LIBERTYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWS PUBLICATION OCTOBER 24, 2019 VOLUME 93, ISSUE 2
BEHIND THE SCENES OF LHS
NEWS
5 LOCAL
Local medical plants emitting toxic chemicals in Lake County 6 LOCAL
Athlectic department suggests teams lift more 7 LOCAL
Marching band raises $3,400 for Waukegan marching band 8 WHAT’S TRENDING
Fall TV edition
5 SPORTS
19-21 HOCKEY
The IceCats: The ups and downs to being a club sport.
-
22-23 FANTASY FOOTBALL
Fantasy in Reality: Inside the Daily Workings of Fantasy Football
19 21 CONNECT
JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
@lhsdoi Libertyville High School Drops of Ink
@lhsdoi Visit us at lhsdoi.com
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU Contact us at doi@lhswildcats.org Contents by Maguire Marth Cover photo and design by Peyton Rodriguez
2
DROPS OF INK
FEATURES
9-11 THEATER
Shaking up the Stage 12-13 STAFF
IT”s Complicated: A Look into LHS IT Department 14-15 PROFILE
Vampirina: Not so Different Underneath 16-17 STAFF
-
To Dine For 27
CROSSWORD
Staff Fun Facts
16 17 24 STAFF EDITORIAL
Civility in an age of anger
OPINION
25 COLUMN
I’m not a cat so quit calling me
26 STAFF
MOLLY BOUFFORD Online Editor
AMANDA BLACK Managing Editor
ELLA MARSDEN AND CLAIRE SALEMI
IAN COX
Editors in Chief
MOIRA DUFFY
ella.marsden@lhswildcats.org claire.salemi@lhswildcats.org
News Editor
Layout & Design Editor
CHARLOTTE PULTE Features Editor
MICHAEL GLUSKIN
DREW BENOIT
Faculty Adviser
Opinion Editor
26 POLITICAL CARTOONS
The news in cartoons
Sarah Bennett Sara Bogan Sayre DeBruler Jade Foo Mara Gregory Rowan Hornsey Brooke Hutchins Natalie Isberg Jasmine Lafita Megan Lenzi Cali Lichter
Maguire Marth Anika Raina Christian Roberts Peyton Rodriguez Lillian Williams
michael.gluskin@d128.org
SEPTEMBER 2019
3
ADVERTISEMENT
4
DROPS OF INK
NEWS
LOCAL MEDICAL PLANTS EMITTING TOXIC CHEMICALS IN LAKE COUNTY Anika Raina
Rowan Hornsey
Lawsuits have been filed against Medline for their use of toxic chemicals that can lead to cancer, but there are no federal regulations for the toxic chemicals in use. It was recently announced that Medline Industries and Vantage Specialty Chemicals have been polluting the air with a toxic gas, ethylene oxide, in Lake County for several decades, according to the Lake County Health Department. Both medical companies use ethylene oxide (EtO) to sterilize their medical equipment because of the overall efficiency of the gas being able to diffuse through the layers of packaging. EtO is difficult to detect because it takes form as a colorless and odorless gas. EtO is released into the air as a steam along with carcinogens, which increase risks of cancers, such as leukemia, stomach cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer. It also can damage the nervous system as well as cause genetic mutations and reproductive defects, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. With the plants releasing the gas, the effects of the toxic chemical have been most heavily felt within the Gurnee and Waukegan areas, approximately 10 miles north of Libertyville. Four lawsuits were filed against both Medline and Vantage in late August. Waukegan resident Dawn Rex sued both companies after her 3-year-old son, Samuel Dolcimascolo, was diagnosed with leukemia three months ago. During a town hall meeting on Oct. 2 at the College of Lake County, she addressed the ATSDR with anger: “My 3-year-old son is battling for his life. I shouldn’t even be here.” Patty Bennett, a Gurnee resident, also filed a lawsuit against both companies due to her leukemia diagnosis in 2016. Both plaintiffs attest they acquired cancer due to the toxic air surrounding their homes; they live within a three-mile radius of both facilities. There are also multiple schools located around the medical plants, which raises potential health concerns for children. “What’s top-of-mind to me is children, including infants and toddlers, who will have the longest-term impacts,” local resident Pat O’Keefe, of Gurnee, stated at the town hall meeting. The four lawsuits do not cover all suspected consequences of the toxic materials. The National Air Toxics Assessment is a screening tool used by the state to identify large concentrations of pollutants in the air and calculates the health risks associated with the toxins. According to NATA’s website, in their 2014 screening, the test found more than 100 cancer cases per million people in the Gurnee and Waukegan townships; in the surrounding communities, such as Libertyville, the rate was 25-50 cancer cases per million people. The assessment also exposed that Medline had released 3,058 pounds of EtO and Vantage 6,412 pounds in 2014 alone. Willowbrook, a town also affected by EtO emissions in 2019, recently enacted a new legal limit for Sterigenics (another medical plant), which is now 85 pounds per year. Although the number is significantly lower from
the 2014 NATA screening, it still poses a threat to the health of the surrounding community. In an email to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on Aug. 13, Medline officials stated, “We have learned no additional information that would cause us to revise our 2014 number.” While the issue may seem to merit federal legislation, there is an explanation for why action has not been taken at a national level. According to the IEPA, the legal limit of EtO gas released into the air is 0.02 g/m3, which is 2 millionths of a gram per cubic meter air. The IEPA director John Kim, however, claims, “It is not a regulatory number; it’s a guidance number.” As a result, the companies do not have to comply with these guidelines. The IEPA and ATSDR were only informed of the air pollution in Lake County last November, after both facilities were forced to publish reports on their high levels. Air sample locations around the Gurnee and Waukegan areas taken in June were 10.0 g/m3, around 500 times higher than the advisable limit. The IEPA declared that due to a lack of regulatory limit, neither company can be legally convicted in court. IEPA decided to instead issue a permit that monitors the gas and regulates it so that companies can’t keep releasing such high levels of EtO into the air. The majority of ethylene oxide emissions do not however impact Libertyville. Mrs. Jennifer Kahn, an environmental science teacher, explained that “[the emissions] diffuse into the environment the farther you get away [from the chemical plants] so that the levels that are considered dangerous become less significant pretty quickly.” She added that, “generally the wind direction that we see is not towards Libertyville and typically we see the weather moving off to the east, so over Lake Michigan.” This wind essentially moves the EtO away, therefore, Libertyville is protected from most of the emissions, she said. Dr. Lonny Lemon, superintendent of Oak Grove School, explained, “Testing in Green Oaks has not been done by the IEPA, so we don’t have any data to tell us if there is a potential safety issue in our community.” He described that NATA has issued future screenings that will give residents an updated report on emissions in the area. He added that “everyone is anxiously awaiting the results of those tests.” Looking towards the future, Medline and Vantage officials state they have enacted new restrictions that will limit emissions by 99.9 percent in future years, according to the Daily Herald. Many bills have been passed by state legislators allowing local governments to install their own regulations. Groups of Lake County residents have also come together to form organizations to ban EtO all together, creating petitions and protesting to their local mayors. OCTOBER 2019
5
NEWS
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT SUGGESTS TEAMS LIFT MORE Christian Roberts
Anika Raina
New weight room requirements for LHS sports teams encourage the athletes to practice both during the on and off seasons in order for teams to maintain their athletic performance. At the start of the fall sports seasons, the athletic department started to recommend that all sports teams use the weight room at least two times a week, both in and out of season. This decision came as a result of a process that started last November by the athletic department and its head coaches. Their goal is to transform Libertyville’s athletic program into the best in the North Suburban Conference, said athletic director John Woods. Mr. Woods said the first step was to “get experts in the field to educate our coaches. We want our athletes to be bigger, stronger and faster.” This is where the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI) came in. IBJI was hired with the goal of teaching coaches how to “increase flexibility, strength and durability, while also preventing injuries,’’ Mr. Woods explained. The next step was to get teams into the weight room. Mr. Woods shared that “a survey was taken last year, and 76 percent of athletes said they’ve never lifted, in season or out of season. We want to change that.” Along with their plans to get more student-athletes in the weight room, the athletic department also hoped to get more expert trainers into the weight room to teach athletes proper form and technique, especially for those with little experience lifting. The two athletic trainers that were brought in are Faith Ekakitie and Izzy Dolba. Ekakitie, the number one overall pick in the 2017 Canadian Football League draft, spends his mornings and afternoons in the weight room “educating students and giving them stuff that will help them in their sports down the road,’’ he stated. “I want to make sure everyone is comfortable coming here and getting work done. Not just the football team, either.” Ekakitie “brings knowledge and credibility to the weight room,” according to Mr. Woods. 6
DROPS OF INK
Dolba, who did track and field in high school, was a member of the women’s rowing team at the University of Iowa. Although still in the early phases, the new changes have been met with praise from most students, including sophomore varsity dancer Emma Sauers, who spoke highly of her time spent so far in the weight room. “Personally, I really like going to the weight room twice a week. Working out there has definitely made our team much stronger,” Sauers stated over text. She has taken a liking to their new workout routine because “the weight room is a lot more enjoyable than running the track or any other types of conditioning, mainly because we’re doing so many different exercises. We work our abs, legs and arms throughout our circuits and often use weights. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.” Another varsity dancer who has bought into her time in the weight room is sophomore Ryan McGrory. “For the first few sessions, I felt like it took up a lot of time, without any real benefit,” she explained. However, as their season has continued, McGrory’s opinion changed: “I feel like as we have gone on in the year, we’ve been able to do more exercises in a shorter amount of time. We’ve definitely made a lot of progress.” Both dancers also stated that they felt the new workout plan has helped them not only get stronger individually but also as a team: “I feel like it has definitely helped us grow stronger as a team, not only physically but also just persevering through workouts as a group, together,” McGrory said. Sauers credited most of their team’s newfound love of the weight room to Ekakitie. She explained that “[he] is super encouraging. He always pushes us to work as hard as we can, especially when we get really tired. He knows exactly what exercises to give us that will help us get stronger.”
NEWS
BAND RAISES $3,400 FOR WAUKEGAN BAND Molly Boufford
Megan Lenzi
The Section Cup is awarded to the band section that won the change drive during their summer band camp. During the last week of July, the LHS band fundraised $3,400 through their annual change drive to donate to the Waukegan High School marching band. The annual change drive occurred during the week-long summer camp that marching band attends every year. Each day during the drive, the students bring in a different type of coin, ending on Friday with dollar bills. “Monday is pennies, Tuesday nickels, Wednesday dimes and Thursday quarters,” explained drum major Katie Olson, a senior. The band’s 123 marchers are split into sections to compete. These sections include low brass, flutes, percussion and more. This year, the flutes were the winners of the drive, bringing in the most total money, but the low brass section brought in the most money per person. “Our students are really good about getting their section excited about the drive,” said Mr. Adam Gohr, one of the band directors. Over the week, the band competes to earn section points in an attempt to win the section cup at the end of the week. The cup was made years ago by a former marching band student. Along with the cup, the winning section gets bragging rights for the year. “The flutes are the biggest section, so they tend to win a lot,” said Olson. Gohr brought the idea to fundraise for the Waukegan band in 2013 when he came to LHS after working at Mundelein High School. He said the motivation for doing so was to give back to the local community and include music in some way. The drive is almost all student-organized. The band’s social committee, comprised of seniors Emily Waddick, Ava Szatmary and Albert Sterner, and junior Nick Anderson, was given a list of
organizations that the band has previously worked with and some new organizations that they then picked from. This year, the committee chose to donate their money to “Bravo Waukegan,” an organization that gives to all of the Waukegan schools. Bravo Waukegan decided that the money would go to the Waukegan High School marching band, as LHS wanted to donate to something music-related. “It feels more personal when it’s local and you can see how it’s going to affect those people,” said Mr. Gohr. Following the fundraiser, the LHS band invited Mike Kennedy, the Waukegan band director, and two of their drum majors, Lorin Kidwell and Brandon Carranza, to accept the check for $3,400. The Waukegan marching band plans on using the money for new mellophones as well as an overnight trip to Oblong, Illinois, for their final marching band competition of the year. “One of the things that many of us are looking forward to the most are new mellophones; the mellophones that members in our ensemble play on are about 40 years old, so they are a little worn, to say the least,” said Lorin Kidwell, a senior. Both Olson and junior Chad Matulenko expressed that it was a good experience to talk with Carranza and Kidwell to see the differences of the school’s bands. “It’s really just getting to talk with people that love music and have a passion for music and want their bands to do well,” said Matulenko. The Waukegan marching band is grateful for the donation, and it has already inspired them. “Many people who play those instruments are excited for what’s to come. Not only those horn players but also everyone in the band is excited for the upcoming year,” says Carnazza over email. OCTOBER 2019
7
WHAT’S TRENDING
What’s Trending: TV Show Edition Sara Bogan
Jade Foo
And the Emmy Award for Current TV Shows That Most LHS Students Are Watching goes to “The Good Place,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “13 Reasons Why,” and “Impractical Jokers!” An online survey that was conducted received 125 responses from LHS students and these shows made the top of the list. Grab some popcorn, relax on the couch, and before you start binging, let’s dive into what’s trending for the fall season of television at LHS. Other current top shows from the survey results include “Riverdale,” “Big Mouth,” “Family Guy,” and “Modern Family”.
This medical drama is on its 16th season on ABC. The television show begins with a group of surgical interns at Seattle Grace Hospital and focuses on Meredith Grey, the daughter of a former famous surgeon. Over the next 16 years, Meredith and her colleagues advance in their medical careers while experiencing the ups and downs of their personal lives. Although the current season of “The Good Place” is its last, the NBC show seems more popular than ever with Libertyville students. “The Good Place’s” fourth season, according to the survey, is what most people are watching at LHS right now. This comedy follows main character Eleanor Shellstrop and friends Chidi, Jason, and Tahani as they navigate their afterlife in The Good Place, which is heaven-like with a modern twist. In Season 1, Eleanor realizes that she is in The Good Place by mistake and attempts to become the good person she is supposed to be.
“13 Reasons Why” has been controversial since the show began in 2017 but seems to be a hit at LHS. The third season explores the murder of a student at Liberty High School. Produced by Selena Gomez, this television show is only available on Netflix, which is the platform that is most watched among the 125 students who responded to the survey. Keep in mind that this show is not advised for those with mental health issues and is sometimes considered disturbing to watch. 8
DROPS OF INK
The next show comes with a warning, but it’s not what you might think: “Warning: The following program contains scenes of graphic stupidity among four lifelong friends who compete to embarrass each other.” Continuing for its sixth season this fall on TruTV, these best friends compete in comedic challenges where they have to complete tasks or talk to strangers based on what their friends tell them to do. The episodes end with a punishment for the losing “joker” who fails the most challenges. Season 1 is now on Netflix .
Shaking up the Stage
FEATURE
Charlotte Pulte Peyton Rodriguez Jade Foo
OCTOBER 2019
9
FEATURE he spotlight turns on, shining on a single actor on the stage. The student in charge of the lights holds the massive spotlight steady. Music plays, cued up by the crew in the sound booth, trained when to play it at exactly the right time. The actor says their lines and sings the opening number, followed by a roaring start of string and wind instruments down in the pit. The lights fade to black. The crowd erupts with applause. As they roar, the backstage crew scrambles behind the curtain as they pull it closed, changing the intricate set and rolling out the elaborate props. Meanwhile, the dance ensemble hurries into formation after the crew quickly clears out. Lights on. Curtains back. It’s go time. This year, the fall musical is “All Shook Up,” a show inspired by Shakespere’s “Twelfth Night” but also based around a number of Elvis Presley’s songs, including hits like “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Hound Dog.” The music in this show is a critical component to the story and there is music virtually from start to end. The show follows the main character, Chad, played by senior Albert Sterner, navigating his way through the Midwest in the 1950s after being released from prison. The character finds himself in a small town where he meets a young mechanic named Natalie, played by junior Rachel Erdmann, and Chad proceeds to shake up the community’s uninspired way of life. “All Shook Up” will be shown on two weekends this year in the LHS Auditorium. It can be seen on Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. and 27 at 2 p.m., as well as the following weekend, on Nov. 1 and 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students. The show has 42 students in the cast, which is fairly large compared to most other performances at LHS. The students in the production have been hard at work since the second week at school, making sure that everything comes together and is perfected by opening weekend. “When everything comes on stage, and everything comes into place, it’s so beautiful. It’s like one big puzzle, and we get to see all of the little pieces as they’re coming together,” said the stage manager, senior Maja Gavrilovic‘. As stage manager, Gavrilovic‘ helps to run rehearsals and watches the performance in the booth. In the booth, she helps to make sure that light and sound cues go smoothly, as well as making sure props come on at the right time.
T
10 DROPS OF INK
In the wings of the stage are Gavrilovic'‘ s and feels. Senior Jordan Erdal is the head of two assistant stage managers, who make costume crew and helps the actors behind sure everything goes well and the actors and the scenes during performances. crew have what they need. In the weeks leading up to the show, Erdal “We don’t necessarily get the most recfits the actors for their costumes and creognition because people don’t see our faces, ates pieces needed to fit the show’s theme. but we know that we’re the ones who make During the show, however, she’s organizing the show run,” said junior Kate Barry, one of the costume racks and assisting actors who the assistant stage managers. have to make quick changes. "When people are watching a scene from “We do have a small number of people the audience, [they] see the actors play their on costume crew, but I love them. They’re role. But if you’re backstage and watching it, like my family. I’ve known them for the past you’re watching to make sure that someone three years. We spend a lot of time together moves their prop at the right time and that down in the costume shop,” said Erdal. platform is still where it needs to be. You Aside from those physically backstage, notice different things and pay attention to the tech crew up in the booth also works the details,” Barry added. extremely hard, making sure all of their The work that the actors do to prepare equipment has been troubleshot and is for opening night also takes a lot of time ready for opening night. and practice. Senior Ainsley Johnson is the head of “What I love most in the whole process is sound, the person in the booth who controls going through the text and making it my the audio and the microphones the actors own, not just what the author wants to say are using. The weeks leading up to the first but also how I can make the words someshow, Johnson works on wiping and reconthing that can relate to the audience and structing the soundboard. relate to me,” Barry said. “It’s on a preset currently for what the Erdmann said she uses a technique that auditorium uses, and we just clear it all out her theater director taught her, where she and we start from scratch, basically rebuildgoes through the script and identifies her ing the inputs and outputs so the mics can character’s objective, super objective and be connected,” said Johnson. the tactics the character uses. The objective “When we’re in that first practice of tech is the character’s goal for that scene, the week (the final week of rehearsals before super objective is the character’s goal for the show opens), we don’t know what’s the entire show and the tactics are the little going to go wrong. But then by the end of things that the character uses to achieve the week, we have a beautiful production their goals. and just seeing that is absolutely incredible,” “[The technique] allows me to really dig Johnson explained. into the script and discover what my character wants. It makes me think ahead and think about what the scene means in the grand scheme of things. Once I can figure out what the scene means, then I can really master it and portray that goal,” Erdmann explained. The character’s costumes and what they wear from scene to scene is also a big Many of structures on the set were built with the help of drills. Using factor in how the proper drilling techniques are important to make sure you don’t split production looks any of the wood.
A part of the cast and crew’s job is not only to make everything run smoothly during the show but also to fix problems that arise mid-performance. “The most challenging thing is when something goes wrong, and we have to think on the fly, and we have to improvise. For example, if an actor moves the wrong way, that can completely mess up the light cues. You have to think, ‘Can we go back? How can we fix it so that it’s not noticeable to the audience that something is wrong?’” ' She added that it’s the described Gavrilovic, crew’s job to “make it look like everything’s going perfectly.” Because of the large number of people in the cast, blocking and choreographing
like a dance? Or where I want the focus to be, so that we can highlight certain people or highlight certain set pieces, which isn’t something that I have had to think about before,” said Hogarty. When the curtains close and the lights go out, the running crew comes on stage to move the bigger set pieces. The assistant stage managers, either assigned to the left or right side of the stage, are in charge in those situations. “I tell people what needs to be moved off or on the stage during the show because there’s gotta be someone to make sure everything’s moving together,” said Barry, who is in charge of Stage Left. Barry explained that this is what she does for the majority
Even when they aren’t the main focus of the scene, the chorus in the background must also act and show as much emotion as the main actors. scenes for the show has been more difficult than usual. Senior Michelle Hogarty is the dance captain for the show, as well as a member of the ensemble. Hogarty works with Mrs. Eryn Brown, the dance teacher at LHS, and theater director Mr. Christopher Thomas, to choreograph the musical numbers. However, since the show is very music-based, the dance numbers that Hogarty choreographs also have to include space for other actors to say their lines and ways for cast members to carry props onstage. “I’m not just focusing on the dance and the way that I want it to look. I have to think about how someone is going to bring a set piece in, but how can I still make that look
FEATURE show to create meticulous set pieces that add to the performance. Twin sisters Avery and Paige Vang have been on crew since freshman year, painting backdrops and set pieces. Now sophomores, they are the heads of paint, working after rehearsals with those on the set construction crew and other artists to design the sets. The Vangs explained that they are currently working on painting canvases to look like wood paneling and also creating lots of signs for a carnival scene in the show. Paige stated that her favorite part about participating in the musical is “the community that you feel within the crew. Just going [to rehearsal] and seeing all of your close
Avery and Paige Vang are in charge of painting the little details of the set which help make the scenery look more realistic.
of the show, but if running crew “needs another person, then I’m out there doing it with them.” One thing that many of the crew members noted as something different about this production compared to others done in the past is the amount of moving parts and set pieces in “All Shook Up.” This show has a real motorcycle, a school bus built for the characters to sit in, a jukebox that plays music, and a rotating set piece called the Honky Tonk that can rotate to show two different backdrops. The stage and set pieces around the actors tell just as much of a story as the songs and script. Lots of planning and constructing is done during the weeks leading up to the
friends in one spot and being able to just work hard with all of them for two and a half hours a day is just refreshing.” The cast and crew have a number of pre-show traditions that stand out to the students involved, greatly contributing to the family atmosphere. Johnson explained how, before the show, the crew members gather around on the stage and toast to a great show with sparkling cider. “We wish everyone good luck and we just come together and say, ‘This is our show. We’ve come this far. Not everything is going to go perfectly, but we just have to do our jobs, carry on, and have a good show,’” Johnson described.
October 2019
11
FEATURE
IT’s Complicated: A Look into LHS’s IT Department
By Ella Marsden Photos by Sara Bogan Layout by Ian Cox
Introduction.doc Six individuals, all with vastly different backgrounds, somehow all ended up in the same place, amid seemingly endless stacks of Chromebooks and a myriad of other tech devices: the Libertyville High School Information Technology Department. These IT staff members are always ready to tackle the next issue to arise. This was made evident by numerous interruptions during an interview with them for this story, when various students and staff came into the IT office, seeking help for different technological issues.
Story.doc
W
hile things have calmed down now, the department is often swamped with students, teachers and other LHS staff members with any number of technological problems at the beginning of the school year. At times, there are even students lined up at the desks of Mr. Kurt Hinsberger and Mr. Danny Herrera, the computer technicians. Mr. Eli Kelly, the IT Coordinator, shared that early in the year, freshmen often come in with the most issues, typically regarding passwords or confusion about their new Chromebooks. As the year progresses, however, the number of walk-ins decreases. What starts as 50 visits per day from students alone decreases to 50 total visits — including students and staff members, Mr. Kelly explained. The IT staff said it welcomes these questions and acknowledges that though these periods of high demand can be stressful, they’re always willing to help: “Don’t be afraid to come see IT if you’re having problems—any issues. Come on in, our door is always open,” Mr. Kelly said. In his time at LHS, Mr. Hinsberger has encountered a number of humorous situations with student Chromebooks. One of his funniest memories was of a student who dropped his Chromebook off the roof of his house. Apparently, the student enjoyed doing homework on his roof and at one point lost his grip on the computer, and it fell, landing in his driveway.
12 DROPS OF INK
Another story Mr. Hinsberger shared was of a student who accidentally shot his Chromebook with a BB gun: “He was doing target practice in his room, the target was up, and his Chromebook was behind it somehow,” Mr. Hinsberger shared. Consequently, the student brought his Chromebook into IT with a cracked screen. The IT staff unanimously feels that one of the best parts of their job is the satisfaction that comes from solving problems. “I think we all do what we do, to a small degree, because you like solving a puzzle or figuring something out,” said Mrs. Kate Isabelli, a technology integration specialist who works at both buildings in District 128. Interacting with LHS students and staff is another benefit that comes with the job, according to Mr. Kelly. Sophomore Bella Perkins’s involvement in crew for theater has allowed her to help out the IT department with lighting work. She shares the team’s love of solving a puzzle: the best part of IT work is “being able to do something and feeling good about it,” Perkins said. Before freshman year, Perkins had never done lighting for a show. But, instead of auditioning for the musical, she decided to work on crew that year. She said she fell in love with the work. Outside of theater, she’s helped the IT staff with various tasks: “I have worked with Lina [Klein] and Cody [Hawks] from IT (they are both AV technicians).
Group.jpg
FEATURE
Eli Kelly.jpg
Left to Right: Kurt Hinsberger, Lina Klein, Eli Kelly, Kate Isabelli, Cody Hawks
Cody Hawks.jpg
Daniel Herrera.jpg
Story.doc I’ve followed them around and helped them with some of the Friday Student of the Month [ceremonies],” Perkins explained. She also helped out with eighth grade orientation last year, setting up the lighting, music and other technical work that had to be done. Perkins also spent her winter break helping the IT team and said she doesn’t regret it. Her experiences with the team are responsible for her developed interest in technological work, and she said she plans to keep doing it throughout the rest of her high school career. Through working in close quarters, the IT staff has gotten to know each other well over the years, both through conversations at work and after-work gatherings. This specific group has been working together for about a year and a half now; the latest addition to the team was Hawks. Outside of school, the group tries to get together once a month for lunch or dinner. They also enjoy going to Whirlyball or Ravinia, but their favorite pastime is trivia. While it’s often hard for the IT team to get together due to their busy schedules and family commitments, it’s always worth the planning, shared Mr. Kelly. This discussion even sparked talks of their next outing: “I think we need to do trivia again and Whirlyball, too,” Mr. Kelly told his team during the interview. The nature of their job contributes to the community formed
between team members. “We’re never going to be in a different department. We pretty much all start in IT, and we’re stuck with each other until the bitter end,” Mrs. Isabelli explained. After spending so much time together, they’ve grown comfortable with each other. For example, Mr. Hinsberger used to listen to his music out loud, but after receiving light-hearted ridicule by his coworkers, he began wearing headphones. When asked what advice they have for students, the team had a lot to say, specifically regarding student Chromebooks; Mr. Hinsberger compared them to textbooks. “This is a textbook you keep for four years. So, take good care of it. Don’t mess with it. That way, at the end of the four years, it’s yours,” Mr. Hinsberger said. Mrs. Isabelli emphasized the importance of students being proactive in checking their school accounts: “Activate your Remind account, check your email, connect to all of the ways that you’ve been given to receive communications because otherwise, you’re going to miss one that might matter.”
OCTOBER 2019 13
FEATURE
Vampirina: Not So Different Underneath Claire Salemi
A
Rowan Hornsey
mong famous actors like Marlon Brando and Phillipa Soo, LHS is now able to add another to their list: freshman Isabella Crovetti. Crovetti has starred in many television shows and movies, including the popular Disney Junior children’s show “Vampirina.” The actress, often called Bella by friends and family, also has an immense passion for singing. The underclassman can be heard singing in LHS’s choir as well as on the theme song of “Vampirina” and throughout its episodes. Having parents in the business helped Crovetti’s career take off, her mom helping her to know what to wear and teaching her proper stage etiquette. Before Crovetti’s own fame, the family’s intent was to have her brothers, Nick and Cameron, ecome actors because of Hollywood’s desire to have identical twins, but things turned out differently. While her mom was on the phone with her manager, the manager heard a young Crovetti speaking in the background “talking and talking and talking,” the actress explained. Because of her chatter in the background, Crovetti was given the opportunity to sign with a children’s talent agency at age 6. Over the last nine years, the actress has been featured in television shows like “Colony,” “Jessie,” “Shimmer and Shine,” “The Neighbors,” “Vampirina” and movies like “Joy,” and “Magic Camp.” Crovetti said that some of her favorite jobs are “this movie ‘Magic Camp’ that [she] did for Disney that’s going to come out this year and ‘The Neighbors’,” and later added that she loved being on Disney Channel’s “Jessie.” Currently, she is working on recording more episodes of “Vampirina.” Because Crovetti recently moved to the area full-time from Los Angeles, she now records in a studio in downtown Chicago. Preparation for a voice actor is different than that of a screen
Molly Boufford
actor: “I read the script beforehand, but you’re in the booth and have the script in front of you. I just read each line three times over again in different ways, and then [the producers] pick which [way] they like the best.” When people ask Crovetti about her shows, she exclaimed that she loves when people are watching and is always very flattered. At school, Crovetti said she usually gets comments about how fellow peers enjoy watching her Disney Junior and Nick Jr. shows with siblings or while they are babysitting. She also mentioned how she finds it endearing to see people with “Vampirina” or “Shimmer and Shine” merchandise in public. While acting is really important to her, Crovetti also emphasized her immense passion for singing; she has been singing “since before [she] could talk,” Crovetti said. In school, Crovetti is part of the freshman choir. The LHS choir director, Dr. Jeff Brown, commented that she has shown a passion for music and is hard-working in his class. Prior to his interview, Dr. Brown said he was unaware of her acting and singing career since Crovetti was so reserved at first. With her love for both writing and singing music, Crovetti also talked about possibly getting involved in LHS’s guitar club in the future because she has played since age 7. Crovetti has also joined the cross country team, and she is considering trying out for the gymnastics and/or softball teams. “The cross country team is by far one of my favorite things because everyone [shares a sister-like bond],” Crovetti stated. The LHS cross country coach, Mrs. Alison Reifenberg, explained how she, similar to Dr. Brown, was not told by Crovetti about her fame but was made aware of it by some girls on the team.
Photo courtesy of Isabella Crovetti Crovetti was once interviewed by Radio Disney for one of her projects. She has appeared on red carpets as well. 14 DROPS OF INK
FEATURE
Crovetti said she has been adjusting to life in Libertyville quite well because of spending every summer here with her family.
“Isabella started off pretty quiet, but now I am seeing more of her personality. She is really friendly and has a good sense of humor,” Mrs. Reifenberg explained over email. Crovetti moved into her summer house in Libertyville this year to start her high school career. Previously, she had gone to school in Los Angeles and lived in Libertyville during the summer: “I’ve been coming here since I was little [because] my grandparents and cousins are from here,” the actress stated. Her mother, Mrs. Denise Crovetti, expressed that she wanted a slower pace to life and a more Midwestern upbringing for her family. Crovetti is not the only Hollywood star in her family: her father is a writer and producer, and her mom and brothers are also actors. The family was able to make this move due to the careers of both Crovetti and her brothers being established well-enough at this point. Her brothers are characters in the hit HBO show “Big Little Lies” as sons of
Celeste Wright, played by Nicole Kidman. “I’m really proud of them. They definitely have had a very good year so far,” Crovetti stated. Despite being the new girl in town, Crovetti explained that it is easier to adjust because she is familiar with the area and also because “everyone is just really sweet.” It has also been easier since “my middle school was about the size of [LHS],” Crovetti commented. So far, Crovetti hasn’t missed a ton of school for work, but she may have to in the future. One thing that is different from Los Angeles is the lack of flexibility to leave school as easily for jobs. “Bella’s school in LA was super accommodating to her schedule since that is normal there. She would leave for a month, and it would be totally okay,” Mrs. Crovetti commented. “So far, LHS has been really good, but sports haven’t been as flexible.” With sports, school, singing and acting, Crovetti has a loaded schedule, but she says that “because I have done it since I was
6, I am used to it now.” Her mom described the “Vampirina” star as “very organized” and “type A,” so she uses her time wisely. Similar to her mom’s belief of what her daughter will be doing
in the future, Crovetti envisions herself continuing to act and sing in the future: “In 15 years, I would like to be singing and producing my own songs, since I like writing my own stuff.”
“The cross country team is by far one of my favorite things because everyone [shares a sister-like bond]”
OCTOBER 2019 15
FEATURE
It’s lunch time—you walk into the lunchroom, and you’re instantly greeted by the enthusiastic servers behind the cash register, on the other side of the deli line and in the kitchen. These are the workers who make sure students and staff have lunch available day in and day out. But have you ever wondered what their lives are like outside of the kitchen doors? From dancing, to boy scouts, to gardening, the lives of the lunch staff here at Libertyville are family oriented and involved.
Outside of the Wildcat family Every member of the cafeteria staff interviewed for this story said they consider the students and staff their family. However, they also have families of their own who keep them just as busy. Lynn Lazarski, one of the cashiers on staff, has been married to her husband for 41 years and has been with him since she was a freshman in high school. They have three married sons, along with four cats. “I pretty much dedicate my life to my family,” stated Lazarski. Similar to Lazarski, cashier Maria Tamayo is very close to her family. She spends Friday and Saturday movie nights with her husband, along with her two sons and daughter. She said she loves to spend all of the extra time she has with her family, whether it’s in the theater or at home. Melissa VanLue, also known as Chef Mel, the manager of the cafeteria staff, has an 11-year-old son who plays three different instruments and is heavily involved in boy scouts. She admitted that her hands are kept tied outside of work, driving him from place to place and making sure he gets where he needs to be. Deborah Wright, a worker in the deli line who goes by Debbie, has children in their 30s, and though they’re not at home anymore, she loves to crochet for them in her free time. “It’s how I am, if you get married, or you have a baby, you’re gonna get a quilt, or you’re gonna get clothing from me that I’ve handmade,” she said.
16 DROPS OF INK
Beyond the Lunchroom Along with crocheting for her family, Wright said she enjoys making quilts, blankets and scarves for women who have been abused, as well as single moms, through her church. When VanLue, who was recently hired for her position, isn’t in the cafeteria at the high school, she brings her culinary skills back home to her family. “When at home, I’m always in the kitchen, cooking or watching food shows, always trying something new,” she expressed. VanLue is not the only one passionate about working with food outside of her job. Wright enjoys gardening in her spare time and said she tends to her organic garden whenever the weather is nice. She is very mindful of health in foods and expressed that she enjoys working in the deli very much because of the healthy food options it offers. Outside of the kitchen, Lazarski elaborated that her favorite thing to do with her family is play games, particularly card games. When Tamayo isn’t working behind the cash register or at the movie theater, you can probably find her on a dance floor. She has enjoyed dancing since high school, when she joined her school’s dance team. “We used to do all kinds of tricks; I have just always loved dancing!” Tamayo exclaimed in an interview.
FEATURE
The Grille is one of LHS’s most popular cafeteria lines, commonly recognized for its french fries. Tamayo strives to keep the line efficient and fast, yet she still has time to have conversations with some students.
Wright is always hard at work, making sure every student leaves Sandwich Central feeling satisfied.
Biggest perk of the job Despite the different hobbies and interests of the cafeteria staff, they all share one thing—their love for the students and staff at LHS. The cashiers all voiced that interacting with the friendly students is their favorite part about working at Libertyville. “I love to serve all of the wonderful students and listen about their days, weekends and special events or even if they just need to vent,” Lazarski expressed. She also admitted that she “get[s] a kick out of the boys who always pretend to give [her] a hard time; they think they are real comedians,” she said. Wright added that part of the reason she enjoys her job so much is because the students “keep [her] young,” and that the smiles on the students’ faces help her to keep a smile on hers. “When kids come up and I say ‘good morning!’ and [they] say ‘good morning’ back, or ‘hello, how are you?’ it makes my whole day,” she expressed. In her new role, VanLue said she is doing everything she can to ensure that no requests go unheard and to prioritize the dietary needs of all students. “I want the kids to know that I am here for them, so any issues, any comments, any food they want to see on the menu, I’m here to listen,” she said. VanLue added that the staff is now working on cooking healthier options, as well as making more food from scratch, making sure there is something for every student and staff member at the school. “I love listening to everyone’s requests about food items or drinks they’d like to see, and I really do try my best to get every wish granted,” she stated.
Wright (left) and Libia work every day to ensure the students’ satisfaction during lunch. They work in Sandwich Central where they take specific orders and create their masterpieces, including one of the student favorites: the buffalo chicken wrap.
OCTOBER 2019
17
ADVERTISEMENTS
18 DROPS OF INK
The IceCats The ups and downs to being a club sport
Sarah Bennett Anika Raina
Ian Cox
SPORTS
I
magine a Wednesday night after a long day at school: most students look forward to a night full of homework and relaxation. For the IceCats, though, these students go home and, instead of relaxing, get ready for practice to start at 8:40 p.m. The IceCats hockey team, which often practices late at night due to limited rink availability, is made up of a combination of Vernon Hills and Libertyville High School students. Neither school dominates the roster, as there are 12 players from Libertyville and eight from Vernon Hills. Members of the team and its coaching staff believe this is of value to the program because talent can come from multiple places. In addition, these students value the friendships they form with peers from another school. “We’re a really tight-knit group of guys,” LHS senior and returning captain Carson Darnall expressed. “We’re an older team, so we have grown up playing together over these last few years.” Because these students are from different towns and due to the fact that hockey is a club sport, meaning it is not one officially sponsored by the IHSA, many obstacles emerge. From driving from Vernon Hills to Libertyville before school for conditioning, to not getting a bus provided to and from games, to having practice while other students are already in bed, the IceCats must overcome many challenges throughout their season.
We're a really tight knit group of guys. - Carson Darnall Despite these challenges, last year, the IceCats made it to the final eight in the state tournament. Their quarterfinal game went into overtime, but the IceCats ultimately did not come out on top. For Darnall, hopes are high for what the upcoming season may bring: “We have a fast team and have a chance at going far this year.” There are nine seniors on this year’s roster, meaning the team has experience. After last year’s upsetting loss in the state tournament, these players say they are using this as motivation to go even further than last year. The IceCats first game this year was against Highland Park, and the teams tied at 4. After a long day at school and a challenging practice, LHS athletes are able to go home, eat dinner, work on homework and go to sleep. But for the IceCats, they are just putting their equipment in their bags and getting ready to leave for practice. As players grow older, their practice times on the ice get later. Even after the IceCats practice, there is another practice for the adult league starting at 10:10pm. because Glacier Ice Arena is open until midnight. So, for the Varsity IceCats, their time on the ice is 8:40-10:10 p.m. “By the time the guys get home and shower,” Head Varsity Coach
20 DROPS OF INK
Guy Considine added, “it takes some time to wind down.” This is Considine’s first year as the head coach, and his son Ryan Considine, a senior, plays on the team. In the morning, when LHS athletes have practice, they generally work out in the same building as their first-period class. But, for the IceCats, about half the team is from LIbertyville. So, after a morning workout at Vernon Hills, these athletes have to change, pack up all their equipment and drive to Libertyville before first period. “For us being a club and in the same season as many other sports, getting the weight room after school was a challenge,” Considine said. Due to the new push at LHS for athletes to go to the weight room twice a week for strength and conditioning, there is limited space in the weight rooms for a morning workout, and as a result, the team starts lifting at 6:30a..m. on some days. Ben Wellenbach, founder of BeWell fitness, is the off-ice strength training coach who works with the team in the weight room so that they get stronger and in better shape for the season. Because of the limited space, the IceCats had to adjust and now have added office training days after school as well as at the BeWell fitness gym. During their workouts, there are specific exercises for the players to perform depending on their position. For example, the goalies do things very differently from other positions. “[Goalies focus on] stretching,” said right wing Jack Waitley, a Vernon Hills senior. “You need to be really flexible to be a goalie and [have good] hand-eye coordination, being able to catch”. Similar to every high school, LHS athletes have specific rules and regulations they must follow throughout their season. But, for the IceCats, they choose to hold their athletes accountable to the same standards as District 128 holds its student-athletes. The district has a specific protocol for teams and athletes to
abide by throughout their season. For example, each student must be passing five academic classes in order to participate. Considine believes in treating the players as regular student-athletes: “There is a high degree of emphasis that we are student-athletes, so students first, athletes second. That has always been a part of the program; we abide by all the grade policies and eligibility policies.” Along with working with the high school on keeping their athletes accountable, the coaches also communicate with the trainers about injuries and work with them on concussion protocol. Each year, LHS sports are budgeted a specific amount of money for their teams. But, for the IceCats, the program is not given an official budget due to its status as a club. This means everything is privately funded by the families. Even though hockey is listed under the “Athletics” tab on the LHS website, they are not given financial support for their season. During official high school sports seasons, coaches can use their budget to buy an assortment of items, such as practice jerseys or new equipment. Without a budget, the IceCats must provide their own necessary equipment to compete. To do this, the team relies heavily on its holiday and wreath decorations fundraiser. Not only do they raise money, they also have community sponsors and “chucka-puck” contests, where people pay and, in between periods, kids compete by throwing a puck towards the middle of the ice to see which puck gets closest to the center. This is a small way the team is able to fundraise money, and it invites the fan section to be more involved during games. For away games, LHS athletes are supplied transportation. But for the IceCats, all athletes need to do this on their own. “Instead of one bus with the team coming, you have 20 players trying to come 20 different ways and you’re trying to coordinate all of that,” Considine explained.
While this is challenging at times, Considine also believes that this is a good way for his players to learn and grow as people: “When you do get your license, you have to be on time and manage your schedule, and I think that those are all things that we need as we grow up.” At the beginning of each season, LHS athletes are provided equipment. But for the IceCats, they have to provide all of their own equipment with the exception of jerseys and warm-up jackets, which are privately funded by the team’s families. The hockey team is required to buy the necessary pads, sticks and bags to hold all of their equipment. Altogether, this can be very expensive; on average, Darnall estimates that each IceCats player spends around $1,500, depending on the gear the player is getting. Although there are obstacles to being a club sport, there are still many advantages. “I think it is really fun to have kids from Vernon Hills,” senior left wing, LHS’s Nick Elfering, said, “because you get a whole different group of kids that I wouldn’t be able to interact with if I wasn’t playing on a combined hockey team.” As a club team, they often travel farther and play against opponents that a high school team would not normally play, meaning it can be easier to reach out and meet new people. Also, since their home rink is not on school property and hockey is not officially recognized as an IHSA sport, this allows for high school fans to have more freedom at games and bring both schools together to show their school spirit. “The Carmel game is always really fun; a lot of our students show up and have lots of energy making it a fun game with all the cheers,” Darnall said. “After goals in all of our games, our fans go crazy, which makes it super fun to play for.”
OCTOBER 2019 21
SPORTS
Fantasy in Reality:
Inside the Daily Workings of Fantasy Football PLAYING THE GAME GAMEDAY
TALKING SMACK
FRIENDLY COMPETITION
LIKE A GIRL
LEARNING FROM THE BEST
Rayna Wuh
Brooke Hutchins
PREGAME
STATISTICS
Cali Lichter
Crowding around the television screen, football fans sit alert at the edges of their seats. Pizza boxes are strewn haphazardly around the room. All other work at the moment is secondary. The task at hand—watching the game—is all that matters. Cheering with excitement one second and groaning with frustration the next, the fans are taken on an emotional rollercoaster as the game clock winds down. From the first game in September to the end of the regular season in December, Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays revolve around the National Football League (NFL). For fantasy football team owners, this is also true for every day in between.
PLAYING THE GAME
TALKING SMACK
According to the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA), nearly 60 million people, as of 2017, participated in some type of fantasy sports. Of them, a majority played fantasy football, a game that allows football fans to construct their ideal teams and compete against others, often for money. Each week, teams are matched up against one another within a league and are awarded points based on their players’ performance. At the end of the season, a playoff system is used to determine a winner. This multi-billion dollar industry sources its revenue from a combination of entry fees, which can range from nothing to hundreds of dollars, and advertisement sales. Although fantasy sports are not considered gambling under federal law, its regulation is left to the discretion of states. Illinois is one of the states that allows fantasy sports, and a gambling expansion bill legalizing statewide sports betting was passed earlier this year. The legality of minors winning and losing money through fantasy play is not well-defined. Regardless, for the 34 percent of American teenagers who choose to participate in fantasy football as reported by the FSGA, putting money at stake is far from uncommon. “If you’re not playing for money, you’re not going to be as focused and you’re not going to try as hard and pay attention as much as if you have a lot of money on the line,” senior Dylan Drumke stated.
Although money on the line adds a level of incentive to game play, bragging rights are another reason for the intensity of the competition. Light-hearted teasing is a major component for several players. “The trophy you win and the smack talk” are both sources of motivation for Drumke. “Just holding over everybody else’s head that you’re the champion. It’s a great feeling,” he mused. However, this seems to be the case whether the confidence is earned or not. Senior Cole Fiorenza said that even though “you have no control over your players and what they do that week, you just [talk smack] anyway.” The banter begins even before the season opener is even played. “Especially right after the draft, you’re super confident, talking smack like, ‘I got the best team in the league,’” senior Jarod Rosenbloom declared.
LIKE a GIRL Sophomore Josie Liu’s motivation to play doesn’t come from her des. While half of her league is comprised of other girls, she admits that most of them have already accepted that they do not know enough about the game to be successful. Meanwhile, many of the guys she plays with believe they will easily win and “make all this money off of these other girls.” However, Liu is not planning on letting that happen. Motivated by the overconfident attitude of her peers, she spent over five hours on FaceTime with one of her friends discussing strategies prior to the draft. Although she’s faced some hiccups this season, including an injured star player and a lack of wide receivers, Liu’s goal remains the same: “I want to win!” she exclaimed.
Senior Jarod Rosenbloom’s fantasy football league gathers around to watch the games and to track their players. The focal point of their room consists of three TVs: one in the center to play their main game and the other surrounding two to watch NFL Red Zone. 22 DROPS OF INK
LEARNING FROM THE BEST
STATISTICS
SPORTS
Inspired by his father, Paul Friel, the 2005 winner of the World Championship of Fantasy Football, junior Grant Friel started playing fantasy at the mere age of six. Watching his dad play, one thing Friel noticed is the time commitment it takes to play at a high-stakes level, with preparation beginning well before the regular season. “During the summer, there’s a pre-season,” he elaborated. “He’s always researching new guys coming out of college [to] see who [he’s] going to draft for these leagues.” Given that the draft is one of the most important aspects of fantasy football, the extra work typically contributes to a large payoff. Although Grant is not sure how his father came to participate in high-stakes fantasy football, he is aware that he first started playing in regular leagues during the 1990s. From there, his father further cultivated his interest and now “he’s one of the best players in the world,” said Grant.
PREGAME Whatever their motivation, LHS students’ preparation for playing fantasy football ranges from a few minutes spent using built-in features in the NFL’s Fantasy Football app to constant research and discussion leading up to game day. For Drumke, fantasy football has become inseparable from his daily routine. Spending between 24 and 30 hours a week on fantasy football, he confesses that “fantasy football during the fall is kind of my life.” Senior Nate Williamson agrees that “your fantasy football team performance kind of sets the tone for how your week is going to be.” The end of Monday Night Football marks the start of a new fantasy week. Depending upon the league, fantasy team owners can acquire and drop athletes on their team through methods like waiver wires and free agency at that time. Then, fantasy owners have the opportunity to read articles about their players’ performance, injuries and upcoming matchups in order to finalize their lineups by Thursday, when the first game of the new week is played.
GAMEDAY On Sunday, several fantasy owners flip to NFL Red Zone, a channel that allows them to track several games at once. Over the course of seven hours, Red Zone switches from game to game, displaying the teams closest to scoring. Participants like senior Will Murphy, who does not own a subscription to NFL Network, sometimes use unorthodox methods to track their athletes’ progress. Each Sunday, “I set up two TVs, and flip between channels on both TVs,” he chuckled. Whatever their process, fans across the country gather around screens in anticipation of the week’s results. In addition to rooting for specific teams, “[Fantasy] makes watching football games every Sunday more fun because you can look and wait for your players to do something,” said junior Griffin Goebeler via email.
FRIENDLY COMPETITION No matter the intensity of competition, the core of fantasy football participation seems to be rooted in something deeper. Whether they have been playing for 9-10 years like Drumke, Murphy and Friel or started more recently like Liu, players bond over their shared love of the game. Any trash-talk remains (mostly) good natured, and a common theme continues to be to enjoying time with friends. For Rosenbloom, Fantasy Football inspires “an extreme desire to watch every single game and make the thing [he] loves, loved even more, bringing all [his] friends together.”
OCTOBER 2019 23
OPINION
CIVILITY IN AN AGE OF ANGER Megan Lenzi
Maguire Marth
fresh-squeezed
Discord
$ $
$
$
There’s no denying that people in our country are angry. Right now, we are living in an age of polarization where more moderate viewpoints are becoming increasingly overshadowed by the growing clamor of extremism. This is reflected in the manner people often debate hot-button political topics, treating one another with animosity and disrespect. In response, many have taken to making the point that the enmity has reached an unacceptable state and that a “return to civility,” is necessary. Civility in this context refers to the courtesy and respect that people should have for each other when discussing anything falling within the realm of general publicity. In political spheres, the overall goal of debate and discussion is to eventually enact change. The Drops of Ink staff believes that animosity and hatred puts a deadlock on any change that public discussion could potentially achieve, and that although civility may not have the ability to directly enact change, it is paramount that we treat one another with value and consideration. There has definitely been a decline in civility in recent years. One of the main contributors to this downfall is exactly what one would expect: the internet. As far as discussion platforms go, social media sites reign supreme among them in terms of aggression for a multitude of reasons. Online, confirmation bias runs rampant. It’s easier than ever to surround yourself with opinions solely reinforcing your own, which serves to not only exacerbate polarization, but also encourage ignorance, as it is easier to protect the validity of one’s opinion when purposefully overlooking factual information that may be in disagreement. Additionally, the general anonymity of the internet and the lack of real-life consequences wrought from disrespecting another person makes it much easier to commit to a path of hostility, to such a degree that it has essentially become the norm in public discussion online. Another common place where we have been involved in political discourse is when conversing with family members, more specifically, those older than us or from the “boomer” generation. Staff 24 DROPS OF INK
Civility
$
members have said that when trying to express their opinions to those older than them, even when those opinions are supported by solid facts, they are met with disrespect and accusations of brainwashing, often on the sole basis that they are younger. This is ironic, considering that many of those who made the original call for a return to civility are from the same generation who mostly accredit its breakdown to younger generations. In recent years, everyone has been influenced by a general political climate plagued by hatred, and thus everyone, no matter their age, can do better. Realistically, Drops of Ink staff holds that unless every single person devotes themselves to accomplishing a resurgence of civility, then the state of public discussion probably won’t change too much. We don’t even expect it to necessarily “return” to what it was before, only to be able to improve the state of it now. We’ve reached a point where animosity has become the norm, and based on all the discussion that’s been had over the years, when looking at the change that’s been had, is discussion really going to get us anywhere? Perhaps not, but ultimately there are no feasible benefits to hostility. As a whole, we have to realize that in all honesty, although we have little power to make substantial political change, our hatred has the power to halt any progress we plausibly have the potential to make right in its tracks. Hatred breeds hatred and has the power to divide us even further not only as a nation but as individual people. A full return to civility is unrealistic to expect at this point in time but opposition against hatred is not. In public discussion, civility should always have its place, but all we can ask for right now is that in public discussion you stay firm in your beliefs, stand up to needless hostility, and practice ceaseless respect towards one another. Note: As this piece is a staff editorial, it is representative of the opinions of the 25 students on the Drops of Ink staff. The author(s) of this piece did not place their personal opinions in this story; they merely reflect the students’ thoughts.
Quit Calling Me, I’m Not A Cat
T
here is a good chance that you have seen the video “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman.” If you are not familiar with it, the woman featured walks through New York City and gets catcalled 108 times. Some people say that she was asking for it with the way she dressed. However, if you’ve seen the video, then you know she wasn’t dressed in an overt, sexual way. She was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. Even with this modest ensemble, men continuously harassed her and, on two occasions, followed her for several minutes before they eventually gave up on their advances and left her alone.
OPINION
Sayre DeBruler
Amanda Black
Jade Foo
they look as they assume their body is why they receive this unwanted attention, the experiment said. For men who catcall, their motivations are weak. William Castello, a professor at St. John’s University, believes that most men catcall because they have low self-esteem. They feel as if they need to prove something to their friends, so the best way to
nearby stores, and on his way to wherever he was going, he noticed us just sitting there. He stared at us for a second, smiled and then winked before walking away. At first, we weren’t worried, but an hour later, when we were walking around Cook Park, we noticed that the same man started to follow us. We quickly decided to book it to the car with him still following. As soon as the car doors were shut, my friend instantly sped away. At the park, when we got really nervous, I honestly felt like throwing up. I had never been catcalled before, and in that moment, I felt what thousands of other women feel on a daily basis. I The Effects of never want another person, man or Catcalling woman, to have to In 2017, Cosmoexperience what politan magazine my friends and I wrote an article experienced over Catcalling doesn’t just take place in large cities; it also happens in towns that contained multhe summer. tiple accounts from like Libertyville. In order to make up for their low self-esteem, some men Catcalling and feel the need to harass women by catcalling, typically making the women different women other forms of on their experience uncomfortable and think negatively of themselves. harassment happen with catcalling. Catevery day in every calling is when someone whistles or shouts show their masculinity is to harass women, environment. Just because we live in a a sexual comment towards someone on the Castello said. relatively safe town, like Libertyville, does not street; it is also referred to as “street harassObviously this is not true for all men; not mean we’re safe from the claws of street ment.” In the article, several women brought every male out there harasses women. And harassment. up that the experience “can be really scary” the fact that there are women out their Through all of my research for this article, and “dehumanizing.” One woman even said who assume that every guy catcalls someI’ve learned about a nonprofit program that she can’t walk alone at night without one is horrible. I wish there was an easy way whose mission is to stop street harassment. being worried about what could happen. to fix this situation, but there really isn’t. When you go to the hollaback! website, the Catcalling’s negative consequences were first thing you see are the words “you have also shown in an experiment conducted by the right to be who you are, wherever you the University of Melbourne in 2017. Their Catcalling in Libertyville are.” Currently, hollaback! has locations in 21 work showed that some women start to cities and 16 countries all over the world; think that the way men look at them is one Unfortunately, catcalling and other forms of their main goal is to spread awareness about of the only things that defines them, and sexual harassment happen in Libertyville as well. how catcalling affects all of those involved. they begin to see their body in a negative Over the summer, some friends and I If you want to join in the fight to stop way. As they continue to receive unwantwere sitting in a car in the parking lot behind harassment, go to their website for all the ed attention, they start to resent the way Chili U. A man walked out of one of the information you’ll need. OCTOBER 2019 25
POLITICAL CARTOONS
THE NEWS IN CARTOONS Jazzy Lafita
26 DROPS OF INK
CROSSWORD
STAFF FUN FACTS Charlotte Pulte
Note: All of the answers to the clues below do not include the staff member’s first names or titles (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.), solve with last name only.
Across
Down
3. This security guard played for Northwestern’s football
1. This counselor in the G-P LST, also the Random Acts of
team in college and can usually be found at his desk in the cafeteria. 5. This World History Honors and AP Euro teacher used to be a professional juggler. 6. This graphics and woods teacher once pierced both of his ears for his class’s WISH fundraiser several years ago. 7. This badminton coach and counselor in the A-F LST used to be a hand and foot model. 10. This social studies teacher not only set a national bench pressing record and practiced law for seven years, but he also plays the violin. 11. This English teacher was a stage performer for Weird Al Yankovic’s concerts and wore lots of crazy costumes. 13. This science teacher once owned his own cosmetic company and created his own products for sale. 15. This teacher has weekly Flannel Fridays and enjoys spending time with his beloved pet, Curtis E. Cat.
Kindness Club sponsor and an NHS Leader, played on a women’s rugby team in Scotland. 2. This administrator has two dogs, Charlie and Ruby; a tortoise named Truman; a hamster named JoJo; and three chickens, Peep, Babs and Oreo. 3. This PAWS aide and YoungLife leader just finished working for the Chicago White Sox as a photographer for the 2019 season. 4. This counselor in the A-F LST was on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and she was also recently interviewed for DOI’s Humans of Libertyville blog. 8. This psychology and government teacher just moved back from Switzerland and made contributions to the AP Psychology textbook used at LHS. 9. This English teacher and DOI adviser is known for his monotone voice and sarcastic humor. 12. This physical education and health teacher grew up in Libertyville and won the state championship with the girls soccer team before coming to teach here. 14. This speech and debate teacher, also the theater director, has officiated three wedding ceremonies for close friends.
Answers found online at lhsdoi.com
OCTOBER 2019 27