was welcome even if they had not traditionally been a part of the theater program. For the student-director selection process, students who are interested propose an idea to English and theater teacher Mr. Christopher Thomas, and plays are chosen by him based on appropriateness. The plays selected for this year consist of “Cindy,” “The Real Problem,” “Safe Sex,” “Drama Geeks vs. Zombie Cheerleaders,” “How to Succeed in High School Without Really Trying,” and “Death and Daisy.” Most directors consist of juniors and seniors; they try to keep their plays to 15 minutes in length. “Student directors have to have had experience from being in One Acts or active participation in our theater program,” stated Mr. Thomas. “And then the other thing that is important is that they have to have either an idea for a One Act or script that they have chosen, and then besides that, we usually choose based on seniority.” For the most part, the plays are completely student-led, but Mr. Thomas, along with Theater Coordinator Mr. Kevin Holly and Fine Arts Supervisor Mr. Dustin Helvie, help to supervise the process.
News
Once the student directors are chosen, they hold one-day auditions where they are able to chose from their peers to be in their plays. These auditions are supervised by Mr. Thomas. “We encourage everyone to audition even if they aren’t in theater. We have one day of auditions where student directors hand out scripts and have us read for them, and then afterwards all the student directors have a big casting meeting where they decide who to cast,” shared senior Jackie Ovassapian who has participated in One Acts in years past and will be acting in “Cindy” this year. Rehearsals for the One Act performances are typically two times a week and are held from 7-9 p.m. after school wherever the students can find space (usually a director’s house). They usually begin the weekend after auditions. When show week for One Acts finally rolls around, the directors and actors participate in a tech rehearsal, in which they do a final run through of each of the performances in the auditorium. “I like that it’s all student-run and there isn’t a lot of administrative hand in it,” shared senior Libby Conley, who will be acting and producing in the upcoming One Acts. “Everyone kind of takes a lot of creative liberty with it and there isn’t as much pressure with One Acts as there would be with a main-stage show. Yet it’s still really really fun and everyone still works super hard.”
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Sanders, Rubio are winners of LHSby Joshprimary poll Bragg
Design by Josh Bragg, campaign logos courtesy of the candidates’ respective websites. On March 2, a survey was sent out to all LHS students via their school emails. Those who took the survey were given the option of choosing one candidate from the current Democrat or Republican presidential primary race. Of the 360 students who responded, a plurality of 38 percent chose Democrat Bernie Sanders as the candidate they would vote for in the Illinois primary. The survey was available for three days. It was intended to mimic the presidential primary in Illinois, which took place on March 15. The actual Illinois primary is considered “open,” meaning you don’t have to register with a party beforehand, but voters must choose either a Democrat or Republican ballot beforehand. In the DOI poll, this was automatically accounted for. Sanders had 70 percent of the Democrat vote, whereas former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held the remaining 30 percent. On the Republican side of the ballot, Florida senator Marco Rubio garnered the most Republican votes at 44 percent, leading the national GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, who placed in second at 34 percent. Ted Cruz of Texas (11 percent) and John Kasich of Ohio (8 percent) came in third and fourth, respectively, and Ben Carson, who has since dropped out of the race, placed in fifth at 3 percent. The main arguments made in the survey for choosing Sanders were that he is “the most genuine candidate” and that he would help college students pay for their education. Clinton supporters claimed that she was “the most qualified” to run for president (referring to her time as Secretary of State under Obama) and that she would promote women’s rights. As for Republicans, students chose Trump because of his “success as a businessman” and that he “isn’t a true politician.” Rubio supporters mentioned that he “has the best chance to stop Trump” and that he is the most reasonable of the bunch. Those who chose Cruz mentioned his “strong conservative values” and his commitment to a smaller government. Kasich supporters claimed that he is the most moderate of the candidates and that he’s the most fit to be president and “actually get legislation passed.”
Forty of the 360 people who responded chose not to vote for a nominee, with many claiming that the current crop of candidates is “a joke” and that none of them are deserving of the presidency. On the national level, Clinton and Trump are both expected to win their party’s nomination. Clinton’s path is a lot clearer; she is highly regarded within the Democratic party and already has won 1,221 (as of March 8) of the 2,383 delegates needed to win the nomination. Trump, on the other hand, has taken quite the unconventional road. The controversial business mogul is not respected by many of his GOP peers. In fact, Trump himself denounced the Republican establishment as “fraudulent” and “failing” various times on his Twitter account. Nonetheless, Trump continues to lead Republican polls nationwide and has the most GOP delegates at 458 (as of March 8). Although it hasn’t quite captured the media attention like the Republican party has, the Democratic nominee race has been compelling as of late. The lack of publicity likely has to do with the idea that Clinton’s nomination may be inevitable; she is heavily favored to take home the candidacy. However, a push has been made by Sanders supporters, who have been vocal about their opinions and make up a majority of young voters, evidenced by the popularity of the Vermont senator at LHS. Unfortunately for them, the reality of the situation is that young Americans often just don’t vote: citizens ages 18-24 years old have the lowest voter turnout among any age group, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A showdown between Clinton and Trump (which is the most likely scenario) would feature two polarizing candidates: both have low “undecided” favorability percentages relative to the other potential nominees, according to FiveThirtyEight. As the party conventions in July approach increasing closer, the nominee races for both Democrats and Republicans should continue to capture the nation’s attention.
Marco Rubio: the ladies’ man:
Senior slump for Trump:
More of Rubio’s LHS supporters were female (53%) rather than male (47%), which wasn’t the case for the other four GOP candidates.
Trump only managed to get 21% of senior GOP votes, while he received 45% among underclassmen and has polled nationally as the Republican frontrunner for months.
A liberal arts school:
That’s Hillaryous:
37% of respondents identified as a Democrat or liberal. Females were more likely to do so, whereas males tended to identify more as Republican or Independent.
News
Only 4% of females supported Trump compared to 23% of males. Conversely, only 13% of males supported Clinton, while 24% of females did so.
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CHECK OUT THE WEB #ThinkInk LHSDOI.com “J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” to be a two-part play” By Brianna Baez, Staff Writer
“Glass Slipper Project makes a resurgence at LHS” By Gabby Struik, News Editor
Photo by Gabby Struik
“Jesus Christ Weighs in on the Republican Field” By Alo Garcia Escobar, Staff Writer
Humans of Libertyville http://humansoflibertyville.blogspot.com/
Photo by Lola Akinlade
Kylie Rodriguez, sophomore
Feature
“When it comes to staying positive, it’s tough. Being alone I get pretty down on myself. But I keep pushing on because I know that this storm will pass, my pain will get better. And I’ve learned that, a majority of the time, laughter/ happiness takes the pain away. It helps to soothe stress and put your mind on joyful things. It’s a struggle having IBS and it’s definitely a hard chronic illness to explain to others because it’s a gross subject to talk about. Like, it affects your body and mind in so many different ways. Since I’m currently being homeschooled to learn to deal with my illness, I am home alone a lot. Which means that I have a lot of time to think about negative things, and how I wish I could change my situation. But my biggest motivation to stay strong is friends/family. Because without them and their support, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. When the people I love smile, it makes me feel unstoppable. I know with them and with hope, things will turn around. I don’t want to spend my life depressed waiting for things to change when I can just change my attitude and persevere through anything. I stay positive so that I won’t lose myself in this low point of my life.” 6
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Kendall & Kylie app (In Touch)
Shamrock Shake
Kate Spade Watch
(Delish)
(Kate Spade)
a t h ’ W s Adult Coloring Book (Amazon)
Joggers
Tr e n i n g d By Blair Abington
Brightly Twisted Headband
Ankle Boots
Zoom Fly Shoes
(Dicks Sporting goods)
Fur Vest
Swell Water Bottle
(POLYVORE)
(Cacique Boutique)
Feature
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By Lola Akinlade Photos by Lola Akinlade Layout by Katie Vrba From a young age, the following students showed a passion for politics, stemming from a curiosity about the world around them. As they entered high school, their curiosity only became stronger while thriving in political clubs such as debate.
Four Corners
From a fifth grade 2008 mock election, Cynthia Capota realized politics was something that she wanted to get involved in. Capota, a senior, is an avid member of the political club debate. Mr. Dennis Duffy is Capota’s Lincoln-Douglas debate coach and also teaches Current Issues and Government at LHS. He stated that “Cynthia brings a passion for her cases that is gratifying to see.” Capota experiences constant shifts in her political views, shaped by the changing world around her. “My views have evolved a lot. I’ve gone from liberal to conservative, back to super liberal. But I think that’s all just part of understanding the world and times we are living in. I think the fact that I’ve known what it’s like to have conservative and liberal views makes me understand more where people are coming from, and I think it makes argumentation a lot easier,” Capota stated. Capota’s interest in politics stems from her opinionated personality and her emphasis on the impact politics has throughout the world. “I am a really opinionated person. I have an opinion on literally everything, that’s just how I’ve always been. And I think it’s important because politics goes hand-in-hand with policies that all the politicians are instituting, impacting how day-to-day life gets handled, how people interact with each other, how people spend money, and how people just live. So, I think it is important to be involved in that and to have a say in what is going on in our country, otherwise it’s not really a democracy,” Capota stated. Fellow debater Conor Kennedy expressed his opinions on the influence that Capota’s leadership has on the team. “Cynthia is very commanding and a little controlling, an alpha if you will, but it works because of her dedication to the team. She has very strong debate skills, and her leadership has helped the team to be successful this year,” Kennedy stated.
Cynthia Capota
Ever since elementary school, Conor Kennedy described himself as a “hardcore liberal,” and from then on, his fervor for politics emerged. Kennedy, a junior, distinctly recalls instances in the fifth grade where he had heated conversations with friends about which news channel was biased and which one wasn’t. In high school, he moved onto more important issues, discussing economic imbalances and different countries’ policies. He currently excels in the clubs Model United Nations, Junior State of America, and Debate Team. The main reason Kennedy decided to form the club JSA this year was because of his desire to talk about domestic politics freely. One of Kennedy’s main inspirations for politics stemmed from his family. Kennedy’s dad ran for office in 2012 for Lake County State’s Attorney, and even though he lost, through that experience, Kennedy discovered that leadership was something that he wanted to be part of. “My family in general is really involved in politics. My grandma right now, she volunteers for Bernie Sanders. She’s done political organization forever, since the civil rights movement. So, I think that culture of political activism in my family has cultivated in an interest in politics for me,” Kennedy stated. Sophomore Aaron Chen, who is on the Debate Team, describes Kennedy as being equipped with an “immense knowledge of history and in-depth politics, seeming to know everything there is to know about resolutions (debate topics).” Chen characterized Kennedy as an “exceptional debater,” however, this title comes attached with many obstacles. When asked what the hardest obstacle to overcome was, Kennedy responded: “I think it’s thinking on your feet and being able to come up with arguments really quickly is what helps you succeed in those clubs... some other people propose solutions and put forth arguments that are really good, but you can’t just be like ‘I agree with that.’ Because for debate, you are trying to win a round. You have to win black or white. “Even in Model UN, when you are trying to put forth a solution that is a compromise, you can’t lose that sort of ground when you are in a debate trying to be the frontrunner for your resolution.” Fellow debater and friend Emily Regan portrayed Kennedy as “hard-working, sassy, and kind of pretentious, but he is a very good debater, and he always knows exactly what he is talking about.”
Conor Kennedy
Feature
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Since the seventh grade, Regan has been interested in politics; however, her passion truly flourished when she first entered through the doors of high school. “I was always interested in politics, but probably joining the Debate Team and coming to high school and meeting other people that were really interested in politics sparked my involvement and my want to be more involved in politics,” Regan, a sophomore, stated. Regan finds that the most interesting part of debate is the interaction with foreign policies and being able to see every side of an issue through various forms of debating. Allison Tong, who is a teammate of Regan’s, explained that Regan’s raw passion for politics is evident through her determined spirit. “Emily is one of the hardest working people I know. I can always count on her for encouragement and a laugh. She’s always prepared and excited for every tournament, and I’m so grateful to be her teammate,” Tong stated. Along with Kennedy, Regan is engaged in the political clubs JSA, Model UN, and Debate Team. So, time management can difficult, but Regan doesn’t neglect the importance of her clubs. “I just put in the extra time, and I just do it during my lunch and after school. So, I kind of just regard it as another class, and treat it the same,” Regan stated. Sophomore Aaron Chen is a friend of Regan’s and is also a member of the debate team. Chen acknowledges the influence Regan’s presence has on the team. “Emily is most definitely the most passionate about debate and about politics in general. Her drive and motivation exudes positive vibes throughout the debate team in a way that pushes each and every one of us to try our best,” Chen stated. Regan won first place in debate once last year and twice this year, and still continues to grow. Regan says her “key to success” is practice. “I think practice [is the most important skill in becoming a good debater], that’s in like anything. We write our cases and then we always do mock debate rounds with other people. And the same goes for Model UN, we have practice committees. So, just getting more familiar with it and the topic is an important technique to have as a debater,” she mentioned. As of right now, Regan is running for Student Council Executive board, but in the future, Regan hopes to pursue politics on a grand scale. “I want to run as president, but I want to be a lawyer first,” Regan expressed.
Emily Regan
It all started in a room full of eager sophomore students in an AP Euro classroom. This is where Elizabeth Murphy started to figure out who she was, while forming firm political views. Murphy’s interest in politics originates from the idea that there are always two sides to every story. “I think it is really interesting that there are always arguments on each side. And you can always have an argument as long as you support it with something. In debate, you can make a crazy argument, but as long as you just support it with facts or a logical flow of arguments, then it will work,” Murphy, a senior who is an active member of the political club Debate, stated. In the upcoming elections, Murphy has settled on not voting Republican, while most likely leaning towards Hillary Clinton because of her socially liberal and moderate fiscally liberal views. Friend and fellow member of debate Cynthia Capota characterized Murphy as “one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. She is really hard working. She goes out of her way to make sure people are happy. She is kind of shier before you get to know her, but once you get to know her and she is out of her shell, she is just the most fun person. As a debater, she is super passionate, and she just loves debate and getting up there and speaking and the rush you get from debating,” Capota shared. When analyzing what separates a good debater from a great debater, Mr. Dennis Duffy, Murphy’s Lincoln-Douglas coach and teacher of Current Issues and Government at LHS, explained that Murphy’s “strong work ethic, excellent research and writing skills, incisive analytical ability, ability to think on her feet, and the ability to persuasively write and speak” make her a successful debater. According to the Webster Dictionary, Lincoln-Douglas debate stems from a series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858, when both were campaigning for election to the United States Senate from Illinois. Much of the debating concerned slavery and its extension into territories such as Kansas. Now the term is used to describe debates centered around moral theory. Although Murphy doesn’t hope to have a future in politics, but rather one in chemistry, according to sophomore Aaron Chen, who is a member of the Debate Team, “Elizabeth always has a positive impact on the debate team with her bubbly and enthusiastic personality… and has been an exceptional leader this year.” Feature
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Elizabeth Murphy
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Freshman Ally McLean, along with a group of other LHS French students, will be heading to Quebec, Canada, for Spring Break. The trip was open to the entire French program and about 20 students seized the opportunity to visit the French-speaking province. McLean said that while there, the students will be participating in a variety of activities, such as ice skating, cooking classes and university visits.
While McLean has not been to Quebec before, she has been to France, another French-speaking destination.
Even though Sullivan has not visited the colleges she will be going to over break before, she has been to other visits, including one at St. Olaf College in Minnesota.
This spring break, senior Disa Sullivan will be taking advantage of her time to visit colleges on the East Coast, including Tufts, Quinnipiac and Villanova. Sullivan hopes to major in biochemistry at her future college and eventually become an orthopaedic surgeon. In addition to college visits, Sullivan will also be seeing family in Boston and visiting Mike’s Pastry, a well-known bakery in Boston praised for their cannolis.
Senior Amelia Schmitt will be visiting Ixtapa, Mexico, this Spring Break. This will be the eighth year in a row that she visits Ixtapa. When she stays there, she stays at a condo that her neighbors own. While in Ixtapa, her favorite activities are parasailing, which she’s done three times, laying on the beach, tanning, and visiting the local restaurants. When asked if she would recommend the location to others, Schmitt said, “the beaches are really pretty and really clean, so I would recommend it.”
The shark dive in the Bahamas will not be Recker’s first diving experience, he has also been scuba diving in Hawaii. Feature Feature
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Even though sophomore Joe Recker will be headed to a beach for his spring break, he’ll be experiencing something not a lot of students can say they’ve done: a shark dive. While on New Providence, an island in the Bahamas, Recker, along with his dad and around 20 other divers, will get to experience a shark feeding frenzy. In addition to the shark dive, Recker will be visiting different aquariums, local markets and just relaxing.
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Tess Styler, a freshman, will be spending her break overseas, specifically in London and Paris. Her parents both travel around the world often, but neither of them have been to those locations, so they decided to take a family trip. While in London, Styler said they’ll be spending several days away from the city, staying in a small village. Then, they will go back to the city and be sure to hit tourist attractions, such as Big Ben and the London Eye.
Spring Break Break Down
No one in Styler’s family has been to London or Paris, however, they enjoy travelling and walking around cities all over, including Chicago.
By Hannah Hutchins and Tanner Dorow Layout By Olivia Griffith
By Mary Kate Mieszala The months after spring break can be a complete drag. Some students return to school strutting the halls with a glistening tan; others come back sharing some amazing memories from a much-needed week off of school. Whatever the case is, most high schoolers anticipate the countdown until summer. At this point, it is April, the weather is warming up, and there is a LOT to look forward to. Who would have known so much can be packed into two short months? Here is a preview of the coming weeks leading up to the end of the year at Libertyville High School. April: All throughout April, various spring sports games and events will be held at the stadium, tennis courts, baseball, and softball fields weekly. The annual Writers Week will occur when school resumes after break. Seniors will be celebrating their final decisions on their plans for next year on April 16, which is Senior Decision Day. The spring play, “The Foreigner,” which is a comedy, will be performed on April 21st and 23rd. This play will be very different from past productions because it will feature only a couple of females in it.
Sophomore Derrick Joseph, who is currently in his first year at LHS after transferring from Carmel Catholic High School, will be going to India for Spring Break. Joseph said this will be his fourth time traveling to India, where he usually goes with his family every four years. While in India, he will be staying at his grandmother’s house in Kerala and then traveling to Bangalore to meet one of his dad’s friends. Most of his time there will be spent visiting family. Joseph stated, “All of my relatives live in India, and not in America, so it’s nice to go visit them.”
May: Once May rolls around, LHS will be hosting its second annual Color Run on May 7th. The course will be a little more than two miles taking runners all through the LHS property and Butler Lake. There will be pizza and a DJ from 102.3 XLC on the stadium football field. All the proceeds from the run will be donated to the non-profit organization Safe Water Kenya. Orchesis will have its performance in the auditorium May 12 and 13, and will feature female and male dancers of all grades who are involved in the club. Prom this year will be held at the Shedd Aquarium, on May 21, and will be open to all juniors and seniors. After spring sports wrap up, there will be the spring sports awards in the main gym on the 25th. Just two short days after that, final exams will begin on the 27th. June: After the first day of testing, a much needed Memorial Day weekend will come, and then exams will resume on Tuesday the 31st. School will be dismissed for summer break on June 1, and the day that all seniors have been awaiting, Graduation Day, will be on Friday, June 3 at the Sears Centre.
Feature Feature
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oufford / Photos nnah B a H by Sam By N
d ah Bouffor by Hann ayout n/L elso
As you stroll around the hallways of LHS, you take note of fancy clothes, new haircuts, the best shoes, eye color, hair color. Everyone around you has brown or blond hair until you see a pop of color just in front of you. Ah yes, the ginger. The carrot head. The orange-haired.
The redhead. Where does red hair come from?
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Red hair is a recessive gene, meaning that it is easily overridden by any dominant gene. Both parents contribute two alleles to their child, and the combinations of these alleles determine characteristics like red hair. Both parents must need to be redhead or carry the redhead gene in order for their offspring to have a chance of having red hair as well. If both parents carry the red head gene, then the child will have a 25 percent chance of having red hair. If one parent is a redhead and the other is just a carrier, then the child will have a 50/50 chance of being a redhead, as well. If both parents have red hair, the child will also have red hair because no dominant alleles are present to override the recessive gene. In the annotated diagram, sqaures one, two and three will not have red hair because of the dominant allele, while sqaure four will have red hair.
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Information from myredhairgene.com, quickanddirtytips.com, and The Huffington Post.
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The term of “redhead” traces back to the mid-1200s to describe hair color. However, the word “orange” was not coined until the arrival of the fruit in England around 1300, and the use of “orange” as a color did not occur until around the 1540s. Given that it wasn’t an option, “red” was used to describe ginger hair instead of “orange.”
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I love having red hair because it makes me unique. Only 2% of the whole world has red hair, so I guess that makes us gingers pretty special. Hayden Marth, Sophomore
”
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About every two weeks, someone comes up to me and asks me ‘Is your hair color real?’ But when I was one, my mom took me to Hawaii for my aunt’s wedding, and I was in a stroller, and this old lady came up to her an asked ‘Is her hair color real?’ I was one year old, so it’s been happening forever. Kate Roleck, Sophomore
“
I think the funniest comment I’ve ever gotten was from my grandma’s friends. All these old women kind of circled around me and said they wished they had my hair. They asked me if it was real and some even asked if they could touch it. It was weird but funny. I think the best part of having red hair is the uniqueness that it shows -- that everyone is different. It reminds you that you have an opportunity to stand out and embrace that difference. All of that, along with some of the wide-eyed confusion some people have when they see my hair, are the best parts of having red hair. Noah Moderwell, Senior
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Perspire
Spring Break Ready By Jillian Ruff With Spring Break a couple days away, here are a few ways you can get on the road to healthy habits.
1 V-Ups
CORE
Tr a i n i n g
Tip
Tr a i n i n g
Keep your legs as straight as possible. Reach for your toes while raising your upper body .
3 Ladders
CARDIO
2 Ta b l e To p C r u n c h Tip
Be sure to raise your shoulders off of the ground during each crunch. Avoid just moving your neck.
4 Cycle
Warm up: -Strech and jog to warm up your muscles. One Set: -Sprint 10 meters, turn and sprint back to starting position. Repeat 6 times with no break in between sets. With each set, add 10 meters to your starting distance.
5 Leg Holds
6 Plank Variation Tr a i n i n g
TRUNK
Warm up: -5 minutes easy on low resistance gear. One Set: -1 minute hard on low resistance gear. -2 minutes easy on high resistance gear. Repeat for 7 sets. Cool Down: -4 minutes easy on low resistance gear.
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Tr a i n i n g
The closer to the ground you hover your legs, the harder this exercise becomes.
Try lifting your legs while holding a plank. Keep your torso parallel to the ground.
Check out more ways to stay healthy on the blog Perspire-Inspire; the link can be found on the Drops of Ink website. Photos 1-5 taken by Jillian Ruff; Photo 6 taken by Sarah Broughton. Feature
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Inspire 100 Cal Oatmeal Breakfast Cookie Stir together 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons cocoa, and 2 tablespoons fat free milk in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/4 minutes or until boiling, stirring once. Stir in 2 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla until blended. Stir in 1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats until combined. Drop spoonfuls onto a waxed paper-lined plate to make 6 cookies. Cool in freezer 10 minutes before serving.
180 Cal Oatmeal Breakfast
All you need is a container, oats, dairy or non-dairy liquids such as cow or almond milk, and your choice of delicious toppings. Add chia seeds, fruit, and nuts in the morning for added crunch. Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com Photo courtesy of seriouseats.com
Photo and recipe courtesy of readyseteat.com
160 Cal 1Banana Dippers
Cut a banana into 1 /2 inch chunks. Spread /2 teaspoon peanut butter and dip into granola, nuts, dried fruit, or dark chocolate chips. 1
Photo and recipe courtesy of foodnetwork.com
Raw Nuts
Make the swap and choose nuts over chips for a crunchy alternative. Nuts are rich in heart-healthy fats but are calorically dense (about 170 calories per ounce), so measure out an ounce (about 24 almonds) and stick to that amount instead of feasting on the entire bag.
100 Cal Turkey, Hummus, and Avocado Rollup Lay 1 to 2 slices of turkey out flat onto a whole wheat tortilla . If using 2 slices, then lay slices onto one another. Spread hummus on top of the turkey. Add the avocado and roll up. Photo courtesy of Boarshed.com Recipe courtesy of Organizeyourselfskinny.com
Photo courtesy of nuts.com Information courtesy of whfoods.com Feature
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Drops of Ink
What’s your allegiance to the Pledge? Staff Editorial
Photo by Hadley Van Der Bosch Contrary to popular belief, saying the pledge is not mandatory, although many students feel pressure from others to participate. Every day in numerous schools across the country, including LHS, students stand and pledge to the flag without giving it much thought; many have been doing it every day since they were in Kindergarten and 5 years old. But why do we say it and should it be allowed in public schools? The history of the Pledge is integral to understanding its place in society today. The Pledge of Allegiance has been a part of America’s society since its creation in 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy, according to The Independent Hall Association (IHA). It was originally published with the hopes of it being used in any country but came to adopt its American origins in 1923 with the addition of “the flag of the United States of America.” Since its major implementation into American society, as stated by IHA, the pledge has been a topic of many major court cases -- the bulk of the cases revolving around the words “under God,” which were added by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 amidst the Cold War and Red Scare in the United States. While the majority of the Drops of Ink staff believes that the addition of the phrase “under God” is outdated and may go against the separation of church and state, it is important to note that many things in our society have religious connotations to them, like the phrase, “in God we trust” on the dollar bill; if we question the pledge, we have to question other things, too. The DOI staff believes that many of the country’s elements rooted in religion relate back to our history as a nation and that they are tradition. Although it is tradition, some DOI members believe that this should be changed because as we move forward as a nation, we have changing values and our customs should continue to change with them. Conversely, other DOI members saw this as less of a religious stance; the pledge is rooted in our history and
our country’s nationalism and because you are not forced to say it, it is okay. DOI also sees another problem with the pledge: its place in schools. Although students are not legally forced to participate in it, many DOI members stated that they have felt pressure to say it in the past. Some staff members even recalled times when teachers have told them they had to participate in the pledge in elementary and middle school. Staff members like the fact that students have the choice to say the pledge, though they feel it should be more emphasized that it is in fact a choice and the peer and faculty pressure to say the pledge should try to be eliminated by promoting the fact that we legally do not have to say it. Furthermore, DOI believes that students should be educated on what they are actually saying and pledging to; the pledge should not be a by-product of blind nationalism. Students should be taught the meaning of the pledge simultaneously with being taught the pledge itself, allowing for young students to have an idea of what they are pledging to everyday. By having a greater understanding of the meaning of the pledge, along with a decrease in pressure to recite it, DOI believes the pledge would have a better place in the school environment. While the DOI staff sees both positives and negatives in reciting the pledge, our staff believes that overall the pledge should be the student’s own, well-informed choice, and it should not be something forced upon students and although that is somewhat how it is now, it needs to be further emphasised that it is a choice. Without making it clear that the pledge’s recitation is a choice, aren’t we denying America’s very own principles of democracy and freedom?
Note: As this piece is a staff editorial, it is representative of the opinions of the Drops of Ink staff as a whole. The staff is comprised of LHS students from each grade level and spans a wide range of opifnions from two class periods, with 39 students total. The author(s) of this piece did not place their personal opinions in the story; they merely reflected the staff’s thoughts. Opinion
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Teen to face trial for Snapstreak murder By Jake Luce
Photo Illustration By Nathan Campbell High school student Philip Brown is being charged with first-degree murder for the brutal killing of a 6-month-old Snapstreak Labeled as one of the most heinous crimes any individual could commit, area high school student Philip Brown is reportedly facing 25 years to life in prison for the first-degree murder of an 187-day Snapstreak with former acquaintance Lauren Jones. Sources say that the two began their Snapstreak last August when Jones sent a selfie and captioned it, “How’s it going?” From then on, the two Snapchatted every day for the next six months straight. Their Snapchat relationship flourished, reaching the blushing smiley face within the first few days of their streak, and then the yellow heart after just two weeks. The two had gotten all the way to the pink heart by the time the streak was murdered in cold blood. Jones’s mother, Carolyn Jones, notified authorities as soon as she discovered the homicide. “I came home and my daughter was lying face down in her bedroom, tightly clutching her rose gold iPhone 6s,” Mrs. Jones explained. “I inspected the screen and saw the blank arrow and the lack of a snapstreak. I called the police right away.” Shortly after, sources confirmed that four police cars and a SWAT team arrived at Brown’s house and detained the individual. The town’s police chief, George Mathis, personally interrogated Brown at the penitentiary. “On the surface, Brown may have seemed like your average high schooler, but no one in their right mind would even think about committing a crime like this. Our town will be much safer with this lunatic off the streets,” Mathis stated. “I just don’t understand why anyone would do this to our little girl,” Mrs. Jones choked out, tears streaming down her cheeks. Brown’s court date is set for next Tuesday, and the prosecution feels they have a strong case against the young man. “I’m confident that we can lock him away for the rest of his life,” Jones’s lawyer, Chad Leslie, remarked. “God knows he deserves it.” The case has sparked international attention from media outlets in the U.S., the UK, France, and elsewhere around the world. People are
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commenting on the severity of this crime in essentially every language on Earth. Even Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic world, weighed in on the situation. “Not even Lucifer himself could have committed such an atrocious deed. The devil has a new name and that name is Philip Brown,” the Pontifex remarked. Brown’s parents, Daniel and Lori Brown, are also under investigation by the state. Many believe that they should be tried as accomplices to the murder committed by their son, but the couple strongly disagrees. “Philip has always been a little off, but we did not think he was capable of committing such an appalling crime,” Daniel Brown explained. “My wife and I had nothing to do with the incident, and we will no longer affiliate ourselves with our criminal of a son.” From the defense’s standpoint, Brown is claiming the incident was not a homicide but rather an accidental death. Defense attorney Stan Montgomery, one of the only lawyers in the country willing to take Brown’s case, hopes to work out some sort of plea bargain with the prosecution. “The kid is guilty,” Montgomery stated bluntly. “But with some negotiation, there’s a slim chance of avoiding a life sentence.” Although calling the crime “immoral” would be an understatement, the response to the crime has made some regain the slightest sliver of faith in humanity. Jones’s school has set up support groups and recently held a grief counseling assembly for the entire student body. In addition, a GoFundMe set up by her high school has already raised over $50,000 in efforts to aid Jones in her recovery. We reached out to Jones for a statement, but her mother denied on her behalf. “Lauren hasn’t come out of her room since the incident,” Mrs. Jones stated. “People need to think about the effects their actions will have on others. Philip is a sick, sick person, and I hope he learns his lesson in the harshest way possible.”
Drops of Ink
The Puzzle Pieces of High School
By Maria Thames
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Photo by Maria Thames High School is one big puzzle, and putting together the pieces of each grade can prove to be quite difficult. It’s freshman year and you walk through the doors. You’ve probably walked your schedule a few times and have a sense of where you’re going, but other than that, you’re lost in a sea of high schoolers who tower over you, and you’re just trying to get through the day without being sprayed with silly string or a squirt gun. It’s sophomore year and you walk through the doors. Maybe you came to school a day or two early and walked your schedule once if you needed to. This year, you have a sense of what you’re doing, and the seniors who once towered over you seem a little less scary; you’re adjusted by this point. As a sophomore, I can’t fairly say anything about junior and senior year other than what goes beyond my observations: juniors, you guys look like you’re struggling with APs and testing but are still making it, and seniors, well, you guys are at the top of it all. Even though I’ve only been a student at LHS for less than two years, it doesn’t take much time to notice the divisions that exist between the grades here. If I were to make a parallel to the societal structure of Ancient Egypt, the freshmen, obviously, are the peasants; the sophomores and juniors are the artisans, scribes, priests and government officials; and the seniors, pharaohs. But, this most certainly isn’t Ancient Egypt, and if two people have common interests, who or what’s to say that these people can’t be more than two faces passing each other in the hall or even, perhaps, friends? Whether it’s the fear of talking to someone who’s older, or the fear of being thought of differently because you’re talking to someone who’s younger, there is a division that is present in LHS; each grade is a puzzle piece and fitting their rigid edges together can prove to be quite difficult. From a sophomore’s perspective, freshman year is still in my mind, and I can recall the feelings of fear and shyness I had
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towards those who were older than me last year. “I guess I find [the divisions] also sort of intimidating,” said freshman Lihn Tran. “It’s not even just that much, just the stigma around them...it’s just difficult to put yourself out there when you don’t feel entirely comfortable with it.” Tran also stated that freshmen can find upperclassmen to be intimidating, but that people should be able to be friends with whomever they want, regardless of grade. From an upperclassmen perspective, senior Jordan Mitchell reflects on his four years at LHS, feeling as though the time has flown by. “It’s kind of weird because when you were younger, you thought of the seniors as really old people, already driving cars and stuff, and now you look back and you see these tiny people and you’re like ‘Was I that small?’ And it’s not that you’re making fun of them or anything, but I just kinda look back and appreciate that I had such strong leaders when I was younger, so you want to try and be an example for the younger kids.” We’re all afraid to break social norms, whether we are able to admit that to ourselves or not -- myself included. These past two years in high school, especially freshman year, I was afraid to reach out to kids beyond my grade. This year, I’ve branched out beyond what these divisions suggest, and now, some of my greatest friends are juniors or seniors, and even a few freshman, for that matter. I know that it’s scary to stand up for someone or to stand out among a crowd of people who are all doing the same thing, but the inexplicable greatness of life is that we have the freedom to make so many of our own choices, including the people who we surround ourselves with, whether it’s because of age or not. Just remember you were that little freshman once, (and hey, if you are now, that’s awesome!), and that we all have a little more in common than what you may believe.
Drops of Ink
TO THE TOP: LILY MOORE
Story by Emily Yates
Lily Moore steps up to the starting position, pole in hand, eyes on the prize. She sprints forward, preparing to plant her pole and propel her body several feet into the air before safely landing. It is just her and her pole out there; nothing stands in her way. Moore, a senior at Libertyville High School, is no rookie to the sport of pole vaulting. She followed in the footsteps
Photos by Abbey Humbert
Layout by Becky DeAcetis
of her father and took up pole vaulting her freshman year of high school. She had been running since fifth grade and decided to challenge herself in a unique, individual field event under the broad umbrella of the sport of track. “I like that you’re competing against other people, but at the same time, you’re always going to be competing against yourself,” said Moore.
SUCCESSFUL SEASONS Pole vaulting has become more than a mere extracurricular activity to Moore; it has become her life. She trains year round both during the spring high school season as well as with her club team, Get Vertical, during the off season. She even had the opportunity to attend a pole vaulting summit in Reno, Nevada, this past winter. “It was really amazing to be around everyone who all have a passion for the same thing [pole vaulting],” explained Moore. During Moore’s sophomore year, her
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talent and dedication took her very far in the postseason. She was the champion of both the North Suburban Conference and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sectional. She then went on to place seventh at the IHSA State Finals with an 11-foot jump. Riding high on her success, Moore was more than prepared for another high placement at the State level during her junior year season. But an unfortunate accident took place in February of last year, putting her dreams on hold.
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TRAMPOLINE TRAUMA Moore broke both the ulna and the radius in her right arm after a severe trampoline accident. She underwent emergency surgery that night to repair the broken bones with metal rods and screws that are still in her arm to this day. She was faced with a four-month long recovery and had to miss the entire high school track season. But, because of Moore’s determination and work ethic, she was able to persevere in the face of adversity. After months of intense physical rehabilitation, starting with two-hour sessions three times a week, she came back and better than ever.
Her physical therapy began immediately after surgery with a series of stretching, ultrasound and astym therapy that is designed to break up scar tissue. After she started to regain some mobility, she worked primarily on rebuilding her strength through weight training. “When I think of Lily...I think of all the hard work that no one has seen over the last year to get her back to where she is so she can achieve her goals this season,” said Mr. Bill Etnyre, physical education teacher at Copeland Manor Elementary School and Moore’s pole vaulting coach.
TINY TEAM Not many LHS students participate in pole vaulting because it is such a difficult event. Moore is accompanied by her teammates, Claire Neuberger and Jenny Blake. They form a family-like bond throughout their season, and according to Blake, they even
make t-shirts for just the three of them. Moore takes on a leadership role for the close-knit team, as she is so advanced in the sport. “If our coach is off doing something else, she is good at helping us with steps [because] she’s so good at technique,” said Blake, a senior.
FEARLESS FOCUS When it comes to meets, Moore’s focus is unrivaled. She describes how she must go into every meet completely confident in her abilities. In pole vaulting, there is such a small margin of error, so if one thing goes wrong, there is a high possibility of injury. “We usually go into a meet with a plan for what we’re focusing on. Sometimes you’re not trying to jump a [personal record], but working to reinforce some techniques you’ve been working on during practice. Either way Lily is not someone that you want to mess around with when she’s in that competitive mindset,” explained Mr. Etnyre.
Pole vaulting must be thought about as a sequence of steps. The vaulter must start with their run, and then plant their pole in the box just outside of the vaulting pit. He or she must then drive their body over the cross bar in order to safely dismount onto the mats on the other side of the pit. The pole itself is vital to the sport, and the athlete must choose his or her pole based on their weight, speed and strength. Moore joked, “People always ask me, ‘Oh is it scary? You probably have to be really strong,’ but I think that the really good pole vaulters just think about it in steps.”
GOING FOR THE GOLD Ultimately, Moore hopes to place in the top three at the State Finals this year in her last season at LHS. She also aspires to break the school record of 12 feet with her ending goal being a 13-foot jump, which would surpass her current personal record of 11 feet. “The great thing about track is we know Lily ultimately needs to be at her best on May 20 and 21. We have a process to get her there, but we believe that if she’s at her best on those days,
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there are few girls in 3A that can match her,” said Mr. Etnyre. So far this season, Moore has already mastered a 10-foot, 6-inch jump, and plans to improve that finish greatly throughout the next few months. Unlike most high school athletes, Moore won’t be saying goodbye to her sport after her senior season. She has verbally committed to the University of Memphis and is ready to reach new heights in her pole vaulting career.
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Cubs and White SOX:
up to bat
Cubs fan perspective
Layout by Becky Deacetis
By Maddie Werner This upcoming Cubs season may be frustrating for some baseball fans, as it seems all of Chicago has hopped on the bandwagon because the Chicago Cubs, usually the losing team, are finally on top. On top? What? That seems impossible...except it’s not. For the last five or six years, this is usually the time of year when Chicagoans are obsessing over the Chicago Blackhawks and cringe at the fact that another heart-wrenching Cubs season is underway. For the first time in a decade, people actually believe “this is the year.” The lovable losers are now picked to end the elusive 107-year championship drought by Bovada Official. As a writer, I know I should usually be objective, but being objective doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t also be a fan. The last Cubs game I attended was on Oct. 13, when the Cubs dominated the Cardinals, winning Game 4 of the NLDS. This was a big deal because the Cardinals have been the best team in baseball for years and have always been a big rival for the Cubs. Well, I lied. My last game was actually when the Cubs lost Game 4 of the NLCS to the Mets at Wrigley Field. I try to forget this game; watching the Mets’ Daniel Murphy’s home run after home run, knowing this was the Cubs’ last game of the season, was a heartbreaking feeling. However, I didn’t leave that game feeling defeated…I was just excited. I was excited for the next season to come. The energy at Wrigley Field was something I’ve never seen before (and I’ve been attending Cubs games since I was 18 months old): “W” flags waving in the stands, fans constantly on their feet, and no one was leaving their seats during the game to get their usual hot dog or Old Style because the game was just THAT exciting.
Now, after having the best offseason in the MLB, the Cubs are reloaded and ready to take the league by storm. As if the lineup wasn’t good enough last year, the team now has Jason Heyward and has also shockingly resigned Dexter Fowler to a one-year deal, which many are excited for. New pitcher John Lackey, Cy Young Winner Jake Arrieta, and Jon Lester bring three unstoppable pitchers into the rotation. My personal favorites, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, are a great 3-4 lineup duo and are eager to break the curse of the Billy Goat. Kyle Schwarber is known for his massive home runs, and I can’t wait to see what he brings to the plate this year. There may only be a handful of people left on this planet who were alive when the Cubs won their last World Series in 1908, which is pretty insane. If the Cubs were to win the World Series, this would be a true “once-in-a-lifetime experience” for so many Chicagoans. The city estimates two million people attended last year’s Chicago Blackhawks parade, and it was their third championship in five years. This would be the Cubs’ first championship in 108 years! Would the city even be able to handle a rally for the Cubs? Many fans anticipate riots, citizens pooling over into Lake Michigan, and maybe even Chicago going up in flames. Work will be called off, buses and trains will shut down, nothing will get done in the city of Chicago. There aren’t just Cubs fans in Chicago, they’re all over the world. And even those who aren’t Cubs fans would probably celebrate their World Series win. Cubs fans have daydreamed of this day their whole lives and this year, it could finally come true.
Cubs preview By Jack Kosowski After lots of losing and building up their farm system with young talent, can the Cubs finally win a World Series? A lot of pressure is upon 2015 Manager of the Year Joe Maddon and his young squad to reach the final stage after a surprising 2015 campaign, which saw the Cubs make it all the way to the National League Championship Series. Several new additions to the Cubs include OF Jason Heyward, P John Lackey, P Adam Warren, and IF Ben Zobrist, who all add more depth to the team. After many thought Cubs free agent Dexter Fowler had signed a deal with the Baltimore Orioles, days later, he came out to surprise his teammates in Arizona with the news that he had signed a one-year deal with the Cubs. Coming off a surprising 97-65 record last season, the stakes have never been higher for the North Siders. Odds may vary between sportsbooks, but according to VegasInsider, the Cubs have 7/1 odds of winning the World Series. (That means that for every seven dollars you put up, you get one in return. Totalling to 8 dollars in winnings). The Cubs have the highest odds of winning it all. Around the MLB, the league is buzz-
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ing about the possibility of having the Chicago Cubs in a World Series, let alone win one. Maddon was asked by an ESPN reporter about the mounting pressure on his team to be top notch contenders and responded by saying that he wanted his team to “embrace the target,” meaning that he wants the players to use the pressure to their advantage. Theo Epstein, President of Baseball Operations, has built the Cubs from the bottom up since joining the team in 2011, a tenure that has been successful when looking back on all the trades, moves, and additions he has made over the years. Last season, Wrigley Field averaged 36,500 fans each game and totaled almost three million fans over the course of the year, according to Baseball Reference. The way many baseball analysts and league executives are talking about this season, Wrigley Field will be crowded with fans going into the 2016 campaign. Will it be a year of “Go Cubs Go” or “Choke Cubs Choke?” The nation is watching.
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Sox fan perspective By TJ Murbach As a die-hard Sox fan, I call in sick from school and attend the home opener every season. The anticipation and excitement is through the roof as the smell of hot dogs and grilled onions fill the ballpark. No matter what happened the season before, Sox fans fill the stadium and hope for the best as all the players are standing on the foul line with the giant American flag covering the outfield during the Star-Spangled Banner. The excitement on the South Side is high even after last season’s disappointing fourth-place finish. The White Sox again have high expectations to compete for their first postseason bid since 2008: USA Today’s annual MLB season predictions have the Sox winning the AL Central division with a 90-72 record, tied for the highest projection in the AL. “This is baseball’s deepest division, with five teams capable of winning it – and almost as many that could finish last.” said USA Today writer Gabe Lacques. For the fans, the excitement is centered around the young talent and new additions. Adding infielder Brett Lawrie in a trade with Oakland will be vital for the Sox turnaround this season; he will be replacing Carlos Sanchez at 2B. Through a three-team trade with the Reds and Dodgers, the White Sox made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason when they acquired slugger Todd Frazier, last season’s Home Run Derby champion. To go along with Frazier in the middle of the lineup, Jose Abreu looks to continue his dominance heading into his third MLB season.
Abreu is only the second player in MLB history to have 30+ HR and 100+ RBI in each of his first two seasons (Albert Pujols is the first). Now that Abreu has some support in the middle of the order, Sox fans can expect his already exceptional stats to increase even more. The powerful core of Abreu, Frazier and Lawrie should get Sox fans roaring as the fireworks explode over the left-center bleachers. Near those bleachers, White Sox fans fill up the K one and hold up a K sign for every strikeout in support of ace Chris Sale, who led the AL in strikeouts with 274 last season. His overpowering velocity is complimented well by his devastating off-speed pitches. Sale is an early pick for many to win the AL Cy Young Award. To go along with Sale, Sox fans are expecting a big season from second-year phenom Carlos Rodon. The lefty starter struggled early last season with control, but he hit a groove late in the season as he found his command. Rodon, similarly to Sale, is a strikeout machine who possesses impressive velocity. His slider is practically unhittable because of the large amount of break and high velocity. Many baseball experts are expecting the White Sox to improve this season and place themselves in a position to contend for the playoffs for years to come. The impact of new additions give Sox fans like me hope for a chance at a postseason birth. View the extended article at lhsdoi.com
Sox preview By Jarrett Malec After a 76-86 campaign in 2015, the Chicago White Sox have reloaded their roster and are looking to compete again in the American League Central. Last season, the Sox were last in the AL in team batting and 28th overall (out of 30 teams). That performance was extremely disappointing for a team that plays in a hitters’ ballpark and had playoff aspirations a year ago. A year later, the Sox have attempted to fix areas of weaknesses in their lineup and with a strong pitching rotation, expectations are high on the South Side. After an offensively-challenged 2015 season, the Sox looked to add more pop to their lineup to complement their pitching. The Tyler Flowers era has ended in Chicago and along with the loss of complementary catcher Geovany Soto to free agency, there was a vacancy at catcher. Last November, Chicago signed catcher Alex Avila in free agency. The 29-year-old only played in 67 games last year because of a bone bruise in his left knee. Avila had a batting average of .191 in 2015 and was an All-Star in 2011. One month later, the Sox signed another catcher in 31-year-old switch-hitting Dioner Navarro. Navarro is a 12-year veteran who has most recently played above the border in Toronto. In his 54 appearances last season, Navorro posted a .246 batting average. This season, both Avila and Navorro will look to provide a needed spark to the lineup. Last season, the Sox struggled to find an infield that could both be sound defensively and produce on offense. Now, with the exit of longtime shortstop Alexei Ramirez, as well as second baseman Micah Johnson, the Sox needed to make a few deals. With the new additions of two-time All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier and Oakland’s Brett
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Lawrie, the Chicago infield looks much different this upcoming season. Last December, the White Sox acquired Frazier from Cincinnati in a three-team deal. Frazier batted .255 with 35 home runs last season. With Frazier now on the roster, that will likely force usual third baseman Brett Lawrie to play second base. The Sox picked up Lawrie a week before the Frazier deal occurred. Last season, Lawrie established his best career numbers with a .260 batting average along with 60 RBI. The 26-year-old looks to stay away from lingering injuries and play day-to-day for the Sox. Most recently, the Sox added veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins from the Dodgers. The NL MVP in 2008 in Philadelphia will be competing with youngster Tyler Saladino for the starting shortstop position. Although Saladino played only 11 games at shortstop last season, he is being slated by many as the starter for 2016. On Feb. 9, the White Sox agreed to terms with free agent pitcher Mat Latos. During his tenure in the MLB, Latos has a career ERA of 3.51 over the course of nine seasons. The 28-year-old right hander will compete for a spot in the rotation that consists of ace Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, John Danks, and Erik Johnson. In the outfield, the White Sox recently became more athletic with the signing of 29-year old Austin Jackson. Last season, Jackson batted .273 in the course of 136 games with the Seattle Mariners and the Cubs. Along with Eaton, current starting outfielders include Melky Cabrera in left field and Avisail Garcia in right field. With the offensive additions to this year’s club, I see the White Sox hovering around 85 wins and in a position to make the postseason.
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Drops of Ink
Spring has finally arrived. We look forward to seeing you following after-class practices and games. And you have time to come over any day for a quick lunch.
Spring is also party-planning time!
We cater parties for a few and corporate events for many. Tell us your ideas and, together, we will plan a great celebration. Regular and catering menus www.fodraks.com Show your student ID card for a Regular Menu 15% discount or Free Fries with Sandwich Purchase.
327 South Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville
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