October 10 issue

DROPS OF

INK

October 10, 2013 Volume 87, Issue 1

Energy Crisis!

Are the popular beverages helping or harming students?

Pages 8-9

2013-14 Staff

Elise Houcek, Editor-in-Chief Alex Zoellick, Editor-in-Chief Kyle Laska, News Editor Ava Polzin, Features Editor Tom Ackerman, Opinion Editor Mike Gasick, Sports Editor Tyler Skinner, Sports Editor Bailey Schmid, Photo Editor Rachael Girmscheid, Social Media Editor Emily Luce, Social Media Editor 2

October 10, 2013

Jessica Cartwright, Staff Writer Becky DeAcetis, Staff Writer Molly Downing, Staff Writer Ryan Jackson, Staff Writer Hannah Jenkins, Staff Writer Jacob Luce, Staff Writer Emily Malecha, Staff Writer Connor Polk, Staff Writer Maddie Salata, Staff Writer Shelly Schick, Staff Writer Korina Valenzuela, Staff Writer Kate Vittore, Staff Writer Nick Vittore, Staff Writer Kaitlin Vrba, Staff Writer Mr. Michael Gluskin, Faculty Adviser Masthead

what’s inside

4 5 6 8-9 10-11 12-13 14-15 16 17

Fall Musical Preview

A look at what to expect for the upcoming fall musical, “Fiddler on the Roof.”

News Briefs

DOI examines the possibility of a new pool at LHS as well as a recent law passed by Governor Quinn called Rocky’s law.

Syria: A Global Crisis

Learn what’s occurring on the other side of the world.

Energy Drinks...Do they Give You Wings or Create a Monster?

Energy drinks are popular amongst students, and DOI has the scoop on why they may not be the best alternative.

LHS Band Scene

Read about different bands that some LHS students are a part of.

Talented Teachers

LHS teachers have many hobbies and skills outside of the classroom.

Namaste-ing Relaxed

DOI examines how meditation and yoga can be beneficial to help students relieve stress.

What’s Trending: Halloween/Fall Check out what’s popular in the hallways at LHS this season.

What’s Happening?

A brief look at what’s going on in the world around us.

18-21

Opinion

22-23

Male vs. Female Sports: The Discrepancy

24-25 26

Staff Editorial: Participation points prove unfair; Foreign languages, sí or no?; Diet sodas: a harmful solution; Why bully? Freshmen deserve better

A look at the popularity and differences between male and female sports at LHS.

Wildcats Football Roster Shrinks Again

Emily Luce Rachael Girmscheid Social Media Editors

letter to the readers

Dear Readers, The countdown has ended! We know you’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the very first Drops of Ink issue of the year...right? Well, get excited because this is about to be our best year yet! With 11 returning and 13 new members (plus everyone’s favorite teacher and adviser, Mr. Gluskin!), there is never a dull moment in room 018 during seventh hour Drops of Ink class. We are thankful to have such a lively staff and are confident that the stories we write will reflect the personality of each student writer.

This letter is coming to you from Emily Luce and Rachael Girmscheid. We are the social media editors of DOI, meaning we advertise and announce stories via Twitter and Instagram. Hint, hint everyone, go follow us! We promise it’s worth it. Our instagram name is “lhsdoi” and you can find us on twitter @lhsdoi.

Six letters; easy to remember. On our pages, you will find live sports updates, upcoming events, links to new online stories, and tons of pictures as well!

This issue of Drops of Ink is full of awesome reading material.

For those who aren’t as aware of what’s happening outside of the Libertyville bubble, we have two full pages dedicated to national and global events. You will find these on page 6 and page 17. Included in these stories is a piece on the crisis in Syria. On a lighter note, we have stories about teacher hobbies outside of school, energy drinks, and everyone’s favorite: What’s Trending Halloween/Fall edition! A lot of time has been spent on this issue -- we even went through a day-long workshop focusing solely on new and improved layout designs.

If you want to see certain stories in our upcoming issues or online, we welcome you to communicate that to us via our social networking sites! Remember, lhsdoi. For now, it’s about that time to put the magazine down and try to pay attention in class...as hard as that may be. Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Find out why the roster has declined for this year’s football season.

Serving up Success

An update on the girls volleyball team’s season as they try to work their way back to state.

Cover photo by Bailey Schmid

Table of Contents

October 10, 2013

3

Behind the Curtain: Fiddler on The Roof

By Korina Valenzuela and Maddie Salata

Coming soon to Libertyville High School, the classic tale of “Fiddler on the Roof,” featuring your very own LHS students.

Audition Process

The auditions for “Fiddler on the Roof” took place August 27-29 in the auditorium. This year’s auditions ran a little differently than in years past due to the new musical director, Mr. Christopher Thomas, who teaches English here at LHS. Students had to audition in three parts: singing, dancing, and acting.

First, students went into the choir room and sang 16-32 bars of a song of their choice. Then they had to perform a dance sequence. And finally, they did scene readings from “Fiddler on the Roof” that the directors had chosen for them. From there, if students were lucky enough to get called back, they acted out some more scenes for the directors before being cast.

It may seem nerve wracking, but junior Jane Recker said it’s not that bad: “After many years of acting you seem to get used to it,” said Recker, who plays Hodel in the musical.

Senior Christian Klepac said that he was a little nervous to audition because of the new director.

“I just felt like I really had to impress him. It was weird because I’m a senior now and I felt like I was a freshman all over again,” said Klepac, who plays Tevye in the musical.

By the end of the auditions, 48 students were cast, which is the second largest cast in LHS history. But getting there was tough, according to Mr. Thomas.

“I can honestly say that I hate casting. I love to see students perform and give it their all; however, I hate saying no!” he said.

As for students who didn’t make the musical this year, Mr. Thomas has some advice: “Stay involved. Whether it be running the crew, being part of stage crew, or even trying to be a part of our community, I encourage them to get involved.”

About the Musical

Photo taken by Bailey Schmid Christian Klepac (center) rehearsing a scene with Nick Moulton (left) and Taylor Skie (right).

“Fiddler on the Roof” displays the traditional values and morals of a small Jewish family located in Russia. The story takes place during the year 1905 with an ordinary milkman named Tevye, who is also the main character. He explains the traditional morals to his small society to keep balance amongst the villagers.

“Tevye is the one character that loves tradition the most. He is the driving force of the play,” says Mr. Thomas.

Along with tradition, Tevye strongly believes in the value of family. When a matchmaker named Yente comes to a Sabbath dinner, Tevye’s traditions start to break away from their reins.

While he struggles to keep his tightly knit traditions in place, he must also accept the independence of his five daughters.

His eldest daughter, Tzeitel, played by sophomore Taylor Skie, is the first to break free from the reigns of her father’s tradition. While she pledges her hand to a tailor named Motel, played by senior Nick Moulton, Tevye meets a wealthy butcher named Lazaar Wolf, played by junior Isaac Shur.

Tevye then suggests that Wolf is a good match for his eldest daughter.

Meanwhile, Tevye’s second daughter falls in love with a young man named Perchik, played by a junior Keith Wilson Jr., the tutor who was hired to teach Tevye’s youngest daughters.

Tevye’s youngest daughter Hodel, is the first to break tradition confidently. Eventually, Tevye’s other daughters also stray from tradition and fall in love.

They all get married later on and the tradition that Tevye wanted so badly to keep in place is broken. The plot of the story then takes a drastic turn that will leave viewers weeping.

As Mr. Thomas says, “It’ll be a great play and a great show.”

Performance

“Fiddler on the Roof” will take place on November 7-9, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 P.M. in the auditorium. This musical will be a little more traditional than years past, but Klepac looks forward to showing everyone that “something from older times can still be fun and relevant.”

Having a big cast means lots of energy on stage. “The show goes anywhere from you’re bawling your face off to laughing your pants off. It’s just so fun,” said Klepac.

Tickets for “Fiddler on the Roof” go on sale Monday, October 28, through Friday, November 1, during lunch periods and will cost $5 for adults and $3 for students. They will also be sold through an online website called Seat Yourself. If available, the remaining unsold tickets will be available at the box office on the night of the show. Unfortunately, students will not be allowed to use the activity passes for this event. All proceeds made from the ticket sales will go to District 128.

For more pictures of the play, visit www.lhsdoi.com.

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Photo taken by Bailey Schmid Jackie Ovassapian (left), Megan Starovich (middle), and Andrea Gattone (right) rehearsing a dance scene.

October 10, 2013

Entertainment

Rumors of a New Pool Flood LHS

Governor Quinn Signs “Rocky’s Law”

By Alex Zoellick The school board is currently deciding on whether or not a new pool will be built on the LHS campus: the likely verdict is that there will, infact, be a new pool and construction could begin within the next two years, according to District 128 Business Director, Ms. Yasmine Dada.

The current state of the new pool is unknown for now as the plan is still awaiting approval from the school board. According to Dada, the board seems to have accepted the idea of a new pool, though. Within the next three to four months, focus groups of parents, coaches and students will be put together for a final word on the pool, ultimately deciding if the pool will be built. If all goes as planned the $14 million project will be complete 18 months upon starting the renovations, according to Dada. This 18 month construction period could begin as soon as the focus groups end, so early February at the earliest. Although that outcome is highly unlikely.

The money for the pool has been taken from district funds over the past few years. It is the intent that little to no taxpayer money is used to fund the new pool, claims Dada..

Although the pool has had work done in the past few years, the old facility is struggling to keep up with competition and safety regulations. Two years ago, the pool was shut down for a brief period because the drains didn’t meet IHSA safety standards.

“LHS needs a need pool because the air ventilation is terrible,” said junior girls swimmer Jordan Rule while expressing her concerns for the current state of the pool. “The aquatic sports don’t have a sufficient training facility. Our swim teams cannot hold their own invitationals because our pool isn’t big enough, and for water polo, because the boys and girls season is at the same time, it’s difficult to schedule practice times.”

The first of multiple options for the new pool would be to build the new pool where the current pool is located. It would become more of an extensive renovation where the biggest obstacle would be finding a spot for all the pool activities during the renovations. Both the girls and boys swimming and water polo teams would need to be relocated during construction, as well as club swim teams, special olympic swim teams and swim lessons that all require pool time. The Vernon Hills pool would be a likely spot for these activities, stated Dada.

“I’m concerned about relocation for my water polo and swim season: transportation would be a hassle,” said junior boys swimmer Alex Kratcoski. “I hope the project is approved, but [I] realize it would come with many complications.”

The last spot being looked at is in front of the school on the knoll behind the varsity softball field, states Dada. This spot would provide for the most space, as it could be extended further toward the road.

A structure here would likely act as a two story building: parking garage on the bottom with a pool on top.

The question that remains would be, what happens to the old pool?

Photo by Alex Zoellick According to Dada, One of the possible sites for a new pool is in the field near the softball there are multiple field and in front of the faculty parking lot. possibilities for that as well. It could be converted into a wrestling gym, as the wrestlers are crammed down into one small room; a partial dance studio, for the poms team that has no real practice space, as well as the dance classes; or even just a third gym. All of these facilities could be used by the school so it is up in the air as to the outcome of this space.

News Briefs

By Kyle Laska This past August, Governor Pat Quinn signed “Rocky’s Law,” requiring school districts to provide catastrophic accident insurance for injured student athletes.

The law, taking effect on January 1, 2014, will demand that a school’s minimum policy will cover $3 million in aggregate benefits or 5 years of coverage. This means that the school will only pay up to $3 million, contingent upon the fact that the money is used before 5 years have passed.

This coverage is in addition to any other insurance that the athlete already has in place. Families are eligible for the money up to five years after paying the first $50,000 in medical expenses. According to the law, insurance cannot cost more than $5 per student and it is up to the school districts to pay for the insurance.

Rocky’s Law is named after Rasul “Rocky” Clark. Clark, who played football for Eisenhower High School located in Blue Island, Illinois, was paralyzed from the neck down after being tackled during a football game in 2000. The policy Clark had for insurance, paid by Eisenhower High School, only covered up to $5 million or 10 years, but the policy ended in August 2010. With the policy ending, Clark’s quality of medical care declined.

After Clark’s death in January 2012, the push for the law was revamped.

In an August 4 interview with NBC-Chicago, Gov. Pat Quinn stated: “Rocky Clark was a fighter, and this new law is a tribute to him and all the years he fought to protect young athletes across our state.”

The new law will also provide accident and health care insurance coverage for students injured during school-sponsored athletic activities during kindergarten through 8th grade.

From 1931 to 2006, the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research reported 1,006 direct and 683 indirect fatalities resulting from participation in all organized football. The rate of deaths related to football is continually dropping, much to the thanks of new safety regulations.

As far as District 128 and the status of the law pertaining to LHS, the district is already prepared.

“Community High School District #128 already had this type of insurance coverage in place. This new law probably affects schools in a lower income/tax-base district that didn’t have this insurance,” stated Athletic Director Briant Kelly. “This is a good thing, as it is an added protection for student-athletes and their families.”

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus/Chicago Tribune Rasul “Rocky” Clark rested at home with the use of a breathing tube after being paralyzed from a high school football injury. He passed away in 2012.

October 10, 2013

5

SyRIA: A Global Crisis

Global Crisis

By Elise Houcek

How Did We Get Here?

The conflict in Syria stems from a long history of civil unrest and unsettling diplomacy. In March 2011, a wave of political protest surged in the nation as rebels of the Arab Spring, a pro-democracy movement currently revolutionizing North Africa and the Middle East, made an attempt to overthrow Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his father’s 30- year reign in 2000.

Stimulated by earlier revolutions that had occurred in Tunisia and Egypt, the Syrian rebels requested civil freedom and the release of political prisoners, both of which demanded the resignation of the current dictatorial regime. As reported by The Washington Post, these peaceful protests quickly turned violent when the government responded by massacring and imprisoning the activists and their families.

Where Are We Headed?

No one really knows. To intervene or not to intervene is a debate that has occupied Congress from the outset, and for a while had left our nation in a standstill. Talk of a limited air strike among the Obama administration caused widespread contention over the consequences of direct military action and the preservation of democracy, and, according to a CNN poll released on September 9, was opposed by more than 7 in 10 Americans. The executive powers, namely President Obama himself, deemed that such a response would be necessary as Syria had crossed a “red line” in their use of illicit weapons.

On September 27, the UN Security Council voted unanimously in favor of a decision to secure and destroy Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile, of which the Syrian government has decided to cooperate. As reported by The Washington Post, the UN convention also advocated plans for a “political transition in Syria adopted by key nations in July 2012” and set a date for a mid-November peace conference in order to facilitate the development. Concerning U.S. future involvement in the nation, an affirmative resolution remains indistinct; while the vast majority of public opinion currently supports diplomacy over militancy as a means to action, there can be no certainty in a situation so complex and instrumental.

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus/Abaca Press Anti-war protestors rally at White House in August.

Photo edited by Bailey Schmid

What’s The Big Deal?

The original protesters quickly began to see their intentions recast into the workings of a full-blown civil war as civilian dissidents organized their defense into armed militias and the state military made an attempt to suppress the uprising by means internationally deplored. Of all the government operations, that which has inspired the most controversy was Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons in an attack on the Damascus suburbs in midAugust. Later deemed definitive by the UN Security Council, although they did not assign blame, and strengthened by the U.S. analysis of hair and tissue samples of victims, the nerve agent sarin was confirmed responsible for the death of nearly 1,000 civilians, as cited by The Huffington Post.

Why all the uproar over a singular incident, you might ask? It all rests on the preservation of international law. In accordance with the 1925 Geneva Convention, the production and use of chemical weapons is prohibited under any circumstances, namely because its principal application targets civilians rather than military personnel and its effects on the individual are thoroughly inhumane. Although the country was absent to the original assembly, the Geneva Protocol was signed

by Syria as a declaration of inclusion in 1968. So while conventional weapons have caused the death of thousands in Syria and the detriment reality of this is not unnamed, the fact of the matter is that the use of chemical weapons in particular holds critical weight in the future of “acceptable” warfare, not to mention the legitimacy of UN.

LHS Opinions: “Most people believe that diplomacy should be first and foremost. Given that, the United States’ approach follows diplomatic measures. So we are relieved that it looks like there won’t be any direct military intervention.”

“I think that if possible, the situation should be solved diplomatically with Russia. If that’s not an option, I don’t think another war would be the best option to solve it.”

-Ms. Amy Holtsford, U.S. Government Teacher Government -Luke Hanson, Senior

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October 10, 2013

“Although the blatan disregard for human rights by the Syrian regime is frightening, it is a global affair and the U.S. should not necessarily have to be the sole arbiter.”

-Derek Reitz, Senior

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. . . s k n i r D y Energ

Do They Give You Wings, or Create a Monster?

By Emily Luce

Photos by Bailey Schmid

An alarm blares loudly at 5:30 a.m. Yet another school day has arrived and When asked about how he physically felt after a few hours, Sanks replied, “I

brings with it the same routine. Many high school students find it next to usually just want to lie down for awhile because they make me sort of light headed,

impossible to get out of bed before the sun has even come up. When a hot especially if I’ve had more than one in a day.”

shower to wake up doesn’t quite do the trick, some teens turn to coffee for

their energy source. However, for those who find the bitter drink distasteful, a So what exactly causes the negative aftermath of energy drinks? Everything has

stronger alternative is sometimes brought out: energy drinks. to do with the ingredients that are found in them. According to an article published in The New York Times last March, a 16-ounce can of an energy drink Red Bull, Monster, and 5-hour Energy are just a few names of popular energy may contain 13 or more teaspoons of sugar and the amount of caffeine found in drinks, or rather, concoctions of sugar, caffeine, and potent stimulants. The four Coca-Colas. In addition to the large amounts of sugar and caffeine, the beverbrand names and their slogans are strategically thought out. When one is ages include stimulants such as taurine, guarana seed extract, and B vitamins. feeling exhausted, who wouldn’t turn to a beverage that supposedly “gives you wings” or one that has the name of Rockstar? According to Forbes, a “There’s guarana seed, which is two times more potent than the coffee bean. magazine that provides business news and financial information, a study was Then there are the vitamin B complexes, typically in taurine, which are good for published last February in the journal of Pediatrics in Review that said the $5 you in normal doses. When you mix it all together and drink a high number of billion energy drink industry advertises directly to adolescents. Also found in [energy drinks] it’s not a good combination,” said Ms. Traut. this study were many health issues occurring with people that were directly associated When the body takes in an overload of these types with high caffeine consumption -- including of ingredients, it can be put into a sort of shock. but not limited to insomnia, anxiety, high Researchers from the University of Texas at Houston blood pressure, and digestive problems. concluded in 2010 that the drinks could have poor effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and even brain Ms. Cameron Traut, one of the nurses at function when taken in excess.

LHS, has plenty of information to share about energy drinks and her experiences Such side effects have occurred with sophomore with students who have used them. At a Emily Jenner. “I used to drink energy drinks every former school nursing job, Ms. Traut had day because I didn’t like the taste of coffee yet, and I an encounter with a student who had come wound up having really bad headaches and my heart into her office feeling very sick. “His heart would beat way faster than normal,” said Jenner, was racing and he felt dizzy but didn’t know who now drinks coffee instead. why...as it turned out, he had drank seven or eight Red Bulls in two hours,” Traut said.

In moderation, it is unlikely that the drinks will negatively affect the body. “Having a Monster every The student had a higher blood pressure than normal as well as a horrible once in awhile isn’t harmful if the one drinking it has no pre-exposed medical stomach ache. His experience is not uncommon. Energy drinks provide for conditions,” Ms. Traut said. Even so, the included ingredients are never meant to an awareness overload quickly, but negative effects are indeed felt even after be consumed in such high doses. The body is perfectly capable of producing its the caffeine and stimulants are out of the system. Many high school students own energy if treated well. know the feeling.

Syd Foltz, a senior, doesn’t believe energy drinks are necessary. “Besides the fact Tanner Sanks, a senior, drinks energy drinks three to four times a week. “I that I already have a lot of energy, I think energy drinks work for a little while but drink [energy drinks] because they help me pay attention in my classes. I the crash you get after drinking them makes it not worth it. I prefer drinking don’t get tired as easily if I have one in the morning,” Sanks said. coffee instead to wake me up in the morning.”

ww

“I think energy drinks work for a little while, but the crash you get after drinking them makes it not worth it,” said senior Syd Foltz.

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October 10, 2013

Feature

Many people question why the drinks are still produced and sold. The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, does not monitor the production of the energy drink industry. Because it is unsupervised, manufacturing companies are not forced to write every ingredient on the labels. In a lot of cases, consumers are taking in a much greater amount of stimulants than they are aware of, according to Ms. Traut. The accurate list of ingredients can be found online, but may take a little time to find. Many websites with information are based off of the manufacturer, which still may not provide the whole truth.

Energy drinks are bad enough, but mixing them with alcohol is a serious risk that is becoming more and more popular amongst young adults. The issue has been on the news in the last several months in hopes of making people aware of the dangers that can ensue as a result of this trend.

Many college students use this method of binge drinking to fight the effects of alcohol while staying awake longer and thus drinking more. Normally, one would get tired or pass out, a safety mechanism of the body to prevent alcohol poisoning, according to Ms. Traut. When the stimulants in the energy drinks are mixed with alcohol, the blood toxicity levels continue to rise while the person is still alert and able to drink more. Deaths have occurred due to this activity and it takes a dangerous toll on the body.

Energy can be achieved without the consumption of caffeine and sugar-packed drinks. The best alternative when it comes to having energy is a mixture of sleeping well, eating well, and hydrating well. When rested, energy comes naturally. A well-balanced diet provides the right amount of B vitamins, which are added in excess to energy drinks. Water is needed to keep all organs functioning properly, and even minor dehydration can make one feel sluggish.

Next time you head to the gas station to pick up a couple Red Bulls, you may want to think again. They may give you wings for the time being, but will only bring you down in the end.

Graph data courtesy of Ms. Cameron Traut Feature

October 10, 2013

9

LHS Band Scene

By Alex Zoellick

It’s no secret that the LHS Wind Ensemble, the school band, is the best around; it won the Super State Competition last year, but there are many other notable student bands that most

of the school population doesn’t know about.

Just a few of these bands include Their Tribal People, The Escapers and Union Saint Claire.

The Escapers The Escapers are a group of juniors with common musical interests that decided to start their own band. Zach Wilson is the singer and one of the two guitarists. Rob Senezcko also plays guitar and his twin brother Nick plays bass. Simley plays drums for the band.

The Escapers look to bands like Nirvana, the Arctic Monkeys and the Strokes for inspiration. They all like the style of music that the bands mentioned play.

This group may have the most experience of all of the bands mentioned: they play frequent shows, recorded an EP and even had their own radio appearance.

“We’ve played 20 shows over a period of a year and a half, with breaks with no shows for a couple months here and there,” said Wilson. “We usually play every two or three weeks” They have played shows at countless venues including Libertyville Days, Aloha Lounge, Cook Memorial Library, Mickey Finn’s and Souled Out in Libertyville; Palatine Fest; The Alley in Highwood; The Cubby Bear North in Lincolnshire; Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago; The Oasis in Grayslake; and Penny Road Pub in Barrington,.

It’s no surprise that The Escapers have played so many shows as they have written over 25 original songs. Wilson is the primary writer but in some songs like “How am I supposed to know?” other band members have stepped in to help write the music.

With all those songs, the Escapers were able to release their own EP last year. The band members claim that it is their crowning achievement as a band so far.

“The EP we released on June 15 is the biggest thing that has ever happened to our band,” said Wilson. “We hope the next one, due for release before the end of the year, will be much bigger though.”

The Escapers, Nick Senezcko Photo courte to the left, Si middle on gu sy of Zach W mley on the dr itar and Rob ilson Se ums, Wilson ne last January 4. zcko on the ri in the ght, play a sh ow in Mickey Finn’s

“[Becoming professionals] is the dream. That’s what I want to do with the rest of my life: I want to play music. I know that’s what everyone else in the band’s dream is so, if we could make that happen, it’d be awesome.”- Max Niemann

Their Tribal People Their Tribal People is a band made up of Max Niemann, junior; Jake Chatfield, sophomore; Lloyd Chatfield, senior; and Bobby Crandell, junior. This indie rock group grew from friends with the same music teacher to playing multiple shows a month.

“Lloyd, Jake and I originally started it just because we had the same guitar teacher,” said Niemann, recalling fall 2011 when the band formed.

“We were all friends with Bobby, and he had never played drums before but he had a drum kit, so we started practicing at his house and that how it all started.”

The group plays covers of famous hits as well as original songs. According to Niemann, they have written 20-30 original songs since forming. Set lists often include covers of Hey, by the Pixies and Cold Spring, by the Cymbals Eat Guitars. Some originals include “SS,” “Mellow Does,” “Unknown Man,” “El Peop” and “In the Corner.”

Their variety of songs has led them to land frequent shows at the Aloha Lounge and Cook Memorial Public Library. They have also played in Barrington and Des Plaines and may even have an upcoming show at the Elbow Lounge in Chicago. At Libertyville Days last year, the group met Tom Morello, LHS alumni and lead guitarist from Rage Against the Machine, after a show, and they later played a show on the Brainerd building stage.

“The coolest place we ever got to play was the stage in Brainerd for a documentary for the Save Brainerd Foundation,” said Niemann.

The band will receive even more publicity when they record their first EP in the upcoming months. Right now, their fans can find their music on their Soundcloud and Facebook pages.

Their Tribal People dreams of one day making it to the big time and playing for thousands of fans around the world.

People of Their Tribal Photo courtesy ibrary this past ook Memorial L C at g iemann in m or rf ople pe on the drums, N is l el nd ra C , Their Tribal Pe ft e le hatfield is on th right.

August. Jake C tfield is on the ha C yd lo L d an e dl id is in the m

“[Becoming professionals] is the dream,” said Niemann, one of the guitarists and singers in the band. “That’s what I want to do with the rest of my life: I want to play music. I know that’s what everyone else in the band’s dream is so, if we could make that happen, it’d be awesome.”

Union Saint Claire Union Saint Claire, a band created by seniors Sharon Li, Mark Truskowsky and Ingrid Reid and junior, David Simley have a rather unique name. According to Li, the idea came from an intersection in St. Louis that Simley, a guitarist, saw. The streets were Union and Saint Claire. The group decided that would be a great band name, so they used it.

Union Saint Claire plays all originals. According to Li, they have written about eight songs. The process of writing is a team effort with this group. Overcoming personal struggles, relationships and living in the moment are common topics that are expressed in songs like “Frolie a Deux,” “Newer Than The New New Song Song” and “The Fire Song,” all of which are Union Saint Claire originals.

“We [Simley and Li] like to write together,” said Li. “I usually write the lyrics and the melody, but he’ll write the guitar parts.”

Union Saint Claire has yet to record any songs. They are, however, trying to get some of their original songs recorded. Fans can look to Facebook to find out more about this group, or they can go to a show and hear first-hand.

According to Li, the Library Band Jams that occur once every few months are the best to play. These shows have Claire free entrance, allowing of Union Saint Photo courtesy t, Li in the ley on the far lef Sim for all types of music ys: Da ille ertyv ire playing at Lib Union Saint Cla fans to attend. This atto the right. middle and Reid tracts all kinds of music fans and allows for bigger crowds to be exposed to the indie-punk style that Union Saint Claire plays.

The Band Jams are also the most fun shows to play because of the rules, or lack thereof, according to Li. “They [the library staff] don’t care what you do, so one time we crowd-surfed David. Literally we picked him up and crowd-surfed him. It’s crazy,” Li said.

TALENTED TEACHERS

by Emily Malecha There has always been that common conception that our teachers have “no life” outside school. This story is meant to tackle that misconception, showing that many teachers do, in fact, have very exciting lives and talents outside of the classroom.

Mr. Buesing

Mr. Mark Buesing, a physics teacher, cross country coach, and academic decathlon advisor, is just one example of the extremely talented staff of teachers we have here at Libertyville High School. In the late 1980s early 1990s, Mr. Buesing started cycling as a hobby. “I was working as an engineer at the time, when a company offered me a contract to cycle professionally,” Buesing says.

He then cycled professionally for three years after that from 1991-1993, cycling for the companies Paul’s Racing Team and Ordinary Racing . His accomplishments in cycling ranged from winning a few races to making it to the 1992 Olympic Photo courtesy of Mark Buesing Trials; he was also awarded Illinois Cyclist of the Year award twice, in 1992 and 1993. Out of all of the achievements Mr. Buesing accomplished throughout his career as a professional cyclist, he had one that stuck out in his mind, though.

“The proudest moment for me in all of my career as a cyclist was when I won the Illinois State Championship in front of my dad,” Mr. Buesing said, that was in 1992.

He admits that being a cyclist has always been enjoyable to him, but it became too routine, where he said that his days consisted of “riding, eating, sleeping, repeat.” In 1993, he retired from professional cycling, and says now that, though he still rides his bicycle sometimes with his children, he is much more active in running.

Mr. Dawson LHS chemistry teacher Mr. Peter Dawson is another example of a teacher with a very interesting hobby.

As a kid, Dawson loved to play card games like Hearts with his family. He was always very skilled at the games and enjoyed playing them. As he got older, specifically in college, he began playing mostly poker with his friends.

Mr. Dawson and his college friends joined a tournament and ended up winning a good amount of money.

Since college, Dawson has continued playing poker and has competed multiple times in the World Series of Poker.

“It’s a month long event, where I usually play at the $1,500 bids, which is a lot of money but there are much larger entries than that all together,” Dawson says.

In all, Dawson has played the World Series six times. He’s made it to the last day of competition twice. His best place was when he came in 28th place on the last day.

“Making it to the last day makes all the hard work you’ve done pay off and Photo courtesy of Bluff Magazine you feel a sense of pride that you have a chance of winning the whole thing,” Dawson says.

Now he mostly plays with his friends. He likes the game because it’s good competition and hard, and all of the players are extremely intelligent and skilled.

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October 10, 2013

Feature

Miss KleinheiNz Another example of an extremely talented and driven staff member is Ms. Joyce Kleinheinz. Kleinheinz teaches physical education for sophomores, juniors, and seniors and is also extremely active in the growing workout phenomenon CrossFit. She joined the local CrossFit Carbon in Vernon Hills three years ago.

“I needed something to fill the void after I stopped playing college soccer, but I wanted a workout that still incorporated a strong sense of teamwork,” Kleinheinz commented on her original motivation to join CrossFit Carbon.

She says that though her work at CrossFit is 60 percent health advantages and staying in shape, but the other 40 percent is competing on a team. Her team consists of many different members of her CrossFit Carbon gym, and they compete in everything from small competitions on the weekends, that Photo courtesy of Joyce Kleinheinz she says can be much like 5k runs, to some larger scale competitions against other gyms in the region. In their largest competition of the year, all gyms in the region pick their three “fittest” men and women to compete against each other to eventually find the fittest man and woman. Kleinheinz has been lucky enough to be chosen to compete the past three years.

She’s very proud of her major achievements but says that one sticks out more than anything: “I remember when I got my first pull-up, I was so excited,” she said, “Now whenever I get frustrated with a workout I think about the little things like that and see how far I’ve come.”

MR. TWADELL Mr. Brian Twadell, an American Literature and AP Language teacher at LHS, also has an exciting hobby. Outside of school, Twadell is the lead vocalist of an alternative band called Short to Ground; the genre is usually referred to as industrial music.

“The music and sounds you produce mimic the sounds of industrial machinery,” Twadell explained.

Throughout his life, Twadell has been in and out of numerous different bands. He was trained in classical piano from the age of eight and now does a lot of songwriting as well as vocals. Short to Ground was formed around 2008 when he and some previous bandmates decided to start a new band. They have played many shows as a band, mostly staying in cities in the Midwest due to the members having other jobs and families at home. Out of the venues that Twadell has played, he personally likes two: LimeWire Lounge and The DarkRoom in Chicago.

Photo courtesy of Brian Twadell/ShorttoGround.com “They’re a lot smaller and very intimate venues,” he commented. “You can interact a lot with the fans.”

They have also played a few music festivals in Chicago, including the Electronic Saviours Tour, where the proceeds of the show went to a charity benefiting cancer research.

Short to Ground has released a self titled EP and also a longer album titled Otherside. They are currently at work on a full length album as well.

Feature

October 10, 2013

13

Namaste-ing Relaxed

By Ava Polzin

As posted on the ABCNews.com health blog in May, “More than 20 million Americans meditate regularly, according to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey. More than 13 million do yoga… As with meditation, studies find that regularly doing downward dogs and warrior poses can help manage stress and anxiety. There’s even some evidence that yoga can help fight cancer-related fatigue, manage high-blood pressure and ease chronic pain, especially joint pain.”

Surely so many people wouldn’t chase after a mere placebo effect, but why yoga and meditation? Evidence is increasingly pointing to the maintenance of mental health, stress-reduction, and relaxation (all leading to sharper mental acuity and better physical health) as the direct by-products of mindful practice.

Benefits of Bending For thousands of years, yoga has been a spiritual practice to harmonize the mind and body and offer a peaceful way to increase strength, flexibility, and longevity. Sources show, however, that so much of its good comes not just from improved muscle tone but from positive mental tone. According to the Mayo Clinic, an international medical care, education, and research center, “A number of studies have shown that yoga can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can also enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being.”

Because of the hectic nature of modern life, chronic stress symptoms are almost an epidemic. With constant accessibility and stimulation, very few people have time they can just call their own. Many diseases afflicting the average person are borne of personal disregard in favor of doing more. That said, reducing stress can improve health in itself. The traditional method of stress reduction is just relaxation, but increasingly, yoga is considered an equal, if not better, means of diminishing anxiety and furthering mental health. According to a 2007 study by the University of South Australia School of Health Services, “Yoga was more effective than relaxation in improving mental health [and]... Yoga appears to provide a comparable improvement in stress, anxiety and health status compared to relaxation.”

Libertyville High School students are among those who could benefit from yoga’s ability to improve mental health and reduce stress. Mrs. Julie Lyons, the LHS Yoga Club advisor, commented that “high school students find the need to take a break in their busy schedules in order to slow down, relax and meditate. Yoga provides just that: a chance to focus on one’s own wellbeing.”

One member of Yoga Club, sophomore Reena Christy, believes that yoga is specifically beneficial for focus not being on the mind, but on the body: “It’s because you’re focusing on your body and trying to make it better instead of putting all the stress on school, and everything else… It is a blast, and it will make you so calm, and you don’t even need to worry about anything, you come to yoga and just let everything go.”

People who might worry about having to participate in, or infringing upon, a religious practice, should not. Yoga has been secularized for much of the Western world and is no longer an esoteric tradition only associated with Eastern religions. Those who study the movements, such as various Libertyville athletic teams, often do so in order to exert more mental control over the body.

Cross country is one of the sports that is incorporating yoga on a semiregular basis, as it is especially beneficial for runner health. According to a post on the personal fitness website, FitDay.com, “Yoga helps loosen and lengthen all the muscles of the body, to reverse the muscle tightness caused by running, and to make your body more flexible and stable. Yoga helps align the muscles and bones, so that your body functions more efficiently, you experience less stiffness and you’re at a lower risk for injury.”

Mr. Benjamin Zollo, the assistant boys cross country coach, said, “I think with an endurance sport, it’s good practicing putting your body under a lot of different stresses... So this gives us a different kind of mentality where when you’re running, particularly if there are hills, your calves get sore, your lungs get tired. Here it’s a whole boatload of other kinds of pain you can feel in yoga that mentally you’ve got to overcome. So I don’t know necessarily about relaxation. I think it teaches them how to get in a certain mindset, how to focus, how to mentally prepare for something that’s difficult, which is so important in running - to be in that mental mindset because usually you’re able to run a lot harder and farther than you ever want to, so getting over that hurdle where your mind is telling you stop and you keep going. That’s what makes you a special runner and a quality racer. And so yoga kind of helps with that, making your mindset a little more sturdy, a little more strong.”

Boys and girls cross country are among a number of LHS sports newly implementing yoga practice to ensure a productive ‘rest’ day. Dr. Marina Scott, Libertyville High School principal and certified yoga instructor, having brought yoga practice to many school organizations said, “One of the teachers came up to me the other day, I saw him in the hall after yoga practice, and he was like, ‘I still have yoga brain,’ which I think what he meant was, I still feel relaxed, I feel like I’m able to rejuvenate, kind of. And when you think of what our lives are like, they’re packed, they’re hectic, and that moment of space and relaxation is really helpful for all of us.”

For cross country, Mr. Zollo also shared that, “You know, with yoga, you don’t get a ton of aerobic - working the lungs. But if you do it really right (Coach Mark [Buesing] is great at leading them), you can get a different kind of aerobic workout from there. But it’s really that low stress on the joints, high stress on the muscles. And a different way to work it in. You know, if you can confuse your muscles and mix in a variety of workouts, that’s a good way to train.”

One of the few things Mr. Zollo thinks could benefit the boys cross country team’s yoga practice would be some different instruction. He stated, “We’d love to have some Dr. Scott-led yoga because she is quite the yoga instructor.

It would be awesome.”

Is Yoga or Meditation Practice Right for You?

Merely Mindful?

The Yoga Journal’s Andrew Tilin says it all: “...meditation is heralded by secular, spiritual, and scientific communities alike as unimpeachably good for you.”

Meditation is so beneficial because it encourages focus on a mantra, or sacred phrase, that allows the rest of life to fall away. It is often incorporated into yoga simply as mindfulness. In her book, Alcohol and Other Drugs: Self Responsibility, Dr. Ruth Engs states, “Regardless of their origin, all the meditative techniques have at least two phases. The first is to quiet the body, and the second is to quiet the mind… Meditation is often considered the process of trying to eliminate the chatter of the mind — the constant thinking, planning, and fantasizing — which occupies the conscious state of the mind every waking moment. As arousal is reduced, so is anxiety. Self transcendence, or an altered state, is then achieved. Most meditators find they feel creative, positive, calm, and energetic after meditation.”

The positive aspects of meditative tradition are not espoused solely by obscure and isolated researchers. It’s mainstream enough that the Mayo Clinic is an advocate of the relaxation technique, offering, “Spending even a few minutes in meditation can restore your calm and inner peace... you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being… when you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.”

WebMD.com even offers meditation as an authenticated anxiety cure: “Researchers say both studies showed that meditation was comparable to other forms of relaxation therapy in reducing anxiety overall.”

Probably. With many different styles of both meditation and yoga, people with any amount of time, physical fitness, interest or capacity are able to find what fits their needs, expectations and abilities. When looking into a mindful practice, be sure to consider the credibility of the method, instructor or source, and remember that you can always stop if you feel uncomfortable.

For LHS staff who can make Dr. Scott’s 6 A.M. yoga practices on Fridays but don’t because of the hour, bite the bullet and get up early. The simple act of waking up and relaxing through low-stress activity is enough to keep the participant awake, but calm for the rest of the day. If you’re a student, consider using a similar strategy to start the day. Namaste.

Photo by Claudia Polzin Meditation comes in many forms. Among the most popular are the classic seated meditation and moving meditation: yoga.

Photos by Ava Polzin

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October 10, 2013

Feature

What’s Happening?

An inside look at news around the world and nationwide.

By Bailey Schmid

Because Congress could not agree on a spending deal before the fiscal year began, the U.S. Government went into a partial

"I'm thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America."

-Nina Davuluri, the first Indian-American Miss America

shutdown.

13 Dead 12-gauge shotgun 1 perpetrator

The last shutdown happened in 1995 and lasted 21 days.

House Republicans and Senate Democrats could not come to an agreement over Obamacare amendments

The Washington Navy Yard shooting on September 16 was the second-deadliest mass murder on a U.S. military base

There are:

More than

14,664 Days to the end of oil

115,000

60,090 Days to the end of gas

people have died in Syria’s ongoing civil war

151,260 Days to the end of coal

Not doing so deprives people of guaranteed rights, she said

www.worldometers.info

“I want to serve the people. I want every girl, every child, to be educated.”

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

Malala Yousafzai returned to a school in England this past March after being shot in the head because of her resistance against the Tailiban’s prohibition of girls in school.

Grand Theft Auto V grossed and grossed Feature

A New Jersey judge ruled gay marriage must be legal in the state

$800 million

$1 billion October 10, 2013

on its first day of sale

after three days 17

Staff Editorial

Participation Points Prove Unfair During the first week of school, when teachers go over syllabi in classes, most students dread seeing a participation category. While participation points can prove to be helpful, the Drops of Ink staff believes that the way they are currently used is unfair for students.

Most DOI staff members have noticed that usually points are awarded each time a student contributes to class. Often times, points can be removed based off of behavior but not wrong answers. Other factors in a grade could include how prepared a student is for class or how difficult a question the student is answering.

Participation points cannot necessarily guarantee a student a good grade. If a student doesn’t do well on participation, they can easily damage the student’s grade enough to knock it down a letter grade.

Among classes that take participation for a grade, English, social studies, science and foreign language are the most common, according to our staff. The issue with them, according to our staff, is how vague the participation grading system ultimately tends to be. In some cases, for instance in Spanish class, points will be awarded for answering a question but then promptly removed following the use of English. Since the student earned the points, we feel this is wrong.

Unlike math and science, participation can be helpful in classes such as English, social studies or foreign language as the points can spark conversation, allow for multiple viewpoints to be heard, and allow students who don’t normally speak to a chance to get involved in class.

In addition to creating conversation, participation points allow kids who have difficulties earning points by writing to make up for those lost

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points by answering a lot of questions.

Science and math classes, however, differ completely. Unlike English or foreign language, participation seems unnecessary to the DOI staff.

Why force discussion upon a topic that has a definite answer every time?

Most of the time, there aren’t deeper meanings behind subjects; there is one answer and it can’t be changed.

There are no themes, tones or moods, so discussing a topic other than the the process of arriving at the right answer is pointless. In some cases, like biology, participation can be helpful because topics can be elaborated on: questions are more open-ended.

We feel that another big problem with participation is: how often do students need to contribute to class to receive full credit? Class periods that have few questions to answer could lead to one student receiving less credit than one of the select few who got to answer a question.

DOI believes where participation points prove most unfair is with students who understand concepts but are more introverted. Most of these students can make it through class every day silently understanding everything thrown at them. But once a teacher calls on them and the answer counts, they crumble under the pressure of speaking to the whole class.

Students who don’t have anything to say shouldn’t be forced to say something for the sake of points that they may not even need.

To improve the participation point system, DOI believes that teachers should follow a system some Spanish classes use. This year, some Spanish students enjoy their right to grade themselves on participation every day. Having students reflect on their own participation can be beneficial for both the students and teachers. It allows for the teacher to see the grading from a student’s point of view, where a teacher’s evaluation may not reflect the student’s attempts to participate.

Teachers would be able to use the scores they come up with, as well as the student’s suggestion to come up with a more accurate and fair grade.

While participation can sometimes be helpful, it is also unfair because of all the grey area. There is no set way to give a participation grade, making it difficult for students to accumulate the points needed for a good grade.

October 10, 2013

Opinion

Foreign Languages, ¿Sí o no?

Groans and grumbles stumble down the hallway, griping about how hard or dumb Spanish class was today, French not making sense, and the question that almost every students ponders: what’s the point of trying to learn a new language?

Students seem to only see foreign language classes as a nuisance fit into their schedules, ha ving to at least suffer through two years of it in order to graduate high school, and up to four years to get into certain colleges. Most students don’t see the benefits that come from taking a foreign language since they’re solely focused on taking the class for credit, not to necessarily learn it.

Many students don’t see how they could ever use a foreign language in their career, which is mainly why so many see it as being pointless. However, according to GreatSchools.org, whose mission is to give reviews about public and private schools around the country, to learn about another language (not simply memorizing how to conjugate some verbs ten minutes before the test) greatly benefits communication skills. Therefore, police officers, teachers, nurses, business owners and other career paths can greatly benefit from learning a new language since it teaches people how to speak well and clearly to and in front of peers. And to be able to write on a resume that you can speak a different language, even for different jobs, can make you more likely to be hired rather than someone who only knows one language.

Besides communication skills, learning a new language makes people more creative thinkers because learning a foreign language challenges

Opinion

Hannah Jenkins Staff Writer

and opens your brain up to many more possibilities. For example, problem solving in English can be hard enough as it is, so when you’re required to analyze a poem in Spanish or solve made-up problems in German, it makes your brain work over time. And that’s a positive thing, since working out your brain makes it stronger and able to think more creatively.

However, there are even better benefits: in a

language. Even if you don’t plan on going into a career that could use a different language, it’s a good safety net to have in case your plans change.

If students stop seeing going to Latin or French as a chore and more as an opportunity to learn new things everyday, even if they don’t think it’ll benefit them, it will at least help them get on the path to enjoy taking a language. And if you enjoy taking the language, it makes it way easier to comprehend it.

Personally, I love taking Spanish because it’s really interesting to learn about how people in Spain, Latin America, and Mexico live. It’s also captivating to see how Spanish makes a lot more sense than English does since their grammar rules are a lot more stringent than English’s. It gives you a better appreciation for people learning English, too.

Plus, learning it is like learning math or science or even some aspects of literature. They all are foreign things to all of us. However, if everyone took the same approach we do to learn those subjects to foreign Photo courtesy of MCT Campus/Kansas City Star languages, it would be a lot easier to learn.

2012 study at the University of California, San Because in math we learn a new lesson every day, Francisco, scientists found that bilingual people do homework on it, then take a quiz on it, it’s not had a later onset of Alzheimer’s disease compared that horrible. And foreign languages are likewise to their monolingual counterparts. Working out (and sometimes not as complicated as mathematiyour brain with a foreign language can protect it, cal equations.) which is always a wonderful benefit.

So instead of just succumbing to everyone’s However, the key factor to all these perks is thoughts on how inconvenient it is to take another actually learning the language. And learning it language or just sitting in class, only retaining means having an interest in studying, speaking, enough to pass the class but not nearly enough and writing about it. Therefore, if a student doesn’t to learn the language, you should try to learn a like the language they’re taking or is just taking a new language. It makes you more knowledgelanguage because they think it’s easier, then they able, a bigger asset in the job market, and (like my aren’t going to benefit from just raking in credits. brother and I do) have conversations in Spanish to An even greater benefit is that if you learn confuse your parents. one language, it’s so much easier to learn a new

October 10, 2013

19

Elise Houcek Editor-in-Chief

Diet sodas: a harmful solution The art of public schooling operates in two primary mediums: intellectual proliferation and the cultivation of a social and physical health. Our perception of at least one of these is currently at fault.

As it stands at present, I can attest that the vast majority of public opinion would argue in favor of the sentiment that defends diet sodas as a “healthier” alternative to regular pop. I say, pick your poison, but in terms of popular belief, the claim that diet beverages are a responsible substitute to the conventional form is a common supposition. Under recent guise, this assumption has bled influence into the sector of education, as in an agreement brokered by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation in 2002, industry leaders such as Coca-Cola Co., Cadbury Schweppes PLC, ad PepsiCo Inc. concurred that they would no longer market regular sodas to public and private schools.

From my perspective, which I will assure you has been enlightened by fact, the implementation of artificially sweetened soft drinks, especially in the domain of youth, is one of the most untenable detriments to public health.

Every form of sustenance that exists by means of nature is intrinsically fashioned to suit our body’s physical needs. I will contend further that if in fact our environment has provided us with a perfect nutritional fortress, it is only logical to surmise that those who stand to challenge these provisions will be met with some degree of resistance. Artificial sweeteners such as those found in diet sodas are not exempt from this principle.

First of all, there’s nothing “diet” about them.

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According to a study published by Purdue University in July 2013, researchers found that the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages, such as those offered in the school cafeteria and vending machines, is closely associated with obesity. The assertion is built upon a number of medical findings, all of which are contingent on the fact that sugar substitutes disrupt the body’s natural ability to regulate calorie intake. Because artificial

sweeteners can be hundreds of times sweeter than regular sugar, drinking diet soda causes a person’s body to construct a saccharine tolerance, so to speak, inducing frequent and intense cravings for sugar (or a sweet alternative) more than any other substance. To further this contention, population studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2006 have shown that there was a 200 percent increased risk of obesity in those who drank diet soda.

Perhaps the most injurious facet of the diet brigade is that very thing which attributes most to its appeal: a lack of calories. As evidenced by a study conducted by the University of Texas Health Science Center in 2005, although the arti-

October 10, 2013

ficial sugars in diet sodas satisfy a person’s craving for a sweet flavor, the problem is that fake sugars trick your body into thinking that what it is receiving is legitimate, but because chemically speaking this is not the case, it confuses your metabolism and natural response. Accordingly, when you do ingest real sugar, your body is no longer sure of how to process it, thus inspiring weight gain.

To quote CNN diet and fitness expert Dr. Melina Jampolis, “research shows that sweet taste can increase appetite and the regular consumption of the high intensity sweetness of artificial sweeteners may encourage sugar cravings and dependence.”

Let’s just say the war on substantive sugar is a hollow one.

But just wait, there’s more! In an 11-year-long Harvard Medical School study, researchers found that drinking diet cola is linked with a two-fold inflated risk for kidney decline. Additionally, it was discovered that the consumption of just one diet soda a day is associated with a 34% increased chance of metabolic syndrome, which is linked to high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke.

Okay, so maybe high cholesterol isn’t an immediate concern for the majority of the high school population, but that’s not to say that health consciousness in one’s youth or the manifestation of healthy practices should rest compromised on the basis of a misconception. I’m not saying you have to cut diet soda or artificial sweeteners out of your life completely, but I would definitely advocate moderation. It may be under regulation of a superior authority that mandates the current diet regime, but backed by fact and the consolation of a healthier future, it’s easy to make the personal choice against a daily Diet Coke.

Opinion

Tom Ackerman Opinion Ediitor

Why Bully? Freshman Deserve Better Like any other freshman, I was terrified to start high school. Not only finding my way around this castle worried me, but also the teasing I had heard so much about. Part of this came from what I’d seen in any movie involving high school or college, and how the freshmen were portrayed; the typical 80s movie or Disney show always had some kid being slammed in a locker or taking a swim in the toilet.

After experiencing the notorious freshman year, I think I speak for any high school freshman when I say it’s really not bad. In fact, I loved my freshman year. Whether it’s because of the negative expectations we have, or if it actually is more enjoyable than junior high, freshman year, I think, is is a good year for most at Libertyville. Part of the reason for that was the changes made by the LHS administration.

According to Assistant Principal Mr. Eric Maroscher, the key in making the change to lessen the tension between upperclassmen and freshmen was respect between the students and staff: “Once mutual respect was established, there were lines of communication,” he said.

This holds true for much of the physical abuse freshman are concerned about. Even penny throwing was an expected occurrence just a few years ago.

Although there are still rare cases of physical abuse seen in the hallways, communication between students and teachers and administrators has made a huge difference.

In other words, administrators have stressed building a relationship with their students. The bond makes students think twice about their actions.

According to Dr. Marina Scott, LHS principal, once kids are told how what they’re doing affects others negatively, it often stops.

Why even bother picking on the underclassmen? I remember being a freshman and being teased once by a sophomore. Although it wasn’t more than a condescending remark, it made me think -- do people bully freshman just because they were teased, too? Or because it’s tradition, and they have the right to join the bandwagon all of a sudden? Here was a kid who was barely done being a freshman, and he had already taken to passing on the baton of picking on freshmen.

Opinion

At a back-to-school celebration on the first day of school this year, seniors had a water balloon fight on the freshman football field for the sole reason of staying out of the parking lot to avoid freshmen bullying, as told to do so by LHS administrators. Though most stayed on the football field, a few seniors ended up finding freshman to throw their balloons at, therefore representing the seniors negatively based on the actions of a few kids. Examples of abuse like this are what can give a high school a negative reputation.

Let’s be honest, no one enjoys picking on freshmen -- they’re just an easy target. So why do it? Especially at a school like LHS, where such strides are being taken to stop bullying, there’s no excuse to be pressured or obligated to participate in this bullying. According to Mr. Maroscher, “The vast majority [of the students] are outstanding.

We’re always going to have that smaller group that minimizes the work of the majority,” he said. In other words, the positive attitude of most of the upperclassmen drowns out the more apparent actions of the few.

“It’s scary for freshmen,” commented Mr. Maroscher. He went on to say that “so much has been accomplished in Link Crew, only to have it ruined.”

Mr. Maroscher and Dr. Scott stressed the bond Photo Courtesy of MCT Campus/Lexington Herald-Leader Link Crew creates in getting freshmen comfortable with the school and its students, much like the teacher-student bond they work to create.

I think Link Crew proves to be extremely beneficial in closing a gap between classes. As a junior, it’s cool to see freshmen avoiding being those nervous cliches we all know in the hallway with their maps out, afraid to ask for help for the most part; rather, underclassmen are being included and enjoying their high school years. That’s the way it should be. Wouldn’t you want your high school years to be like that?

So why not welcome the freshmen into the student section or say hello in the hallway every once in awhile? I’m not proposing the upperclassmen become best friends with freshmen or invite them to hang out, but those little gestures really do make a huge difference in a freshman’s day, and ultimately, in their high school experience.

October 10, 2013

21

Male Sports Vs. Female Sports:

The Discrepancy

by Mike Gasick The difference can be seen This is the case with many on a Friday night in the fall. teams at the school -- boys The words “parking lot is getting more support than full” on the electronic angirls. nouncement board outside Basketball is another the school upsets many sport where the boys draw a anxious fans trying to find significantly higher amount a parking spot to watch a of fans rather than the girls.

Wildcats football game. Once Last year, the girls went 15the game starts, the stadium 14 and won a playoff game, is filled with cheers and apwhile the boys went 6-21 plause from the fans that can and didn’t even make the be heard from far away. The playoffs. football stadium is the place “I think that the boys atto be for most LHS students tract more crowds because on a Friday night. there’s more action, it’s a But then Tuesday night more athletic game,” stated rolls around. senior varsity basketball Girls tennis is taking on player Jack Lipp.

Vernon Hills on the tennis Head girls basketball and courts, boys soccer has a girls golf coach Mr. Greg game against Antioch at the Pedersen disagrees, stating football stadium, and girls that the girls also have “exvolleyball has a game against citing competitive situations Glenbrook North in the gymthat come up at the end of nasium. As they head closer games that match the boys’ to the playoffs, these are side.” important matchups that have It comes down to the pace playoff seedings on the line. of the game and its competiBut there is plenty of parktiveness. “Football and boys ing. The stands are mostly basketball are definitely the filled with parents, and most popular sports because students are nowhere to be they are so fast-paced, and found. there’s always something The question is, “Why are going on,” stated senior varthere such discrepancies in sity baseball player Andrew these sports?”Students witMack. ness the popularity disparity A sport that faces the in many different sports such popularity discrepancy is as baseball and softball, volphoto by Bailey Schmid volleyball, which is run by leyball, and basketball. The Mr. Casey Aubin for the boys Senior girls volleyball player Carly Ostmeyer and senior boys soccer player Lloyd attendance rates, talk around and Mr. Greg Loika for the Chatfield face the sports popularity dilemma at LHS. the school, and influence of girls. Both promote competiprofessional leagues all contive and winning attitudes. tribute to this difference.

However, the popularity of When the LHS baseball team went down to State last year, there the sports differ. The energy of a girls volleyball game, with the stuwere many LHS fans who made the trip down to Joliet to support dent section and their cheers, floods the stadium with energy. It did their team. The student section was loud and filled with Wildcat help that the girls team went down to State last year, but in general, pride. The softball team, however, since they did not make a playoff there are usually larger crowds at the girls games. run last year, had their stands scarcely occupied during their games.

“Girls volleyball is more popular than boys, just look at the

22

October 10, 2013

Sports

photo by Bailey Schmid Wildcat fans cheer on their football team during a game against Palatine. Fans fill the football stadium each home game, making football one of the most popular sports at the high school.

photo by Bailey Schmid The Wildcat volleyball team gets pumped up before a game against Zion-Benton.

The team feeds off the energy from the large crowds that show up to their games.

crowds they draw every home game,” stated junior and varsity boys volleyball player Zac Hauser.

Sophomore girls volleyball player Amanda Schrag stated, “I think that there are more sports in the spring that appeal to larger crowds than boys volleyball.” Baseball and boys lacrosse are two sports that draw many fans in the spring.

The question is, “How can the boys volleyball team start to draw more student fans?”

The easiest answer to this question would be for the team to just flat out win. Sad to think of, since students should support every sport here at the high school, but that’s how the sports industry works, especially in the pros. If your favorite team is not performing and having one of their worst seasons, why should the team expect large attendance at their home games?

“We play with so much more intensity and determination when we have a large crowd on hand,” stated Hauser. “We just have to prove it to our fans that we are the real deal.”

A reason for the low attendance in games could be that students are just too involved these days. Coach Pedersen stated, “the average high school student is more involved these days in whatever activities interest them.

High school kids have less free time, and that’s reflected in lighter crowd numbers.”

Even though boys sports may have a larger reputation in the school, girls sports are, in fact, becoming more popular today. There was a record turnout for girls cross country runners this year (71 runners), and the number of girls trying out for basketball has also gone up in the last couple of years. Ten years ago, there were about 12 girls on the golf team, but this year, the team had 21 after cuts, according to Mr. Pedersen..

Outside the school, it is safe to say that male sports are overwhelmingly more popular than female sports. The average attendance of the 2012 WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) season was 7,457

fans. The average for the NBA in that same season?

17,274.

Fans like the slam dunks and the untouchable athleticism the NBA features. Most basketball fans would rather watch the alley-oops, higher scoring games, and up-tempo fast breaks than a lower-scoring WNBA contest.

ESPN features NBA games at least two nights a week during the season and also features the show NBA Countdown. According to American Broadcasters Online, the NBA will receive $930 million a year for its broadcast rights. Major televisors such as ESPN, TNT, and ABC make a substantial profit from televising the games because there is such a high demand for the NBA. The Chicago Sky, Chicago’s WNBA team, clinched a playoff berth this season and was one of the frontrunners for the championship. They lost in the first round to the Indiana Fever, and the only coverage they received was a showing of their first game on ESPN2. If the Bulls were one of the favorites for the championship, there would be coverage all around Chicago and everyone would know about it. How many people knew about the Sky? About 7,457.

Professional baseball is another sport that is much more popular than its female competition, softball. Fans enjoy seeing players such as Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera launch home runs over 400 feet into the stands. They pay a significant amount of money to see the athleticism of the players on display. The attendance and atmosphere of an MLB game, with the fans’ energy and enthusiasm, does not compare with the National Pro Fastpitch, the major leagues of women’s softball. Just like the MLB, making it to the NPF is far from easy, but the majority of ESPN does not have a contract with the NPF, and fans would have to search through their TV Guide a while before landing an NPF game.

Many different LHS sports face the popularity discrepancy today. Most fans tend to choose male sports, or at least sports with the most action, but girls sports are becoming increasingly more popular.

Sports

October 10, 2013

23

Wildcats Football Roster Shrinks Again

By Nick Vittore For the fourth straight season, the Wildcats football program as a whole has fewer members than it did in the preceding season.

Consisting of 144 players (49 on varsity, 52 on the sophomore team, and 43 on the freshmen team), the cumulative Wildcats football roster has declined in number of players for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Last year, there were 158 players on the program (56 on varsity, 36 on sophomore team, 66 on the freshman team). In 2011, there were 184 players total (77 on varsity, 41 on the sophomore team. and 66 on the freshmen team). In 2010, 187 players made up the team (81 on varsity, 45 on the sophomore team, and 61 on freshmen), only one player short of the 188 players in 2009 (68 on the varsity squad, 49 on sophomore, and 71 on freshmen). All roster information was provided courtesy of the LHS athletic office.

So what factors are contributing towards this cause?

A major issue that is affecting high school football participation not only at Libertyville but at all schools is concussions. National Public Radio reported that as of 2011, nearly 60,000 of them occur every year in high school football nationwide. For concussed football players, it’s a big milestone just to overcome headaches, dizziness, and low-pitch noises, let alone return to the grueling sport.

The mental adjustment is difficult, too.

Junior and ex-player Austin Fuller can attest to both the difficulty and skepticism he experienced of returning to the sport following a concussion. He sustained two of them before going on a hiatus, only to suffer a major one after returning in September 2010, which kept him out of school for eight weeks and sidelined him for nine months.

“Even after my first concussion, in which I was cleared after a week (approximately the national average for a player to get cleared)… I was still skeptical on whether or not to come back because you always have that fear of it happening again, even though I love football,” he said.

Libertyville High School certified athletic trainer Ron Russ described the process for concussion evaluation. “We’re first going to look at how the players respond to the injury: are they walking normal, do they feel dizzy, do they look sick, do they look confused, are they moving in the right direction? Then we’ll ask them about signs and symptoms of headaches, sensitivity to light and noise, and memory based questions like what day it is,” he said. “We first go through the symptoms (drowsiness, dizziness, etc.) and then go through day, date, who they played last (memorization things) what are the months, then we do balance activities. If there are any signs of symptoms, they’re out for at least 24 hours.”

School nurse Ms. Cameron Traut feels that the road to recovery is more difficult following a concussion. She has seen the severity of concussions vary from both ends of the spectrum. “It truly varies from individual to individual,” she said. “It may take them (concussed football players) longer to get back to the sport because they will be more concerned about the level of contact.”

Junior Charlie Murphy reflected on the difficulty of returning to football. He stopped playing after freshman year due to a head and spinal injury. “You have to be aggressive,” he said. “(The difficulty of returning to football after a concussion) depends on what type of person you are.”

Senior and non-concussed ex-player Joe Coffee, who is no longer on the team after not being satisfied with his lack of playing time, credited the coaching and training staff for helping players return early from injuries in what he described as a manageable transition. “The coaches and training staff do a very good job of following protocol,” he said.

LHS athletic director Mr. Briant Kelly also acknowledges that returning to a sport is a risk after suffering multiple concussions. “Studies have shown that it is difficult and not always safe to return to a contact sport or any sport,” he said.

To combat concussions, pre-existing practices are being re-emphasized; coaches are insisting players follow safer techniques in practices, and the use of

Photo by Ava Polzin A warning sticker on the back of LHS football helmets notifies players of the dangers of head injuries that a helmet can’t entirely prevent.

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October 10, 2013

Sports

Photo by Bailey Schmid Senior Tim Grote (center #57) is helped off the field following a leg injury.

high-end helmets is being praised to lower a player’s risk of any brain injury.

“I think we’re doing as much as anyone can do (to combat concussions),” said Mr. Kelly. “We limited the amount of practice time (to the limit) that the state set forth. I think that would help with less hitting during practice.”

On and off the field, the issue for concussed players is just as serious at the pro level, as the National Football League has faced two lawsuits filed against them. On August 29, the league reached a tentative deal with a U.S District Judge to compensate ex-players with neurological ailments and their families, pay for medical exams, and underwrite research in a $765 million settlement.

More recently, former players have filed a lawsuit against the NFL and helmet manufacturer Riddell over not providing enough information about concussions and other head-related injuries.

As disturbing facts continue to be revealed, it’s no wonder participation levels are dropping and that skepticism of the game’s safety doesn’t seem to be. In 2012, the National Sporting Goods Association reported that over 1 million players have quit from 2006 to 2011, and the majority of players who quit are in the age groups of ages 12-17 and 18-24. Moreover, there have not been budget cutbacks at the high school level, according to the National Federation of State High School Association, thus implying that most players are quitting for personal reasons.

USA Football’s own director Scott Hallenback acknowledges that the active number of 3 million young football players may change given parents’ concerns about safety. Parents have good reason to be concerned; concussiontreatment.com stated that as of 2012, 75% of football players, regardless of level, will suffer a concussion at some point or another during the season.

Another factor as to why there are fewer LHS football players is because former football players are focusing on other sports. There are ex-football players that are playing other sports to limit their vulnerability towards head injuries, whether that is as a way to take preventative action or to follow pro-

Sports

tocol following a brain injury. Mr. Kelly was able to elaborate on this common occurrence.

“Some ex-football players are pretty good in winter or spring sports so they’re not coming back because of the increased risk of injury and they want to do well in their other sport,” he revealed. “Typically this occurs between sophomore and junior year. That’s primarily because there are more cuts during these years.” He thought that participation in other sports is one particular reason why there are fewer players from the class of 2014 this year compared to last year.

“Our numbers also used to be off the charts for a school with a student population in the 2,000 range. We used to have as many players as schools such as Stevenson and Warren, which are both bigger than us,” he said.

At least one former player agrees that some ex-football players want to focus on other sports. “Almost every one of the players… that has quit wanted to pursue another sport, myself included,” remarked Colton Bast, a senior who is spending his first autumn not on the gridiron as he is currently preparing for the wrestling season, which is in the winter.

Yet, there are athletes willing to participate in multiple sports despite safety risks. Varsity team senior Justin Jost happily decided to continue playing football after suffering an ankle injury in January that sidelined him through March, which occurred when he played basketball, his other sport. “I’m a person who doesn’t quit,” said Jost. “When you’re running through the tunnel on Friday night, there’s nothing like it.”

When asked if anyone suggested that he stop playing either football or basketball after being cleared, he didn’t say anyone thought he should do so. “(After I got cleared from my last injury), there was a feeling of belief… everyone was so happy,” he said. “I was just told not to do anything stupid (to possibly re-injure myself).” Unfortunately, Jost was plagued by another injury, this one ending his football playing career. Even despite having to cheer from the sideline due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in summer camp, he hopes to be back for basketball season to wrap up his high school playing career.

The time commitment to football is also a challenge to keep up with. During the school year, the football team has only two months off after the season ends before they resume lifting four days a week for the remainder of the school year, only to instantly head back to summer camp to prepare for the next season. It’s no wonder that juggling co-curricular activities, academics, college visits, and/or work on top of football is also a challenge.

However, Jost says the coaching staff strives to assist the players in the process by helping them succeed in the classroom. “There are tutors for the players; the staff really puts an emphasis on academics, that’s the top priority,” he said.

Varsity head coach Mike Jones declined to comment on the declining number of players in the program.

Photo by Ava Polzin The line of scrimmage can be one of the most dangerous areas of the football field, as opposing players’ helmets are just feet away from each other before contact.

October 10, 2013

25

Serving up Success A

By Ryan Jackson and Tyler Skinner

fter a season in which the girls volleythe team. Although there is nothing that can be ball team came in fourth at State, the Cats are done about their height or another team’s skill, looking at a tough road to get back. There are unforced errors will very quickly sink a team. only six girls returning to varsity this year from While the team often feels the sting of losing the 2012 State team. Although there are six a class of seniors that featured two All-State returnees, only three logged serious playing time players, veterans of the team took away valuable as starters from last year: junior Alex Basler and lessons about how to succeed at a high level. seniors Rhiannon Prentiss and Vicky Liu. “They were all committed and were all really The 2012 version of the team included four good leaders,” Basler stated. The leadership role girls who are now playing Division I volleyball has fallen largely on Basler and fellow captains, (Taylor Zant, Drake; Julia Smagacz, Akron; seniors Prentiss and Cassie Ostmeyer, all of Kristin Webb, Butler; Cindy Zhou, Michigan). whom are returning players from the State team.

The biggest hole that the seniors left was their The trio of captains has provided strong height. Although Basler has some serious height, leadership this year. Basler is a player that the listed at 6’2”, the rest of the team is lacking the rest of the team looks up to, both literally and height advantage that gave the Cats a big leg up figuratively (she has generated interest from on their opponent. schools such as the University of Columbia, “We are a shorter team,” head coach Greg Cornell University, and Harvard University). At Loika said. “We need to be more creative on games, all you have to do is look to the front of attack.” the net and there will be Basler waiting to put the Basler agrees the team lacks the physical presball down on the ten-foot line, the line between ence that the 2012 team had, but they make up the front and the back defenders, which is a for it in intangibles. “We’re a lot scrappier,” she common target for middles like Basler. Basler is says. “We don’t also a good teammate, rely on our height though, because she is as much as we did great at being a decoy last year.” on sets, and someone Part of being with her skill set will scrappy is having surely gain the attenlong points, but tion of her opponents. just stretching out Ostmeyer provides the point is not the infectious enthusiasm whole story; winand experience as a ning the long points second-year captain. and wearing down Prentiss is a very the opponents have powerful hitter and she been a staple of the is able to make the big 2013 Wildcats. The plays when needed. ability to lengthen Prentiss is helpful to points and win them the team as a very is made possible consistent player, by having a great someone who cares defense, which, about her teammates similar to last year, is both on and off the a key to the Wildcats court, and a positive in their bid for role model for younger achieving postseason players on the team. success this year.

“If someone says A crucial aspect get the nets set up, of the Cats’ offense Alex Basler spiking on Zion on Monday, September 30. she [Prentiss] is out and defense is their communication. Since not all of the players have been on the same team for several years and and are still gaining a feel for each other’s playing style, it is important for everyone on the court to speak up.

Passing has also become emphasized even more this year because good passing will open up easy shots, similar to the easy points that height can gain.

Serving will be the other key because it is something that is completely under the control of

26

there setting up the nets... she leads by example,” Ostmeyer said of her co-captain.

However, with a team that returns such few members, the inexperienced Cats have had to turn to others to step up and play an integral role for the team also. An important player has been freshman Morgan O’Brien, the starting libero. As libero, O’Brien does not play the front line; she stays in the back line and uses her passes and serves to be a huge part of the 2013 Cats. With questions looming heading into the season, the freshman came in and

Prentiss in the middle of a serve against Zion Benton. showed her skills right away.

Both the varsity rookies and veterans will have to work together as the team looks at a tough road back to Bloomington, where the state finals are hosted.The Cats will have to make sure they stay the course after a loss to the number one team in the conference, Lake Zurich, on September 17.

Because each team only plays each other once in conference, Libertyville will be looking for help from another team in the conference to knock off the Bears. For all that the Cats lost to LZ, wins against Lake Forest and rival Stevenson keep LHS in second place for conference and within striking distance of Lake Zurich, which would help the Cats achieve one of their loftiest preseason goals: winning the conference title.

“Only playing each team once, which is different from other sports, makes every conference game so important in the season,” Loika said.

A conference title is just the beginning of a grueling postseason. The next stops on the way to State begin with regionals, followed by sectionals, supersectionals, and eventually the Final Four in state. In the meantime, the Cats are focused on the conference schedule in the more immediate future. While the brunt of the conference schedule is in the books, October welcomes a demanding stretch where seven of the eight games are on the road.

“We’re growing together as a team, and we’re going to do bigger and better things as we go on,” Ostmeyer said confidently.

While this year’s team may lack it, the Wildcats plan to reach new heights this season.

Photos by Bailey Schmid

October 10, 2013

Sports

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